Abstract: A filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes: a filter enclosure having an enclosure opening; a filter configured to be received through the enclosure opening into the filter enclosure in an insertion direction; and retention means operable between latched and unlatched states for releasably retaining the filter in the filter enclosure. The filter includes an actuation portion configured to operate the retention means, wherein the actuation portion is moveable between at least first and second positions and is biased towards the second position. When the filter is in the filter enclosure, movement of the actuation portion in the insertion direction from the first position to a depressed position transitions the retention means to the unlatched state, whereinafter the actuation portion is moved to the second position in which at least a part of the actuation portion is elevated above the enclosure opening.

Abstract: This disclosure, in one aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes forming a collector for a bipolar transistor within a semiconductor substrate, forming a base within the collector, forming a patterned isolation layer over the collector and base, forming an emitter layer over the patterned isolation layer, forming an isolation layer over the emitter layer, patterning the patterned isolation layer, the emitter layer and the isolation layer to form at least one emitter structure having an isolation region located on a sidewall thereof, and forming a buried contact in the collector to a depth sufficient to adequately contact the collector.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector that ranges from about 0.9 microns to about 2.0 microns.

Abstract: This disclosure, in one aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes forming a collector for a bipolar transistor within a semiconductor substrate, forming a base within the collector, forming a patterned isolation layer over the collector and base, forming an emitter layer over the patterned isolation layer, forming an isolation layer over the emitter layer, patterning the patterned isolation layer, the emitter layer and the isolation layer to form at least one emitter structure having an isolation region located on a sidewall thereof, and forming a buried contact in the collector to a depth sufficient to adequately contact the collector.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that includes a collector for a bipolar transistor located within a semiconductor substrate and a buried contact, at least a portion of which is located in the collector to a depth sufficient that adequately contacts the collector.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method provides for a dual implantation of a tub of a bipolar transistor. The tub in bipolar region is implanted by implanting the tub through separate implant masks that are also used to implant tubs associated with MOS fabricate different voltage devices in a non-bipolar region during the fabrication of MOS transistors.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, which includes conducting an etch through an opening in an emitter layer to form a cavity from an underlying oxide layer that exposes a doped tub. A first silicon/germanium (SiGe) layer, which has a Ge concentration therein, is formed within the cavity and over the doped tub by adjusting a process parameter to induce a strain in the first SiGe layer. A second SiGe layer is formed over the first SiGe layer, and a capping layer is formed over the second SiGe layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector that ranges from about 0.9 microns to about 2.0 microns.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method provides for a dual implantation of a tub of a bipolar transistor. The tub in bipolar region is implanted by implanting the tub through separate implant masks that are also used to implant tubs associated with MOS fabricate different voltage devices in a non-bipolar region during the fabrication of MOS transistors.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector by at least about 0.9 microns. The invention also provides a method for forming this device.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, which includes conducting an etch through an opening in an emitter layer to form a cavity from an underlying oxide layer that exposes a doped tub. A first silicon/germanium (SiGe) layer, which has a Ge concentration therein, is formed within the cavity and over the doped tub by adjusting a process parameter to induce a strain in the first SiGe layer. A second SiGe layer is formed over the first SiGe layer, and a capping layer is formed over the second SiGe layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, which includes conducting an etch through an opening in an emitter layer to form a cavity from an underlying oxide layer that exposes a doped tub. A first silicon/germanium (SiGe) layer, which has a Ge concentration therein, is formed within the cavity and over the doped tub by adjusting a process parameter to induce a strain in the first SiGe layer. A second SiGe layer is formed over the first SiGe layer, and a capping layer is formed over the second SiGe layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. This aspect includes forming gate electrodes in a non-bipolar transistor region of a semiconductor substrate, placing a polysilicon layer over the gate electrodes in the non-bipolar transistor region and over the semiconductor substrate within a bipolar transistor region. A protective layer is formed over the polysilicon layer. The protective layer has a weight percent of hydrogen that is less than about 9% and is selective to silicon germanium (SiGe), such that SiGe does not form on the protective layer. This aspect further includes forming emitters for bipolar transistors in the bipolar transistor region, including forming a SiGe layer under a portion of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a bipolar transistor located over and within a semiconductor substrate, a collector located within a tub of the bipolar transistor and having an amorphous region formed at least partially therein, a base located over the collector, and an emitter located over the base. There is also provided a method of fabricating the semiconductor device.

Abstract: The transaction management system 100 includes a plurality of individually identifiable secure container holding facilities constituted by cash acceptance terminals 112 located at the premises of participating merchants 114 and a plurality of individually identifiable secure containers or cash containers, each adapted to dock with and un-dock from a cash acceptance terminal 112. The merchants 114, in each transaction, deposit transaction documents such as money, cheques, credit card vouchers or the like into the secure container within the cash acceptance terminal 112. Cash money fed into the cash acceptance terminal is scanned, validated and counted into the secure container. The cash acceptance terminals 114 include data entry facilities by means of which data pertaining to transactions is recorded in the cash acceptance terminal.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. This aspect includes forming gate electrodes in a non-bipolar transistor region of a semiconductor substrate, placing a polysilicon layer over the gate electrodes in the non-bipolar transistor region and over the semiconductor substrate within a bipolar transistor region. A protective layer is formed over the polysilicon layer. The protective layer has a weight percent of hydrogen that is less than about 9% and is selective to silicon germanium (SiGe), such that SiGe does not form on the protective layer. This aspect further includes forming emitters for bipolar transistors in the bipolar transistor region, including forming a SiGe layer under a portion of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. This aspect includes forming gate electrodes in a non-bipolar transistor region of a semiconductor substrate, placing a polysilicon layer over the gate electrodes in the non-bipolar transistor region and over the semiconductor substrate within a bipolar transistor region. A protective layer is formed over the polysilicon layer. The protective layer has a weight percent of hydrogen that is less than about 9% and is selective to silicon germanium (SiGe), such that SiGe does not form on the protective layer. This aspect further includes forming emitters for bipolar transistors in the bipolar transistor region, including forming a SiGe layer under a portion of the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, which includes conducting an etch through an opening in an emitter layer to form a cavity from an underlying oxide layer that exposes a doped tub. A first silicon/germanium (SiGe) layer, which has a Ge concentration therein, is formed within the cavity and over the doped tub by adjusting a process parameter to induce a strain in the first SiGe layer. A second SiGe layer is formed over the first SiGe layer, and a capping layer is formed over the second SiGe layer.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that includes a collector for a bipolar transistor located within a semiconductor substrate and a buried contact, at least a portion of which is located in the collector to a depth sufficient that adequately contacts the collector.

Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device that comprises a collector located in a semiconductor substrate and an isolation region located under the collector, wherein a peak dopant concentration of the isolation region is separated from a peak dopant concentration of the collector by at least about 0.9 microns. The invention also provides a method for forming this device.