Abstract: A method of forming patterns of a semiconductor device includes forming a hard mask layer and a first sacrificial layer over a first region and a second region of a semiconductor substrate, etching the first sacrificial layer to form a first sacrificial pattern having a first width in the first region and second sacrificial patterns having a second width in the second region, wherein the second width is narrower than the first width, forming a first spacer surrounding sidewalls of the first sacrificial pattern and a second spacer surrounding sidewalls of the second sacrificial patterns, removing the first and the second sacrificial patterns; and etching the first and second spacers.

Abstract: Samples of hydrocarbon are obtained with a coring tool. An analysis of some thermal or electrical properties of the core samples may be performed downhole. The core samples may also be preserved in containers sealed and/or refrigerated prior to being brought uphole for analysis. The hydrocarbon trapped in the pore space of the core samples may be extracted from the core samples downhole. The extracted hydrocarbon may be preserved in chambers and/or analyzed downhole.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for multidimensional analysis, especially for multidimensional liquid chromatography. Methods and apparatus for the quantitative determination of one or more components comprised in a sample mixture are described. Methods and apparatus of the invention typically allow accurate quantitative determination of more components of the mixture than prior multidimensional methods. The invention is particularly useful for, but is not limited to the analysis of complex mixtures of peptides and proteins.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a dispenser of the type having an actuator that is movable over a variable stroke distance includes dispensing a quantity of viscous material from the dispenser by moving the actuator over one of a plurality of stroke distances, weighing the quantity of viscous material, repeating the acts of dispensing and weighing for each of the plurality of stroke distances, and displaying the weight of each of the dispensed quantities to a user using a user interface device.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit providing an enlarged contact process window while reducing device size is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate including a first region and a second region, the first and second regions having one or more gate structures including a dummy gate layer; removing the dummy gate layer from at least one of the one or more gate structures in the first and second regions to form one or more trenches in the first and second regions; filling the one or more trenches in the first and second regions with a conductive layer; selectively etching back the conductive layer of the one or more gate structures in the second region of the substrate; forming a protective layer over the etched back conductive layer of the one or more gate structures in the second region; and forming one or more contact openings in the first and second regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a die-cast quality judging method that can easily judge whether or not a prescribed quality is satisfied; a die-casting machine selecting method of judging whether or not plural prescribed qualities are satisfied; and a die-casting condition determining method of determining die-casting conditions. It is judged that inequalities to be restricted by judging standard values QfLB2 and QaUB2 are not true from the positional relation between a process point 13 that is an intersection of a machine characteristic line 11 and a die characteristic line 12 and straight lines 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and thus it is judged that the inequalities to restrict an upper limit of a filling time and a lower limit of an air vent exhaust velocity are not true. That is, it is judged that prescribed qualities are not satisfied with regard to misrun and gas inclusion.

Abstract: After a target compound is captured by an adsorbent within a trap column (7) held by a column rack (8) in a substantially vertical position and the column is filled with water to wash its inside, dichloromethane is slowly introduced from an inlet end (7a) on the lower side by a pump (5). The water within the trap column (7) is pushed upward by dichloromethane and exits from an outlet end (7b), to be disposed of via a two-way selector valve (12) and a disposal passage (14). Dichloromethane elutes the captured target compound. Therefore, when the eluate, which initially consists of water, changes via an emulsion to dichloromethane, the eluate contains an adequately high concentration of target compound. At this point, the two-way valve (12) is switched to a preparative separation passage (13). As a result, a solution that is adequately free from water and yet contains the target compound can be collected into a collection container (17), and the target compound in solid forms can be quickly obtained.

Abstract: A vibrating nano-scale or micro-scale electromechanical component including a vibrating mechanical element that cooperates with at least one detection electrode. The detection electrode is flexible and is configured to vibrate in phase opposition relative to the vibrating mechanical element. Such a component may find, for example, application to resonators or motion sensors.

Abstract: A shear test device for testing the strength of attachment between a bond and an electronic substrate. The device incorporates a clamping mechanism and a shear test tool that are mounted on a baseplate. During a set-up procedure, the shear test tool is movable relative to the baseplate. During a test procedure, the shear test tool is clamped by the clamping mechanism in a fixed position relative to the baseplate. At least one abutment is provided that is fixed in position relative to the baseplate. During the test procedure, a drive mechanism provides relative movement between the shear test tool and the bond to cause the shear test tool to shear the bond off the substrate. The at least one abutment provides an additional clamping force on the test tool while the test tool is shearing the bond off of the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a phase separation float assembly, a phase separation detection system, and a method for detecting phase separation. One embodiment comprises a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along a fuel level probe shaft and a magnet. This embodiment also comprises a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along the shaft. The first float has a first density and the second float has a second density greater than the first density. The second float subassembly further comprises at least one stop feature which engages the first float subassembly when the first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along the fuel level probe shaft. The first float density is selected such that the first float subassembly travels vertically along the shaft to engage the at least one stop feature in the presence of phase separation.

