Abstract: An electroplating reactor includes an electro-plating solution in a bath, a ring cathode in the bath and located to contact a workpiece such that only the front side of the workpiece is immersed in the solution, plural anodes immersed in the bath below the ring cathode, and plural anode voltage sources coupled to the plural anodes; plural thickness sensors at spatially separate locations on the back side of the workpiece with feedback control to the anode voltage sources.

Abstract: A measurement tool for measuring an electrical parameter of a metal film deposited on a front side of a workpiece includes an electrical sensor connected to a workpiece contact point, an energy beam source with a beam impact location on the front side, a holder and a translation mechanism capable of translating the holder relative to the workpiece support, the beam source supported on the holder, and a computer programmed to sense a behavior of an electrical parameter sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A measurement tool for measuring an electrical parameter of a metal film deposited on a front side of a workpiece includes an electrical sensor connected to a workpiece contact point, an energy beam source with a beam impact location on the front side, a holder and a translation mechanism capable of translating the holder relative to the workpiece support, the beam source supported on the holder, and a computer programmed to sense a behavior of an electrical parameter sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An end pin has a composite shoulder with a fixed lower half and a rotatable upper half. The halves are alignable in a first, installation mode of minimal footprint relative to the hole and slit in the end piece to permit the pin to be easily inserted through the hole in the end piece. The upper half is rotated into a second, locking mode that increases the footprint of the pin over the hole and slit, thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement of the strap from the pin.

Abstract: A measurement tool for measuring an electrical parameter of a metal film deposited on a front side of a workpiece includes an electrical sensor connected to a workpiece contact point, an energy beam source with a beam impact location on the front side, a holder and a translation mechanism capable of translating the holder relative to the workpiece support, the beam source supported on the holder, and a computer programmed to sense a behavior of an electrical parameter sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An electroplating reactor includes an electro-plating solution in a bath, a ring cathode in the bath and located to contact a workpiece such that only the front side of the workpiece is immersed in the solution, plural anodes immersed in the bath below the ring cathode, and plural anode voltage sources coupled to the plural anodes; plural thickness sensors at spatially separate locations on the back side of the workpiece with feedback control to the anode voltage sources.

Abstract: A method for detecting contamination of a bath of electrolyte in an electroplating processor is performed by preparing a baseline plot using chronopotentiometry of a baseline sample of electrolyte having substantially the same chemical composition as the initial clean bath of the processor. A sample of the presently existing plating electrolyte from the processor is obtained. A processor sample plot is prepared using chronopotentiometry of the sample of plating electrolyte obtained from the processor. The baseline plot is compared to the processor sample plot. A substantial match between them indicates no contamination in the bath. Divergence between them indicates contamination in the bath. A library of contamination chronopotentiometric signatures may be used to test the bath.

Abstract: A method of electroplating on a workpiece having a sub-30 nm feature generally includes applying a chemistry to the workpiece, the chemistry including a halide ion concentration in the range of about 55 ppm to about 250 ppm and a metal cation solute species, and applying an electric waveform for less than about 5 seconds, wherein the electric waveform includes a period of ramping of current and a period of pulse plating.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to an energy scavenging system using elasto-electric plates and methods thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, an energy scavenging system comprises at least one piezoelectric region in a roadbed or walkway, wherein the piezoelectric region generates electric fields by the strain deformation from vehicles rolling over it or pedestrians stepping upon it; and at least one plate of a solid material embedded in the roadbed or walkway, wherein the plate is designed to sustain, transmit and guide elastic plate modes that are generated in the piezoelectric region and launched into the plate at a first location; wherein the elastic plate modes are guided laterally through the plate to a second location, at which they are converted to electrical energy by the piezoelectric effect.

Abstract: An end pin has a composite shoulder with a fixed lower half and a rotatable upper half. The halves are alignable in a first, installation mode of minimal footprint relative to the hole and slit in the end piece to permit the pin to be easily inserted through the hole in the end piece. The upper half is rotated into a second, locking mode that increases the footprint of the pin over the hole and slit, thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement of the strap from the pin.

Abstract: A connector plug for attaching to a coaxial cable, by which the user strips the cable sheath through the jacket, braid, and dielectric, exposing a length of the signal conductor, and inserts the cable with exposed conductor into a hollow connector plug until the cut face of the cable abuts an insulator that is integral to the plug, and the signal conductor passes through a bore in the insulator. The insulator acts in place of the cable dielectric on a conventionally trimmed cable. An open faced “F” type nut is electrically connected to the body of the plug, forward of the insulator, and the exposed signal conductor extends through the nut. A screw on the plug body is then tightened, cutting through the jacket and making contact with the cable braid, thereby completing the ground connection between jacket and nut.

