872results about How to "Less sensitive" patented technology

A lithographic projection apparatus wherein a liquid supply system provides a space between a projection system and a substrate with liquid. The liquid supply system comprises a member. A liquid seal is formed between the member and the substrate by a flow of liquid. In an embodiment, the liquid seal is formed by a flow of liquid from an inlet to an outlet of the member.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods and systems are disclosed that combine parallel chromatographic separation of a plurality of samples with a detection technique that involves post-separation treatment of the plurality of samples to enhance one or more properties of the sample or of a component thereof, followed by detection of the one or more enhanced properties. Selective, tunable detection schemes are achievable, and are particularly advantageous as applied in connection with combinatorial chemistry, combinatorial material science and more particularly, combinatorial synthesis and screening of polymeric materials.

The present invention describes a method and apparatus for forming a uniform silicon containing film in a single wafer reactor. According to the present invention, a silicon containing film is deposited in a resistively heated single wafer chamber utilizing a process gas having a silicon source gas and which provides an activation energy less than 0.5 eV at a temperature between 750° C.-550° C.

This invention is a system for the treatment of body passageways; in particular, vessels with vascular disease. The system includes an endovascular graft with a low-profile delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which it conforms to the morphology of the vessel or body passageway to be treated as well as various connector members and stents. The graft is made from an inflatable graft body section and may be bifurcated. One or more inflatable cuffs may be disposed at either end of the graft body section. At least one inflatable channel is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inflatable cuffs.

An audio fingerprint is extracted from an audio sample, where the fingerprint contains information that is characteristic of the content in the sample. The fingerprint may be generated by computing an energy spectrum for the audio sample, resampling the energy spectrum logarithmically in the time dimension, transforming the resampled energy spectrum to produce a series of feature vectors, and computing the fingerprint using differential coding of the feature vectors. The generated fingerprint can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a database to identify the original audio content.

A phased array antenna system includes an RF front end, a radome, and an optical calibrator embedded in the radome for enabling in-situ calibration of the RF front end. The optical calibrator employs an optical timing signal generator (OTSG), a Variable Optical Amplitude and Delay Generator array (VOADGA) for receiving the modulated optical output signal and generating a plurality of VOADGA timing signals, and an optical timing signal distributor (OTSD). The in-situ optical calibrator allows for reduced calibration time and makes it feasible to perform calibration whenever necessary.

Systems for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. A stimulator is configured to generate an electrical stimulus to be applied to the first aspect of the bone. A monitor is configured to electrically monitor a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone. An adjuster is configured to automatically increase the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected. Lastly, a communicator is configured to communicate to a user via at least one of visual and audible means information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response.

A method of determining relative neuro-muscular response onset value thresholds for a plurality of spinal nerves, comprising: depolarizing a portion of the patient's cauda equina; and measuring the current intensity level at which a neuro-muscular response to the depolarization of the cauda equina is detected in each of the plurality of spinal nerves. A method for detecting the presence of a nerve adjacent the distal end of at least one probe, comprising: determining relative neuro-muscular response onset values for a plurality of spinal nerves; emitting a stimulus pulse from a probe or surgical tool; detecting neuro-muscular responses to the stimulus pulse in each of the plurality of spinal nerves; and concluding that the electrode disposed on the distal end of the at least one probe is positioned adjacent to a first spinal nerve when the neuro-muscular response detected in the first spinal nerve is detected as a current intensity level less than or equal to a corresponding neuro-muscular response onset value of the first spinal nerve.

Methods for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. The methods involve (a) applying an electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (b) electrically monitoring a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (c) automatically increasing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected; and (d) communicating to a user via at least one of visual and audible means information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response.

Methods and apparatus combine patient measurement data with demographic or physiological data of the patient to determine an output that can be used to diagnose and treat the patient. A customized output can be determined based the demographics of the patient, physiological data of the patient, and data of a population of patients. In another aspect, patient measurement data is used to predict an impending cardiac event, such as acute decompensated heart failure. At least one personalized value is determined for the patient, and a patient event prediction output is generated based at least in part on the personalized value and the measurement data. For example, bioimpedance data may be used to establish a baseline impedance specific to the patient, and the patient event prediction output generated based in part on the relationship of ongoing impedance measurements to the baseline impedance. Multivariate prediction models may enhance prediction accuracy.

This invention relates to a flat float glass that can be prestressed or transformed into a glass ceramic with high quartz mixed crystals or keatite mixed crystals. To eliminate undesirable surface defects during floating and to achieve superior characteristics of the glass or of he glass ceramic, in particular with regard to a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high light transmittance, the glass has a concentration of less than 300 ppb Pt, less than 30 ppb Rh, less than 1.5 wt. % ZnO and less than 1 wt. % SnO2, and is refined during melting without the use of the conventional fining agents arsenic oxide and / or antimony oxide.

An audio fingerprint is extracted from an audio sample, where the fingerprint contains information that is characteristic of the content in the sample. The fingerprint may be generated by computing an energy spectrum for the audio sample, resampling the energy spectrum logarithmically in the time dimension, transforming the resampled energy spectrum to produce a series of feature vectors, and computing the fingerprint using differential coding of the feature vectors. The generated fingerprint can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a database to identify the original audio content.

