Abstract: A pixel sensor cell having a semiconductor substrate having a surface; a photosensitive element formed in a substrate having a non-laterally disposed charge collection region entirely isolated from a physical boundary including the substrate surface. The photosensitive element comprises a trench having sidewalls formed in the substrate of a first conductivity type material; a first doped layer of a second conductivity type material formed adjacent to at least one of the sidewalls; and a second doped layer of the first conductivity type material formed between the first doped layer and the at least one trench sidewall and formed at a surface of the substrate, the second doped layer isolating the first doped layer from the at least one trench sidewall and the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method and system for determining wire capacitance for a VLSI circuit design, comprising determining all hierarchical blocks of a portion of the design; storing, for a plurality of the blocks, indicia of the most accurate one of a plurality of wire capacitance data sources; generating a wire capacitance database with an entry for each net in at least a plurality of the blocks, using information stored in at least one of the wire capacitance data sources; generating a hierarchical connectivity model for the design; and using the hierarchical connectivity model and said wire capacitance database to determine a cumulative wire capacitance value for each HLSN in each of the blocks in a portion of the design to be analyzed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software products iteratively traverse a hierarchical circuit design. An initial net and an instance history that uniquely defines the initial net within the design are selected. The initial net and the instance history are appended to a list of nets to be processed. The initial net and the instance history are inserted into a set of visited nets. Each additional net connected to the initial net is visited in response to a first request from a user. The initial net and each additional net are returned in response to a second request from the user.

Abstract: A method for controlling activity of a temporary file associated with a target file to which data is to be written.

Abstract: A multi-purpose log-handling tool for attachment to the three-point hitch of a tractor or other vehicle includes a boom and an inverted U-shaped frame containing a number of apertures to which accessory tools may be attached. The boom and the frame are connected to the tractor and at one of the apertures to permit the outer end of the boom to be lowered and raised by an operator controlling one or more hydraulic pistons. The apertures are preferably longitudinally arranged along a flange affixed to the bottom of the boom. Multiple apertures permit the simultaneous use of more than one tool, which might include logging tongs, chains, or winches. A flexible assembly for coupling the boom to the hydraulic piston accommodates for skewing action as a log is dragged and thereby reduces potential for damage to the log-handling tool.

Abstract: A method for saving and automatically restoring data contained in an object in an object-oriented software environment. The method creates a ‘checkpoint object’ with a pointer to the object of interest, and a copy of the fields in the storage object that are to be saved. After a system user has completed modifications to data values in the object, the checkpoint object is destroyed, which automatically causes all of the data values in the storage object to be restored to their original states.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for processing events, such as errors, in an event processing computer system. For example, an event processor may receive an indication of an event (such as an error), identify a priority of the event, and determine whether an action is associated with the priority of the event. If an action is associated with the priority of the event, the action may be performed. The action may, for example, include outputting a message associated with the event to an output location. A user of the system may specify which actions the event processor is to perform for events of various priorities. For example, the user may indicate that messages should only be output for events having specified priorities. The user may specify such actions, and other parameters of the event processor, using configuration information which is distinct from the event processor.

Abstract: A multi-purpose log-handling tool for attachment to the three-point hitch of a tractor or other vehicle includes a boom and an inverted U-shaped frame containing a number of apertures to which accessory tools may be attached. The boom and the frame are connected to the tractor and at one of the apertures to permit the outer end of the boom to be lowered and raised by an operator controlling one or more hydraulic pistons. The apertures are preferably longitudinally arranged along a flange affixed to the bottom of the boom. Multiple apertures permit the simultaneous use of more than one tool, which might include logging tongs, chains, or winches. A flexible assembly for coupling the boom to the hydraulic piston accommodates for skewing action as a log is dragged and thereby reduces potential for damage to the log-handling tool.

Abstract: A method for controlling activity of a temporary file associated with a target file to which data is to be written.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for copying a subset of the block design information contained in a circuit design database into a block design “cubby.” A circuit design duplication tool may be implemented in software to copy the block design information. The duplication tool need not be hard-coded with information about the location of block design information for particular blocks within the circuit design database or with information about the logical structure of the database. Rather, circuit design meta-data which indicates the locations of block design information and the logical structure of the database may be provided to the duplication tool to enable the duplication tool to copy the subset of the block design information. The circuit design database and/or the cubby may be stored in a conventional computer file system, and the duplication tool may copy the subset of the block design information using conventional file system commands.

Abstract: A method of producing nanocrystalline ceramic powder by creating a plasma stream in a reactor vessel, and physically converting a ceramic precursor material into ceramic particles suspended in the vessel, using the plasma stream. A metallic reactant may additionally be introduced into the vessel using the plasma stream, wherein the metallic reactant forms ceramic particles having the same composition as the ceramic particles of the physical converting step. The plasma stream is created using an electrothermal gun. The gun may use a ceramic barrel which is eroded by the plasma stream. Alternatively (or additionally), the ceramic precursor material may be injected as particulates into the plasma stream, wherein the ceramic precursor particulates are micron-sized or larger. A novel electrothermal gun design may optionally use a replaceable insert constructed of the ceramic precursor material.

