Abstract: An electrochromic test port provides an actively tunable system for building an optical test port for an optical waveguide with enhanced SNR properties over conventional approaches.

Abstract: An electrical device having first and second electrodes and a layer of a conductive composite electrically in contact with the first and second electrodes. The conductive composite is a mixture of a semi-crystalline polymer and a conductive filler, the conductive filler including a plurality of particles containing an inner material including a first metal; and an outer material surrounding the inner material, the outer material including a second metal; and an intermetallic compound formed between the inner material and the outer material. The intermetallic compound has features from the inner material and the outer material. The device can be a circuit protection device. Also provided is a method of making a conductive composite by dry mixing the components.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of fabricating a mode size converter. The method includes: exposing a photoresist-coated substrate to varying doses of light exposure to produce a profile in the photoresist of a beam mode size converter; and etching the photoresist-coated substrate to remove an equal thickness of the photoresist and substrate. The beam mode sized converter includes: a first surface having a first surface height and a first surface width; a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface having a second surface height different than the first surface height and a second surface width different than the first surface width; and one or more boundary surfaces connecting the first surface and second surfaces.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a mode size converter having a first end and a second end. The mode size converter includes: a silicon waveguide having an inverse taper from the first end; and a silicon nitride waveguide having an inverse taper relative to the first end. The silicon nitride waveguide is adjacent and substantially parallel to the silicon waveguide. Another aspect of the invention provides an optical assembly including: a mode size converter as described herein; and a fiber optic optically coupled to the silicon nitride waveguide at the second end of the mode size converter.

Abstract: An electrical device having first and second electrodes and a layer of a conductive composite electrically in contact with the first and second electrodes. The conductive composite is a mixture of a semi-crystalline polymer and a conductive filler, the conductive filler including a plurality of particles containing an inner material including a first metal; and an outer material surrounding the inner material, the outer material including a second metal; and an intermetallic compound formed between the inner material and the outer material. The intermetallic compound has features from the inner material and the outer material. The device can be a circuit protection device. Also provided is a method of making a conductive composite by dry mixing the components.

Abstract: A conductive particle is disclosed. The conductive particle includes an inner material including a first metal and an outer material surrounding the inner material. The outer material includes a second metal. An intermetallic compound is formed between the inner material and the outer material, the intermetallic compound having features from the inner material and the outer material. The conductive particle has a maximum dimension of less than 200 micrometers and the outer material has an outer material thickness of between 0.2 micrometers and 10 micrometers. The conductive particle is substantially devoid of silver.

Abstract: A composite formulation and composite product are disclosed. The composite formulation includes a polymer matrix, tin-containing particles blended within the polymer matrix at a concentration, by weight, of at least 25%, copper-containing particles blended within the polymer matrix at a concentration, by weight, of at least 40%, and one or both of solder flux and density-lowering particles blended into the polymer matrix. The tin-containing particles and the copper-containing particles have one or more intermetallic phases from metal-metal diffusion of the tin-containing particles and the copper-containing particles being blended at a temperature within the intermetallic annealing temperature range for the tin-containing particles and the copper-containing particles.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of fabricating a mode size converter. The method includes: exposing a photoresist-coated substrate to varying doses of light exposure to produce a profile in the photoresist of a beam mode size converter; and etching the photoresist-coated substrate to remove an equal thickness of the photoresist and substrate. The beam mode sized converter includes: a first surface having a first surface height and a first surface width; a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface having a second surface height different than the first surface height and a second surface width different than the first surface width; and one or more boundary surfaces connecting the first surface and second surfaces.

Abstract: A thin film photovoltaic cell is provided having a substrate; a back contact provided on the substrate; a p-type semiconductor absorber layer provided on the back contact; a n-type semiconductor layer provided on the p-type semiconductor absorber layer; a dielectric organic material layer provided on the n-type semiconductor layer; a transparent conductive film provided on the dielectric organic material layer; and, optionally, an antireflective layer provided on the transparent conductive film. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming a printed circuit board having optical functionality. The methods involve: (a) providing a first, printed circuit board substrate; (b) forming an optical waveguide structure comprising a clad and a core structure on a second substrate separate from the printed circuit board substrate, wherein the optical waveguide structure comprises a silicon-containing material; (c) separating the optical waveguide structure from the second substrate; and (d) affixing the optical waveguide structure to the printed circuit board substrate. The invention has particular applicability in the electronics and optoelectronics industries for the formation of hybrid printed circuit boards.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to silicon-containing organic coating compositions, particularly antireflective coating compositions, that contain a repeat unit wherein chromophore moieties such as phenyl are spaced from Si atom(s). In another aspect, silicon-containing underlayer compositions are provided that are formulated as a liquid (organic solvent) composition, where at least one solvent of the solvent component comprise hydroxy groups.

