All The Claims

1. A droplet discharge head comprising:
a plurality of circuit boards; and
a plurality of nonvolatile memories mounted on the circuit boards and configured in a data-rewritable manner for data related to the droplet discharge head and that is configured to store written data even when power is turned off, wherein,
the nonvolatile memories have a write-protect function,
the plurality of circuit boards includes at least a first circuit board and a second circuit board,
each of the first and the second circuit boards has a same circuit pattern, and is made of a same material,
the first circuit board includes a first nonvolatile memory, and the second circuit board includes a second nonvolatile memory,
the first nonvolatile memory is set to write inhibition state, and fixed as a read only nonvolatile memory, and
the second nonvolatile memory is set to rewritable state.
2. The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the first nonvolatile memory is a read-only nonvolatile memory for data that should not be deleted and need not be rewritten, and the second nonvolatile memory is a readwrite nonvolatile memory for data that is rewritten as required.
3. The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a nonvolatile memory in which a plurality of elements can be connected to a single IO port.
4. The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the second nonvolatile memory is configured in either one of a rewritable manner and a manner in which the write inhibition state is fixable.
5. A droplet discharge apparatus comprising the droplet discharge head according to claim 1.
6. An image forming apparatus comprising the droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 5.
7. The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising:
a connecting device configured to switch to perform setting and fixing the first nonvolatile memory to the write inhibition state.
8. The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein each of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is connected to a pressure generating element that drives nozzles of the droplet discharge head.
9. The droplet discharge head according to claim 1, wherein each of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is mounted with a nozzle selecting element that controls a nozzle row of the droplet discharge head.
10. A droplet discharge head comprising:
a plurality of circuit boards;
a plurality of nonvolatile memories mounted on the circuit boards and configured in a data-rewritable manner for data related to the droplet discharge head and that is configured to store written data even when power is turned off; and
a setting unit, wherein,
the plurality of circuit boards includes at least a first circuit board and a second circuit board,
each of the first and the second circuit boards has a same circuit pattern, and is made of a same material,
the first circuit board includes a first nonvolatile memory, and the second circuit board includes a second nonvolatile memory, and
the setting unit sets the first nonvolatile memory to write inhibition state and fixes the first nonvolatile memory as a read only nonvolatile memory, and sets the second nonvolatile memory to rewritable state.
11. The droplet discharge head according to claim 10, wherein the first nonvolatile memory is a read-only nonvolatile memory for data that should not be deleted and need not be rewritten, and the second nonvolatile memory is a readwrite nonvolatile memory for data that is rewritten as required.
12. The droplet discharge head according to claim 10, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a nonvolatile memory in which a plurality of elements can be connected to a single IO port.
13. The droplet discharge head according to claim 10, wherein the second nonvolatile memory is configured in either one of a rewritable manner and a manner in which the write inhibition state is fixable.
14. A droplet discharge apparatus comprising the droplet discharge head according to claim 10.
15. An image forming apparatus comprising the droplet discharge apparatus according to claim 14.
16. The droplet discharge head according to claim 10, further comprising:
a connecting device configured to switch to perform setting and fixing the first nonvolatile memory to the write inhibition state.
17. The droplet discharge head according to claim 10, wherein each of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is connected to a pressure generating element that drives nozzles of the droplet discharge head.
18. The droplet discharge head according to claim 10, wherein each of the first circuit board and the second circuit board is mounted with a nozzle selecting element that controls a nozzle row of the droplet discharge head.

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 direct memory access register adapted to hold a descriptor, said register comprising:
a command register comprising a compare enable bit and a branch enable bit;
a source address register;
a target address register; and
a descriptor address register.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said compare enable bit is adapted to indicate a comparison operation to be performed by said direct memory access controller based on said source address register and said target address register.
3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said branch enable bit is adapted to indicate a branch operation to be performed by said direct memory access controller to access another descriptor.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a control status register, said control status register comprising a compare status bit.
5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said branch enable bit is adapted to indicate a branch operation to be performed by said direct memory access controller to access another descriptor based on said compare status bit.
6. A system, comprising:
a target;
a source;
a memory adapted to contain a first descriptor of a first type, a second descriptor of a second type, a third descriptor of a third type, and a fourth descriptor of said first type;
a direct memory access controller coupled to said memory, said direct memory access controller adapted to transfer data from said source to said target based on said first descriptor, said direct memory access controller comprising a direct memory access register to hold said first descriptor, said second descriptor, or said third descriptor, said direct memory access register comprising a command register comprising a compare enable bit and a branch enable bit.
7. A system as in claim 6, said direct memory access register further comprising a source address register and a target address register.
8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said compare enable bit is adapted to indicate a comparison operation to be performed by said direct memory access controller based on said source address register and said target address register.
