Abstract: A process for the removal of water from gas which comprises an absorption step of bringing a gas saturated with water vapor into gas-liquid contact with a water-lean absorbing liquid comprising a water absorbing liquid having a cloud point temperature above the freezing point of water whereby water vapor present in the gas is absorbed into the water-lean absorbing liquid at a temperature below its cloud point to produce a refined gas having a reduced water vapor content and water-loaded absorbing liquid. A regeneration step is provided in which the water-loaded absorbing liquid is heated to above the cloud point temperature of the absorbing liquid whereby the water-loaded absorbing liquid separates into a water-rich phase and an absorbing liquid-rich phase and the absorbing liquid-rich phase is cooled to a temperature below its cloud point prior to recycling the absorbing liquid-rich phase for use as water-lean absorbing liquid in the absorption step.

Abstract: Provided is a microprocessor optimized for algorithmic processing for accelerating algorithm processing through a closely coupled set of parallel sub-processing elements. The device includes a primary processor, one or more subprocessors and an interconnecting buss. The buss is preferably a crossbar buss. The primary processor is preferably a pipelined CPU with additional logic to support algorithm processing. The crossbar buss allows the data memory to function as the data memory in the CPU, and provides paths to configure and initialize the algorithm subprocessors and to retrieve results from the subprocessors. The subprocessors are processing elements that execute segments of code on blocks of data. Preferably, the subprocessors are reconfigurable to optimize performance for the algorithm being executed.

Abstract: A method for purifying metal M1 particles manufactured by an electrochemical reduction process, the method comprising the steps of introducing the metal M1 particles into a heat source (13) at a temperature substantially equal to or higher than the melting point of M1 so as to cause vaporisation of some or substantially all of the contaminating impurities present, removing the vaporised Impurities from the vicinity of the particles, and cooling the purified metal M1 particles. The purified particles can be used directly in lower temperature powder metallurgy processes and have fully dense spherical particle morphology, imparting good flowability. The purification process can also be incorporated as an integral stage of sheet or stock production processes based on particle feedstock's that have been produced by electrochemical reduction.

Abstract: Provided circuit modules employ flexible circuitry populated with integrated circuitry (ICs). The flex circuitry is disposed about a rigid substrate. Contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection between the module and an application environment. A strain relief portion of the flex circuitry has preferably fewer layers than the portion of the flex circuitry along which the integrated circuitry is disposed and may further may exhibit more flexibility than the portion of the flex circuit populated with integrated circuitry. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally conductive materials.

Abstract: Turbulence inducers are provided on circuit modules. Rising above a substrate or heat spreader surface, turbulence generators may be added to existing modules or integrated into substrates or heat spreaders employed by circuit modules constructed according to traditional or new technologies.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts distributed along the flexible circuitry provide connection between the module and an application environment. The circuit-populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or two layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally conductive materials and includes a high thermal conductivity core or area that is disposed proximal to higher thermal energy devices such as an AMB when the flex circuit is brought about the substrate. Other variations include thermally-conductive clips that grasp respective ICs on opposite sides of the module to further shunt heat from the ICs.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry (ICs) disposed along one or both of major sides. Contacts are distributed along the flexible circuitry to provide connection between the module and an application environment. The populated flexible circuitry is disposed about an edge of a rigid substrate thus placing the integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate with one or more layers of integrated circuitry on one or both sides of the substrate. The substrate form is preferably devised from thermally-conductive materials and one or more thermal spreaders are disposed in thermal contact with at least some of the constituent integrated circuitry of the module. Optionally, as an additional thermal management feature, the module may include a high thermal conductivity thermal sink or area that is disposed proximal to, higher thermal energy IC devices.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure One or more connectors are mounted to a module having one or more integrated circuits. In one embodiment, multiple ICs are stacked and interconnected to form a high-density module. The connectors are preferably mounted above the top IC of the module, but may be mounted at other locations. Electrical or fiber-optic cables may be plugged into the connectors. Other devices may be plugged into the connectors. Other embodiments may have one or more connectors mounted to flexible circuitry. Schemes are disclosed to employ various embodiments for test or operational signaling purposes.

Abstract: A thin profile memory module is provided which, in a variety of modes, can supplant traditional DIMM constructions of a variety of types such as, for example, registered and fully-buffered. In preferred modes, a memory module is provided that can meet or exceed the interconnective and capacity requirements for SO-DIMMs yet can simultaneously meet or exceed the profile requirements for such devices. In preferred modes, a flex circuit is populated along each of its first and second major sides with a plurality of array type (CSP) devices. Insertion contacts are disposed in two sets on the first side of the flex circuit and disposed proximal to a long edge area of the flex circuit. A substrate with first and second major sides provides a form for the module.

Abstract: A flex circuit is populated on one or both sides with plural integrated circuit die. In a preferred mode, the flex circuit is populated with flip-chip die. One side of the flex circuit has a connective facility implemented in a preferred mode with edge connector contacts. The flex circuit is disposed about a substrate to form a circuit module that may be inserted into an edge connector such as ones typically found on a computer board.

Abstract: Flexible circuitry is populated on one or both sides with integrated circuits (ICs) each of which ICs has an IC profile (height). A substantially flat, windowed fixture with a fixture profile less than the IC profiles of the ICs is applied over an IC-populated side of the flexible circuitry causing at least a part of the ICs to emerge from respective fixture windows. Material is removed simultaneously from that portion of the ICs that emerge from the windows to result in lower-profile ICs which, in a preferred embodiment exhibit profiles substantially coincident with the fixture profile established by the upper surface of the fixture. The method is used to advantage in devising circuit modules by disposing the flexible circuitry about a rigid substrate to form the circuit module with a low profile. Some embodiments use substrates that are windowed or have inset areas into which the lower profile CSPs may be set to reach profile requirements.

