Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130124447 | COGNITIVE RELEVANCE TARGETING IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM USING CONCEPTS INFERRED FROM EXPLICIT INFORMATION - A social networking system infers a user's present interests based on the user's recent actions and/or the recent actions of the user's connections in the social networking system. The social networking system also determines a set of concepts associated with each of a set of information items, such as advertisements. By matching the user's present interests with the concepts associated with the information items, the social networking system selects one or more of the information items that are likely to be of present interest to the user. At least one of the matched interests and concepts are not identical. The social networking system then presents the selected information items for display to the user, thereby providing information based on an inferred temporal relevance of that information to the user. | 05-16-2013 |
20130159100 | SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR USERS OF A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM USING COLLABORATIVE FILTERING - A social networking system selects advertisements for its users using collaborative filtering based on the users' interactions with objects in the social networking system. The objects may be games, pages, groups, deals, messages, content items, advertisements, or any other object with which a user may interact in the system. The system may identify a viewing user's interaction with a first object, determine a second object that is similar to the first object based on interactions of users with both of the objects, and send an advertisement associated with the second object to the viewing user. The system determines a second object based a similarity score between the first object and the second object, which may be a measure of users who have interacted with both objects and may be normalized by a number of user interactions by the users with the objects. | 06-20-2013 |
20140019261 | SPONSORED ADVERTISEMENT RANKING AND PRICING IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - A social networking system (SNS) provides sponsored stories and organic stories about actions taken by other SNS users to a viewing user. Organic stories are selected based on the likelihood the viewing user is interested in their content. While advertisers compensate the SNS for presentation of sponsored stories, the sponsored stories also include information about actions by other SNS users. To increase the likelihood the viewing user interacts with sponsored stories, a common communication channel is used to present both the sponsored stories and the organic stories. To simplify selection of organic stories and sponsored stories, the SNS determines a common unit of measurement for both and makes selections based on the common unit of measurement. | 01-16-2014 |
20150051980 | PRICING ADVERTISEMENTS PRESENTED BY A CLIENT DEVICE IN A LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY STATE - A social networking system prices advertisements presented to a user of a social networking system via a client device in a state that provides the user with limited functionality by applying discount factors to bid amounts associated with advertisements selected for presentation. A discount factor is based on the likelihood of the user viewing or interacting with an advertisement via the social networking system presented while the client device is in the state providing the user with limited functionality. This likelihood is determined based on information including a history of user interaction with the client device and contextual information indicating whether the client device is in use. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051981 | SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PRESENTATION BY A CLIENT DEVICE IN A LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY STATE - A social networking system selects advertisements for presentation to a user while a client device used by the user is in a state that provides limited functionality to the user, such as a locked state. Based on objectives associated with various advertisements, the social networking system determines interactions associated with advertisements and selects advertisements associated with interactions capable of being performed while the client device is in the state that provides limited functionality to the user or associated with no interaction. The social networking system sends the advertisements to the client device for display to the user while the client device is in the state of limited functionality. | 02-19-2015 |
20150081449 | Selecting Content Items For Presentation To A Social Networking System User In A Newsfeed - To increase the likelihood of a user viewing content items previously identified for presentation but not viewed by the user, a social networking system accesses a view state associated with the user that identifies content items provided to the user and provided content items viewed by the user. Based on the view state, content items previously provided to the user but not viewed by the user are identified. Additional content items whose state has changed since presentation of the content items to the user are also identified. Content items previously presented to the user but not viewed with at least a threshold relevance to the user are ranked along with the additional content items. Based on the ranking, content items are selected for presentation to the user. | 03-19-2015 |
20150106191 | Adjusting Reserve Prices For Advertisements Presented To Social Networking System Users - A social networking system dynamically adjusts a number of advertisements presented to a user along with organic content items by modifying a minimum bid amount associated with advertisements eligible for presentation to the user. Increasing the minimum bid amount decreases the number of advertisements presented to the user while decreasing the minimum bid amount increases the number of advertisements presented to the user. An engagement score measuring the user's estimated interaction with a content feed including organic content items without advertisements and an engagement score measuring the user's estimated interaction with a content feed including organic content items and advertisements are determined. A target score is determined based on the engagement scores, and a difference between the target score and a threshold value is used to modify a minimum price of advertisements eligible for presentation to the user. | 04-16-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110235406 | Low-Power 5T SRAM with Improved Stability and Reduced Bitcell Size - A 5 Transistor Static Random Access Memory (5T SRAM) is designed for reduced cell size and immunity to process variation. The 5T SRAM includes a storage element for storing data, wherein the storage element is coupled to a first voltage and a ground voltage. The storage element can include symmetrically sized cross-coupled inverters. A single access transistor controls read and write operations on the storage element. Control logic is configured to generate a value of the first voltage a write operation that is different from the value of the first voltage for a read operation. | 09-29-2011 |
