Abstract: An integrated process is useful for producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and/or a derivative thereof from a six-carbon sugar-containing feed. The process includes a) dehydrating a feed containing a six-carbon sugar unit, in the presence of a bromine source and of a solvent, to generate an oxidation feed that contains at least one of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and/or a derivative or derivatives of HMF in the solvent, together with at least one bromine containing species; b) contacting the oxidation feed from step (a) with a metal catalyst and with an oxygen source under oxidation conditions to produce an oxidation product mixture of at least FDCA and/or a derivative thereof, the solvent, and a residual catalyst: c) purifying and separating the mixture obtained in step (b) to obtain FDCA and/or a derivative thereof and the solvent; and d) recycling at least a portion of the solvent obtained in step (c) to step (a).

Abstract: In fabricating a semiconductor device, a shared material is formed in a resonator region of the semiconductor device and in a phase-change material (PCM) switch region of the semiconductor device. A portion of the shared material is removed to concurrently form a heat spreader comprising the shared material in the PCM switch region and a piezoelectric segment comprising the shared material in the resonator region. The piezoelectric segment in the resonator region and the heat spreader in the PCM switch region are situated at substantially the same level in the semiconductor device. The PCM switch region includes a heating element between the heat spreader and a PCM. The resonator region includes the piezoelectric segment between two electrodes.

Abstract: A rapid testing read out integrated circuit (ROIC) includes phase-change material (PCM) radio frequency (RF) switches residing on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Each PCM RF switch includes a PCM and a heating element transverse to the PCM. The ASIC is configured to provide amorphizing and crystallizing electrical pulses to a selected PCM RF switch. The ASIC is also configured to generate data for determining and characterizing OFF state conductivity skew and ON state conductivity skew of the PCM in the selected PCM RF switch after the ASIC performs a plurality of OFF/ON cycles. In one implementation, a testing method using the ASIC is disclosed.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element underlying an active segment of the PCM, the PCM and heating element being situated over a substrate. A contact dielectric is over the PCM. PCM contacts have upper portions and uniform plate slot lower portions. The uniform plate slot lower portions have a total plate resistance RPLATE, and a total plate slot interface resistance RPLATE-INT. The upper portions have a total capacitance CUPPER to the uniform plate slot lower portions, and the PCM has a total capacitance CPCM to the substrate. The uniform plate slot lower portions significantly reduce a product of (RPLATE+RPLATE-INT) and (CUPPER+CPCM). As an alternative to the uniform plate slot lower portions, PCM contacts have segmented lower portions. The segmented lower portions significantly reduce CUPPER.

Abstract: A pest control device comprising a capacitive sensor array including a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array being configured to generate an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad, and an electronic controller electrically connected to the capacitive sensor array, the electronic controller including a processor and a memory including a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: receive the electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array, determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal, calculate a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad, determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding baseline exceeds a first predetermined threshold, update a counter when the first predetermined threshold is exceeded, and record an event indicative of a presence

Abstract: A pest control device comprising a capacitive sensor array including a plurality of sensor pads, the capacitive sensor array being configured to generate an electrical output signal indicating the state of each sensor pad, and an electronic controller electrically connected to the capacitive sensor array, the electronic controller including a processor and a memory including a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: receive the electrical output signals from the capacitive sensor array, determine a measured capacitance value for each sensor pad based on each electrical output signal, calculate a baseline for each sensor pad based on the measured capacitance value of the sensor pad, determine whether a difference between the measured capacitance value of at least one sensor pad and its corresponding baseline exceeds a first predetermined threshold, update a counter when the first predetermined threshold is exceeded, and record an event indicative of a presence

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element underlying an active segment of the PCM, the PCM and heating element being situated over a substrate. A contact dielectric is over the PCM. PCM contacts have upper portions and uniform plate slot lower portions. The uniform plate slot lower portions have a total plate resistance RPLATE, and a total plate slot interface resistance RPLATE-INT. The upper portions have a total capacitance CUPPER to the uniform plate slot lower portions, and the PCM has a total capacitance CPCM to the substrate. The uniform plate slot lower portions significantly reduce a product of (RPLATE+RPLATE-INT) and (CUPPER+CPCM). As an alternative to the uniform plate slot lower portions, PCM contacts have segmented lower portions. The segmented lower portions significantly reduce CUPPER.

Abstract: In fabricating a radio frequency (RF) switch, a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element, underlying an active segment of the PCM and extending outward and transverse to the PCM, are provided. Lower portions of PCM contacts for connection to passive segments of the PCM are formed, wherein the passive segments extend outward and are transverse to the heating element. Upper portions of the PCM contacts are formed from a lower interconnect metal. Heating element contacts are formed cross-wise to the PCM contacts. The heating element contacts can comprise a top interconnect metal directly connecting with terminal segments of the heating element. The heating element contacts can comprise a top interconnect metal and intermediate metal segments for connecting with the terminal segments of the heating element.

Abstract: An IC (“integrated circuit”) chip includes a substrate and a phase-change material (PCM) radio frequency (RF) switch, having a heating element, a PCM situated over the heating element, and PCM contacts situated over passive segments of the PCM. The heating element extends transverse to the PCM and underlies an active segment of the PCM. An active device is situated in the substrate. In one approach, the PCM RF switch is situated over the substrate, and the substrate is a heat spreader for the PCM RF switch. In another approach, the PCM RF switch is situated in or above a first metallization level, and a dedicated heat spreader is situated under the PCM RF switch. Alternatively, a PCM RF switch is situated in a flip chip, an active device is situated in the IC chip, and the flip chip is situated over the IC chip forming a composite device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a phase-change material (PCM) radio frequency (RF) switch, having a heating element, a PCM situated over the heating element, and PCM contacts situated over passive segments of the PCM. The heating element extends transverse to the PCM and underlies an active segment of the PCM. In one approach, the PCM RF switch is situated over the substrate, and the substrate is a heat spreader for the PCM RF switch. An integrated passive device (IPD) is disposed in an interlayer dielectric above the PCM RF switch, and is a metal resistor, a metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor, and/or and inductor. In another approach, the PCM RF switch is disposed in an interlayer dielectric above the IPD, and the IPD is a poly resistor and/or a capacitor.

