Abstract: Accordingly, this invention relates to an dry etching process for semiconductor wafers. More particularly, the present invention discloses a dry etching process including a halogen etchant (24) and a nitrogen gas (28) that selectively etches a compound semiconductor material (18) faster than the front-side metal layers (16A)(16B). Further, the dry etching process produces a vertical wall profile on compound semiconductor material (18) in both X (38) and Y (40) crystalline directions without undercutting the top of a via-opening.

Abstract: An improved etching process for creating dimensionally accurate sub-micron and micron via-openings is disclosed. Specifically, this invention discloses a via etching process for a polymer layer (24) deposited on a semiconductor substrate (28) comprising the steps of: placing the semiconductor substrate comprising a polymer layer (24) deposited on the semiconductor substrate, a hard-mask (30) deposited on the polymer layer (24) and a photoresist mask (32) deposited on the hard-mask (30). The invention further, discloses performing a hard-mask opening step (34) comprising releasing a first fluoride gas (36) into the chamber. Furthermore, performing a polymer etching step (40) comprising releasing a second fluoride gas (42) into the chamber is disclosed. The invention also includes a hard-mask removal and tapered via step (46) to increase process margin.

Abstract: A method of dry plasma etching a semiconductor structure (20), having at least one semiconductor material layer (21), on a semiconductor wafer (200), involving a dry plasma reaction gas mixture (30i) being chemically selected for, and having an etch rate corresponding to, each semiconductor material layer (21); dividing the semiconductor structure (20) into a masked portion (23a) and an unmasked portion (23b); and sequentially exposing the unmasked portion (23b) of the semiconductor structure (20) to the dry plasma reaction gas mixture (30i).

Abstract: Method and system for wavelength-based processing of a light beam. A light beam, produced at a chemical or physical reaction site and having at least first and second wavelengths, ?1 and ?2, is received and diffracted at a first diffraction grating to provide first and second diffracted beams, which are received and analyzed in terms of wavelength and/or time at two spaced apart light detectors. In a second embodiment, light from first and second sources is diffracted and compared in terms of wavelength and/or time to determine if the two beams arise from the same source. In a third embodiment, a light beam is split and diffracted and passed through first and second environments to study differential effects. In a fourth embodiment, diffracted light beam components, having first and second wavelengths, are received sequentially at a reaction site to determine whether a specified reaction is promoted, based on order of receipt of the beams.

Abstract: A GNSS receiver tracks the AltBOC (15,10), or composite E5a and E5b, codes using hardware that locally generates the complex composite signal by combining separately generated real and the imaginary components of the complex signal. To track the dataless composite pilot code signals that are on the quadrature channel of the AltBOC signal, the receiver operates PRN code generators that produce replica E5a and E5b PRN codes and square wave generators that generate the real and imaginary components of the upper and lower subcarriers, and combines the signals to produce a locally generated complex composite code. The receiver removes the complex composite code from the received signal by multiplying the received signal, which has been downconverted to baseband I and Q signal components, by the locally generated complex composite code. The receiver then uses the results, which are correlated I and Q prompt signal values, to estimate the center frequency carrier phase angle tracking error.

Abstract: An optical path switch divides sample path radiation into a time series of alternating first polarized components and second polarized components. The first polarized components are transmitted along a first optical path and the second polarized components along a second optical path. A first gasless optical filter train filters the first polarized components to isolate at least a first wavelength band thereby generating first filtered radiation. A second gasless optical filter train filters the second polarized components to isolate at least a second wavelength band thereby generating second filtered radiation. A beam combiner combines the first and second filtered radiation to form a combined beam of radiation. A detector is disposed to monitor magnitude of at least a portion of the combined beam alternately at the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band as an indication of the concentration of the substance in the sample path.

Abstract: An electro-active transducer for sonic applications includes a ferroelectric material sandwiched by first and second electrode patterns to form a piezo-diaphragm coupled to a mounting frame. When the device is used as a sonic actuator, the first and second electrode patterns are configured to introduce an electric field into the ferroelectric material when voltage is applied to the electrode patterns. When the device is used as a sonic sensor, the first and second electrode patterns are configured to introduce an electric field into the ferroelectric material when the ferroelectric material experiences deflection in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: A cast article from an aluminum alloy has improved mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. The cast article has the following composition in weight percent: Silicon 6.0-25.0, Copper 5.0-8.0, Iron 0.05-1.2, Magnesium 0.5-1.5, Nickel 0.05-0.9, Manganese 0.05-1.2, Titanium 0.05-1.2, Zirconium 0.05-1.2, Vanadium 0.05-1.2, Zinc 0.05-0.9, Strontium 0.001-0.1, Phosphorus 0.001-0.1, and the balance is Aluminum, wherein the silicon-to-magnesium ratio is 10-25, and the copper-to-magnesium ratio is 4-15. The aluminum alloy contains a simultaneous dispersion of three types of Al3X compound particles (X=Ti, V, Zr) having a L12 crystal structure, and their lattice parameters are coherent to the aluminum matrix lattice. A process for producing this cast article is also disclosed, as well as a metal matrix composite, which includes the aluminum alloy serving as a matrix containing up to about 60% by volume of a secondary filler material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prefab waterproof structure and method for fabricating the waterproof structure according to a dry process. The prefab waterproof structure comprises a base sheet layer including a plurality of base sheets, a hard sheet layer including a plurality of hard sheets, and a cover sheet layer including a plurality of cover sheets. The base sheet layer, the hard sheet layer and the cover sheet layer are spread in order on the base surface of concrete. And the sheet layers may be formed by arranging and binding the pre-made sheets. The present invention can improve durability, toughness, chemical resistance, etc significantly, shorten a work period by omitting a hardening process and resolve many environmental problems.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rocket engine wherein the combustion chamber includes at least one first monolithic component made of a thermostructural composite material comprising a porous wall through which the fuel is introduced in the core of the combustion chamber. A small part of the fuel is directed towards the neck for it to be cooled.

