Abstract: Methods and systems for supplying power to multiple voltage islands using a single supply source are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include providing power to a first of a plurality of voltage islands, and individually controlling providing of power to each of a remaining portion of the plurality of voltage islands. For example, when an electronic system is first powered on, a low current voltage source may be used to supply power to a primary voltage island. As a higher current voltage source becomes available, power derived from the higher current voltage source may be provided to the primary voltage island and to secondary voltage islands. Power to each of the secondary voltage islands may be, for example, individually controlled via a power MOS transistor. The power MOS transistor may also be configured to allow a faster blocking time than unblocking time.

Abstract: An automated directory assistance (130) includes a training system (210) and a directory assistance system (220). The training system (210) trains and maintains the directory assistance system (220). The training system (210) includes a transcription module (310), a speech grammar estimation module (330), a listings statistics estimation module (340), and a required words determination module (350). The transcription module (310) obtains transcripts relating to directory service requests. The speech grammar estimation module (330) creates an n-gram grammar for multiple telephone numbers from the transcripts. The listings statistics estimation module (340) identifies words used to refer to each of the telephone numbers from the transcripts. The required words determination module (350) identifies at least one word that is required to request each of the telephone numbers from the transcripts.

Abstract: A website consisting of code to enable all gamers to input data for system to match players according to play time, guild, interest, and many other factor relating to Massive Multiplayer Online Game world. Prior Art such as forums, bulletin boards, shout channel inside a particular region within the game world only allow people to ask/shout for an adventure group only in that local region/time instant, the method is cumbersome and ineffective. The stated invention creates a method to automate the process of matching and allow players to search across multiple different virtual realms to locate garners who share similar play time and or interest to team up and adventure.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for the detection and subsequent destruction or disablement of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while maintaining a satisfactory level of human safety. Operationally, our inventive method and apparatus detects the IED using one or more methods including: detecting internal battery components; detecting magnetic signature(s) of the IED; detecting a characteristic energy spectrum of the IED; and/or detecting characteristic chemical signatures of the device(s). Once detected, the device may be further characterized and then subsequently deactivated and/or destroyed by a shaped pulse charge directed at the device or its power source (battery) from a safe distance.

Abstract: A method for securely updating a basic input/output system (BIOS) using a multi-layer scheme. A new BIOS image is received and stored at a computer system. In one embodiment, the new BIOS image is sent to the computer system in a BIOS capsule that also contains the data structure and instructions of how to build a new BIOS image for the computer system. The current BIOS image of the computer system is maintained in a first portion of the BIOS. An access check verifies the integrity of a data structure representation of the current BIOS image. An administration check verifies that proper authority has requested the BIOS update. A checksum is performed on the new BIOS image while writing the new BIOS image to a second portion of the BIOS. Once the new BIOS image passes the multi-layer check, indicia is provided such that the computer system loads BIOS instructions from the new BIOS image on subsequent boots of the computer system.

Abstract: A sensory system for determining the orientation of an object, wherein the sensory system includes a plurality of non-uniformly spaced waveguide sensors or array(s) of waveguide sensors. The non-uniformly spaced waveguide sensors are responsive to received radio frequency signals wherein the received power of the signals is dependent upon the orientation of the waveguide(s).

Abstract: A system for recognizing speech receives an input speech vector and identifies a Gaussian distribution. The system determines an address from the input speech vector (610) and uses the address to retrieve a distance value for the Gaussian distribution from a table (620). The system then determines the probability of the Gaussian distribution using the distance value (630) and recognizes the input speech vector based on the determined probability (640).

Abstract: A composition is provided that includes a plurality of calcined particles of terbium aluminum oxide having a mean particle domain size of between 30 and 600 nanometers. A translucent article having a surface includes polycrystalline terbium aluminum garnet having a mean grain size from 1 to 10 microns and light scattering inclusions of aluminum-rich oxide and/or terbium-rich oxide that are present at less than 2 surface area percent of the surface. A process for forming such an article involves sintering the above provided composition at a temperature between 1500° C. and 1700° C. to yield a sintered article. The article has improved translucency and even transparency as sintering is performed under vacuum at a temperature between 1610° C. and 1680° C. Hot isostatic pressing alone or in combination with article polishing also improves article translucency.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a head stack assembly of a disk drive, which head stack assembly includes: (a) a first contact disposed on a side of the head stack assembly, which first contact is adapted to contact a crash stop of the disk drive to stop the head stack assembly from moving in a first direction; and (b) a second contact disposed on the same side of the head stack assembly, which second contact is adapted to contact the crash stop to prevent the head stack assembly from moving in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for normalized bit counting is described. The method comprising incrementing a bit counter using a first clock, and adjusting a target bit based on a difference in frequency between the first clock and a second clock. The method further comprising determining when the bit counter reaches the adjusted target bit.

