Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to configuring an access point in a local network for operation in a community Wi-Fi network. The community Wi-Fi network includes access points in differing local networks that share respective network bandwidth capacities with member computing devices of the community Wi-Fi network. A request to join the access point to the community Wi-Fi network is transmitted from the access point to a community aggregation system. Responsive to the request, the community aggregation system transmits a firmware update to the access point. The access point installs the firmware update in memory of the access point. Moreover, responsive to installation of the firmware update, the access point can share network bandwidth capacity with the member computing devices of the community Wi-Fi network. Further, the community aggregation system supports transparent handoffs between access points in to the community Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, one or more interconnect layers provided over the substrate and a circuit. The circuit includes a plurality of circuit elements formed at the substrate and a plurality of electrical connections provided in the one or more interconnect layers. A die seal is provided in the one or more interconnect layers. A die seal leakage detection material is arranged in the one or more interconnect layers between the die seal and the plurality of electrical connections. The die seal provides a protection of the die seal leakage detection material from moisture if the die seal is intact. The die seal leakage detection material is adapted for providing a detectable modification of the circuit after an exposure of the die seal leakage detection material to moisture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure including a plurality of connecting lines arranged on a plurality of vertical levels, the plurality of connecting lines including at least a first connecting line arranged in a first vertical level and a second connecting line arranged in a second vertical level, different from the first vertical level, and a breakdown prevention layer placed in at least part of the vertical space separating the first connecting line from the second connecting line.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional chip configuration, a heat spreading material may be positioned between adjacent chips and also between a chip and a carrier substrate, thereby significantly enhancing heat dissipation capability. Furthermore, appropriately sized and positioned through holes in the heat spreading material may enable electrical chip-to-chip connections, while responding thermally conductive connectors may extend to the heat sink without actually contacting the corresponding chips.

Abstract: Methods, systems and instructions stored on computer-readable media for generating a first data stream and a second data stream. The first data stream is spread using a first gold code unique to a first tag. The second data stream is spread using a second gold code unique to a second tag. The spread first data stream and the spread second data stream are combined into a combined data stream. The combined data stream is transmitted to the first tag and the second tag.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer is provided including a plurality of dies, each of the plurality of dies including a plurality of semiconductor devices, a plurality of die seals, each of the plurality of die seals being formed at a perimeter of one of the plurality of dies, and a plurality of electrically conductive links, each of the plurality of conductive links connecting one of the plurality of die seals with another one of the plurality of die seals.

Abstract: A method for determining a rack force for a steering apparatus of a vehicle, in which the rack force is determined as a function of a steering angle variable which characterizes an actual wheel steering angle or a set point of the wheel steering angle. In order to specify a method for determining a rack force, with which a target steering torque can be generated such that a comfortable steering feel is imparted to the driver and the steering apparatus nevertheless gives the driver feedback that is as realistic as possible regarding the motion state of the vehicle, the method comprises: determining a variable which characterizes a lateral force on a shaft of the steering apparatus, and determining the rack force as a function of the lateral force, wherein the determination of the rack force comprises a filtering by means of a signal processing element having a proportional-differential transfer function.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing a network bridge between a source and a receiving network of a communication network, wherein the network bridge includes two content-bridging nodes connected between the source and the receiving networks according to a redundancy schema defined in IEC62439-3. The method can include assigning a common source network node identifier to the two content-bridging nodes; receiving, by each of the two content-bridging nodes, network traffic within the source network; and forwarding, by each of the two content-bridging nodes using the source network identifier, the network traffic from the source to the receiving networks.

Abstract: A telecontrol arrangement observes and/or controls an installation. The telecontrol arrangement is set up to communicate with field devices of the installation and with a control center arrangement. In order to specify a comparatively flexible telecontrol arrangement which can be adapted to change intended purposes with a smaller amount of effort, provision is made for the telecontrol arrangement to be formed in a data processing cloud.

Abstract: A method evaluates power engineering data using a data request that is transmitted to a coupling device by a first communication link. The coupling device is used to convert the data request from a coupling data format into a further data request that is specific to an energy engineering device in a device-specific data format. The further data request is transmitted to the power engineering device by a second communication link. The power engineering device transmits its power engineering data, requested by the further data request, to the coupling device by the second communication link. The power engineering data are in a data format that is specific to the power engineering device, and the coupling device converts all the power engineering data requested by further data requests into a data response in the coupling data format and uses the first communication link to transmit them to the evaluation device.

Abstract: A fluid management system for the treatment of ascites, pleural effusion or pericardial effusion is provided including an implantable device including a pump, control circuitry, battery and transceiver; a charging and communication system configured to periodically charge the battery and communicate with the implantable device to retrieve performance data; and monitoring and control software, suitable for use with conventional personal computers, for configuring and controlling operation of the implantable device and charging and communication system. The implantable device includes a number of features that provide automated movement of fluid to the bladder with reduced risk of clogging, with no patient involvement other than occasional recharging of the battery of the implantable device. The monitoring and control software is available only to the treating physician, such that the physician interacts with the implantable device via the charging and communication system.

