Abstract: A method 1300 and apparatus for deriving a health index for determining cardiovascular health of a person is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the method 1300 includes (i) obtaining values of respiratory rate, Sp02 and heart rate from a PPG signal of the person at step 1304; (ii) assigning a score based on the values from a reference scoring system at step 1306; and (iii) deriving the health index based on the assigned scores at step 1308/1314. A method and device for obtaining the PPG signal at optimum pressure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method 1300 and apparatus for deriving a health index for determining cardiovascular health of a person is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the method 1300 includes (i) obtaining values of respiratory rate, SpO2 and heart rate from a PPG signal of the person at step 1304; (ii) assigning a score based on the values from a reference scoring system at step 1306; and (iii) deriving the health index based on the assigned scores at step 1308/1314. A method and device for obtaining the PPG signal at optimum pressure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described is a system designed to control the slit valve used to isolate chambers in cluster tools used in integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. This method changes the slit valve door actuator pneumatic pressure and movement during the closing sequence. As the door nears the fully closed position, its speed is reduced. This results in a soft touch landing or seating of the door and reduces the number of particles generated over systems incorporating higher pressure in the door closure. Once the door is seated in a fully closed position, higher pressure is applied to maintain a tight seal between chambers. By reducing the particles generated, the overall IC yield for both production and test wafer lots will improve. Reducing wear on the door and door seat, fewer parts such as the door, door seat and slit valve O-ring are consumed, and both scheduled and unscheduled maitenance times are shortened.

Abstract: Described is a system designed to warm the transfer chamber used in vacuum equipment in the manufacture of integrated circuits during maintenance. The system detects when the transfer chamber lid is opened and the chamber is exposed to the atmosphere. This activates the heater normally used to bake out the chamber. A temperature sensor is used to keep the temperature below a set point. By warming the chamber, moisture build-up on the inside of the chamber during maintenance is minimized, thereby reducing out gassing and time required to bring the chamber back to its base vacuum pressure when returned to production.

Abstract: Described is a system designed to warm the transfer chamber used in vacuum equipment in the manufacture of integrated circuits during maintenance. The system detects when the transfer chamber lid is opened and the chamber is exposed to the atmosphere. This activates the heater normally used to bake out the chamber. A temperature sensor is used to keep the temperature below a set point. By warming the chamber, moisture build-up on the inside of the chamber during maintenance is minimized, thereby reducing out gassing and time required to bring the chamber back to its base vacuum pressure when returned to production.

Abstract: Described is a system designed to control the slit valve used to isolate chambers in cluster tools used in integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. This method changes the slit valve door actuator pneumatic pressure and movement during the closing sequence. As the door nears the fully closed position, its speed is reduced. This results in a soft touch landing or seating of the door and reduces the number of particles generated over systems incorporating higher pressure in the door closure. Once the door is seated in a fully closed position, higher pressure is applied to maintain a tight seal between chambers. By reducing the particles generated, the overall IC yield for both production and test wafer lots will improve. Reducing wear on the door and door seat, fewer parts such as the door, door seat and slit valve O-ring are consumed, and both scheduled and unscheduled maitenance times are shortened.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the detailed strain field imposed on a guided-wave Bragg grating. The spectral and temporal form of radiant energy traveling down optical fibers is important in many fields, including communications and sensing. The spectral distribution and center wavelength of short optical pulses is of particular importance. In the communication field the information carrying capacity of an optical fiber can be limited by the dispersion experienced by short pulses as they propagate along an optical fiber. Chirped fiber optic intracore Bragg gratings can be used to compensate for this dispersion. However, a grating with a different degree of chirp would be required for each particular communication system.

Abstract: Methane reacts with steam and at least some carbon dioxide in a primary fuel conversion zone, the effluent from which is mixed with the effluent from a secondary fuel conversion zone, and the mixture is sent through a dewatering zone, a drying zone, and a zone in which the carbon monoxide product stream is separated from the dry recycle stream. Such recycle stream is sent to a divider so that, if desired, a portion of the recycle can be directed as a part of the total feed to the primary conversion zone, and at least some of the recycle stream plus at least some of the carbon dioxide feed is directed through a secondary fuel conversion zone, in which hydrogen and carbon dioxide react to form water and carbon monoxide.