Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing information wherein a user defines labels which relate to the stored information and the user defines a data structure, for example, a hierarchical structure, comprised of such labels and method and apparatus for retrieving the stored information wherein the user randomly accesses the information utilizing the labels and the structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a keypad is provided with pads to select movement up, down, to the right, and to the left in a hierarchical structure. Further, the keypad is provided with keys to cause insertion, deletion or interchange of labels; replay of labels and replay of stored information. Still further, in the preferred embodiment, up, down, left, and right directional arrows are provided to show a user which directions of movement are permitted at a particular point in the hierarchical structure.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for wafer level IC packaging that includes the steps of: (a) forming compliant, conductive bumps on metalized bond pads or conductors; and (b) surrounding the compliant, conductive bumps in a supporting layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus to determine position of an eye that includes: (a) two off-axis, radiation emitter-photodetector pairs, wherein an emitter of a pair is disposed to transmit radiation toward the eye and a photodetector of the pair is disposed to receive radiation reflected by the eye; and (b) a controller that analyzes output from the photodetectors to determine the position of the eye.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a plaything that includes: (a) a body; (b) a head attached to the body having a recessed area within the head; and (c) a band at least partially surrounding the recessed area. In a further embodiment, the plaything further comprises an appliance that fits in the recessed area. In a still further embodiment, the appliance is detachably affixed to the recessed area. In a yet still further embodiment, the appliance comprises an image.

Abstract: A visual field tester which measures the visual field of a patient's eye, which visual field tester includes: (a) an optical radiation source having an entrance pupil plane, which optical radiation source outputs one or more spots of optical radiation; and (b) an optical relay system which relays a point in the entrance pupil plane or a point conjugate to the point in the entrance pupil plane to the patient's eye with a one-to-one magnification, wherein the optical relay system comprises a beamsplitter disposed at an angle with respect to a retroreflector array.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rendering characters on one or more output devices using multiple media fonts; one type of a multiple media font being a multiple color font ("MCF"). An MCF is a scalable font (a font used to render characters in multiple sizes and output device pixel resolutions) that enables the use of one or more types of color scheme (color design) data and character shape data in conjunction with one or more types of transformation data (shapes and visual looks) to render characters. Inventive multiple media fonts can be embodied for use: (a) in coordination with present operating systems; (b) as an annex to applications programs; (c) in coordination with, or as an integral part of, an operating-environment; and (d) over the Internet or other computer networks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are method and apparatus for simply and economically providing efficient scanning in an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus.

Abstract: Ophthalmologic surgical microscope which is combined internally with an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus wherein auto-focusing is provided by driving a motorized internal focusing lens of the ophthalmologic surgical microscope with a signal output from the OCT apparatus. An embodiment of the inventive ophthalmologic surgical microscope includes: (a) an optical coherence tomography ("OCT") apparatus; (b) a beamcombiner for internally coupling output from the OCT apparatus into the ophthalmologic surgical microscope; and (c) a motor for moving an internal focusing lens of the ophthalmologic surgical microscope in response to a signal from the OCT apparatus, whereby the ophthalmologic surgical microscope is auto-focused.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring the length and refractive error of an eye, preferably in a non-contact mode. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus which measures length and refractive error of an eye which includes: (a) a source of short coherence radiation which couples radiation into a Michelson interferometer, the arms of the Michelson interferometer having a predetermined optical pathlength difference; (b) an injector which couples radiation output from the interferometer into the eye; and (c) a relay system which couples radiation output from the eye to a spectrometer; wherein the spectrometer measures displacement of radiation to measure the refractive error and the spectrometer measures density of fringes to measure the length.

Abstract: A substrate processing chamber, particularly a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber used both for thermal deposition of a conductive material and a subsequently performed plasma process. The invention reduces thermal deposition of the conductive material on peripheral portions of the pedestal supporting a wafer and in a pumping channel exhausting the chamber. A peripheral ring placed on the pedestal, preferably also used to center the wafer, is thermally isolated from the pedestal so that its temperature is kept substantially lower than that of the wafer. Despite its thermal isolation, the peripheral ring is electrically connected to the pedestal to prevent arcing. The pumping channel is lined with various elements, some of which are electrically floating and which are designed so that conductive material deposited on these elements do not deleteriously affect a plasma generated for processing the wafer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a refractively corrected, wavelength selective, transparent visual field test occluder for a non-tested eye used in a visual field testing apparatus which uses a stimulus that produces light in a first color spectral range and a background illumination that produces light in a second color spectral range, the visual field test occluder comprising: (a) a base; (b) a fastener configured to fasten the base over a subject's eye; (c) a mounting affixed to the base configured to hold a filter and a refractive lens; and (d) a filter held in the mounting; wherein the filter substantially prevents transmission of light in the first color spectral range and substantially transmits light in the second color spectral range.

