Abstract: Protective self aligned buffer (PSAB) layers are layers of material that are selectively formed at the surface of metal layers in a partially fabricated semiconductor device. In a Damascene interconnect, PSAB layer typically resides at an interface between the metal layer and a dielectric diffusion barrier layer. PSAB layers promote improved adhesion between a metal layer and an adjacent dielectric diffusion barrier layer. Further, PSAB layers can protect metal surfaces from inadvertent oxidation during fabrication process. A PSAB layer may be formed entirely within the top portion of a metal layer, by, for example, chemically converting metal surface to a thin layer of metal silicide. Thickness of PSAB layers, and, consequently resistance of interconnects can be controlled by partially passivating metal surface prior to formation of PSAB layer. Such passivation can be accomplished by controllably treating metal surface with a nitrogen-containing compound to convert metal to metal nitride.

Abstract: Inspecting for fracture hazards by detecting a presence of at least one flaw development process in an equipment under inspection, the flaw development process being corrosion product nucleation and development, pitting, plastic deformation development, and/or micro-cracking. Detecting the presence of the flaw development process includes (a) determining at least one characteristic acoustic emission (AE) signature associated with a respective flaw development process, and (b) measuring an AE from each of a plurality of locations within the equipment. Presence of the respective flaw development process is identified only when the measured AE conforms to the characteristic AE signature within a predetermined tolerance. A fracture hazard is determined to exist only when (a) a quantity of the identified flaw development processes exceeds a first predetermined threshold and/or (b) a magnitude of at least one of the identified flaw development processes exceeds a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for providing rolled fingerprint capture and palm capture capability in a device having reduced size are provided. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods provide capture of rolled fingerprints, slap fingerprints and palm prints in one continuous workflow in a compact device. In certain embodiments, moisture discriminating optics and/or enhanced definition image formation previously achieved only in devices designed for capturing only fingerprints are provided. In certain embodiments, the systems employ a single scanning device to capture 500 ppi and/or 1000 ppi palm and fingerprint images.

Abstract: Rendering an image pixel in a composite display is disclosed. In some embodiments, an image pixel is mapped to a plurality of temporal pixels, and the image pixel is rendered in a composite display using at least a subset of the plurality of temporal pixels to which it is mapped, with the intensity of the image pixel spread across the subset of temporal pixels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of synthetic taxanes, which protects C(7)-OH with lanthanon compounds. Its advantages are simple process and firm & reliable binding. Moreover, no C(7)-acylated taxanes are produced in the subsequent steps, and hydrolysis of C(2?)-ester groups in acylated products becomes readily controllable. In the process for the preparation of synthetic taxanes, tetrahydrofuran is used in the present invention as a medium for acylation, which not only achieves the same effects as pyridine, but also avoids odor, so as to solve the problem regarding the extremely high requirements for the place of production. The present invention can be used for the preparation of not only semi-synthetic taxane using natural taxanes as raw material, but also full-synthetic taxane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to techniques for improving optofluidic microscope (OFM) devices. One technique which may be used eliminates the aperture layer covering the light detector layer. Other techniques retain the aperture layer, reversing the relative position of the light source and light detector such that light passes through the aperture layer before passing through the fluid channel to the light detector. Another technique adds an optical tweezer for controlling the movement of objects moving through the fluid channel. Another technique adds an optical fiber bundle to relay light from light transmissive regions to a remote light detector. Another technique adds two electrodes at ends of the fluid channel to generate an electrical field capable of moving objects through the fluid channel while suppressing rotation. These techniques can be employed separately or in combination to improve the capabilities of OFM devices.

Abstract: Acetylene is treated to remove some residual storage solvent that may be present with the acetylene in a source of acetylene such as a container. Such treatment may be performed prior to supplying the acetylene to a deposition chamber or other reactor where acetylene is a reactant. After treatment, the acetylene gas stream has a relatively constant concentration of storage solvent, regardless of how much acetylene has been released from the acetylene source. The treatment may involve condensing the storage solvent from the gas stream at a certain temperature and separating the storage solvent from the gas stream.

Abstract: Methods and devices for evaluating risk profiles for potential participants in e-commerce transactions, such as online wager gaming, are described. Player attributes such as identity, age, location, and/or residence may be profiled using data service providers (“DSPs”). The best available DSP(s) may be selected, e.g., according to the jurisdiction. Players may be evaluated according to DSP scores and assigned to levels or “tiers” with predefined attributes, e.g., predefined transaction limits. For example, relatively lower-risk players may be assigned to tiers with relatively higher deposit and withdrawal limits, and vice versa. Efficiencies may be created by differentiating verification steps that are performed during the registration process from those that are performed when a player attempts to make a transaction.

Abstract: An apparatus for electroplating a layer of metal on the surface of a wafer includes an ionically resistive ionically permeable element located in close proximity of the wafer (preferably within 5 mm of the wafer surface) which serves to modulate ionic current at the wafer surface, and a second cathode configured to divert a portion of current from the wafer surface. The ionically resistive ionically permeable element in a preferred embodiment is a disk made of a resistive material having a plurality of perforations formed therein, such that perforations do not form communicating channels within the body of the disk. The provided configuration effectively redistributes ionic current in the plating system allowing plating of uniform metal layers and mitigating the terminal effect.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for facilitating game play. The gaming apparatus may include a value input device, a display unit, and a player control panel. The player control panel may include a curved surface centered around at least one axis. The gaming apparatus also may include a touch screen, the touch screen conforming to the curved surface of the player control panel. A value input may be received from a player via the value input device, and the display unit may be caused to display a game display. One of a plurality of player input displays may be selected and display the selected one of the plurality of player input displays. Player input data associated with the selected one of the plurality of player input displays may be received via the touch screen, and a value payout associated with an outcome of the game may be determined.

