Abstract: A composition for use in electrodeposition includes a resin blend, a coalescing solvent, a catalyst, water, and a highly cross-linked microgel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel. Another composition for use in electrodeposition includes a surfactant blend, a low ion polyol, phenoxypropanol, a catalyst, water, a flexibilizer, and a highly cross-linked microgel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel.

Abstract: A circuit board includes an electrically conductive sheet having an insulative coating surrounding the conductive sheet, with a surface of the insulative coating around an edge of the conductive sheet having an arcuate or rounded shape. At least one electrical conductor is conformally deposited on at least the rounded insulative coating around the edge of the conductive sheet and defined via photolithographic and metallization techniques. Each electrical conductor on the insulative coating thereon around the edge of the conductive sheet conforms to the arcuate or rounded shape of the insulative coating and, therefore, has an arcuate or rounded shape.

Abstract: A circuit board or each circuit board of a multi-layer circuit board includes an electrically conductive sheet coated with an insulating top layer covering one surface of the conductive sheet, an insulating bottom layer covering another surface of the conductive sheet and an insulating edge layer covering an edge of the conductive sheet. An insulating interlayer can be sandwiched between a pair of adjacent circuit boards of a multi-layer circuit board assembly. A landless through-hole or via can extend through one or more of the circuit boards for connecting electrical conductors on opposing surfaces thereof.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating a multi-layer circuit assembly and a multi-layer circuit assembly fabricated by such processes are provided. The process includes (a) providing a substrate at least one area of which comprises a plurality of vias, these area(s) having a via density of 500 to 10,000 holes/square inch (75 to 1550 holes/square centimeter); (b) applying a dielectric coating onto all exposed surfaces of the substrate to form a conformal coating thereon; and (c) applying a layer of metal to all surfaces of the substrate. Additional processing steps such as circuitization may be included.

Abstract: A method includes: immersing a semiconductive substrate in an electrodeposition composition, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is a highly cross-linked microgel component, and applying a voltage between the substrate and the composition to form a dielectric coating on the substrate. A composition for use in electrodeposition includes a resin blend, a coalescing solvent, a catalyst, water, and a highly cross-linked migrogel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel. Another composition for use in electrodeposition includes a surfactant blend, a low ion polyol, phenoxypropanol, a catalyst, water, a flexibilizer, and a highly cross-linked migrogel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel.

Abstract: A method is provided comprising: coating an electrically conductive core with a first removable material, creating openings in the first removable material to expose portions of the electrically conductive core, plating a conductive material onto the exposed portions of the electrically conductive core, coating the conductive material with a second removable material, removing the first removable material, electrophoretically coating the electrically conductive core with a dielectric coating, and removing the second removable material.

Abstract: A tunable phase shifter includes a waveguide, a finline substrate positioned within the waveguide, a tunable dielectric layer positioned on the finline substrate, a first conductor positioned on the tunable dielectric layer, and a second conductor positioned on the tunable dielectric layer, with the first and second conductors being separated to form a gap. By controlling a voltage applied to the tunable dielectric material, the phase of a signal passing through the waveguide can be controlled.

Abstract: A phase shifter includes a substrate, a tunable dielectric film having a dielectric constant between 70 to 600, a tuning range of 20 to 60%, and a loss tangent between 0.008 to 0.03 at K and Ka bands positioned on a surface of the substrate, a coplanar waveguide positioned on a surface of the tunable dielectric film opposite the substrate, an input for coupling a radio frequency signal to the coplanar waveguide, an output for receiving the radio frequency signal from the coplanar waveguide, and a connection for applying a control voltage to the tunable dielectric film. A reflective termination coplanar waveguide phase shifter including a substrate, a tunable dielectric film having a dielectric constant between 70 to 600, a tuning range of 20 to 60%, and a loss tangent between 0.008 to 0.

Abstract: A tunable dielectric structure includes a first layer of dielectric material, a second layer of dielectric material positioned adjacent to the first layer of dielectric material, with the second layer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is less than the dielectric constant of the first layer of dielectric material, and electrodes for applying a controllable voltage across the first dielectric material, thereby controlling a dielectric constant of the first dielectric material, wherein at least one of the electrodes is positioned between the first and second layers of dielectric material. The dielectric materials can be formed in various shapes and assembled in various orientations with respect to each other. The tunable dielectric structure is used in various devices including coaxial cables, cavity antennas, microstrip lines, coplanar lines, and waveguides.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements, a feed line assembly, a ground plane positioned between the plurality of radiating elements and the feed line assembly, with the ground plane having a plurality of openings positioned between the plurality of radiating elements and the feed line assembly, and a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric phase shifters coupled to the feed line assembly.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit includes a conductor line having an input port and an output port, a ground conductor, a tunable dielectric material positioned between a first section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, a non-tunable dielectric material positioned between a second section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, and means for applying a DC voltage between the conductor line and the ground conductor. The impedance matching circuit may alternatively include a first planar ground conductor, a second planar ground conductor, a strip conductor having an input port and an output port, and positioned between the first and second planar ground conductors to define first and second gaps, the first gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the first planar ground conductor and the second gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the second planar ground conductor.

