Abstract: A method of stabilizing an anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer is disclosed. The method provides a substrate with a dielectric layer, a conductive layer, and the ARC layer formed thereon. The ARC layer is treated in an alloy treatment step prior to forming a photoresist layer over the ARC layer, so that the specificity of the ARC layer is stabilized to allow accurate transfer of a desired pattern. A photomask with the desired pattern is provided, while a photolithographic process is then performed to transfer the pattern onto the wafer.

Abstract: The invention consists of oligonucleotides which inhibit the immunostimulatory activity of ISS-ODN (immunostimulatory sequence oligodeoxynucleotides) as well as methods for their identification and use. The oligonucleotides of the invention are useful in controlling therapeutically intended ISS-ODN adjuvant activity as well as undesired ISS-ODN activity exerted by recombinant expression vectors, such as those used for gene therapy and gene immunization. The oligonucleotides of the invention also have anti-inflammatory activity useful in reducing inflammation in response to infection of a host with ISS-ODN containing microbes, in controlling autoimmune disease and in boosting host Th2 type immune responses to an antigen. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutically useful conjugates of the oligonucleotides of the invention (including conjugate partners such as antigens and antibodies).

Abstract: An improved magnetic read/write head actuator assembly for use within a storage disk system that provides reduced average access time. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm mounted on a pivotal E-block structure. A read/write head is supported at a distal end of the actuator arm such that the head is positioned in close proximity to a rotating magnetic storage disk. An actuator motor cooperates with the E-block structure to provide pivotal motion to the actuator arm about a central pivot axis. The actuator motor includes a pair of rotor windings connected to the E-block structure at an end opposite the actuator arm and stator magnet structure that is statically mounted in close proximity to the rotor windings. The actuator motor further includes a flux conductive member for forming a closed magnetic flux path through the windings and the stator magnets. The pair of rotor winding are oriented in a plane normal to the plane defined by the pivotal angular motion of the actuator assembly.

Abstract: Accordingly to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing caller initiated third party billing in a telecommunication system is disclosed. First, a predetermined number is dialed by the subscriber to access the third party billing feature. The subscriber is then prompted to enter proper identification and the telecommunication system authenticates the subscriber identification. Once the subscriber's identification has been authenticated, the system retrieves the subscriber's account information. The system then determines the phone number of the selected telephone the subscriber wants to make calls from. The system then sends the subscriber's account information and the phone number the subscriber wants to make the calls from to a billing server. The billing server then sends the subscriber's account information to a local exchange carrier responsible for the selected telephone.

Abstract: An addressable lighting device and control system uses a DMX-512 protocol controller or other serial network protocol controller to selectively generate an electronic address for the addressable lighting device on which the device will respond to all future signals from the controller corresponding to that electronic address. The addressable device has a program mode for setting the address and a working mode for receiving control signals on the set address. The addressable device may have the address set and changed remotely using the DMX-512 protocol controller and a remote control to switch modes, thereby avoiding the problems associated with using DIP switches to set device electronic addresses.

Abstract: Polymer articles including maleic anhydride are described. The articles have improved characteristics and properties, such as surface bonding properties, even when the article includes a large percentage of ethylene propylene diene monomer terpolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-acrylic elastomers, reclaim, or an oil.

Abstract: An adhesive composition that includes the reaction product of (a) a polyester-based polyurethane; (b) an epoxy resin; (c) an epoxy-functional silane; and (d) an isocyanate-functional compound, and multilayer laminates in which this adhesive composition is used to bond two polymeric substrates together where at least one of the substrates has an ink-bearing surface.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a shallow trench isolation structure is described, in which a pad oxide layer, a silicon oxy-nitride layer and the silicon nitride layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. Photolithography and etching are further conducted to form a trench in the substrate. A liner oxide layer is then formed on the exposed substrate surface in the trench, followed by removing portions of the silicon nitride layer and the silicon oxy-nitride layer by wet etching. After this, the trench is filled with an oxide material d the excessive oxide material is removed by using the silicon nitride layer as barrier layer. The remaining silicon nitride layer and the silicon oxy-nitride layer are further removed to complete the fabrication of a shallow trench isolation structure.

