Abstract: A process for enhancing refresh in Dynamic Random Access Memories wherein n-type impurities are implanted into the capacitor buried contact after formation of the access transistor components. The process comprises forming a gate insulating layer on a substrate and a transistor gate electrode on the gate insulating layer. First and second transistor source/drain regions are formed on the substrate adjacent to opposite sides of the gate electrodes. N-type impurities, preferably phosphorous atoms, are then implanted into the first source/drain region which will serve as the capacitor buried contact.

Abstract: A novel modular muffle etch injector assembly for use in a gas blanketed down-flow chemical vapor deposition apparatus of the type having a muffle and a modular gas injector assembly for introducing chemical vapors into a deposition chamber, the muffle being adapted for receiving and supporting the gas injector assembly, wherein deposition material residue collects on a lower surface of the muffle. The etch injector assembly of the present invention comprises an etch chamber having vertical sidewalls, a closed top end and an open bottom end, a supply mechanism for introducing a liquid etchant into the etch chamber, and a sealing device disposed along the open end of the etch chamber for providing a seal between the etch chamber and the lower surface of the muffle to confine the etchant to the etch chamber. The etch injector assembly preferably also includes an exhaust means for removing chemical vapors from the etch chamber.

Abstract: A permanent protective semiconductor die coating made from a polymer that is fully curable through exposure to ultra violet light. A mixture of polymer resin and a photoactive compound is applied to the die and then cured through exposure to ultraviolet light to form the protective coating. In one preferred embodiment, the polymer resin is a phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resin and the photoactive compound is CD1011 (marketed under the brand name SARTOMER”. The coating may be applied as a thin protective film, such as a passivation layer, or as a thicker encapsulant used for semiconductor device packages. Such film coatings exhibit reduced film shrinkage and lower film stresses while maintaining mechanical properties comparable to polyimide film coatings.

Abstract: A novel batch processing system used, for example, in plasma etching and chemical vapor deposition, wherein the pressure in the reactor is cycled through a varying pressure to increase the transfer of the reactant materials to the center of the wafer. One version of the invention provides a method that includes the steps of (I) feeding reactant gases into a reaction vessel, (ii) exhausting unused reactive gases and/or reaction by-products from the reaction vessel, and (iii) cycling the pressure in the reaction vessel between a higher pressure Phigh and a lower pressure Plow. Another version of the invention provides an apparatus that comprises (I) a reaction vessel, (ii) a feed means for feeding reactive gases into the reaction vessel, (iii) an exhaust means for exhausting unused reactive gases and/or reaction by-products from the reaction vessel, and (d) a pressure control means for cycling the pressure in the reaction vessel between a higher pressure Phigh and a lower pressure Plow.

Abstract: An adjustable wafer transfer machine that includes an adjusting mechanism for changing the spacing between adjacent wafers to accommodate placement of the wafers in either a smaller wafer carrier or a larger wafer carrier and a transfer mechanism for transferring the wafers between the smaller wafer carrier and the adjusting mechanism and for transferring the wafers between the larger wafer carrier and the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism comprises a pair of flat plates disposed parallel to and opposite one another and a plurality of elongated opposing dividers slidably mounted on the plates. The dividers are disposed vertically adjacent to one another at spaced apart intervals and they extend horizontally to support the wafers along a portion of their perimeter. A positioning mechanism is operatively coupled to the dividers for changing the spacing between the dividers and, correspondingly, between the wafers supported on the dividers.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from a semiconductor wafer having a spin on coating of material. Contaminants are removed by applying a cleaning solution to the periphery, and preferably, the exposed backside of the wafer after the edge bead has been dissolved and removed. The cleaning solution is formulated to react chemically with unwanted coating material residue to form a compound that may be ejected from the periphery of the spinning wafer. Any residual solution or precipitate that is not ejected from the wafer may be rinsed away with water, preferably deoinized water. One exemplary use of this method is the removal of metallic contaminants that may be left on the periphery and backside of a wafer after the formation of ferroelectric film coatings. A cleaning solution comprising a mixture of hydrochloric acid HCl and water H2O or,ammonium hydroxide NH4OH and water H2O is applied to the periphery of the spinning wafer.

Abstract: A bicycle cable locking system in which a double length cable stowed in one of the frame tubes automatically surrounds the head as it is withdrawn from a stowed position to an extended position, and a double or single length cable stowed in one of the frame tubes that automatically retracts back into the stowed position when it is released from an extended position. The ends of the cable may be secured with an in-line lock integral to the cable or with a pad lock by constructing the ends the cable as a loop.

Abstract: An isolation structure providing electrical isolation in two dimensions between memory cells in semiconductor memory device. The isolation structure comprises a trench formed in a substrate of a semiconductor memory device such as a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). The trench is lined with an insulating material and filled with polysilicon to form a floating gate. An electrical charge is then injected into the polysilicon floating gate. The isolation structure is located between memory cells in an array to provide isolation between cells in sub-micron spacing by combining the characteristics of trench and field isolation. The electrical charge is injected into the polysilicon floating gate by applying a charging voltage to the wordlines of the memory cell array. The charging voltage is applied periodically as necessary to maintain effective isolation. Two dimensional isolation is achieved by extending the trench to surround each pair of memory cells sharing a common bitline contact.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for downloading firmware upgrades to a targeted remote field configurable embedded computer system over a computer network. The targeted device need not be disconnected from the network and requires no human intervention at the remote side. The entire firmware, including the downloading mechanism, can be updated in an efficient manner.