Abstract: Herein-described are various methods for making a vaccine that are made of re-assembled virus like particles (VLP). First, the VLPs are disassembled into encapsidation intermediate populations. Each encapsidation intermediate population undergoes, for instance, chemical conjugation of unique peptide or nucleic moieties to form separate populations. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of each of the several (one or more) different encapsidation intermediates from the different populations is mixed and joined, forming intact VLPs, surrounding a nucleic acid core, that are composed of different encapsidation intermediate such that the reassembled VLP displays more than one peptide or nucleic acid. The nucleic acid can function either as a scaffold alone or can be engineered for the expression of an immunomodulatory protein in a eukaryotic cell.

Abstract: A driver is operated to drive signals from an integrated circuit. Operating the driver generates interference at substantially a first frequency that may interfere with circuitry sharing a power supply with the driver. A supply node is repeatedly coupled to and decoupled from the driver at substantially a second frequency higher than the first frequency to help supply power to the driver and to help prevent interference from propagating to circuitry sharing the power supply.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing slurry and method for using the slurry for polishing copper, barrier material and dielectric material that includes a first and second slurry. The first slurry has a high removal rate on copper and a low removal rate on barrier material. The second slurry has a high removal rate on barrier material and a low removal rate on copper and dielectric material. The first and second slurries can include silica particles, an oxidizing agent, a corrosion inhibitor, and a cleaning agent.

Abstract: Herein described are various methods for making a vaccine that are made of re-assembled virus like particles (VLP). First, the VLPs are disassembled into coat proteins or encapsidation intermediate populations. Each population undergoes, for instance, chemical conjugation of unique peptide or nucleic moieties to form separate populations. Thereafter, a predetermined amount of each of the several (one or more) different coat proteins or encapsidation intermediates from the different populations is mixed and joined, forming intact VLPs, surrounding a nucleic acid core, that are composed of different coat proteins such that the reassembled VLP displays more than one peptide or other molecule. The nucleic acid can function either as a scaffold alone or can be engineered for the expression of an immunomodulatory protein in a eukaryotic cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning formulation, including 1-21% wt. fluoride source, 20-55% wt. organic amine(s), 0.5-40% wt. nitrogenous component, e.g., a nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid or an imine, 23-50% wt. water, and 0-21% wt. metal chelating agent(s). The formulations are useful to remove residue from wafers following a resist plasma ashing step, such as inorganic residue from semiconductor wafers containing delicate copper interconnecting structures.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device that includes: (a) a connector; (b) a contact pad; and (c) a structure adapted to urge the connector toward the contact pad, wherein at least a portion of the structure is aligned with at least a portion of the connector.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an insulator that includes a pocket feature adapted to accommodate at least a portion of one or more components disposed on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a disk drive including: (a) two heads for reading/writing data from/onto a disk; and (b) a ramp mechanism adapted to guide movement of the two heads to/from the disk; wherein the ramp mechanism comprises a separation feature having a portion that extends between the two heads.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cleaning formulation, including 1-35% wt. fluoride source, 20-60% wt. organic amine(s), 0.1-40% wt. nitrogenous component, e.g., a nitrogen-containing carboxylic acid or an imine, 20-50% wt. water, and 0-21% wt. metal chelating agent(s). The formulations are useful to remove residue from wafers following a resist plasma ashing step, such as inorganic residue from semiconductor wafers containing delicate copper interconnecting structures.

Abstract: A bending tool for bending a flexible printed circuit assembly including: a base; a first bender, supported by the base, having a first bending tip adapted to bend a first portion of the flexible printed circuit assembly; and a second bender, supported by the base, having a second bending tip adapted to bend a second portion of the flexible printed circuit assembly.