Abstract: Multiple DIMM circuits or instantiations are presented in a single module. In some embodiments, memory integrated circuits (preferably CSPs) and accompanying AMBs, or accompanying memory registers, are arranged in two ranks in two fields on each side of a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit has expansion contacts disposed along one side. The flexible circuit is disposed about a supporting substrate or board to place one complete DIMM circuit or instantiation on each side of the constructed module. In alternative but also preferred embodiments, the ICs on the side of the flexible circuit closest to the substrate are disposed, at least partially, in what are, in a preferred embodiment, windows, pockets, or cutaway areas in the substrate. Other embodiments may only populate one side of the flexible circuit or may only remove enough substrate material to reduce but not eliminate the entire substrate contribution to overall profile.

Abstract: A circuit module shunts thermal energy into a chassis component or a part of the box of the computing application in which the module is employed. In one preferred mode, a flex circuit is populated along each of its first and second major sides with two ranks of ICs which are, preferably, array type (CSP) devices. Insertion contacts are disposed in two sets on the first side of the flex circuit typically between the two ranks of ICs along the first side of the IC. A substrate with first and second lateral sides provides a form for the module. That substrate is preferably comprised of metallic material and exhibits an edge about which the flex circuit is wrapped and an extension at the other extremity of the substrate that is thermally connected to a chassis component of the application, either directly or, preferably, through a thermal conduit such as a thermally conductive compliant material.

Abstract: Modules with larger areas for device mounting but minimized profiles are provided. In preferred embodiments, modules that employ one or more flex circuits have sculpted supportive substrates to selectively accommodate larger or taller profile devices. In several preferred embodiments, higher profile circuits such as AMBs, for example, are disposed in what are, in a preferred embodiment, windows, pockets, or cutaway areas in the substrate. In other preferred embodiments, both the substrate and the flexible circuitry have openings into which a device of greater profile such as, for example, an AMB or a logic device with or without a resident heat sink are provided with a volume to occupy without adding the full profile of the taller device to the profile of the module itself.

Abstract: A flexible circuit has contacts for mounting in a socket or card edge connector. The flexible circuit includes integrated circuit devices mounted on both sides of the edge connector contacts. Preferably, the flexible circuit is wrapped about an edge of a rigid substrate and presents contacts on both sides of the substrate for mounting in a socket. Multiple flexible circuits may be overlaid with the same strategy. The flexible circuit may exhibit one or two or more conductive layers, and may have changes in the layered structure or have split layers.

Abstract: A flexible circuit is populated on one or both sides and disposed about a substrate to create a circuit module. Along one of its edges, the flex circuit is connected to a connective facility such as a multiple pin connector while the flex circuit is disposed about a thermally-conductive form that provides structure to create a module with plural layers of circuitry in a single module. In preferred embodiments, the form is metallic and, in alternative preferred embodiments, the module circuitry is disposed within a housing. Preferred embodiments may be devised that present a compact flash module within a housing that may be connected to or into a system or product through a connective facility that is preferably a male or female socket connector while the housing is configured to mechanically adapt to an application environment.

Abstract: A flexible circuitry is populated with integrated circuitry (ICs) disposed along one or both of its major sides. Contacts are distributed along the flexible circuitry to provide connection between the module and an application environment. A rigid substrate is configured to provide space on one side where the populated flex is disposed while in some embodiments, heat management or cooling structures are arranged on one side of the module to mitigate thermal accumulation in the module.

Abstract: A flexible circuit is populated with integrated circuits. Integrated circuits populated on the side of the flexible circuit closest to the substrate are disposed, at least partially, in what are, in a preferred embodiment, windows, pockets, or cutaway areas in the substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the overall module profile does not, consequently, include the thickness of the substrate. Other embodiments may only populate one side of the flexible circuit or may only remove enough substrate material to reduce but not eliminate the entire substrate contribution to overall profile. The flex circuit may be aligned using tooling holes in the flex circuit and substrate. The flexible circuit may exhibit one or two or more conductive layers, and may have changes in the layered structure or have split layers. Other embodiments may stagger or offset the ICs.

Abstract: A flex circuit populated with integrated circuits on one or both sides and in one or more fields along the flex circuitry is wrapped about an edge of a supporting substrate. In preferred embodiments, the substrate is thermally conductive material. One side of the flex circuitry has a connective facility implemented in a preferred embodiment with edge connector contacts such as those that would allow the resulting module to be inserted into an expansion socket. In a preferred embodiment, integrated circuits (preferably memory CSPs) and any accompanying circuitry or buffers are arranged on one or both sides of a flexible circuit. In some embodiments, one or more thermal sensors or other indicators are thermally coupled to the module substrate.

Abstract: Multiple fully buffered DIMM circuits or instantiations are presented in a single module. In a preferred embodiment, memory integrated circuits (preferably CSPs) and accompanying AMBs are arranged in two ranks in two fields on each side of a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit has expansion contacts disposed along one side. The flexible circuit is disposed about a supporting substrate or board to place one complete FB-DIMM circuit or instantiation on each side of the constructed module. In alternative but also preferred embodiments, the ICs on the side of the flexible circuit closest to the substrate are disposed, at least partially, in what are, in a preferred embodiment, windows, pockets, or cutaway areas in the substrate. Other embodiments may only populate one side of the flexible circuit or may only remove enough substrate material to reduce but not eliminate the entire substrate contribution to overall profile.