Abstract: A beam shaping unit for focusing a divergent laser beam includes a first optical element to receive the laser beam, a second optical element to receive the beam from the first optical element, an optical focusing unit to receive the beam from the second optical element, a first focal point adjustment device coupled to the first optical element, the first focal point adjustment device being configured to adjust the beam focal point diameter by manipulating the first optical element, and a second focal point adjustment device coupled to the second optical element, the second focal point adjustment device being configured to adjust, in the beam propagation direction, the beam focal position by manipulating the second optical element, and in which the beam shaping unit is configured to image the beam from the first optical element through an intermediate focal point onto the second optical element.

Abstract: A beam shaping unit for focusing a divergent laser beam includes a first optical element to receive the laser beam, a second optical element to receive the beam from the first optical element, an optical focusing unit to receive the beam from the second optical element, a first focal point adjustment device coupled to the first optical element, the first focal point adjustment device being configured to adjust the beam focal point diameter by manipulating the first optical element, and a second focal point adjustment device coupled to the second optical element, the second focal point adjustment device being configured to adjust, in the beam propagation direction, the beam focal position by manipulating the second optical element, and in which the beam shaping unit is configured to image the beam from the first optical element through an intermediate focal point onto the second optical element.

Abstract: A beam shaping unit for focusing a divergent laser beam includes a first optical element to receive the laser beam, a second optical element to receive the beam from the first optical element, an optical focusing unit to receive the beam from the second optical element, a first focal point adjustment device coupled to the first optical element, the first focal point adjustment device being configured to adjust the beam focal point diameter by manipulating the first optical element, and a second focal point adjustment device coupled to the second optical element, the second focal point adjustment device being configured to adjust, in the beam propagation direction, the beam focal position by manipulating the second optical element, and in which the beam shaping unit is configured to image the beam from the first optical element through an intermediate focal point onto the second optical element.

Abstract: An optical element for installation in a laser processing machine has a surface that is optically unused and/or not subject to a laser beam during operation of the laser processing machine when the optical element is installed in the laser processing machine, and a transponder disposed in a region on or near the surface and containing readable information relating to the optical element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controlled release pharmaceutical composition, comprising a core, comprising a pharmaceutical active ingredient, whereby the core is coated by an ethanol resistance conferring coating layer which has the effect of conferring the release profile of the pharmaceutical active ingredient to be resistant against the influence of ethanol. The coating layer comprises a polymeric portion consisting of a water-insoluble neutral vinyl polymer or vinyl copolymer and an amino methacrylate copolymer and an excipients portion consisting of a lubricant, an emulsifier, a plasticizer and optionally a cellulosic compound.

Abstract: A method and a device are for predicting a life expectancy of a product, which includes at least two components. The life expectancy is ascertained as a function of an assumed field loading of the product. The components of the product are acted upon by different loadings and are operated, in each instance, at the different loadings until they fail. An end-of-life curve of the component is recorded on the basis of the load-dependent failure times of a component. An EOL curve of the product is ascertained such that at the different loadings, it includes the EOL curve of the components which has, in each instance, the shortest failure time at the corresponding loading. The anticipated service life of the product is determined as a functional value of the EOL curve of the product as a function of the predefined loading of the product.

Abstract: A method and a device are for predicting a life expectancy of a product, which includes at least two components. The life expectancy is ascertained as a function of an assumed field loading of the product. The components of the product are acted upon by different loadings and are operated, in each instance, at the different loadings until they fail. An end-of-life curve of the component is recorded on the basis of the load-dependent failure times of a component. An EOL curve of the product is ascertained such that at the different loadings, it includes the EOL curve of the components which has, in each instance, the shortest failure time at the corresponding loading. The anticipated service life of the product is determined as a functional value of the EOL curve of the product as a function of the predefined loading of the product.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for imaging on a recording medium is improved to permit the imaging power to be balanced between various groups of individual radiation sources with a low outlay and high accuracy. Two or more imaging heads that respectively include a multiplicity of individual radiation sources that can be electrically driven individually with light beams directed onto a radiation-sensitive layer of the recording medium. A drive moves the recording medium and the radiation sources relative to one another. A control device controls the power of the light beams of the radiation sources separately for each imaging head. A least one light guide is provided that guides a portion of the light beams emanating from the radiation sources to the receiver surface of a photoelectric sensor, which sensor is connected to the control device.

