Abstract: A method for fabricating heterojunction field effect transistors (HFET) and a family of HFET layer structures are presented. In the method, a step of depositing a HFET semiconductor structure onto a substrate is performed. Next, a photoresist material is deposited. Portions of the photoresist material are removed corresponding to source and drain pad pairs. A metal layer is deposited onto the structure, forming source pad and drain pad pairs. The photoresist material is removed, exposing the structure in areas other than the source and drain pad pairs. Each source and drain pad pair has a corresponding exposed area. The structure is annealed and devices are electrically isolated. The exposed area of each device is etched to form a gate recess and a gate structure is formed in the recess. Semiconductor layer structures for GaN/AlGaN HFETs are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internally heated cathode. More specifically, the internally heated cathode that comprises an a cavity structure, where at least a portion of the cavity structure forms an emission material portion, the cavity structure defining a cavity, and a heater disposed within the cavity, providing for an efficient, durable, and long lasting cathode that requires less power.

Abstract: Described is a method for forming a stackable interconnect. The interconnect is formed by depositing a first contact on a substrate; depositing a seed layer (SL) on the substrate; depositing a metal mask layer (MML) on the SL; depositing a bottom anti-reflection coating (BARC) on the MML; forming a photoresist layer (PR) on the BARC; removing a portion of the PR; etching the BARC and the MML to expose the SL; plating the exposed SL to form a first plated plug; removing the layers to expose the SL; removing an unplated portion of the SL; depositing an inter layer dielectric (ILD) on the interconnect; etching back the ILD to expose the first plated plug; and depositing a second contact on the first plated plug. Using the procedures described above, a second plated plug is then formed on the first plated plug to form the stackable plugged via interconnect.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch is described. The MEMS switch includes both RF-input and output transmission lines formed on a substrate. An RF armature is anchored to the substrate and is electrically connected with the RF-output transmission line. A contact is electrically connected with the RF-input transmission line. Both bias-input and output signal lines are formed on the substrate. A bias armature is anchored to the substrate and is electrically connected with the bias-input signal line. A DC/RF isolation insulator connects the bias armature with the RF armature. When a charge is introduced to the bias-input signal line, the bias armature is forced toward the bias-output signal line, thereby forcing the RF armature to connect with the contact and form an electrical circuit between the RF-input transmission line and the RF-output transmission line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a castable, aerogel-based, ultra-low thermal conductivity opacified insulation to suppress sublimation. More specifically, the present invention relates to an aerogel opacified with various opacifying or reflecting constituents to suppress sublimation and provide thermal insulation in thermoelectric modules. The opacifying constituent can be graded within the aerogel for increased sublimation suppression, and the density of the aerogel can similarly be graded to achieve optimal thermal insulation and sublimation suppression.

Abstract: A dual-wheel remotely controlled (RC) skateboard with two independently-controlled detachably attachable wheels is described. The RC skateboard comprises a body member having a right wheel and left wheel rotationally mounted proximate the body member. Each of the right and left wheels are drivably coupled with their own motors, such that each of the right and left wheels are independently controlled. Additionally, a quick release apparatus is included to provide for quick release of the wheels. Through use of the quick release apparatus, the wheels are interchangeable wheels and may be easily replaced with other interchangeable wheels. Furthermore, a skateboard deck is attached with the body member such that when the wheels are engaged, the skateboard deck is forced against a supporting surface, thereby preventing the body member from continuously spinning in place. Additionally, the detachably attachable wheels are formed to be used with devices other than a remotely controlled skateboard.

Abstract: A fast on-line automatic speaker/environment adaptation suitable for speech/speaker recognition system, method and computer program product are presented. The system comprises a computer system including a processor, a memory coupled with the processor, an input coupled with the processor for receiving acoustic signals, and an output coupled with the processor for outputting recognized words or sounds. The system includes a model-adaptation system and a recognition system, configured to accurately and efficiently recognize on-line distorted sounds or words spoken with different accents, in the presence of randomly changing environmental conditions. The model-adaptation system quickly adapts standard acoustic training models, available on audio recognition systems, by incorporating distortion parameters representative of the changing environmental conditions or the speaker's accent. By adapting models already available to the new environment, the system does not need separate adaptation training data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhancer device, and more particularly, to an enhancer device for enhancing the utility and look of a user's bed. The enhancer device comprises a support member securing mechanism for securing the enhancer device; a support member detachably attached with the support member securing mechanism, the support member having a base end and a distal end; and a fastener connected with the distal end of the support member. Once secured, an attachment may be connected with the fastener. The attachment allows a user to support a body part, or alternatively, display decorative or items, thereby enhancing the utility and look of the user's bed.

Abstract: Described is a volume-conversion structure for causing a volume transfer. The volume-conversion structure includes a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The first reservoir includes a first volume for holding a fluid therein. An actively deformable material structure (ADMS) is disposed around the first reservoir, with the ADMS being responsive to a deformation activation element to change the ADMS' shape to cause compression of the first reservoir. The second reservoir is in fluid communication with the first reservoir. The second reservoir has a first-second reservoir configuration and a second-second reservoir configuration. Actuation of the deformation activation element causes compression of the ADMS, thereby compressing the first reservoir to have a smaller second volume and displace the fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir to change the second reservoir's configuration from the first-second reservoir configuration to the second-second reservoir configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method to keep track of conflicts resulting from combining basic probability assignments (BPAs) without actually performing the normalization operation at every step of combination. This approach can be applied recursively, allowing the system to keep track of the normalization and conflict of the belief combinations inside a large belief inference system without ever performing a normalization operation as long as the computing system precision allows. The present invention can be applied to monitor conflicts within most inference systems, including the Valuation Based System (VBS) framework for Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidential reasoning.