Abstract: A solenoid health monitoring system uses a signal conditioner and controller assembly in one embodiment that includes analog circuitry and a DSP controller. The analog circuitry provides signal conditioning to the low-level raw signal coming from a signal acquisition assembly. Software running in a DSP analyzes the incoming data (recorded current signature) and determines the state of the solenoid whether it is energized, de-energized, or in a transitioning state. In one embodiment, the software identifies key features in the current signature during the transition phase and is able to determine the “health” of the solenoid.

Abstract: A construction intended for a carrier rocket or a satellite, comprising a first construction part (21), which is made of a composite material comprising two essentially parallel walls (23, 24) and a core (25) arranged between these walls, a second construction part (22) and means (26, 31; 26?, 31, 39) for joining the first and the second construction parts (21, 22). Said means (26, 31; 26?, 31, 39) comprising a first fastening element (26) provided with several threads (27), or several first fastening elements (26, 26?) provided with at least one thread (27) each, said first fastening element/elements (26; 26?) being arranged between the walls (23, 24) of the first construction part (21) in such a way that the threads (27) are accessible via the end surface (28) of the first construction part that faces the second construction part (22).

Abstract: Polyimides displaying low color in thin films, atomic oxygen resistance, vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, solubility in organic solvents in the imide form, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and high thermal stability are provided. The poly(amide acid)s, copoly(amide acid)s, polyimides and copolyimides are prepared by the reaction of stoichiometric ratios of an aromatic dianhydride with diamines which contain phenylphosphine oxide groups in polar aprotic solvents.

Abstract: Lightwaves (1), which carry data signals and beacon light, are used for establishing a connection between a receiver and a transmitter located remote from each other. An acquisition sensor (171) is provided for acquiring the lightwaves (1) in the receiver, which generates acquisition sensor signals (Sc) from the received lightwaves. The lightwaves (1), which are conducted over a telescope (2) and a beam splitter (R4), are fed to the acquisition sensor (171) as well as to a fiber nutator scanning device (5). Besides useful signals (Sa, Sb), an additional signal (Sw, Sm?, Sm) is obtained with the aid of the scanning device (5), which is used for making the acquisition easier.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods in which one or more elemental taggants that are intrinsically located in an object are detected by x-ray fluorescence analysis under vacuum conditions to identify or verify the object's elemental content for elements with lower atomic numbers. By using x-ray fluorescence analysis, the apparatus and methods of the invention are simple and easy to use, as well as provide detection by a non line-of-sight method to establish the origin of objects, as well as their point of manufacture, authenticity, verification, security, and the presence of impurities. The invention is extremely advantageous because it provides the capability to measure lower atomic number elements in the field with a portable instrument.

Abstract: A global real-time transmission and control system, which can track the position of the aircraft by up-linking and down-linking the A/V information and can control the A/V devices equipped on the aircraft. The automatic tracking system includes an aircraft A/V transmitting system disposed on the aircraft, an A/V automatic tracking system at ground for the aircraft, and a ground control system. The automatic tracking system is used to receive information from the aircraft A/V transmitting system, and automatically transmit the received information to the ground control system. According to the actual need, the ground control system can actively obtain the A/V information by the video/camera unit through the aircraft A/V transmitting system and the A/V automatic tracking system. Additionally, a salvaging plane is provided to land on the aircraft, which needs a salvage due to an accident or hijacking occurring on the aircraft.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for passively determining the location of a moveable transmitter utilizing a pair of phase shifts at a receiver for extracting a direction vector from a receiver to the transmitter. In a preferred embodiment, a phase difference between the transmitter and receiver is extracted utilizing a noncoherent demodulator in the receiver. The receiver includes antenna array with three antenna elements, which preferably are patch antenna elements aced apart by one-half wavelength. Three receiver channels are preferably utilized for simultaneously processing the received signal from each of the three antenna elements. Multipath transmission paths for each of the three receiver channels are indexed so that comparisons of the same multipath component are made for each of the three receiver channels. The phase difference for each received signal is determined by comparing only the magnitudes of received and stored modulation signals to determine a winning modulation symbol.

Abstract: A novel feed structure, for an antenna having a resonant electric field structure, comprising a patch element, an integrated circuit attached to the patch element, at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through and is not electrically connected to the patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, and an outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the first end of the outer conductor t

Abstract: Self-metallizing polyimide films are created by doping polyamic acid solutions with metallic ions and solubilizing agents. Upon creating a film, the film is exposed to ultraviolet light for a specific time and then cured. The resulting film has been found to have a metallic surface layer and a metallic subsurface layer (interlayer). The layer separating the metallic layer has a uniform dispersion of small metal particulates within the polymer. The layer below the interlayer has larger metal particulates uniformly distributed within the polymer.

Abstract: An automatic identification system and method are provided which employ a machine readable multiple layer label. The label has a plurality of machine readable marking layers stacked one upon another. Each of the marking layers encodes an identification symbol detectable using one or more sensing technologies. The various marking layers may comprise the same marking material or each marking layer may comprise a different medium having characteristics detectable by a different sensing technology. These sensing technologies include x-ray, radar, capacitance, thermal, magnetic and ultrasonic. A complete symbol may be encoded within each marking layer or a symbol may be segmented into fragments which are then divided within a single marking layer or encoded across multiple marking layers.