Abstract: An improved electrical interconnect is formed wherein a dielectric material having a controllable characteristic is applied to at least a portion of the interconnect. The controllable characteristic of the dielectric material is selectively adjustable so that the impedance of the electrical interconnect is substantially matched to at least one impedance at first and second ends of the interconnect. In this manner, an electrical discontinuity between the first and second ends of the electrical interconnect is reduced, thereby improving an electrical performance of the interconnect.

Abstract: An apparatus for data transfer using radio frequency (RF) energy, includes a first software application that sources and links the data transfer, a second software application for controlling a communications hardware for the data transfer, a hardware device for formatting the data and gaining access to a media, and a physical layer interface hardware, coupled to selectively receive a signal representing the data from the hardware device and to provide an output to the hardware device, for sending and receiving a radio frequency communication. The second software application for controlling the communications hardware uses a target data transmission media of infrared light.

Abstract: An improved electrical interconnect is formed wherein a dielectric material having a controllable characteristic is applied to at least a portion of the interconnect. The controllable characteristic of the dielectric material is selectively adjustable so that the impedance of the electrical interconnect is substantially matched to at least one impedance at first and second ends of the interconnect. In this manner, an electrical discontinuity between the first and second ends of the electrical interconnect is reduced, thereby improving an electrical performance of the interconnect.

Abstract: A connector for a portable device, includes a jack portion integral to the portable device, and a plug portion attached to an input/output device for being inserted into the jack portion. The connector is preferably a low cost microwave connector for transmitting multiple signal types and provides dual functionability.

Abstract: An optical subassembly for transferring light between an optoelectronic converter and an optical fiber where the housing and the lens are of plastic in which the housing is made to dimensions within the precision of molded plastic and the lens imparts focusing properties that compensate for the limitations of the plastic technology. Alignment in the X-Y plane only is employed. The lens has a first surface focused on the optoelectronic converter which substantially collimates the light through the lens and a second surface that introduces deliberate longitudinal spherical aberration that compensates for component position. Attachment or fixing of the optoelectronic converter to the housing is accomplished by RF heating a TO can to quickly cure an epoxylayer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasing a workpiece from a substrate including providing a substrate which is transparent to a predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation; forming, on the substrate, a separation layer which degrades in response to the predetermined radiation; providing the workpiece on the separation layer; and directing the predetermined radiation at the separation layer through the transparent substrate so as to degrade the separation layer and to separate the workpiece from the substrate.

Abstract: An optical subassembly for transferring light between an optoelectronic converter and an optical fiber where the housing and the lens are of plastic in which the housing is made to dimensions within the precision of molded plastic and the lens imparts focusing properties that compensate for the limitations of the plastic technology. Alignment in the X-Y plane only is employed. The lens has a first surface focused on the optoelectronic converter which substantially collimates the light through the lens and a second surface that introduces deliberate longitudinal spherical aberration that compensates for component position. Attachment or fixing of the optoelectronic converter to the housing is accomplished by RF heating a TO can to quickly cure an epoxylayer.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission apparatus for limiting the optical modes which were emitted from a source in such a way to impinge on an optical fiber to extract a high bandwidth from the fiber. The apparatus includes a lens or aperture to control the angle and distribution of light launched into the fiber. The apparatus achieves reproducibly high bandwidths in large core step-index optical fibers of short transmission length distances. The lens or aperture introduces light from the source into the fiber at an angle at which substantially no intermode delay occurs as the light propagates down the fiber. An integral fiber optic coupling assembly that includes an optical electronic component receptacle, the lens and/or aperture, and an optical fiber connector interface which provides low cost easy to manufacture assembly is also disclosed. A unitary plastic housing provides the function of a lens and mechanical reference or locating features for the light source and optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for making an optical fiber transmission apparatus for limiting the optical modes which were emitted from a source in such a way to impinge on an optical fiber to extract a high bandwidth from the fiber. The apparatus includes a lens or aperture to control the angle and distribution of light launched into the fiber. The apparatus achieves reproducibly high bandwidths in large core step-index optical fibers of short transmission length distances. The lens or aperture introduces light from the source into the fiber at an angle at which substantially no intermode delay occurs as the light propagates down the fiber. An integral fiber optic coupling assembly that includes an optical electronic component receptacle, the lens and/or aperture, and an optical fiber connector interface which provides low cost easy to manufacture assembly is also disclosed. A unitary plastic housing provides the function of a lens and mechanical reference or locating features for the light source and optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasing a workpiece from a substrate including providing a substrate which is transparent to a predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic radiation; forming, on the substrate, a separation layer which degrades in response to the predetermined radiation; providing the workpiece on the separation layer; and directing the predetermined radiation at the separation layer through the transparent substrate so as to degrade the separation layer and to separate the workpiece from the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of accessing and repairing electrical opens in conducting metal lines on a semiconductor chip or other substrate using laser plating techniques. What has been described is a maskless means of repairing discontinuities in a conductor disposed on the surface of a substrate wherein the surface is locally irradiated to form a reversible carbonaceous layer thereon. This reversible carbonaceous layer acts as a base for electrodeless deposition of a metal to form a bridge across the discontinuity by laser-enhanced exchange plating or other suitable methods. Further, a means of accessing and repairing a discontinuity buried by a cover layer of an insulating or passivating material is described, wherein access to the discontinuity is provided by ablating away the cover layer using a pulsed excimer laser at a first power level.

