Abstract: In a liquid feed fuel cell system, substantially pure fuel needs to be added to a dilute mixture of fuel in water so as to maintain the fuel concentration at an appropriate level for use with the fuel cell system. Under passive control of the fuel concentration, a first equilibrium concentration is established between the substantially pure fuel and a fuel transfer medium. A second equilibrium concentration is then established between the fuel transfer medium and the dilute mixture for use with the fuel cell system. The system is “passive” as it does not rely on the measurement of the fuel concentration and direct injection of fuel. The fuel transfer medium can be solid, liquid or gas.
Abstract: Transistor architectures and fabrication processes generate channel strain without adversely impacting the efficiency of the transistor fabrication process while preserving the material quality and enhancing the performance of the resulting transistor. Transistor strain is generated is NMOS devices using a highly tensile post-salicide silicon nitride capping layer on the source and drain regions. The stress from this capping layer is uniaxially transferred to the NMOS channel through the source-drain regions to create tensile strain in NMOS channel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Novellus Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Bhadri Varadarajan, William W. Crew, James S. Sims
Abstract: A mixed language expression execution method and apparatus includes an execution engine equipped to determine whether an execution context has previously been created for an expression, upon receiving a request to execute the expression. If not, one is created, invoking one or more expression processors, to contribute to the initialization of the execution context. If created or upon creation, the expression (including its sub-expressions, if any) is executed, using the execution context. The result is then returned to the requester. In one embodiment, the execution context is object oriented, and includes various methods to facilitate the initialization and execution. Further, at least one expression processor includes a load and an execute interface equipped to use these methods.
Abstract: A system and method for low latency switching of data packets in a network switch. A network switch may include multiple input ports, multiple output ports, and a shared random access memory coupled to the input ports and output ports by data transport logic. Under normal operation, the data transport logic stores packet data into the memory. Later, the packet data is read from the memory and output to a destination output port. To reduce latency when the switch is not congested, the switching logic may be configured to perform a cut-through operation by routing packets directly from input ports to output ports without storing any portion of the packet in the memory. Alternatively, the switch may begin forwarding the stored packet data to the output port before the entire packet has been received or stored in the memory.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 4, 2001
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Nishan Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Stuart F. Oberman, Anil Mehta, Rodney N. Mullendore, Kamran Malik
Abstract: A mechanism for maintaining a surface such as a landing pad in a desired orientation with respect to a supporting surface includes a pair of columns that rotate with respect to each other. The angle at which the columns engage, or the angle at which the columns engage the surface and the supporting surface, are offset with respect to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinders. By selectively rotating the columns with respect to each other and with respect to the supporting surface, the tilt and orientation of the surface are adjusted.
Abstract: A deployable cellular structure providing impact energy absorption capability is disclosed. The structure may be packed when not in use and deployed automatically or manually to provide impact protection. The structure is useful in a variety of situations including vehicular protection of occupants, deployable highway safety barriers, and aviation emergency safety devices.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 13, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
Abstract: A bottle cap is resealable by a valve housed therein. The valve controls flow through both a liquid flow passage and an air supply passage, while maintaining the passages separate. The valve can be actuated by a feed tube spike.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining frame alignment in a discrete multitone transceiver by determining a rotation of the coefficients of the shortening channel impulse response for which inter symbol interference (ISI) is minimal. The ISI is determined by multiplying the average value of a transmitted discrete multitone symbol and multiplying it by the coefficients of the shortening channel impulse response in a given rotation.
Abstract: A technique for forming a semiconductor structure in a semiconductor wafer includes the steps of forming an epitaxial layer on a least a portion of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and forming at least one trench in an upper surface of the semiconductor wafer and partially into the epitaxial layer. The method further includes the step of forming at least one diffusion region between a bottom wall of the trench and the substrate, the diffusion region providing an electrical path between the bottom wall of the trench and the substrate. One or more sidewalls of the trench are doped with a first impurity of a known concentration level so as to form an electrical path between an upper surface of the epitaxial layer and the at least one diffusion region. The trench is then filled with a filler material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Agere Systems Inc.