Abstract: Forming metal and metalloid carbides by mechanically inducing a reduction reaction between a metal chloride (or a metalloid chloride) and a metal carbide. The reduction reactions are induced mechanically by milling the reactants. Alloy carbides may also be produced by mechanically inducing the co-reduction of metal chlorides or metalloid chlorides and a metal carbide according to the equation: M1chloride+M2chloride+M3carbide→M1M2carbide, where M1 is a metal or metalloid, M2 is a metal or metalloid and M3 is a suitable carbide reducing agent.

Abstract: An improved storage node junction between a doped active area in a semiconductor substrate and an overlying layer of polysilicon, such as the storage node junction in a DRAM memory cell. The area and perimeter of the storage node junction is significantly reduced and the junction is moved away from the adjacent isolation structure. An exemplary semiconductor device incorporating the new junction includes a storage node junction between a conductive polysilicon layer and an active area on a semiconductor substrate, the substrate having been subjected to LOCOS steps to create active areas bounded by a region of field oxide. An insulated gate electrode is formed over an anive area on the substrate, which has been doped to a first conductivity type. A contact region comprising a portion of the active area extends laterally between one side of the gate electrode and the field oxide region.

Abstract: Methods and computer software for generating Glidetext™—that is, text in which the word sequence in a first line of text is from left to right followed by a second line of text in which the word sequence is from right to left and continuing in this alternating fashion throughout a piece of text. The method comprises converting text in which the word sequence is the same in every line to text in which the word sequence in every other line is from right to left. Only the word sequence is reversed, the sequence and orientation of the letters in each word in all lines stays the same.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the application of viscous materials, such as the adhesives used in LOC die attach processes, to a lead frame by forming a film of viscous material and then bringing a portion of the lead frame and the film of viscous material into contact with one another. In one exemplary embodiment of the method of the invention, the viscous material is drop dispensed, sprayed, pumped or otherwise placed on a carrier surface, the material is spread to a uniform film thickness and then brought into contact with the die attach portion of the lead frame. One embodiment of the apparatus for applying the viscous material includes (1) a carrier surface, (2) a plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the carrier surface, and (3) a pump for pumping the viscous material through the orifices to the carrier surface. The apparatus may also include a metering blade for spreading the material to a uniform film thickness over the carrier surface.

Abstract: A wafer lift for lifting a series of vertically oriented wafers arranged parallel to one another in a cassette. The wafer lift includes a vertically movable ramp and a cassette guide positioned over the ramp. The ramp is raised to engage wafers in a cassette supported on the guide so that each wafer is lifted incrementally higher than the preceding wafer.

Abstract: A separator that utilizes an arcuate inlet manifold and an arcuate baffle to increase the rate of separation for a mix of materials having different specific gravities. The separator includes an arcuate baffle that defines a separation chamber and an arcuate pipe through which a mixture of materials having specific gravities is carried into the chamber. The mixture is discharged into the separation chamber against the baffle through a series of openings disposed along the perimeter of the pipe. The baffle, pipe and openings are configured relative to one another such that mixture is discharged against the baffle at an oblique angle. In preferred versions of the invention, mixture is discharged slanting up, slanting to the side or slanting up and to the side against the baffle at an angle of 18 to 24 (most preferably at about 22°).

Abstract: A breast support system for a garment. The system includes a main body formed by shoulder supports, a midriff section, and a pair of breast cups interspaced between and connecting the shoulder supports and the midriff section. A pair of cross tracks pass from one shoulder support over one breast cup, between both breast cups, and then terminating with an exit under the other breast cup. A pair of midriff tracks are affixed to the midriff section each located under one breast cup and below the cross tracks. Grips are affixed to the midriff section between the midriff tracks. The midriff section includes two stays each generally located between a midriff track and the exit of a cross track. Attached to each stay is a guide. A draw strap is loosely guided by each track with one end affixed to a shoulder support and the second end exiting the cross track, passing through one guide, then through one midriff track, and ultimately secured by a grip.

Abstract: A motor driven or pedal powered snow vehicle designed to emulate the steering and balancing characteristics of motorcycles and bicycles. The snow vehicle includes a frame, a swing arm, a track carriage, an endless loop track, a snow compacting ramp, an elongated steering member and a ski. The swing arm pivots upon the frame and angles downward behind the frame. The track circulates a fixed path around the track carriage. The track carriage extends forward from a pivot connection with the rear of the swing arm, and pivots vertically under the swing arm in scissors-fashion. The snow vehicle is suspended upon the track carriage using a single shock absorber and load-distributing bell crank. A snow compacting ramp attached to the track carriage compresses the snow ahead of the track. The steering member is like the front suspension fork of a motorcycle or bicycle, and is connected to the frame so that it rotates about a steering axis. The ski is mounted to the lower portion of the steering member.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer transfer machine for transferring first wafers having a first diameter from a first transferor carrier to a first receiver carrier and second wafers having a second diameter different from the first diameter from a second transferor carrier to a second receiver carrier. The wafer transfer machine includes a base plate with a longitudinal axis for placement on the base plate of the transferor carriers and the receiver carriers and a mechanism for transferring wafers contained in the first and second transferor carriers to the first and second receiver carriers, respectively.

Abstract: An inflatable personal flotation device that is reversible and comparatively easily to put on and secure even under difficult conditions. The device can be donned and worn with either side to the front. The personal flotation device of the present invention uses a harness rather than a belt to secure the device in place on the user. The harness preferably also includes a keeper configured to locate the strap always within reach of the user once the device is slipped over the user's head to make it easier to buckle the harness to secure the device. The reversible nature of the invention allows the user to don the device without having to contemplate which way the device should be oriented.