Abstract: An interline transfer type image sensing device that can be operated at high speed and with low image smear is described. The device incorporates a refractory metal layer which is used for both a light shield over the vertical charge transfer region and as a wiring layer for low resistance strapping of poly crystalline silicon (polysilicon) gate electrodes for the vertical charge transfer region. Plugs provided by a separate metallization layer connect the refractory light shield to the polysilicon gate electrode. These plugs allow high temperature processing after refractory light shield patterning for improved sensor performance without degradation of the polysilicon gate electrode or the refractory lightshield layer.

Abstract: A multimode fiber optical fiber transmission system includes an improved configuration for launching a single mode long wavelength transmission signal into existing multimode optical fiber networks. More specifically, the invention utilizes new single mode long wavelength VCSEL devices to realize a novel transmitter/transceiver for multimode fiber links where offset launch with controlled mode conditioning is achieved without the use of a mode conditioning patchcord, and in some embodiments, without the use of any collecting or focusing elements.

Abstract: An ultrasound medical system includes an interstitial end effector. The interstitial end effector is interstitially insertable into patient tissue, includes at least one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, and includes at least one end-effector-tissue-track ablation device. One method for ultrasonically treating a lesion in a patient includes the steps of obtaining the interstitial end effector and inserting it into the patient creating a tissue track which is surrounded by patient tissue and which ends at the distal end of the inserted interstitial end effector. Other steps include ultrasonically ablating the lesion using the at-least-one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, using the at-least-one end-effector-tissue-track ablation device to ablate the patient tissue surrounding the tissue track along substantially the entire tissue track, and withdrawing the end effector from the patient.

Abstract: A method for reading out charge from an interlined CCD having a plurality of photo-sensing regions and a plurality of vertical shift registers, and each photosensitive region is mated respectively to a CCD of a vertical shift register and a color filter having a repeating pattern of two rows in which each row includes at least two colors spanning the photo-sensing regions, the method includes reading out one row from each of the two row pattern; summing the same color from each row in the vertical shift register to reduce the resolution by one half; without transferring charge out of the vertical shift register, repeating the reading and summing steps for the remaining row; and reading out the charge in the vertical shift registers in a manner in which different colors are not summed together.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels in which at least two or more pixels have a charge control structure used to change charge capacity during the integration time; wherein at substantially a beginning of an exposure time the charge capacity is altered to substantially zero by either the charge control structure or a read-out mechanism and the charge capacity is changed by the charge control structure throughout the exposure time such that substantially no portion of the pixel photo response curve is substantially linear.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate of the first conductivity type; a channel of the first conductivity type that spans at least a portion of the substrate; a well of the second conductivity type that is positioned between the channel and substrate for a predetermined portion and that is not between the substrate and the channel for a predetermined portion all of which well is substantially continuous; and a connection to the well; wherein a resistance of the well not between the substrate and the channel is substantially equal to or greater than twenty five percent of a total resistance of the well between the channel and the substrate.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a photosensitive area that receives incident light for detecting photons; and at least one micro-lens that substantially spans a peripheral region of the photosensitive area, and the at least one micro-lens does not span a central portion of photosensitive area for focusing light from outside the peripheral region to the photosensitive area.