Abstract: An apparatus for polishing semiconductor wafers and other workpieces that includes a polishing pads mounted on respective platens at multiple polishing stations. Multiple wafer heads, at least one greater in number than the number of polishing stations, can be loaded with individual wafers. The wafer heads are suspended from a carousel, which provides circumferential positioning of the heads relative to the polishing pads, and the wafer heads oscillate radially as supported by the carousel to sweep linearly across the respective pads in radial directions with respect to the rotatable carousel. Each polishing station includes a pad conditioner to recondition the polishing pad so that it retains a high polishing rate. Washing stations may be disposed between polishing stations and between the polishing stations and a transfer and washing station to wash the wafer as the carousel moves. A transfer and washing station is disposed similarly to the polishing pads.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide method and apparatus for use during a neurosurgical procedure to enable a multi-coordinate manipulator ("MCM") to locate blood vessels and nerves in a patient's brain with submillimeter resolution. In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide method and apparatus for mapping oxygenation of brain tissue in three dimensions to differentiate tumor tissue from normal brain tissue with submillimeter resolution.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are method and apparatus for measuring the size and position of an eye's pupil, and for doing so rapidly. In particular, embodiments of the present invention are methods and apparatus for determining pupil size and position without measuring the fall pupil and for doing so rapidly, in real time, as data are being collected.

Abstract: An inlet gas manifold for a vacuum deposition chamber incorporates inlet apertures which increase in diameter or cross-section transverse to the direction of gas flow. The aperture configuration increases the dissociation gases such as nitrogen and, thus increases the rate of silicon nitride deposition provided by nitrogen gas chemistry, without requiring the use of reactants such as ammonia. While one could use ammonia in the deposition gas chemistry if desired, the process provides the option of completely eliminating ammonia. The inlet manifold containing the increasing-diameter gas inlet holes provides enhanced control of the process and the deposited film.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for assigning memory space addresses of a computer, for example, a personal computer (PC), to memory contained on computer interface boards interfaced to the computer wherein the computer controls the memory space addresses assigned and wherein multiple computer interface boards can be assigned to the same memory space addresses.

Abstract: Anodized aluminum coatings employed in semiconductor processing equipment are treated to reduce their sensitivity to halogenated species. The pores of the aluminum oxide surface can be filled either by a metal, such as magnesium or aluminum, forming the corresponding metal oxide that is resistant to reaction with halogens, or by filling the pores with a getter for halogens, such as hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions adsorbed on the surface of the aluminum oxide react with halogens to form volatile hydrogen halides that can be pumped away in the exhaust system of the semiconductor processing chambers, thereby preventing or reducing reaction of the underlying aluminum oxide with the halogens.

Abstract: Apparatus for gaze tracking an eye utilizing short coherence length interferometry, also known as optical coherence tomography ("OCT"). An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for gaze tracking an eye which includes: (a) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus; (b) a scanning apparatus for scanning across a predetermined portion of the eye with optical output from the OCT apparatus; (c) an analysis apparatus for analyzing detection signals output from the OCT apparatus to determine a location of a feature of the eye; (d) an illumination apparatus for producing a reflection of radiation from a cornea of the eye (corneal reflex); (e) a detection apparatus for determining a location of the corneal reflex; and (f) the analysis apparatus further includes an apparatus which is responsive to the location of the feature and to the location of the corneal reflex for gaze tracking.

Abstract: A new susceptor design for used in plasma processing of substrates is provided. The susceptor is made of metal and serves as one of the electrodes in a parallel plate plasma reactor. The susceptor is flat and has no lip at its rim. A substrate having substantially the same diameter as the susceptor is placed on and covers the susceptor. This arrangement allows a uniform electric field to be formed across the whole surface of the substrate. As a result, the deposition on the surface of the substrate is uniform.

Abstract: A metal structure, such as an apparatus used in plasma processing of substrates, is rendered resistant to corrosion by coating components exposed to the plasma with a coating of rhodium. The rhodium coating can be made by electroplating, and preferably has a thickness of at least about 10 microinches, and preferably from about 10 to about 100 microinches. A coating of nickel can be applied between the rhodium coating and the metal component.