Abstract: Submicron-dimensioned MOS and/or CMOS transistors are fabricated utilizing a simplified removable sidewall spacer technique, enabling effective tailoring of individual transistors to optimize their respective functionality. Embodiments include forming a first sidewall spacer having a first thickness on the side surfaces of a plurality of gate electrodes of transistors, selectively removing the first sidewall spacers from the gate electrodes of certain transistors, and then depositing second sidewall spacers on remaining first sidewall spacers and on the side surfaces of the gate electrodes from which the first sidewall spacers have been removed. Embodiments enable separately tailoring n- and p-MOS transistors as well as individual n- or p-MOS transistors having different functionality, e.g., different drive current and voltage leakage requirements.

Abstract: A circuit device incorporating an anti-reflective coating and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one aspect, a method of processing a substrate is provided that includes forming a film on the substrate and forming an anti-reflective coating on the film by first forming a silicon-rich nitride film on the film in a first plasma atmosphere and thereafter exposing the silicon-rich nitride film in-situ to a second plasma atmosphere containing oxygen to convert an upper portion of the silicon-rich nitride film to silicon oxynitride. Variability in the optical properties of the anti-reflective coating substantially reduced, resulting in improved UV lithographic patterning of etch masking.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a test circuit and methods of fabricating and using the same are provided. In one aspect, a test circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a mask thereon that has an opening to enable impurity doping of selected portions of the test circuit. A plurality of circuit devices are provided on the substrate that have respective active regions positioned at staggered known distances from the mask opening. Each of the plurality of circuit devices has a gate electrode that extends to the opening and has a first impurity region of a first conductivity type and a second impurity region of a second and opposite conductivity type. Where the predicted on-state output current of a given circuit device exceeds an actual output current of the given circuit device, there is indication of an overlap between the first and second impurity regions of the gate electrode of the given device.

Abstract: Ultra smooth as-deposited composite nickel coatings for use in an information storage system are provided. The composite nickel coatings include an electrolessly deposited nickel layer formed on a sputter deposited nickel layer. The composite nickel coatings have an as-deposited surface roughness of less than about 10 Å. Embodiments include formation of the composite nickel coating on a disk, followed by deposition of an underlayer and magnetic layer thereon to form a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic float assembly is provided, comprising (i) a generally cylindrical paramagnetic (e.g. stainless steel) float enclosure having first and second closed end portions located at opposite ends of a longitudinal axis running the length thereof, and having a generally cylindrical interior surface located between the end portions, (ii) a first annular magnet disposed within the float enclosure at a first location along the longitudinal axis and having an outer surface which substantially corresponds to the generally cylindrical interior surface, and (iii) and a second annular magnet disposed within the float enclosure at a second location along the longitudinal axis and having an outer surface which substantially corresponds to the generally cylindrical interior surface. The first and second annular magnets are separated by a paramagnetic (e.g. aluminum or titanium) spacer.

Abstract: Lighting assemblies are provided for visual indicators which indicate the level of fluid in a container. One such assembly comprises a backlighting assembly for a visual fluid level indicator having front and rear transparent viewing windows for viewing the level of a fluid contained therein, comprising (i) a substantially flat fiber optic panel located proximate the rear transparent viewing window; (ii) an attachment mechanism for attaching the substantially flat fiber optic panel to the visual fluid indicator proximate the rear transparent viewing window; and (iii) an illumination source optically coupled to the substantially flat fiber optic panel. The illumination source is a gas filled light source operating at less than 25 volts A.C. which is enclosed in a waterproof and explosion-proof enclosure, and which is optically coupled to the fiber optic panel by a fiber optic light cable.

Abstract: Lighting assemblies are provided for visual indicators which indicate the level of fluid in a container. One such assembly comprises a backlighting assembly for a visual fluid level indicator having front and rear transparent viewing windows for viewing the level of a fluid contained therein, comprising (i) a substantially flat fiber optic panel located proximate the rear transparent viewing window; (ii) an attachment mechanism for attaching the substantially flat fiber optic panel to the visual fluid indicator proximate the rear transparent viewing window; and (iii) an illumination source optically coupled to the substantially flat fiber optic panel. The illumination source is a gas filled light source operating at less than 25 volts A.C. which is enclosed in a waterproof and explosion-proof enclosure, and which is optically coupled to the fiber optic panel by a fiber optic light cable.

Abstract: A gas emission spectrometer and method for analyzing a continuously flowing gas stream using gas emission spectroscopy to measure low concentration levels of one or more gas/vapor impurities in the gas stream. Alternating power is applied to an electric discharge source to generate emissive radiation which is filtered into an optical signal at the emission wavelength of a preselected impurity gas. The optical signal is converted into an electrical signal which is selectively amplified within a narrow frequency range centered at substantially twice the excitation frequency of the alternating power source. The impurity concentration is measured from the amplified signal upon rectification.

Abstract: A sight flow apparatus includes a body designed to be connected in-line to fluid pipes within a manufacturing plant or other facility. One or more window assemblies are removably mounted on the sides or ends of the body to allow visual inspection of fluid flow through the body cavity. A fluid indicator device i.e., a flapper assembly or a rotor assembly, is mounted within the body cavity and supported by an axle extending between the windows, between the body itself, or between a pair of alignment washers located within the body. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of planar blades which are interconnected to form generally radially extending vanes. An enlarged indicator cap is coupled to each end of the rotor assembly to improve visual examination of fluid flow effects, to lock the interconnected blades together and to prevent the blades from contacting the windows, alignment washer or body.

