Author: claimsbot

1. A method to fabricate a three dimensional memory structure comprising:
forming an array stack;
creating a layer of sacrificial material above the array stack;
etching a hole through the layer of sacrificial material and at least a portion of the array stack;
creating a pillar of semiconductor material in the hole to form at least two vertically stacked flash memory cells that use said pillar as a common body;
removing at least some of the layer of sacrificial material around said pillar to expose at least a portion of said pillar;
etching away some of the exposed portion of said pillar; and
forming a field effect transistor (FET) using the exposed portion of said pillar as a body of the FET.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sacrificial material comprises a silicon nitride.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor material comprises polysilicon; and
wherein said forming of the FET comprises:
creating a gate oxide film on exposed surfaces of said pillar;
forming a polysilicon control gate around the exposed portion of said pillar;
forming an insulating layer above the polysilicon control gate; and
implanting a top portion of said pillar with an N+ dopant.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
recessing the polysilicon control gate before forming the insulating layer above the polysilicon control gate; and
planarizing to level the insulating layer with said pillar.
5. The method of claim 3, further comprising recessing said pillar and forming a cap of oxide on top of said pillar before said removing of the at least some of the layer of sacrificial material.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
isotropically etching away a portion of the cap of insulating material to create an etch mask for said pillar; and
anisotropically etching away a portion of said pillar not protected by the cap of insulating material before the formation of the FET.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor material comprises polysilicon; and
wherein said forming of the FET comprises:
creating a gate oxide film on exposed surfaces of said pillar;
forming a polysilicon control gate around the exposed portion of said pillar;
planarizing to level the polysilicon control gate with said pillar;
forming an insulating layer over the polysilicon control gate and said pillar;
etching an opening through the insulating layer, wherein the opening is no larger than a top surface of said pillar, and the opening is positioned over said pillar;
filling the opening with polysilicon; and
creating a heavily doped region in the polysilicon in the opening and a top portion of said pillar.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the insulating layer comprises silicon nitride; and
wherein said creating of said heavily doped region comprises:
implanting the semiconductor material in the opening with an N+ dopant; and
annealing the semiconductor material to diffuse the dopant to edges of said pillar.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming charge storage mechanisms in the hole before creating said pillar, wherein a charge storage mechanism comprises a conductive floating gate or a non-conductive charge trapping layer.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
depositing one or more films inside the hole; and
etching inside the hole for one or more periods.

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 casket comprising:
a casket shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall,
a casket lid pivoted to said casket shell for movement to an open position and to a closed position, and
a combination hinge, brace, and lock mechanism connecting said lid to said shell, said mechanism comprising:
a first hinge plate secured to said shell,
a second hinge plate secured to said lid, said first and second hinge plates pivoted to one another, and
a latch bar moveably mounted to at least one of said first and second hinge plates for movement to first, second, and third positions, said latch bar and hinge plates configured such that when said latch bar is in said first position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the closed position, when said latch bar is in said second position said hinge plates are free to pivot relative to one another such that said lid is free to pivot relative to said shell, and when said latch bar is in said third position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the open position.
2. A casket comprising:
a casket shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall,
a casket lid pivoted to said casket shell for movement to an open position and to a closed position, and
a combination hinge and brace mechanism connecting said lid to said shell, said mechanism comprising:
a first hinge plate secured to said shell,
a second hinge plate secured to said lid, said first and second hinge plates pivoted to one another, and
a latch bar moveably mounted to at least one of said first and second hinge plates for movement to first and second positions, said latch bar and hinge plates configured such that when said latch bar is in said first position said hinge plates are free to pivot relative to one another such that said lid is free to pivot relative to said shell, and when said latch bar is in said second position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the open position.
3. A casket comprising:
a casket shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall,
a casket lid pivoted to said casket shell for movement to an open position and to a closed position, and
a combination hinge and lock mechanism connecting said lid to said shell, said mechanism comprising:
a first hinge plate secured to said shell,
a second hinge plate secured to said lid, said first and second hinge plates pivoted to one another, and
a latch bar moveably mounted to at least one of said first and second hinge plates for movement to first and second positions, said latch bar and hinge plates configured such that when said latch bar is in said first position said hinge plates are free to pivot relative to one another such that said lid is free to pivot relative to said shell, and when said latch bar is in said second position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the closed position.