Abstract: A direct optical connector (DOC) comprised of first and second members, each including a plurality of light emitting and light detecting locations, operative in combination with energy transfer media to form direct optical connections between the light emitting locations and the light detecting locations, wherein said first and second members are adapted for reclosable connection to each other whereupon the light emitting locations on one member are aligned with the light detecting locations on the other member. The first and second members of the preferred DOC are modular. Alternative forms of energy transfer media are used in various embodiments of the invention including lenslet arrays, imaging fiber plates (IFPs), and energy transfer fiber plates (ETFPs). These media have differing alignment criteria, differing degrees of immunity from crosstalk, differing degrees of transfer efficiency, different manufacturing costs, etc.

Abstract: A structure comprising a layer of polymeric material containing epoxy groups having preselected regions of different degrees of polymerization and different refractive indices; and a method for forming a structure comprising a layer of polymeric material containing epoxy groups having preselected regions of differing degrees of polymerization and differing refractive indices which comprises providing a polymeric material containing epoxy groups on a support and selectively modifying the refractive index in said material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are set forth for passively and precisely aligning pairs of objects, in particular, microelectronic components such as semiconductor lasers and fibers, utilizing fiducial marks. Additionally, methods and apparatus are set forth for combining passive and active alignment techniques where high degrees of alignment precision are required. Still further, techniques are described for fixing prealigned objects, independent of how the objects are prealigned, to a mounting surface in a manner that maintains the relative (aligned) position of the objects. Further yet, in order to help minimize manufacturing costs with respect to production of, for example, microelectronic assemblies, batch processing techniques are described which utilize the novel alignment procedures contemplated by the invention.

Abstract: An optical clock system for high-performance computing systems uses unique methods of clock generation, delay timing, and electrical clock conversion to eliminate clock skew due to passive circuit elements. There is provided a direct optical connection to active devices in the computing system thereby eliminating the transmission of electrical clock signals through passive transmission elements. The optical clock system eliminates several stages of clock drivers and, as a result, is capable of reducing clock skew due to active circuit skew as well. In one embodiment, an optical pulse timing operator (10) produces ultrashort pulses which are equally divided by an 1-by-N splitter (16) into N optical fibers (18), where N depends on the number of clock signals required. Each fiber has a different length, resulting in different propagation times for the optical pulses.

Abstract: A thin film region 14 of a multichip carrier 10 is provided with at least one fabrication process or tooling monitor for monitoring the quality of the fabrication process during the sequential formation of the layers of the region 14. The process monitor is formed with a desired layer or layers of the thin film region, such as by a photolithographic process. A centrally disposed active wiring region 30 of a layer is surrounded by peripherally disposed fabrication monitor sites 32. The sites 32 can be located such that they do not occupy or interfere with the surface area required for the wiring region 30 while still being disposed near enough to the wiring region such that the electrical and physical characteristics of the thin film is substantially the same. Four different types of thin film fabrication process monitors are disclosed, including a line/via monitor, a dielectric monitor, a laser assisted repair monitor and a laser assisted engineering change monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing both clear and opaque defects in a photomask having a metal film pattern on a glass plate in which a visible laser light source is pulsed at selected frequencies to direct an optically focused laser beam into a gas sealed cell containing a mask. At one frequency, the laser pulses ablate opaque mask defects. At another frequency, and with the cell filled with a metal bearing gas, the laser beam causes thermal decomposition of the gas and deposition of metal to cure clear defects.

Abstract: A method for depositing a micron-size metallic film on a transparent substrate by thermal deposition employing a focused visible laser. The method includes the step of positioning the substrate in a gas cell containing a metal bearing gaseous compound. A nucleation layer is formed on a surface of the substrate by either shining an ultraviolet light on the substrate surface or by heating the substrate to a temperature which is less than the temperature at which the molecules of the gaseous compound decompose. Next, a laser which may be visible or near infrared is focused onto the substrate to provide localized heating of the area of the substrate to which the beam is incident. Molecules of the gaseous compound thermally decompose on the heated area to deposit a metal film thereon.

Abstract: A method for repairing clear defects on a photomask. The method includes the steps of coating the photomask with a positive photoresist; exposing the photoresist to a laser beam for localized heating thereof to a temperature above 500.degree. C. to darken or char the polymer; and removing the unexposed polymer from the photomask. The method may also include the intermediate step of heating the polymer to a temperature between 200.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. to brown the polymer before the polymer is exposed to the laser which heats it to a temperature above 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for depositing a micron-size metallic film on a transparent substrate by thermal deposition employing a focused visible laser. The method includes the step of positioning the substrate in a gas cell containing a metal bearing gaseous compound. A nucleation layer is formed on a surface of the substrate by either shining an ultraviolet light on the substrate surface or by heating the substrate to a temperature which is less than the temperature at which the molecules of the gaseous compound decompose. Next, a laser which may be visible or near infrared is focused onto the substrate to provide localized heating of the area of the substrate to which the beam is incident. Molecules of the gaseous compound thermally decompose on the heated area to deposit a metal film thereon.