Author: claimsbot

1. A method of forming an air gap within a semiconductor structure comprising the steps of: (a) using a sacrificial polymer to occupy a space in a semiconductor structure; (b) heating the semiconductor structure to decompose the sacrificial polymer leaving an air gap within the semiconductor structure, wherein the sacrificial polymer of step (a) is selected from the group consisting of a copolymer comprising a first monomer of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and a second monomer of vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 99 to 40 mole percent S-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent of vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 99 to 40 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
8. A semiconductor structure, comprising a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative.
9. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 99 to 40 mole 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
10. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
11. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
12. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 99 to 40 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
13. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
14. The semiconductor structure of claim 8, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent vinylbenzocyclobutene or a vinylbenzocyclobutene derivative based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
15. A method of forming an air gap within a semiconductor structure comprising the steps of: (a) using a sacrificial polymer to occupy a space in a semiconductor structure; (b) heating the semiconductor structure to decompose the sacrificial polymer leaving an air gap within the semiconductor structure, wherein the sacrificial polymer of step (a) is a copolymer comprising a first monomer of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and a second monomer of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 99 to 40 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 99 to 40 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
22. A semiconductor structure, comprising a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
23. The semiconductor structure of claim 22, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 99 to 40 mole 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
24. The semiconductor structure of claim 22, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
25. The semiconductor structure of claim 22, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer comprising about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
26. The semiconductor structure of claim 22, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 99 to 40 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 1 to 60 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
27. The semiconductor structure of claim 22, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of from 85 to 55 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and from 15 to 45 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
28. The semiconductor structure of claim 22, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a copolymer consisting essentially of about 70 mole percent 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene and about 30 mole percent 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene based on total moles of incorporated monomers in the polymer.
29. A method of forming an air gap within a semiconductor structure comprising the steps of: (a) using a sacrificial polymer to occupy a space in a semiconductor structure; (b) heating the semiconductor structure to decompose the sacrificial polymer leaving an air gap within the semiconductor structure, wherein the sacrificial polymer of step (a) is a polymer comprising monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the sacrificial polymer comprises more than 50 mole percent of monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the sacrificial polymer comprises more than 75 mole percent of monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
32. The method of claim 29, wherein the sacrificial polymer consists essentially of monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
33. A semiconductor structure, comprising a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a polymer comprising monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
34. A semiconductor structure, comprising a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer comprises more than 50 mole percent of monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
35. A semiconductor structure, comprising a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer comprises more than 75 mole percent of monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.
36. A semiconductor structure, comprising a sacrificial polymer positioned between conductor lines, wherein the sacrificial polymer consists essentially of monomers of 5-(3-benzocyclobutylidene)-2-norbornene.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A distributed server computer system, comprising:
a primary manager operable to provide distributed server management software services including generating and managing an identifier associated with a state of the distributed server computer system and further including managing and distributing work tasks, wherein the primary manager associates the identifier and the state with an aggregate amount of work performed by the work tasks since the state was initialized, the primary manager being a computer system;
one or more backup managers communicatively coupled to the primary manager each operable to back up information as requested by the primary manager and forwarding at least one request in response to a request received from the primary manager; and
one or more workers communicatively coupled to the one or more backup managers each operable to receive at least one request forwarded from the primary manager by the one or more backup managers.
2. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more backup managers is further operable to receive a response from the one or more workers.
3. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more backup managers is further operable to aggregate each response received from the one or more workers.
4. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more backup managers is further operable to aggregate each response received from the one or more workers, and further operable to substitute information regarding the connection status of a worker of the one or more workers in place of a response if the worker of the one or more workers is not responding.
5. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system also comprises the one or more backup managers.
6. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer system also comprises the one or more workers.
7. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein the primary manager is further operable to reassign any one of the one or more workers to a responsive backup manager of the one or more backup managers if the any one of the one or more workers is assigned to a non-responsive backup manager of the one or more backup managers.
8. The distributed server computer system of claim 1, wherein the primary manager is further operable to reassign work assigned to a non-responsive worker of the one or more workers to a responsive worker of the one or more workers.
