Abstract: A method is provided for forming an optical waveguide structure upon a substrate in accordance with the steps of: (a) forming a layer of base coat material upon the substrate, (b) forming a layer of cladding material having a predetermined refractive index upon the base coat layer, (c) applying a channel waveguide pattern defining structure to the layer of cladding material, (d) applying a patterning agent to transfer the pattern of the channel waveguide pattern defining structure to a predetermined depth or depths into the cladding material layer to define a waveguide trench pattern, (e) removing any remaining residue of channel waveguide pattern defining structure, (f) forming a thick coat layer of waveguide material having a higher refractive index than the cladding material onto the cladding material and into the waveguide trench pattern, (g) planarizing the waveguide material substantially to the plane of a topmost surface of the cladding material in order to reduce the thickness of the thick coat layer,

Abstract: Polyetherketoneimides and copolymers thereof having an imide repeat unit of formula ##STR1## wherein Ri is ##STR2## in which A is a direct bond or --O--or another substantially non-electron-withdrawing group, and/or Ra is an at least partly arylene moiety other than m- or P-phonylene.These polymers tend to have improved melt stability and other properties, especially when made from a pre-existing imide monomer, instead of by the known amic acid route which results in uncyclised amic acid residues in the polymer.

Abstract: Compounds of the structure ##STR1## where --R' is --F, --CF.sub.3, --CN, or --Cl; each --R", which may be the same or different, is independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl moieties and aryl moieties; and n is 0 or 1. Such compounds are useful as derivatizing and crosslinking agents for polymers, especially fluorinated poly(arylene ethers).

Abstract: A composition having the structure ##STR1## wherein --R' is --F or --Cl, each --R", which may be the same or different, is independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl moieties and aryl moieties, and n is 1 or 2. These compositions are useful as co-monomers or end-cappers for the introduction of thermally reactive cross-linking sites into polymers.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display having improved performance properties is made using an encapsulated liquid crystal structure comprising a containment medium having dispersed therein a liquid crystal composition having an average dielectric constant greater than about 6 and other specified characteristics.

Abstract: Thermal post vias are formed within a formed multi-layer, high density interconnect including a base and plural layers of metal conductors separated by dielectric material by the steps of:removing in a single step dielectric material at predetermined sites of the thermal post vias to define substantially cylindrical post holes, andforming the thermal post vias by emplacing conductor material, such as metal, into the post holes so that the material fully occupies and fills up the holes.

Abstract: Fluorinated poly(arylene ethers) having a repeat unit such as ##STR1## are useful as dielectric materials in multilayer interconnects in integrated circuit chips and multichip modules and as protective materials for chips.

Abstract: Encapsulated liquid crystal material is made by mixing liquid crystals, a containment medium, and a carrier medium made of a water-miscible monohydric alcohol and water in the proportion between 5:95 and 60:40 weight/weight to form an emulsion; applying the emulsion onto a substrate and drying the emulsion to remove the carrier medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for interconnecting electronic components in which interconnection wires are bonded to contacts on a first component without the use of a material other than the materials of the contacts and the wires; the wires are then severed to a desired length of between 2d and 20d, where d is the diameter of the wires, and bonded to contacts on the second component by means of a conductive material such as solder. Preferably, solder is provided as pools located in recesses in a layer of insulating material. The invention also provides a bonding head for a wire bonder for bonding the wire to the contact on the first component and for weakening or severing the wire at the desired point.

Abstract: A metal oxide dielectric dense body, comprising (I) grains having a predominant crystalline phase (a) a primary metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon and magnesium oxide and (b) optionally a secondary metal oxide selected from the group consisting of aluminum and zinc oxide and (II) between about 1 and about 20 atom % bismuth, vanadium, or boron oxide or combination thereof, discontinuously located at the boundaries of the crystalline grains or as inclusions in the crystalline grains, the atom %'s based on the total atoms of bismuth, vanadium, boron, silicon, magnesium, aluminum, and zinc. The dense body has a density which is at least 95% of theoretical.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display includes a retroreflector made of an array of full corner cube elements which have their optic axes tilted away from the normal to the plane of the display by an angle of between about 10.degree. and about 45.degree..

