Abstract: A printhead (1) for printing molten metal for additive manufacturing of a component includes a nozzle component (10) having a nozzle outlet opening (12), a piston (14; 14a) that ejects the molten metal through the nozzle outlet opening (12), an actuator assembly (16; 16a) having an actuator, and a biasing element. By actuating the actuator, the piston (14; 14a) is movable in an actuation direction (y) from an extended position to a retracted position, in which a first piston end (18) that faces the nozzle outlet opening (12) is farther away from the nozzle outlet opening (12) than in the extended position. The biasing element (26; 26a) biases the piston (14; 14a), at least when it is located in the retracted position, back toward the extended position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component in layers includes dropwise application of a liquid material using a printhead. More particularly, a layer (14) of the component to be produced is divided into an outer region (20) and a central core region (18), and the liquid material (16) is applied successively in the outer region (20) and the core region (18). One or more parameters relating to the spacing between paths to be traversed, the drop size, the spacing between successive drops, etc. is selected so that the layer (14) will have a thickness that is as uniform as possible.

Abstract: A method for starting up a nozzle channel of a print head for processing liquid molten metal, the method including the following steps: A) preparing the print head, wherein metal is melted in a crucible to form a molten metal, and a piston tip is introduced into a nozzle chamber, B) creating an overpressure inside the crucible which encourages molten metal to enter the nozzle chamber, C) moving the piston tip in the nozzle chamber, the piston tip being moved back and forth by an actuator at a filling frequency until molten metal is expelled from the nozzle channel, D) moving the piston tip in the nozzle chamber, the piston tip being moved back and forth by the actuator, wherein initially the movement is performed at a starting amplitude at which molten metal is expelled from the nozzle channel out of the print head, and subsequently the amplitude of the movement is gradually reduced, and wherein the movement is performed with gradual reduction of the amplitude until molten metal is no longer being expelled

Abstract: A method for additive manufacture of a plurality of motor vehicle components specifies a target geometry for the plurality of motor vehicle components, specifies a production geometry associated with a production position within a tool for additive manufacture according to the specified target geometry, and produces the plurality of motor vehicle components by additive manufacture according to the production geometry in the tool. An actual geometry of the plurality of motor vehicle components associated with a production position is determined, the actual geometry is compared with the target geometry, and the production geometry is adapted according to the comparison.

Abstract: In a method and a device for additive manufacturing using a liquid material (16), a support structure (12) is used to form, on the support structure, a component (10) that may have one or more overhangs. For easy separation of the component (10) from the support structure, a separation structure (14) made of solidified material (16) is formed therebetween by changing at least one operating parameter when the separation structure is applied. As a result, a poorer or weaker connection (cohesion) of the material of the separation structure to the material of the support structure and/or to the material of the component is obtained. The change of the at least one operating parameter can be effected, for example, by selective cooling of the liquid material during application of the separation structure and/or by oxidation of the liquid material during application of the separation structure.

Abstract: A TSV structure, method of making the TSV structure and methods of testing the TSV structure. The structure including: a trench extending from a top surface of a semiconductor substrate to a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate, the trench surrounding a core region of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric liner on all sidewalls of the trench; and an electrical conductor filling all remaining space in the trench, the dielectric liner electrically isolating the electrical conductor from the semiconductor substrate and from the core region.

Abstract: A TSV structure, method of making the TSV structure and methods of testing the TSV structure. The structure including: a trench extending from a top surface of a semiconductor substrate to a bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate, the trench surrounding a core region of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric liner on all sidewalls of the trench; and an electrical conductor filling all remaining space in the trench, the dielectric liner electrically isolating the electrical conductor from the semiconductor substrate and from the core region.

