Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to a package substrate that may include a layer having a layer surface that is planarized and a via within the layer, where the via includes a via surface that is exposed on the layer surface, and where the via surface is planarized. The package substrate may further include a bond pad on the layer surface, where a first thickness of the bond pad includes a seed layer on the via surface, and where a second thickness of the bond pad includes a plating stack on the seed layer. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: Guard ring designs enabling in-line testing of silicon bridges for semiconductor packages, and the resulting silicon bridges and semiconductor packages, are described. In an example, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate having an insulating layer disposed thereon. A metallization structure is disposed on the insulating layer. The metallization structure incudes conductive routing disposed in a dielectric material stack. The semiconductor structure also includes a first metal guard ring disposed in the dielectric material stack and surrounding the conductive routing. The first metal guard ring includes a plurality of individual guard ring segments. The semiconductor structure also includes a second metal guard ring disposed in the dielectric material stack and surrounding the first metal guard ring. Electrical testing features are disposed in the dielectric material stack, between the first metal guard ring and the second metal guard ring.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a beverage mixture comprising protein is disclosed. The method comprises heating the beverage in a heat exchanger, transferring the beverage to a hold loop located outside of the heat exchanger, and denaturizing the protein within the hold loop for a residence time, after the beverage is heated in the heat exchanger such that the denaturizing occurs outside of the heat exchanger to prevent fouling of the heat exchanger. The system comprises a beverage forming tank, a heat exchanger for heating the beverage, and a first hold loop separate from the heat exchanger, which is configured to hold the beverage for a residence time to denaturize a protein in the beverage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of microelectronic die packaging, particularly multi-chip packaging, wherein on-substrate modularity is enabled by using in-street die-to-die interconnects to facilitate signal routing between microelectronic dice. These in-street die-to-die interconnects may allow for manufacturing of several products on a single microelectronic substrate, which may lead to improved microelectronic die and/or microelectronic module harvesting and increased product yields.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a beverage mixture comprising protein is disclosed. The method comprises heating the beverage in a heat exchanger, transferring the beverage to a hold loop located outside of the heat exchanger, and denaturizing the protein within the hold loop for a residence time, after the beverage is heated in the heat exchanger such that the denaturizing occurs outside of the heat exchanger to prevent fouling of the heat exchanger. The system comprises a beverage forming tank, a heat exchanger for heating the beverage, and a first hold loop separate from the heat exchanger, which is configured to hold the beverage for a residence time to denaturize a protein in the beverage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of microelectronic die packaging, particularly multi-chip packaging, wherein on-substrate modularity is enabled by using in-street die-to-die interconnects to facilitate signal routing between microelectronic dice. These in-street die-to-die interconnects may allow for manufacturing of several products on a single microelectronic substrate, which may lead to improved microelectronic die and/or microelectronic module harvesting and increased product yields.

Abstract: A multi-functional method and apparatus are disclosed for producing a low hydroxyl ion-containing core rod from a tube suitable for the production of low-water optical fibers. The method and apparatus combine the use of process steps of (1) hermetically sealing a tubular quartz handle of a tubular porous core preform to a tube used to feed the porous preform into a sintering furnace, (2) dehydration and sintering, and (3) elongation of the sintered preform under vacuum, all without exposing the preform's central aperture surface to ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: An outside chemical vapor deposition apparatus is disclosed for depositing porous glass-forming material onto a target rod to form a cylindrical body, with substantially higher efficiency than could prior apparatus. The apparatus includes two separate burner arrays, one array optimized for depositing the material during an initial stage of the process, when the cylindrical body has a relatively small diameter, and the other array optimized for depositing the material during a later stage of the process, when the cylindrical body has a relatively large diameter. In addition, each burner array can include a plurality of burners, with each burner azimuthally angled relative to the apparatus' air-flow axis, and with adjacent burners angled in opposite directions relative to that axis, to minimize the density gradient within the deposited porous material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product and a method of making a pet chew that is edible and highly digestible. The pet chew comprises 5 to about 50% (w/w) protein, about 20 to about 80% (w/w) carbohydrate, about 5 to about 50% (w/w) humectant, and about 5 to about 30 % (w/w) water. When formed, the pet chew comprises a hardness measurement of about 5 kg to about 60 kg and an elasticity measurement of about 3 mm to about 40 mm.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is disclosed for sintering large, cylindrical, porous bodies used in the manufacture of high-quality optical fiber preforms. The apparatus has a compact, simplified structure, as compared to comparable apparatus of the prior art. The apparatus includes two separate support/slide assemblies that support the porous body throughout the sintering process. A first support/slide assembly engages a special handle for the porous body during a first stage of the process, in which the body is lowered into a furnace muffle. A second support/slide assembly then engages the porous body's handle during a second stage of the process, in which the body is controllably moved through a hot zone of the furnace, for dehydration and sintering of the body into a dense glass optical fiber preform.

