Author: claimsbot

1. A method of forming a material comprising tungsten and nitrogen, comprising:
providing a substrate;
depositing a layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen over the substrate; and
in a separate step from the depositing, exposing the layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen to a nitrogen-containing plasma.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a dielectric material having a K greater than or equal to 10.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the dielectric material comprises at least one of Ta2O5 and BST.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises silicon.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises silicon dioxide.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises polysilicon.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a metal.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises copper.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing comprises plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the nitrogen precursor comprises N2.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing comprises plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor, and wherein the exposing comprises ceasing the flow of WF6.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing plasma is formed from a nitrogen-containing compound that does not comprise oxygen.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing plasma is formed from at least one of N2 and NH3.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the tungsten and nitrogen are in the form of WNx, wherein x is from 0.05 to 0.5.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen is a first layer, and further comprising forming a second layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen over said first layer.
16. A method of forming a mass comprising tungsten nitride, comprising:
providing a substrate;
depositing a first layer comprising tungsten nitride over the substrate;
ceasing the depositing of the first layer and exposing the first layer to a first nitrogen-containing plasma;
after exposing the first layer to the first nitrogen-containing plasma, depositing a second layer comprising tungsten nitride;
ceasing the depositing of the second layer; and
exposing the second layer to a second nitrogen-containing plasma.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first layer comprises a first thickness of from about 30 to about 2000, and wherein the second layer comprises a second thickness of from about 30 to about 2000.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first layer comprises a first thickness of from about 50 to about 500, and wherein the second layer comprises a second thickness of from about 50 to about 500.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the depositing the first layer comprises the same conditions as the depositing the second layer.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the exposing the first layer comprises the same conditions as the exposing the second layer.
21. The method of claim 16 wherein the substrate comprises a dielectric material having a K greater than or equal to 10.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the dielectric material comprises at least one of Ta2O5 and BST.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate comprises silicon.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate comprises silicon dioxide.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate comprises polysilicon.
26. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate comprises a metal.
27. The method of claim 21 wherein the substrate comprises copper.
28. The method of claim 21 wherein the first and second depositings comprise plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the nitrogen precursor comprises N2.
30. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second depositings comprise plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor, and wherein the first and second exposings comprise ceasing the flow of WF6.
31. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second nitrogen-containing plasmas are formed from a nitrogen-containing compound that does not comprise oxygen.
32. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second nitrogen-containing plasmas are formed from at least one of N2 and NH3.
33. A method of forming a capacitor, comprising:
forming a first electrical node;
forming a dielectric layer over the first electrical node;
forming a second electrical node separated from the first electrical node by the dielectric layer; and
at least one of the first and second electrical nodes comprising tungsten and nitrogen, the forming said at least one of the nodes comprising;
depositing a layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen; and
in a separate step from the depositing, exposing the layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen to a nitrogen-containing plasma.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the depositing comprises plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor, and wherein the exposing comprises ceasing the flow of WF6.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein the nitrogen-containing plasma is formed from a nitrogen-containing compound that does not comprise oxygen.
36. The method of claim 33 wherein the nitrogen-containing plasma is formed from at least one of N2 and NH3.
37. A method of forming a capacitor, comprising:
forming a first electrical node;
forming a dielectric layer over the first electrical node;
forming a second electrical node separated from the first electrical node by the dielectric layer; and
providing a material comprising tungsten and nitrogen between the dielectric layer and at least one of the electrical nodes, the providing comprising;
depositing a layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen; and
in a separate step from the depositing, exposing the layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen to a nitrogen-containing plasma.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein the material comprising tungsten and nitrogen is formed between the dielectric layer and only one of the electrical nodes.
39. The method of claim 37 wherein the material comprising tungsten and nitrogen is formed between the dielectric layer and both of the electrical nodes.
40. The method of claim 37 wherein the dielectric layer comprises a dielectric material having a K greater than or equal to 10.
41. The method of claim 40 wherein the dielectric material comprises at least one of Ta2O5 and BST.
42. The method of claim 37 wherein the depositing comprises plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor.
43. The method of claim 42 wherein the nitrogen precursor comprises N2.
44. The method of claim 37 wherein the depositing comprises plasma-enhanced CVD utilizing WF6 and a nitrogen precursor, and wherein the exposing comprises ceasing the flow of WF6.
45. The method of claim 37 wherein the nitrogen-containing plasma is formed from a nitrogen-containing compound that does not comprise oxygen.
