Abstract: Techniques are provided for calculating vending machines' service priorities and scheduling the vending machines for service taking into account a number of factors and thresholds (520). In some embodiments, the machines (110) are subdivided into subroutes (320). Each subroute has one or more machines, and at least one subroute has a plurality of machines. The vending machine service schedule is generated by selecting the highest priority subroute (410) and selecting the machines in that subroute (420). Other subroutes can be selected (430, 440) if there is time left in the Service Period.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for calculating vending machines' service priorities and scheduling the vending machines for service taking into account a number of factors and thresholds (520). In some embodiments, the machines (110) are subdivided into subroutes (320). Each subroute has one or more machines, and at least one subroute has a plurality of machines. The vending machine service schedule is generated by selecting the highest priority subroute (410) and selecting the machines in that subroute (420). Other subroutes can be selected (430, 440) if there is time left in the Service Period.

Abstract: An EUV illumination system, for example, for use in a photolithographic apparatus is configured to condition a radiation beam. A hydrogen radical source configured to supply gas containing hydrogen or hydrogen radicals into the illumination system. The hydrogen gas is effective to remove carbonaceous contamination from the surface of a mirror in the illumination system or to form a buffer against unwanted gases. In order to prevent damage by hydrogen that penetrates the mirror, the mirror comprises a layer made of metal non-metal compound adjacent a reflection surface of the mirror. A transition metal carbide, nitride, boride or silicide compound or mixture thereof may be used for example.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method to clean a surface. The method includes at least partly liberating contaminants from the surface with a contaminant liberating device, and capturing the contaminants that have been at least partly liberated with a contaminant removal device, the contaminant removal device generating at least one optical trap to trap the contaminants that have been at least partly liberated. Embodiments of the invention also provide a device manufacturing method, a method to clean a surface of an optical element, a cleaning assembly and cleaning apparatus, and a lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is provided with a measurement apparatus constructed and arranged to use surface plasmon resonance to detect contamination of a surface within the lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus that includes at least one optical surface exposed to a radiation beam, and a surface plasmon resonance measurement apparatus adjacent the optical surface that is configured to detect contamination of at least one optical surface of the lithographic apparatus. The measurement apparatus is located near or in close proximity to the optical surface to as to emulate and determine possible contamination without interfering with the radiation beam used to expose the optical surface. A radiation source for the measurement apparatus is configured to provide a probing beam of radiation having an angle of incidence. By measuring the surface plasmons and/or the angles of incidence of a reference optical surface in the measurement apparatus, contamination deposited on an optical surface in the lithographic apparatus may be inferred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying steganography to digital image files are provided. This algorithm uses the basic idea of steganography. In one aspect of the invention a method is provided. The method comprises (a) taking a text message as input, (b) breaking up the input data into a series of bits, and (c) passing it to an encryption mechanism to merge into a bit map image. Thus, less important information from a bit map image is removed and hidden data (series of bits) is injected in its place. It is thus possible to (a) retrieve the entire bit map file, (b) remove its header information, (c) retrieve each byte one by one and (d) put the input data in each byte.

Abstract: An EUV illumination system, for example, for use in a photolithographic apparatus is configured to condition a radiation beam. A hydrogen radical source configured to supply gas containing hydrogen or hydrogen radicals into the illumination system. The hydrogen gas is effective to remove carbonaceous contamination from the surface of a mirror in the illumination system or to form a buffer against unwanted gases. In order to prevent damage by hydrogen that penetrates the mirror, the mirror comprises a layer made of metal non-metal compound adjacent a reflection surface of the mirror. A transition metal carbide, nitride, boride or silicide compound or mixture thereof may be used for example.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a wireless mobile communications network. A status parameter selected from signal strength and analog roam status of a wireless mobile device is provided to a second communication device in communication with the network. The communication device may select the identity of the wireless mobile device, such as by entering the telephone number of the wireless mobile device. Optionally, the wireless mobile device may control whether to upload its status parameters to the network and whether to share the status parameters with some or all other communication devices that are in communication with the network.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer usable program code, and system for managing the logs of instant message sessions. In response to a user opening an instant message session, a calendar application displays an identifier representing the instant message session in the calendar application. The calendar application links the log of the instant message session to the identifier placed in the calendar application upon the user saving the instant message session.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method to clean a surface. The method includes at least partly liberating contaminants from the surface with a contaminant liberating device, and capturing the contaminants that have been at least partly liberated with a contaminant removal device, the contaminant removal device generating at least one optical trap to trap the contaminants that have been at least partly liberated. Embodiments of the invention also provide a device manufacturing method, a method to clean a surface of an optical element, a cleaning assembly and cleaning apparatus, and a lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for non-sequential access to fields in a window, document, form or template. When the window, document, form or template is opened for user input, the user activates the non-sequential mode of operation, such as by hitting a particular keystroke or sequence of keystrokes. Once the non-sequential mode of operation is activated, indicia appear in each of the possible input fields. The indicia indicate to the user what they must do in order to immediately move the cursor to that field, to effectuate moving the window focus to the desired field.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a plurality of composite optical assemblies is disclosed. Each optical assembly includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The method includes the steps of providing a first composite substrate that may be divided into a plurality of first optical elements and forming on an exposed surface of the first composite substrate a second composite substrate that may be divided into a plurality of second optical elements, the first and second composite substrates providing a composite structure.

Abstract: Optical elements such as multilayered EUV mirrors are provided with protective capping layers of diamond-like carbon (C), boron nitride (BN), boron carbide (B4C), silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), B, Pd, Ru, Rh, Au, MgF2, LiF, C2F4 and TiN and compounds and alloys thereof. The final period of a multilayer coating may also be modified to provide improved protective characteristics.