Abstract: A method and system for securing a removable module. Upon removal of the removable module from a computer system, the removable module is locked. The removable module may be locked by setting the removable operating system module to auto lock, by pressing a lock button on the removable module, or by setting a time delay, where the time delay determines the time after which the removable module locks after removing the removable module from the computer system. Upon reinsertion of the removable module, a user attempting to use the removable module is first authenticated. The user may be authenticated by the user entering a password and the system comparing the password to a list of authenticated passwords, by scanning the user's fingerprints using a fingerprints scanner or the user's retina using a retina scanner and comparing the image to a list of authenticated image signatures.

Abstract: A method and system for connecting to a remote device by receiving information about the device's device driver through a remote device driver registry server using a platform-independent language. The computer system connects to the remote device driver registry server and requests information corresponding to the remote device. The computer system then receives from the remote device driver registry server data about the remote device driver corresponding to the remote device. The remote device driver registry server communicates the data in a platform-independent language such as XML. The computer system receives data such as attributes of the remote device driver and access interfaces of the remote device. A remote connection can then be established between the computer system and the remote device using the received remote device driver data. The computer system can access the remote device using the established connection and begin using the remote device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a running image of an operating system on a removable operating system module to multiple computer systems. The removable operating system module includes a memory unit for storing the running image of the operating system. Upon insertion of the module into a computer system, a BIOS loads the operating system from the removable operating system module and initiates the execution of the operating system. In response to a request by the user, the BIOS may resume or restart the operating system. The operating system may also discover any available local and remote devices, resume any available previously running applications, and perform tasks requested by the applications and the user. In response to a user's removal request, the state of the operating system is saved on the module and the removable operating system module is removed from the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system for hibernating the state of executing applications on a removable module and resume the applications at later time using the saved applications state. After inserting the removable module into a computer system, the applications state information stored on the removable module is loaded. The application state information may include an application identifier, a file identifier of a file being accessed by the application, and user preferences related to the application. One or more software applications are loaded from a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the computer system to a memory accessible by the computer system, and the loaded applications are executed. The state of each of the executed software applications is set based upon the corresponding application state information.

Abstract: A method and system for storing a running image of an operating system on a removable operating system module. The module is first inserted into a first computer system. The operating system is installed on the first computer, an execution of the operating system is initiated, and a running image of the operating system is saved to the nonvolatile memory unit of the removable module. The removable module is removed from the first computer system and inserted into the second computer system where the running image of the operating system is loaded to a second memory accessible by the one or more processors included in the second computer system. The operating system is then executed by the processors. A user can update the operating system by connecting to a manufacturer's website and downloading an update or by sending the removable operating system module to the manufacturer for an update.

Abstract: A method and system for adapting a computer system to receive a portable processing unit. A computer system is obtained and a portable processing unit interface adapted to receive a portable processing unit is attached to the computer system. The portable processing unit may include a running image of an operating system, or a processor adapted to execute instructions on the computer system, or both. An operating system and a processor may also exist on the computer system. In addition, one or more applications may be installed on the portable processing unit, or on the computer system, or on both the portable processing unit and the computer system.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing a processor to a computer system through a removable CPU module. The processor on the removable CPU module may be shared by multiple computer systems by inserting the module into different computer systems at different times. Upon insertion of the removable CPU module into the computer system, the computer system detects and identifies the module. The computer system may determine a compatibility between the processor and the operating system as well as an access address of the processor, an addressing mode of the processor, a data transfer mode of the processor, etc. The computer system then loads the operating system, informs the operating system of the processors attributes, and initiates execution of the operating system using the processor on the removable CPU module.

Abstract: Provided is a system which takes advantage of the integrated capabilities of different communication devices and employs those capabilities so that participation in any particular conference call is more tightly controlled than possible with current systems. A “vInvitation” programming object is defined that establishes parameters for a particular conference call. A conference call coordinator sends a vInvitation object to each prospective participant of a particular conference call. Each vInvitation is attached to a vCalendar programming object, which includes information related to the scheduling of the conference call. When activated by a receiving device, the vCalendar object automatically enters information about the particular conference call into a prospective participant's electronic calendar. At the appropriate time, the vCalendar object is activated, which in turn activates the vInvitation object.