Abstract: Apparatuses including spark gap structures for electrical overstress (EOS) monitoring or protection, and associated methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, a vertical spark gap device includes a substrate having a horizontal main surface and a plurality of pairs of conductive layers over the horizontal main surface. Different ones of the pairs are separated by different vertical distances such that each pair serves as an arcing electrode pair and different ones of the arcing electrode pairs are configured to arc discharge at different voltages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically generating genetic risk assessments including (1) receiving a data share, derived from an electronic health records system, that indicates that a patient has scheduled an appointment with a healthcare provider, (2) in response to identifying that the patient has scheduled an appointment with the healthcare provider, sending a digital family history request to the patient in preparation for the scheduled appointment, the digital family history request including a link to a third-party portal and a request to access and complete an electronic family history form using the third-party portal, (3) receiving, through the third-party portal, responses to the family history form that the patient submitted using the third-party portal, (4) generating a genetic risk assessment for the patient based on the responses received through the third-party portal, and (5) based on the genetic risk assessment of (4), generating a three-generation patient pedigree.

Abstract: Apparatuses including spark gap structures for electrical overstress (EOS) monitoring or protection, and associated methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, a vertical spark gap device includes a substrate having a horizontal main surface, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer each extending over the substrate and substantially parallel to the horizontal main surface while being separated in a vertical direction crossing the horizontal main surface. One of the first and second conductive layers is electrically connected to a first voltage node and the other of the first and second conductive layers is electrically connected to a second voltage node. The first and second conductive layers serve as one or more arcing electrode pairs and have overlapping portions configured to generate one or more arc discharges extending generally in the vertical direction in response to an EOS voltage signal received between the first and second voltage nodes.

Abstract: Apparatuses including spark gap structures for electrical overstress (EOS) monitoring or protection, and associated methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, a spark gap device includes first and second conductive layers formed over a substrate, where the first and second conductive layers are electrically connected to first and second voltage nodes, respectively. The first conductive layer includes a plurality of arcing tips configured to form arcing electrode pairs with the second conductive layer to form an arc discharge in response to an EOS voltage between the first and second voltage nodes. The spark gap device further includes a series ballast resistor electrically connected between the arcing tips and the first voltage node, where the ballast resistor in formed in a metallization layer over the substrate and a resistance of the series ballast resistor is substantially higher than a resistance of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: Apparatuses including spark gap structures for electrical overstress (EOS) monitoring or protection, and associated methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, a spark gap array includes a sheet resistor and an array of arcing electrode pairs formed over a substrate. The array of arcing electrode pairs includes first arcing electrodes formed on the sheet resistor and a second arcing electrode arranged as a sheet formed over the first arcing electrodes and separated from the first arcing electrodes by an arcing gap. The first arcing electrodes and second arcing electrode are electrically connected to first and second voltage nodes, respectively, and the arcing electrode pairs are configured to generate arc discharges in response to an EOS voltage signal received between the first and second voltage nodes.

Abstract: A status of one or more components of a battery monitor circuit can be evaluated, such as to validate operation of the monitor circuit. In an example, a battery monitor circuit can be evaluated by providing a first test signal to a battery voltage measurement circuit that is coupled to a battery. A first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit can be configured to receive a first voltage signal from the battery voltage measurement circuit in response to the first test signal. A processor circuit can be configured to validate the first ADC circuit by evaluating a correspondence between the first test signal and the received first voltage signal. One or more other ADC circuits in the battery monitor circuit can be validated by cross-checking measurement results with information from the first ADC circuit.

