A method of forming a transistor includes the steps of forming a gate structure (56) overlying a gate oxide layer (54), wherein the gate structure (56) and gate oxide layer (54) overlie a substrate (50), thereby separating the substrate (50) into a first region (90) and a second region (92) with a channel region therebetween. The method also includes doping the gate structure (56), the first region (90) and the second region (92) and annealing the doped gate structure (56) with a laser anneal, t…

A peripheral device operatively coupleable to a computing system which includes a processor for processing various functions relating to the operation of the peripheral device. The peripheral device also including a memory operatively coupleable to the processor, the memory storing a device driver which the computing system employs to communicate with the peripheral device.

A method (100) of forming a transistor (50, 80) includes forming a gate oxide (120) over a portion of a semiconductor material (56, 122) and forming a doped polysilicon film (124) having a dopant concentration over the gate oxide (122). Subsequently, the doped polysilicon film (124) is etched to form a gate electrode (52) overlying a channel region (58) in the semiconductor material (56, 122), wherein the gate electrode (52) separates the semiconductor material into a first region (60) and a sec…

A reworkable EUV mask (100) includes a substrate (40), a reflective layer (42) overlying the substrate (40), and a buffer layer (44) overlying the reflective layer (42). An absorbing layer (102) composed of primarily a non-heavy metal material overlies the buffer layer (44) for absorbing radiation which is incident thereon. The absorbing layer (102) exhibits a substantially high etch selectivity with respect to the reflective layer (42) and thus is easily removed without substantially impacting …

A guide assembly for performing a biopsy with a biopsy device having an elongated and substantially hollow cylindrical barrel is described. The guide assembly includes a bracket which is selectively movable relative to a base. The bracket has a longitudinal opening formed through a housing portion of the bracket into which the biopsy device may be mounted for guiding the biopsy device into desired tissue.

A method (200) of making a flash memory device without poly stringers includes forming a stacked gate region (202) on a substrate (102) and forming one or more word lines (122a, 122b, 204) in the stacked gate region. The method further includes performing a self-aligned etch (206) in regions adjacent to the one or more word lines (122a, 122b) and subsequently performing an isotropic etch (208) to remove any poly stringers (128) in the regions adjacent the one or more word lines (122a, 122b).

A method for fabricating a first memory cell and a second memory cell having floating gates electrically isolated from each other. A first polysilicon (poly I) layer is formed on an oxide coated substrate, portions of the poly I layer to serve as future floating gates for the first and second memory cells. An interpoly dielectric layer is formed over the poly I layer. At least a portion of the interpoly dielectric layer is etched to expose at least a portion of the poly I layer so as to pattern …

A method of forming an alignment mark protection structure is disclosed and includes forming an alignment mark protection layer over a substrate which has an alignment mark associated therewith. The method also includes forming a negative photoresist layer over the alignment mark protection layer and removing a portion of the negative photoresist layer which does not overlie the alignment mark. The removal exposes a portion of the alignment mark protection layer which does not overlie the alignm…

A mask (50) for use in lithographic printing includes a pattern (54) formed of a material which is substantially opaque with respect to a wavelength of radiation being used in the lithographic printing. The pattern (54) on the mask (50) corresponds to a desired feature to be formed on a substrate and includes a grating (58) having an alternating pattern of opaque and transparent regions (60, 62). The alternating pattern provides destructive interference of radiation at the substrate in a region …

An automated vehicle return system wherein status information of a rented vehicle is automatically tracked during the rental period and is transmitted to a selected destination computer upon driving the vehicle into a return area. Electronic vehicle monitoring circuitry is tied to existing components within the vehicle to keep track of the status of the vehicle during the rental period. The status information includes, miles driven, fuel level, pick up time, drop off time, wear and tear on the v…