Abstract: Nanostructures and methods of fabricating nanostructures are disclosed. A representative nanostructure includes a substrate having at least one semiconductor oxide. In addition, the nanostructure has a substantially rectangular cross-section. A method of preparing a plurality of semiconductor oxide nanostructures that have a substantially rectangular cross-section from an oxide powder is disclosed. A representative method includes: heating the oxide powder to an evaporation temperature of the oxide powder for about 1 hour to about 3 hours at about 200 torr to about 400 torr in an atmosphere comprising argon; evaporating the oxide powder; and forming the plurality of semiconductor oxide nanostructures.

Abstract: A no-flow reworkable epoxy underfill is provided for use in an electronic packaged system which incorporates an integrated circuit, an organic printed wire board, and at least one eutectic solder joint formed therebetween. An exemplary embodiment of the encapsulant includes: a cycloaliphatic epoxide; an organic hardener; a curing accelerator; and a fluxing agent wherein said cycloaliphatic epoxide includes a carbonate or carbamate group. The encapsulant can also include a filler, such as a silica filler. A method is also provided for forming the aforementioned reworkable epoxy underfills.

Abstract: A system and method for providing via-hole filling for microelectronic interconnections, is disclosed. Gallium metal is melted and mixed with a measured amount of copper and nickel, thereby creating a gallium alloy. Via holes are drilled within a substrate and filled with the gallium alloy. Excess gallium alloy is removed from the substrate. The substrate, having the filled via-holes therein, is then cured within the temperature range of room temperature to approximately 200 degrees Celsius. The gallium alloy may also be used for printing interconnect lines on a board surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to polymer-ceramic composites having high dielectric constants formed using polymers containing a metal acetylacetonate (acacs) curing catalyst. In particular, it has been discovered that 5 weight percent Co(III) acac can increase the dielectric constant of DER661 epoxy by about 60%. The high dielectric polymers are combined with fillers, preferably ceramic fillers, to form two phase composites having high dielectric constants. Composites having about 30 to about 90% volume ceramic loading and a high dielectric base polymer, preferably epoxy, have been discovered to have a dielectric constants greater than about 60. Composites having dielectric constants greater than about 74 to about 150 are also disclosed. Also disclosed are embedded capacitors with capacitance densities of at least 25 nF/cm2, preferably at least 35 nF/cm2, most preferably 50 nF/cm2. Methods to increase the dielectric constant of the two phase composites having high dielectric constants are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring environmental parameters comprising an optical fiber-based sensor having thermally-induced diffraction gratings therein which are stable at very high temperatures for many hours. The diffraction gratings are, preferably, formed in an optical fiber by exposure to light from an infrared laser and do not degrade at high temperatures. A system for measuring an environmental parameter includes an optical fiber-based sensor, a light source, and a detector. According to a method of measuring an environmental parameter, the optical fiber-based sensor is positioned within a high-temperature environment having a parameter desired for measurement. The light source directs light into the optical fiber-based sensor. The detector measures the differential diffraction of the light output from the optical fiber-based sensor and determines a value of the environmental parameter based, at least in part, upon a known correlation between the differential diffraction and the environmental parameter.

Abstract: A reworkable epoxy underfill is provided for use in an electronic packaged system which incorporates an integrated circuit, an organic printed wire board, and at least one eutectic solder joint formed therebetween. An exemplary embodiment of the encapsulant includes: a cycloaliphatic epoxide; an organic hardener; and a curing accelerator; wherein said cycloaliphatic epoxide includes a carbonate or carbamate group. The encapsulant can also include a filler, such as a silica filler. A method is also provided for forming the aforementioned reworkable epoxy underfills.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of a single-piece woven garment which can be converted into a full-body garment, similar to an overall or a hospital gown, using a minimum number of seams and a minimum amount of cutting. The garment is made a two-dimensional fabric, with the various parts produced as a single piece. Additionally, the garment can include an integrated infrastructure component for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information, giving it intelligence capability.

Abstract: A method and system for making optimal estimates of linearity metrics of analog-to-digital converters. A model building phase and a production test strategy are employed. During the model-building phase, a linear model an analog-to-digital converter is constructed from a set of accurately measured transition code voltages for a set of training analog-to-digital converters. During a production test of an individual analog-to-digital converter, a ramp test signal is applied to the individual analog-to-digital converter, a histogram of codes is produced, and the transition code voltages for the individual analog-to-digital converter are estimated from the resulting histogram. Linearity characteristics of the individual analog-to-digital converter may then be computed.