Abstract: In fabricating a semiconductor device, a shared material is formed in a resonator region of the semiconductor device and in a phase-change material (PCM) switch region of the semiconductor device. A portion of the shared material is removed to concurrently form a heat spreader comprising the shared material in the PCM switch region and a piezoelectric segment comprising the shared material in the resonator region. The piezoelectric segment in the resonator region and the heat spreader in the PCM switch region are situated at substantially the same level in the semiconductor device. The PCM switch region includes a heating element between the heat spreader and a PCM. The resonator region includes the piezoelectric segment between two electrodes.

Abstract: A termite control bait container includes an upper end portion opposite a lower end portion. The bait container includes a chamber containing a termite bait. The lower end portion includes an air-trapping pocket below at least a portion of the bait to reduce intrusion of water through the lower end portion when installed in a selected orientation at least partially below ground.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element underlying an active segment of the PCM, the PCM and heating element being situated over a substrate. A contact dielectric is over the PCM. PCM contacts have upper portions and uniform plate slot lower portions. The uniform plate slot lower portions have a total plate resistance RPLATE, and a total plate slot interface resistance RPLATE-INT. The upper portions have a total capacitance CUPPER to the uniform plate slot lower portions, and the PCM has a total capacitance CPCM to the substrate. The uniform plate slot lower portions significantly reduce a product of (RPLATE+RPLATE-INT) and (CUPPER+CPCM). As an alternative to the uniform plate slot lower portions, PCM contacts have segmented lower portions. The segmented lower portions significantly reduce CUPPER.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an integrated passive device (IPD), and a phase-change material (PCM) radio frequency (RF) switch. The PCM RF switch includes a heating element, a PCM situated over the heating element, and PCM contacts situated over passive segments of the PCM. The heating element extends transverse to the PCM, with a heater line underlying an active segment of the PCM. The PCM RF switch is situated over a heat spreader that is situated over the substrate. The heat spreader and/or the substrate dissipate heat generated by the heating element and reduce RF noise coupling between the PCM RF switch and the IPD. An electrically insulating layer can be situated between the heat spreader and the substrate. In another approach, the PCM RF switch is situated over an RF isolation region that allows the substrate to dissipate heat and that reduces RF noise coupling.

Abstract: A fluid distribution assembly for distributing a fluid, the fluid distribution assembly includes an inlet housing including a first conduit and a bypass conduit; a chip detector cavity in fluid communication with the first conduit such that the fluid can pass through the first conduit into the chip detector cavity; and an outlet housing in fluid communication with the chip detector cavity and the bypass conduit such that the fluid can pass into the outlet housing through the chip detector cavity and/or the bypass conduit.

Abstract: In tuning a radio frequency (RF) module including a non-volatile tunable RF filter, a desired frequency and an undesired frequency being provided by an amplifier of the RF module are detected. The non-volatile tunable RF filter is coupled to an output of the amplifier of the RF module. A factory setting of an adjustable capacitor in the non-volatile tunable RF filter is changed by factory-setting a state of a non-volatile RF switch, such that die non-volatile tunable RF filter substantially rejects die undesired frequency and substantially passes die desired frequency. The adjustable capacitor includes die non-volatile RF switch, and the factory setting of the adjustable capacitor corresponds to a factory-set state of the non-volatile RF switch. An end-user is prevented access to the non-volatile RF switch, so as prevent the end-user from modifying the factory-set state of the non-volatile RF switch.

Abstract: A high-yield, tunable radio frequency (RF) filter includes a plurality of process-dependent capacitors and a plurality of non-volatile RF switches. Each of the plurality of process-dependent capacitors is connected to at least one of the plurality of non-volatile RF switches. An auxiliary capacitor in the plurality of process-dependent capacitors is engaged by an ON-state non-volatile RF switch in the plurality of non-volatile RF switches. A primary capacitor in the plurality of process-dependent capacitors is disengaged by an OFF-state non-volatile RF switch in the plurality of non-volatile RF switches. The auxiliary capacitor substitutes for the primary capacitor.

Abstract: A controller for implementing a method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where such arbitrary waveforms can also be used for charge balancing purposes.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element underlying an active segment of the PCM, the PCM and heating element being situated over a substrate. A contact dielectric is over the PCM. PCM contacts have upper portions and uniform plate slot lower portions. The uniform plate slot lower portions have a total plate resistance RPLATE, and a total plate slot interface resistance RPLATE-INT. The upper portions have a total capacitance CUPPER to the uniform plate slot lower portions, and the PCM has a total capacitance CPCM to the substrate. The uniform plate slot lower portions significantly reduce a product of (RPLATE+RPLATE-INT) and (CUPPER+CPCM). As an alternative to the uniform plate slot lower portions, PCM contacts have segmented lower portions. The segmented lower portions significantly reduce CUPPER.

Abstract: This invention is based on the discovery that 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can cause feeding stimulation by Reticulitermes flavipes workers. Provided are pest baits comprising one or more compounds of Compound A and one or more pesticide for pest management. In one embodiment, the pest baits are useful against termites. Also provided are methods for attracting and/or controlling pests, using the pest baits provided herein.