20120113708 | Stable SRAM Bitcell Design Utilizing Independent Gate Finfet - Stable SRAM cells utilizing Independent Gate FinFET architectures provide improvements over conventional SRAM cells in device parameters such as Read Static Noise Margin (RSNM) and Write Noise Margin (WNM). Exemplary SRAM cells comprise a pair of storage nodes, a pair of bit lines, a pair of pull-up devices, a pair of pull-down devices and a pair of pass-gate devices. A first control signal and a second control signal are configured to adjust drive strengths of the pass-gate devices, and a third control signal is configured to adjust drive strengths of the pull-up devices, wherein the first control signal is routed orthogonal to a bit line direction, and the second and third control signals are routed in a direction same as the bit line direction. RSNM and WNM are improved by adjusting drive strengths of the pull-up and pass-gate devices during read and write operations. | 05-10-2012 |
20130320494 | METAL FINGER CAPACITORS WITH HYBRID METAL FINGER ORIENTATIONS IN STACK WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL METAL LAYERS - A semiconductor die having a plurality of metal layers, including a set of metal layers having a preferred direction for minimum feature size. The set of metal layers are such that adjacent metal layers have preferred directions orthogonal to one another. Finger capacitors formed in the set of metal layers are such that a finger capacitor formed in one metal layer has a finger direction parallel to the preferred direction of that metal layer. In bidirectional metal layers, capacitor fingers may be in either direction. | 12-05-2013 |
20140092523 | BONE FRAME, LOW RESISTANCE VIA COUPLED METAL OXIDE-METAL (MOM) ORTHOGONAL FINGER CAPACITOR - An orthogonal finger capacitor includes a layer having an anode bone frame adjacent a cathode bone frame, the anode bone frame having a first portion extending along an axis and a second portion extending perpendicular to the axis. A set of anode fingers extends from the first portion. A set of cathode fingers extends from the cathode bone frame, interdigitated with the set of anode fingers. An overlaying layer has another anode bone frame having a first portion parallel to the axis and a perpendicular second portion. A via couples the overlaying anode bone frame to the underlying anode bone frame. The via is located where the first portion of the overlaying anode bone frame overlaps the second portion of the underlying anode bone frame or, optionally, where the second portion of the overlying anode bone frame overlaps the first portion of the underlying anode bone frame. | 04-03-2014 |
20140197519 | MIM CAPACITOR AND MIM CAPACITOR FABRICATION FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - In a particular embodiment, a method of forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes removing, using a lithographic mask, a first portion of an optical planarization layer to expose a region in which the MIM capacitor is to be formed. A second portion of an insulating layer is formed on a first conductive layer that is formed on a plurality of trench surfaces within the region. The method further includes removing at least a third portion of the insulating layer according to a lift-off technique. | 07-17-2014 |
20140203404 | SPIRAL METAL-ON-METAL (SMOM) CAPACITORS, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Spiral metal-on-metal (MoM or SMoM) capacitors and related systems and methods of forming MoM capacitors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a MoM capacitor disposed in a semiconductor die is disclosed. The MoM capacitor comprises a first electrode coupled to a first trace. The first trace is coiled in a first inwardly spiraling pattern and comprised of first parallel trace segments. The MoM capacitor also comprises a second electrode coupled to a second trace. The second trace is coiled in the first inwardly spiraling pattern and comprised of second parallel trace segments interdisposed between the first parallel trace segments. Reduced variations in the capacitance allow circuit designers to build circuits with tighter tolerances and generally improve circuit reliability. | 07-24-2014 |
20140231957 | COMPLEMENTARY BACK END OF LINE (BEOL) CAPACITOR - A complementary back end of line (BEOL) capacitor (CBC) structure includes a metal oxide metal (MOM) capacitor structure. The MOM capacitor structure is coupled to a first upper interconnect layer of an interconnect stack of an integrated circuit (IC) device. The MOM capacitor structure includes at least one lower interconnect layer of the interconnect stack. The CBC structure may also include a second upper interconnect layer of the interconnect stack coupled to the MOM capacitor structure. The CBC structure also includes at least one metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor layer between the first upper interconnect layer and the second upper interconnect layer. In addition, CBC structure may also include a MIM capacitor structure coupled to the MOM capacitor structure. The MIM capacitor structure includes a first capacitor plate having at least a portion of the first upper interconnect layer, and a second capacitor plate having at least a portion of the MIM capacitor layer(s). | 08-21-2014 |
20150028452 | COMPLEMENTARY BACK END OF LINE (BEOL) CAPACITOR - A complementary back end of line (BEOL) capacitor (CBC) structure includes a metal oxide metal (MOM) capacitor structure. The MOM capacitor structure is coupled to a first upper interconnect layer of an interconnect stack of an integrated circuit (IC) device. The MOM capacitor structure includes a lower interconnect layer of the interconnect stack. The CBC structure also includes a second upper interconnect layer of the interconnect stack coupled to the MOM capacitor structure. The CBC structure also includes a metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor layer between the first upper interconnect layer and the second upper interconnect layer. In addition, CBC structure also includes a MIM capacitor structure coupled to the MOM capacitor structure. The MIM capacitor structure includes a first capacitor plate having a portion of the first upper interconnect layer, and a second capacitor plate having a portion of the MIM capacitor layer(s). | 01-29-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120068837 | Apparatus And Method To Detect Vehicle Theft - Disclosed is an apparatus and method to detect vehicle theft. In one embodiment, a processor may be configured to execute instructions to: receive a vehicle detection signal from a vehicle detector; determine whether a vehicle is present or absent based upon the vehicle detection signal; establish an authentication credential after the vehicle is determined to present; and validate the authentication credential to indicate validated parking. If the vehicle is determined to be absent and an authentication credential to un-park the vehicle has not been validated, a notification action may be transmitted to appropriate personnel to indicate that the vehicle has been moved or un-parked without proper authentication. | 03-22-2012 |
