Abstract: The device degradation of integrated circuits may be compensated for by appropriately adapting the duty cycle of the clock signal. For this purpose, a correlation between the duty cycle and the overall performance characteristics of the integrated circuit may be established and may be used during the normal field operation of the device in order to modify the duty cycle. Hence, an efficient control strategy may be implemented since the duty cycle may be efficiently controlled, while at the same time a change of clock signal frequency and/or an increase of supply voltage may not be required.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a sampling rate relating to wafer examination. A process step is performed upon a plurality of workpieces associated with a lot. A sample rate for acquiring metrology data relating to at least one of the processed workpiece is determined. A dynamic sampling rate adjustment process is performed to adaptively modify the sample rate. The dynamic sampling rate adjustment process includes comparing a predicted process outcome and an actual process outcome and modifying the sampling rate based upon the comparison.

Abstract: In a manufacturing flow for adapting the band gap of the semiconductor material with respect to the work function of a metal-containing gate electrode material, a strain-inducing material may be deposited to provide an additional strain component in the channel region. For instance, a layer stack with silicon/carbon, silicon and silicon/germanium may be used for providing the desired threshold voltage for a metal gate while also providing compressive strain in the channel region.

Abstract: Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to devices and methods for energizing and detecting a wave-energizable apparatus on an item movable with respect to a working surface of a drilling rig. One illustrative device disclosed herein includes at least one mat adapted to be positioned on a working surface of a drilling rig and a plurality of spaced-apart energizing apparatuses operatively coupled to the at least one mat. Additionally, each of the plurality of spaced apart energizing apparatuses of the disclosed device is adapted to energize a wave-energizable apparatus attached to an item that is movable adjacent to the mat and relative to the working surface.

Abstract: A meta-material filter that may be used in constructing a duplex filter is provided. The metal-material filter is comprised of a substrate, a plurality of metal strips periodically positioned on the substrate, and a ground plane spaced from the plurality of metal strips. The plurality of metal strips may be arranged mono-periodically or bi-periodically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for accessing data. The method includes defining a first portion of a memory for receiving data and providing a memory request to transfer data from a source to the first portion of the memory defined to receive the data. The method further includes transferring a portion of data from the source to the first portion of the memory, wherein the size of the portion of the data substantially corresponds to the size of the first portion of the memory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming an optically triggered switch. Embodiments of the method include forming a silicon layer, forming one or more trenches in the silicon layer, and forming one or more silicon diodes in the silicon layer. Embodiments of the method also include forming a first thyristor in the silicon layer such that the first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode(s) by the trench(es). The first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode(s).

Abstract: A method includes performing burn-in testing of a device in a tester to generate post burn-in data. Pre-burn-in data associated with the device is compared to the post burn-in data. The device is identified as an outlier device based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of allocating resources in a wireless communication system. The method includes requesting persistent allocation of resources for a data spurt in response to detecting the beginning of the data spurt and performing non-persistent resource allocation for at least one packet in the data spurt. The non-persistent resource allocation is performed in response to determining that persistent resources are not available for allocation. The method also includes transmitting the packet using the allocated non-persistent resources.

Abstract: According to an illustrative example, a method of forming a semiconductor structure comprises providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a first feature and a second feature. A material layer is formed over the first feature and the second feature. A mask is formed over the first feature. At least one etch process adapted to form a sidewall spacer structure adjacent the second feature from a portion of the material layer is performed. The mask protects a portion of the material layer over the first feature from being affected by the at least one etch process. An ion implantation process is performed. The mask remains over the first feature during the ion implantation process.

Abstract: An application programming interface is provided in an object-oriented programming platform for developing applications. A method comprises, in response to a first message received at a first object that contains one or more properties, creating a second object that responds to a second message sent thereto responsive to sending of the first message to the first object and returning the second object. By returning, for example, key-value collection proxies by specific key-value coding methods a read-only or a read-write access may be allowed to a collection of a container object's related objects. A specific implementation of one object's class may change over time without requiring changes in another object's implementation.

