Abstract: A process for repairing an electronic army wafer assembly having a short circuit between two non-insulative layers separated by a dielectric layer includes the step of selectively ablating one of the non-insulative layers so as to electrically isolate the situs of the short circuit while maintaining the electrical integrity of the underlying non-insulative layer intact. A laser beam is directed onto the non-insulative layer and scanned in a selected pattern to isolate the situs of the short circuit; the laser is further controlled such that a selected energy density is delivered to the surface to be ablated such that the underlying non-insulative layer is not damaged.

Abstract: Micromachined organic crystals are used in electro-optic modulators to provide high speed modulation capability. Machined modulator blocks of organic crystal material, such as dimethylamino n-methylstilbazolium tosylate (DAST), have smooth surfaces adapted to couple light between the organic crystal and a medium adjoining the crystal in the electro-optic modulator. Electrodes are disposed with respect to the modulator block such that an electric field is generated along a selected axis corresponding to the polar axis of the organic crystal. A method of machining the soft organic crystal adapted for use as a modulator includes illuminating the organic crystal material via an opaque mask having a selected pattern corresponding to a desired machined pattern for the organic crystal.

Abstract: A lenticule is bonded to the eye as part of its formation process by curing or final curing the lenticule on the eye. Such lenticules provide a smooth transition from the body of the lenticule to Bowman's layer on which the lenticule is disposed. The lenticule at the time its material or precursor is placed on the eye may vary from being essentially all viscous collagen which flows and must be molded to obtain a desired lenticule configuration to a substantially stable preform which holds its own shape. Such preformed lenticules may be formed using an appropriate mold and photopolymerization or other partial curing techniques to pre-cure the lenticule material to an appropriate stage for application to the eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for applying a synthetic lenticule to the cornea of a human eye is disclosed, the process also contemplating selective reprofiling of the lenticule while it is in place over the cornea. The process involves securing the lenticule over the cornea with an adhesive, thus leaving the visual axis of the eye undisturbed or with the peripheral edge thereof being retained by a peripheral slit. A laser delivery system is used to reprofile the lenticule if necessary for refining the refractive power of the lenticule.

Abstract: Self-developing photoresists are developed by exposing the substrate on which they are exposed to a light beam or other energy source which is absorbed by the substrate and which raises the substrate temperature to the thermal decomposition temperature of the overlying photoresist. This exposure may be done through the photoresist layer with a light beam having a frequency to which the photoresist is substantially transparent or may be done from the backside of the substrate using a light beam which is absorbed by the substrate itself if it is sufficiently thin, or by a thin layer disposed on a transparent substrate.

Abstract: A technique for fabricating a patterned conductor on the inner surface of a transparent tube comprises providing a source of conductive material inside a hollow tube and directing actinic radiation onto the tube wall where the deposition of a conductive pattern is desired to deposit conductive material thereon. That conductive deposit may be thickened by subsequent electroless or electroplating. The result is an improved magnetic resonance sensor comprising a hollow tube having "flat" conductor coils disposed on its interior surface.

Abstract: A lenticule is bonded to the eye as part of its formation process by curing or final curing the lenticule on the eye. Such lenticules provide a smooth transition from the body of the lenticule to Bowman's layer on which the lenticule is disposed. The lenticule at the time its material or precursor is placed on the eye may vary from being essentially all viscous collagen which flows and must be molded to obtain a desired lenticule configuration to a substantially stable preform which holds its own shape. Such preformed lenticules may be formed using an appropriate mold and photopolymerization or other partial curing techniques to pre-cure the lenticule material to an appropriate stage for application to the eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a composite object, the method comprising the steps of providing a composite object, aligning a laser source with a portion of the composite object to be processed, operating the laser source to generate laser beam pulses, and forming composite object elements by applying the pluses of beams from the source to the composite object portion to be processed.

Abstract: Photoresist layers are rapidly exposed in a pattern determined by electronically stored data by exposure of the photoresist through a high resolution liquid crystal shutter array.

Abstract: A technique for fabricating a patterned conductor on the inner surface of a transparent tube comprises providing a source of conductive material inside a hollow tube and directing actinic radiation onto the tube wall where the deposition of a conductive pattern is desired to deposit conductive material thereon. That conductive deposit may be thickened by subsequent electroless or electroplating. The result is an improved magnetic resonance sensor comprising a hollow tube having "flat" conductor coils disposed on its interior surface.

Abstract: Photoresist layers are rapidly exposed in a pattern determined by electronically stored data by exposure of the photoresist through a high resolution liquid crystal shutter array.

Abstract: A dielectric layer comprising a plurality of sublayers of alternating composition can provide a reduced dielectric constant while providing the adhesion and laser drilling properties of a higher dielectric constant material. Such multi-sublayer dielectric layers may be formed in situ on a high density interconnect structure or may be laminated thereon after their own formation.

Abstract: The fluorescent characteristics of a polymer material are modified by the addition of a fluorescent dye which is fluorescent in response to light in a particular portion of the spectrum to render it fluorescent in response to light in that particular portion of the spectrum.

Abstract: Selective electrolytic deposition is provided on a body having a conductive surface comprised of two different conductive materials in which one of the conductive materials forms a surface layer upon exposure to a particular ambient environment and wherein that surface layer prevents electroplating on that material in the particular electroplating environment utilized for the electroplating of the desired pattern on the other conductive material.

Abstract: The uniformity of a catalyst layer produced by laser decomposition of a catalyst source compound is substantially improved for patterned substrates whose characteristics vary along the path of a conductor line by providing a buffer layer of a metal such as Ti, Cr or Ni over the substrate prior to the laser induced decomposition of the catalyst source compound.

Abstract: A laser, such as an excimer laser, is employed to ablate electroless plating activator material from polymer and other substrates. The treated substrates are then immersed in electroless plating baths for plating of conductive material over remaining activator material. The method is particularly effective for depositing conductive patterns on non-flat substrates and on substrates needing plated-through connections. High resolution patterns are created on any compatible polymer substrate with any compatible electroless plating activator material.

Abstract: A metal is electrolessly plated on a substrate which is first coated with at least one ablatively-removable layer that is selectively irradiated with laser radiation to obtain a pattern for the deposition of metal on the substrate. The electroless plating solution applied to the substrate after the irradiated substrate is coated with a catalyst also serves to remove the unirradiated portion of the ablatively-removable layer. The method is particularly suited for plating fine lines of metal, especially on non-planar surfaces.

Abstract: Polyimides, polycarbonates, polyetherimides and other highly stable organic polymers are photoetched through the use of deep ultraviolet light produced by a broad area, non-coherent, continuous light source. This method is effective in an oxygen-free environment, but provides slightly higher etch rates in an air ambient as a result of the oxygen in the air ambient. The apparatus in which this photoetching occurs may employ a single light source or a plurality of side-by-side lamps and may include ports which allow continuous transport of samples therethrough.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing organic material from an organic film in a patterned manner using ultraviolet light at sufficient power density to effect the patterned ablative photodecomposition of an organic film in the form of a blend of aliphatic and aromatic organic material or a copolymer of chemically combined aliphatic units and aromatic units.

Abstract: A gaseous Raman conversion medium is placed inside a laser resonant cavity to generate tunable laser radiation in the visible, near infrared and far infrared spectral ranges with an improved conversion efficiency and a higher power output. The combination of the laser medium, a gaseous Raman medium and nonlinear sum and difference generation using intracavity conversion produces coherent radiation at a frequency distinct from the frequency emitted by the laser medium. This new frequency is coupled out of the cavity as the desired output.