20120254987 | Pairing and authentication process between a host device and a limited input wireless device - Disclosed is an apparatus and method to perform a pairing process with a limited input wireless device. A host device includes a transceiver and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute instructions to: receive from the transceiver a pairing process request from the limited input wireless device, wherein the pairing process request includes a private code based upon a physical user action implemented with the limited input wireless device; and implement a pairing process to validate the limited input wireless device for a particular host device function associated with the private code. | 10-04-2012 |
20130117843 | Methods, Devices, And Systems For Detecting Return-Oriented Programming Exploits - Methods, devices, and systems for detecting return-oriented programming (ROP) exploits are disclosed. A system includes a processor, a main memory, and a cache memory. A cache monitor develops an instruction loading profile by monitoring accesses to cached instructions found in the cache memory and misses to instructions not currently in the cache memory. A remedial action unit terminates execution of one or more of the valid code sequences if the instruction loading profile is indicative of execution of an ROP exploit involving one or more valid code sequences. The instruction loading profile may be a hit/miss ratio derived from monitoring cache hits relative to cache misses. The ROP exploits may include code snippets that each include an executable instruction and a return instruction from valid code sequences. | 05-09-2013 |
20130185792 | DYNAMIC EXECUTION PREVENTION TO INHIBIT RETURN-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING - A method, apparatus, and/or system for execution prevention is provided. A state indicator for a first subset of a plurality of memory pages of executable code in a memory device is set to a non-executable state. A state indicator for a second subset of the plurality of memory pages is set to an executable state, where the second subset of the plurality of memory pages includes indirection stubs to functions in the first subset of the plurality of memory pages. Upon execution of an application, a function call is directed to a corresponding indirection stub in the second subset of the plurality of memory pages which modifies the state indicator for a corresponding function in the first subset of the plurality of memory pages prior to directing execution of the called function from the first subset of the plurality of memory pages. | 07-18-2013 |
20140372701 | METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING RETURN ORIENTED PROGRAMMING EXPLOITS - Methods, devices, and systems for detecting return-oriented programming (ROP) exploits are disclosed. A system includes a processor, a main memory, and a cache memory. A cache monitor develops an instruction loading profile by monitoring accesses to cached instructions found in the cache memory and misses to instructions not currently in the cache memory. A remedial action unit terminates execution of one or more of the valid code sequences if the instruction loading profile is indicative of execution of an ROP exploit involving one or more valid code sequences. The instruction loading profile may be a hit/miss ratio derived from monitoring cache hits relative to cache misses. The ROP exploits may include code snippets that each include an executable instruction and a return instruction from valid code sequences. | 12-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120163161 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-POINT HSDPA COMMUNICATION UTILIZING A MULTI-LINK RLC SUBLAYER - A method and apparatus for wireless communication may provide a multi-link RLC sublayer in an RNC capable of allocating RLC PDUs among a plurality of MAC entities for use in a Multi-Point HSDPA network. Some aspects of the disclosure address issues relating to out-of-order delivery of the RLC PDUs to a UE, such as unnecessary retransmissions. That is, the disclosed multi-link RLC may be capable of distinguishing between sequence number gaps that are caused by physical layer transmission failures and those caused merely by skew. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163205 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FLOW CONTROL IN A MULTI-POINT HSDPA COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A base station (e.g., a Node B in a Multi-Point HSDPA network) calculates an amount of data to request from a network node (e.g., a radio network controller or RNC). As a part of the algorithm utilized, a length of a queue at the Node B for buffering the flow may be dynamically adjusted in an effort to optimize the trade-off between buffer underrun and skew. Further, a network node (e.g., the RNC) responds to Node B flow control requests. Here, the RNC may determine the amount of data to send to the Node B in response to the flow control message from the Node B, and may send the data to the Node B. In various aspects of the present disclosure involving a Multi-Point HSDPA system, the flow control algorithm at the RNC coordinates packet flow to the primary serving cell and the secondary serving cell for the UE. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163338 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOBILITY IN A MULTI-POINT HSDPA COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A method and apparatus for wireless communication may provide for mobility in a Multi-Point HSDPA network capable of downlink aggregation. Some aspects of the disclosure provide modified mobility events utilized for altering the Active Set for a UE. Here, the addition of a cell to the Active Set can coincide with making that cell a secondary serving cell. Further, the deletion of a secondary serving cell from the Active Set can coincide with switching off the Multi-Point HSDPA mode. Still further, a modified mobility event for an HSDPA serving cell change can be utilized to swap a primary serving cell and a secondary serving cell. | 06-28-2012 |
20120281564 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-POINT HSDPA COMMUNICATION UTILIZING A MULTI-LINK PDCP SUBLAYER - A method and apparatus for wireless communication may provide a multi-link PDCP sublayer in a radio network controller capable of allocating PDCP PDUs among a plurality of RLC entities for use in a multi-point HSDPA network. Some aspects of the disclosure address issues relating to out-of-order delivery of the PDCP PDUs to a UE, such as unnecessary retransmissions. That is, the disclosed multi-link PDCP may be capable of distinguishing between sequence number gaps that are caused by physical layer transmission failures and those caused merely by skew. | 11-08-2012 |
