Abstract: A method of in-situ monitoring of a plasma doping process includes generating a plasma comprising dopant ions in a chamber proximate to a platen supporting a substrate. A platen is biased with a bias voltage waveform having a negative potential that attracts ions in the plasma to the substrate for plasma doping. A dose of ions attracted to the substrate is measured. At least one sensor measurement is performed to determine the condition of the plasma chamber. In addition, at least one plasma process parameter is modified in response to the measured dose and in response to the at least one sensor measurement.

Abstract: A method of plasma doping includes generating a plasma comprising dopant ions proximate to a platen supporting a substrate in a plasma chamber. The platen is biased with a bias voltage waveform having a negative potential that attracts ions in the plasma to the substrate for plasma doping. At least one sensor measuring data related to charging conditions favorable for forming an electrical discharge is monitored. At least one plasma process parameter is modified in response to the measured data, thereby reducing a probability of forming an electrical discharge.

Abstract: Methods for improving the tear strength in non-woven chopped strand mats during the manufacturing process of the mats are provided. In particular, the tear strength of the mat can be improved as the mat is being formed in response to current manufacturing conditions by the addition of a water soluble polyol, such as polyvinyl alcohol, or a cationic dispersant to the binder seal pit. Alternatively, a cationic dispersant may be added to the white water chest to improve the tear strength of the chopped strand mat. The addition of polyvinyl alcohol or a cationic dispersant to the binder seal pit results in an immediate or nearly immediate improvement of the tear strength of the chopped strand mat. Both the polyvinyl alcohol and the cationic dispersant can be utilized to improve the tear strength of a chopped strand mat regardless of the type of binder or components in the white water.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, that may be implemented on a system, for receiving a request from a user to perform at least one of schedule an event or book a transaction; selecting a service provider to schedule the event or book the transaction; contacting the selected service provider to schedule the event or book the transaction; in response to at least one of failure to establish a connection with the selected service provider or failure to receive a response from the selected service provider, notifying the user of the failure and requesting the user submit transaction data to schedule the event or book the transaction with the service provider at a subsequent time; and subsequent to receiving the transaction data from the user, establishing a connection with the selected service provider and using the received transaction data to schedule the event or book the transaction with the selected service provider.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, that may be implemented on a system, for receiving an electronic communication from a user, the communication identifying a delay incurred or to be incurred by the user, relative to a pre-identified schedule of events; in response to receiving the electronic communication, accessing data identifying the pre-identified schedule of events; generating one or more options to reschedule one or more events of the schedule of events to account for the identified delay of the user; sending to the user the one or more options to reschedule one or more events of the schedule of events to account for the identified delay of the user; and, in response to receiving at least one of a selection from the user, sending notification of the reschedule to one or more of attendees and service providers of the scheduled events.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, that may be implemented on a system for identifying a schedule of events for a first user, the schedule of events comprising of one or more of appointments and travel arrangements; identifying a current location of the first user relative to a scheduled location of the first user based on the schedule of events; in response to a divergence between a current location and a scheduled location, projecting a latency for one or more remaining scheduled events; and in response to the projected latency meeting or exceeding an identified amount, identifying priorities among remaining scheduled events and rescheduling one or more remaining scheduled events based on the identified priorities.

Abstract: A plasma doping apparatus includes a pulsed power supply that generates a pulsed waveform having a first period with a first power level and a second period with a second power level. A plasma source generates a pulsed plasma with the first power level during the first period and with the second power level during the second period. A bias voltage power supply generates a bias voltage waveform at an output that is electrically connected to a platen which supports a substrate. The bias voltage waveform having a first voltage during a first period and second voltage with a negative potential that attract ions in the plasma to the substrate for plasma doping during a second period. At least one of the first and second power levels of the RF waveform is chosen to at least partially neutralize charge accumulating on the substrate.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, that may be implemented on a system, for receiving from a user a request to reschedule a scheduled itinerary of events, the request received in a natural language format; passing the request through a natural language analyzer; processing results of the natural language analyzer against at least one of a current status of progress into the scheduled itinerary and profile data of the user, the profile comprising previous changes of itineraries and preferences of the user; generating one or more options in response to the user request to modify the scheduled itinerary of events, based on available options and based on the processing of the results of the natural language analyzer against at least one of current scheduled itinerary and profile data of the user; and presenting the one or more options to the user in the natural language format in which the user submitted the request.

Abstract: A sizing composition for reinforcement fibers that includes one or more film forming agents, a silane coupling agent package, and at least one lubricant surfactant is provided. Optional components such as rheology modifiers, fillers, biocides, and pH modifiers may also be included. Preferred film forming polymers are amide-based polymers. Additionally, the sizing composition is free of polyvinyl alcohol. The absence of polyvinyl alcohol in the size composition reduces or eliminates the production of precipitates from white water in wet-laid processes. The size composition is applied to reinforcement fibers and formed into chopped strand, wet-laid mats that can be used for a variety of purposes, including roofing products. Chopped strand mats formed from fibers sized with the inventive sizing composition maintains or improves the dry tear and tensile strengths compared to chopped strand mats made from fibers sized with a commercial sizing composition that does not contain polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method of multi-step plasma doping a substrate includes igniting a plasma from a process gas. A first plasma condition is established for performing a first plasma doping step. The substrate is biased so that ions in the plasma having the first plasma condition impact a surface of the substrate thereby exposing the substrate to a first dose. The first plasma condition transitions to a second plasma condition. The substrate is biased so that ions in the plasma having the second plasma condition impact the surface of the substrate thereby exposing the substrate to a second dose. The first and second plasma conditions are chosen so that the first and second doses combine to achieve a predetermined distribution of dose across at least a portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor.

