Abstract: A method of forming an optical component includes depositing slurry that includes glass powder material onto a facesheet and fusing the glass powder material to a facesheet to form a first core material layer on the facesheet. The method also includes successively fusing glass powder material in a plurality of additional core material layers to build a core material structure on the facesheet. The method can include selectively depositing slurry including glass powder material over only a portion of at least one of the facesheet, the first core material layer, and/or the one of the additional core material layers. Depositing the slurry can include extruding the slurry from an extruder.

Abstract: A method includes placing a first part proximate a second part, disposing a sintering material in contact with both the first part and the second part, and applying energy to the sintering material to join the first part and the second part. An apparatus includes a first part, a second part, and an additively manufactured joint comprising a sintering material that joins the first part and the second part.

Abstract: A method includes placing a first part proximate a second part, disposing a sintering material in contact with both the first part and the second part, and applying energy to the sintering material to join the first part and the second part. An apparatus includes a first part, a second part, and an additively manufactured joint comprising a sintering material that joins the first part and the second part.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical component includes depositing slurry that includes glass powder material onto a facesheet and fusing the glass powder material to a facesheet to form a first core material layer on the facesheet. The method also includes successively fusing glass powder material in a plurality of additional core material layers to build a core material structure on the facesheet. The method can include selectively depositing slurry including glass powder material over only a portion of at least one of the facesheet, the first core material layer, and/or the one of the additional core material layers. Depositing the slurry can include extruding the slurry from an extruder.

Abstract: A method includes applying a laser directly to a surface of a glass substrate to smooth the surface of the glass substrate. The method can further include applying a reflective coating directly to the smoothed surface of the glass substrate. An apparatus can include a titania-silica glass substrate having a laser polished surface that is not a separate layer from the glass substrate. The apparatus can include a reflective surface applied directly to the laser polished surface.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical component includes fusing glass powder material to a facesheet to form a first core material layer on the facesheet. The method also includes successively fusing glass powder material in a plurality of additional core material layers to build a core material structure on the facesheet. The method can include positioning the facesheet on a mandrel prior to fusing glass powder material to the facesheet. Fusing glass powder material to the facesheet can include fusing the glass powder material to a polishable surface of the facesheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing polyoxazolidones wherein an ether of a bisanhydrohexitol is reacted with a diisocyanate under conditions which form polyoxazolidones. Preferred bisanhydrohexitols include isoidide, isomannide and isosorbide. The polyoxazolidones are highly crosslinked, rigid, and have high solvent resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing polyoxazolidones wherein an ether of a bisanhydrohexitol is reacted with a diisocyanate under conditions which form polyoxazolidones. Preferred bisanhydrohexitols include isoidide, isomannide and isosorbide. The polyoxazolidones are highly crosslinked, rigid, and have high solvent resistance.

Abstract: A metadata-based application model for software systems provides for the integration and storing of application metadata with the application itself effectively replacing the system registry. In calling or updating the application components or modules, queries to the metadata within the application folders returns references to the files with metadata that matches the query. The component or modules are called or updated within the file using the returned reference. The present invention also provides a data structure comprising a data field for the application code and another field for the metadata.

Abstract: A portable storage device includes an interface and one or more flash memories. The one or more flash memories store one or more executable files that can be executed by a host computer to which the device is coupled without altering any environment settings on the host computer even though the one or more executable files include instructions to access environment settings. Additionally, the application is bound to the portable storage device during an activation process.

Abstract: A polymer that when used with a suitable photoacid generator (PAG) forms a positive working photoresist. The polymer comprises of a tartaric polyanhydride backbone, an acetal protected 1,2 diol group; and a fused ring acetal group pendant to the backbone. The acetal protected .alpha.-hydroxy anhydride backbone structure, undergoes an efficient photoacid catalyzed cleavage, which gives rise to small molecular weight fragments which are readily dissolved in an aqueous base developer. This high contrast in solubility allows high resolution images to be produced. The fused rings offer etch resistance and can be comprised of either an adamantone or norcamphor ring structure. With the addition of a commercially available photo acid generator, the polymer formulation forms a positive working photoresist that offers high contrast and resolution.

Abstract: In one embodiment, this invention discloses polyester-based toner particles suitable to be dyed directly and coated with charge control agent and flow agent to result in particles suitable for color toner applications. The particles have ideal particle size, shape and distribution for such applications.

Abstract: A water soluble polymer that when used with a suitable photoacid generator (PAG) forms a negative working water soluble photoresist. The polymer comprises of a backbone, such as polyvinyl ether, coupled by a linkage group to an acetal protected .beta.-keto acid group. With the addition of a number of commercially available photo acid generators, the polymer formulation forms a negative working photoresist that is water soluble. Exposure to radiation will cause a photoacid catalyzed deprotection of the acetal group, yielding a .beta.-keto acid which, upon heating, will undergo decarboxylation, which results in a water insoluble photoproduct and evolution of CO.sub.2 as a byproduct. This photochemically induced reaction results in a significant change in the polymer solubility parameter, and the product is no longer soluble in water.

Abstract: This invention is an improved pet food dish which combines the food dish with the water dish, the food dish being supported by a frictional slip fit engagement between a pillar and socket. This slip engagement allows for the easy removal and storage of the upper dish. The socket does not extend beyond the bottom peripheral edge of the upper dish which permits the upper dish to remain at rest when stored on a flat supporting surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides novel side chain copolymers which exhibit nonlinear optical response, and which have utility as a transparent optical component in all-optical and electrooptical light switch and light modulator devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides vinylidene cyanide copolymers with alternating monomeric units as illustrated by the following structure: ##STR1## An invention vinylidene cyanide copolymer in the form of an electret film exhibits a high level of longitudinal piezoelectric effect, and has excellent processability properties. An electret film which has an external electric field-induced noncentrosymmetric dipolar molecular orientation exhibits second order nonlinear optical susceptibility under light propagation conditions.

Abstract: In one embodiment this invention provides vinylidene copolymers with alternating monomeric units as illustrated by the following structure: ##STR1## An invention vinylidene copolymer in the form of an electret film exhibits a high level of longitudinal piezoelectric effect, and has excellent processability and thermal stability properties.

Abstract: A method is provided for the production of 3,3', 4,4'-tetraaminobiphenyl (TAB) from biphenyl comprising the following steps:1) acetylating the biphenyl in the presence of an appropriate Friedel-Crafts catalyst to obtain 4,4'-diacetylbiphenyl (DAcB);2) oximating the DAcB to form DAcB dioxime;3) subjecting the dioxime to a double Beckmann rearrangement to obtain N,N-diacetylbenzidine (DiAcBz);4) nitrating the DiAcBz to obtain 3,3'-dinitro-N,N-diacetylbenzidine (DNAcBz)5) removing the acetyl groups of the DNAcBz by basic hydrolysis to form 3,3'-dinitrobenzidine (DNB); and6) reducing the nitrate groups of the DNB to form TAB.

Abstract: This invention provides novel bisacrylate monomers and thermoset polymers which exhibit nonlinear optical response. The polymers have utility as a transparent nonlinear optical component in optical light switch and light modulator devices.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment this invention provides a second order nonlinear optical film medium which consists of a thermoplastic copolymer which has a crystallographic molecular alignment, and a net dipolar molecular orientation normal to the film plane. The crystallographic molecular alignment is formed by axial mechanical stressing, and the dipolar molecular orientation is induced by an electric or magnetic field.