Abstract: The present invention enables efficient microfabrication of a fully integrated liquid crystal display device. Initially, a sacrificial layer is formed on a substrate that has conductive pads connected thereto. The sacrificial layer is patterned, and portions of the sacrificial layer are removed to expose portions of the underlying layer supporting the sacrificial layer. Then, a permeable layer is formed on the sacrificial layer, thereby filling in the space vacated by the removed potions of the sacrificial layer. The structure is heated and the material of the sacrificial layer is allowed to dissolve into and dissipate through the permeable layer in order to leave a cavity. Once the sacrificial layer is removed, the permeable layer is supported by the portion of the permeable layer filling in the space vacated by the removed portions of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: The leading edges of wings, nose assemblies, tails, fins, struts, and other components of aircraft, atmospheric entry vehicles and missiles in which the leading edge is blunted and the flight Mach number is supersonic, are provided with passive airflow channel, resulting in significantly reduced wave drag and total drag, significantly increased lift-to-drag ratio, and reduced sonic boom.

Abstract: A method for determining blood glucose levels by measuring the glucose concentration in the ocular aqueous humor using optical refractometry by passing laser light the aqueous ocular humor, measuring the laser light's optical refractivity, and comparing the refractivity with known data, the comparison yielding the blood glucose level.

Abstract: A fabric, in the form of a woven or knitted fabric or garment, including a flexible information infrastructure integrated within the fabric for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information concerning—but not limited to—a wearer of the fabric. The fabric allows a new way to customize information processing devices to “fit” the wearer by selecting and plugging in (or removing) chips/sensors from the fabric thus creating a wearable, mobile information infrastructure that can operate in a stand-alone or networked mode. The fabric can be provided with sensors for monitoring physical aspects of the wearer, for example body vital signs, such as heart rate, EKG, pulse, respiration rate, temperature, voice, and allergic reaction, as well as penetration of the fabric.

Abstract: A method to analyze and diagnose specific bacteria in a biologic sample using spectroscopy is disclosed. The method includes obtaining the spectra of a biologic sample of a non-infected patient for use as a reference, subtracting the reference from the spectra of an infected sample, and comparing the fingerprint regions of the resulting differential spectrum with reference spectra of bacteria in saline. Using this diagnostic technique, specific bacteria can be identified sooner and without culturing, bacteria-specific antibiotics can be prescribed sooner, resulting in decreased likelihood of antibiotic resistance and an overall reduction of medical costs.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system for a variety of applications can be formed through microfabrication techniques. Each segment of a conductive coil associated with an electromagnet is planar making it easy to fabricate the coil through microfabrication techniques. Furthermore, a plurality of magnetic fluxes generated by the electromagnet are dispersed across multiple points in order to reduce problems associated with flux density saturation, and the coil is positioned close to the magnetic core of the electromagnet in order to reduce problems associated with leakage. Accordingly, a low-cost, more efficient electromagnetic system can be batch fabricated through microfabrications techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting an input optical serial data pulse stream into output optical parallel pulse streams comprises a waveguide that provides optical parallel pulse streams resulting from second-harmonic radiation generated by colliding a timing pulse against each data pulse of an optical serial data pulse stream input into the waveguide. The waveguide comprises a first reflector positioned at a location substantially opposing the waveguide's output. The first reflector reflects substantially all of the component of the second-harmonic radiation propagating in a direction away from the waveguide's output. The waveguide further comprises a second reflector opposing the first reflector and positioned between the first reflector and the waveguide's output to selectively reflect a portion of the component of the second-harmonic radiation propagating in a direction toward the waveguide's output.

Abstract: The invention comprises a full-fashioned weaving process for the production of a woven garment which can accommodate and include sleeves. The garment is made of only one, single integrated fabric and has no discontinuities or seams. Additionally, the garment can include intelligence capability, such as the ability to monitor one or more body vital signs, or garment penetration, or both, by including a selected sensing component or components in the weave of the garment.

Abstract: A method for ion implantation induced embedded particle formation via reduction with the steps of ion implantation with an ion/element that will chemically reduce the chosen substrate material, implantation of the ion/element to a sufficient concentration and at a sufficient energy for particle formation, and control of the temperature of the substrate during implantation. A preferred embodiment includes the formation of particles which are nano-dimensional (<100 m-n in size). The phase of the particles may be affected by control of the substrate temperature during and/or after the ion implantation process.

Abstract: A laminated matrix composite made of a reinforcement phase and coated with several layers of a metallic, ceramic, or polymeric matrix material, the average thickness of the layers of matrix material being between 0.005 and 5 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: The method of oxidizing the alkyl groups of alkylbenzenes using palladium phenanthroline acetate or a palladium acetate with modified phenanthroline ligand catalyst. The palladium acetate catalyst with modified phenanthroline has the following formula: wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, OH, and NO2 groups and halogen and hydrogen atoms with at least six of the R1 groups being hydrogen atoms in the ligand.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system for a variety of applications can be formed through microfabrication techniques. Each segment of a conductive coil associated with an electromagnet is planar making it easy to fabricate the coil through microfabrication techniques. Furthermore, a plurality of magnetic fluxes generated by the electromagnet are dispersed across multiple points in order to reduce problems associated with flux density saturation, and the coil is positioned close to the magnetic core of the electromagnet in order to reduce problems associated with leakage. Accordingly, a low-cost, more efficient electromagnetic system can be batch fabricated through microfabrications techniques.