Abstract: To isolate two active regions formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, a shallow trench isolation region is filled with liquid phase deposited silicon dioxide (LPD-SiO2) while avoiding covering the active areas with the oxide. By selectively depositing the oxide in this manner, the polishing needed to planarize the wafer is significantly reduced as compared to a chemical-vapor deposited oxide layer that covers the entire wafer surface. Additionally, the LPD-SiO2 does not include the growth seams that CVD silicon dioxide does. Accordingly, the etch rate of the LPD-SiO2 is uniform across its entire expanse thereby preventing cavities and other etching irregularities present in prior art shallow trench isolation regions in which the etch rate of growth seams exceeds that of the other oxide areas.

Abstract: A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory.

Abstract: Lead distribution systems and methods distribute consumer business leads received from lead sources for routing to one or more destinations that use the leads and/or forward the leads to another destination. A quality level is assessed for each lead source, based in part on a percentage of leads from the source that result in a desired business transaction with the ultimate user of the lead. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each lead, while maintaining a desired overall quality level and flow rate of leads routed to each destination. Adjusting the quality ratings of the lead sources may advantageously be used to affect the placement of their leads with destinations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods involving mobile coupons. In one embodiment, an indication of a prior purchase transaction over a payment processing network, serves as a trigger to generate and disseminate a mobile coupon for a subsequent transaction. By generating and promulgating the coupon within a limited time of the first transaction, the recipient is disposed to be receptive based upon his or her current shopping status and also possibly geographic location. According to another embodiment, information from a mobile coupon may be presented from the consumer to a merchant in a contactless manner, utilizing an antenna of a portable device operated by a consumer. Coupon information may be communicated to the merchant with the payment information, or prior to or subsequent to transmission of the payment information to the merchant.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an alignment apparatus useful to align a test head that includes: (a) two or more fluid chambers disposed in fixed relation to each other, the chambers having a movable wall and one or more apertures for admitting or releasing fluid; (b) fluid channels coupled to the one or more apertures that enable fluid to flow between at least two of the fluid chambers; and (c) one or more valves disposed to enable or to stop the flow of fluid through one or more of the one or more fluid channels.

Abstract: A rope clip for the interconnection of two parallel and adjacent rope parts, comprising two elongate elements, each of which has a concave elongate through channel that receives and substantially accommodates the cross section of a respective rope part. The two elements are mutually turnably connected to each other via a pivot joint in order to, in a turning end position, jointly, by the channels thereof, delimit an elongate throughput opening in which the two rope parts laterally are pressed against each other and against the respective channel surface, and a locking device is provided in order to interlock the elements in the turning end position thereof.

Abstract: A resonant DC/DC converter for supplying an output power comprises a switching device (18) for supplying a switched voltage (UWR) to a resonant circuit (20) having a transformer (T). The switched voltage (UWR) is derived from an intermediate circuit voltage (Uz) having a fixed pulse width and frequency so that the zero crossings of the resonant current (Ires) generated in the resonant current are defined. The switching configuration of an inverter circuit (18) is selected by a control device (31) to either increase, decrease or maintain at a substantially constant level the resonant current according to the polarity of the switched voltage, so as to control the output power as required.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved technique for training a support vector machine using a distributed architecture. A training data set is divided into subsets, and the subsets are optimized in a first level of optimizations, with each optimization generating a support vector set. The support vector sets output from the first level optimizations are then combined and used as input to a second level of optimizations. This hierarchical processing continues for multiple levels, with the output of each prior level being fed into the next level of optimizations. In order to guarantee a global optimal solution, a final set of support vectors from a final level of optimization processing may be fed back into the first level of the optimization cascade so that the results may be processed along with each of the training data subsets.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for using a location routing number (LRN) based query and response mechanism to effect advanced routing. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving a location routing number (LRN) based query and generating an advanced routing query based on the LRN based query. The generated advanced routing query is sent to an advanced routing function configured to process the advanced routing query. Upon receiving an advanced routing response including a carrier ID from the advanced routing function, a location routing number (LRN) is determined based on the advanced routing response. In response to successfully determining an LRN based on the advanced routing response, an LRN based response including the determined LRN is generated.

Abstract: A PVA-containing composition comprises, by weight 40 to 97% PVA and 3 to 20% plasticiser comprising glycerine and propylene glycol. Optionally at least one of a filler, a binder and a pigment such that the total amount is 100%. Preferably, the composition comprises 50 to 67% PVA and 5 to 17% of the plasticiser. The plasticiser preferably comprises at least 1% of glycerine and at least 1 % propylene glycol, more preferably in a ratio, by weight, of glycerine to propylene glycol of 1:5 to 5:1.