Abstract: An electric plug having a central signal shaft terminating in a tip, wherein the tip has a substantially frustoconical nose, a convex annular shoulder centered at an axial distance of less than 0.120 inch from the front end of the tip, (defining a bulbous portion) and a concave waist having a radius of curvature greater than about 0.75 inch, defining the detent adjacent to the bulbous portion.

Abstract: The combination of an electronic connector plug and an attached locking clip, wherein the connector comprises a cable, a plug housing surrounding one end of the cable, and a plug supported in the housing, such that the plug extends from the front of the housing and is electrically connected through the housing to the cable. The clip surrounds the housing and can be locked onto an electrical component by a lock screw such that the advancing screw also urges a clamp against the housing thereby securing the plug into the jack of the component. The electrical component is preferably an audio-visual (AV) device having an HDMI socket.

Abstract: The combination of an electronic connector plug and an attached locking clip, wherein the connector comprises a cable, a plug housing surrounding one end of the cable, and a plug supported in the housing, such that the plug extends from the front of the housing and is electrically connected through the housing to the cable. The clip surrounds the housing and can be locked onto an electrical component by a lock screw such that the advancing screw also urges a clamp against the housing thereby securing the plug into the jack of the component. The electrical component is preferably an audio-visual (AV) device having an HDMI socket.

Abstract: Commercial metalized plastic film, in the form of discarded containers or container stock, is collected, cleaned, shredded and packaged, to produce an insulating layer having a high thermal resistance, or R-value, no outgassing of volatile compounds at habitable temperatures, and multiple reusability after deployment. Each step in the sequence is designed to minimize unit cost of the process, as well as maximize the thermal resistance of the finished product. The invention largely avoids disintegration of the recycled material, and hence utilizes the embedded energy already present in the construction of the original film.

Abstract: A plug connector for use with coaxial cable having a central signal wire in which a base member has a bore defined by a side wall adapted to receive the end of a coaxial cable. A member having a pointed end extends into the bore and is adapted to extend into the coaxial cable in contact with the central signal wire. A threaded bore extends through the side wall of the base member and a threaded screw member is mounted in the threaded bore. The screw member is adapted to be driven into the side of the coaxial cable. The screw member has a head portion at one end and a knife edge at the other end, the end having the knife edge having a pocket therein to receive the material of the coaxial cable cut by the knife edge.

Abstract: An optical platform including optical bench, an optical or photonic coupling device and a photonic circuit. The photonic circuit includes a photonic crystal along a waveguide and/or defect. The coupling device may be a waveguide or impedance matching interconnection device. The optical bench includes a rectangular trench to seat an optical fiber and provide alignment with the photonic circuit.

Abstract: A plug connector for use with coaxial cable having a central signal wire in which a base member has a bore defined by a side wall adapted to receive the end of a coaxial cable. A member having a pointed end extends into the bore and is adapted to extend into the coaxial cable in contact with the central signal wire. A threaded bore extends through the side wall of the base member and a threaded screw member is mounted in the threaded bore. The screw member is adapted to be driven into the side of the coaxial cable. The screw member has a head portion at one end and a knife edge at the other end, the end having the knife edge having a pocket therein to receive the material of the coaxial cable cut by the knife edge.

Abstract: A connector for a coaxial cable including a base member having forward and rearward ends and a central bore into which the cable is inserted. A stop is provided in the bore for limiting the insertion of the cable. A transverse screw secures the cable in the bore when at the stop. A housing having forward and rearward ends surrounds a plug connector. The plug connector includes a signal conductor having a needle like projection extending rearward and a ground contact insulated from the signal conductor and including a knife edge projection extending rearward. The housing and base member are threadably connected to each other so that as they are drawn together during assembly, the needle-like projection and the knife edge projection extend into the bore of the base member rearward of the stop and engage the coaxial cable in the bore of the base member.

Abstract: An optical coupling device for the efficient transfer of an optical signal between optical components. The device can receive an optical signal from a transmitting component connected to its input end and efficiently transmit that signal to a receiving component connected to its output end. The instant device includes a combination of two or more dielectric materials and provides impedance matching at the input and output ends as well as impedance conservation during propagation of the optical signal through the device. Impedance matching at the input and output ends is controlled through variations in the relative proportions of the constituent dielectric materials of the device in the cross-sections of input and output ends to achieve an effective permittivity that closely matches that of the interconnected component.