20120314648 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR USER EQUIPMENT-BASED ENHANCEMENTS OF RADIO LINK CONTROL FOR MULTI-POINT WIRELESS TRANSMISSION - In aspects of the present disclosure, a user equipment receives inter-NodeB multi-point transmissions, and a multipoint aggregation component detects a gap in the sequence numbers, delays transmitting a not acknowledged signal (NAK) by starting a NAK delay timer, and transmits, by a transceiver, NAK for the gap in sequence numbers in response to the NAK delay timer expiring and detecting that the gap has not been filled during the delaying. If the Medium Access Control (MAC) entity as the respective NodeB identifies itself to the Radio Link Control (RLC), out-of-order delivery (skew) can eventually be distinguished from genuine data loss before the NAK delay timer expires based upon tracking the highest sequence numbers received. Adaptive NAK delay timer can be performed by monitoring skew duration. | 12-13-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090258850 | STABILIZED THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITIONS AND FORMULATIONS - The invention relates to pharmaceutically acceptable formulations comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient such as androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol, androst-5-ene-3β,7β,17β-triol or derivatives of either of these compounds and an air oxidizable excipient that have been stabilized with respect to efficacy. Use of the efficacy-stabilized formulations to treat a number of conditions or symptoms thereof, such as a symptom associated with exposure to radiation is described. | 10-15-2009 |
20090326251 | METHODS FOR PREPARING 17-ALKYNYL-7-HYDROXY STEROIDS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS - The invention relates to processes for preparing 17-alkynyl-7-hydroxy-steroids, such as 17-Ethynyl-10R,13S-dimethyl 2,3,4,7,8R,9S, 10,11,12,13,14S,15,16,17-hexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3R,7R,17S-triol (also referred to as 17α-ethynyl-androst-5-ene-3β,7β,17β-triol), that are essentially free of process impurities having binding activity at nuclear estrogen receptors. | 12-31-2009 |
20120214987 | METHODS AND COMPOUNDS FOR PREPARING 3ALPHA-OXYGEN SUBSTITUTED STEROIDS - The invention relates to processes for preparing 3α-O-linked steroids including 3α-O-linked-androst-5-ene steroids and 3α-O-linked-5a-androstane steroids. In one process a 3α,4α-epoxy androst-5-en-17-one is predominately reduced at the epoxy moiety wherein reduction of the 3α,4α epoxy functional group occurs preferentially at position C4 with retention of configuration at position C3 to provide a 3α-O-linked-androst-5-ene steroid. In another process, conditions are provided for inversion of configuration of a 3β-hydroxy-androst-5-ene steroid by the Mitsunobu reaction to provide a 3α-O-linked-androst-5-ene steroid with reduced amounts of 3α,5α-cycloandrostane side-product impurities. | 08-23-2012 |
20130066087 | METHODS FOR PREPARING 17-ALKYNYL-7-HYDROXY STEROIDS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS-2 - The invention relates to processes for preparing 17-alkynyl-7-hydroxy-steroids, such as 17-Ethynyl-10R,13S-dimethyl 2,3,4,7,8R,9S,10,11,12,13,14S,15,16,17-hexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene-3R,7R,17S-triol (also referred to as 17α-ethynyl-androst-5-ene-3β,7β,17β-triol), that are essentially free of process impurities having binding activity at nuclear estrogen receptors. | 03-14-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130139048 | Social Context for a Page Containing Content from a Global Community - Posts are ranked for display on a page in a social network environment based on interaction and user score signals associated with the post and a viewing user. The signals for each of the posts are scored, and a ranking score for each post is determined. The posts are ranked in an order for display based on the ranking score and displayed for the viewing user on the page. Posts submitted by other users who have established connections with the viewing user are also filtered for display in a social box on the page. | 05-30-2013 |
20130151612 | Metadata Prediction of Objects in a Social Networking System Using Crowd Sourcing - A social networking system leverages user's social information to evaluate content submitted for inclusion in objects. If the evaluated submission is accepted, the submission is added to the content of an object. Accepted submissions are also used to predict associations between metadata and objects. Metadata is used to predict which objects will match user searches for information. The social networking system also provides a user interface configured to prompt users to submit information to objects. When a user completes a submission to an object, the user is provided with other options for groups of objects to contribute to. The objects offered are chosen to increase the likelihood that the user will choose to provide submissions to one of the provided objects. | 06-13-2013 |
20140040030 | MOBILE PAGE MANAGEMENT FOR MERCHANTS LEVERAGING A SOCIAL NETWORKING SYSTEM - A mobile application enables an administrator of a page in a social networking system to manage the page from a mobile device, separate from a mobile application used to consume content on the social networking system. The administrator application may be used to post content on the page, add fans to the page, delete content posted by fans of the page, generate deals, manage advertising campaigns, and access real-time metrics and insights for the page. The administrator application may also enable a user to manage multiple pages that the user has been designated as an administrator. Loyalty programs may also be designed and implemented in real-time using the administrator application, enabling business owners to customize rewards for users generating check-in events at the place of business. | 02-06-2014 |
20140067546 | Determining User Preference Of An Object From A Group Of Objects Maintained By A Social Networking System - A social networking system identifies a user's relative preference for objects maintained by the social networking system, such as pages associated with movies, restaurants, businesses, or other content. To obtain the user's preferences, the system provides pairs, or groups, of objects to a user and prompts the user to indicate a preference between the objects in each pair. This obtained information about the user's relative preferences is stored in conjunction with the user's profile, which can then be used to select content subsequently presented to the user. | 03-06-2014 |
20140280556 | REAL-TIME FAN ENGAGEMENT - A method for improving engagement between users of a social network and entity pages within the social network is described. Historical and real-time user interaction data may be logged and aggregated in order to identify engagement opportunities where notification to fan page owners, posting of a new post, or promotion of a post may increase engagement of users with entities via pages on a social network. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090191703 | PROCESS WITH SATURATION AT LOW ETCH AMOUNT FOR HIGH CONTACT BOTTOM CLEANING EFFICIENCY FOR CHEMICAL DRY CLEAN PROCESS - A method for removing oxides from the bottom surface of a contact hole is provided. The method provides efficient cleaning of the bottom surface without distortion of the contact hole upper and sidewall surfaces. | 07-30-2009 |