Abstract: A steam iron assembly (1) comprises a steam iron (10), a steam generator (20) and a water reservoir (30). Furthermore, a pump (40) is provided for pumping water from the water reservoir (30) to the steam generator (20). Inside the steam generator (20), the water is heated to steam. The generated steam is conducted through the steam iron (10) to an item to be ironed. The steam iron (10) comprises a soleplate (11) having a contacting surface (12) for contacting items to be ironed. A temperature of the soleplate (11) is kept at a relatively low level of for example 110° C. throughout an entire steam ironing process, whereas variations of an ironing temperature are obtained on the basis of variations of a temperature of the supplied steam. As a result of these factors, the risk of scorching of the items to be ironed is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a computer program product, a segmentation system and a user interface for structuring an unstructured text by making use of statistical models trained on annotated training data. The method performs text segmentation into text sections and assigns labels to text sections as section headings. The performed segmentation and assignment is provided to a user for general review. Additionally, alternative segmentations and label assignments are provided to the user being capable to select alternative segmentations and alternative labels as well as to enter a user defined segmentation and user defined label. In response to the modifications introduced by the user, a plurality of different actions are initiated incorporating the re-segmentation and re-labelling of successive parts of the document or the entire document.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recirculating shower system comprising a shower head 22, a circuit configured to recirculate at least part of the used water to the shower head, a heater 18 included in the circuit for heating the recycled water to a temperature at which micro organisms in the water are killed and a heat exchanger 16 arranged to exchange heat between the water flowing towards and away from the heater. The system provides an efficient use of water and energy and also allows a high flow rate of water at a relatively low use of energy and water.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a signal acquisition system to acquire magnetic resonance signals. A reconstructor reconstructs magnetic resonance images from the acquired magnetic resonance signals. The signal acquisition system and/or the reconstructor are controlled to perform overhead activities separately from actual acquisition of the magnetic resonance signals notably for different contrast types. Accordingly, time efficient signal acquisition for multiple contrasts is achieved.

Abstract: For providing a particularly efficient micro-structured cooler intended more specifically for cooling electronic components, it is proposed to proceed in the following manner to build this cooler: providing a stack of at least two metal foils (1) comprising channels (2) for coolant and one base plate (5) adapted to be brought into thermal contact with the electronic component (4) through a thermal contact surface (6), said metal foils (1) and said base plate (5) being joined together so as to form a single piece of material, said channels (2) having a width b ranging from 100 to 350 ?m, a depth t ranging from 30 to 150 ?m, a mean spacing s ranging from 30 to 300 ?m, residual foil thickness r remaining after formation of the channels (2) in the metal foils (1) ranging from 30 to 300 ?m and said base plate (5) having a thickness g ranging from 100 to 1,000 ?m, said cooler further having at least one splitting chamber (10) traversing the metal foils (1) approximately in the region of the thermal contact surface

Abstract: An electrical device having a housing and moisture-sensitive electrical structural units situated in the housing, having a pressure compensation element situated in a housing part, which avoids, preferably prevents, the ingress of moisture, the pressure compensation element including a diaphragm which is permeable to gas, having an impact protection element situated in front of the diaphragm, which at least avoids spraying a liquid directly onto the diaphragm, wherein the impact protection element is in one piece part of the housing part.

Abstract: A process for making a multiphase birefringent film and resulting shaped article comprise (a) a first polymeric material forming a continuous phase in all directions and (b) a second polymeric material that is continuous in only one direction disposed within the first phase, the second polymeric material being predominately curvilinear in shape and substantially extending the length of the film, at least one of the phases being birefringent and the two phases being substantially matched in refractive index in at least one direction The shaped article and process for making provides a diffusely reflecting polarizer.

Abstract: Bone fixator for use in the treatment of a fractured bone comprising a support beam having means for attaching each end thereof to the respective ends of a fractured bone, the support beam being configured so as to permit predetermined relative movement between the respective ends of the support beam and thereby transmitting said relative movement to the respective ends of the fractured bone.

Abstract: Wet wipes are made from a highly-textured basesheet of cellulose papermaking fibers bonded together with a permanent wet strength agent. The resulting wet wipes can have high wet bulk, good wet strength and can be easily dispensed and fully-opened with one hand.

Abstract: Opportunity distribution systems and methods distribute business opportunities received from lead sources for routing to one or more destination businesses that will make use the opportunity, such as an opportunity to place a webpage advertisement on a webpage that is being served to a viewer. The system identifies a set of most profitable destinations for each opportunity, for each routing, while complying with business rules associated with the opportunity source and the destination businesses. System variables associated with the lead source and the destinations may be advantageously adjusted to maintain desired flow rate and quality levels of leads to each destination and to maximize profit to the system. A system administrator module and log of lead transactions allows the system to review previous performance and to carry out simulations in order to identify desired adjustments to system variables.