Abstract: Provided are photosensitive compositions which are suitable for use in forming optical waveguides. The compositions include a polymer having units of the formula (RSiO1.5), wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, and a photoactive component for altering the solubility of the polymer upon exposure to actinic radiation. The photoactive component is non-ionic and has an associated wavelength of maximum absorption of greater than 300 nm. Also provided are methods of forming optical waveguides as well as optical waveguides. The compositions, methods and optical waveguides have particular use in the formation of printed wiring boards having electrical and optical functionality.

Abstract: New negative-acting photoresist compositions are provided that are particularly useful for imaging at short wavelengths, particularly sub-200 nm wavelengths such as 193 nm. Resists of the invention provide contrast between exposed and unexposed coating layer regions through crosslinking or other solubility switching mechanism. Preferred resists of the invention include a resin component that contains repeat units that facilitate aqueous base solubility.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming optical components. The methods involves (a) forming over a substrate a layer of a photoimageable composition that includes a hybrid organic-inorganic polymer and a photoactive component, wherein the layer has a first index of refraction and a first dissolution rate; and (b) exposing by multi-photon absorption using actinic radiation a predefined volume of the layer. The volume is caused to have: (i) a second index of refraction which is different than the first index of refraction and/or (ii) a second dissolution rate which is different than the first dissolution rate. The methods have particular applicability in the formation of optical waveguides and other optical components.

Abstract: Provided are compositions which include a polymer, having units of the formula (RSiO1.5), wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, and a plurality of functional end groups. A first component is provided for altering the solubility of the composition in a dried state upon activation. A second component contains a plurality of functional groups chosen from epoxides, oxetanes, vinyl ethers and combinations thereof. The second component is present in an effective amount to improve flexibility of the composition in a dried state before and after activation. Also provided are flexible optical waveguides, methods of forming flexible optical waveguides and electronic devices that include a flexible optical waveguide.

Abstract: Provided are compositions suitable for use in forming a flexible optical waveguide. The compositions include a polymer, having units of the formula (RSiO1.5), wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, and a plurality of functional end groups. A first component is provided for altering the solubility of the composition in a dried state upon activation. A second component contains a plurality of functional groups chosen from hydroxy, amino, thiol, sulphonate ester, carboxylate ester, silyl ester, anhydride, aziridine, methylolmethyl, silyl ether, and combinations thereof. The second component is present in an effective amount to improve flexibility of the composition in a dried state before and after activation. Also provided are flexible optical waveguides, methods of forming flexible optical waveguides and electronic devices that include a flexible optical waveguide.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a device having optical functionality. The method includes forming an optical waveguide over a substrate by providing a clad layer and a core over the substrate. The clad layer includes a polymer having units of the formula (RSiO1.5), wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, and a photoactive component. A portion of the clad layer is photolithographically patterned. Also provided is a method of forming a printed wiring board having optical functionality. The invention has particular applicability in the electronics industry for forming optoelectronic devices.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming a printed circuit board having optical functionality. The methods involve: (a) providing a first, printed circuit board substrate; (b) forming an optical waveguide structure comprising a clad and a core structure on a second substrate separate from the printed circuit board substrate, wherein the optical waveguide structure comprises a silicon-containing material; (c) separating the optical waveguide structure from the second substrate; and (d) affixing the optical waveguide structure to the printed circuit board substrate. The invention has particular applicability in the electronics and optoelectronics industries for the formation of hybrid printed circuit boards.

Abstract: Provided are compositions which include a polymer, having units of the formula (RSiO1.5), wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, and a plurality of functional end groups. A first component is provided for altering the solubility of the composition in a dried state upon activation. A second component contains a plurality of functional groups chosen from epoxides, oxetanes, vinyl ethers and combinations thereof. The second component is present in an effective amount to improve flexibility of the composition in a dried state before and after activation. Also provided are flexible optical waveguides, methods of forming flexible optical waveguides and electronic devices that include a flexible optical waveguide.

Abstract: Provided are methods of forming an electronic and/or optical component. The methods involve: (a) providing an electronic substrate having a polymeric layer, wherein the polymeric layer includes a polymer with units of the formula (R1SiO1.5), wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group; and (b) removing selected portions of the polymeric layer by laser ablation. The invention has particular applicability in the electronics and optoelectronics industries.