Abstract: Optical fibers and optical fiber cables are provided. An optical fiber includes an optical fiber, the optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, and a metal coating surrounding the cladding, the metal coating extending along the entire axial length of the optical fiber. The optical fiber further includes a powder coated on an outer surface of the metal coating, wherein the powder is one of a mineral, a ceramic, or a carbon.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing metal-coated optical fiber involves feeding a length of glass fiber through a first solution bath so as to plate a first predetermined metal on the glass fiber via electroless deposition. The length of glass fiber is passed continuously from the first solution bath to a second solution bath adapted to plate thereon a second predetermined metal via electrolytic plating such that the optical fiber contacts an electrode only after at least some of the second predetermined metal has been applied. The length of glass fiber may be passed continuously from the second solution bath to a third solution bath adapted to plate thereon a third predetermined metal via electrolytic plating.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing metal-coated optical fiber involves feeding a length of glass fiber through a first solution bath so as to plate a first predetermined metal on the glass fiber via electroless deposition. The length of glass fiber is passed continuously from the first solution bath to a second solution bath adapted to plate thereon a second predetermined metal via electrolytic plating such that the optical fiber contacts an electrode only after at least some of the second predetermined metal has been applied. The length of glass fiber may be passed continuously from the second solution bath to a third solution bath adapted to plate thereon a third predetermined metal via electrolytic plating.

Abstract: A device (110, 151, 200) with a viewable surface (201) including a plurality of transparent pedestals (210) having a reflective material (406) disposed on its sides (408) make smudges forming thereon unnoticeable by taking advantage of optical characteristics including contrast and the user's visual acuity. The pedestals (210) generally have a width (412) of less than 50 microns, a height (414) equal to twice the width (412), and a spacing (416) between adjacent pedestals (210) equal to the width (412). The device (110, 151, 200) may be an electronic device, and more particularly a portable electronic device such as a cell phone.

Abstract: A device (110, 151, 200) with a viewable surface (201) including a plurality of transparent pedestals (210) having a reflective material (406) disposed on its sides (408) make smudges forming thereon unnoticeable by taking advantage of optical characteristics including contrast and the user's visual acuity. The pedestals (210) generally have a width (412) of less than 50 microns, a height (414) equal to twice the width (412), and a spacing (416) between adjacent pedestals (210) equal to the width (412). The device (110, 151, 200) may be an electronic device, and more particularly a portable electronic device such as a cell phone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (506, 706, 806, 906) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays. The apparatus comprises a display device (110, 150, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000) positioned within a housing (102, 104, 808), comprising a transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) having a surface (508, 908) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104, 808) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906). A vibration device (504, 704, 804, 904, 1004) is positioned against the transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) to provide motion (510) in a direction parallel to the surface, thereby causing the contaminants to move (708) across the surface (508, 908). The contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906) may then be hidden by the housing (102, 104, 808) or ejected by a motion (912) perpendicular to the surface by another vibrating device (911).

Abstract: A device (110, 151, 200) with a viewable surface (201) including a plurality of transparent pedestals (210) having a reflective material (406) disposed on its sides (408) make smudges forming thereon unnoticeable by taking advantage of optical characteristics including contrast and the user's visual acuity. The pedestals (210) generally have a width (412) of less than 50 microns, a height (414) equal to twice the width (412), and a spacing (416) between adjacent pedestals (210) equal to the width (412). The device (110, 151, 200) may be an electronic device, and more particularly a portable electronic device such as a cell phone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for preventing smudges (608) including oils and dust from collecting on a portable electronic device display (110, 150, 200, 300). A plurality of islands (606) are formed on a surface of the display device, each island (606) comprising a transparent material and having a diameter of between 5 and 200 nanometers. Liquid (608) forming on the plurality of islands has a large contact angle (610), increasing the likelihood of the liquid migrating from the display device and thereby removing contaminants therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (624) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays (110, 150, 200, 300, 334). The apparatus comprises a display device (600, 700, 800, 900) positioned within a housing (102, 104), having a surface (601) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (624). Gradients are formed on the display device (600, 700, 800, 900) for providing a differential surface tension that causes the smudges (624) to migrate across the viewable surface of the display device (600, 700, 800, 900). The gradients may be, for example, thermal (604, 605), electrical (702, 708), optical (804), or surface wettability (904).

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for removing smudges (506, 706, 806, 906) including oils and dust from portable electronic displays. The apparatus comprises a display device (110, 150, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1000) positioned within a housing (102, 104, 808), comprising a transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) having a surface (508, 908) viewable through an opening in the housing (102, 104, 808) and a susceptibility to receiving contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906). A vibration device (504, 704, 804, 904, 1004) is positioned against the transparent cover (302, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1002) to provide motion (510) in a direction parallel to the surface, thereby causing the contaminants to move (708) across the surface (508, 908). The contaminants (506, 706, 806, 906) may then be hidden by the housing (102, 104, 808) or ejected by a motion (912) perpendicular to the surface by another vibrating device (911).

