Abstract: A composite article useful in various electronic devices has 1) a dry piezoelectric layer (first dry PL) comprising a piezoelectric material, and 2) one or more dry dielectric layers arranged contiguously with opposing surfaces of the first dry PL. The dry dielectric layer has essentially: (a?) a dielectric material; and (b) particles having a Young's modulus that is different from the Young's modulus of the (a?) dielectric material by at least 10%. The (b) particles have a d50 of at least 500 nm and up to and including 500 m and a polydispersity coefficient that is less than or equal to 3, provided that the weight ratio of the (b) particles to the (a?) dielectric material is at least 0.01:1 and up to and including 10:1.

Abstract: A composite article has 1) a dry piezoelectric layer comprising a piezoelectric material, 2) a dry dielectric layer arranged contiguously with at least one of the opposing surfaces of the dry piezoelectric layer, and 3) a pair of non-electrically-connected co-planar patterned electrodes. The dry dielectric layer has essentially (a?) a dielectric material; and (b) particles having a Young's modulus that is different from the Young's modulus of the (a?) dielectric material by at least 10%.

Abstract: A laser exposure system includes an electrically-controlled diffraction grating which can be controlled to be in a first state where the incident light beam is undiffracted and a second state where the incident light beam is diffracted into a plurality of light beams including a zero-order light beam and first and second diffracted light beams. An aperture structure which passes the first and second diffracted light beams while blocking the zero-order light beam. A polarization rotator rotates a polarization state of the second diffracted light, and a polarization beam combiner combines the first diffracted light beam and the polarization-rotated second diffracted light beam onto a common path forming a combined light beam. An optical element focuses the combined light beam onto an imaging medium. A controller controls the state of the electrically-controlled diffraction grating in accordance with pixel data to form a printed image.

Abstract: A composite article has 1) a dry piezoelectric layer, and 2) a pair of non-electrically-connected co-planar patterned electrodes that are arranged contiguously with an opposing surface of the dry piezoelectric layer. Each electrode essentially has (a) an electrically-conductive material; and (b) particles having a Young's modulus that is different from the Young's modulus of the (a) electrically-conductive material by at least 10%.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a transfer belt traveling along a belt path including first and second moveable-position rollers and a plurality of fixed-position rollers. The belt path includes a fixed-velocity portion from the first moveable position roller to the second moveable position roller, and a variable-velocity portion from the second moveable position roller to the first moveable position roller. An electrophotography engine positioned along the fixed-velocity portion deposits a part material layer onto the transfer belt, and an image transfer assembly positioned along the variable-velocity portion transfers the part material layer onto a receiver medium.

Abstract: Inkjet receiving medium are prepared by disposing an aqueous composition onto at least one surface of a substrate to provide a topcoat layer. The aqueous composition has: (a) one or more water-soluble salts of a multivalent metal cation; and (b) composite particles having a Rockwell Hardness of less than or equal to R90 and each of the composite particles comprising domains of a (i) first organic polymer and domains of a (ii) second organic polymer. The domains of the (ii) second organic polymer are dispersed within the domains of the (i) first organic polymer. The melting point of the (i) first organic polymer is lower than the melting point of the (ii) second organic polymer. The weight ratio of the (i) first organic polymer to the (ii) second organic polymer is chosen such that the (b) composite particles have a density of 1.0-1.5 g/ml.

Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element useful as a light-blocking article has a substrate; an opacifying layer disposed on the substrate, and a functional composition disposed over the opacifying layer. The functional composition comprises: (i) inorganic or organic spacer particles having a mode particle size of at least 1 ?m and up to and including 100 ?m, and which inorganic or organic spacer particles resist melt flow at a pressure of up to and including 100 psi (689.5 kPa) and a temperature of up to and including 220° C.

Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element has a porous substrate composed of woven yarn strands composed of a thermoplastic polymer-coated multifilament core. It has a dry foamed composition on an opposing surface of the substrate, which includes: (a) 0.1-40 weight % of porous particles; (b) 10-80 weight %; (c) 0.2-50 weight % of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of dispersants, plasticizers, flame retardants, optical brighteners, thickeners, biocides, fungicides, tinting colorants, metal flakes, and inert inorganic or organic fillers; (d) less than 5 weight % of water; and (e) at least 0.002 weight % of an opacifying colorant different from all of the one or more additives of (c), which opacifying colorant absorbs electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 380-800 nm. The elements have a light-blocking value (LBV) of at least 4 and can have a bending stiffness that is greater than 0.15 milliNewtons-meter.

Abstract: Aqueous particle-free fluids can be used in inkjet printing methods including continuous inkjet printing processes. Each of these fluids has a dynamic viscosity of less than or equal to 5 centipoise (5 mPa-sec) at 25° C., and each consists essentially of: a composition consisting of one or more compounds represented by the following Structure (I): HO—CH2—CH2—R?? (I) wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group, in a total amount of at least 0.5 weight % and up to and including 2 weight %, based on the total weight of the aqueous inkjet ink composition. Such aqueous particle-free fluids can be used as replenishment or printhead maintenance fluids.

Abstract: An electrode film is fabricated by using a flexographic printing system to print a first electrode pattern including a first set of parallel electrodes and a second electrode pattern including a second set of parallel electrodes onto a first surface of a transparent film using a catalytic ink, wherein elements of the first electrode pattern do not cross over elements of the second electrode pattern. The flexographic printing system prints a third electrode pattern including a third set of parallel electrodes onto a second surface of the transparent film using the catalytic ink, wherein the first, second and third sets of parallel electrodes are arranged in an interlaced pattern. A conductive metallic material is electrolessly plated onto the catalytic ink such that the elements of the first, second and third electrode patterns become conductive.

