Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer with at least one pericyclic protective group such as 2-methyl-2-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptanyl. The resist composition containing the polymer can be used as a chemically amplified resist and exhibits strong etch resistance. In addition, a line-and-space pattern of 0.1 &mgr;m pitch can be resolved successfully using the resist composition.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual-damascene structure comprising the following steps. A structure having a patterned low-k material layer formed thereover is provided. The patterned low-k material layer having an upper surface and at least one via hole formed therethrough. A plug material layer is formed over the patterned low-k material layer and filling the at least one via hole. The plug material layer being comprised of a material dissolvable in TMAH or deionized water. The plug material layer is developed to form a plug within the respective at least one via hole having a height below the upper surface of the patterned low-k material layer. The plug is baked to crosslink the plug material comprising the plug. A trench masking layer is formed and patterned to form a patterned trench masking layer having at least one trench substantially centered over the respective at least one via hole and exposing a portion of patterned low-k material layer adjacent the at least one via hole.

Abstract: A plurality of ceramic substrates are used to manufacture and integrate a highly integrated multi-layer circuit module. Integrated circuit devices are mounted on one or both surfaces of the circuit module whose multi-layer structure is divided into three types of integration regions including inter-connection integration regions, basic passive device integration regions and high frequency passive device integration regions. Connection layers are formed in the inter-connection integration regions for connecting integrated circuits. Basic passive device integration regions include capacitor, resistor and inductor layers. Filters, couplers and baluns are fabricated in the high frequency passive device integration regions. Shielding ground planes are provided for the isolation of devices to prevent electromagnetic interference. Standard input and output contacts are formed on the bottom surface so that the circuit module can be used as a modularized device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chip antenna which comprises a substrate, a feeding pad, a feeding conductor, a matching unit, and a meandering conductor. The substrate formed with a dielectric material. By varying the length of the meandering conductor, the central frequency of the chip antenna can be properly obtained and controlled. The matching unit, which is formed by joining a matching conductor with a ground plate, uses the short-circuit function of the matching conductor to obtain the desired bandwidth. In this way, the chip antenna is well suited for applications in wireless communication systems, including personal mobile communication networks and equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chip antenna which comprises a substrate, a feeding pad, a feeding conductor, a matching unit, and a meandering conductor. The substrate formed with a dielectric material. By varying the length of the meandering conductor, the central frequency of the chip antenna can be properly obtained and controlled. The matching unit, which is formed by joining a matching conductor with a ground plate, uses the short-circuit function of the matching conductor to obtain the desired bandwidth. In this way, the chip antenna is well suited for applications in wireless communication systems, including personal mobile communication networks and equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cyclic dione polymer, which is a homopolymer or a copolymer of a cyclic dione monomer selected from those represented by formulae (I) and (II) wherein A and B may be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen, C3-20 cyclic or pericyclic alkyl, C1-20 linear and branched alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C7-20 arylalkyl, C7-20 alkylaryl, silyl, alkylsilyl, germyl, alkylgermyl, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, and a heterocylic group; or, A and B are linked together to form a C3-20 saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; C is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, —CH2—, and —SiH2—, wherein each R1 is independently selected from C1-20 alkyl and phenyl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ring-opened polymer, which is prepared by reacting at least one pericyclic olefin elected from those represented by formulae (I) and (II) through ring-opening metathesis polymerization wherein A and B may be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen, C3-20 cyclic or pericyclic alkyl, C1-20 linear and branched alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C7-20 arylalkyl, C7-20 alkylaryl, silyl, alkylsilyl, germyl, alkylgermyl, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, and a heterocylic group; or, A and B are linked together to form a C3-20 saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; C is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur,  —CH2—, and —SiH2—, wherein each R1 is independently selected from C1-20 alkyl and phenyl; each R is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, and C1-20 alkyl; and each n is an integer from 1 to 6

Abstract: The present invention provides a cyclic dione polymer, which is a homopolymer or a copolymer of a cyclic dione monomer selected from those represented by formulae (I) and (II) wherein A and B may be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen, C3-20 cyclic or pericyclic alkyl, C1-20 linear and branched alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C7-20 arylalkyl, C7-20 alkylaryl, silyl, alkylsilyl, germyl, alkylgermyl, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, and a heterocylic group; or, A and B are linked together to form a C3-20 saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; C is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, wherein each R1 is independently selected from C1-20 alkyl and phenyl.

Abstract: A continuous manufacturing method is provided by extruding a composite optical fiber from two polymeric solutions containing two different monomers having different refractive indices, and then allowing the monomers to diffuse in a diffusion region such that the two monomers are diffused into each other before the optical fiber is hardened.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for use in the preparation of poly(butylene terephthalate) from dimethyl terephthalate, comprising: (a) a titanium compound primary catalyst, from about 0.01 PHR to about 1 PHR; and (b) an alkali metal phosphate or alkali metal phosphite co-catalyst, from about 0.001 PHR to about 1 PHR; wherein PHR represents parts of the primary catalyst or the co-catalyst per one hundred parts, by weight, of dimethyl terephthalate. Preferred titanium compounds include tetrabutyl titanate or tetra(isopropyl) titanate; the alkali metal phosphate can be a phosphate salt containing one, two, or three metal groups; and the alkali metal phosphite can be a phosphite salt containing one or two metal groups. With this catalyst composition, the transesterification rate was increased by 10 percent or more. Furthermore, the reaction product poly(butylene terephthalate) shows an increased intrinsic viscosity over those without the co-catalyst, indicating a greater degree of polymerization.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of metallic salts of fatty acids comprising the steps of: (a) reacting alkali hydroxide with a fatty acid in a saponification reaction to form an alkali soap; (b) reacting the alkali soap with an aqueous metallic salt solution in a double decomposition reaction to cause the production of metallic fatty acid salt; (c) performing at least one cycle of an alternating alkalinization-acidization reaction by adding an aqueous alkali hydroxide solution to the metallic fatty acid salt to raise the solution pH, followed by adding an acidic aqueous salt solution contain the same metal ions to lower the solution pH. High purity metallic salts of fatty acids can be obtained without a solvent washing step and the metallic fatty acid salts prepared from this invention can be effectively used as photolyzing agent to initiate and/or accelerate the photo-degradation of plastics.

Abstract: A composition of matter including a polymeric material which is either a plastic having carbon to carbon linkages or a binary blend of the plastic and starch, in which the plastic is at least 25% by weight of the binary blend; and an organic peracid compound dispersed in the polymeric material, the quantity of the peracid compound being 0.1 to 10% by weight of the polymeric material.