Abstract: A trench isolation structure is formed in a substrate. One or more openings are formed in a surface of the substrate, and a liner layer is deposited at least along a bottom and sidewalls of the openings. A layer of doped oxide material is deposited at least in the openings, and the substrate is annealed to reflow the layer of doped oxide material. Only a portion near the surface of the substrate is removed from the layer of doped oxide material in the opening. A cap layer is deposited atop a remaining portion of the layer of doped oxide material in the opening.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for recombinantly producing via rescue canine distemper virus, a nonsegmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, and immunogenic compositions formed therefrom. Additional embodiments relate to methods of producing the canine distemper virus as an attenuated and/or infectious viruses. The recombinant viruses can be prepared from cDNA clones, and, accordingly, viruses having defined changes, including nucleotide/polynucleotide deletions, insertions, substitutions and rearrangements, in the genome can be obtained.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a two-dimensional array of photo sensitive pixels for collecting photo generated electron or hole charge packets; (b) a Bayer color filter arranged over the photo sensitive pixels in which the first color is over two pixels and the second and third are over one pixel each in a two by two sub-array of the Bayer color filter; (c) a parallel charge coupled device for transferring charge packets in parallel towards a serial charge coupled device that receives charge packets from the parallel column charge-coupled devices; and (d) a row of pixels between the photo sensitive pixels and the serial charge-coupled device for the purpose of delaying charge transfer of selected rows to offset one column of the Bayer filter pattern such that pixels of the first color become aligned in one row and pixels of the second and third colors become aligned in the following row.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for optimizing collaborative fleet performance utilizing an Internet-based analytical tool. A user accesses the online tool via a secured access portal. The user is then prompted to provide current customer information, pricing and supplying terms, and customer objectives. The system then processes the information provided, prompting the user to select those products which most closely fulfill the customer's objectives. Once the necessary information has been input into the system, the web-based analytical tool generates a professional proposal suitable for presentation by the user to a prospective customer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for sampling outputs representing a pixel value comprises two first variable capacitors each having a variable range of capacitance and each for receiving the voltage representing the pixel value; two first transistors respectively connected electrically to each of the first variable capacitors for transferring the voltage to each of the variable capacitors; and a second transistor connected electrically to each of the first variable capacitors for transferring the voltage from each of the first variable capacitors.

Abstract: A method for transferring charge from a photo sensing region to a charge-coupled device in an image sensor, the method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of pixels including a photo sensing region for collecting photo-generated charge and a charge-coupled device region between which is a transfer region; providing a barrier in the charge-coupled device for causing the transfer of the charge through the charge-coupled device; and providing the transfer region having a lower barrier than the charge-coupled device so that excess charge in the charge-coupled device flows into the photo sensing region.

Abstract: A process for removing dopant ions from a semiconductor substrate includes exposing the substrate to a non-aqueous organic solvent in liquid and/or vapor form.

Abstract: A trench isolation structure is formed in a substrate. One or more openings are formed in a surface of the substrate, and a liner layer is deposited at least along a bottom and sidewalls of the openings. A layer of doped oxide material is deposited at least in the openings, and the substrate is annealed to reflow the layer of doped oxide material. Only a portion near the surface of the substrate is removed from the layer of doped oxide material in the opening. A cap layer is deposited atop a remaining portion of the layer of doped oxide material in the opening.

Abstract: An image sensor includes (a) a plurality of pixels each having (i) a plurality of photosensitive areas having a first sensitivity to light for forming a first sensitivity area; (ii) a plurality of charge-coupled devices respectively adjacent the photosensitive areas having a second sensitivity to light for forming a second sensitivity area; wherein the second sensitivity area is less sensitive to light than the first sensitivity area so that the second sensitivity area saturates after the first sensitivity area saturates; (iii) a first transfer mechanism for permitting electrons to be passed from the first sensitivity area to the second sensitivity area; and (b) a second transfer mechanism for moving electrons through the plurality of charge-coupled devices.

Abstract: A process for removing dopant ions from a semiconductor substrate includes exposing the substrate to a non-aqueous organic solvent in liquid and/or vapor form.

Abstract: An image sensor for capturing an image includes a photosensitive area for receiving incident light; a substance placed covering a portion of the photosensitive area which substance includes a first index of refraction; and a plurality of electrodes positioned adjacent the substance having a dielectric placed between a portion of the electrodes, which dielectric includes a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device for forming an electronic representation of an image from incident light, the charge-coupled device includes a substrate of a first type; a photosensitive area of a second type disposed in the substrate for receiving the incident light which is converted to a charge packet; a transfer mechanism for activating transfer of the charge packet through the charge-coupled device; an output mechanism for receiving the transferred charge packet; a reset operator for resetting the output mechanism to a charge voltage; and a logical element disposed on the substrate that inputs a gate waveform to the reset operator for activating the resetting operation of the reset operator.

Abstract: An image sensor includes (a) a plurality of pixels each having (i) a plurality of photosensitive areas having a first sensitivity to light for forming a first sensitivity area; (ii) a plurality of charge-coupled devices respectively adjacent the photosensitive areas having a second sensitivity to light for forming a second sensitivity area; wherein the second sensitivity area is less sensitive to light than the first sensitivity area so that the second sensitivity area saturates after the first sensitivity area saturates; (iii) a first transfer mechanism for permitting electrons to be passed from the first sensitivity area to the second sensitivity area; and (b) a second transfer mechanism for moving electrons through the plurality of charge-coupled devices.