2225 results about "Single step" patented technology

An apparatus for detection and quantitation of an electrochemically-detect- able analyte, such as glucose, in blood or interstitial fluid includes a meter unit, a lancet and an electrochemical sensor. Of these components, the meter is preferably reusable, while the lancet and the electrochemical sensor are preferably incorporated in assemblies intended for single-use. The meter unit has a housing, within which a lancet is engaged with a mechanism for moving then lancet; a connector disposed within the housing for engaging an electrochemical sensor specific for the analyte and transmitting a signal indicative of the amount of analyte, and a display operatively-associated with a connector for displaying the amount of the analyte to user. The electrochemical sensor is adapted for detection of a particular analyte. In addition, the electrochemical sensor has an absorptive member for uptake of a sample of blood or interstitial fluid. In one version, the lancet moves from a initial position to a piercing position in which skin of the user is pierced and optionally back to a retracted position. The electrochemical sensor is disposed such that the absorptive member takes up a sample from the pierced skin of the user when it is pierced by the lancet without movement of the apparatus. In an alternative version, the lancet is a hollow cannula through which blood or interstitial fluid is transported from the puncture site to an absorbent portion of the electrochemical sensor. In either version, the apparatus provides single-step operation in which sample acquisition and analysis occur as a result of the single action of pressing the apparatus against the users skin.

Different sized features in the array and in the periphery of an integrated circuit are patterned on a substrate in a single step. In particular, a mixed pattern, combining two separately formed patterns, is formed on a single mask layer and then transferred to the underlying substrate. The first of the separately formed patterns is formed by pitch multiplication and the second of the separately formed patterns is formed by conventional photolithography. The first of the separately formed patterns includes lines that are below the resolution of the photolithographic process used to form the second of the separately formed patterns. These lines are made by forming a pattern on photoresist and then etching that pattern into an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall pacers having widths less than the widths of the un-etched parts of the amorphous carbon are formed on the sidewalls of the amorphous carbon. The amorphous carbon is then removed, leaving behind the sidewall spacers as a mask pattern. Thus, the spacers form a mask having feature sizes less than the resolution of the photolithography process used to form the pattern on the photoresist. A protective material is deposited around the spacers. The spacers are further protected using a hard mask and then photoresist is formed and patterned over the hard mask. The photoresist pattern is transferred through the hard mask to the protective material. The pattern made out by the spacers and the temporary material is then transferred to an underlying amorphous carbon hard mask layer. The pattern, having features of difference sizes, is then transferred to the underlying substrate.

Conformal nanolaminate dielectric deposition and etch back processes that can fill high aspect ratio (typically at least 5:1, for example 6:1), narrow width (typically sub 0.13 micron, for example 0.1 micron or less) gaps with significantly reduced incidence of voids or weak spots involve the use of any suitable confirmal dielectric deposition technique and a dry etch back. The etch back part of the process involves a single step or an integrated multi-step (for example, two-step) procedure including an anisotropic dry etch followed by an isotropic dry etch. The all dry deposition and etch back process in a single tool increases throughput and reduces handling of wafers resulting in more efficient and higher quality nanolaminate dielectric gap fill operations.

A process for producing a fuel composition from vegetable and/or animal oil comprises hydrodeoxygenating and hydroisomerizing the oil in a single step. The fuel composition has acceptable lubricity and comprises a mixture of C₁₄ to C₁₈ paraffins having a ratio of iso to normal paraffins of 2 to 8 and less than 5 ppm sulfur.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a modified surface of a substrate that stimulates the growth of epitaxial layers of group-III nitride semiconductors with substantially improved structural perfection and surface flatness. The modification is conducted outside or inside a growth reactor by exposing the substrate to a gas-product of the reaction between hydrogen chloride (HCl) and aluminum metal (Al). As a single-step or an essential part of the multi-step pretreatment procedure, the modification gains in coherent coordination between the substrate and group-III nitride epitaxial structure to be deposited. Along with epilayer, total epitaxial structure may include buffer inter-layer to accomplish precise substrate-epilayer coordination. While this modification is a powerful tool to make high-quality group-III nitride epitaxial layers attainable even on foreign substrates having polar, semipolar and nonpolar orientation, it remains gentle enough to keep the surface of the epilayer extremely smooth. Various embodiments are disclosed.

A series of nips (200, 202, 204, 412, 414) formed by intermeshing grooves (22, 24, 26, 28) provides for a higher degree of stretch, particularly for lightweight webs (100) by stretching in stages in multiple grooved nips. The ability to adjust the degree of stretch at each nip can provide a high degree and variability of stretch with reduced web damage compared to a single step application of the same stretch. Improvements to the manufacture of lightweight components of personal care products such as diaper backing components are obtained.

