Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for control of power charge/discharge from energy storage system. The invention also provides for power monitoring and management, including power management for a variable generator. An intelligent charge system may include a premise sensor, a variable generator sensor, one or more energy storage units, and a controller, which may receive information about the power demand, power provided by an electricity provider, and charge/discharge information from an energy storage unit. The information received may all be time synchronized in relation to a time based reference. The controller may provide instructions to an energy storage unit at a rapid rate.

Abstract: Methods for improving electromigration of copper interconnection structures are provided. In one embodiment, a method of annealing a microelectronic device including forming microelectronic features on a substrate, forming a contact structure over the microelectronic features, and forming a copper interconnection structure over the contact structure. A passivation layer is deposited over the copper interconnection structure and the substrate is subjected to a first anneal at a temperature of about 350° C. to 400° C. for a time duration between about 30 minutes to about 1 hour. The substrate is subjected to a second anneal at a temperature of about 150° C. to 300° C. for a time duration between about 24 to about 400 hours.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes, an image forming unit configured to fix a developer image on a sheet medium and to output the sheet medium, and an output-image storing unit configured to store, on the inner side of a door involving a lock mechanism, the sheet medium on which the developer image is fixed by the image forming unit.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for identifying a training document for a content classifier. One or more thresholds may be defined for designating a document as a training document for a content classifier. A plurality of documents may be evaluated to compute a score for each respective document. The score may represent suitability of a document for training the content classifier with respect to a category. The score may be computed based on content of the plurality of documents, metadata of the plurality of documents, link structure of the plurality of documents, user feedback (e.g., user supplied document tags) received for the plurality of documents, and document metrics received for the plurality of documents. Based on the computed scores, a training document may be selected. The content classifier may be trained using the selected training document.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to TFTs and methods of fabricating the TFTs. In TFTs, the active channel carries the current between the source and drain electrodes. By tailoring the composition of the active channel, the current can be controlled. The active channel may be divided into three layers, a gate control layer, a bulk layer, and an interface control layer. The separate layers may have different compositions. Each of the gate control, bulk and interface control layers may additionally comprise multiple layers that may have different compositions. The composition of the various layers of the active channel comprise oxygen, nitrogen, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of zinc, indium, cadmium, tin, gallium and combinations thereof. By varying the composition among the layers, the mobility, carrier concentration and conductivity of the various layers may be controlled to produce a TFT having desired properties.

Abstract: When ink is ejected from any one of a plurality of pressure chambers, an electric field pulse, which corresponds to an electric field pulse to be applied to a partition wall of the pressure chamber which is to eject the ink, and has at least one square wave, which is in a direction opposite to that of the electric field pulse and has a pulse width corresponding to the electric field pulse, is applied to a partition wall adjacent to the partition wall of the pressure chamber which is to eject the ink.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer; a first electrode provided on a first surface side of the first semiconductor layer; a first insulating layer; and a second semiconductor layer. The first insulating layer is provided between the first semiconductor layer and the first electrode and configured to constrict current flowing between the first semiconductor layer and the first electrode. The second semiconductor layer has a first conductivity type and is provided at least on a path of the current constricted by the first insulating layer. The second semiconductor layer is in contact with the first electrode. The second semiconductor layer contains first impurities at a concentration higher than a concentration of impurities contained in the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first and a second semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a source region of the first conductivity type, a first and a second main electrode, trench gates, a first and a second contact region. The third semiconductor layer is provided on the second semiconductor layer provided on the first semiconductor layer. The first main electrode is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer. The second main electrode is electrically connected to the source region provided on the third semiconductor layer. The trench gates are provided from the third semiconductor layer to the second semiconductor layer. The first and second contact regions electrically connect the second main electrode and the third semiconductor layer. An opening area of the second contact hole is smaller than that of the first contact hole.

Abstract: A method of generating a customized image includes forming a first design including a first pattern having a first color and a second color. The method also includes receiving input from a user using a design modification element. The method further includes forming a second design including a second pattern including a third color and a fourth color. A change from the first design to the second design is proportional to the input received from the user using the design modification element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for etching a substrate using a spatially modified plasma is provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a process chamber having a plasma stabilizer disposed above a substrate support pedestal. A substrate is placed upon the pedestal. A process gas is introduced into the process chamber and a plasma is formed from the process gas. The substrate is etched with a plasma having an ion density to radical density ratio defined by the plasma stabilizer.