9. A system as in claim 6, wherein said branch enable bit is adapted to indicate a branch operation to be performed by said direct memory access controller to fetch said fourth descriptor or said third descriptor from said memory.
10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said first descriptor is adapted to indicate data transfer by said direct memory access controller, and wherein said third descriptor is adapted to indicate no data transfer by said direct memory access controller.
11. A system as in claim 6, said direct memory access controller further comprising a control status register, said control status register comprising a compare status bit.
12. A system as in claim 11, wherein said branch enable bit is adapted to indicate a branch operation to be performed by said direct memory access controller to fetch said fourth descriptor or said third descriptor from said memory based on said compare status bit.
13. A system as in claim 11, wherein said direct memory access controller is adapted to perform a comparison operation and a branch operation based on said branch enable bit, said comparison enable bit, and said compare status bit.
14. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a computing platform, cause said computing platform to perform operations comprising a method of:
fetching a first descriptor of a first type, said first descriptor identifying a first source and a first target;
transferring a first data set over a direct memory access channel from said first source to said first target based on said first descriptor;
fetching a second descriptor of a second type, said second descriptor identifying a second source, said second descriptor comprising comparison data;
fetching data from said second source identified by said second descriptor;
comparing said data fetched from said second source and said comparison data to obtain a comparison result; and
fetching one of a fourth descriptor of said first type and a third descriptor of a third type based on said comparison result.
15. A machine-readable medium as in claim 14, wherein said fourth descriptor is fetched if said comparison result indicates said data fetched from said second source fails to match said comparison data.
16. A machine-readable medium as in claim 14, wherein said third descriptor is fetched if said comparison result indicates said data fetched from said second source matches said comparison data.
17. A machine-readable medium as in claim 14, wherein said second descriptor comprises a branch enable bit and a comparison enable bit, wherein said comparing data fetched is based on said comparison enable bit in said second descriptor, and said fetching one of said fourth descriptor and said third descriptor is based on said branch enable bit in said second descriptor.
18. A machine-readable medium as in claim 14, wherein said data fetched from said second source comprises a transfer status indicator.
19. A method, comprising:
fetching a first descriptor of a first type, said first descriptor identifying a first source and a first target;
transferring a first data set over a direct memory access channel from said first source to said first target based on said first descriptor;
fetching a second descriptor of a second type, said second descriptor identifying a second source, said second descriptor comprising comparison data;
fetching data from said second source identified by said second descriptor;
comparing said data fetched from said second source and said comparison data to obtain a comparison result; and
fetching one of a fourth descriptor of said first type and a third descriptor of a third type based on said comparison result.
20. A method as in claim 19, wherein said fourth descriptor is fetched if said comparison result indicates said data fetched from said second source fails to match said comparison data.
21. A method as in claim 19, wherein said third descriptor is fetched if said comparison result indicates said data fetched from said second source matches said comparison data.
22. A method as in claim 19, wherein said second descriptor comprises a branch enable bit and a comparison enable bit, wherein said comparing data fetched is based on said comparison enable bit in said second descriptor, and said fetching one of said fourth descriptor and said third descriptor is based on said branch enable bit in said second descriptor.
23. A machine-readable medium as in claim 19, wherein said data fetched from said second source comprises a transfer status indicator.

1. A method for linear hinting in streaming media data files, comprising:
configuring a first level linear hinting index with pointers to a second level non-sequential hinting index;
providing said second level non-sequential hinting index with pointers to a non-sequential media data file; and
searching for media data blocks in said non-sequential media data file by accessing said first level linear hinting index to get a pointer to said second level non-sequential hinting index which in turn provides a final pointer to a particular media data block in said non-sequential media data file.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
not first consulting said first level linear hinting index for a next access; and
obtaining a next media data block in said non-sequential media data file by accessing only a next entry in said second level non-sequential hinting index to fetch a corresponding pointer to said next media data block in said non-sequential media data file.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
marking a discontinuity in the order of said media data blocks in said non-sequential media data file with a special character placed in a corresponding pointer to a last continuous media data block in said second level non-sequential hinting index.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
if said special character was not obtained in a last access, obtaining a next media data block in said non-sequential media data file by accessing only a next entry in said second level non-sequential hinting index to fetch a corresponding pointer to said next media data block in said non-sequential media data file, and not first consulting said first level linear hinting index;
otherwise, returning to search for media data blocks in said non-sequential media data file by accessing said first level linear hinting index to get a pointer to said second level non-sequential hinting index which in turn provides a final pointer to a particular media data block in said non-sequential media data file.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
packing said first level linear hinting index and said second level non-sequential hinting index together in a single file with a media file descriptor; and
associating at least one separate media data file.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
packing said first level linear hinting index and said second level non-sequential hinting index together in a single file with a media file descriptor, and at least one non-sequential media data file.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
organizing an index section is such that said first level linear hinting index has a linear organization corresponding to timing tick key values.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
organizing an index section is such that said second level hinting index has a non-sequential organization corresponding to timing tick key values.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
organizing an index section is such that said second level hinting index includes a special mark in the last of a sequential run of timing tick key values associated with its entries.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
organizing a data section is such that it accepts media data blocks associated in sequential runs of timing tick key values as its entries.