A vapor phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of thin layers and coatings on substrates. The method and apparatus are useful in the fabrication of electronic devices, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), Bio-MEMS devices, micro and nano imprinting lithography, and microfluidic devices. The apparatus used to carry out the method provides for the addition of a precise amount of each of the reactants to be consumed in a single reaction step of the coating formation process. The apparatus provides for precise addition of quantities of different combinations of reactants during a single step or when there are a number of different individual steps in the coating formation process. The precise addition of each of the reactants in vapor form is metered into a predetermined set volume at a specified temperature to a specified pressure, to provide a highly accurate amount of reactant.

A method of fabricating a gallium nitride-based semiconductor structure on a substrate includes the steps of forming a mask having at least one opening therein directly on the substrate, growing a buffer layer through the opening, and growing a layer of gallium nitride upwardly from the buffer layer and laterally across the mask. During growth of the gallium nitride from the mask, the vertical and horizontal growth rates of the gallium nitride layer are maintained at rates sufficient to prevent polycrystalline material nucleating on said mask from interrupting the lateral growth of the gallium nitride layer. In an alternative embodiment, the method includes forming at least one raised portion defining adjacent trenches in the substrate and forming a mask on the substrate, the mask having at least one opening over the upper surface of the raised portion. A buffer layer may be grown from the upper surface of the raised portion. The gallium nitride layer is then grown laterally by pendeoepitaxy over the trenches.

A system and method provide efficient, secure and highly reliable authentication for transaction processing and/or access control applications in which only biometric input is required from the user. A Personal Digital Key stores a biometric profile that comprises a representation of physical or behavioral characteristics that are uniquely associated with an individual that owns and carries the PDK. The PDK wirelessly transmits the biometric profile over a secure wireless transaction to a Reader for use in a biometric authentication process. The Reader compares the received biometric profile to a biometric input acquired at the point of transaction in order to determine if the transaction should be authorized.

A simple, miniaturized, disposable acquisition and test module for monitoring glucose or other analytes successively for multiple times is described. The apparatus is designed to collect and test small volumes of blood in a single step. Many samples can be acquired and analyzed using a single disposable sampling module, minimizing the number of disposables and improving ease of use of the system.

A selectable, multi-purpose card comprising a plurality of features stored in memory means operatively mounted on the card and selection means for allowing a user to select a feature in a few simple steps, preferably in a single step. In one embodiment the card includes a plurality of magnetic strips positioned on the card in a manner to allow swiping each magnetic strip separately using conventional reading devices. Each magnetic strip activates a different feature of the card. In another embodiment the card includes a programmable magnetic strip, a plurality of features stored in memory means mounted on the card, a plurality of buttons or contacts, and means for programming the magnetic strip with a different card feature. The card may also include a thin, flexible display.

A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octancic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved. The optional use of a surfactant allows low switching voltages at lower frequencies than without a surfactant. In an alternative embodiment, a PDLC material in accordance with the invention can be utilized to form reflection gratings, including switchable reflection gratings. In still further embodiments, a PDLC material in accordance with the invention can be used to form switchable subwavelength gratings. By further processing, static transmission, reflection, and subwavelength PDLC materials can be formed. In addition, PDLC materials in accordance with the present invention can be used to form switchable slanted transmission gratings suitable for switchable optical coupling and reconfigurable optical interconnects.

The invention relates to gapfill of variable aspect ratio features with a composite PEALD and PECVD method, and specifically provides methods and apparatus for filling one or more gaps on a semiconductor substrate. The disclosed embodiments are especially useful for forming seam-free, void-free fill in both narrow and wide features. The methods may be performed without any intervening etching operations to achieve a single step deposition. In various implementations, a first operation is performed using a novel PEALD fill mechanism to fill narrow gaps and line wide gaps. A second operation may be performed using PECVD methods to continue filling the wide gaps.

A lead-free, composite polymer based bullet and cartridge case and methods of manufacturing the same, wherein the composite polymer material includes a tungsten metal powder, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, short glass fibers, as well as additives and stabilizers. The cartridge case includes a lip lock configured to matingly engage a cannelure formed along an outer circumferential surface of the bullet. The cartridge case also includes resilient walls wherein the case may snap fit onto the bullet. The bullet and cartridge case may be formed in a single step process by injection molding or a two step process including injection molding and a welding process.

A process for converting renewable resources such as vegetable oil and animal fat into paraffins in a single step which comprises contacting a feed which is a renewable resources with hydrogen and a catalyst which comprises a non-precious metal and an oxide to produce a hydrocarbon product having a ratio of odd-numbered hydrocarbons to even-numbered hydrocarbons of at least 2:1.

An endoscopic gastric reduction apparatus adapted for applying a series of pledgets to anterior and posterior gastric walls for the creation of a mattress stitch suture within the stomach includes an applier having a distal end and a proximal end. The applier is secured at a distal end of a support shaft shaped and dimensioned for passage down the esophagus and into the stomach. The applier includes an applier body having a suction slot shaped and dimensioned for receiving tissue therein for the application of at least one pledget housed within the suction slot for selective coupling with tissue suctioned within the suction slot.