Abstract: A perpendicular exchange biased device comprises a layer of buffer material on a surface of a substrate, a layer of ferromagnetic material on a surface of the buffer layer, wherein the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer lies in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer of ferromagnetic material, and a layer of antiferromagnetic material on a surface of the layer of ferromagnetic material. A method of making a perpendicular exchange biased device comprising positioning a layer of buffer material on a surface of a substrate, positioning a layer of ferromagnetic material on a surface of the layer of buffer material, wherein the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer lies in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer of ferromagnetic material, and positioning a layer of antiferromagnetic material on a surface of the layer of ferromagnetic material is also included.

Abstract: A write pole for a magnetic recording head, such as a perpendicular magnetic recording head, includes a first layer of material adjacent a second layer of material. In one embodiment, the first layer of material has a saturation magnetic moment less than about 1.0 T and the second layer of material has a saturation magnetic moment greater than the saturation magnetic moment of the first layer of material. The first layer of material may include (NiFe)100−yXy, wherein X comprises Cr, Cu and/or Ti and wherein y is in the range of about 2 to about 50.

Abstract: A write head for a disk drive includes a first layer of magnetic material having a fixed magnetization aligned in a first direction, a second layer of magnetic material having a changeable magnetization aligned in a quiescent state in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a first non-magnetic layer positioned between the first layer of magnetic material and the second layer of magnetic material, electrodes for connection to a current supply for passing an electric current through the first layer of magnetic material, the first non-magnetic layer, and the second layer of magnetic material for switching the changeable magnetization of the second layer, and an arm for positioning a first edge of the second layer of magnetic material adjacent to a magnetic recording medium, whereby the magnetization of the second layer of magnetic material affects magnetization of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled tunable filter includes at least two cavity resonators electrically coupled to each other. A voltage tunable dielectric capacitor is positioned within each of the resonators. Connections are provided for applying a control voltage to the voltage tunable dielectric capacitors. An input is coupled to the one of the resonators, and an output is coupled to the other resonator.

Abstract: A method for pre-compensating an analog signal in a composite digital audio broadcasting signal including the analog signal and a plurality of digitally modulated sub-carrier signals, the method comprising the steps of sampling the analog signal to obtain successive blocks of samples, demodulating each of the blocks of samples to obtain a plurality of demodulator outputs, remodulating the demodulator outputs that correspond to the predetermined ones of the digitally modulated sub-carrier signals to produce an error signal, subtracting the error signal from the one of the blocks of samples to produce a pre-compensated block of samples, and combining the pre-compensated block of samples with a plurality of OFDM pulses to produce a compensated composite signal. An apparatus for performing the method is also included.

Abstract: A tunable dielectric structure includes a first layer of dielectric material, a second layer of dielectric material positioned adjacent to the first layer of dielectric material, with the second layer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant that is less than the dielectric constant of the first layer of dielectric material, and electrodes for applying a controllable voltage across the first dielectric material, thereby controlling a dielectric constant of the first dielectric material, wherein at least one of the electrodes is positioned between the first and second layers of dielectric material. The dielectric materials can be formed in various shapes and assembled in various orientations with respect to each other. The tunable dielectric structure is used in various devices including coaxial cables, cavity antennas, microstrip lines, coplanar lines, and waveguides.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a small spot of optical energy comprises a planar waveguide shaped to direct a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave to a focal point within the waveguide, and a metallic pin positioned at the focal point whereby the linearly polarized electromagnetic wave creates surface plasmons on a surface of the pin. The apparatus can further comprise means for phase shifting a portion of the linearly polarized electromagnetic wave. Recording heads comprising a magnetic write pole, a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide being shaped to direct a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave to a focal point within the waveguide, and a metallic pin positioned at the focal point whereby the linearly polarized electromagnetic wave creates surface plasmons on a surface of the pin, and disc drives that use such recording heads are also disclosed.

Abstract: A waveguide to microstrip T-junction includes a microstrip transmission line structure having a ground plane separated from a strip conductor by a dielectric layer, the ground plane defining an aperture; a waveguide channel having a conductive periphery being electrically coupled to the ground plane to provide a waveguide short circuit wall located at the end of the waveguide channel; at least one conducting ridge inside the waveguide channel; and an end of the ridge being electrically coupled with the ground plane.

Abstract: A write head for writing information bits to magnetic storage media includes a first write pole for producing a first magnetic field in a first direction and a second write pole for producing a second magnetic field such that the combined field from the two poles lies either substantially along the first direction or in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The second write pole includes a free layer having magnetization controlled by spin transfer torque, and a first spacer positioned between the free layer and the first write pole. The write head can further include a pinned layer and a second spacer positioned between the pinned layer and the free layer. A disc drive that includes the write head and a method of writing to magnetic storage media that utilizes the write head are also included.