Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for automatically managing probe mark shifts. A determination is made from test data as to whether a die on a wafer is defective. A probe mark check on the wafer is made to determine whether a probe mark is shifted. Necessary recovery action is performed in response to the probe mark being shifted. In the probe mark check, a plurality of probe mark positions are selected from the test data. A determination is then made as to whether at least one of the plurality of probe mark positions violates an engineering rule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for performing bus transactions orderly and concurrently in a bus bridge. To meet the ordering rules, the invention adopts a HOLD/HLDA handshaking mechanism to control the flow of transactions in the bus bridge. When both HOLD and HLDA signals are asserted, the bus bridge holds the transaction processed in one direction and then the bus bridge is ready to process the transaction from another direction. That is, the bus bridge first controls the transaction flowing in one direction whenever there is request coming from another direction, wherein the HOLD signal is asserted simultaneously. Upon receipt of the HLDA signal indicating that the transaction flow has been completely held in one direction, the bus bridge allows the transaction to flow from another direction by granting the request agent bus ownership. The present invention also provides a method to avoid deadlock. The bus bridge retries transactions stalling the bus in two cases.

Abstract: A method for reading data in a data reading and writing system is disclosed. The method can effectively shorten the data-reading cycle.

Abstract: A uniform heating fixture and method of use is provided. A heat conductive member having a first plane surface, a second surface and a third plane surface is formed. The first plane surface and the third plane surface are parallel and are connected by a second surface. The third plane surface circumscribes and extends away from the first plane surface, thereby enabling uniform heating of an X-ray mask.

Abstract: An x-ray lithography method for irradiating an object (14) to form a pattern thereon uses an x-ray mask (10) having a membrane (18). The membrane (18) has an open membrane surface (26), and x-ray radiation (16) is passed through the open membrane surface (26) to irradiate the object (14). During this irradiation, the open membrane surface (26) is substantially uniformly exposed to the x-ray radiation (16) so that stress-induced distortion of the membrane (18) is reduced.

Abstract: A water filter is disclosed having a water reservoir in fluid communication with the porous ceramic core filter element and the drinking water control valve of a filter assembly, for holding a volume of water therein. The water reservoir provides a compressed air space, the air being compressed by an intake flow of water from the filter assembly. The compressed air in the water reservoir is released as a washing water control valve of the filter assembly is opened, thereby causing water from the reservoir to flow backwards through the filter element from inside out. This reverse flow carries dirt from small holes in the filter element, for draining from the washing water control valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleansing water including a fluid driven cleaner is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit board included a plurality of substrates bonded together in which the surface area of each substrate is divided into equal surface areas in which each area may contain the same number and lengths of lines of conductive elements, monitor holes, plated-through holes and circuit components. Connecting pads mounted within each substrate and intersected by a plated-through hole are positioned adjacent the conductive elements within the substrate and are connected to the elements by connecting segments. The circuit components mounted on a surface of the circuit board have their lead elements connected by bridge members to a monitor hole for testing purposes, said bridge member being severable to isolate the circuit components. A method for manufacturing such a multilayer printed circuit board is likewise disclosed.