Abstract: Foamed, opacifying elements are prepared using a foamable aqueous composition containing porous particles and an opacifying colorant. This composition is aerated, disposed onto a substrate, and dried. The dry foamed composition is densified, and cured in either order. At some point after the drying feature, a functional composition is disposed onto either the dry foamed composition or the opacifying layer, and dried. This functional composition has either or both of: (i) inorganic or organic spacer particles having a mode particle size of 1 to 100 ?m, and which inorganic or organic spacer particles resist melt flow at a pressure of up to and including 100 psi (689.5 kPa) and a temperature of up to and including 220° C.; and (iii) a tinting material comprising a pigment, dye, or a combination thereof. The (i) inorganic or organic spacer particles and the (iii) tinting material are different materials.

Abstract: A foamed, opacifying element is useful as a light-blocking article, and includes a substrate; an opacifying layer disposed on the substrate, and a functional composition disposed over the opacifying layer. The functional composition comprises a tinting material comprising one or more pigments, one or more dyes, or a combination thereof to provide a desired tint or colorant to the entire foamed, opacifying element.

Abstract: Textured and porous organic polymeric films can be obtained by subjecting organic polymeric films that are swellable in carbon dioxide, to supercritical carbon dioxide while such films are under an atmospheric pressure of at least 73 bar and an applied physical force of at least 0.05 Newtons. The textured and porous organic polymeric films have surface wrinkles having an average peak to valley height of at least 1 ?m and up to and including 3,000 ?m, and a porosity of at least 10%.

Abstract: Armor for lightweight ballistic protection is made up of composite tiles which can be assembled into modules. The modules can be assembled into panels and can be mounted on vehicles and aircraft and on the walls of shelters. The tiles have core layer(s) of non-homogeneous materials provided by particles of grit distributed in a plastic, preferably rigid polymeric matrix, and which are faced by a layer of high modulus stiff material such as ceramic. The tiles are preferrably backed by elastomeric material and may have sheets of composite material between the elastomeric layer and the non-homogenous core layer. The tiles may be stacked, forming modules and the modules assembled in rows to form panels. An incoming object causes the facing layer to distribute the impact force over a large area of the non-homogeneous grit/polymeric core layer which fractures and absorbs the impact and shock waves, both the compressive direct wave and the tensile wave reflected from the back interface.

Abstract: An electrical element is fabricated including an optically-detectable pattern of embedded information. An initial physical design is received for an electrical element that performs an electrical function, together with a pattern of information to be embedded in the electrical element. An encoding region is designated within the initial physical design of the electrical element. Information-encoding patterns are determined for one or more thin-film layers in the encoding region to form an optical layer structure that encodes the pattern of information. The initial physical design and the information-encoding patterns are combined into a modified physical design which is used to fabricate the electrical element. The fabricated electrical element performs the electrical function and forms an optically-detectable interference image including the embedded pattern of information when illuminated by incident light.

Abstract: A thin film deposition system includes a vacuum-preloaded gas bearing deposition head positioned in an external environment. The deposition head has a vertically-oriented output face including a plurality of source openings through which gaseous materials are supplied and one or more exhaust openings. An exhaust pressure at the exhaust openings is less than an ambient pressure, and a source pressure at the source openings is greater than the exhaust pressure, with the pressure at the outermost source openings being greater than the ambient pressure. A substrate positioner applies a vertical force onto a substrate unit, the vertical force passing through a center of gravity of the substrate unit. A motion control system moves the substrate positioner, thereby moving the substrate unit relative to the output face in an in-track direction without constraining the motion of the substrate unit in a direction normal to the output face of the deposition head.

Abstract: The imaging sensitivity of negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors is improved by removing ozone from the ambient air surrounding the precursors that can be stored near an imaging means such as a platesetter prior to use. Ozone can be removed using a suitable filter containing activated charcoal or other ozone decomposing means, through which ambient air is filtered before and during the imaging process.

Abstract: A transparent heater includes a plurality of high aspect ratio micro-wires. A plurality of channels is formed into the surface of a transparent substrate within an active heater region. The channels have a width of between 4 microns and 9 microns to insure that they are invisible to the naked eye, and a depth that is at least 1.5 times the width. Spacing between the channels is preferably at least 100 ?m. Micro-wires are formed by at least partially filling the channels with a conductive material. Power source connections are provided to connect to an electrical power source to supply a current through the plurality of micro-wires. An average optical transmittance of the transparent heater within the active heater region is greater than 50 percent.

Abstract: Substrates can be inkjet printed using an aqueous inkjet ink composition having a dynamic viscosity of 5 centipoise (5 mPa-sec) or less at 25° C., and consisting essentially of: (a) a polymer-dispersed pigment colorant at 0.9-6 weight %; (b) a composition consisting of one or more compounds represented by the following Structure (I): HO—CH2—CH2—R??(I) wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenoxy group, at 0.5-2 weight %; and (c) a water-soluble humectant, co-solvents, or both, at 20 weight %. Each polymer-dispersed pigment colorant has a 50th percentile particle diameter of less than 70 nm and a 95th percentile particle diameter of less than 150 nm, measured using a dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer. Replenishment or maintenance fluids containing a Structure (I) compound can also be used during the inkjet printing process.

Abstract: A gas-levitated substrate backing system includes a gas-levitating backer structure which is used for providing a non-contact force onto a surface of a substrate. The gas-levitating backer structure has an output face including three or more output openings. A gas source provides a gas flow through the output openings to levitate the gas-levitating backer structure over the surface of the substrate. The gas-levitating backer structure is freely moveable in a direction normal to the surface of the substrate.