Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120258261 | INCREASING ETCH SELECTIVITY OF CARBON FILMS WITH LOWER ABSORPTION CO-EFFICIENT AND STRESS - A method for depositing a film includes arranging a substrate in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber. A first ashable hardmask (AHM) layer that is carbon-based is deposited on the substrate. During the depositing of the first AHM layer, doping is performed with at least one dopant selected from a group consisting of silicon, silane, boron, nitrogen, germanium, carbon, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. An atomic percentage of the at least one dopant is greater than or equal to 5% of the first AHM layer. | 10-11-2012 |
20130316518 | PECVD DEPOSITION OF SMOOTH SILICON FILMS - Smooth silicon films having low compressive stress and smooth tensile silicon films are deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using a process gas comprising a silicon-containing precursor (e.g., silane), argon, and a second gas, such as helium, hydrogen, or a combination of helium and hydrogen. Doped smooth silicon films and smooth silicon germanium films can be obtained by adding a source of dopant or a germanium-containing precursor to the process gas. In some embodiments dual frequency plasma comprising high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) components is used during deposition, resulting in improved film roughness. The films are characterized by roughness (Ra) of less than about 7 Å, such as less than about 5 Å as measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and a compressive stress of less than about 500 MPa in absolute value. In some embodiments smooth tensile silicon films are obtained. | 11-28-2013 |
20140175617 | OXYGEN-CONTAINING CERAMIC HARD MASKS AND ASSOCIATED WET-CLEANS - A method of forming an oxygen-containing ceramic hard mask film on a semiconductor substrate involves receiving a semiconductor substrate in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process chamber and depositing forming by PEVCD on the substrate an oxygen-containing ceramic hard mask film, the film being etch selective to low-k dielectric and copper, resistant to plasma dry-etch and removable by wet-etch. The method may further involve removing the oxygen-containing ceramic hard mask film from the substrate with a wet etch. Corresponding films and apparatus are also provided. | 06-26-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080270130 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING ANNOTATION TIME - Systems and methods for annotating speech data. The present invention reduces the time required to annotate speech data by selecting utterances for annotation that will be of greatest benefit. A selection module uses speech models, including speech recognition models and spoken language understanding models, to identify utterances that should be annotated based on criteria such as confidence scores generated by the models. These utterances are placed in an annotation list along with a type of annotation to be performed for the utterances and an order in which the annotation should proceed. The utterances in the annotation list can be annotated for speech recognition purposes, spoken language understanding purposes, labeling purposes, etc. The selection module can also select utterances for annotation based on previously annotated speech data and deficiencies in the various models. | 10-30-2008 |
20130132080 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CROWD-SOURCED DATA LABELING - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for crowd-sourced data labeling. The system requests a respective response from each of a set of entities. The set of entities includes crowd workers. Next, the system incrementally receives a number of responses from the set of entities until at least one of an accuracy threshold is reached and m responses are received, wherein the accuracy threshold is based on characteristics of the number of responses. Finally, the system generates an output response based on the number of responses. | 05-23-2013 |
20140149121 | Method of Handling Frequently Asked Questions in a Natural Language Dialog Service - A voice-enabled help desk service is disclosed. The service comprises an automatic speech recognition module for recognizing speech from a user, a spoken language understanding module for understanding the output from the automatic speech recognition module, a dialog management module for generating a response to speech from the user, a natural voices text-to-speech synthesis module for synthesizing speech to generate the response to the user, and a frequently asked questions module. The frequently asked questions module handles frequently asked questions from the user by changing voices and providing predetermined prompts to answer frequently asked questions. | 05-29-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110319199 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITTING GOLF EQUIPMENT - A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer's swing and determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer's swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer's swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data. | 12-29-2011 |
20120202610 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITTING GOLF EQUIPMENT - A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer's swing and determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer's swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer's swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data. | 08-09-2012 |
20140378238 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FITTING GOLF EQUIPMENT - A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer's swing and determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer's swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer's swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data. | 12-25-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110003642 | PLAYER SPECIFIC NETWORK - Embodiments of the invention allow a player to have a unique gaming experience, different than other players, even when playing on the same network. A game may span several gaming sessions. States of a game, for example a bonus game, may be stored when the player decides to stop playing the game. When the player initiates a next gaming session, at the same or another location, the previous state of the game is re-loaded onto the gaming machine and the player returns to the previous state. Further, additional bonuses can be implemented because the network knows the identity and other information about the player. The additional bonuses may be unique to that player. Messages particular to a player are exchanged between a gaming device and a gaming network. | 01-06-2011 |