Abstract: A power converter controller is operable to control power provided to a load circuit coupled between a first voltage supply terminal and a first switching element by controlling the first switching element and to control power provided to an energy storage element coupled to the first switching element. The energy storage element is operable to provide a power supply. A first control terminal couples to a control input of the first switching element. A first load terminal couples to the first switching element and the charge storing element. A second switching element couples between the first load terminal and a second voltage supply terminal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reducing packet loss for a packet data service during congestion in a transport network are provided. The method comprises measuring a packet loss rate over a time period in one or more flows of data traffic packets associated with the packet data service to determine whether the one or more flows of data traffic packets are experiencing a variation in a desired traffic performance level at a particular time duration during the congestion in the time period. The method further comprises triggering a request to reduce a flow rate of at least one of the one or more flows of data traffic packets based on the packet loss rate if the at least one of the one or more flows of data traffic packets experiences the variation in the desired traffic performance level.

Abstract: By forming an additional doped region with increased junction depth at areas in which contact regions may connect to drain and source regions, any contact irregularities may be embedded into the additional doped region, thereby reducing the risk for leakage currents or short circuits between the drain and source region and the well region that may be conventionally caused by the contact irregularity. Moreover, additionally or alternatively, the surface topography of the semiconductor region and the adjacent isolation trench may be modified prior to the formation of metal silicide regions and contact plugs to enhance the lithography procedure for forming respective contact openings in an interlayer dielectric material. For this purpose, the isolation trench may be brought to an equal or higher level compared to the adjacent semiconductor region.

Abstract: When forming dielectric materials of reduced dielectric constant in sophisticated metallization systems, the creation of defect particles on the dielectric material may be reduced during a plasma enhanced deposition process by inserting an inert plasma step after the actual deposition step.

Abstract: By embedding a silicon/germanium mixture in a silicon layer of high tensile strain, a moderately high degree of tensile strain may be maintained in the silicon/germanium mixture, thereby enabling increased performance of N-channel transistors on the basis of silicon/germanium material. In other regions, the germanium concentration may be varied to provide different levels of tensile or compressive strain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for transmitting and receiving random access channel messages in an extended range wireless communication system. One embodiment of the method may include accumulating, at a base station, signal energy received during a first portion of a transmission time interval. The method may also include accumulating, at the base station, signal energy received during a second portion of the transmission time interval. The first and second portions are offset from the start or end of the transmission time interval by selected delay intervals. The method may further include detecting the message(s) based on the signal energy accumulated during the first and second portions of the transmission time interval.

Abstract: A system and method to allow chat modules in a peer network to share active content. A sender peer includes an application module to activate a media content file from a content repository. The sender peer also includes a chat module to detect active content on the common peer and send information about the active content for display at a recipient peer. The recipient peer includes a chat module to receive active content information and an application module to active the media in substantially synchronous to active media at the sender peer. A content enhancement server provides supplemental active content information for display at the recipient peer and previews of the active content. The content enhancement server also enables a transaction related to the active media content file such as a purchase of an MP3 copy of the active content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a set-top box that is coupled to a video display, the set-top box being configured for communication with a video content provider. One embodiment of the method may include initiating display of a first portion of video content that is pre-loaded onto the set-top box and transmitting a request to subscribe to a first multicast service in response to initiating display of the first portion of the video content. The video content provider is configured to provide a second portion of the video content using the first multicast service.

Abstract: A communication system includes a bus, first and second devices coupled to the bus, and a handshaking unit. The bus includes at least one data line and control lines. The data line is coupled between the first and second devices. The handshaking unit is coupled to the control lines of the bus and is adapted to determine if the first and second devices are capable of completing a data transfer and enable the first and second devices to facilitate the data transfer. A method for interfacing first and second devices coupled to a bus is provided. The bus has at least one data line coupled to the first and second devices and control lines. The method includes determining if the first and second devices are capable of completing a data transfer based on the control lines; providing handshaking signals on the control lines to enable the first and second devices; and transferring the data over the data line in response to the handshaking signals.