Abstract: Fluorinated polyether compositions having reactive end gorups, such as ##STR1## can be crosslinked to produce cured films useful as dielectrics for microelectronic applications. Other reactive end groups such as allyl, benzocyclobutyl, N-phenylmaleimido, alkynylphenyyl, styryl, allylphenyl, cyanophenyl, and triazenophenyl are also suitable.

Abstract: A display presenting an image having enhanced contrast has a screen which switches between a bright, image-presenting state and a dark, image-less state, to minimize glare from ambient light reflections. Alternatively, a shutter which switches between a substantially transparent state and a dark, light absorbing state is placed over a conventional screen.

Abstract: Bistriazene compounds such as ##STR1## are useful for crosslinking polymers such as poly(imides), poly(aryl ether ketones), poly(aryl ether sulfones), poly(quinolines), poly(quinoxalines), and nonaromatic fluoropolymers having aliphatic C--H groups. Polymers crosslinked with these bistriazene compounds are useful as interlayer insulators in multilayer integrated circuit articles.

Abstract: A fluorinated poly(naphthyl ether) having a repeat unit of the formula ##STR1## wherein Y is (CF.sub.2).sub.m, ##STR2## m is an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive, and X is S, CO, SO.sub.2, O, P(C.sub.6 H.sub.5), or C(OH)H. Such polymers are useful as low dielectric constant, low moisture absorption insulators for multilayered integrated circuit articles, especially in their crosslinked form.

Abstract: An arylene ether ketone copolymer comprising:(a) 99 to 10 mol % of repeat units ##STR1## and (b) 1 to 90 mol % of repeat units --Ar--O--Ar--CO-- (II),wherein each Ar independently is m- or p-phenylene or a di- or poly- m- and/or p-phenylene moiety in which the phenylene rings are linked together by direct bonds or by --O-- or --CO-- groups.Especially preferred are the copolymers wherein ##STR2## and (II) is --Ph--O--Ph--CO--Ph--O--Ph--CO--Ph--CO--, each Ph independently being m- or p-phenylene.

Abstract: A display having (a) a first electrode; (b) a second electrode; (c) a display medium positioned between the first and second electrodes, which display medium is switchable between a first state in which incident light is at least one of scattered and absorbed and a second state in which the amount of such scattering and/or absorption is reduced; and (d) scattering centers disposed in front of the second electrode for scattering incident light with a scattering half angle of between about 2 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymerizable compositions which may be cured with ultraviolet light to form polymer compositions which are especially useful as channel optical waveguides. In particular, they exhibit stability at elevated temperatures such as occur in, for example, reflow soldering.

Abstract: A display having a first electrode means; a second electrode means; and a display medium positioned between the first and second electrode means, which display medium contains a pleochroic dye, is switchable between a first state in which incident light is substantially absorbed by the pleochroic dye and a second state in which the amount of such absorption is substantially reduced, and is capable of scattering incident light with a scattering half angle between about 5 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted. The absolute difference between the ordinary index of refraction of the liquid crystal and the refractive index of the containment medium is 0.10 to 0.20.

Abstract: A multipurpose liquid crystal display, suitable for use as a reflective display and as overhead projection panel, includes (a) a first transparent electrode means; (b) a second transparent electrode means; (c) a display medium positioned between the first and second transparent electrode means, which display medium is switchable between a first state in which incident light is scattered and a second state in which the amount of such scattering is reduced; (d) a retroreflector removably positioned behind the second transparent electrode means; and (e) means for removably positioning the retroreflector behind the second transparent electrode. Preferably, the display medium comprises positive dielectric anisotropy, operationally nematic liquid crystals dispersed in a containment medium.