Abstract: A status of one or more components of a battery monitor circuit can be evaluated, such as to validate operation of the monitor circuit. In an example, a battery monitor circuit can be evaluated by providing a first test signal to a battery voltage measurement circuit that is coupled to a battery. A first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit can be configured to receive a first voltage signal from the battery voltage measurement circuit in response to the first test signal. A processor circuit can be configured to validate the first ADC circuit by evaluating a correspondence between the first test signal and the received first voltage signal. One or more other ADC circuits in the battery monitor circuit can be validated by cross-checking measurement results with information from the first ADC circuit.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a first structured pattern having a first line width on a substrate. A polymer brush is deposited on the structured pattern, which is annealed a first time at a first temperature and then annealed a second time at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. A block copolymer is deposited on the structured pattern and polymer brush, and aligned first block and second block structures are formed on the structured pattern and polymer brush. The first block structures and portions of the polymer brush and the structured pattern positioned beneath the first block structures are removed, and the substrate between the second block structures is exposed. The second block structures are then removed to form a second structured pattern in the substrate having a second line width, the second line width being smaller than the first line width.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically generating genetic risk assessments including (1) receiving a data share, derived from an electronic health records system, that indicates that a patient has scheduled an appointment with a healthcare provider, (2) in response to identifying that the patient has scheduled an appointment with the healthcare provider, sending a digital family history request to the patient in preparation for the scheduled appointment, the digital family history request including a link to a third-party portal and a request to access and complete an electronic family history form using the third-party portal, (3) receiving, through the third-party portal, responses to the family history form that the patient submitted using the third-party portal, (4) generating a genetic risk assessment for the patient based on the responses received through the third-party portal, and (5) based on the genetic risk assessment of (4), generating a three-generation patient pedigree.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making an olefin from a dialkyl ether comprising (a) introducing an ether having a formula CxH2x+1CyH2y+1 into a thermal or catalytic cracking unit processing a hydrocarbon feedstock; and (b) decomposing at least a portion of the ether to form an olefin having a formula CxH2x and/or CyH2y and an alcohol having a formula CxH2x+1 and/or CyH2y+1OH, wherein x and y independently range from about 1 to about 30. This invention also relates to a method of reducing coking in a thermal or catalytic cracking unit comprising (a) introducing an ether, having a formula CxH2x+1OCyH2y+1, into the cracking unit processing a hydrocarbon feedstock in an amount effective to reduce coke formation relative to processing the hydrocarbon feedstock in the absence of the ether, wherein x and y independently range from about 1 to about 30.

Abstract: A dual pendulum valve assembly including a housing having an interior space and first and second openings through which fluid can enter and exit the interior space; valve seats disposed in the interior space around the edges of the openings; and first and second pendulum valves for opening and closing, respectively, the first and second openings. Each pendulum valve is independently movable and includes a valve body mounted relative to the housing so that the valve body is movable between a completely opened position wherein fluid is allowed to pass through its respective opening and a completely closed position wherein the valve body seals the opening so that fluid can not pass therethrough.

Abstract: A gas delivery system comprises a common mounting block that supports the components in a predetermined arrangement and defines passageways between components so that a gas can flow through the passageways and components along a predetermined flow path. The mounting block is formed so that at least a portion of at least one mechanical part of at least one component is provided in the block, the passageways connect the components together and the remaining portion of each component not formed in the block is removably attached to the block. The electrical circuitry that is used to operate the components is separately provided remote from the components so that replacement of a component replaces those mechanical parts of the components not provided in the block, without requiring the replacement of the electrical components.

Abstract: A gas delivery system comprises a gate valve that can be connected between a turbo pump and a process chamber. The gate valve includes a valve body, a valve seat and a housing constructed to support the valve seat, wherein (a) the valve body is secured within the housing so as to move relative to the valve seat between an opened position and a closed position, and (b) the housing is provided with a gas passageway connected to each of the spaces on opposite sides of the valve body when the valve body is in the closed position. A plurality of valves are mounted to the housing of the gate valve and arranged so as to control the flow of gas through the passageway so that in operation the chamber and turbo pump each can be pumped down through the gas passageway with a second pump connected to one of the valves, and gas can be transferred and the flow controlled through the passageway bypassing the valve body when the valve body is in the closed position.

Abstract: A plant container is formed from a plastic foam cup having a funnel-shaped sidewall and a disk-shaped bottom closing the small end of the sidewall by severing a first portion of the cup, including the bottom and a part of the sidewall, from a second portion of the cup, including the remaining part of the sidewall, along a plane perpendicular to a central axis passing through the cup and inserting and wedging the first portion into the second portion.