Abstract: Polyorganosilicon dielectric coatings are prepared by subjecting specified polycarbosilanes to thermal or high energy treatments to generate cross-linked polyorganosilicon coatings having low k dielectric properties. The thermal process includes multi-step sequentially increasing temperature heating steps. The instantly prepared polyorganosilicon polymers can be employed as dielectric interconnect materials and film coatings for conductor wiring in semiconductor devices. These polyorganosilicon film coatings have the additional characteristics of relative thermal stability and excellent adhesion to substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated interfacing with a processing tool in a manufacturing environment having a tilt mechanism and a rotation mechanism. In one embodiment, semiconductor wafers in a cassette are presented to a processing tool by tilting the cassette during movement towards the tool. The tilt mechanism provides a means for seating the wafers in the cassette. The rotation mechanism allows the cassette to be adjusted to meet a robotic arm which extracts wafers from the cassette. Where the cassette is part of a Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF) system, the pod is placed onto the interface apparatus, where the pod cover is removed to allow processing of the wafers. A bellows is provided to cover the exposed cassette, thus creating an extended mini-environment including the interface apparatus, tool, and pod cover. In one embodiment, the interface apparatus includes robotic arms and a lift mechanism.

Abstract: A spark plug boot assembly has a boot with one end for receiving an ignition cable and another end for receiving a spark plug. A heat barrier surrounds the boot and includes an outer wall and an inner wall defining a cavity, and a thermal insulator is disposed within the cavity. Contemplated spark plug boot assemblies may further include a silicone coating between the inner wall of the heat barrier and the outer surface of the boot to reduce potential chafing of the boot.

Abstract: Device and methods are provided in which a motorized suction device is suctionally mounted to a static surface, and an article supporting portion other than a handle is employed to support one or more articles above the ground. The vacuum is preferably provided by a battery operated electric vacuum pump, and the article supporting portion preferably comprises a shelf, a channel, a magnet, a ring, a hook and loop fastener, or a hook.

Abstract: A composition has a polymeric network that includes a porogen and a photoinitiator. The photoinitiator produces a reactive species upon irradiation, which reacts with the porogen in a degradation reaction that degrades at least some of the porogen. A method of forming a nanoporous polymer has one step in which a plurality of polymeric strands, a photoinitiator, and a porogen are provided. In a subsequent step, at least some of the polymeric strands are crosslinked to form a polymeric network that includes the porogen and the photoinitiator, and in a further step the photoinitiator in the polymeric network is irradiated to generate a reactive species that reacts with the porogen in a degradation reaction to degrade at least some of the porogen.

Abstract: A piece of baggage comprises a relatively small electronic sound recorder and playback device, and a designated location for the device that constrains the device in a relatively fixed position. The baggage is preferably a general purpose piece, and more preferably has at least one or two shoulder straps. Exemplary pieces of baggage are knapsacks and pocketbooks, although computer carrying cases and some strap containing briefcases may also fit within these limitations. The electronic sound recorder and playback device may contain any suitable electronic circuitry, and may advantageously be configured to provide or at least assist in providing an alarm. The device may also be configured to record speech, music, or other sounds. The recorder/playback device should have sufficient capacity to record at least 120 seconds of speech, although both greater or lesser capacities are also contemplated.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided in which an electrical device is fabricated by incorporating macrocycles in a polymer on a substrate portion of the device, and crosslinking the polymer to form a crosslinked polymer. It is preferred that at least some of the macrocycles are relatively large, including at least six rings in the backbone of a macrocycle. It is also preferred that rings used in forming the macrocycles may be relatively large, preferably having at least six members as in phenyl rings. The intermacrocyclic links can be relatively complex, such as where four macrocycles may be coupled to a single atom or a single phenyl group. In yet other aspects, macrocycles can be heavily conjugated, with more preferred macrocycles having a completely conjugated backbone. In yet other aspects the macrocycles can have backbones with ether, carboxyl, and ethynyl groups, some of which can be used in crosslinking without reliance on an extrinsic crosslinker.

Abstract: An absorbing ether-like compound including a siliconethoxy, silicondiethoxy, or silicontriethoxy species attached to a naphthalene or anthracene chromophore via an oxygen linkage is used as an organic light-absorbing compound. The absorbing ether-like compound is incorporated into spin-on glass materials to provide anti-reflective coating materials for deep ultraviolet photolithography. A method of synthesizing the light-absorbing ether compounds is based on the reaction of an alcohol-substituted chromophore with an acetoxysilicon compound in the presence of alcohol. A method of making absorbing spin-on-glass materials including the absorbing ether-like compounds is also provided.

Abstract: Anti-reflective coating materials for deep ultraviolet photolithography include one or more organic dyes incorporated into spin-on-glass materials. Suitable dyes are strongly absorbing over wavelength ranges around wavelengths such as 248 nm and 193 nm that may be used in photolithography. A method of making dyed spin-on-glass materials includes combining one or more organic dyes with alkoxysilane reactants during synthesis of the spin-on-glass materials.