Abstract: An outside chemical vapor deposition apparatus is disclosed for depositing porous glass-forming material onto a target rod to form a cylindrical body, with substantially higher efficiency than could prior apparatus. The apparatus includes two separate burner arrays, one array optimized for depositing the material during an initial stage of the process, when the cylindrical body has a relatively small diameter, and the other array optimized for depositing the material during a later stage of the process, when the cylindrical body has a relatively large diameter. In addition, each burner array can include a plurality of burners, with each burner azimuthally angled relative to the apparatus' air-flow axis, and with adjacent burners angled in opposite directions relative to that axis, to minimize the density gradient within the deposited porous material.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making a cylindrical glass preform by outside vapor deposition. Initially, a glass soot stream is directed from a deposition burner to a tapered mandrel, as the mandrel rotates about its longitudinal axis and as the burner reciprocates longitudinally along the mandrel. Mounted at opposite ends of the mandrel are a tubular glass handle and a glass tube having a closed end. After deposition has been completed, the mandrel is removed, leaving a porous glass preform with a central aperture and with the glass handle and the glass tube located at its opposite ends. The porous preform then is dehydrated and sintered into a dense glass preform, which is placed in an elongation machine that heats the end of the preform carrying the closed glass tube, while a vacuum is drawn from the central aperture via the handle. This collapses the aperture and elongates the preform into a solid glass rod.

Abstract: A sol-gel process is disclosed for depositing multi-layer antireflection coatings on plastic substrates. One or more polymerized, titanium-containing solutions are provided by mixing a titanium alkoxide, an alcohol, and water, and one or more polymerized, silicon-containing solutions are provided by mixing a silicon alkoxide, an alcohol, and water. These solutions are applied to the plastic substrate in an alternating fashion, to produce a succession of uniform layers of polymerized titanium dioxide and polymerized silicon dioxide. Each layer is individually cured before the next layer is applied. The resulting coating of multiple polymerized layers provides very low reflectance over the entire visible wavelength range, yet with excellent mechanical strength and durability.

Abstract: Low attenuation, low dispersion of optical waveguides are provided by a process initiating with axial deposition of a high velocity core soot stream impinging on, a target at a high angle of incidence relative to the axis of rotation of the target. A core cylinder is built up axially by relative movement between the soot stream and target during deposition, the movement being non-constant in order to maintain a substantially constant diameter with a constant deposition rate. A cladding layer is then built up by deposition of soot radially on the core. Subsequent drying and sintering provides a vitreous preform which may be drawn directly into optical waveguides. Alternatively, the sintered product may be drawn down to smaller rods, which then are covered with further deposited soot cladding to a desired final thickness, and after further drying and sintering may be drawn to optical waveguides.

Abstract: Low attenuation, low dispersion of optical waveguides are provided by a process initiating with axial deposition of a high velocity-core soot stream impinging on a target at a high angle of incidence relative to the axis of rotation of the target. A core cylinder is built up axially by relative movement between the soot stream and target during deposition, the movement being non-constant in order to maintain a substantially constant diameter with a constant deposition rate. A cladding layer is then built up by deposition of soot radially on the core. Subsequent drying and sintering provides a vitreous preform which may be drawn directly into optical waveguides. Alternatively, the sintered product may be drawn down to smaller rods, which then are covered with further deposited soot cladding to a desired final thickness, and after further drying and sintering may be drawn to optical waveguides.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for rapidly drying a wet, porous gel monolith of glass or ceramic, at subcritical temperatures without inducing any cracking of the gel. The wet gel is immersed in a liquid solvent in a chamber, and the liquid solvent is then heated and expelled from the chamber. Further heating, with or without the presence of a flowing inert gas, fully dries the wet gel. When an inert gas is used, the gas is delivered to the chamber with a controlled solvent partial vapor pressure, to correspondingly control the driving force for drying the gel.

Abstract: An improved sol-gel process for fabricating large, crack-free gel monoliths (e.g., of silica) is described in which a specially-tailored gel microstructure is provided by adjusting the relative concentrations of an alcohol diluent (e.g., ethanol) and/or one or more catalysts (e.g., HCl and HF). Controlled variations in the gel's average pore radius, bulk density, rupture modulus, and elastic modulus over a wide range can be tailored in this fashion. This enables the process to be optimized for the particular application involved.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for rapidly drying a wet, porous gel monolith of glass or ceramic, at subcritical temperatures without inducing any cracking of the gel. The wet gel in immersed in a liquid solvent in a chamber, and the liquid solvent is then heated and expelled from the chamber. Further heating, with or without the presence of a flowing inert gas, fully dries the wet gel. When an inert gas is used, the gas is delivered to the chamber with a controlled solvent partial vapor pressure, to correspondingly control the driving force for drying the gel.

Abstract: Low attenuation, low dispersion of optical waveguides are provided by a process initiating with axial deposition of a high velocity core soot stream impinging on a target at a high angle of incidence relative to the axis of rotation of the target. A core cylinder is built up axially by relative movement between the soot stream and target during deposition, the movement being non-constant in order to maintain a substantially constant diameter with a constant deposition rate. A cladding layer is then built up by deposition of soot radially on the core. Subsequent drying and sintering provides a vitreous preform which may be drawn directly into optical waveguides. Alternatively, the sintered product may be drawn down to smaller rods, which then are covered with further deposited soot cladding to a desired final thickness, and after further drying and sintering may be drawn to optical waveguides.

Abstract: An improved sol-gel process is disclosed for fabricating large monoliths of silica or ceramic material, which are substantially free of cracks. Following formation of the gel, but before the gel is dried, the gel is subjected to a hydrothermal aging treatment, in which it is heated in an autoclave to a temperature of between 100.degree. and 300.degree. C., for a time duration of at least about one hour. This hydrothermal aging treatment causes silica (or ceramic) particles to migrate and fill small pores in the porous gel matrix, such that the average pore size increases and capillary forces encountered in the subsequent drying step are reduced to a point where cracking of the gel is substantially eliminated.