Abstract: The invention provides a microfabrication process which may be used to manufacture a MEMS device. In one embodiment, the process comprises depositing at least one first layer on a substrate. The process further comprises patterning said first layer to define at least a first portion of said microelectromechanical system device. The process further comprises depositing a second layer on said first layer. The process further comprises patterning said second layer using said first layer as a photomask. The process further comprises developing said second layer to define at least a second portion of the microelectromechanical system device.

Abstract: A requirements matching broker is provided for use in a requirements matching system. The broker receives messages from users or from other brokers, conveying a statement of requirements, via a communications network interface. The broker includes a store and means to store predetermined rules for routing received messages. A rule includes a statement of requirements and the identity of a corresponding destination. On receipt of a message, the broker performs a comparison of a statement of requirements conveyed by the message with a statement of requirements contained within a stored routing rule. On finding a match, the broker identifies, from the matching routing rule, the identity of a destination for routing the received message and transmits the message to the identified destination via the network interface.

Abstract: An Interferometric Modulator (IMod) is a microelectromechanical device for modulating light using interference. The colors of these devices may be determined in a spatial fashion, and their inherent color shift may be compensated for using several optical compensation mechanisms. Brightness, addressing, and driving of IMods may be accomplished in a variety of ways with appropriate packaging, and peripheral electronics which can be attached and/or fabricated using one of many techniques. The devices may be used in both embedded and directly perceived applications, the latter providing multiple viewing modes as well as a multitude of product concepts ranging in size from microscopic to architectural in scope.

Abstract: A method of controlling unwanted plants, the method including providing an herbicidal composition, the herbicidal composition containing at least a naturally-occurring, plant-derived organic compound, and applying the herbicidal composition to the unwanted plants.

Abstract: A method of controlling unwanted plants, the method including providing an herbicidal composition, the herbicidal composition containing at least a naturally-occurring, plant-derived organic compound, and applying the herbicidal composition to the unwanted plants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a frequency-locked loop (FLL), which attempts to bring about frequency and phase synchronization between two signals over the control bandwidth of the loop: a reference signal and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) signal. For example, the FLL employs a reference signal generated by a crystal oscillator of frequency fREF and a VCO signal generated by the oscillations of an unquenched SRG resonator with tunable resonant frequency fRES. These signals are connected to the inputs of a phase/frequency detector (PFD) which produces output pulses in response to the relationship between fREF and fRES. These pulses are applied to a loop filter (LF) which creates a voltage using some kind of charge-storage element. This loop filter voltage is a so-called error voltage whose value is used to control the frequency of the resonator to bring the reference signal and VCO signal into phase synchrony.

Abstract: PLL frequency synthesizers and their calibration techniques are described. The PLL frequency synthesizers are used to generate digital modulation of a carrier signal. A digital frequency divider in the feedback path of the loop has its division ratio controlled by a digital &Dgr;-&Sgr; modulator. The modulation of the carrier is achieved by applying a modulation signal to the input of the &Dgr;-&Sgr; modulator and to the input of the voltage-controlled oscillator of the PLL. The high frequency path and low frequency path of the modulation signal must be adjusted with respect to one another in order to obtain a good modulation. As the low frequency path can be accurately set, the calibration is performed only on the high frequency path. Digital calibration techniques for the high frequency path are described.

Abstract: Intelligent data storing apparatus for use in a control system comprising at least one programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling one or more devices to perform a process, the process having a number of variants. The apparatus comprises means for receiving a data request including a code designating a process variant and a code indicative of one or more designated devices requiring control in order to implement the process variant; a database dictionary defining a tree structure relating operational data elements to particular variants of the process and particular devices; and means for retrieving operational data elements from the database using pathnames corresponding to the structure specified in the database dictionary and for formulating the retrieved data into a block having a predetermined structure for outputting to the PLC.