46. The method of claim 37 wherein the nitrogen-containing plasma is formed from at least one of N2 and NH3.
47. The method of claim 37 wherein the tungsten and nitrogen are in the form of WNx, wherein x is from 0.05 to 0.5.
48. The method of claim 37 wherein the layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen is a first layer, and further comprising forming a second layer comprising tungsten and nitrogen over said first layer.

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 computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by a computer, an input for placing a first receiver in a pairing mode, wherein the first receiver is configured to pair with a first peripheral device when the first receiver and first peripheral device are both in a pairing mode of operation, and wherein the first receiver is communicatively coupled to the computer;
placing the first receiver in a pairing mode;
receiving an input from the first peripheral device indicating that the first peripheral device is in the pairing mode;
pairing the first receiver with the first peripheral device;
detecting, by the computer, a second receiver communicatively coupled to the computer, the second receiver being paired with a second peripheral device;
in response to receiving instructions to pair the second peripheral device with the first receiver:
placing the first receiver in the pairing mode;
receiving an input from the second peripheral device indicating that the second peripheral device is in the pairing mode; and
pairing the first receiver with the second peripheral device; and
in response to receiving instructions to not pair the second peripheral device with the first receiver:
maintaining the pairing of the first peripheral device to the first receiver; and
maintaining the pairing of the second peripheral device to the second receiver.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first and second receiver is coupled to the computer via a universal serial bus (USB) device.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein each receiver is configured to pair with up to six peripheral devices.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein pairing includes establishing a bidirectional wireless communication link between a receiver and a peripheral device.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication link is a radio frequency (RF) link, Bluetooth link, or infrared (IR) link.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication that the first or second peripheral device is in the pairing mode includes an indication that the first or second peripheral device has been powered off and powered back on.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral devices are human interface devices (HIDs) selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, mouse, keyboard mouse, or keypad.
8. A computer-implemented system, comprising:
one or more processors:
one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
receiving an input for placing a first receiver in a pairing mode, wherein the first receiver is configured to pair with a first peripheral device when the first receiver and first peripheral device are both in a pairing mode of operation, and wherein the first receiver is communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;
placing the first receiver in a pairing mode;
receiving an input from the first peripheral device indicating that the first peripheral device is in the pairing mode;
pairing the first receiver with the first peripheral device;
detecting a second receiver communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, the second receiver being paired with a second peripheral device;
in response to receiving instructions to pair the second peripheral device with the first receiver:
placing the first receiver in the pairing mode;
receiving an input from the second peripheral device indicating that the second peripheral device is in the pairing mode; and
pairing the first receiver with the second peripheral device; and
in response to receiving instructions to not pair the second peripheral device with the first receiver:
maintaining the pairing of the first peripheral device to the first receiver; and
maintaining the pairing of the second peripheral device to the second receiver.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first and second receiver is coupled to the computer via a universal serial bus (USB) device.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein each receiver is configured to pair with up to six peripheral devices.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein pairing includes establishing a bidirectional wireless communication link between a receiver and a peripheral device.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication link is a radio frequency (RF) link, Bluetooth link, or infra-red (IR) link.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein receiving an indication that the first or second peripheral device is in the pairing mode includes an indication that the first or second peripheral device has been powered off and powered back on.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein the peripheral devices are human interface devices (HIDs) selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, mouse, keyboard mouse, or keypad.
15. A method comprising:
receiving, by a computer, an input for placing a first receiver in a pairing mode, wherein the first receiver is configured to pair with a first peripheral device when the first receiver and first peripheral device are both in a pairing mode of operation, and wherein the first receiver is communicatively coupled to the computer;
placing the first receiver in a pairing mode;
receiving an input from the first peripheral device indicating that the first peripheral device is in the pairing mode;
pairing the first receiver with the first peripheral device;
detecting, by the computer, a second receiver communicatively coupled to the computer, the second receiver being paired with a second peripheral device;
in response to receiving instructions to pair the second peripheral device with the first receiver:
placing the first receiver in the pairing mode;
receiving an input from the second peripheral device indicating that the second peripheral device is in the pairing mode; and
pairing the first receiver with the second peripheral device.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
in response to receiving instructions to not pair the second peripheral device with the first receiver:
maintaining the pairing of the first peripheral device to the first receiver; and
maintaining the pairing of the second peripheral device to the second receiver.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second receiver is coupled to the computer via a universal serial bus (USB) device.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein each receiver is configured to pair with up to six peripheral devices.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein pairing includes establishing a bidirectional wireless communication link between a receiver and a peripheral device.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication link is a radio frequency (RF) link, Bluetooth link, or infra-red (IR) link.