An apparatus and method for mixing fluids and / or solids in a manner that can be varied from maintaining the integrity of fragile molecular and biological materials in the mixing vessel to homogenizing heavy aggregate material by supplying large amounts of energy. Variation in the manner of mixing is accomplished using an electronic controller to generate signals to control the frequency and amplitude of the motor(s), which drive an unbalanced shaft assembly to produce a linear vibratory motion. The motor may be a stepper motors a linear motor or a DC continuous motor. By placing a sensor on the mixing vessel platform to provide feedback control of the mixing motor, the characteristics of agitation in the fluid or solid can be adjusted to optimize the degree of mixing and produce a high quality mixant.

The invention pertains to a lithographic apparatus including a radiation system configured to condition a beam of radiation; a projection system configured to project the beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate; a displacement device configured to move the moveable object relative to the projection system in substantially a first direction and a second direction differing from the first direction; and a measuring device configured to measure a displacement of the moveable object in a third direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and to the second direction, wherein the measuring device may include an encoder system.

In accordance with the present invention, a built-up bump pad structure and method for the same are provided. The bump pad structure includes a substrate, a bump pad disposed upon the substrate, a solder mask disposed upon the substrate defining an opening around the bump pad, and a conductive material deposited upon the bump pad such that the conductive material at least partially fills the opening around the bump pad.

The present invention is directed to a method of forming an FeRAM integrated circuit, which includes performing a capacitor stack etch to define the FeRAM capacitor. The method comprises etching a PZT ferroelectric layer with a high temperature BCl3 etch which provides substantial selectivity with respect to the hard mask. Alternatively, the PZT ferroelectric layer is etch using a low temperature fluorine component etch chemistry such as CHF3 to provide a non-vertical PZT sidewall profile. Such a profile prevents conductive material associated with a subsequent bottom electrode layer etch from depositing on the PZT sidewall, thereby preventing leakage or a “shorting out” of the resulting FeRAM capacitor.

A method is described for determining biological tissue type based on a complex impedance spectra obtained from a probe with a conducting part adjacent a tissue region of interest, wherein the impedance spectra includes data from a number of frequencies. The method may include: obtaining, from the complex impedance spectra, a first data set representative of impedance modulus values, or equivalent admittance values, at one or more frequencies, obtaining, from the complex impedance spectra, a second data set representative of impedance phase angle values, or equivalent admittance values, at one or more different frequencies, applying a first discrimination criterion to the first data set, applying a second discrimination criterion to the second data set, and thereby determining if the tissue region of interest is a tissue type characterised by the discrimination criteria.

This invention relates to a flat float glass that can be prestressed or transformed into a glass ceramic with high quartz mixed crystals or keatite mixed crystals. To eliminate undesirable surface defects during floating and to achieve superior characteristics of the glass or of he glass ceramic, in particular with regard to a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high light transmittance, the glass has a concentration of less than 300 ppb Pt, less than 30 ppb Rh, less than 1.5 wt. % ZnO and less than 1 wt. % SnO2, and is refined during melting without the use of the conventional fining agents arsenic oxide and / or antimony oxide.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for implementing a multi-factor authentication scheme utilizing barcode images in computing devices, such as standard mobile devices and smartphones having no native hardware support for reading barcodes other than standard digital camera componentry for capturing digital images of real-world phenomena. A mobile device may be configured by software to require a user, as a first authentication factor, to present a barcode, such as a Quick Response (QR) Code for image scanning using digital camera componentry built into the mobile device. The device analyzes the digital image of the barcode to decode the barcode into its encoded character data. If the device recognizes the character data as valid, then, as a second authentication factor, the device prompts the user to enter a valid password associated with the barcode. If the user-entered barcode is also valid, then the device may grant the user access.

The invention provides a miniature robust fiber optic pressure sensor. The miniature fiber optic sensor comprises a Fabry-Perot chip bonded to an optical fiber. The invention provides a new sensor design that reduces the amount of adhesive required to bond the optical fiber to the Fabry-Perot sensor such that the sensor is less sensitive to moisture. The invention also provides manufacturing methods of the sensor comprising a method based on etching and a method based on using an excimer laser. The invention also provides a chip design that renders the chip less sensitive to thermal changes. The invention also provides a chip design in which a sensor diaphragm has a well-defined thickness. The invention also provides a chip design that protects the chip from etching.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an antenna construction that allows the thickness of an antenna structure be lower than that of planar antennas according to prior art without sacrificing the radiation efficiency at the desired RF-bands as 900 MHz GSM and 1800 MHz / 1900 MHz DCS / PCS. A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna construction that is insensitive to changes in positions of electrically conductive objects in the vicinity. The objectives of the invention are achieved by a loop antenna structure equipped with an electrically conductive parasitic radiator that is electro-magnetically coupled with the antenna loop. Performance at the DCS / PCS bands can be further improved by using an electrically conductive tuner element that provides a stronger electromagnetic coupling between the antenna loop and the parasitic radiator.

