Abstract: A centrifugal pellet dryer screen (540) especially adapted for drying polymer pellets and micropellets includes an exterior or outer support screen (542), an inner screen (546) of an irregular or rough surface, and an optional middle screen(s) (544) sandwiched between the outer support screen and the inner screen. The screen layers are in intimate contact and the multi-layer screen assembly produces drier pellets and micropellets exiting the dryer. Plugging of the dryer screens and banding of the pellets or micropellets are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A dielectric material formed by contacting a low dielectric constant polymer with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, under thermodynamic conditions which maintain the carbon dioxide in the liquid or supercritical state, wherein a porous product is formed. Thereupon, thermodynamic conditions are changed to ambient wherein carbon dioxide escapes from the pores and is replaced with air.

Abstract: A pressure compensated tubing injector for injecting coiled tubing into a subsea wellhead or flowline. A traction device including grippers carried on respective opposing chain loops provides gripping engagement with the coiled tubing to longitudinally move the coiled tubing. A plurality of sealed outboard bearing assemblies guide movement of the chain loops. A drive unit powers the chain loops and includes a sealed gear case. One or more pressure compensators are placed in communication with the sealed gear case and one or more of the bearing assemblies, to compensate for subsea pressure and prevent intrusion of seawater. The bearing assemblies may include self-contained pressure compensators.

Abstract: Multilayered resist structures including bilayer and top surface imaging which utilize tuned underlayers functioning as ARCs, planarizing layers, and etch resistant hard masks whose properties such as optical, chemical and physical properties are tailored to give a multilayer resist structure exhibiting high resolution, residue free lithography and methods of preparing these materials.

Abstract: Multilayered resist structures including bilayer and top surface imaging which utilize tuned underlayers functioning as ARCs, planarizing layers, and etch resistant hard masks whose properties such as optical, chemical and physical properties are tailored to give a multilayer resist structure exhibiting high resolution, residue free lithography and methods of preparing these materials.

Abstract: Disclosed are multilayered resist structures including bilayer and top surface imaging which utilize tuned underlayers functioning as ARCs, planarizing layers, and etch resistant hard masks whose properties such as optical, chemical and physical properties are tailored to give a multilayer resist structure exhibiting high resolution, residue free lithography and methods of preparing these materials.

Abstract: A composition which includes liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide and an acid having a pKa of less than about 4. The composition is employed in a process of removing residue from a precision surface, such as a semiconductor sample, in which the precision surface is contacted with the composition under thermodynamic conditions consistent with the retention of the liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide in the liquid or supercritical state.

Abstract: A cutter hub and blade assembly for cutting polymer strands extruded from a die face in a pelletizer has cutter blades mounted on the cutter hub at a steep angle. The blades are beveled along a portion of their leading edge to form a blunt cutting edge or surface to the blades which is generally perpendicular to the die face. By beveling the leading edge of a blade supported at a steep angle to form a blunt cutting edge, the bottom surface area of the blade in contact with the die face can be significantly reduced. The reduced contact area provides several advantages including a clean cut of the pellets and a faster blade grinding when seating the blades to the die face.

Abstract: A remote sensing system having a modular bus architecture. The bus architecture of the present invention comprises a modular reconfigurable processing unit which functions as an interface between the sensors and the communications components. The system has three main components: (1) input pods that provide physical and logical interfaces to whatever sensors (similar or dissimilar) are to be used, (2) output pods that provide physical and logical interfaces to whatever communications devices (similar or dissimilar) are to be used, and (3) a reconfigurable interface and processing unit that accepts both the input and output pods as plug-in devices and that provides control, format conversion, data buffering, data manipulation, power management, and other needed services for inputting the data, processing the data, and transmitting the data, regardless of the sensor type or communications device.

Abstract: The present invention includes a packaged coated workpiece. The packaged coated workpiece has: (1) a workpiece coated with a resist film sensitive to optical radiation, particulates or chemical contaminants; (2) an inner barrier sealed to enclose the coated workpiece and optionally a first getter agent, to produce a sealed first enclosure; and (3) an outer barrier sealed to enclose the sealed first enclosure and optionally a second getter agent, provided that the packaged coated workpiece has at least one getter agent, to produce a packaged coated workpiece suitable for storage for a period of at least one week without substantial loss of sensitivity, resolution or performance. The present invention also includes a process for preparing a packaged coated workpiece and a method of increasing the storage time of a coated workpiece to at least one week without substantial loss of sensitivity, resolution or performance.