Abstract: A load bearing apparatus is presented in the form of a passive exoskeleton whereby a load may be placed on the passive exoskeleton and thereby weight of the load from the passive exoskeleton is transferred to a ground surface. The passive exoskeleton is made of a rigid body member for attaching proximate a portion of a user's body; a sliding rod attached with the body member; a ground surface engage-able foot analog attached with the sliding rod; a rocker pivotally attached with the body member; a load pin attached with the sliding rod and operably attached with the rocker; and a bias block attached with the body member for engaging with the rocker. As a user walks, the bias block pivots the rocker to aid the load pin in transferring weight to the rocker and thereafter through the sliding rod to the foot analog and ground surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field measuring the mechanical response of micro-electro-mechanical systems. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus that allows the direct control of the load applied to a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System in order to measure the mechanical response. The system comprises a loading sub-system, a displacement measurement sub-system, and an optional observation sub-system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a time delay generator 200 apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a time delay gate 212, a mixer 216 (a Gilbert cell circuit), and a current digital to analog converter 206. The mixer 216, comprised of first and second transistor differential pairs 218 and 220, receives an analog input signal 202 without a delay as well as a delayed input signal 210 produced by the time gate delay. The digital to analog converter regulates the relative current flow between a first control signal 232 and a second control signal 238, effectively altering the mixing of the undelayed input signal 208 and the delayed input signal 210 to generate a delayed output signal 214 with a time or phase delay substantially equal to the temporal delay represented by the digital signal input 204. The time delay generator exhibits reduced phase noise and a linear time delay response.

Abstract: Described is a toy vehicle with a launcher for connecting with and launching the toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a vehicle housing having a wheel opening in the housing for placement of a detachably attachable wheel and a vehicle strip opening for placement of a strip. A gear system is attached with the housing. The gear system includes gear teeth for engaging at least a part of the gear system with the strip. A rotating end is connected with the gear system for placement of a detachably attachable wheel. When the wheel is affixed with the rotating end, and when the strip is inserted into the vehicle strip opening and engaged with the gear teeth, a user may pull the strip and thereby cause the gear system to rotate the wheel so that the wheel spins and forces the vehicle to speed away from the launcher.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion recognition system for distinguishing motion between two different entity forms, such as distinguishing human motion from animal motion. The motion recognition system comprises a moving object detection component, a motion feature extraction component, and a motion feature classification component. The moving object detection component is configured to detect an object within a video sequence and generate a moving object signal. The motion feature extraction component is configured to receive the moving object signal and to extract features representing the detected object within the object signal. The motion feature classification component is configured to classify the features extracted from the detected object as either human motion or animal motion, thereby generating an identification signal. Through detecting, extracting and classifying the objection, a user can determine if the object is a human or an animal.

Abstract: Object detection and tracking operations on images that may be performed independently are presented. A detection module receives images, extracts edges in horizontal and vertical directions, and generates an edge map where object-regions are ranked by their immediacy. Filters remove attached edges and ensure regions have proper proportions/size. The regions are tested using a geometric constraint to ensure proper shape, and are fit with best-fit rectangles, which are merged or deleted depending on their relationships. Remaining rectangles are objects. A tracking module receives images in which objects are detected and uses Euclidean distance/edge density criterion to match objects. If objects are matched, clustering determines whether the object is new; if not, a sum-of-squared-difference in intensity test locates matching objects.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical switch is described. The switch comprises a substrate, with a signal transmission portion and an activation portion attached with the substrate. The activation portion includes an armature activation electrode positioned above a substrate activation electrode. The signal transmission portion includes a metal contact extending from a conducting transmission line and through a bottom insulating layer of the signal transmission portion, thereby being exposed for electrical contact. A mechanical linkage connects the activation portion with the signal transmission portion so that the activation portion and the signal transmission portion move in concert. When an activation signal is applied along the activation portion, both the activation portion and the signal transmission portion are drawn toward the substrate to a substantially closed position, where the metal contact of the signal transmission portion electrically contacts a signal transmission electrode.

Abstract: Described is a kaleidoscope for attaching with a video monitor. The kaleidoscope includes a housing and a monitor holder. The housing includes an interior, a first end, and a second end. The first end has an image receiving hole for receiving light from a video monitor. The interior includes multiple light surfaces for receiving the light from the video monitor and projecting the light toward the second end. The second end includes a viewing hole to allow a user to view the projected light. Through the monitor holder, the housing can be attached with a hand held video monitor. When the video monitor is in operation, images from the video monitor are received through the first end and projected within the interior of the housing between the light surfaces to provide a kaleidoscopic effect of the images, which can be viewed through the viewing hole in the second end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to techniques for contextual filtering for improving an output of a speech recognizer. The techniques comprise receiving a representation of a speech utterance into a shallow parser component in the form of a first word lattice including a set of potential language matches for the utterance, where the language matches include at least one word; the parser component operative for receiving and analyzing the first word lattice to produce a second word lattice, and including a filter that assigns a probability match for a potential word match in relation to another potential word match in the utterance based on a particular filter-specific criteria; and outputting the probability matches from the shallow parser component as a portion of a second word lattice for further processing to determine most likely combinations of words present in the speech utterance.