Abstract: In a metallization system of a complex semiconductor device, metal pillars, such as copper pillars, may be formed in a nail-like configuration in order to reduce the maximum mechanical stress acting on the metallization system while providing a required contact surface for connecting to the package substrate. The nail-like configuration may be obtained on the basis of appropriately configured resist masks.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a transparent body for use in a touch screen panel is provided. The process includes depositing a first transparent layer stack over a first side of a transparent substrate, wherein said first transparent layer stack is selected from the group consisting of: a layer stack, wherein the layer stack includes a first dielectric film with a gradient refractive index from a first refractive index to a second refractive index, and a layer stack, wherein the layer stack includes at least a first dielectric film with a first refractive index and a second dielectric film with a second refractive index different from the first refractive index.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a material on a substrate is described. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber; a substrate receiving portion in the vacuum chamber for receiving the substrate during deposition of the material; a target support configured to hold a target during deposition of the material on the substrate; a plasma generating device in the vacuum chamber for generating a plasma between the substrate receiving portion and the target support; and a first gas inlet for providing a supersonic stream of a gas, wherein the gas inlet is directed towards the substrate receiving portion. Further, a method for depositing a material on a substrate in a vacuum chamber is described. The method includes forming a plasma between the substrate and a target; releasing particles from the target using the plasma; and directing a supersonic stream of gas towards the substrate surface, on which the material is to be deposited.

Abstract: A method for determining a steering rack force (FR) for a steering system of a vehicle, in which a first steering rack force (RFD) is ascertained as a function of at least one force that occurs in the steering system or at least one torque (tor_RA) that occurs in the steering system. So as to provide less strong feedback on the force conditions in the steering system for reasons of driving comfort, in particular when this is currently not required, it is proposed to ascertain a second steering rack force (RFC) as a function of at least one vehicle variable (v, ang_RA), which characterizes the state of movement of the vehicle, and to generate a resulting steering rack force (FR) based on the first steering rack force (RFD) and the second steering rack force (RFC).

Abstract: A fluid management system for the treatment of ascites, pleural effusion or pericardial effusion is provided including an implantable device including a pump, control circuitry, battery and transceiver; a charging and communication system configured to periodically charge the battery and communicate with the implantable device to retrieve performance data; and monitoring and control software, suitable for use with conventional personal computers, for configuring and controlling operation of the implantable device and charging and communication system. The implantable device includes a number of features that provide automated movement of fluid to the bladder with reduced risk of clogging, with no patient involvement other than occasional recharging of the battery of the implantable device. The monitoring and control software is available only to the treating physician, such that the physician interacts with the implantable device via the charging and communication system.

Abstract: A Substation Automation (SA) system is configured to perform protection functions for a bay of an electrical power distribution substation, receive, via a communication link, redundancy protection commands from a remote center, and execute the redundancy protection commands for the bay. The SA system is configured to transmit to a redundant protection server of the remote center, process values measured by measurement equipment of the substation, and to receive, from the redundant protection server, and forward, via the process bus, the received redundancy protection commands directed to operating equipment of the substation. Thus, for multiple SA systems, redundant protection functions are implemented and provided cost-efficiently by one common remote central unit.

Abstract: Methods, systems and instructions stored on computer-readable media for generating a first data stream and a second data stream. The first data stream is spread using a first gold code unique to a first tag. The second data stream is spread using a second gold code unique to a second tag. The spread first data stream and the spread second data stream are combined into a combined data stream. The combined data stream is transmitted to the first tag and the second tag.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to managing and accessing a community Wi-Fi network. The community Wi-Fi network can include sharer computing devices in differing local networks that share respective network bandwidth capacities with consumer computing devices. Feedback information pertaining to network bandwidth capacity available at different geographic locations covered by the community Wi-Fi network can be collected and evaluated to enable generation of maps for visualizing coverage of the community Wi-Fi network. A consumer computing device can display a map that includes visual information pertaining to the geographic coverage of the community Wi-Fi network relative to a geographic location of the consumer computing device.

Abstract: A fluid management system for the treatment of ascites, pleural effusion or pericardial effusion is provided including an implantable device including a pump, control circuitry, battery and transceiver; a charging and communication system configured to periodically charge the battery and communicate with the implantable device to retrieve performance data; and monitoring and control software, suitable for use with conventional personal computers, for configuring and controlling operation of the implantable device and charging and communication system. The implantable device includes a number of features that provide automated movement of fluid to the bladder with reduced risk of clogging, with no patient involvement other than occasional recharging of the battery of the implantable device. The monitoring and control software is available only to the treating physician, such that the physician interacts with the implantable device via the charging and communication system.