Abstract: A method of making a dielectric film on a substrate from a composition containing an organohydridosiloxane resin is presented. The organohydridosiloxane resins have a cage conformation and 40 mole percent or greater of an organic substituent. The process of making a dielectric film includes forming a solution of a solvent and the organohydridosiloxane resin, dispensing the solution on a substrate, spinning the substrate, baking the substrate to remove the solvent, and curing the substrate to form the dielectric film. The dielectric films of the present invention exhibit dielectric constants of approximately 2.8 or lower.

Abstract: Templates having sets of frame, channel, and possibly “dot” cutouts, and methods for using such templates for shaping and laying out photographs on a page to create a decorative pattern.

Abstract: An organohydridosiloxane polymer having a cage conformation, between approximately 0.1 to 40 mole percent carbon-containing substituent, and a dielectric constant of less than about 3.0 is disclosed. Each silicon atom of the cage polymer is bonded to at least three oxygen atoms and to either a hydrogen atom or an organic substituent. By providing such a caged structure having essentially no hydroxyl or alkoxy substituents, either on the polymer backbone or at terminal silicon atoms, essentially no chain lengthening polymerization can occur in solution. Such organohydridosiloxane resins having a molecular weight in the range from about 400 to about 200,000 atomic mass units were formed using a dual phase solvent system and either a solid phase or a phase transfer catalyst to assist the condensation of hydridotrihalosilane with at least one organotrihalosilane.

Abstract: A method of making a dielectric film on a substrate from a composition containing an organohydridosiloxane resin is presented. The organohydridosiloxane resins have a cage conformation and up to 40 mole percent of an organic substituent. The process of making a dielectric film includes forming a solution of a solvent and the organohydridosiloxane resin, dispensing the solution on a substrate, spinning the substrate, baking the substrate to remove the solvent, and curing the substrate to form the dielectric film. The dielectric films of the present invention exhibit dielectric constants of approximately 3 or lower.

Abstract: The loudspeaker comprises a cone (2) and a beading (4) attached to the cone (2). The beading (4) is composed of a sprayable plastic layer which is soft in its solid state. The manufacture of the loudspeaker is facilitated by a process in which an open negative mold (16) is used in which the cone (2) is arranged and immobilized. Following this, the plastic is sprayed into the open negative mold (16) and the beading (4) is formed as a soft plastic layer which attaches itself to the cone (2).

Abstract: Electrodes for secondary (rechargeable) batteries are fabricated using active material particles such as flakes, fingers, projections, needles, threads, fibers, pods, hairs, ribbons and the like, which have an aspect ratio of at least 1:3:1. The high aspect ratio, in combination with relatively shallow discharge cycles, provides high power of at least 800 W/kg sustainable over at least ten seconds, high energy of at least 7 W-hr/kg, and a high cycle life of at least 250 cycles. Selection of parameters also provides power to energy ratios for high power, high energy batteries of at least 10. Preferred chemistries for the novel batteries include lithium ion, and preferred active materials include carbon, metal oxides and metal. Batteries including the novel technology can advantageously be used in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, electrical appliances, and industrial applications such as battery backup systems and switches.

Abstract: A flat transparent envelope has a rectangular, transparent cover sheet and a rectangular, preferably transparent backsheet. The cover sheet and backsheet are preferably flexible films that are joined together along at least two but no more than three of the sheet edges so that the envelope is open along at least one of the sheet edges and the edges of the joined sheets are situated in the envelope plane. The transparent cover sheet and backsheet may advantageously be entirely formed of a magnifying material.

Abstract: The loudspeaker comprises a cone (2) and a beading (4) attached to the cone (2). The beading (4) is composed of a sprayable plastic layer which is soft in its solid state. The manufacture of the loudspeaker is facilitated by a process in which an open negative mold (16) is used in which the cone (2) is arranged and immobilized. Following this, the plastic is sprayed into the open negative mold (16) and the beading (4) is formed as a soft plastic layer which attaches itself to the cone (2).

Abstract: A unique bond-ply structure and associated processes for processing of the bond-ply structure and for joining together circuit layer pairs which makes it possible to create a bond-ply having raised structures of conductive material which compensate for shrinkage during sintering thus creating a stress-free and void-free electrically conductive junction between layer-pairs in an interconnect.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making hydroxy-substituted ethynylated biphenyl compounds and for reacting such compounds with a family of noncross-linking thermosetting poly(arylene ethers) to produce novel poly(arylene ether) compositions which, when cured at glass transition temperatures greater than about 350° C. to form thin films, possess properties such as low dielectric constant, low moisture absorption, and high thermal stability. These films are suitable for use as intermetal dielectrics for multilevel interconnection.