4. A casket comprising:
a casket shell having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall,
a casket lid pivoted to said casket shell for movement to an open position and to a closed position, and
a combination brace and lock mechanism connecting said lid to said shell, said mechanism comprising:
a first hinge plate secured to said shell,
a second hinge plate secured to said lid, said first and second hinge plates pivoted to one another, and
a latch bar moveably mounted to at least one of said first and second hinge plates for movement to first and second positions, said latch bar and hinge plates configured such that when said latch bar is in said first position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the open position, and when said latch bar is in said second position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the closed position.
5. The casket of any of claims 1\u20134 wherein:
said first hinge plate comprises a base plate and a pair of opposed side plates, each of said side plates including a slot for accommodating said latch bar,
said second hinge plate comprises a base plate and a pair of opposed side plates, said side plates of said second hinge plate are pivoted to said side plates of said first hinge plate, each of said side plates of said second hinge plate includes a pair of spaced apart notches therein,
said latch bar includes a pair of spaced apart notches therein,
said hinge plates and said latch bar cooperate in such a manner that when said side plates of said second hinge plate are positioned in said notches of said latch bar, said hinge plates are free to pivot relative to one another, and when said latch bar is positioned in either of said pair of notches in said side walls of said second hinge plate said hinge plates are fixed relative to one another.
6. The casket of claim 5 further including a spring operable between said first hinge plate and said latch bar urging said latch bar to an outward position relative to said first hinge plate.
7. A combination hinge, brace, and lock mechanism adapted to connect a casket lid to a casket shell, the lid pivoted to the shell for movement to an open position and a closed position, said mechanism comprising:
a first hinge plate adapted to be secured to the shell,
a second hinge plate adapted to be secured to the lid, said first and second hinge plates pivoted to one another, and
a latch bar moveably mounted relative to said first and second hinge plates for movement to first, second, and third positions, said latch bar and hinge plates configured such that when said latch bar is in said first position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the closed position, when said latch bar is in said second position said hinge plates are free to pivot relative to one another such that said lid is free to pivot relative to said shell, and when said latch bar is in said third position said latch bar fixes said hinge plates relative to one another such that said lid is fixed in the open position
said first hinge plate comprises a base plate and a pair of opposed side plates, each of said side plates including a slot for accommodating said latch bar,
said second hinge plate comprises a base plate and a pair of opposed side plates, said side plates of said second hinge plate are pivoted to said side plates of said first hinge plate, each of said side plates of said second hinge plate includes a pair of spaced apart notches therein,
said latch bar includes a pair of spaced apart notches therein, and
said hinge plates and said latch bar cooperate in such a manner that when said side plates of said second hinge plate are positioned in said notches of said latch bar, said hinge plates are free to pivot relative to one another, and when said latch bar is positioned in either of said pair of notches in said side walls of said second hinge plate said hinge plates are fixed relative to one another.
8. The combination of claim 7 further including a spring operable between said first hinge plate and said latch bar urging said latch bar to an outward position relative to said first hinge plate.

1. An illumination alert apparatus structure having a cap for use in switch control, the illumination alert apparatus comprising:
a body;
a power unit; and
a lightbulb having an illumination unit coupled thereto;
wherein the power unit is coupled to an end of the body, and the lightbulb is screwed to an external thread formed on an outward side of the body and coupled to the power unit, so as to assemble the illumination alert apparatus structure having a cap for controllably driving the illumination unit to be on or off;
wherein the power unit coupled to an end of the body comprises a battery holder for holding a plurality of batteries and a battery lid engageable with an end of the battery holder, wherein a preset orientation hole is penetratingly formed in the battery lid to allow positive and negative pole conductive rods to extend into the preset orientation hole, wherein springs abut against other ends of the positive and negative pole conductive rods, respectively, such that active ends of the springs abutting against the positive and negative pole conductive rods rest upon conductive elements of the battery holder, respectively, wherein the battery lid is fixed to the battery holder by at least one support element, wherein a stop portion protrudes from an outer rim of the battery lid, such that the stop portion abuts against an O-ring coupled to an inside of a middle annular cover at the bottom of the lightbulb to prevent the power unit coupled to one end of the body from rotating.