20100129982 | INTEGRATION SEQUENCES WITH TOP SURFACE PROFILE MODIFICATION - Embodiments of the present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for processing semiconductor substrates. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for forming shallow trench isolations having recesses with rounded bottoms. One embodiment of the present invention comprises forming a recess in a filled trench structure by removing a portion of a material from the filled trench structure and rounding bottom corners of the recess. Rounding bottom corners is performed by depositing a conformal layer of the same material filled in the trench structure over the substrate and removing the conformal layer of the material from sidewalls of the recess. | 05-27-2010 |
20100252417 | HIGH PRESSURE RF-DC SPUTTERING AND METHODS TO IMPROVE FILM UNIFORMITY AND STEP-COVERAGE OF THIS PROCESS - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a processing chamber used to perform a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process and methods of depositing multi-compositional films. The processing chamber may include: an improved RF feed configuration to reduce any standing wave effects; an improved magnetron design to enhance RF plasma uniformity, deposited film composition and thickness uniformity; an improved substrate biasing configuration to improve process control; and an improved process kit design to improve RF field uniformity near the critical surfaces of the substrate. The method includes forming a plasma in a processing region of a chamber using an RF supply coupled to a multi-compositional target, translating a magnetron relative to the multi-compositional target, wherein the magnetron is positioned in a first position relative to a center point of the multi-compositional target while the magnetron is translating and the plasma is formed, and depositing a multi-compositional film on a substrate in the chamber. | 10-07-2010 |
20110151676 | METHODS OF THIN FILM PROCESS - A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of features across a surface of a substrate, with at least one space being between two adjacent features. A first dielectric layer is formed on the features and within the at least one space. A portion of the first dielectric layer interacts with a reactant derived from a first precursor and a second precursor to form a first solid product. The first solid product is decomposed to substantially remove the portion of the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed to substantially fill the at least one space. | 06-23-2011 |
20130192980 | CRYSTALLINE ORIENTATION AND OVERHANG CONTROL IN COLLISION BASED RF PLASMAS - Methods and apparatus for depositing a metal-containing layer on a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber includes applying RF power at a VHF frequency to a target comprising a metal disposed in the PVD chamber above the substrate to form a plasma from a plasma-forming gas; optionally applying a DC power to the target to direct the plasma towards the target; sputtering metal atoms from the target using the plasma while maintaining a first pressure in the PVD chamber sufficient to ionize a predominant portion of the sputtered metal atoms; and controlling the plasma sheath voltage between the plasma and the substrate to form a metal-containing layer having a desired crystal structure and or desired morphology on feature structures. | 08-01-2013 |
20140042023 | MAGNETRON DESIGN FOR EXTENDED TARGET LIFE IN RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) PLASMAS - Embodiments of magnetrons suitable to provide extended target life in radio frequency (RF) plasmas are provided. In some embodiments, apparatus and methods are provided to control film uniformity whilst extending the target life in an RF plasma. In some embodiments, the present invention may facilitate one or more of very high target utilization, more uniform metal ionization, and more uniform deposition on a substrate. In some embodiments, a magnetron may include a magnet support member having a center of rotation; and a plurality of magnetic tracks, each track comprising a pair of open loop magnetic poles parallel to and spaced apart from each other, wherein one track is disposed near the center of the magnet support member, and wherein a different track is disposed in a position corresponding to an outer edge of a target material to be deposited on a substrate when installed in the PVD process chamber. | 02-13-2014 |
20140251788 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STABLE SUBSTRATE PROCESSING WITH MULTIPLE RF POWER SUPPLIES - Methods and apparatus for processing substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a first RF power supply having a first base frequency and coupled to one of a target or a substrate support; and a second RF power supply having a second base frequency and coupled to one of the target or the substrate support, wherein the first and second base frequencies are integral multiples of each other, wherein the second base frequency is modified to an offset second base frequency that is not an integral multiple of the first base frequency. | 09-11-2014 |
20140262026 | PROCESS KIT FOR DEPOSITION AND ETCHING - Variable geometry process kits for use in semiconductor process chambers have been provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for use in a semiconductor process chamber includes: an annular body configured to rest about a periphery of a substrate support; a first ring positioned coaxially with the annular body and supported by the annular body; a second ring positioned coaxially with the first ring and supported by the first ring; and an annular shield comprising a horizontal leg positioned coaxially with the second ring such that a portion of the horizontal leg is aligned with and below portions of the first ring and second ring. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262763 | SELECTIVELY GROUNDABLE COVER RING FOR SUBSTRATE PROCESS CHAMBERS - Embodiments of a process kit for substrate process chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process kit for a substrate process chamber may include a ring having a body and a lip extending radially inward from the body, wherein the body has a first annular channel formed in a bottom of the body; an annular conductive shield having a lower inwardly extending ledge that terminates in an upwardly extending portion configured to interface with the first annular channel of the ring; and a conductive member electrically coupling the ring to the conductive shield when the ring is disposed on the conductive shield. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273483 | METHODS FOR PROCESSING A SUBSTRATE USING A SELECTIVELY GROUNDED AND MOVABLE PROCESS KIT RING - Methods for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for processing a substrate may include placing a substrate atop a substrate support disposed beneath a processing volume of a process chamber having a grounded shield surrounding the process volume and a conductive cover ring selectably supportable by the grounded shield; positioning the substrate support in a first position such that the substrate support is not in contact with the conductive cover ring and such that a conductive member electrically coupled to the cover ring contacts the grounded shield to electrically couple the cover ring to the grounded shield; and performing a plasma enhanced etch process on the substrate. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110109853 | Liquid Crystal Displays with Embedded Photovoltaic Cells - Methods and apparatus for a liquid crystal display with embedded photovoltaic cells for high energy efficiency. The LCD with photovoltaic cell comprises a first linear polarizer, a second linear polarizer, a first and second substrate, a liquid crystal cell formed between two substrates, and a backlight unit at the backplane of the display. Further, the display device has many repetitive pixels in the LC cell, each pixel region comprises a transmissive region that can pass the light from the backlight, and another region that is backlight blocking. A photovoltaic cell is formed on the bottom substrate to substantially cover the backlight blocking region. In one embodiment, the LCD is a transflective display, and in another embodiment, the LCD is a pure transmissive display that relies on backlight for displaying images. | 05-12-2011 |
20110267283 | Kickback Voltage Equalization - Scanning gate lines in a gate driver system of a touch screen is provided. The gate driver system can include gate lines connected to display pixel transistors, a display driver that can generate first and second gate clock signals including first and second voltage transitions, respectively, and a gate drivers that can receive the first and second gate clock signals via gate clock lines and that can apply gate line signals, based on the gate clock signals, to the gate lines. A first voltage change generated in a common electrode line of the touch screen by the first voltage transition can be reduced by a second voltage change generated in the common electrode by the second voltage transition. | 11-03-2011 |
20110285640 | ELECTRIC FIELD SHIELDING FOR IN-CELL TOUCH TYPE THIN-FILM-TRANSISTOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS - Displays such as liquid crystal displays may be used in electronic devices. During operation of a display, electrostatic charges on the surface of the display may give rise to electric fields. One or more electric field shielding layers may be provided in the display to prevent the electric fields from disrupting operation of the liquid crystals material in the display. The shielding layers may be formed at a location in the stack of layers that make up the display that is above the liquid crystal material of the display. Touch sensors and thin film transistors may be located below the shielding layer. | 11-24-2011 |
20110298833 | HIGH CONTRAST LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - Devices and methods related to high-contrast liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are provided. For example, such an electronic device may include an LCD with two liquid crystal alignment layers not symmetric to one another and upper and lower polarizing layers respectively above and below the alignment layers. Light transmittance through the plurality of pixels may increase monotonically with gray scale voltage. The display may operate using a gray scale level | 12-08-2011 |
20110304785 | DISPLAYS WITH MINIMIZED CURTAIN MURA - Displays such as liquid crystal displays may be provided with structures that minimize curtain mura. A display may have upper and lower polarizers. A color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer may be located between the upper and lower polarizers. A liquid crystal layer may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A first optical film layer that includes a birefringent compensating layer may be located between the upper polarizer and the color filter layer. A second optical film layer that is devoid of birefringent compensating layers may be located between the thin film transistor layer and the lower polarizer. A grid of metal signal lines may be used to distribute signals to thin film transistors on the thin film transistor layer. A black mask may be interposed between the grid of signal lines and the thin film transistor layer. | 12-15-2011 |
20120113154 | COLUMN INVERSION TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVED TRANSMITTANCE - Present techniques involve methods and systems of inversion patterns for pixels in a display. Inversion techniques involve driving image signals having a first polarity to data lines of a pixel matrix during a first time period and driving image signals having an opposite polarity to the data lines during a second time period. In some embodiments, the pixels may be configured to have electrodes having only two finger electrodes, thus widening the distance between electrodes and decreasing the susceptibility for crosstalk between pixels. In some embodiments, horizontal cross-talk of electromagnetic fields between pixels may be further reduced by configuring the data line driving scheme such that voltage polarity is flipped for the pixels along every two, three, or more data line columns. Furthermore, a Z inversion pattern may be employed to reduce the occurrence of undesirable display artifacts. | 05-10-2012 |
20120113357 | Transmissive Liquid Crystal Display with Reflective Mode - Method, system and device for a transflective liquid crystal display with both transmissive and reflective functions is realized by using a transflective component into a transmissive LCD. The transflective component can be a transparent substrate with patterned reflectors on one surface and repetitive patterned lenses or prisms formed on the opposite surface facing the backlight unit. The transparent areas substantially allow the optical beams to pass through. The light from the backlight is refracted or focused by the optical structures onto the transparent areas or apertures of other surface, thus a substantial amount of backlight transmits to the LC for light modulation for different gray levels. For the incident ambient light incident on the transflective component, the majority is reflected back to the viewer by the reflectors on the transflective component, and the remainder transmits the transflective component to the backlight unit and be recycled to be used again. | 05-10-2012 |
20120154699 | DISPLAYS WITH MINIMIZED CROSSTALK - Display ground plane structures may contain slits. Image pixel electrodes in the display may be arranged in rows and columns. Image pixels in the display may be controlled using gate lines that are associated with the rows and data lines that are associated with the columns. An electric field may be produced by each image pixel electrode that extends through a liquid crystal layer to an associated portion of the ground plane. The slits in the ground plane may have a slit width. Data lines may be located sufficiently below the ground plane and sufficiently out of alignment with the slits to minimize crosstalk from parasitic electric fields. A three-column inversion scheme may be used when driving data line signals into the display, so that pairs of pixels that straddle the slits are each driven with a common polarity. Gate line scanning patterns may be used that enhance display uniformity. | 06-21-2012 |
