Abstract: In a focal plane array sensor hybrid, a focal plane array fabricated in a chip of one semiconductor material and a read out circuit fabricated in one or more chips of a different semiconductor material are connected by a high density interconnect structure in which a layer of dielectric material is bonded to the chips and has interconnecting conductors disposed thereon and extending through via holes therein into ohmic contact with appropriate contact pads of the chips. Inclusion of a flexible portion in the high density interconnect structure enables the readout and the focal plane array chips to be disposed in different planes to provide a compact structure. Focal plane array sensor hybrid testing and repair are both facilitated by this structure.

Abstract: The direct (d) and quadrature (q) components of flux, as sensed by flux sensors or determined from voltage and current measurements in a direct field orientation scheme, are processed rapidly and accurately to provide flux amplitude and angular position values for use by the vector rotator of a universal field-oriented (UFO) controller. Flux amplitude (linear or squared) is provided as feedback to tune the UFO controller for operation in direct and indirect field orientation modes and enables smooth transitions from one mode to the other.

Abstract: Semiconductor chips are protected from handling damage by formation of a polymer dielectric layer at least 2 microns thick on the chip surface before dicing or shortly after dicing. The polymer dielectric layer may be a thermoplastic material or a thermoset material.

Abstract: A radiation imaging device has a plurality of scintillator elements that are each optically coupled to a plurality of internal gain photodetectors. Each photodetector is electrically coupled to a respective detect and hold circuit which amplifies and stores the pulse generated by the photodetector; the stored pulses are sampled via a multiplexed switching arrangement to allow the stored signal from each detect and hold circuit to be processed to produce a digitized imaging signal which corresponds to the energy level of, and location on the array of, the detected incident radiation. The digitized imaging signal is supplied to display memory and analysis equipment for the device.

Abstract: Ester polyphenols such as the tris(bisphenol A) ester of trimellitic acid are prepared by the reaction of the corresponding aromatic poly(acyl halide) with a dihydroxyaromatic compound such as bisphenol A. They may be employed in the preparation of branched polycarbonates via chloroformate oligomer compositions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a polyepoxy compound (preferably bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) and a polyphenylene ether which has been melt processed (e.g., by extrusion) at a temperature in the range of about 230.degree.-390.degree. C., are cured at temperatures in the range of about 190.degree.-250.degree. C. by various epoxy cure catalysts. They may used in the preparation of laminates with excellent dielectric properties, solvent resistance and solder resistance, useful in printed circuit board production.

Abstract: Sigma-delta analog-to-digital conversion is used in sensing apparatus that generates a digital signal descriptive of light energy received by a photosensor, such as one of a plurality of photosensors that together receive various elements of a radiant-energy image. A preamplifier generates an analog output signal responsive to the photocurrent of the photosensor, which analog output signal is undesirably accompanied by wideband noise. The analog output signal is supplied to a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter, the decimation filter of which not only suppresses in the digital signal a component arising from the quantization noise from the sigma-delta modulator portion of the analog-to-digital converter, but also suppresses a component arising from remnant wideband noise from the preamplifier.

Abstract: Inclusion compounds of a cyclodextrin, such as .beta.-cyclodextrin, and a palladium halide-diene complex, such as a complex of PdCl.sub.2 and 1,5-cyclooctadiene have been found to be effective hydrosilylation catalysts. One part heat curable organopolysiloxane compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Polyphenylene ethers are capped by reaction in the melt, with application of vacuum, with at least one trimellitamide, preferably phenyl 4-aminosalicylate trimellitamide. The preferred melt processing method is extrusion with vacuum venting. By this method, the polyphenylene ether is capped with reactive anhydride groups improving its thermo-oxidative stability. The capped polyphenylene ether is capable of forming copolymers with polyamides, and said copolymers are useful as compatibilizers for polyphenylene ether-polyamide blends.

Abstract: Serial memories are operated so as to reorder samples as they are serially supplied in a pipelined electronics system, such as one for performing matrix multiplications on a chain serial basis. A serial memory comprising (m-1) delay elements and a write multiplexer is operated so as to respond to data samples that occur every m.sup.th one of a series of consecutive sample intervals to generate successive groups of m successive samples, for example. As a further example, a serial memory comprising (mn-1) delay elements and a write multiplexer is operated so as to respond to every m.sup.th one of data samples supplied thereto, which said every m.sup.th data sample is in a first scanning order, to supply those every m.sup.th data samples in a second scanning order. The first scanning order may correspond to scanning in row major order a matrix of samples arranged in m rows and n columns, in which case the second scanning order corresponds to column major scanning order of that matrix of samples.

