Abstract: An integrated circuit device is provided having a substrate, at least one integrated circuit element and a leadframe. The integrated circuit element and the leadframe are disposed on the substrate. The leadframe has at least one lead and at least one encapsulant dam disposed on the at least one lead. The encapsulant dam has at least one chamfered edge to provide clearance for a wire feed during a wire-bonding process.

Abstract: A method of making a packaged electrical device comprises the steps of (a) connecting one end of a wire to a first point (e.g., a first electrical node) in the package, and (b) connecting the other end of the wire to a second point (e.g., a second electrical node) in the package, characterized by (c) causing energy from an external source to heat at least one predetermined segment of the wire to a temperature that is below its melting point (MP) but not below its recrystallization temperature (RCT), and (d) cooling the heated segment to a temperature below its RCT [e.g., to room temperature (RT)], thereby to increase the stiffness modulus of the segment. In one embodiment, the external source is a laser whose optical output is absorbed by the segment. In another embodiment, the heated segment is rapidly cooled (i.e., quenched) to RT.

Abstract: The specification describes a plastic cavity package for semiconductor devices that provides additional mechanical integrity for leads that extend from the plastic housing. Portions of the leads that are within the plastic housing are provided with cutouts. When the plastic housing is formed, or when the cavity is filled with polymer, plastic material fills the cutout, and joins to the mass of plastic on either side of the cutout, thus forming a continuous integral mass of plastic. The end result is that the plastic in the cutout, coupled to the main plastic mass, and to the rigid package sidewall, forms an effective anchor against pulling and bending forces the leads may encounter in manufacture or use.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package comprises a container including a base and sidewalls. The base is configured to support a semiconductor device chip, and a lead frame extends through at least one of the sidewalls. A portion of the lead frame within the sidewall has at least one aperture penetrating into the lead frame. The sidewall material extends into the aperture, thereby forming a strong interfacial bond that provides a low leakage, sidewall-lead-frame interface. The base has a reentrant feature that is positioned within the thickness of at least one of the sidewalls and engages the at least one sidewall, thereby forming a low leakage-base-sidewall interface. The top surface of the base has a groove that is positioned within the thickness of at least one of the sidewalls and engages the at least one sidewall, thereby enhancing the low leakage base-sidewall interface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package comprises a container having a base and side walls of an electrically insulating material. A semiconductor device chip is disposed on the base, and a lead frame extends through the side walls. At least one electrical conductor couples the lead frame to the chip. A first layer of an electrically insulating cured gel covers the chip and the lead frame, and a second layer of an electrically insulating cured gel covers at least the portion of the first layer that covers the chip, but does not extend to the side walls. In one embodiment, the second layer has the shape of a dome. In a preferred embodiment the gel comprises silicone. In another embodiment a third layer of conformal insulating material is disposed on the second layer and essentially fills the container. Also is described is a method of making the package for use with RFLDMOS chips.

Abstract: The present invention provides new platinum group metal (“PGM”) free catalytic compositions that comprise silver and/or cobalt stabilized ceria. These compositions facilitate soot oxidation during the regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPF) thereby replacing PGM formulations. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful as washcoat compositions for DPFs as part of an automotive after-treatment system. Among the formulations tested, the silver-stabilized ceria and cobalt-stabilized ceria formulations e.g. can oxidize soot at 250–300° C. in the presence of NO2 and oxygen, while silver-stabilized ceria can oxidize diesel soot even in the presence of oxygen as the sole oxidizing agent at these temperatures. A perovshite composition containing Ag—La—Mn was very active at temperatures above 300° C.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises at least one circuit element having at least one bond site and a passivation layer. The bond site is accessible through an aperture in the passivation layer. At least two ball bumps are disposed at the bond site. A first ball bump is bonded to the bond site, and each additional ball bump is bonded on a previously bonded ball bump so that the height of the ball bumps is greater than the thickness of the passivation layer above the bond site. A ball bond is bonded to an uppermost ball bump and has a wire formed integrally therewith.

Abstract: Electrical devices having tunable electrical characteristics are provided, such as variable resistors, capacitors and inductors. The tunable electrical characteristics are achieved by placing an appropriate material between substrate layers and by controllably applying a pressure to the material to compress the material or alter the shape of a well in which the material is contained, and thereby alter the electrical characteristics of the electrical device. The composition, shape and dimension of the embedded materials determine how the electrical characteristics of the electrical device are altered upon compression of the embedded material in response to an applied control signal. Generally, as the embedded material is compressed, the material will become more dense and the electrical characteristics of the integrated electrical device is altered.