1. A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:
providing a driver subsystem and an active assist subsystem;
receiving at least one driver input into the driver subsystem from a driver of the vehicle;
outputting a driver output from the driver subsystem to the active assist subsystem, the driver output being derived from the at least one driver input;
providing at least one active assist program having at least one active input, the at least one active assist program having an on setting wherein the at least one active assist program outputs at least one active input and an off setting wherein the at least one active assist program does not output at least one active input;
providing a vehicle control and implementation subsystem; and
inputting an intended driving demand from the active assist program into the vehicle control and implementation subsystem;
wherein the intended driving demand is derived from a combination of the at least one driver input and the at least one active input if the at least one active assist program is in the on setting and if the driver of the vehicle does not overrule the at least one active assist program, otherwise the intended driving demand is derived from the at least one driver input, such that the vehicle control and implementation subsystem cannot determine if its instructions come from the at least one driver input or the at least one active assist program.
2. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, further including:
inputting environmental data into the active assist subsystem.
3. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 2, wherein:
the at least one active input is derived from the environmental data.
4. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one active assist program includes an adaptive cruise control program.
5. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one active assist program includes a collision mitigation program.
6. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a longitudinal acceleration demand.
7. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a longitudinal velocity demand.
8. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a yaw rate demand.
9. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a slip angle demand.
10. The method of controlling a vehicle of claim 1, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a wheel angle demand.
11. A vehicle control system comprising:
a driver subsystem receiving at least one driver input from a driver of the vehicle, the driver subsystem including a driver output outputting a driver output signal, the driver output signal being derived from the at least one driver input;
an active assist subsystem including an assist input receiving the driver output signal from the driver output of the driver subsystem, the active assist subsystem including at least one active assist program having at least one active input, the at least one active assist program having an on setting wherein the at least one active assist program outputs at least one active input and an off setting wherein the at least one active assist program does not output at least one active input, the at least one active assist subsystem including an assist output;
a vehicle control and implementation subsystem having a control input receiving an intended driving demand from the assist output of the active assist program;
wherein the intended driving demand is derived from a combination of the at least one driver input and the at least one active input if the at least one active assist program is in the on setting and if the driver of the vehicle does not overrule the at least one active assist program, otherwise the intended driving demand is derived from the at least one driver input, such that the vehicle control and implementation subsystem cannot determine if its instructions come from the at least one driver input or the at least one active assist program.
12. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the active assist subsystem receives environmental date.
13. The vehicle control system of claim 12, wherein:
the at least one active input is derived from the environmental data.
14. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the at least one active assist program includes an adaptive cruise control program.
15. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the at least one active assist program includes a collision mitigation program.
16. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a longitudinal acceleration demand.
17. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a longitudinal velocity demand.
18. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a yaw rate demand.
19. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a slip angle demand.
20. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein:
the intended driving demand includes a wheel angle demand.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A network game system including a network game server and a game terminal connected to the network game server,
the network game server comprising:
a database storing therein personal utilization history information managed in relation to user identification information for specifying a user concerning a utilization history of a shop or network shopping by the user, and a plurality of event information items of the shop or network shopping;
first receiving means for receiving the user identification information concerning a player transmitted from the game terminal;
retrieving means for referring to the database and retrieving the personal utilization history information related to the user identification information received by the first receiving means;
extracting means for extracting according to the personal utilization history information retrieved by the retrieving means the event information item associated therewith from the database; and
first transmitting means for transmitting the event information item extracted by the extracting means so as to generate a game screen executed in the game terminal;
the game terminal comprising:
image display means for displaying the game screen;
input means for the user identification information of the player;
second transmitting means for transmitting the user identification information of the player to the network game server;
second receiving means for receiving the event information item transmitted from the network game server;
storage means for storing the event information received by the second receiving means; and
drawing means for generating the game screen displayed by the image display means by using the event information item stored in the storage means.
2. A network game system according to claim 1, wherein the game terminal further comprises control means for executing a game program;
wherein the control means causes the second transmitting means to transmit type discriminating data concerning a type of a game selected to the network game server; and
wherein the network game server further comprises editing means for editing, according to the type discriminating data transmitted from the game terminal, the event information item extracted by the extracting means.
3. A network game system according to claim 2, wherein the database stores the event information items in association with the type discriminating data; and
wherein the editing means extracts the event information item stored in the database in association with the type discriminating data transmitted by the game terminal.