Abstract: Methods are provided for executing a money transfer from a first party to a second party. Customer instructions are received at a host system to stage the money transfer. The instructions include specification of an amount of money to be transferred, specification of a first currency in which the funds are to be provided by the first party, specification of a second currency different from the first currency in which the finds are to be received by the second party, and specification of a trigger currency exchange rate. Confirmation is received that the finds have been collected from the first party. A currency exchange rate between the first currency and the second currency is monitored. It is determined whether the monitored currency exchange rate is at least as favorable for the first party as the trigger currency exchange rate.

Abstract: A dielectric material formed by contacting a low dielectric constant polymer with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, under thermodynamic conditions which maintain the carbon dioxide in the liquid or supercritical state, wherein a porous product is formed. Thereupon, thermodynamic conditions are changed to ambient wherein carbon dioxide escapes from the pores and is replaced with air.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for executing a futures transaction for a customer. A record of a stored-value account is maintained on behalf of the customer at a host system. The record includes an identification of a level of value stored in the stored-value account. A request is received at the host system for approval for the customer to be a party to a contract having a defined future execution date or date range. The request specifies an amount of value due from the customer upon execution of the contract. An approval is recorded by modifying the record to include a specification of terms of the contract. A request for execution of the contract is received at the host system during the defined execution date or date range. The level of value stored in the stored-value account is reduced by the amount of value in response to receipt of the request for execution of the contract.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning a workpiece with a cleaning medium that is maintained at a single fluid phase. The apparatus comprises means for providing the cleaning medium; a pressurizable cleaning vessel for receiving the cleaning medium and the workpiece; and means for maintaining a single fluid phase of the cleaning medium in the cleaning vessel. The present invention further provides a process for cleaning the workpiece with cleaning medium under conditions such that the workpiece is exposed to a single fluid phase of the cleaning medium. The present invention further includes a process for a storage media that includes instructions for controlling a processor for the process of the present invention. The storage media comprises means for controlling the processor to control contacting conditions of the workpiece and the cleaning medium such that the workpiece is exposed to a single fluid phase of the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables the processing of electronic payment transactions. The system and method includes a data transaction provider which is configured for receiving a request to process electronic payment transactions, funding the transactions and generating reports respecting such transactions. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, payment to a merchant is effectuated by funding transactions that transpired during a predetermined period, regardless of whether confirmation that the funds have been transferred by the consumer is received.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning a workpiece with a cleaning medium that is maintained at a single fluid phase. The apparatus comprises means for providing the cleaning medium; a pressurizable cleaning vessel for receiving the cleaning medium and the workpiece; and means for maintaining a single fluid phase of the cleaning medium in the cleaning vessel. The present invention further provides a process for cleaning the workpiece with cleaning medium under conditions such that the workpiece is exposed to a single fluid phase of the cleaning medium. The present invention further includes a process for a storage media that includes instructions for controlling a processor for the process of the present invention. The storage media comprises means for controlling the processor to control contacting conditions of the workpiece and the cleaning medium such that the workpiece is exposed to a single fluid phase of the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A process of removing residue from an etched precision surface. In this process the etched precision surface is contacted with a composition which includes liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide and a fluoride-generating species.

Abstract: A composition which includes liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide and an acid having a pKa of less than about 4. The composition is employed in a process of removing residue from a precision surface, such as a semiconductor sample, in which the precision surface is contacted with the composition under thermodynamic conditions consistent with the retention of the liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide in the liquid or supercritical state.

Abstract: A check valve for micro electro mechanical structure devices (MEMS), and in particular pertains to a check valve which is adapted to be employed in connection with micro electro mechanical structure devices which are intended to be employed with supercritical fluids constituting working fluids. In a preferred embodiment, the check valve is equipped with a bypass channel including a freely moveable plug structure which, in the open position of the valve enables the ingress of supercritical fluids under high superatmospheric pressures, and subsequent to the filling of the system, let down to atmospheric pressure, causes the plug to be moved into a permanent valve-closed position.

Abstract: A method and system in which users engage in fee-based lotteries, and the users have the convenience of partaking in the lottery electronically using, for example, a user interface device in communication with an electronic server, when certain qualification criteria are met. This is accomplished by receiving registration and eligibility information electronically from a user who wishes to participate in an electronic lottery, qualifying the user and accepting play information from the user for such participation when such user is qualified to participate in the electronic lottery.