Abstract: The invention relates to the use of and method of forming Low Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) circuits for high frequency applications. Furthermore, the invention relates to the novel LTCC thick film compositions and the structure itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to thick film conductor compositions which are useful in application to both via-fill and/or line conductors to manufacture of Low Temperature Co-fireable Ceramic (LTCC) devices and other Multilayer Interconnect (MLI) ceramic composite circuits such as Photosensitive Tape On Substrates (PTOS); gold, silver and mixed metal multilayer circuits and devices. The invention is useful for forming microwave and other high frequency circuit components selected from the group comprising: antenna, filters, baluns, beam former, I/O's, couplers, via feedthroughs, EM coupled feedthroughs, wirebond connection, and transmission lines.

Abstract: A glass composition consisting essentially of, based on mole percent, 46-56% B2O3, 0.5-8.5% P2O5, SiO2 and mixtures thereof, 20-50% CaO, 2-15% Ln2O3 where Ln is selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements and mixtures thereof; 0-6% M?2O where M? is selected from the group consisting of alkali elements; and 0-10% Al2O3, with the proviso that the composition is water millable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thick film conductor composition comprising: (a) 70 to 98 weight percent of one or more electrically functional powders; (b) 0.5 to 10 weight percent glass frit; (c) 0.5 to 6 weight percent inorganic borides; dispersed in (d) organic medium, based on total thick film composition. The composition is useful as a via fill and/or innerlayer conductor composition in PTOS applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a thick film paste composition comprising, in weight percent total paste composition, materials selected from mixtures of lead iron tungstate niobate solid solutions 30 to 80%, calcined mixtures of barium titanate, lead oxide and fused silica 20 to 70%, barium titanate 30 to 50%, calcined mixtures of barium titanate 30 to 50%, barium titanate and calcined mixtures of barium titanate 30 to 50%, lead oxide and fused silica 50-80%, and a lead germanate glass 3-20%, as a thick film paste via fill composition for use in the formation of multilayer low temperature cofired ceramic circuits.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of to produce a low-temperature co-fired ceramic structure comprising: providing a precursor green laminate comprising at least one layer of core tape wherein said core tape has a dielectric constant of at least 20; providing one or more layers of self-constraining tape; providing one or more layers of primary tape; collating said layers of core tape, self-constraining tape, and primary tape; and laminating and co-firing said layers of core tape, self-constraining tape, and primary tape to form said ceramic structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method to produce a co-fired, metallized high dielectric constant ceramic core comprising: providing a precursor green laminate comprising at least one layer of core tape wherein said core tape has a dielectric constant of at least 20; and firing said precursor green laminate. The method is further directed to a method to produce a low-temperature co-fired ceramic structure comprising: providing a precursor green laminate comprising at least one layer of core tape wherein said tape has a dielectric constant of at least 20; firing said precursor green laminate during a first firing to form a high dielectric constant ceramic core; providing one or more layers of metallized low dielectric constant primary tape; laminating one or more layers of said metallized low dielectric constant primary tape to said core; and firing said core and primary tape layers during a second firing.

Abstract: The use of non-porous membranes as sample supports for MALDI-TOFMS analysis of peptides and proteins as well as for the analysis of whole blood is herein described. Non-porous membranes have a uniform surface, allowing for greater sensitivity and accuracy. Specifically, the non-porosity favours crystal growth on the surface of the membrane only, thereby providing enhanced spectral quality over membranes with porous structures. Studies were performed using polyurethane (PU) membranes as an example of non-porous MALDI sample supports and showed that PU membranes yielded higher quality spectra compared with porous membrane sample supports such as polyether and poly(vinyl difluoride) and the spectra obtained from PU membranes are of comparable quality as those obtained with metallic targets. However, the sample preparation for use with PU membranes is much less arduous compared with the preparation necessary for metallic targets. On membrane proteolytic digestions of proteins were performed using trypsin.