20150111647 | PLAYER SPECIFIC NETWORK - Embodiments of the invention allow a player to have a unique gaming experience, different than other players, even when playing on the same network. A game may span several gaming sessions. States of a game, for example a bonus game, may be stored when the player decides to stop playing the game. When the player initiates a next gaming session, at the same or another location, the previous state of the game is re-loaded onto the gaming machine and the player returns to the previous state. Further, additional bonuses can be implemented because the network knows the identity and other information about the player. The additional bonuses may be unique to that player. Messages particular to a player are exchanged between a gaming device and a gaming network. | 04-23-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120016283 | Orthopedic Brace Having a Support Member and an Adapted Pad - An orthopedic brace is provided having a pliable pad and a rigid support member. The pad is fabricated from a laminate and has an integrally formed raised region and mesh section The mesh section has a plurality of void spaces extending through the laminate which freely permit air flow therethrough. The support member has an open ventilation window extending through it which freely permits air flow therethrough. The support member overlays the pad with the ventilation window aligned with the underlying mesh section to freely permit air flow through the support member and pad via the aligned ventilation window and mesh section. | 01-19-2012 |
20140276299 | Strapping System for Securing an Orthopedic Brace to the Body - A strapping system for retaining a rigid support member of an orthopedic brace in a desired utilitarian position on a body of a wearer is provided which includes a strap having a first strap end, a second strap end and an intermediate strap point between the strap ends. The strap is operatively configured to follow a strap path having a first connection point, a second connection point and a third connection point sequentially positioned on the support member. The first strap end is attached to the first connection point and the strap extends from the first connection point around the body of the wearer to the second connection point where the intermediate strap point is attached thereto. The strap is redirected at the second connection point in an opposing direction and extends back around the body of the wearer to the third connection point where the second strap end is attached thereto. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276305 | Anti-Twist Mechanism for a Mechanical Advantage Tensioning Device on an Orthosis - An orthosis is provided having a mechanical advantage tensioning device with an anti-twist mechanism. The anti-twist mechanism includes first and second anti-twist members which have a reduced degree of pliability to resist twisting of the orthosis about the mechanical advantage tensioning device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140276311 | Extension Limiting Strap for a Hip Brace - A hip brace is provided having a waist belt, waist cuff, longitudinal support assembly and hip joint extension limiting strap. The waist belt is secured around the waist of a wearer and the waist cuff and longitudinal support assembly are positioned on the side of the body adjacent to the affected hip joint. The waist cuff is attached to the waist belt above the hip joint and the longitudinal support assembly extends from the waist cuff past the hip joint along the length of the thigh and is hinged in correspondence with the hip joint. The extension limiting strap extends posteriorly from a lateral anchor position on the waist cuff to a posterior anchor position on the waist belt and prevents undesirable migration of the waist cuff during hip joint extension. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215093 | Degradable Cage Coated With Mineral Layers For Spinal Interbody Fusion - A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls. | 09-04-2008 |
20100196322 | POLYMER FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS AND DRUG DELIVERY - A biocompatible and biodegradable elastomeric polymer material, the polymer material comprising: glycerol and dodecanedioic acid, wherein the molar ratio of glycerol to dodecanedioic acid is from about 5:1 to about 1:5. Methods for using the biocompatible and biodegradable elastomeric polymer material comprises providing an PGD elastomeric polymer comprising glycerol and dodecanedioic acid, in a molar ratio of glycerol to dodecanedioic acid of about 1:1 and administering the PGD elastomeric polymer to a soft tissue defect site in needs thereof. | 08-05-2010 |
20110282392 | DEGRADABLE CAGE FOR BONE FUSION - A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls. | 11-17-2011 |
20120271418 | MODULAR TISSUE SCAFFOLDS - Provided are biocompatible and implantable scaffolds for treating a tissue defect, such as a bone gap. The scaffolds can have a modular design comprising a tissue scaffold rack designed to accommodate one or more modules. Also provided are methods for fabrication and use of such scaffolds. | 10-25-2012 |
20120330423 | Engineered Scaffolds for Intervertebral Disc Repair and Regeneration and for Articulating Joint Repair and Regeneration - Methods for the engineering and preparation of intervertebral disc repair scaffolds and articulating joint repair scaffolds are disclosed. The methodology utilizes either magnetic resonance images or combined magnetic resonance and computed tomography images as a template for creating either the intervertebral scaffold or the joint repair scaffold (e.g., osteochondral scaffold) with fixation to the underlying bone. The disc scaffold design may include an outer annulus that may contain desired structures and a central nucleus pulposus region that could either contain a designed microstructure or a contained hydrogel. The osteochondral scaffold may include a bone compartment interface with a cartilage compartment. The bone compartment may interface with a cutout portion of the bone through fixation components. Different microstructure designs may be created for the bone and cartilage compartment to represent desired mechanical and mass transport properties. The microstructure controls elastic and permeability property distribution within the scaffold. | 12-27-2012 |
20130158651 | Porous Bidirectional Bellowed Tracheal Reconstruction Device - Implantable splinting devices for supporting a passageway defect in a patient that is formed from one or more support structures comprising a polymer or a polymer and acellularized tissue matrix that define a structural component that substantially conforms to a defective passageway of the patient. The structural component also has a plurality of pores. The implantable splinting device is capable of being placed around a trachea, a bronchi, an esophagus and a blood vessel of a patient. The implantable splinting device may also be configured for placement between the trachea and the esophagus of a patient. | 06-20-2013 |