SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING, RECEIVING, AND USING FUNDS OR CREDITS AND APPARATUS THEREOF

A system for performing various methods of sending, receiving, distributing, and utilizing funds and/or credits is disclosed. In many embodiments, various communications platforms and/or protocols may be employed. Methods of sending funds or credits may be practiced in different environments, including physical and electronic environments. According to some preferred embodiments, users may perform a variety of transactions including various gifting functions, re-gifting functions, and social interactions simply, through various types of electronic communications, including, but not limited to electronic messaging.

Surgical instrument comprising a control system

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, a firing system, an electric motor, a power source, and a control system. The first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw to capture tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw. The staple cartridge is supported by the second jaw and comprises staples removably stored therein. The firing system is configured to drive the staples toward the first jaw. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the firing system. The power source is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the power source. The control system is configured to determine a first level of power supplied by the power source and apply a second level of power to the electric motor if the first level of power exceeds a predetermined threshold. The second level of power is lower than the first level of power.

Surgical instrument including a regulator and a control system

A surgical instrument comprising a first iaw, a second iaw, a staple cartridge, a firing system, an electric motor, a power source, a regulator, and a control system is disclosed. The first iaw is movable relative to the second iaw to capture tissue between the first iaw and the second iaw. The staple cartridge is supported by the second iaw and comprises staples removably stored therein. The firing system is configured to drive the staples toward the first jaw. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the firing system. The power source is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The regulator is electrically connected to the power source and the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the regulator. The control system is configured to control a speed of the electric motor based on a voltage set point of the regulator.

Methods and systems for displaying stereoscopy with a freeform optical system with addressable focus for virtual and augmented reality

Several unique hardware configurations and methods for freeform optical display systems are disclosed. A freeform display system includes primary freeform optical element(s) and secondary freeform optical element(s) in tiled arrangements to expand the horizontal field of view (FOV) or the vertical field of view. The system may include a variable focusing system that produces intermediate pupil and changes the focal distance of a single focal plane or switches among multiple focal planes for rendering objects in focus while resolving accommodation-convergence conflict. The system may map light samples to appropriate light rays in physical space and use a cluster of projectors to project the mapped light rays to produce the light field of the virtual display content. Methods for making tiled freeform optical display systems and methods for producing virtual content with variable focus freeform optics and rendering light fields are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for reducing coupling between signals in a measurement system

A method and an apparatus for separating a composite signal into a plurality of signals is described. A signal processor receives a composite signal and separates a composite signal in to separate output signals. Pre-demodulation signal values are used to adjust the demodulation scheme.

Semiconductor reaction chamber with plasma capabilities

A processing chamber including a reaction chamber having a processing area, a processing gas inlet in communication with the processing area, a first excited species generation zone in communication with the processing gas inlet and a second exited species generation zone in communication with the processing gas inlet. A method of processing a substrate including the steps of loading a substrate within a processing area, activating a first excited species generation zone to provide a first excited species precursor to the processing area during a first pulse and, activating a second excited species generation zone to provide a second excited species precursor different from the first excited species precursor to the processing area during a second pulse.

Apparatus and method for tuning a plasma profile using a tuning electrode in a processing chamber

Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus for enhancing deposition rate and improving a plasma profile during plasma processing of a substrate. According to embodiments, the apparatus includes a tuning electrode disposed in a substrate support pedestal and electrically coupled to a variable capacitor. The capacitance is controlled to control the RF and resulting plasma coupling to the tuning electrode. The plasma profile and the resulting deposition rate and deposited film thickness across the substrate are correspondingly controlled by adjusting the capacitance and impedance at the tuning electrode.

Apparatus and method for pre-baking substrate upstream of process chamber

A pre-baking apparatus for heating a substrate upstream of a process tool is adapted to be connected to an EFEM (equipment front end module) and includes: a chamber which has a front face with multiple slots arranged in a height direction of the chamber, and which is divided into multiple compartments extending from the multiple slots, respectively, toward a rear end of the chamber for loading and unloading substrates; and a connecting frame for connecting the chamber to the process tool. The multiple compartments are separated from each other by a divider plate and provided with heaters for heating the multiple compartments, and each compartment has a gas injection port for blowing a hot inert gas over the substrate placed therein toward the slot.

Integration of absorption based heating bake methods into a photolithography track system

A method of patterning a layered substrate is provided that includes forming a layer of a block copolymer on a substrate, annealing the layer of the block copolymer to affect microphase segregation such that self-assembled domains are formed, and annealing the layer of the block copolymer a second time to refine or modify the microphase segregation, where one of the annealing steps uses an absorption based heating method.

Mobile-phone adapter for electronic transactions

A mobile-device adapter to facilitate the exchange of visual information between a mobile device and a point-of-sale terminal is disclosed. The mobile-device adapter may be connected to a point-of-sale terminal at a retail checkout and configured to allow a customer to temporarily position their mobile device so that the mobile-device adapter may (i) image the mobile-device display and (ii) present images to the mobile-device camera. In this way, the mobile-device adapter may facilitate electronic transactions using visual images.