Inventors:
Frank A. Baiocchi, Bailey R. Jones, Muhammed Ayman Shibib, Shuming Xu
Abstract: An excited surfactant species is created by generating plasma discharge in a surfactant precursor gas. A surfactant species typically includes at least one of iodine, led, thin, gallium, and indium. A surface of an integrated circuit substrate is exposed to the excited surfactant species to form a plasma-treated surface. A ruthenium thin film is deposited on the plasma-treated surface using a CVD technique.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Novellus Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Jeremie James Dalton, Sanjay Gopinath, Jason M. Blackburn, John Stephen Drewery
Abstract: In an emulator processor cluster, the read ports of a shared input and data memory stack are time multiplexed to serve more than one processor. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a 256×8 memory array serves as the shared memory for four processors in a cluster. Two read ports are time multiplexed among the four processors in the cluster. On one read cycle, data from the two read ports is coupled to two processors. The next read cycle reads data from the same two ports to the remaining two processors. In the preferred embodiment, the memory operates at twice the system clock speed so that overall emulation process execution time is not effected.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 6, 2000
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Quickturn Design Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
William F. Beausoleil, R. Bryan Cook, Tak-kwong Ng, Helmut Roth, Peter Tannenbaum, Lawrence A. Thomas, Norton J. Tomassetti
Abstract: A power supply circuit for various actuators includes control lines associated with the actuators that receive power from a single voltage increasing circuit. The power supply circuit supplies power to the control lines by splitting or dividing power from a voltage increasing circuit, which is configured to increase an on-board power source voltage. Power is supplied to loads by driving circuits. The loads are individually driven by activating switches. An auxiliary control line is connected to one of the control lines so that auxiliary voltage is able to be supplied or applied. A voltage-holding circuit is provided in connection with the other control line to eliminate influence associated with the activation of one control line with respect to the other control line.
Abstract: A signal generator circuit includes a controller adapted to generate a divide value in accordance with at least a first control signal, and a divider adapted to divide an output signal of the signal generator circuit by the divisor value. The controller is selectively operable in at least one of a plurality of modes in accordance with at least a second control signal. The controller is configured to calculate each of one or more new divide values so as to vary a frequency of the output signal in accordance with at least one of the first and second control signals. The controller is configured to switch between operational modes and/or switch between divide values, the switching between operational modes and/or divide values being performed in such a manner so as to substantially eliminate discontinuities in the frequency of the output signal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 29, 2004
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Agere Systems Inc.
Inventors:
Richard V. Booth, Roger L. Minear, Parag Parikh
Abstract: A control circuit controls current through a voice coil motor (VCM) during retraction of a transducing head from the surface of a recordable medium. The transducing head is carried on movable member actuated by the VCM. The control circuit includes a measuring circuit for measuring a back electromotive force (back EMF) from the VCM. The control circuit also includes a driver circuit connected to terminals of the VCM for providing the VCM with a drive current having a magnitude based on the back EMF from the VCM. The control circuit further includes a chop clock to alternate between measuring the back EMF from the VCM and providing the VCM with the drive current at a random frequency within a range of frequencies around a median frequency.
Abstract: A typical client machine such as a personal computer includes network based application such as the Internet Explorer and a non-network based application such as the spreadsheet. A system and method to dynamically access the objects embedded in the network based application are disclosed. The object can be a Web site including data and the accessing is done to retrieve the data.
Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide techniques providing account setup, management and transaction authorization determinations in real-time using transaction interrupt messaging. Embodiments preferably take into consideration the quality of one or more parties to the transaction and the means by which charges may be rendered to them when making account setup, management, and/or transaction authorization determinations. Accordingly, transactions, such as collect calls, meeting at least some minimal risk threshold may be completed on a first call attempt, even where a pre-arranged billing agreement or other business relationship is not previously in place.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 7, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Evercom Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Richard Falcone, Robert Mudd, Timothy J. Murphy, Jimmie Jones, Jr., Marc Hite, Luke Keiser
Abstract: A water intake and transmission system for simultaneously driving dual jet units of a jet boat. According to a preferred embodiment, the water intake includes dual channels to allow the uptake of dedicated streams of water. Mounted to the intake is a housing having first and second jet units encased therein wherein each jet unit receives a dedicated stream of water from a respective channel of the water intake. A transmission is operatively coupled to each respective jet unit and is further connected to the driveshaft of the boat engine, preferably via gears, belt-drives, and/or chain drives, that is operative to simultaneously drive both jet units from a single driveshaft.
Abstract: A device for removing a thrombus filter from a blood vessel is disclosed. A device in accordance with the present invention includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough, a wire having a first end and a second end, the wire being partially disposed within the lumen of the shaft, a portion of the wire extending beyond the distal end of the shaft and forming a loop, and a portion of the wire extending beyond the proximal end of the shaft.
Abstract: In a chemical mechanical wafer processing apparatus, a platen for supporting a polishing pad, a manifold for delivering a chemical to the platen, a workpiece substantially in contact with a polishing pad supported by the platen, a light transmission medium for transmitting and receiving light to and from the workpiece, one end of the medium being substantially flush with the top of the polishing pad, the other end of the transmission medium having a hollow portion for receiving a light transmitting and receiving probe, thereby providing a light transmitting and receiving probe in close proximity to the workpiece. The platen and manifold of the apparatus are substantially of non-metallic material and may be joined by spaced clamps and latches.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2003
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2006
Assignee:
Novellus Systems Inc.
Inventors:
Stephen C. Schultz, John D. Herb, Dave Marquardt