2. The illumination alert apparatus structure of claim 1, wherein the lightbulb screwed to the external thread formed on an outward side of the body and coupled to the power unit comprises a cap, a cup nested in the cap, and a plate, wherein a copper sheet is coupled to a preset position on an active side of the plate, and the illumination unit is centrally disposed at the plate, wherein a plurality of notches are disposed at rims of the plate and the cup and spaced apart, respectively, such that protrusion portions disposed at the rim of the cap can be inserted into the notches during an assembly process, wherein a flange is formed at an end of the cap for allowing the O-ring to be fixed in place, wherein the flange of the cap is inserted into a middle opening at a corresponding end of the middle annular cover, wherein orientation of the O-ring coupled to the end of the cap is subjected to restriction imposed by an inner margin of the middle opening of the middle annular cover, wherein a thread segment disposed on the inner wall of the middle annular cover is meshed with the external thread formed on an outward side of the body to enable engagement between the lightbulb and the body.
3. The illumination alert apparatus structure of claim 1, wherein the lightbulb coupled to the external thread formed on the outward side of the body and coupled to the power unit is rotated to controllably turn on or turn off the power unit, by rotating the cap of the lightbulb to drive the plate internally coupled thereto to undergo angular displacement, such that the copper sheet on an active side of the plate produces a power electrical connection ON state to turn on the illumination unit as soon as the copper sheet rotates and reaches the negative pole conductive rod of the power unit, wherein, alternatively, the copper sheet on the active side of the plate is separated from the negative pole conductive rod of the power unit, thereby bringing about a power electrical connection OFF state to turn off the illumination unit.
4. The illumination alert apparatus structure of claim 1, wherein, to remove the lightbulb coupled to the external thread formed on an outward side of the body and coupled to the power unit of the illumination alert apparatus, it is only necessary to rotate the middle annular cover at the bottom of the lightbulb, such that the lightbulb is separated from the corresponding end of the body of the illumination alert apparatus, and the batteries in the battery holder can be changed.

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 expansion tank which comprises:
a tank having a predetermined volume capacity;
a flexible diaphragm in the tank, partitioning tank volume into a liquid-containing portion for holding liquid and a gas-containing portion for holding a gas under a pressure that defines a normal pressurized gas volume when the liquid-containing portion holds a predetermined liquid volume; and
a proximity sensor mounted to the tank and suspended in the gas-containing portion thereof, and adapted to energize an alarm signal when volume of the gas-containing portion is reduced by a predetermined amount as indicated by proximity of the diaphragm.
2. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is a dielectric type capacitive proximity sensor.
3. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is a conductive type capacitive proximity sensor.
4. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is positionable in the gas-containing portion of the tank.
5. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is suspended in the gas-containing portion of the tank from a pliant rod.
6. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diaphragm together with a portion of tank wall defines the liquid-containing portion of the tank.
7. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diaphragm is a bladder that alone defines the liquid-containing portion of the tank.
8. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor energizes an alarm signal when volume of the gas-containing portion is reduced by at least 40 percent of normal pressurized gas volume.
9. The expansion tank in accordance with claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor has annular spacer rings that prevent contact between the proximity sensor and a wall portion of the expansion tank.
10. A method of monitoring size of an expandable diaphragm in an expansion tank having a gas-containing portion and a liquid-containing portion which comprises the steps of:
detecting by a proximity sensor suspended in the gas-containing portion of the tank, the presence of a liquid-containing bladder-type diaphragm; and
energizing an alarm in response to a signal from the proximity sensor.
11. A method of determining degree of expansion of a flexible diaphragm in an expansion tank wherein said diaphragm together with a wall portion of said tank define a closed, gas-containing compartment for holding a gas under pressure and a liquid-containing compartment for storing a liquid, the method comprising:
suspending a proximity sensor in the closed, gas-containing compartment;
positioning the proximity sensor for detection of the diaphragm when the diaphragm has expanded to a predetermined size; and
energizing an alarm in response to a detection signal emitted by the proximity sensor.
12. A hydronics system which includes an expansion tank having an expandable diaphragm therewithin and partitioning tank volume into a liquid-containing portion and a gas-containing portion, and a diaphragm proximity sensor suspended in the gas-containing portion of the tank and adapted to energize an alarm signal when volume of the gas-containing portion is reduced by a predetermined amount.
13. The hydronics system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the diaphragm is a bladder-type diaphragm.
14. The hydronics system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the diaphragm is a membrane fixed to periphery of the tank.