An actuating mechanism for actuating a surgical tool of a surgical instrument including an actuating device having an actuator surface. The actuating device is operable by applying a force to substantially any part of the actuator surface for placing the actuating device in an actuated position from a rest position for actuating a surgical tool. The actuator surface comprises a radially collapsible cage having a plurality of interdigitating actuating pads. Each pad is movable in a radial direction.

The invention relates to a method for calibrating a vectorial network analyser having n measurement ports and at least 2n measurement locations (n>1) by successive measurement of the reflection and transmission parameters at different two-port calibration standards, which are connected between the measurement ports in any desired order and must all have a transmission path, and three different n-port calibration standards, which are connected between the measurement ports in any desired order and which are not permitted to show transmission and by calculation of error coefficient and scattering matrix [Sx] with the 10-term or 7-term multiport method. An object of the invention is to propagate a method for calibrating these vectorial network analyser used for multiport measurement which permits a calibration with increased precision and considerable reproducibility of measurement. This problem is solved by the measurements of a thru standard, which is contacted between each possible measurement port combination, of n known, if appropriate different impedance standards and two unknown, there selves calibrated reflection standards at a n-one-port.

A novel time-to-digital converter (TDC) used as a phase / frequency detector and charge pump replacement in an all-digital PLL within a digital radio processor. The TDC core is based on a pseudo-differential digital architecture making it insensitive to NMOS and PMOS transistor mismatches. The time conversion resolution is equal to an inverter propagation delay, e.g., 20 ps, which is the finest logic-level regenerative timing in CMOS. The TDC is self calibrating with the estimation accuracy better than 1%. The TDC circuit can also serve as a CMOS process strength estimator for analog circuits in large SoC dies. The circuit also employs power management circuitry to reduce power consumption to a very low level.

A semiconductor die with an integrated electronic circuit, configured so as to be mounted in a housing with a capacitive transducer e.g. a microphone. A first circuit is configured to receive an input signal from the transducer at an input node and to provide an output signal at a pad of the semiconductor die. The integrated electronic circuit comprises an active switch device with a control input, coupled to a pad of the semiconductor die, to operatively engage or disengage a second circuit interconnected with the first circuit so as to operate the integrated electronic circuit in a mode selected by the control input. That is, a programmable or controllable transducer. The second circuit is interconnected with the first circuit so as to be separate from the input node. Thereby less noise is induced, a more precise control of the circuit is obtainable and more advanced control options are possible.

The present invention relates to a system and a method of measuring a physiological variable in a body. A basic idea of the present invention is to measure a physiological variable in a body by means of employing a sensor (314) which is arranged to be disposed in the body for measuring the physiological variable. The sensor must be provided with a supply voltage in order to be operable. Therefore, a control unit (322) disposed outside the body provides this supply voltage to the sensor. The control unit also receives, from the sensor, via a wired connection (311), signals that represent the physiological variables that are measured. The control unit is arranged with a communication interface (401, 701) and a modulator (301) for wireless communication of the measured physiological variables for presentation purposes.

The invention provides a miniature robust fiber optic pressure sensor. The miniature fiber optic sensor comprises a Fabry-Perot chip bonded to an optical fiber. The invention provides a new sensor design that reduces the amount of adhesive required to bond the optical fiber to the Fabry-Perot sensor such that the sensor is less sensitive to moisture. The invention also provides manufacturing methods of the sensor comprising a method based on etching and a method based on using an excimer laser. The invention also provides a chip design that renders the chip less sensitive to thermal changes. The invention also provides a chip design in which a sensor diaphragm has a well-defined thickness. The invention also provides a chip design that protects the chip from etching.

A suspension system for mounting a touch surface of a pressure sensitive touch display or panel. The suspension system comprises a frame and a flexible suspension membrane connected to the touch surface and the frame, the membrane allowing frictionless movement of the touch surface along the z-axis and resisting movement of the touch surface within the x-y plane. At least one force sensor is connected beneath the touch surface, whereby the touch surface is pre-loaded against the at least one force sensor.

An image scanning apparatus and a torsion oscillator are capable of operating across a dynamic range of possible operating frequencies. The image scanning apparatus uses a light source to produce a light bean, and the oscillator scans the light beam through a scanning pattern. The oscillator includes a plate member having a non-rectangular shape. At least one magnet is disposed on the plate. A surface of the plate member includes a reflective surface for reflecting a light beam. A frame is disposed in a spaced apart relation to a lower surface of the plate member. The fame includes at least one coil configured to induce an electromagnetic force on the at least one magnet to thereby oscillate the reflective surface to a rotational angle of oscillation at an oscillation frequency. The system also includes an imaging surface disposed in the path of the scanning pattern so that the light beam scans across the imaging surface, and a mechanical drive to move the imaging surface. A control system controls electric current provided to the at least one coil to achieve the oscillation.

An audio fingerprint is extracted from an audio sample, where the fingerprint contains information that is characteristic of the content in the sample. The fingerprint may be generated by computing an energy spectrum for the audio sample, resampling the energy spectrum, transforming the resampled energy spectrum to produce a series of feature vectors, and computing the fingerprint using differential coding of the feature vectors. The generated fingerprint can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a database to identify the original audio content.