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a fuel cell wherein corrosion of metal diffusion layers or catalysts supports is avoided. The method comprises forming first and second electrical conductors (22, 42) accessible at a surface of a substrate (12). The substrate (12) is etched to provide a channel (34, 36), and a multi-metal layer (82) is deposited on the surface of the substrate (12). At least one metal is etched from the multi-metal layer (82) forming a porous metal layer therefrom. A portion of the porous metal layer is etched resulting in an anode portion (89) aligned with the channel (34, 36) and coupled to the first electrical conductor (22), and a cathode portion (90) coupled to the second electrical conductor (42) and separated from the anode portion by a cavity (91). A first bi-continuous material (97) is formed over the porous metal layer (82) within at least one of the anode (89) and oxidant (90) portions.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a fuel cell that requires only front side alignment techniques to fabricate gas access holes. The method comprises etching the front side of a substrate (12) to provide a channel (24, 26), and forming a pedestal (54, 88) on the front side of the substrate, wherein the pedestal (54, 88) comprises an anode side (56, 89) defining a fuel region (68, 102) aligned with the channel (24, 26). An electrolyte (46, 96) is positioned between the anode side (56, 89) and a cathode side (58, 90), and the fuel region (68, 102) is capped with an insulator (66, 98). A portion of the substrate (12) is removed from a back side to expose the channel (24, 26).

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cladded conductor (42) for use in a magnetoelectronics device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate (10) and forming a conductive barrier layer (12) overlying the substrate (10). A dielectric layer (16) is formed overlying the conductive barrier layer (12) and a conducting line (20) is formed within a portion of the dielectric layer (16). The dielectric layer (16) is removed and a flux concentrator (30) is formed overlying the conducting line (20).

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cladded conductor (42) for use in a magnetoelectronics device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate (10) and forming a conductive barrier layer (12) overlying the substrate (10). A dielectric layer (16) is formed overlying the conductive barrier layer (12) and a conducting line (20) is formed within a portion of the dielectric layer (16). The dielectric layer (16) is removed and a flux concentrator (30) is formed overlying the conducting line (20).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory device comprising the steps of providing a substrate, forming a conductive layer positioned on the substrate, forming a magnetoresistive random access memory device positioned on conductive layer, forming a metal cap on the magnetoresistive random access memory device, and electroless plating a bump metal layer on the metal cap. The bump metal layer acts as a self-aligned via for a bit line subsequently formed thereon.

Abstract: A method of forming a magnetic device, especially the digit line of a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device is disclosed. The digit line includes a stack of materials that includes a barrier layer, a seed layer and a soft magnetic layer that is electrochemically deposited. Preferably, the barrier layer and the seed layer are formed by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and the soft magnetic layer is formed by electroless plating. In one embodiment, the barrier layer includes tantalum, the seed layer includes ruthenium and the soft magnetic layer includes nickel and iron.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cladded conductor (42) for use in a magnetoelectronics device is provided. The method includes providing a substrate (10) and forming a conductive barrier layer (12) overlying the substrate (10). A dielectric layer (16) is formed overlying the conductive barrier layer (12) and a conducting line (20) is formed within a portion of the dielectric layer (16). The dielectric layer (16) is removed and a flux concentrator (30) is formed overlying the conducting line (20).

Abstract: The present invention provides plating solutions, particularly metal plating solutions, designed to provide uniform coatings on substrates and to provide substantially defect free filling of small features, e.g., micron scale features and smaller, formed on substrates with none or low supporting electrolyte, i.e., which include no acid, low acid, no base, or no conducting salts, and/or high metal ion, e.g., copper, concentration. Additionally, the plating solutions may contain small amounts of additives which enhance the plated film quality and performance by serving as brighteners, levelers, surfactants, grain refiners, stress reducers, etc.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory device comprising the steps of providing a substrate, forming a conductive layer positioned on the substrate, forming a magnetoresistive random access memory device positioned on conductive layer, forming a metal cap on the magnetoresistive random access memory device, and electroless plating a bump metal layer on the metal cap. The bump metal layer acts as a self-aligned via for a bit line subsequently formed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides plating solutions, particularly metal plating solutions, designed to provide uniform coatings on substrates and to provide substantially defect free filling of small features, e.g., micron scale features and smaller, formed on substrates with none or low supporting electrolyte, i.e., which include no acid, low acid, no base, or no conducting salts, and/or high metal ion, e.g., copper, concentration. Additionally, the plating solutions may contain small amounts of additives which enhance the plated film quality and performance by serving as brighteners, levelers, surfactants, grain refiners, stress reducers, etc.