Abstract: The thermal stability of cyclic polycarbonate oligomers may be increased by reacting the oligomers with an effective amount of organic carboxylic or sulfonic acids.

Abstract: A method for making diphenyl carbonate free of color bodies is provided by reacting an organic hydroxy compound, such as phenol with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of an effective amount of a palladium catalyst, in the form of a palladium material which is used in combination with a quaternary ammonium salt, an inorganic cocatalyst, such as cobalt diacetate and an organic cocatalyst such as benzophenone or 1,10-phenanthroline. Recycling of catalyst values is also provided.

Abstract: Carbonyl-capped polyphenylene ether is reacted with a cycloalkene, such as cyclooctene using an organometallic catalyst, such as tungsten (VI) chloride/ethyl aluminum dichloride, to produce polyarylene ether/polyoctenamer block copolymers.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical fiber connect/disconnect for power lasers. The connect/disconnect should allow a laser/fiber user to quickly interface fiber injection input and fiber output couplers while providing an audible and visual optical alignment. The connect/disconnect also offers fiber end protection against dust and mechanical damage.

Abstract: A phased array sector scanning (PASS) ultrasonic imaging system produces a steered transmit beam with an array of transducer elements that are driven with separate carrier frequencies. A receiver forms the echo signal into a receive beam steered in the same direction as the transmit beam and is dynamically focused. A transmit beam processor Fourier transforms this receive beam to produce a signals corresponding to the separate carrier frequencies which can be delayed to retrospectively dynamically focus the transmit beam or alter the direction in which it is steered.

Abstract: Ortho ester-substituted chlorotriazines are prepared by the reaction of a dichlorotriazine with a reactive compound containing an ortho ester group, preferably a 4-(2-methoxy-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl group. They are useful as capping agents for polyphenylene ethers. The capped polyphenylene ethers form copolymer-containing compositions with polyesters, polyamides and other polymers containing carboxylic acid or amine groups.

Abstract: A method for the preparation a photo-mask used for photo-imaging selected areas on the surfaces of a three-dimensional printed circuit board substrate. The photo-mask comprises a membrane transparent and degradation resistant to UV light, having at least one side with a contoured shape conforming, and flexible enough to comply with surface irregularities on the surfaces of the three-dimensional substrate being photo-imaged. A pattern of tracks opaque to UV light is posiitoned along the contoured shape of the membrane. The pattern of tracks on the photo-mask is in accordance with a desired conductive metal trace pattern on the surfaces of the three-dimensional printed circuit board substrate. The photo-mask is prepared by photo-imaging and then depositing a track material on a film that conformed to the surfaces of the three-dimensional substrate. An adhesive layer applied over the film cements a membrane material poured upon the adhesive layer.

Abstract: This invention describes the preparation and use of metal oxide catalysts supported on titanium dioxide, hydrophobic or polymeric substrates for the removal of NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x from gas streams such as flue gases and combustion exhaust gases.

Abstract: Bisphenols containing free-radical generating groups, such as bissilylpinacolate groups, are provided. These bisphenols can be used to make free-radical generating polycarbonate macroinitiators having thermally labile groups which can be heated with vinyl monomers, such as styrene to make polycarbonate block copolymers.

Abstract: A rotor position estimator for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) employs a flux-current map to determine whether the actual rotor angle is closer to, or farther from, axial alignment of stator and rotor poles than a reference angle .theta..sub.r. The flux-current map is a plot of reference flux .PSI..sub.r as a function of current for the reference angle .theta..sub.r. If a flux linkage estimate .PSI..sub.i is greater than the reference flux .PSI..sub.r, then the actual rotor angle is closer to alignment than the reference angle .theta..sub.r, and the flux-map comparator output is a logic level one. If the flux linkage estimate .PSI..sub.i is lower than the reference flux .PSI..sub.r, then the actual rotor angle is farther from alignment than the reference angle .theta..sub.r, and the flux-map comparator output is a logic level zero. When the result of the flux comparison causes the flux-current map comparator to change state, the actual rotor angle is equal to the reference angle .theta..sub.