20120299894 | PRE-CHARGING OF SUB-PIXELS - Pre-charging display screen sub-pixels, such as aggressor sub-pixels, prior to the application of a target data voltage to the aggressor sub-pixels is provided. In some examples, a target voltage of a sub-pixel in a previous row in the scanning order of the display can be used to pre-charge sub-pixels. The row of sub-pixels to be pre-charged can be switched on during the updating of another row of sub-pixels. In this way, for example, target voltages applied to data lines while an update row is connected to the data lines, e.g., to update the update row, can be applied to the row to be pre-charged as well. | 11-29-2012 |
20120299900 | SCANNING ORDERS IN INVERSION SCHEMES OF DISPLAYS - Updating an image of a display is provided by scanning rows of sub-pixels of the display by applying voltages to pixel electrodes of adjacent sub-pixels in different lines such that polarity changes in opposite directions can occur in two sub-pixels that are adjacent to a particular sub-pixel. In one example, a positive-polarity voltage can be applied to one sub-pixel that is adjacent to a particular sub-pixel, causing a swing in the polarity of the sub-pixel from negative to positive. A negative-polarity voltage can be applied to another sub-pixel that is adjacent to the particular sub-pixel, swinging the polarity of the pixel electrode from positive to negative. A change in brightness of the particular sub-pixel that may result from a voltage swing one direction in an adjacent sub-pixel may be offset by a change in brightness of the particular sub-pixel that may result from a voltage swing in another adjacent sub-pixel. | 11-29-2012 |
20120299983 | WRITING DATA TO SUB-PIXELS USING DIFFERENT WRITE SEQUENCES - With respect to liquid crystal display inversion schemes, a large change in voltage on a data line can affect the voltages on adjacent data lines due to capacitive coupling between data lines. The resulting change in voltage on these adjacent data lines can give rise to visual artifacts in the data lines' corresponding sub-pixels. Various embodiments of the present disclosure serve to prevent or reduce persisting visual artifacts by offsetting their effects or by distributing their presence among different colored sub-pixels. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished by using different write sequences during the update of a row of pixels. | 11-29-2012 |
20120313881 | DISPLAY SCREEN SHIELD LINE SYSTEM - Electrical shield line systems are provided for openings in common electrodes near data lines of display and touch screens. Some displays, including touch screens, can include multiple common electrodes (Vcom) that can have openings between individual Vcoms. Some display screens can have an open slit between two adjacent edges of Vcom. Openings in Vcom can allow an electric field to extend from a data line through the Vcom layer. A shield can be disposed over the Vcom opening to help reduce or eliminate an electric field from affecting a pixel material, such as liquid crystal. The shield can be connected to a potential such that electric field is generated substantially between the shield and the data line to reduce or eliminate electric fields reaching the liquid crystal. | 12-13-2012 |
20130044120 | THERMAL COLOR SHIFT REDUCTION IN LCDS - Systems, methods, and devices are provided for an electronic display with thermally compensated pixels. Such an electronic display may have an array of pixels, at least some of which may be thermally compensated pixels that exhibit reduced color shift over a 20° C. change in temperature. These thermally compensated pixels may have numbers of pixel electrode fingers, pixel electrode widths and spacings, cell gap depths, and/or pixel edge distances that cause the array of pixels to exhibit a reduced color shift than otherwise (e.g., a color shift of less than delta u′v′ of about 0.0092 from a starting white point) when the temperature of the electronic display changes from about 30° C. to about 50° C. | 02-21-2013 |
20130076600 | DATA LINE-TO-PIXEL DECOUPLING - Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to display devices and electronic devices incorporating a data line distribution segment between neighboring pixel electrodes. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure employ a uniformly distributed data line distribution segment coupled to a data line so as to cause a substantially uniform data line-to-pixel electrode capacitance with the neighboring pixel electrodes even when the data line is disposed closer to one of the neighboring pixel electrodes than the other. | 03-28-2013 |
20130128193 | Displays with Multilayer Masks and Color Filters - An electronic device may have a display such as a liquid crystal display. The display may have multiple layers of material such as a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. An opaque masking layer may be formed on a display layer such as the color filter layer. In an inactive portion of the display, the opaque masking layer may form a rectangular ring that serves as a border region surrounding a rectangular active portion of the display. In the active portion of the display, the opaque masking layer may be patterned to from an opaque matrix that separates color filter elements in an array of color filter elements. The opaque masking layer and color filter elements may be formed from polymers such as photoresist. The opaque masking layer may include a black pigment such as carbon black. Color filter elements and opaque masking material may include multiple sublayers. | 05-23-2013 |
20130141343 | COMMON ELECTRODE CONNECTIONS IN INTEGRATED TOUCH SCREENS - Common electrodes (Vcom) of integrated touch screens can be segmented into electrically isolated Vcom portions that can be operated as drive lines and/or sense lines of a touch sensing system. The touch screen can include high-resistivity connections between Vcom portions. The resistivity of the high-resistivity connections can be high enough so that touch sensing and image display can be performed by the touch screen, and the high-resistivity connections can provide an added functionality by allowing a charge build up on one of the Vcom portions to be spread to other Vcom portions and/or discharged from system by allowing charge to leak through the high-resistivity connections. In this way, for example, visual artifacts that result from charge build up on a Vcom portion can be reduced or eliminated. | 06-06-2013 |
20130147774 | DISPLAYS WITH MINIMIZED CROSSTALK - Display ground plane structures may contain slits. Image pixel electrodes in the display may be arranged in rows and columns. Image pixels in the display may be controlled using gate lines that are associated with the rows and data lines that are associated with the columns. An electric field may be produced by each image pixel electrode that extends through a liquid crystal layer to an associated portion of the ground plane. The slits in the ground plane may have a slit width. Data lines may be located sufficiently below the ground plane and sufficiently out of alignment with the slits to minimize crosstalk from parasitic electric fields. A three-column inversion scheme may be used when driving data line signals into the display, so that pairs of pixels that straddle the slits are each driven with a common polarity. Gate line scanning patterns may be used that enhance display uniformity. | 06-13-2013 |
