Abstract: Novel orthopedic staples and related instruments are disclosed. An instrument is an orthopedic drill guide assembly that includes a first arm and a second arm that are retractably connected to the distal end of the instrument's outer housing, where the proximal ends of the arms are retractably connected to the distal end of the outer housing and configured to move in a retractable motion that changes the spacing between the first drill guide sleeve and the second drill guide sleeve, where the proximal end of the outer housing is configured for controlling the retractable motion of the first and second arms.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and methods for rinsing and drying substrates. One embodiment provides an end effector comprising a body having a contact tip for contacting an edge area of a substrate, wherein the end effector is configured to support the substrate while the substrate is in a rinsing bath and while the substrate is being dried from the rinsing bath, and the contact tip comprises a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and methods for rinsing and drying substrates. One embodiment provides an end effector comprising a body having a contact tip for contacting an edge area of a substrate, wherein the end effector is configured to support the substrate while the substrate is in a rinsing bath and while the substrate is being dried from the rinsing bath, and the contact tip comprises a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and methods for rinsing and drying substrates. One embodiment provides an end effector comprising a body having a contact tip for contacting an edge area of a substrate, wherein the end effector is configured to support the substrate while the substrate is in a rinsing bath and while the substrate is being dried from the rinsing bath, and the contact tip comprises a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a method and apparatus for supporting and transferring a substrate. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus configured for handling a substrate comprising a base member, a first finger movably connected with the base member, wherein the first finger is pivotable about a pivoting axis, a second finger movably connected with the base member, wherein the second finger is pivotable about the pivoting axis, the first and second fingers form an opening, and pivoting of the first and second fingers allow the opening to vary for receiving a substrate and for carrying the substrate by contacting an edge of the substrate, and an actuator connected with the first finger and second finger, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot the first and second fingers simultaneously along opposite directions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an apparatus and methods for rinsing and drying substrates. One embodiment provides an end effector comprising a body having a contact tip for contacting an edge area of a substrate, wherein the end effector is configured to support the substrate while the substrate is in a rinsing bath and while the substrate is being dried from the rinsing bath, and the contact tip comprises a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: This invention provides a continuous display with non-uniform pixel density, forming a foveated display. A single, continuous display has a higher pixel density at the center of the display than at the periphery of the display. Where two continuous displays are used in accordance with the present invention, the central forward gaze of the viewer's image will be displayed in high resolution while the leftmost portion of the left eye display will be in low resolution and the rightmost portion of the right eye display will be in low resolution. The pixel resolution of the visual display may correspond to the visual acuity of the human eye. A foveated image display system using a continuous display with non-uniform pixel density increases the field of view while reducing the image bandwidth.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor device manufacturing, and more particularly to a horizontal megasonic module for cleaning substrates. In one embodiment an apparatus for cleaning a substrate is provided. The apparatus comprises a tank adapted to contain a cleaning fluid, a movable housing having a first side adapted to be placed in the cleaning fluid, a plurality of rotatable rollers coupled to the first side of the housing, the rollers positioned and including grooves to securely hold the substrate in a horizontal orientation, and one or more transducers adapted to direct vibrational energy through the cleaning fluid in the tank toward the substrate, wherein at least one of the transducers directs vibrational energy toward the substrate and substantially parallel to a major surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a rotatable single wafer holding bracket with one or more wafer supports disposed on the single wafer holding bracket, wherein the one or more wafer supports position a center of a wafer to be off-center from an axis of rotation of the single wafer holding bracket.

Abstract: This invention provides a continuous display with non-uniform pixel density, forming a foveated display. A single, continuous display has a higher pixel density at the center of the display than at the periphery of the display. Where two continuous displays are used in accordance with the present invention, the central forward gaze of the viewer's image will be displayed in high resolution while the leftmost portion of the left eye display will be in low resolution and the rightmost portion of the right eye display will be in low resolution. The pixel resolution of the visual display may correspond to the visual acuity of the human eye. A foveated image display system using a continuous display with non-uniform pixel density increases the field of view while reducing the image bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for filling apertures formed in a substrate surface by depositing materials that selectively inhibit or limit the formation or growth of subsequent layers used to fill an aperture. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate including providing a substrate having a field and apertures formed therein, wherein the apertures each have a bottom and sidewalls, depositing a seed layer on the bottom and sidewalls of the apertures, depositing a growth-inhibiting layer on at least one of the field of the substrate or an upper portion of the sidewalls of the apertures, and depositing a conductive layer on the growth-inhibiting layer and the seed layer. Deposition of the growth-inhibiting layer improves fill of the aperture from the bottom of the aperture up to the field of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a rotatable single wafer holding bracket with one or more wafer supports disposed on the single wafer holding bracket, wherein the one or more wafer supports position a center of a wafer to be off-center from an axis of rotation of the single wafer holding bracket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for filling apertures formed in a substrate surface by depositing materials that selectively inhibit or limit the formation or growth of subsequent layers used to fill an aperture. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate including providing a substrate having a field and apertures formed therein, wherein the apertures each have a bottom and sidewalls, depositing a seed layer on the bottom and sidewalls of the apertures, depositing a growth-inhibiting layer on at least one of the field of the substrate or an upper portion of the sidewalls of the apertures, and depositing a conductive layer on the growth-inhibiting layer and the seed layer. Deposition of the growth-inhibiting layer improves fill of the aperture from the bottom of the aperture up to the field of the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic door control and light for permitting push-button and/or remote opening of a door and lighting of an area proximate the doorway. The electronic door control and light includes a control panel assembly designed for coupling to a building, a door latch assembly having a door jarring assembly and a latch mechanism, and at least one light operationally coupled to the control panel assembly. In an embodiment, a remote unit has a transmitter and the control panel assembly has a receiver for selectively activating the door latch assembly and light. In an embodiment, the control panel assembly has individual switches for facilitating selective activation of the door latch assembly and the light.

Abstract: The luminance of a phosphor suitable for an alternating current thin-film electroluminescent device is substantially improved according to the present invention by including an alkali halide. The alkali halide included within the bulk of the phosphor material results in providing a significant number of trapping states which trap free electrons within the phosphor material. The addition of the trapping states (added defects) within the bulk tend to control the electrical and optical characteristics of the phosphor material. This reduces asymmetric light output characteristics of traditional phosphor material, reduces asymmetric current movement within the phosphor material, and decreases the influence of the interfaces between the phosphor material and insulating materials resulting in decreased aging and increased brightness.

Abstract: Novel compounds for use in ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures are provided, having a general formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxy-carbonyl, ##STR2## are cyclic groups, A and B are a single bond, COO, OOc, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2 O or OCH.sub.2, (a+b+c) is 2 or 3 and R.sub.2 is an optically active alkyl group. Ferroelectric smectic liquid crystal mixtures containing these compounds, and a suitable ferroelectric liquid crystal device are also described.

Abstract: The electrical plug guard comprises a disc member having a pair of elongated slots to frictionally receive the prongs of an electrical plug. The slots have centers offset with respect to each other along the length of the slots. The slots are effective to skew the prongs of the plug with respect to each other when the prongs are inserted in slots through the disc member. The disc member has a thickness sufficient to prevent finger contact with the prongs which are electrically active when partially inserted into an electrical plug outlet.

Abstract: A personally worn or portable annunciator device for alerting, warning, training, communicating or diagnostic use for people especially those with hearing impairments. This device which can be activated locally or remotely has as one of its means of generating a tactile sensation a transducer or buzzer, as well as a visual light both of which are activated automatically upon the detection of an audio signal substantially above the local ambient noise, or by a RF signal remotely generated by an auxiliary unit.