11. An apparatus, comprising:
a memory storage; and
a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, the processing unit being configured to:
configure a first level linear hinting index with pointers to a second level non-sequential hinting index;
provide said second level non-sequential hinting index with pointers to a non-sequential media data file; and
search for media data blocks in said non-sequential media data file by accessing said first level linear hinting index to get a pointer to said second level non-sequential hinting index which in turn provides a final pointer to a particular media data block in said non-sequential media data file.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to obtain a next media data block in said non-sequential media data file by accessing only a next entry in said second level non-sequential hinting index to fetch a corresponding pointer to said next media data block in said non-sequential media data file.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to mark a discontinuity in the order of said media data blocks in said non-sequential media data file with a special character placed in a corresponding pointer to a last continuous media data block in said second level non-sequential hinting index.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising the processing unit being configured to:
if said special character was not obtained in a last access, obtain a next media data block in said non-sequential media data file by accessing only a next entry in said second level non-sequential hinting index to fetch a corresponding pointer to said next media data block in said non-sequential media data file, and not first consulting said first level linear hinting index;
otherwise, returning to search for media data blocks in said non-sequential media data file by accessing said first level linear hinting index to get a pointer to said second level non-sequential hinting index which in turn provides a final pointer to a particular media data block in said non-sequential media data file.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to:
pack said first level linear hinting index and said second level non-sequential hinting index together in a single file with a media file descriptor; and
associating at least one separate media data file.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to pack said first level linear hinting index and said second level non-sequential hinting index together in a single file with a media file descriptor, and at least one non-sequential media data file.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to organize an index section is such that said first level linear hinting index has a linear organization corresponding to timing tick key values.
18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to organize an index section is such that said second level hinting index has a non-sequential organization corresponding to timing tick key values.
19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to organize an index section is such that said second level hinting index includes the special mark in the last of a sequential run of timing tick key values associated with its entries.
20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the processing unit being configured to organize a data section is such that it accepts media data blocks associated in sequential runs of timing tick key values as its entries.

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 method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:
forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on a substrate;
forming at least one trench for an air gap in the first interlayer dielectric layer;
forming an etch stop layer on the first interlayer dielectric layer having the at least one trench for an air gap;
selectively etching the etch stop layer to form a plurality of holes;
forming a photoresist layer in the at least one trench for an air gap before forming the etch stop layer on the first interlayer dielectric layer; and
removing the photoresist layer in the at least one trench after selectively etching the etch stop layer to form the plurality of holes, thereby forming an air gap in the first interlayer dielectric layer.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
forming a second etch stop layer having no holes formed therein on the etch stop layer.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
forming a second interlayer dielectric layer on the etch stop layer.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the etch stop layer comprises SiN.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes are densely formed in the etch stop layer by etching the etch stop layer using a reactive ion etching (RIE) process.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holes formed in the etch stop layer have a diameter ranging from approximately 0.16 \u03bcm to approximately 0.2 \u03bcm.
7. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising:
forming a first interlayer dielectric layer on a substrate;
forming at least one trench for an air gap in the first interlayer dielectric layer;
forming an etch stop layer on the first interlayer dielectric layer having the at least one trench for an air gap;
selectively etching the etch stop layer to form a plurality of holes;
forming a first photoresist layer on the first interlayer dielectric layer including the at least one trench for an air gap;
selectively removing the first photoresist layer on a trench defined for formation of a metal line; and
forming a metal line by depositing metal in the trench defined for formation of the metal line and planarizing the metal layer and the first photoresist layer until the first interlayer dielectric layer is exposed.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein selectively etching the etch stop layer to form a plurality of holes comprises:
forming a second photoresist layer on the etch stop layer;
selectively removing the second photoresist layer to expose a plurality of small regions of the etch stop layer in regions above the first photoresist layer; and
etching the exposed regions of the etch stop layer using the second photoresist layer as an etch mask, thereby exposing the first photoresist layer through holes in the etch mask layer, the in method further comprising:
removing the first photoresist layer formed under the etch stop layer to form an air gap in the first interlayer dielectric layer.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein removing the first photoresist layer formed under the etch stop layer comprises supplying an ashing solution through the holes of the etch stop layer.