Abstract: A versatile cavity actuator. The versatile cavity actuator includes a cavity having one or more polymer-based sidewalls. An energetic material is disposed therein. A heater is disposed on or within the cavity. In a specific embodiment, the cavity includes a thermally insulating base positioned beneath the heater, which is positioned near the bottom of the cavity. The polymer-based sidewalls are constructed from a photo-curable epoxy, which is disposed on a substrate via microelectromechanical processes. The sidewalls are angled or parabolic and are constructed via a low-temperature lithographic spin process compatible with post integrated circuit processing.

Abstract: A versatile cavity actuator. The versatile cavity actuator includes a cavity having one or more polymer-based sidewalls. An energetic material is disposed therein. A heater is disposed on or within the cavity. In a specific embodiment, the cavity includes a thermally insulating base positioned beneath the heater, which is positioned near the bottom of the cavity. The polymer-based sidewalls are constructed from a photo-curable epoxy, which is disposed on a substrate via microelectromechanical processes. The sidewalls are angled or parabolic and are constructed via a low-temperature lithographic spin process compatible with post integrated circuit processing.

Abstract: A method of converting a thermometer code in an analog-to-digital converter to a binary code. The method involves counting the ones in the thermometer code and using the parity of the count as bit 0 of the binary code; downsampling the thermometer code by dropping every other bit to form a downsampled code; counting the ones in the downsampled code, and using the parity of that count as bit 1 of the binary code; and repeating the procedure until the binary code is completed. A circuit carrying out this method in a single clock cycle without computations is disclosed.

Abstract: Effective passivation structures and guard rings can be formed in borderless gate arrays by forming the gates in an array of discrete blocks separated by thin scribe lines in which the substrate is not covered by gates. Diffusions for guard rings can be formed in the substrate for guard ring purposes, and passivation structures can be sealingly attached to the substrate. Various circuit metalizations such as discrete layers or different circuits can be produced with a single mask by covering all but a selected portion of the mask during exposure.

Abstract: Effective passivation structures and guard rings can be formed in borderless gate arrays by forming the gates in an array of discrete blocks separated by thin scribe lines in which the substrate is not covered by gates. Diffusions for guard rings can be formed in the substrate for guard ring purposes, and passivation structures can be sealingly attached to the substrate. Various circuit metalizations such as discrete layers or different circuits can be produced with a single mask by covering all but a selected portion of the mask during exposure.