Abstract: A locating plate for locating a first piece of rotary machinery relative to a second piece of rotary machinery is provided. The plate has a first periphery surface for mating with a first receiving surface of the first piece of rotary machinery and a second periphery surface for mating with a second receiving surface of the second piece of rotary machinery. The plate also has at least one attaching device for use in attaching the plate to the first piece of rotary machinery and at least one removal device for use in removing the plate from the first piece of rotary machinery. The plate is removably attachable to the second piece of rotary machinery, and the second periphery surface is sizable independently from the first periphery surface.

Abstract: A device for handling and splitting logs is characterized by a unique mechanism for holding logs while they are cut into sections of a desired length and then simultaneously splitting the cut sections into quarters. The log holding apparatus is arranged on a portable frame and inclined bed for the logs, the entire apparatus being easily transported to the log handling site.

Abstract: A method for identifying FETs implemented in a predefined logic equation defined by at least one signal name from a netlist having output nodes, supply voltages with their opposite supply voltages, and FETs with their connectivity, that includes the steps of selecting an output node from the netlist, preparing the predefined logic equation for searching FETs in the netlist, and identifying FETs from the netlist that are implemented in the prepared predefined logic equation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing a VLSI circuit design stored in a computer system. Each segment of the design layout is stored in the computer memory for analysis and implementation. An electronic computer-aided design (E-CAD) program is used to analyze the design. First, the E-CAD tool is run on the entire design or on a designated part thereof. The tool compares the design to specifications and returns a list of violations on a segment basis. The E-CAD tool identifies violations for the designer to fix through redesign or clarification of specifications. The method marks or flags signals of those segments reporting violations. After the designer has attempted to remedy the violations, the method reruns the E-CAD analysis on those signals that reported a violation during a prior run.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for identifying FETs that comprise NAND and NOR logic gates in a circuit design having numerous FETs. A potential logic gate output node is queried to determine the configuration of FETs around the output node. FETs connected directly between the output node and either a high or low potential (VDD or GND) are identified and stored to memory along with a their corresponding gate signals. Branch FETs that are of a different type than the directly-connected FETs and that are channel-connected between the output node and either VDD or GND are also identified. If a gate signal for each FET in a branch corresponds to a gate signal of a directly-connected FET at the same output node, then a logic gate exists.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing nanosized powders utilizes a hybrid exploding wire device containing a solid metal wire fuse in the bore of a tube that is open at each end. The ends of the fuse are connected to electrodes on the ends of the tube. The electrodes are designed to erode to maintain a heavy metal plasma. The bore may comprise a corresponding ceramic to be produced, and a microcrystalline powder of a corresponding ceramic may be retained within the bore. An electrical discharge vaporizes and ionizes the fuse. The tube confines the radial expansion of the plasma such that the plasma exits from both ends of the tube where it reacts with a suitable gas to form nanoscale particles. In addition, the plasma gas ablates and vaporizes a portion of the bore wall to contribute to the nanoceramic synthesis. Other alternatives include replacing the fuse with a thin conductive sheath or a consumable metal insert.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a network-based site having a common appearance. The system may include a tag embedded in each page of a network-based site, a script to be called from within the tag, and a configuration database storing page configuration information to be called or queried by the script. The pages of the network-based site may be stored in a page storage medium. The method may include receiving a request for a page, retrieving the page from a page storage medium and executing a database script associated with the page to access configuration information from a configuration database. The method may further include receiving configuration information associated with the page from the configuration database, wherein the page, including the configuration information, may be served to a user.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing nanosized powders utilizes a hybrid exploding wire device containing a solid metal wire fuse in the bore of a tube that is open at each end. The ends of the fuse are connected to electrodes on the ends of the tube. The electrodes are designed to erode to maintain a heavy metal plasma. The bore may comprise a corresponding ceramic to be produced, and a microcrystalline powder of a corresponding ceramic may be retained within the bore. An electrical discharge vaporizes and ionizes the fuse. The tube confines the radial expansion of the plasma such that the plasma exits from both ends of the tube where it reacts with a suitable gas to form nanoscale particles. In addition, the plasma gas ablates and vaporizes a portion of the bore wall to contribute to the nanoceramic synthesis. Other alternatives include replacing the fuse with a thin conductive sheath or a consumable metal insert.

Abstract: An inner shell of a steam turbine has discrete arcuate steam outlet ports through an axial face. In axial opposition is a nozzle ring including a pair of nozzle ring segments joined at a horizontal midline. At the midline joint, split partitions are employed to provide a full 360° discharge through the nozzle ring. The split partitions are split in an axial direction to define discrete partition portions in each of the nozzle ring segments adjacent the midline joint.