Abstract: A screen interface for a communication device is provided. The screen interface includes a screen for displaying information. A control circuit controls the displaying of information. The control circuit controls the screen to have a first display mode in which the screen includes a first display section surrounding a second independently controllable display section.

Abstract: A barbeque grill structure includes a concave base, a grille-shaped framework, and a top cap. The framework defines an opening having two side walls each formed with a support step face. A material box is received in the opening and has two sides each formed with a support piece seated on the support step face. A top cover is removably mounted on the material box and defines a plurality of air vents. In such a manner, a closed chamber is defined between the framework and the top cap, and connects to the material box through the air vents.

Abstract: A PLL circuit that includes a sampled phase detector, a filter and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is disclosed. The sampled phase detector compares an incoming reference signal, Vref, and the output of the VCO, VO, to generate an error signal, Ierr, representing the phase difference between the reference signal, Vref, and the VCO output, VO. The error signal, Ierr, is filtered by a low pass filter and applied to the VCO to produce an output signal, VO, that tracks the phase of the reference signal, Vref. Jitter is reduced by reducing the delay between the sampled phase detector and the VCO. Delay is reduced by utilizing short current pulses, as opposed to the continuous charge-pump current produced by conventional sampled phase detectors. The sampled phase detector injects all the charge-pump current into the VCO at once, reducing the delay by up to half of a clock cycle.

Abstract: An easy access immersion suit, in which the zippered opening starts at the crotch, runs diagonally up across and around the hip, diagonally across the back and ending at the underarm opposite the previous referred to hip.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a method and apparatus in which a sacrificial anti-reflective coating is used as an etch stop layer to protect a material from being etched. The anti-reflective coating has a relatively high viscosity which allows it to pool in recess regions as it is spin-on deposited across a surface having elevational disparities. This feature of the anti-reflective coating may be taken advantage of when using the anti-reflective coating as an etch stop layer. That is, the anti-reflective coating may be spin-on deposited across a substrate and structures arranged upon the substrate to allow the anti-reflective coating to accumulate in the recess regions interposed between the structures. In this manner, a thicker layer of the anti-reflective coating is formed in the recessed region above the substrate than above the structures which comprises a first layer of material arranged upon a second layer of material.

Abstract: In a flip chip bonding method, polymer bumps are formed, using a bonding tool, on an IC chip, held via suction to the bonding tool. An insulating adhesive film is pressed onto the upper surface of a circuit board held via suction with a suction stage. Heat is then applied to bring the film into close contact with bond pads of the circuit board. At this point, the bonding tool is moved downward, bonding the polymer bumps to the circuit board electrodes. During the time of this downward movement, bonding of the polymer bumps to the circuit board bond pads can be achieved by piercing the insulating adhesive film with the polymer bumps, and it is found that strong bonding can be achieved with adequate reliability. This method eliminates the need for a process in which through-holes must be pierced in the insulating adhesive film to accommodate the polymer bumps.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for processing information, e.g., audio, video or image information, for transmission in a communication system. In an illustrative embodiment, the value of a single-bit or multiple-bit criticality flag is determined for each of the programs in a set of multiple programs to be transmitted in the system. The information bits for each of the programs are then separated into n classes, where n is greater than or equal to two, based on the values of the criticality flags for the programs. Each of the classes is provided with a different level of error protection, e.g., through the use of different convolutional codes or other suitable techniques. The program or programs having the highest criticality flag values in a given frame or other designated time interval thus have a larger percentage of their information bits assigned to the class that is provided with the highest level of error protection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for detecting physical memory connected to a memory slot of a computer. The amount of physical memory within each bank is determined during boot up of the computer. Specifically, an extended physical address range exceeding 232 bytes can be accessed and, therefore, detected from boot up code contained within a ROM. The ROM contains translation tables which allow a 32 bit linear address to be translated to a physical address which can reside at boundary address locations of the fill extended physical address range. Each boundary location can be tested by writing to and reading from the specific boundary addresses to determine if physical memory is present within a sector in which the boundary address page resides. The sectors are equally spaced across the physical address range so that boot up can detect physical memory sequentially along the sector boundaries, either beginning with the lowest addressable sector or beginning at the highest addressable sector.