Abstract: A diesel exhaust treatment system and method of oxidizing NO to NO2 at low temperatures are provided. The system utilizes a platinum catalyst on a zirconia-stabilized silica support which oxidizes NO in the exhaust gas to NO2 and uses the NO2 in an amount sufficient to oxidize particulate trapped on a particulate filter. The catalyst is preferably pre-treated at a temperature of between about 500 to 650° C. in a NO-oxygen-nitrogen mixture to increase conversion at low temperatures. The catalyst preferably includes an additional oxide component selected from the group consisting of TiO2, P2O5, WO3, B2O3, and Al2O3. or a heteropolyacid component to further increase activity at low temperatures or to decrease platinum loading at the same level of performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides new platinum group metal (“PGM”) free catalytic compositions that comprise silver and/or cobalt stabilized ceria. These compositions facilitate soot oxidation during the regeneration of diesel particulate filters (DPF) thereby replacing PGM formulations. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful as washcoat compositions for DPFs as part of an automotive after-treatment system. Among the formulations tested, the silver-stabilized ceria and cobalt-stabilized ceria formulations e.g. can oxidize soot at 250-300° C. in the presence of NO2 and oxygen, while silver-stabilized ceria can oxidize diesel soot even in the presence of oxygen as the sole oxidizing agent at these temperatures. A perovshite composition containing Ag—La—Mn was very active at temperatures above 300° C.

Abstract: A diesel exhaust treatment system and method of oxidizing NO to NO2 at low temperatures are provided. The system utilizes a platinum catalyst on a zirconia-stabilized silica support which oxidizes NO in the exhaust gas to NO2 and uses the NO2 in an amount sufficient to oxidize particulate trapped on a particulate filter. The catalyst is preferably pre-treated at a temperature of between about 500 to 650° C. in a NO-oxygen-nitrogen mixture to increase conversion at low temperatures. The catalyst preferably includes an additional oxide component selected from the group consisting of TiO2, P2O5, WO3, B2O3, and Al2O3. or a heteropolyacid component to further increase activity at low temperatures or to decrease platinum loading at the same level of performance.

Abstract: A diesel engine equipped with an exhaust gas particulate filter includes a control system that reduces exhaust gas smoke emissions normally resulting from an extended period of engine idling. The control method periodically raises the exhaust gas temperature in order to purge the particulate filter of water and hydrocarbons that build up during extended engine idling and cause exhaust smoke. A timer records the elapsed period during which the engine remains at idle and the exhaust temperature is below a threshold level. When the recorded time period exceeds a preselected value, the filter is purged by elevating the exhaust gas temperature to a level sufficient to oxidize the gaseous hydrocarbons and evaporate any water that may have accumulated in the filter.

Abstract: A filter used to remove particulates from a diesel engine exhaust is regenerated by increasing the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off of the accumulated particulates. Regeneration of the filter is inhibited when the sensed level of fuel in a diesel fuel tank for the engine falls below a first threshold level. Optionally, filter regeneration may be initiated when the sensed fuel level is between the first threshold and a higher threshold, and the load level of particulates accumulated in said filter is above a preselected, relatively high load level. Increase of the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off may be achieved by a variety of techniques, including throttling the intake of said engine, reducing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases delivered to said engine, closing an EGR valve of said engine, or performing post injection of fuel in the engine's combustion cylinders.

Abstract: A diesel engine equipped with an exhaust gas particulate filter includes a control system that reduces exhaust gas smoke emissions normally resulting from an extended period of engine idling. The control method periodically raises the exhaust gas temperature in order to purge the particulate filter of water and hydrocarbons that build up during extended engine idling and cause exhaust smoke. A timer records the elapsed period during which the engine remains at idle and the exhaust temperature is below a threshold level. When the recorded time period exceeds a preselected value, the filter is purged by elevating the exhaust gas temperature to a level sufficient to oxidize the gaseous hydrocarbons and evaporate any water that may have accumulated in the filter.

Abstract: A filter used to remove particulates from a diesel engine exhaust is regenerated by increasing the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off of the accumulated particulates. Regeneration of the filter is inhibited when the sensed level of fuel in a diesel fuel tank for the engine falls below a first threshold level. Optionally, filter regeneration may be initiated when the sensed fuel level is between the first threshold and a higher threshold, and the load level of particulates accumulated in said filter is above a preselected, relatively high load level. Increase of the exhaust temperature to achieve burn off may be achieved by a variety of techniques, including throttling the intake of said engine, reducing the oxygen content in the exhaust gases delivered to said engine, closing an EGR valve of said engine, or performing post injection of fuel in the engine's combustion cylinders.

Abstract: A method for determining the load on an internal combustion engine exhaust particulate filter optimizes filter regeneration by determining the portion of the filter load constituted by accumulated ash. In one technique, the ash load is determined by recording the lowest value of DPF load over a time or distance interval. In another technique, an estimate is made of the amount of load remaining at each of a plurality of DPF regeneration events; the amount of remaining load immediately following the regeneration event corresponds to the amount of accumulated ash in the DPF. DPF load estimation is performed using equations for laminar or turbulent flow in pipes. These equations establish a linear or quadratic relationship between the flow through the DPF and the pressure drop measured across it.

Abstract: An arrangement of an internal combustion engine 7 is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the internal combustion engine 7 has at least one variable working and combustion chamber 12. A first passage 14 is provided for delivering air to the combustion chamber 12. A second passage 26 is provided for delivering exhaust from the combustion chamber 12. A turbocharger is provided. The turbocharger has a compressor 18 with an outlet 16 fluidly connected with the first passage 14. The turbocharger has a turbine inlet 28 fluidly connected with the second passage 26. An exhaust 29 of the turbine is connected with a third passage 30. A first bypass passage 70 is provided between the first passage 14 and the third passage 30. A first valve 72 controls the flow of air through the first bypass passage between the first passage 14 and the third passage 30.