Abstract: An organic field effect transistor (FET) is described with an active dielectric layer comprising a low-temperature cured dielectric film of a liquid-deposited silsesquioxane precursor. The dielectric film comprises a silsesquioxane having a dielectric constant of greater than 2. The silsesquioxane dielectric film is advantageously prepared by curing oligomers having alkyl(methyl) and/or alkyl(methyl) pendant groups. The invention also embraces a process for making an organic FET comprising providing a substrate suitable for an organic FET; applying a liquid-phase solution of silsesquioxane precursors over the surface of the substrate; and curing the solution to form a silsesquioxane active dielectric layer. The organic FET thus produced has a high-dielectric, silsesquioxane film with a dielectric constant of greater than about 2, and advantageously, the substrate comprises an indium-tin oxide coated plastic substrate.

Abstract: An arbitrary gap between the two chips of a MEMS device arranged in a flip-chip arrangement is achieved by etching into a first substrate to form mesas which act as spacers between which, or even on which, any required circuit elements are formed. Points of a layer at a first surface of the second substrate within which MEMS structures are made are bonded to the mesas of the first substrate. The second substrate is then removed, leaving the structures bonded to the mesas. The mesas may be formed by placing a hard mask, such as silicon oxide, which defines the desired pattern of mesas on the first substrate, and then etching the unmasked portion of the substrate using a mixture of potassium hydroxide (KOH) with isopropanol (IPA) or, tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) mixed with a surfactant, e.g., nonylphenol ethoxy ether or other equivalent compounds.

Abstract: An organic field effect transistor (FET) is described with an active dielectric layer comprising a low-temperature cured dielectric film of a liquid-deposited silsesquioxane precursor. The dielectric film comprises a silsesquioxane having a dielectric constant of greater than 2. The silsesquioxane dielectric film is advantageously prepared by curing oligomers having alkyl(methyl) and/or alkyl(methyl) pendant groups. The invention also embraces a process for making an organic FET comprising providing a substrate suitable for an organic FET; applying a liquid-phase solution of silsesquioxane precursors over the surface of the substrate; and curing the solution to form a silsesquioxane active dielectric layer. The organic FET thus produced has a high-dielectric, silsesquioxane film with a dielectric constant of greater than about 2, and advantageously, the substrate comprises an indium-tin oxide coated plastic substrate.

Abstract: An arbitrary gap between the two chips of a MEMS device arranged in a flip-chip arrangement is achieved by etching into a first substrate to form mesas which act as spacers between which, or even on which, any required circuit elements are formed. Points of a layer at a first surface of the second substrate within which MEMS structures are made are bonded to the mesas of the first substrate. The second substrate is then removed, leaving the structures bonded to the mesas. The mesas may be formed by placing a hard mask, such as silicon oxide, which defines the desired pattern of mesas on the first substrate, and then etching the unmasked portion of the substrate using a mixture of potassium hydroxide (KOH) with isopropanol (IPA) or, tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) mixed with a surfactant, e.g., nonylphenol ethoxy ether or other equivalent compounds.

Abstract: This invention is predicated upon applicants' discovery that UV-induced gratings can be formed through polymer coatings that include conjugated double bonds and aromatic moieties. Coatings with low concentrations of aromatic-containing free-radical photoinitiators provide both reasonable curing speeds and sufficient transparency that gratings can be written through them. Moreover some of these aromatic-containing free-radical photoinitiators act synergistically with non-aromatic ketone photoinitiators. Advantageous aromatic-containing free-radical photoinitiator concentrations are in the range 0.01%-0.1% and preferably in the range 0.02% to 0.05%. Advantageous polymer coatings are acrylate-based coatings.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a MEMS device is disclosed. The device has at least one hinged element. The MEMS device including the hinged element is delineated and defined on a semiconductor substrate. The substrate is placed device side down in a chamber. The MEMS device is then exposed to a release expedient for sufficient amount of time for the release expedient to dissolve a sacrificial material connecting the element to the substrate. Upon the dissolution of the sacrificial material, the element is released from the substrate and pivots away from the surface.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an optical fiber is provided with a protective polymer coating that is substantially free (less than 0.1% by weight and preferably 0%) of adhesion promoters and coupling agents. Advantageously, in lieu of adhesion promoters, the primary polymer coating formulation is provided with an additive which will covalently bond with the fiber but not with the primary polymer.

Abstract: The specification describes optical fiber coating materials and methods for making optical fiber gratings wherein the material of the optical fiber coatings comprises vinyl ether functionalized monomers, together with oligomeric or polymeric thickeners and a cationic photoinitiator. These coating materials are highly transparent to UV radiation used to write optical gratings in the optical fibers but still absorb sufficiently at other wavelengths to be cured effectively using UV radiation.

Abstract: The specification describes processes for synthesizing vinyl ether functionalized oligomers or polymers, and methods for coating optical fibers with formulations containing these oligomers or polymers. Optical fibers coated with these formulations can be highly transparent to radiation used to write optical gratings in the optical fibers.

Abstract: An improved method of coating an optical fiber is disclosed. A transducer is submerged in a container of liquid coating material and activated so that it causes the formation of a wave of coating material within the container. The optical fiber is then drawn through the container and through the wave, the wave counterbalancing the negative meniscus produced by drawing the fiber through the container. A curved housing also may be placed in the container and surrounding the transducer for controlling the size, amplitude, shape, or direction of the wave. A plurality of transducers also advantageously may be used.

Abstract: Measurement of the delamination resistance of polymer coated optical fiber can provide valuable information for quality control and/or coating development, and a method of making polymer coated optical fiber that includes determination of the delamination resistance is disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus that facilitates determination of the delamination resistance.

Abstract: An improved method of coating an optical fiber is disclosed. A transducer is submerged in a container of liquid coating material and activated so that it causes the formation of a wave of coating material within the container. The optical fiber is then drawn through the container and through the wave, the wave counterbalancing the negative meniscus produced by drawing the fiber through the container. A curved housing also may be placed in the container and surrounding the transducer for controlling the size, amplitude, shape, or direction of the wave. A plurality of transducers also advantageously may be used.

Abstract: The specification describes techniques for the manufacture of optical gratings in optical fibers. The grating pattern is written into the core of the fiber without removing the fiber coating. Coating compositions with high transparency to the actinic (writing) radiation but which are UV curable are described in detail. The coating compositions contain a UV photoinitiator that absorbs sufficient UV radiation to effectively cure the polymer but is relatively transparent to UV radiation used for writing the grating. The photoinitiator is one or more compounds selected from a specified group of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic ketones.

Abstract: A method and composite for doubled-sided processing of plastic substrates that can be used as the plates in a liquid crystal display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the composite comprises an ultraviolet light (UV) blocking layer that is sandwiched between two plastic substrates. A layer of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is disposed on one side of each of the two plastic substrates. The plastic substrates are arranged so that the ITO layer on each substrate faces outwardly. The resulting composite sandwich structure is laminated and can be rolled-up or sheared into individual sheets for further processing.