Abstract: Some preferred implementations of the invention provide a kiosk that can read a cashless instrument, determine one or more corresponding items of merchandise for which the cashless instrument may be redeemed and provide the corresponding item(s) of merchandise. The cashless instrument may be, for example, an ordinary “cash out” ticket, a ticket formed according to the invention, a player loyalty instrument, etc. Some implementations of the invention provide EGMs configured to issue cashless instruments that may be exchanged for various types of merchandise. The cashless instruments may be, for example, encoded tickets. Some implementations provide EGMs configured for encoding a prize code that indicates a corresponding item of merchandise for which the cashless instrument may be redeemed. However, a cashless instrument may or may not indicate a prize code. If a cashless instrument includes a prize code, the prize code may or may not be indicated in human-readable form.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying multiple visual images from a single source at a gaming machine are disclosed. A reversible display device at the gaming machine presents multiple visual images from a display cell or other core display component. Virtual curtains alternate between blocking and permitting the display of visual images at various surfaces of the reversible display device. For a display cell or similar component needing a separate illumination source, illumination components alternate on and off in coordinated fashion with the virtual curtains, and are arranged to reflect light through the display cell in one direction to display one visual image at one surface and then in an opposite direction to display another visual image at the opposite surface. Lenses, mirrors and other optical devices redirect or alter a visual image from a surface such that it is not viewed directly from the display device itself.

Abstract: In a nonvolatile memory array, data is stored in multi-level cells (MLC) as upper-page data and lower-page data. Safe copies of both upper-page and lower-page data are stored in on-chip cache during programming. If a write fail occurs, data is recovered from on-chip cache. The controller does not have to maintain safe copies of data.

Abstract: This invention provides novel antimicrobial peptides and formulations thereof. The peptides and/or formulations are effective to kill or to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of various bacteria, yeast, and fungi.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a processed tomato product having more tomato aroma inherent to grown tomatoes. Tomato fruits are washed and crushed. Juice is extracted from the crushed material, the extracted juice is deaerated and the deaerated material is heated. The crushed material and the extracted juice from immediately after the crushing until immediately before the deaerating are maintained at temperature of 15-40° C. The dissolved oxygen concentration of the crushed tomatoes and/or the extracted juice from immediately after the crushing until immediately before the deaerating is raised at least temporarily to 6 mg/L or over, and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the deaerated juice immediately before the heating is reduced to 3.5 mg/L or below.

Abstract: Encrypting data using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm uses pipelined registers to perform the AES processing. Any number of registers (two or more) each holds a block of plaintext data. A multiplexer accepts one block of data at a time and feeds it into the pipeline processing unit. The processing unit performs a round of encryption upon the block. A key round generator generates a set of round keys for the pipeline processing unit using a cipher key and the set of round keys are stored in parallel in memory devices, each memory device corresponding to one of the registers. The pipeline processing unit receives the correct round key for each round of encryption from the memory device corresponding to the block of data being encrypted by the add round key unit at that time. A read counter (one per register) indexes one of the round keys in the appropriate memory device thus enabling the indexed round key to be input to the pipeline processing unit for the appropriate round and block.

Abstract: Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices.

Abstract: An electromechanical wager-based gaming machine includes a plurality of reels that are aligned as they are spun so that the reels can be rapidly stopped in response to a player's input. One reel is selected as a reference reel and other reels are brought into alignment using feedback from reel position sensors.

Abstract: A basestation for a cellular communication system has an interface, for connection to a computer network, and also includes an oscillator, for generating wireless transmit and receive frequencies. A controller receives timestamped response messages from a time server over the computer network, each response message being subject to a network propagation delay, which is a sum of a minimum network propagation delay and a jitter component. For each received response message an apparent network propagation delay is determined as a function of a difference between a first timestamp applied by the time server and a second timestamp based on a clock derived from said oscillator. A subset of the received response messages are selected, whose network propagation delays include minimal jitter components. The frequency accuracy of the oscillator is then determined based on changes over time in the apparent network propagation delays of the selected received response messages.

Abstract: A layer of diffusion barrier or seed material is deposited on a semiconductor substrate having a recessed feature. The method may include a series of new deposition cycles, for example, a first net deposition cycle and a second net deposition cycle. The first net deposition cycle includes depositing a first deposited amount of the diffusion barrier or seed material and etching a first etched amount of the diffusion barrier or seed material. The second net deposition cycle including depositing a second deposited amount of the diffusion barrier or seed material and etching a second etched amount of the diffusion barrier or seed material. At least one of the process parameters of the first cycle differs from that of the second allows providing a graded deposition effects to reduce a risk of damaging any under layers and dielectric. A deposited layer of diffusion barrier or seed material is generally more conformal.