Abstract:
A method for utilizing electroless copper deposition to form interconnects on a semiconductor. Once a via or a trench is formed in a dielectric layer, a titanium nitride (TiN) or tantalum (Ta) barrier layer is deposited. Then, a catalytic copper seed layer is conformally blanket deposited in vacuum over the barrier layer. Next, without breaking the vacuum, an aluminum protective layer is deposited onto the catalytic layer to encapsulate and protect the catalytic layer from oxidizing. An electroless deposition technique is then used to auto-catalytically deposit copper on the catalytic layer. The electroless deposition solution dissolves the overlying protective layer to expose the surface of the underlying catalytic layer. The electroless copper deposition occurs on this catalytic surface, and continues until the via/trench is filled. Subsequently, the copper and barrier material are polished by an application of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove excess copper and barrier material from the surface, so that the only copper and barrier material remaining are in the via/trench openings. Then an overlying silicon nitride (SiN) layer is formed above the exposed copper in order to form a dielectric barrier layer. The copper interconnect is fully encapsulated from the adjacent material by the TiN (or Ta) barrier layer and the overlying SiN layer.
Abstract:
A technique for electrolessly depositing a CoWP barrier material on to copper and electrolessly depositing copper onto a CoWP barrier material to prevent copper diffusion when forming layers and/or structures on a semiconductor wafer.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for a call over network (CON) with a visualized summary are provided. In some embodiments, after the call concludes, a visualized summary of the call can be generated. The summary includes any of the recording of the call, transcriptions, scenario information, speaker information and the duration each speaker was talking, etc. Scenario may be generated by comparing the call speaking pattern to known templates of call types. Additionally, participant features employed in the call may be summarized in chronological relation to the calls progression in a visual format.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for improving quality of a call over network (CON) are provided. Call quality may be improved via pathway testing to determine data path quality. This may be utilized to inform buffering lengths, and also may be utilized to choose the data pathway utilized for transmitting the data. Pathway testing may employ collecting microphone data on one device, transmitting it across the various pathways, and then comparing the quality at the endpoint compared to the initial data.
Abstract:
Stabilized whole grain flours having a fine particle size and which exhibit good baking functionality are produced with high throughput using two bran and germ fractions and an endosperm fraction. One bran and germ fraction is a coarse fraction which is subjected to two stage grinding, but the second bran and germ fraction is a low ash, fine bran and germ fraction which is sufficiently fine so that it does not need to be subjected to grinding thereby reducing starch damage and increasing production with reduced grinding equipment load. Portions of the coarse bran and germ fraction which are ground in the first grinding stage to a sufficient fineness are separated out and not subjected to additional grinding further reducing starch damage and increasing production. The bran and germ fractions may be combined, subjected to stabilization, and combined with the endosperm fraction to obtain a stabilized whole grain flour.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses novel influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) that contain chimeric proteins or influenza membrane proteins. The chimeric proteins are derived from fragments of influenza membrane proteins fused to heterologous proteins. The invention includes antigenic formulations and vaccines comprising VLPs of the invention as well as methods of making and administering VLPs to vertebrates, including methods of inducing immunity to infections, such as influenza.
Abstract:
A stabilized flour, such as stabilized whole grain wheat flour, exhibiting unexpectedly superior extended shelf life and superior biscuit baking functionality, may be produced with or without heating to inhibit lipase by subjecting whole grains or a bran and germ fraction or component to treatment with a lipase inhibitor, such as an acid or green tea extract. Treatment with the lipase inhibitor may be performed during tempering of the whole grains or berries or during hydration of the bran and germ fraction or component.
Abstract:
The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of forming an organic electric device that includes providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures; and dispersing the plurality of carbon nanostructures in a polymeric matrix to provide a polymeric composite, wherein when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a first concentration an interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix is characterized by charge transport when an external energy is applied, and when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a second concentration the interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix are characterized by exciton dissociation when an external energy is applied, wherein the first concentration is less than the second concentration.
Abstract:
A light emitting diode (LED) system implements a power management technique. The LED system includes a plurality of LED drivers connected in series, each LED driver configured to regulate the current flowing through a corresponding subset of a plurality of LED strings. Each LED driver determines the tail voltages of the one or more LED strings of the corresponding subset. Each LED driver, except for the first LED driver in the series, also receives a voltage representative of the minimum tail voltage of the other subsets regulated by the upstream LED drivers. Each LED driver then provides the lowest of the voltage received from the upstream LED driver and the one or more tail voltages of the corresponding subset to the downstream LED driver. In this manner a voltage representative of the minimum tail voltage of the plurality of LED strings is cascaded through the series. A feedback controller monitors the minimum tail voltage represented by this cascaded voltage and accordingly adjusts an output voltage provided to the head ends of the plurality of LED strings.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to elastic nonwoven materials comprising an elastic layer formed from a polymer blend comprising a propylene-based polymer and a minor amount of an ethylene-based polymer. The propylene-based polymer may comprise from about 75 to about 95 wt % propylene and from about 5 to about 25 wt % ethylene and/or a C4-C12 α-olefin, and may have a triad tacticity greater than about 90% and a heat of fusion less than about 75 J/g. The ethylene-based polymer may comprise from about 65 to about 100 wt % ethylene and from 0 to about 35 wt % of one or more C3-C12 α-olefins.