Abstract: An optical fiber feedthrough assembly includes a glass plug disposed in a recess of a feedthrough housing. The glass plug may define a large-diameter, cane-based, waveguide sealed within the recess in the housing and providing optical communication through the housing. Sealing occurs with respect to the housing at or around the glass plug of an optical waveguide element passing through the housing by braze sealing to the glass plug and/or embedding the glass plug in a polymer bonded with the plug to form a molded body that is sealed in the housing by, for example, compression mounting of the molded body or providing a sealing element around the molded body.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for selectively releasing a first wellbore component to a second wellbore component using a disconnect device. The method includes coupling a disconnect device to a workstring and a downhole tool; performing a downhole operation using the downhole tool, and selectively releasing an upper portion of the disconnect device from a lower portion of the disconnect device, thereby releasing the downhole tool from the workstring. The method may also include reconnecting the upper portion of the disconnect device to the lower portion of the disconnect device. The disconnect device is capable of transferring torque to the wellbore component.

Abstract: A method for real-time, goal-directed performed motion alignment for computer animated characters. A sequence of periodic locomotion may be seamlessly aligned with an arbitrarily placed and rotated non-periodic performed motion. A rendering application generates a sampling of transition locations for transition from a locomotion motion space to a performed motion space. The sampling is parameterized by control parameters of the locomotion motion space. Based on the location and rotation of a goal location at which the performed motion is executed, a particular transition location may be selected to define a motion plan to which a performed motion sequence may then appended. Advantageously, by utilizing a look-up of pre-computed values for the control parameters of the motion plan, the rendering application may minimize the computational cost of finding the motion plan to move the character to a location to transition to a performed motion.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for matching an inbound identity record to existing entities. Entity resolution (ER) candidate-building keys are determined for a received identity record. A query is generated from the ER candidate-building keys. When executing the query, a generic key is identified. Execution of the query is aborted upon a condition involving the generic key being satisfied.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes: a supply unit that supplies a recording medium; a recovery unit that recovers the recording medium supplied by the supply unit; a plurality of pairs of carrying rollers that carry the recording medium supplied by the supply unit toward the recovery unit; a detecting unit that acquires information regarding foreign matter made of metal attached to the recording medium; a heating unit that heats the recording medium to a temperature equal to or higher than a color-erasing temperature of a developer; and a carriage control unit that reduces a rotation speed of the plurality of pairs of rollers from a first speed to a second speed when the detecting unit acquires the information regarding the foreign matter made of metal.

Abstract: A communication system for accessing media items via a display device. A receiver is coupled to the display device and a transmitter is coupled to a computer system. Media items stored locally on the computer system and/or remotely on a remote server may be wirelessly transferred from the transmitter to the receiver for display on the display device. In addition, the transmitter and the receiver may be pre-paired prior to delivery to the user, allowing for the network to be configured without any user input. Advantageously, embodiments provide a user with the ability to conveniently view content stored on a computer or a web server without the user having to perform any wireless network setup procedures.

Abstract: The present invention is a shim or shim assembly that clips onto a brake caliper piston. It is generally a rimmed round (disc or annular) shape to cap the edges of the caliper piston and includes surface features for lubrication, and improved fitting. Reduced noise from frictional fretting is provided along with protection of piston's outer rim. Reduced thermal transfer into the piston is also provided.

Abstract: A device for managing secure communications by examining message packets to detect and control the use of encryption keys noninvasively examines an incoming message packet according to typical cryptographic protocols and sequences. If an incoming packet exhibits the use of an encryption key, such as via IKEP, IPsec, or PPTP, the device processes the packet to attempt to find the corresponding encryption key. The device compares the key to a list of known suspect keys to determine a blocked status. If the key is not on the list, a sequence of authorization rules concerning prohibited key usage attempts to determine a result. The authorization rules examine available keying attributes from the message packet, possibly via a remote server, and compute an indication concerning key usage. If the authorization rules are still undeterministic of usage of the key, the device uses a default action.

Abstract: There is provided a print state detection device for a printed sheet surface including a sheet conveying path on which a sheet printed with an image is conveyed, a contact member that contacts with the surface of the sheet moving on the sheet conveying path, a contact state detecting part that detects a physical phenomenon occurring when the contact member contacts with the sheet, a separating part that separates the difference in the physical phenomenon occurring when the contact member comes into contact with the ground of the sheet surface and when the contact member comes into contact with an image, based on detection information obtained by the detection of the contact state detecting part, and a print state determining part that determines the print state of an image on one sheet based on separation information obtained by the separation by the separating part.