Abstract: A technique for using an improved shield ring in plasma-based ion implantation is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus and method for plasma-based ion implantation, such as radio frequency plasma doping (RF-PLAD). The apparatus and method may comprise a shield ring positioned on a same plane as and around a periphery of a target wafer, wherein the shield ring comprises an aperture-defining device for defining an area of at least one aperture, a Faraday cup positioned under the at least one aperture, and dose count electronics connected the Faraday cup for calculating ion dose rate. The at least one aperture may comprise at least one of a circular, arc-shaped, slit-shaped, ring-shaped, rectangular, triangular, and elliptical shape. The aperture-defining device may comprise at least one of silicon, silicon carbide, carbon, and graphite.

Abstract: A personalized entertainment and information platform (Sphere) which provides personalized content delivery across different platforms and modes of delivery. A personal media device (e.g., PC, television, and so forth) interacts with a control server configured for accessing media content and metadata over the Internet. In response to input from the user and the history of user media selection and viewing, a prioritized recommendation list is generated and queued for downloading. The associated content is then downloaded automatically to the personal media device, without the need of user interaction. At this time the user can access the downloaded content immediately without a lengthy delay in waiting for content downloading. It will be appreciated that content such as shows and movies in HD format are of significant size (e.g., up to 50 GB) which would require significant download time, and tie up network and system resources.

Abstract: An osteoimplant comprising an expandable, biocompatible material. The expandable material may be demineralized bone particles such as demineralized cancelous chips or demineralized cortical fibers or may be another material such as a polymer. The osteoimplant has a first state and a second expanded state. The osteoimplant may be used with another device or on its own. The osteoimplant may be inserted into a device such as an intervertebral body fusion device in the compressed state. The osteoimplant may be rehydrated to expand to an increased size, for example as far as permitted by the confines of the intervertebral body fusion device and spinal endplates, thereby aiding in greater vertebral endplate contact and conformity in spinal surgery.

Abstract: A paving mat for use in a paved surface includes a fibrous mat in the form of a paving mat. The fibrous mat includes a fibrous matrix containing a mixture of polymer fibers, first mineral fibers having a first median length, and second mineral fibers having a second median length that is different from the first median length. In another embodiment, the paving mat includes a fibrous mat including a fibrous matrix which is bonded together by a binder. In one embodiment, the binder is a mixture of different binders. The fibrous matrix includes a mixture of mineral fibers in an amount within a range of from 61 wt % to 85 wt % and polymer fibers in an amount within a range of from 15 wt % to 39 wt %. The polymer fibers have a melting point greater than 320° F. (160° C.). The mat has a stiffness in the machine direction within a range of from 65 g-cm to 110 g-cm.

Abstract: A multi-material, cryogenic, elastomeric closure is provided for sealing a container for samples of cryophilic biological materials, pharmaceuticals or the like. The closure includes at least one cryophilic elastomer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) below the cryogenic temperature to which the sample is to be subjected and at least one non-cryophilic elastomer having a Tg above the cryogenic temperature. The cryophilic and non-cryophilic elastomers are present in such a manner as to maintain a complete seal of the container opening at the cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A method of selecting plasma doping process parameters includes determining a recipe parameter database for achieving at least one plasma doping condition. The initial recipe parameters are determined from the recipe parameter database. In-situ measurements of at least one plasma doping condition are performed. The in-situ measurements of the at least one plasma doping condition are correlated to at least one plasma doping result. At least one recipe parameter is changed in response to the correlation so as to improve at least one plasma doping process performance metric.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structure having reduced stress joints between its webs and skin is provided. The webs define a plurality of cells, and the skin surrounds the plurality of webs and has an inner wall that is connected to peripheral ends of the webs such that a plurality of angularly spaced wall joints are formed. Portions of the inner wall disposed between the angularly spaced wall joints include continuous arches. Each of the arches includes a curved central portion that terminates on either end on curved corner portions that are more sharply curved than the central portion. The arches eliminate sharp angles faces between the peripheral ends of the webs and the inner wall of the skin, thereby reducing stress concentrations in the interface between the webs and the skin. The arches also strengthen the skin, which allows it to be made thinner, thereby reducing thermally induced stresses in the joints between the webs and skin.

Abstract: A device for receiving and organizing twisted pairs of conductors from a cable having a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors includes a block with upper and lower surfaces, first and second opposing end walls that define a longitudinal axis, and first and second opposing side walls. The block further comprises at least one aperture extending from the upper surface toward the lower surface, the aperture being sized and configured to receive each of the plurality of twisted pairs of a cable. Each of the side walls includes at least one open-ended slot opening downwardly, each of the slots being sized and configured to receive a respective twisted pair of conductors. In this configuration, the device can facilitate termination of twisted pair conductors onto IDCs or the like and can provide a termination with less dimensional variation (and, in turn, less variation in electrical performance) than prior termination devices.

Abstract: A method of doping includes depositing a layer of dopant material on nonplanar and planar features of a substrate. Inert ions are generated from an inert feed gas. The inert ions are extracted towards the substrate where they physically knock the dopant material into both the planar and nonplanar features of the substrate.