Abstract: A plated test probe structure for testing electrical connections to integrated circuits (IC) devices with solder bumped interconnection pads that are an integral part of the fan-out wiring on the test substrate, or other printed wiring device.

Abstract: An irregular arrangement of slots in a cylindrical slot-array antenna is used to control the radiation pattern, achieving a variation of gain and/or beam tilt with azimuth. A design methodology for slot-array antennas achieves efficient and rapid optimization by minimizing the number of degrees of freedom and the number of significant mutual-coupling interactions. A useful range of designs is achieved by requiring that the slots are arranged in bays and that all slots, and their probes, are identical. Bays are separated by approximately a wavelength and, therefore, mutual coupling between bays can be ignored. Although the antenna slots are physically grouped into bays, the analytical approach groups the slots into paths defined by a simultaneous variation in z and &phgr; coordinates of the slots.

Abstract: A probe structure for probing an electronic device.

Abstract: An irregular arrangement of slots in a cylindrical slot-array antenna is used to control the radiation pattern, achieving a variation of gain and/or beam tilt with azimuth. A design methodology for slot-array antennas achieves efficient and rapid optimization by minimizing the number of degrees of freedom and the number of significant mutual-coupling interactions. A useful range of designs is achieved by requiring that the slots are arranged in bays and that all slots, and their probes, are identical. Bays are separated by approximately a wavelength and, therefore, mutual coupling between bays can be ignored. Although the antenna slots are physically grouped into bays, the analytical approach groups the slots into paths defined by a simultaneous variation in z and 0 coordinates of the slots.

Abstract: A three-part etching process is employed to selectively pattern exposed magnetic film layers of a magnetic thin film structure. The magnetic structure to be etched includes at least one bottom magnetic film layer and at least one top film layer which are separated by a tunnel barrier layer. The three-part etching process employs various etching steps that selective removing various layers of the magnetic thin film structure stopping on the tunnel barrier layer. The first etching step selective removes any surface oxide that may be present in the passivating layer that is formed on the top magnetic thin film layer, the second etching step selectively removes portions of the passivating layer and the third etching step selectively removes a portion of the exposed magnetic film layer of the structure stopping on the tunnel barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for implementing a computerized service provider request service for delivering service requests for multiple subscriptions, goods, memberships, etc., to many service providers in a efficient and non-redundant manner. The present invention comprises a server computer hosting a service provider request service accessible via client system to a plurality of clients and a plurality of service providers, a database of information concerning the services available from a plurality of service providers who offer services to qualified clients, and wherein the service provider request service including an integrated user interface comprising controls whereby a client submits qualification information, the service provider request service being available via a communications network to assist a client in delivering service requests to a plurality of service providers who offer services to qualified clients.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is provided for controlled delivery of gas to a patient. The apparatus is particularly useful for delivery of anaesthetic gases in circumstances where the patient is conscious and able to receive gas upon demand and also where ventilation is poor. The apparatus (10) includes an outlet duct (40) for conveying gas from a gas supply (25) to the patient. A waste gas inlet duct (60) is also provided for receiving gas exhaled by the patient. This is connectable to a suction source (at 35) for scavenging the waste gas. The waste gas inlet duct (60) is arranged so that it can receive gas exhaled by the patient with the outlet duct (via a valve or other diverting means (80)) and around the outlet duct (as guided by shroud (70)).

Abstract: Silicon and germanium containing materials are used at surface of conductors in electronic devices. Solder can be fluxlessly bonded and wires can be wire bonded to these surfaces. These material are used as a surface coating for lead frames for packaging integrated circuit chips. These materials can be decal transferred onto conductor surfaces or electrolessly or electrolytically disposed thereon.

Abstract: A superconducting multilayer ceramic substrate is disclosed, prepared by firing a laminate of at least two polymer bonded cast sheets of a ceramic dielectric oxide powder, at least one sheet of which has a metallization pattern provided thereon, to thereby form a superconducting oxide reaction layer at the interface between the sintered ceramic material and the embedded metallic conductor lines of the metallization pattern.

Abstract: A voice encoding method ?and apparatus initialize! initializes (160) transmit and receive vocoders operated within communication units (12, 42) with a user-unique speech characteristic model (SCM) table (320) and an input stimulus table (340). The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) are created during a training task (120) and stored (144) in a user information card (360), within a communication unit (60), or at a control facility (90). During call setup, the tables are exchanged (180) between the transmit and receive vocoders and the user's speech is encoded (200) using the SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340). During encoding (200), either compressed table entries that most closely match the input speech, or indexes that identify the closest table entries are sent (220) in a bitstream to the receive vocoder. The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) can be updated (240) during or after the call.

Abstract: A process for electrolessly depositing cobalt-tin alloys with adjustable tin contents from 1 to over 25 atomic percent tin is disclosed. The deposited alloy is useful in the electronics and computer industries for device, chip interconnection and packaging applications. When used for chip interconnection applications, for example, the invention replaces the currently used complicated ball-limiting-metallurgy. The invention may also be used to inhibit hillock formation and electromigration in copper wire structures found in computers and micron dimension electronic devices.