9. A method for performance by a backup manager in a distributed server system, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a primary manager to begin closing a state of the distributed server system, the state corresponding to an identifier associated with the state;
sending a response to the primary manager indicating that the state corresponding to the identifier has been closed;
receiving a request from the primary manager to broadcast tasks associated with the identifier; and
broadcasting the tasks associated with the identifier to one or more workers, wherein the backup manager is operable to store the identifier and the state of the distributed server system corresponding to the identifier, and wherein the backup manager is further operable to replace and assume the function of the primary manager should the primary manager cease functioning, the backup manager being a computer system, the method being performed by the backup manager.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising persisting the state of the distributed server system.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a response indicating the tasks have been performed by the one or more workers.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the broadcasting the tasks associated with the identifier to the one or more workers further includes sending a request to close the identifier associated with the state of the distributed server system.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a response from the one or more workers including new work to be performed.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a response to the primary manager including one or more new work requests received from the one or more workers.
15. One or more device-readable storage media having device-executable instructions for performing, by a primary manager, steps comprising:
sending a command to one or more backup managers to close a state of a distributed server system, the state corresponding to an identifier associated with the state, wherein at least one of the one or more backup managers is operable to replace and assume the function of the primary manager should the primary manager cease functioning;
waiting a first predetermined time interval to receive a response from each of the one or more backup servers;
determining if the number of backup servers that responded is greater than a predetermined number; and
reassigning one or more workers assigned to one or more backup servers that did not respond to one or more backup servers that did respond, wherein tasks associated with the identifier are broadcast by the one or more backup severs to the one or more workers.
16. The one or more device-readable storage media of claim 15, further comprising waiting a second predetermined time interval for the one or more backup servers that did not respond to respond.
17. The one or more device-readable storage media of claim 15, further comprising receiving information from the one or more backup servers about the responsiveness of the one or more workers.
18. The one or more device-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the backup manager forwards the command to close an identifier associated with the state of the distributed server system to the one or more workers.

1. A system for electronic adaptive front-lighting of a vehicle, comprising:
at least one fixed solid state light source configured to illuminate a front peripheral region of a vehicle, and
a control unit configured to independently control the at least one fixed solid state light source, and configured to vary an intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source based on an angle at which an overall light distribution is to be directed;
wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source is integrated with a daytime running light module of the vehicle.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source includes at least one light emitting diode.
3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an optical element configured to provide a smooth light distribution.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the optical element includes at least one of: (a) a reflector, and (b) a lens.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source includes a plurality of fixed light sources.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources are arranged at least one of: (a) vertically, (b) horizontally, (c) diagonally, (d) in a straight line, and (e) in a curved line.
8. The system according to claim 6, wherein each fixed light source is configured to illuminate a different front peripheral region of the vehicle.
9. The system according to claim 6, wherein each fixed light source shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to independently control the at least one fixed solid state light source based on at least one of: (a) a particular driving situation, (b) a vehicle speed, (c) a steering wheel angle, (d) a proximity to other vehicles, (e) a selected driving program, (f) an actuation of an input device, and (g) road characteristics.
11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the varying intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source includes at least one of: (a) automatic dimming, (b) comfort dimming, (c) steep dynamic dimming, (d) smooth dynamic dimming, and (e) individually defined dimming modes.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to be at least one of: (a) automatically activated, and (b) manually activated.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to be automatically activated based on at least one of: (a) haptic feedback of a steering wheel, (b) haptic feedback of pedals, (c) haptic feedback of a vehicle suspension, and (d) engine behavior.
14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to be manually activated based on at least one of: (a) a dedicated switch, and (b) a dedicated menu of vehicle controls.
15. A method for electronic adaptive front-lighting of a vehicle, comprising:
illuminating, by at least one fixed solid state light source, a front peripheral region of a vehicle; and
independently controlling, by a control unit, the at least one fixed solid state light source;
wherein the control unit varies an intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source based on an angle at which an overall light distribution is to be directed; and wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source is integrated with a daytime running light module of the vehicle.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing, by an optical element, a smooth light distribution.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.
18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one fixed solid state light source includes a plurality of fixed light sources.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources are arranged at least one of: (a) vertically, (b) horizontally, (c) diagonally, (d) in a straight line, and (e) in a curved line.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources each illuminates a different front peripheral region of the vehicle.
21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of fixed light sources each shares a location with a light source of the daytime running light module.
22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control unit independently controls the at least one fixed solid state light source based on at least one of: (a) a particular driving situation, (b) a vehicle speed, (c) a steering wheel angle, (d) a proximity to other vehicles, (e) a selected driving program, (f) an actuation of an input device, and (g) road characteristics.
23. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control unit varies the intensity of the at least one fixed solid state light source by at least one of: (a) automatic dimming, (b) comfort dimming, (c) steep dynamic dimming, (d) smooth dynamic dimming, and (e) individually defined dimming modes.
24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is at least one of: (a) automatically activated, and (b) manually activated.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the control unit is automatically activated based on at least one of: (a) haptic feedback of a steering wheel, (b) haptic feedback of pedals, (c) haptic feedback of a vehicle suspension, and (d) engine behavior.
26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the control unit is manually activated based on at least one of: (a) a dedicated switch, and (b) a dedicated menu of vehicle controls.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a driver;
(b) a driver shaft turned by the driver; and
(c) at least two centrifugal pump stages on a pump shaft arranged in series and having different performance characteristics, the pump shaft coupled to the driver shaft by one or more items selected from a coupling, a protector, a seal chamber, a thrust chamber, and combinations thereof.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two centrifugal pump stages comprise a first set of centrifugal pump stages each having a first defined set of performance characteristics, and a second set of centrifugal pump stages each having a second defined set of performance characteristics.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two centrifugal pump stages comprise a first set of centrifugal pump stages and a second set of centrifugal pump stages, wherein each centrifugal pump stage in the first set has first identical performance characteristics, and each centrifugal pump stage in the second set of pump stage has second identical performance characteristics.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the performance characteristics are selected from head flow characteristics, brake horsepower characteristics, operating range, thrust characteristics, efficiency, net positive suction head, and two or more thereof.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 having a stage mixing ratio ranging from about 1:99 to about 99:1.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the stage mixing ratio ranges from about 1:9 to about 9:1.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the stage mixing ratio ranges from about 3:7 to about 7:3.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stage mixing ratio is 1:1.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver is a motor and the coupling is a protector separate from the motor.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driver is a motor and the coupling is a protector integral with the motor.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 including integral instrumentation adapted to measure one or more downhole parameters.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 in the form of an electric submersible pump.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 in the form of a horizontal pumping system.
14. A method comprising:
(a) selecting a first centrifugal pump stage comprising a first set of centrifugal pump stages, the first set of centrifugal pump stages each having a first pump performance characteristic;
(b) selecting a second centrifugal pump stage comprising a second set of centrifugal pump stages, the second set of centrifugal pump stages each having a second pump performance characteristic;
(c) attaching the first and second sets of centrifugal pump stages in series on a common pump shaft; and
(d) coupling a driver to the pump shaft by one or more items selected from a coupling, a protector, a seal chamber, a thrust chamber, and combinations thereof.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the performance characteristics are selected from head flow characteristics, brake horsepower characteristics, operating range, thrust characteristics, efficiency, net positive suction head, and two or more thereof.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the selecting steps comprise having a stage mixing ratio ranging from about 1:99 to about 99:1.
17. A method comprising:
(a) determining a pumping requirement for transferring a fluid;
(b) selecting at least two centrifugal pump stages to operate in series to form a pump, the pump having a pump shaft, the at least two centrifugal pump stages of the pump having different performance characteristics;
(c) coupling a driver to the pump shaft by one or more items selected from a coupling, a protector, a seal chamber, a thrust chamber, and combinations thereof; and
(d) pumping the fluid using the pump to meet the pumping requirement.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the selecting at least two centrifugal pump stages comprises selecting a first set of centrifugal pump stages each having a first defined set of performance characteristics, and selecting a second set of centrifugal pump stages each having a second defined set of performance characteristics, and wherein the second stage performance characteristics compensate for one or more deficiencies in performance of the first stage.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the selecting at least two centrifugal pump stages comprises selecting a first set of centrifugal pump stages, each stage having a first identical set of performance characteristics, and selecting a second set of centrifugal pump stages, each stage having a second identical set of performance characteristics, and wherein the second stage performance characteristics compensate for one or more deficiencies in performance of the first stage.
20. The method of claim 17 comprising pumping the fluid using the first pump stage at a first head to the second stage, and pumping the fluid using the second pump stage at a second head.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the first stage operates at a first efficiency, power, down thrust, and net positive suction head, and the second pump stage operates at a second efficiency, power, down thrust, and net positive suction head.