20130201429 | Display With Color Mixing Prevention Structures - An electronic device may have a liquid crystal display having a backlight and color mixing prevention structures. The color mixing prevention structures may, in part, be formed from one or more arrays of color filter elements. The liquid crystal display may include first and second transparent substrate layers on opposing sides of a liquid crystal layer. The display may include a first array of color filter elements on the first transparent substrate layer and a second array of color filter elements on the second transparent substrate layer. One or more of the arrays of color filter elements may include a black matrix formed over portions of the color filter elements. The color filter elements may fill or partially fill openings in the black matrix. The display may include a collimating layer on the second transparent substrate layer. The color filter elements may include cholesteric color filter elements. | 08-08-2013 |
20130241900 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY WHITE POINT USING COLUMN INVERSION - Systems, methods, and devices for adjusting a white point of a liquid crystal display (LCD) using column inversion are provided. In one example, a method includes measuring white points of an electronic display that occur when the display employs different column inversion schemes. The display may be programmed to perform the column inversion scheme that produces a white point closest to a desired white point. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241901 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY COLUMN INVERSION USING 2-COLUMN DEMULTIPLEXERS - Systems, methods, and devices for performing column inversion using 2-column demultiplexers are provided. In one example, an electronic display may include a display panel with columns of pixels configured to be programmed with frames of image data and display driver circuitry. The display driver circuitry may include three demultiplexers, each respectively coupled to one pixel column of a first superpixel and one pixel column of a second superpixel. Each of the three demultiplexers may receive amplified image data of a single polarity per frame. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241958 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY COLUMN INVERSION USING 3-COLUMN DEMULTIPLEXERS - Systems, methods, and devices for column inversion are provided. In one example, an electronic display may include a display panel having columns of pixels and display driver circuitry. The display driver circuitry may include source amplifiers and demultiplexers. Each demultiplexer may channel data output by at least one source amplifier to one of three columns of pixels. The display driver circuitry may drive the display panel according to a 3-column inversion scheme using one source amplifier per demultiplexer per frame of image data. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241959 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING LOSS OF TRANSMITTANCE DUE TO COLUMN INVERSION - Systems, methods, and devices for reducing the loss of transmittance caused by column inversion. To provide one example, an electronic display may include a display panel with columns of pixels and driver circuitry to drive the pixels using column inversion. Adjacent columns that are driven at like polarity are spaced more closely than adjacent columns driven at opposite polarities. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241960 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY COLUMN INVERSION USING REORDERED IMAGE DATA - Systems, methods, and devices for performing column inversion using reordered image data are provided. In one example, an electronic display may include a display panel with columns of pixels and driver circuitry to drive the pixels using column inversion. The driver circuitry may drive pixels of a first superpixel in a first color order and drive pixels of an adjacent second superpixel in a second color order, such that more pixels are driven sequentially at a common polarity than would have been driven sequentially at the common polarity were the pixels of the first superpixel driven at the same color order as the pixels of the second superpixel. | 09-19-2013 |
20130329171 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SHIELDING DISPLAYS FROM ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE - Methods and devices for shielding displays from electrostatic discharge (ESD) are provided. In one example, a display of an electronic device may include a high resistivity shielding layer configured to protect electrical components from static charges. The display may also include a conductive layer electrically coupled to the high resistivity shielding layer and configured to decrease a discharge time of static charges from the high resistivity shielding layer. The display may include a grounding layer and a conductor electrically coupled between the conductive layer and the grounding layer to direct static charges from the conductive layer to the grounding layer. | 12-12-2013 |
20140307207 | Display with Column Spacer Structures For Enhanced Light Leakage and Pooling Resistance - A display may have a layer of liquid crystal material between a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. Column spacer structures may be formed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer to maintain a desired separation between the color filter and thin-film transistor layers. The column spacer structures may be formed from polymer structures such as photoresist pillars and may include metal pads. The metal pads may be formed on the upper surface of the thin-film transistor layer or the lower surface of the color filter layer. The photoresist pillars may be formed on a surface in the display such as the lower surface of the color filter layer. Column spacer structures may include main spacer structures, subspacer structures, and intermediate thickness spacer structures to enhance pooling mura and light leakage performance. | 10-16-2014 |
20140327851 | Display Pixels with Improved Storage Capacitance - A display may include one or more display pixels in an array of pixels. A display pixel may include a storage capacitor chat stores a pixel data signal. The storage capacitor may be formed from a pixel electrode structure, a capacitor electrode structure, and a common electrode structure that is interposed between the pixel electrode structure and capacitor electrode structures. Each electrode structure may be formed from transparent conductive materials deposited on respective display layers. The pixel electrode structure and capacitor electrode structure may be electrically coupled by a conductive via structure that extends through the display layers without contacting the common electrode structure. The conductive via structure may contact underlying transistor structures such as a source-drain structure. | 11-06-2014 |