Abstract: The present invention provides for an electrostatic microelectromechanical (MEMS) device comprising a dielectric layer separating a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor is moveable towards the second conductor, when a voltage is applied to the MEMS device. The dielectric layer recovers from dielectric charging failure almost immediately upon removal of the voltage from the MEMS device.

Abstract: A reliable long life RF-MEMS capacitive switch is provided with a dielectric layer comprising a “fast discharge diamond dielectric layer” and enabling rapid switch recovery, dielectric layer charging and discharging that is efficient and effective to enable RF-MEMS switch operation to greater than or equal to 100 billion cycles.

Abstract: A wafer bonding chamber is disclosed, which maintains two wafers to be bonded together at two substantially different temperatures. A lid wafer may be held at a higher temperature than a device wafer, as the device wafer may have delicate structures formed thereon, which cannot withstand higher temperatures. The lid wafer may have an adhesive bonding material formed thereon, which is melted or cured at the higher temperature. The temperature differential may be maintained by applying at least one of a heating mechanism and a cooling mechanism preferentially to one of the wafers to be bonded in the wafer bonding chamber.

Abstract: A reliable long life RF-MEMS capacitive switch is provided with a dielectric layer comprising a “fast discharge diamond dielectric layer” and enabling rapid switch recovery, dielectric layer charging and discharging that is efficient and effective to enable RF-MEMS switch operation to greater than or equal to 100 billion cycles.

Abstract: A grating light valve is provided with a plurality of spaced reflective ribbons, spatially arranged over a semiconductor substrate, the ribbons and substrate being provided with reflective surfaces. The grating light valve is configured to optimize the conditions for constructive and destructive interference with an incident light source having a given wavelength. In a preferred embodiment, one set of ribbons is moveable with respect to the substrate and the second set of ribbons. The substrate is typically provided with a protective layer, which may be thermally grown silicon dioxide or other dielectric. A conductive trace is provided on the dielectric layer and grounded through the dielectric layer to the substrate, comprising a conductive trace for easy release of charge otherwise trapped on or at the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for making electronic devices with a thin anisotropic conducting layer interface layer formed between a substrate and an active device layer that is preferably patterned conductive layer. The interface layer preferably provides Ohmic and/or rectifying contact between the active device layer and the substrate and preferably provides good adhesion of the active device layer to the substrate. The active device layer is preferably fashioned from a nanoparticle ink solution that is patterned using embossing methods or other suitable printing and/or imaging methods. The active device layer is preferably patterned into an array of gate structures suitable for the fabrication of thin film transistors and the like.

Abstract: A method of and device for controlled printing using liquid embossing techniques is disclosed. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention a stamp comprises a differentiated embossing surface with protruding and recessed surfaces to enhance the ability of the stamp to selectively displace liquid ink from a print surface and/or remove solvent from the liquid in a soft curing process. A stamp with differentiated surfaces is fabricated by selectively coating, or otherwise treating the protruding features, the recessed features, or a combination thereof, such that the surface energies and/or wettability of the protruding surfaces and the recessed surfaces are differentiated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for making electronic devices with a thin anisotropic conducting layer interface layer formed between a substrate and an active device layer that is preferably patterned conductive layer. The interface layer preferably provides Ohmic and/or rectifying contact between the active device layer and the substrate and preferably provides good adhesion of the active device layer to the substrate. The active device layer is preferably fashioned from a nanoparticle ink solution that is patterned using embossing methods or other suitable printing and/or imaging methods. The active device layer is preferably patterned into an array of gate structures suitable for the fabrication of thin film transistors and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for making electronic devices with a thin anisotropic conducting layer interface layer formed between a substrate and an active device layer that is preferably patterned conductive layer. The interface layer preferably provides Ohmic and/or rectifying contact between the active device layer and the substrate and preferably provides good adhesion of the active device layer to the substrate. The active device layer is preferably fashioned from a nanoparticle ink solution that is patterned using embossing methods or other suitable printing and/or imaging methods. The active device layer is preferably patterned into an array of gate structures suitable for the fabrication of thin film transistors and the like.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video display system employs an array of ribbon light modulators having a reflective surface configured to reflect or diffract a beam. The beam may have a wavelength suitable for displaying a video image. The reflective surface may comprise an aluminum alloy suitable for receiving the beam, which may have a relatively high power density. In one embodiment, a method of displaying a video image comprises impinging a beam on a portion of a reflective surface of a light modulator. The beam may have a wavelength suitable for displaying a video image, and the reflective surface may comprise an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video display system employs an array of ribbon light modulators having a reflective surface configured to reflect or diffract a beam. The beam may have a wavelength suitable for displaying a video image. The reflective surface may comprise an aluminum alloy suitable for receiving the beam, which may have a relatively high power density. In one embodiment, a method of displaying a video image comprises impinging a beam on a portion of a reflective surface of a light modulator. The beam may have a wavelength suitable for displaying a video image, and the reflective surface may comprise an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: An optical MEM device is encapsulated with a dampening gas to reduce oscillatory vibrations of movable parts during the operation of the device. Preferably, the dampening gas comprises one or more noble gases, such as neon and/or krypton with a partial pressure in a range of 50 to 100% of the total dampening gas pressure. In further embodiments, the dampening gas comprises a mixture of one or more noble gases and an inert carrier gas, such as nitrogen. Preferably, the optical MEM device is sealed within a die with a dampening gas pressure between 0.5 to 3.0 atmospheres at 20 degree Celsius. The current invention is particularly useful for reducing oscillatory vibrations of optical MEM devices having a plurality of movable ribbon structures configured to modulate light with one or more wavelengths in the near infrared (800 to 4000 nanometers) and which operate at high switching rates (4-40 Volts/nano second) and at high switching frequencies (1 kHz and greater).

Abstract: A grating light valve with a plurality of spaced and movable ribbons attached to a substrate surface is sealed within a die structure containing a dampening gas. The tops of the ribbons and the regions of the substrate between the ribbons are reflective. The ribbons move toward and away from the substrate to constructively and destructively interfere with an incident light source having a wavelength &lgr;. In accordance with the invention, the ribbons and the substrate surfaces are sealed within a die structure that contains a dampening gas. Preferably, the dampening gas is a Neon or a Krypton-based gas with a Neon partial pressure in a range of 50 to 100% of the total dampening gas pressure. The Neon-based damping gas is sealed within the die structure such that the total pressure within the sealed die is between 0.5 to 3.0 atmospheres at 20 degree Celsius.