Abstract: A novel method of imaging a printing form renders possible a flexible adjustment of the resolution to a printing image. A number of equidistantly spaced radiation sources are selected from an array of radiation sources arranged along a straight line. The number of the image dots, which are to be written within the spacing distance of two neighboring radiation sources is determined in accordance with the resolution to be produced. A feed of the array is derived from the number of the image dots and the number of the selected radiation sources per rotation of the printing form blank. The radiation power of the selected radiation sources is adjusted in accordance with the number of the image dots and the imaging characteristics of the printing form blank.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for imaging on a recording medium is improved to permit the imaging power to be balanced between various groups of individual radiation sources with a low outlay and high accuracy. Two or more imaging heads that respectively include a multiplicity of individual radiation sources that can be electrically driven individually with light beams directed onto a radiation-sensitive layer of the recording medium. A drive moves the recording medium and the radiation sources relative to one another. A control device controls the power of the light beams of the radiation sources separately for each imaging head. A least one light guide is provided that guides a portion of the light beams emanating from the radiation sources to the receiver surface of a photoelectric sensor, which sensor is connected to the control device.

Abstract: A compact device for imaging (10) a printing form (12), including a number of light sources (14) as well as imaging optics (18) for producing a number of image spots (16) of the light sources (14) on the printing form (12), the imaging optics (18) including at least one macro-optical system (20) of refractive optical components (32, 56, 58; 60, 62, 64), the imaging device having the feature that the optical path (22) from the light sources (14) to the image spots (16) passes through the macro-optics (20) twice. The installation-space saving imaging device (10) can be used in a printing unit (88) of a printing press (90).

Abstract: A trench capacitor having a conductive pillar in a central region of a trench. A first plate of the capacitor includes the substrate in the lower portion of the trench and the conductive pillar. The capacitor dielectric is disposed over the conductive pillar and the sidewalls of the trench lower portion. A second plate of the capacitor is a conductive material disposed over the dielectric material. The conductive pillar increases the surface area of the capacitor plates, increasing the capacitance of the capacitor. A top portion of the conductive pillar may be hollow, further increasing the surface area of the capacitor plates.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is fabricated to have improved bitline contact formation. Polysilicon is deposited between gate contacts that connect to transistors of DRAM memory cells. The polysilicon covers the gate contacts and continues to cover the gate contacts during subsequent processing steps. A bitline of, e.g., tungsten, is deposited so that it contacts at least a portion of the polysilicon, thereby providing electrical contact with the DRAM transistors.

Abstract: A compact device for imaging (10) a printing form (12), including a number of light sources (14) as well as imaging optics (18) for producing a number of image spots (16) of the light sources (14) on the printing form (12), the imaging optics (18) including at least one macro-optical system (20) of refractive optical components (32, 56, 58; 60, 62, 64), the imaging device having the feature that the optical path (22) from the light sources (14) to the image spots (16) passes through the macro-optics (20) twice. The installation-space saving imaging device (10) can be used in a printing unit (88) of a printing press (90).

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor memory with a split level folded bitline structure consisting of three contact levels, in accordance with the present invention includes forming gate structures for transistors in an array region and a support region of a substrate. First contacts are formed down to diffusion regions between the gate structures in the array region. The first contacts have a height which is substantially the same for all first contacts in the array region. Second contacts are formed between first level bitlines in the array region and a first portion of the first contacts, while forming second contacts to a first metal layer from the gate structures and diffusion regions in the support region. Third contacts are formed between second level bitlines in the array region and a second portion of the first contacts, while forming third contacts to a second metal layer from the first metal layer in the support region.

Abstract: A damascene method of forming conductive lines in an integrated circuit chip. Trenches are etched by a plasma formed by capacitively coupling a gas mixture at 500 to 3000 watts under a pressure of 50-400 mTorr. The gas mixture includes 2-30 sccm of C4F8, 20-80 sccm of CO, 2-30 sccm of O2 and 50-400 sccm of Ar. Gas flow can be adjusted to an optimum level, thereby achieving a high degree of uniformity. Wafers falling below a selected uniformity may be reworked. A damascene wiring layer formed in the trenches with an acceptable flow exhibit a high degree of sheet resistance uniformity and improved line to line shorts yield.

Abstract: In order to form a cavity for a fusible link in a semiconductor device, an etchable material is applied over and around a portion of the fusible link and the etchable material is coated with a protection layer. The access abutting the etchable material is formed through the protection layer. After the removal of the etchable material, the access is partially filled with a refilling material to thereby form the cavity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an exhaust gas muffler for an internal combustion engine such as a two-stroke engine for portable handheld tools such as a motor-driven chain saw. The engine includes a cylinder and a piston conjointly defining a combustion chamber wherein combustion gases are generated and discharged as a flow of exhaust gas during operation of the engine. The exhaust gas muffler includes a housing having a shell-like wall defining a chamber for receiving the exhaust gas from the engine. The housing has a primary outlet opening formed in the wall of the housing for passing a primary component flow of the exhaust gas out of the chamber in a first direction. The housing has a secondary outlet opening formed in the wall thereof for passing a secondary component flow of the exhaust gas out of the chamber in a second direction.