4. A network game system according to claim 1, wherein the game terminal further comprises control means for executing a game program;
wherein the database stores the event information items in association with scene information for specifying a scene concerning a game image displayed by the game terminal according to the game program;
wherein the extracting means extracts the event information item and the scene information associated with the event information item;
wherein the first transmitting means transmits to the game terminal the event information item and scene information extracted by the extracting means;
wherein the second receiving means receives the event information item and scene information transmitted from the network game server;
wherein the storage means stores, in association with the scene information received by the second receiving means, the event information item received together with the scene information;
wherein the control means outputs game screen information for specifying a game screen to be displayed to the image display means according to the game program; and
wherein the drawing means selects the event information item stored in the storage means according to the scene information concerning the game image specified by the game screen information outputted by the control means, and generates the game screen by using the event information item.
5. A network game server comprising:
a database storing therein personal utilization history information managed in relation to user identification information for specifying a user concerning a utilization history of a shop or network shopping by the user, and a plurality of event information items of the shop or network shopping;
receiving means for receiving the user identification information concerning a player transmitted from the game terminal;
retrieving means for referring to the database and retrieving the personal utilization history information related to the user identification information received by the receiving means;
extracting means for extracting according to the personal utilization history information retrieved by the retrieving means the event information item associated therewith from the database; and
transmitting means for transmitting the event information item extracted by the extracting means so as to generate a game screen executed in the game terminal.
6. A network game server according to claim 5, further comprising editing means for editing, according to type discriminating data concerning a type of a game executed transmitted from the game terminal, the event information item extracted by the extracting means.
7. A network game server according to claim 6, wherein the database stores the event information items in association with the type discriminating data; and
wherein the editing means extracts the event information item stored in the database in association with the type discriminating data transmitted by the game terminal.
8. A network game server according to claim 5, wherein the database stores the event information items in association with scene information for specifying a scene concerning a game image displayed by the game terminal according to a game program;
wherein the extracting means extracts the event information item and the scene information associated with the event information item; and
wherein the first transmitting means transmits to the game terminal the event information item and scene information extracted by the extracting means.
9. An advertisement displaying method executed in a network game system including a network game server and a game terminal connected to the network game server, the method comprising the steps of
causing first receiving means of the network game server to receive user identification information concerning a player transmitted from the game terminal,
causing retrieving means of the network game server to refer to a database storing therein personal utilization history information managed in relation to user identification information for specifying a user concerning a utilization history of a shop or network shopping by the user, and a plurality of event information items of the shop or network shopping, and retrieve the personal utilization history information corresponding to the user identification information,
causing extracting means of the network game server to extract, according to the personal utilization history information retrieved in the retrieving step, the event information item associated therewith from the database;
causing first transmitting means of the network game server to transmit the event information item so as to generate a game screen executed in the game terminal,
causing image display means of the game terminal to display a game image,
causing inputting means of the game terminal to input the user identification information of the player,
causing second transmitting means of the game terminal to transmit to the network game server the utilization identification information of the player,
causing second receiving means of the game terminal to receive the event information item transmitted from the network game server,
causing storage means of the game terminal to store the event information item received, and
causing drawing means of the game terminal to generate the game screen displayed by the image display means by using the event information item.
10. A network game system comprising a plurality of POS terminals placed in respective shops, a first server connected to the POS terminals, a plurality of game terminals, and a second server connected to the plurality of game terminals;
each of the POS and game terminals comprising reading means for reading personal identification data from an ID card having stored therein personal identification data of a user;
the first server comprising:
first storage means for cumulatively storing, in association with the personal identification information read from the ID card owned by the user, species or genres of services used or products purchased in the shops or temporalgeographic information thereof as first history information; and
first transmitting means for transmitting the first history information stored in the first storage means to the second server;
the second server comprising:
first receiving means for requesting the first server to send the first history information corresponding to the personal identification data read by the reading means and receiving the first history information;
second storage means for storing the first history information received by the first receiving means; and
second transmitting means for transmitting the first history information stored in the second storage means or information related to the first history information to the game terminal;
the game terminal comprising display control means for displaying the transmitted first history information or information related to the first history information onto a game screen of the game terminal.
11. A network game system according to claim 10, wherein the second storage means cumulatively stores, in association with personal identification data read from an ID card owned by a player playing a game with the game terminal, a play history of the player as second history information;
wherein the second server further comprises third transmitting means for transmitting the second history information to the first server;
wherein the first server further comprises:
second receiving means for requesting the second server to send the second history information and receiving the second history information;
the first storage means for storing the second history information received by the second receiving means; and
fourth transmitting means for transmitting the second history information stored in the first storage means or information related to the second history information to the POS terminal; and
wherein the POS terminal further comprises display control means for displaying the transmitted second history information or information related to the second history information onto a screen of the POS terminal.