Abstract: The invention includes a stacked open pattern inductor fabricated above a semiconductor substrate. The stacked open pattern inductor includes a plurality of parallel open conducting patterns embedded in a magnetic oxide or in an insulator and a magnetic material. Embedding the stacked open pattern inductor in a magnetic oxide or in an insulator and a magnetic material increases the inductance of the inductor and allows the magnetic flux to be confined to the area of the inductor. A layer of magnetic material may be located above the inductor and below the inductor to confine electronic noise generated in the stacked open pattern inductor to the area occupied by the inductor. The stacked open pattern inductor may be fabricated using conventional integrated circuit manufacturing processes, and the inductor may be used in connection with computer systems.

Abstract: A method of packaging a die includes attaching the die to a substrate; underfilling the space between the die and the substrate with a first material, and placing a second material in contact with at least a portion of the die and the substrate after underfilling the space between the die and substrate with the first material. A system includes a semiconductor package having a substrate, a die attached to the substrate, an underfill material positioned between the die and the substrate, and a molding material in contact with at least a portion of the substrate and the die. A heat sink is also in thermal contact with the semiconductor package.

Abstract: A package coating is processed by applying a plurality of aqueous mixtures over a substrate. The aqueous mixtures each include a combination of pigments and binders. A packaging article is also disclosed that is made from the package coating on a substrate. Additionally, a packaging system is included that contains commercial product.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system provides a phonocardiographic image indicative of a heart's mechanical events related to hemodynamic performance. The phonocardiographic image includes a stack of acoustic sensor signal segments representing multiple cardiac cycles. Each acoustic sensor signal segment includes heart sounds indicative of the heart's mechanical events and representations of the heart's electrical events. The stack of acoustic sensor signal segments are aligned by a selected type of the heart's mechanical or electrical events and are grouped by a cardiac timing parameter for presentation.

Abstract: A clock synchronization circuit (200, FIG. 2) includes a signal selector (202), phase detector (204), and delay line (206). The signal selector compares an external clock signal (220) and a feedback signal (222) to evaluate the jitter present in the external clock signal. When the jitter falls within an acceptable range, the circuit operates in DLL mode. In DLL mode, the external clock signal is provided to the delay line, and the delayed external signal is output (224) from the circuit. If the jitter falls outside the acceptable range and the circuit is locked, the circuit is switched to PLL mode. In PLL mode, a clock signal based on the feedback signal is provided to the delay line, and the delayed feedback signal is output from the circuit. The PLL mode is only allowed to operate briefly before switching the circuit back into DLL mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the live weight of poultry through the administration of a plasma product to the poultry through the animals' feed and/or water. The product is effective in increasing the live weight of poultry. The product is also surprisingly effective in increasing the yield of white meat to the detriment of dark meat.

Abstract: A communication unit operates in a wireless-networking environment and maintains a mapping for active channels and associated network identifiers. The communication unit may associate with a wireless network using the mapping for one or more of the active channels having a selected network identifier. For associations and reassociations with wireless networks, the communication unit may selectively scan the channels having mapping stored in a table to more quickly identify active channels and thereby reduce scan time. In some embodiments, an access point may perform channel-width measurements and radar detection using the bitmap.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to anti-microbial compositions and methods for treating fungal and yeast infections.

Abstract: A gate oxide and method of fabricating a gate oxide that produces a more reliable and thinner equivalent oxide thickness than conventional SiO2 gate oxides are provided. Also shown is a gate oxide with a conduction band offset in a range of approximately 5.16 eV to 7.8 eV. Gate oxides formed from elements such as zirconium are thermodynamically stable such that the gate oxides formed will have minimal reactions with a silicon substrate or other structures during any later high temperature processing stages. The process shown is performed at lower temperatures than the prior art, which further inhibits reactions with the silicon substrate or other structures. Using a thermal evaporation technique to deposit the layer to be oxidized, the underlying substrate surface smoothness is preserved, thus providing improved and more consistent electrical properties in the resulting gate oxide.

Abstract: A device and method to detect and correct for clock duty cycle skew in a high performance microprocessor having a very high frequency clock. The device includes a delay chain circuit to delay the clock signal and to determine the presence of clock duty cycle skew. The device uses simple latches, flops, and phase-detectors to compare and identify the nature of the clock duty cycle skew. Simple logic is employed to measure and determine the amount and direction of de-skew to apply to the clock signal. After the de-skew operation, the clock duty cycle cycles used to control the execution of the microprocessor are of a more uniform time duration.

