Abstract: The present invention relates to a web cam coupled to a computer system, an in particular to a web cam with an automatic image angle adjustment device responsive to rotation of a housing of the camera. Once a user rotates the housing of the web cam, the web cam will cause electrical contact or disengagement of a conductor relative to a contact, and thereby generate a feedback signal for enabling the computer system to give a counter rotation to an angled image and align the angled image with a display.

Abstract: Methods for two step etching a BARC layer in a dual damascene structure are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate having vias filled with a BARC layer disposed on the substrate in an etch reactor, supplying a first gas mixture into the reactor to etch a first portion of the BARC layer filling in the vias, and supplying a second gas mixture comprising NH3 gas into the reactor to etch a second portion of the BARC layer disposed in the vias.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method is provided in a plasma reactor for etching a trench in an organic planarization layer of a resist structure comprising a photoresist mask structure over a hardmask masking the organic planarization layer. This may include introducing into the plasma reactor an etchant gas chemistry including N2, H2, and O2 and etching a masked organic planarization layer using a plasma formed from the etchant gas chemistry. This may include etching through the planarization layer to form a trench with a single etch step.

Abstract: A rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion. The first portion has a first inclined surface and the second portion has a corresponding second inclined surface. The second inclined surface of the second portion can be rotated relatively to the first inclined surface of the first portion, thereby fundamentally changing the appearance of the housing by changing the angle between the first and second portions of the housing.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for creating a mini information center. A user is presented with an initial set of questions to answer. Based on these answers, topics of interests are identified. These topics of interests are presented to the user. Each topic of interest may be associated with one or more articles. The user may then select the articles that are of interest to the user. Upon selection of each article, the user may be presented with a list of options including the option of storing the selected article and associated topic in a directory which will later be used to build a mini information center. Once the user has completed the selection of articles of interest, the mini information center is built using the stored selected articles and associated topics thereby enabling the user to access the desired information in the information center using less time.

Abstract: A ballast control circuit having a bridge driver for driving a transistor bridge of a ballast circuit coupled to a resonant ballast output stage including a lamp, the ballast control circuit comprising a circuit for setting a minimum oscillation frequency and a voltage controlled oscillation circuit having a first input, wherein as a voltage at the first input increases, modes of the circuit change from a preheat mode where the frequency of oscillation moves from a first frequency to a lower preheat frequency and continues at a substantially constant preheat frequency for a set duration of preheat time, to an ignition mode where the frequency moves lower towards a resonance frequency of the ballast output stage until the lamp ignites, and to a run mode where the frequency stops decreasing and stays at the minimum set frequency.

Abstract: The active area of a current sense die is surrounded by a transition region which extends to the terminating periphery of the die. Spaced parallel MOSgated trenches extend through and define an active area. The trench positions in the transition region are eliminated or are deactivated, as by shorting to the MOSFET source of the trench, or by removing the source regions in areas of the transition region. By inactivating MOSgate action in the transition region surrounding the source, the device is made less sensitive to current ratio variation due to varying manufacturing tolerances. The gate to source capacitance is increased by surrounding the active area with an enlarged P+ field region which is at least five times the area of the active region, thereby to make the device less sensitive to ESD failure.