Abstract: A sanitary sight indicator for viewing the contents of a production process is provided. The sanitary sight indicator includes a body, an optical unit, and a sanitary connection between the body and the optical unit. The body includes a process-interfacing portion which is adapted to interface with the production process and an optical-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical unit. The optical unit includes a viewing portion for viewing the contents of the production process and a body-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical-interfacing portion of the body. The sanitary connection includes a sanitary gasket having a substantially flat annular portion, and first and second annular projections which are approximately semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the annular portion. The sanitary connection further includes a sanitary gasket-groove in each of the optical unit-interfacing portion and the body-interfacing portion.

Abstract: A sight flow product includes a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are designed to be connected in-line to fluid pipes within a manufacturing plant or other facility. A cartridge can be located within and conform substantially to a cavity in the body. One or more window assemblies are removably mounted on sides or ends of the body to retain and locate the cartridge within the body cavity. The cartridge can be removed from the body and replaced when either of the window assemblies has been removed. Each of the window assemblies includes a transparent window to allow visual inspection of fluid flow through the sight flow product. A fluid sensing device e.g., a flapper, rotor or condensation drip tube, can be mounted within the cartridge by connection to the cartridge itself or by connection to opposed alignment washers in the window assemblies to facilitate visually inspecting the fluid flow in the sight flow product.

Abstract: A sanitary sight indicator for viewing the contents of a production process is provided. The sanitary sight indicator includes a body, an optical unit, and a sanitary connection between the body and the optical unit. The body includes a process-interfacing portion which is adapted to interface with the production process and an optical-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical unit. The optical unit includes a viewing portion for viewing the contents of the production process and a body-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical-interfacing portion of the body. The sanitary connection includes a sanitary gasket having a substantially flat annular portion, and first and second annular projections which are approximately semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the annular portion. The sanitary connection further includes a sanitary gasket-groove in each of the optical unit-interfacing portion and the body-interfacing portion.

Abstract: The use of a barrier layer between photoconductor layers and release layers in electrographic imaging materials provides enhanced performance, particularly in multiple use of the imaging materials in liquid toned imaging processes.

Abstract: An electrical charging system for repeatedly electrically charging a photoconductor layer on an electrical conductor through charging that photoconductor layer, selectively discharging it, providing toner on the layer, and removing the charge image in the photoconductor for each of as many toners as desired for forming a final printed image, followed by using a removal radiation of a shorter wavelength on the photoconductor to avoid long term changes in the photoconductor. A further charging cycle may be used before the next printed image operation begins.

Abstract: Cyanine dyes, particularly indocyanine dyes, having at least 7 carbon atoms in the polymethine chain which may possess a fused cyclopentene or cyclohexene ring in the form of a tri-iodide salt exhibit a substantial reduction in the propensity to associate compared to dyes having the identical cation but different anion. The tri-iodide salts are particularly useful as sensitizers in organic photoconductor systems.

Abstract: Cyanine dyes, particularly indocyanine dyes, having at least 7 carbon atoms in the polymethine chain which may possess a fused cyclopentene or cyclohexene ring in the form of a tri-iodide salt exhibit a substantial reduction in the propensity to associate compared to dyes having the identical cation but different anion. The tri-iodide salts are particularly useful as sensitizers in organic photoconductor systems.

Abstract: A method for ensuring that sufficient liquid is maintained in a liquid reservoir which is distant from a liquid supply station, comprising periodically determining the amount of liquid in the reservoir and sending the periodic determinations to a signal receiver for determination of the actual usage rate of liquid from the reservoir, sending a signal from the receiver to a remote supply station if certain defined mathematical operations indicate that liquid resupply is needed, and sending liquid from the remote supply station to the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: The ambient broadband radio frequency field strength from broadcast stations is monitored (FIG. 4) by periodic sampling (50, 52). A warning indication is provided if the field strength drops significantly. Drops in such field strength have been correlated empirically with the occurrence of seismic activity, usually several days later. Thus the indication serves as an early warning of an impending earthquake. In one preferred embodiment, a broadband, horizontal, very long monopole antenna (40) was connected to a rectifying and smoothing circuit (FIG. 3) to provide a dc output proportional to the ambient rf field. This voltage is digitized (50), and using a suitably-programmed computer (52), the digital version of the field strength signal is sampled once per minute (78). A cumulative or running average of the minute samples is calculated (80) and held. Once per hour the latest running average is stored (84) and a standard deviation (SD) of the last 24 hourly stored running averages is calculated (88).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical process for synthesizing carboxylic acids by reduction of gaseous oxides of carbon in which a gas transfer electrode is used as the cathode.The gas transfer electrodes are preferably used as hydrophobic gas transfer electrodes. In carrying out the process it is particularly preferred to use porous, hydrophobic gas transfer electrodes made from an electrocatalyst e.g. carbon, bound in a polymer such as polyethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In the case of some reactions another electro-catalyst may be added to the carbon/polymer mixture.The process is particularly suited to producing acids such as formic acid and oxalic acid.