Abstract: During formation of an ad hoc group, the transmit power level of a user device within a wireless communication network is reduced. Potential group members are thus identified within an immediate vicinity of the user device.

Abstract: A method and device for delivering ventricular resynchronization pacing therapy in conjunction with electrical stimulation of nerves which alter the activity of the autonomic nervous system is disclosed. Such therapies may be delivered by an implantable device and are useful in preventing the deleterious ventricular remodeling which occurs as a result of a heart attack or heart failure. The device may perform an assessment of cardiac function in order to individually modulate the delivery of the two types of therapy.

Abstract: An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to include repeating first data to provide first repeated data and deleting second repeated data to provide second data according to a programmed standard included in a first apparatus and selected from a plurality of reprogrammable standards.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the coronary sinus vein branch location of a left ventricle electrode are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient's heart including sensing one or more of the electrical events with the electrode and then analyzing the electrical events to determine the electrode's position. The determination of electrode position may be used to automatically adjust operating parameters of a VRT device. Furthermore, the determination of electrode position may be made in real-time during installation of the electrode and a visual indication of the electrode position may be provided on a display screen.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes a programming device that determines parameters for programming an implantable medical device based on patient-specific information including indications for use of the implantable medical device. By executing an indication-based programming algorithm, the programming device substantially automates the process between the diagnosis of a patient and the programming of an implantable medical device using parameters individually determined for that patient.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a hearing aid having a housing with a face plate to which a handle is connected. Additionally, an at least partially coiled antenna is located proximal to the face plate. Another aspect relates to an apparatus comprised of a means for locating hearing aid components in a housing, a means for inserting and removing the hearing aid with a handle, a means for connecting the handle to the housing, and a means for integrating an antenna with the handle, wherein the antenna is located proximal to the housing. Another aspect relates to a method of making a hearing aid, including connecting an antenna to a handle and connecting the handle to the hearing aid, wherein the antenna is located proximate to the hearing aid housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting flow in a mass flow controller (MFC). The position of a gate in the MFC is sensed or otherwise determined to monitor flow through the MFC and to immediately or nearly immediately detect a flow failure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a novel MFC is provided. The MFC includes an orifice, a mass flow control gate, an actuator and a gate position sensor. The actuator moves the control gate to control flow through the orifice. The gate position sensor determines the gate position and/or gate movement to monitor flow and immediately or nearly immediately detect a flow failure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the gate position sensor includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a receiver for receiving the signal such that the receiver provides an indication of the position of the gate based on the signal received.

Abstract: Structures and methods for write once read only memory employing charge trapping are provided. The write once read only memory cell includes a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in a substrate. The MOSFET has a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, and a channel region between the first and the second source/drain regions. A gate insulator is formed opposing the channel region. The gate insulator includes a number of high work function nanoparticles. A gate is formed on the gate insulator. A plug is coupled to the first source/drain region and couples the first source/drain region to an array plate. A transmission line is coupled to the second source/drain region. The MOSFET is a programmed MOSFET having a charge trapped in the number of high work function nanoparticles in the gate insulator adjacent to the first source/drain region.

Abstract: A device and method for designing and manufacturing an integrated heat spreader so that the integrated heat spreader will have a flat surface on which to mount a heat sink after being assembled into a package and exposed to the heat of a die. This device and method for designing and manufacturing an integrated heat spreader would generate a heat spreader that would be built compensate for deformations resulting from (1) physical manipulation during assembly (2) thermal gradients during operation and (3) differing rates of expansion and contraction of the package materials coupled with multiple package assembly steps at elevated temperatures so that one surface of the integrated heat spreader would have a flat shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for treating patients with sinus node dysfunction who have apparently normal intrinsic AV conduction and thus do not require ventricular pacing unless there is an unexpected AV conduction failure. In one embodiment, a cardiac device with dual-chamber pacing capability is programmed to operate in a primary DDI (or DDI(R)) mode adjusted to pace only the atria if intrinsic AV conduction is intact and switch to a secondary DDD (or DDD(R)) mode upon detection of AV block.