Abstract: Described is a material sample for testing material properties under biaxial load as well as a method therefor. The material sample has a circular disk shape and, for rotation about the center line thereof, is provided with an integrally formed hub. The edge of the material sample and the hub are thicker than the ring section of the material sample located in between. In one embodiment, the ring section is designed with an annular concave fillet concentric to the hub and the concave fillet may extend from the edge to the hub and have a continuous curvature over its width. In the method, it is rotated about its center line at least at 100,000 rpm, preferably at 150,000 rpm±10,000 rpm.

Abstract: A liquid storage system. The liquid storage system includes a storage tank having an upright section and a base section. A volume extends between the upright and base section. An inlet and outlet are coupled to the volume for adding and extracting fluid from the storage tank, respectively. There is at least one shelf coupled to the upright section of the storage tank.

Abstract: Methods of dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes forming an in-situ mask with a plasma etch chamber by accumulating a thickness of plasma deposited polymer to protect IC bump surfaces from a subsequent plasma etch. Second mask materials, such as a water soluble mask material may be utilized along with the plasma deposited polymer. At least some portion of the mask is patterned with a femtosecond laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with trenches. The patterning exposing regions of the substrate between the ICs in which the substrate is plasma etched to singulate the IC and the water soluble material layer washed off.

Abstract: A method for making a thin film transistor, the method comprising the steps of: providing an insulating substrate; forming a carbon nanotube layer on the insulating substrate, the carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes; applying a source electrode and a drain electrode spaced from each other and electrically connected to two opposite ends of at least one of carbon nanotubes; covering the carbon nanotube layer with an insulating layer; and placing a gate electrode on the insulating layer, the gate electrode being opposite to and electrically insulated from the carbon nanotube layer by the insulating layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide improved non-destructive testing of pavements and in particular non-destructive testing of pavements using rolling wheel deflectometer systems having more than four sensors. The additional sensors more accurately detect pavement deflections under load by compensating for the influence the load deflection basin can have on sensors beyond those at the wheel load. The sensors should be spaced with equal distances from the rolling weight and can have a distance between adjacent sensors that is greater than the equivalent thickness of the pavement being measured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method monitoring the health of structural joints by monitoring the strain developed near the joint due to perturbation applied away from that joint and comparing the monitored ratio between near field and far field strain to strain ratio which develops in a healthy joint due to comparable perturbation. The system for monitoring joints comprises: at least one near field strain measuring device installed near a monitored joint for monitoring the induced strain; at least one far field strain measuring device installed away from monitored joint indicating, measuring or producing the perturbation; and a data processor connected to said near field strain measuring device and to said near field strain measuring device for analyzing the response of the structure to the perturbation and determining the integrity of said joint.

Abstract: Heat sinks for use in assemblies for preheating liquid samples prior to their introduction into an analytical stream. The heater assemblies have a heat sink having a metallic heater block and a heating element for heating the block. The block has a basin for receiving a liquid sample and allowing heat to be transmitted from the block to the sample. A drain at the lower end of the basin allows sample in the basin to flow out of the basin. A passageway extends through the block from the drain to an exterior surface of the block and provides a conduit for sample flowing from the drain, A temperature sensor is mounted in a cavity in the block and extends into the basin to measure the temperature of sample in the basin. A temperature sensor is mounted in a cavity in the block and measures the temperature of the block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring instrument and method for detecting the content of oil, hydrocarbons and oxidizable gases in air or compressed air. In order to develop a measuring instrument for detecting the content of oil, hydrocarbons and oxidizable gases in air or compressed air, said instrument being suitable for detecting concentrations in the lower ?g/m3 range or in the ppb range and allowing measuring accuracy of 10 micrograms oil/m3 air at a measurement error in the single-digit percentage range, it is proposed according to the invention that the measuring instrument comprises an air or compressed-air connection and, connected thereto, a flow limiter to which a catalyst is connected that is connected in turn with a photoionization detector, switchable means being provided for routing the air or compressed air over the oxidation catalyst or past it directly to the photoionization detector.

Abstract: Highly efficient and rapid filtration-based concentration devices, systems and methods are disclosed with sample fluidic lines and a filter packaged in a disposable tip which concentrate biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. The concentrate is then dispensed from the disposable tip in a set volume of elution fluid. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. All conduits by which the disposable tip attaches to the instrument are combined into a single connection point on the upper end of the tip.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a method in which a desired position is rapidly subjected to laser irradiation while switching laser irradiation patterns. With respect to an organic memory element having a structure in which an organic compound layer is interposed between a pair of conductive layers, data is written to the organic memory element by laser irradiation using a laser irradiation apparatus. Further, a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator is split by a diffractive optical element into a plurality of laser beams, thereby irradiating a plurality of portions on the organic compound layer with laser beams by single irradiation.