Abstract: A semiconductor package is disclosed, which comprises a substrate, one or more dies on a first side of the substrate, and a plurality of interconnect structures having a first pitch and coupled to a second side of the substrate. The interconnect structures may attach the substrate to a board. The substrate may include a first interconnect layer having a second pitch. The first interconnect layer may be coupled to the one or more dies through second one or more interconnect layers. Third one or more interconnect layers between the first interconnect layer and the interconnect structures may translate the first pitch to the second pitch. The substrate may include a recess on a section of the second side of the substrate. The semiconductor package may further include one or more components within the recess and attached to the second side of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of printing a fluorescent image on a surface of a receiver medium comprises forming on the surface by a thermal dye transfer printing process a first image of a first fluorescent dye; and forming on the first image by a thermal dye transfer printing process a superimposed second image of a second fluorescent dye, the first and second dyes having different emission maxima. The method thus enables production of a non-monochrome fluorescent image (that can be substantially invisible in daylight but that is revealed on irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light) that can be of substantially better quality than those produced by mass transfer printing processes. The method preferably involves the use of three different fluorescent dyes, for improved colour image quality. The invention also provides thermal transfer media suitable for use in the method and the resulting printed material bearing a fluorescent image.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes three light emitting diodes (7, 8, 9) emitting red, green and blue light respectively, and respective detectors (10, 11, 12) mounted on the opposite side of a dyesheet (1) passing through the printer. The detectors (10, 11, 12) detect the light absorption ratios of three colour print panels (Y, M and C) of the dyesheet, and these detected ratios are compared C with acceptable ranges of light absorption ratios. If the detected light absorption ratio for any colour falls outside the corresponding range, use or further use of the dyesheet in the printer is prevented, for example by disabling an essential function of the printer or ejecting the dyesheet from the printer.

Abstract: Secure cards consisting essentially of a card base having an overlying thermally transferred topcoat, with a thermal transfer image in a dye-receptive surface of the card base and the topcoat typically of a polymethyl methacrylate composition, frequently show severe image fading after relative short periods of time when kept and carried in normal PVC pouches. To improve protection against such fading, the present topcoat comprises at least one barrier layer which is formed of a polymer composition having a Tg>70° C., and which is resistant to the formation of microscopic cracks in the topcoat under tensile bending that is insufficient to cause macroscopic permanent deformation.

Abstract: A dye ribbon cassette for thermal transfer printing comprising a casing containing bearing means having rotatably mounted thereon a cylindrical member having on its periphery a mark carrying information capable of being detected by a sensor on rotation of the member and means operatively engageable with a drive source which is disposed outside of the casing to cause rotation of the member. The cassette may include a pair of identical, spaced apart, shafts rigidly mounted at one end of the casing, one of the shafts forming the bearing means for the cylindrical member, the shafts forming respectively mounting points for a feed spool and a take up spool.

Abstract: A thermal transfer dyesheet comprising an elongated substrate supporting print-size portions of first, second and third colour dyecoats arranged in a repeated sequence, said dyecoats each comprising one or more thermal transfer dyes dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric binder, characterised in that at least one of the second and third colour dyecoats has a clawback factor in respect of the first or second colour respectively, with a value in the range 1.+-.0.3.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing receiver sheet for use in security laminates, comprises a substrate supporting a receiver coat of a dye-receptive composition on one side and a backcoat on the other, wherein the backcoat comprises a thermoplastic polymer having a Tg less than 130.degree. C., and dispersed therein a particulate solid material in amount 1-24% by weight of the thermoplastic polymer and an average particle size of 0.3-10 .mu.m. The security laminates are prpared after printing the receiver with an image, by bonding a first cover sheet of plastics material to the printed receiver coat so as to overlie the image, and a second cover sheet of plastics material can be bonded to the present backcoat more readily than to a highly crosslinked backcoat, using common adhesives. For greater security, thicker than normal backcoats are used.

Abstract: A receiver sheet for thermal transfer printing comprises a sheet-like substrate supporting a backcoat comprising a cross-linked organic polymer which is a reaction product of a polyalkylene glycol and a polyfunctional organic cross-linking agent reactive with the terminal hydroxyl groups of the polyalkylene glycol. This provides a surface which may be written on using aqueous inks, and to which water-activated adhesives may adhere. Suitable cross-linking agents are hexamethoxymethylmelamines or oligomers thereof. The backcoat is free from alkali metal salts to avoid retransfer problems, and may also be textured by particulate material embedded in the cross-linked polymer, to improve handling properties.

Abstract: A benzofuranone of the Formula (1): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently --H or optionally substituted C.sub.1-20 -alkyl;R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently --H or optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;R.sup.5 is selected from --H, --CN, --COOR.sup.10 and --COR.sup.10, in which R.sup.10 is --H or C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are each independently selected from --H, --NR.sup.1 R.sup.2, --NO.sub.2, halogen, optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 -alkyl and optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 -alkoxy.

Abstract: A dyesheet is provided for thermal transfer printing, comprising a base sheet having a thermal transfer dye layer on one surface, and on the other a heat resistant backcoat comprising a crosslinked reaction product of radically polymerising a compound having a plurality of polymerisable unsaturated groups per molecule, wherein the backcoat is formulated to minimise scratching of the print during printing. The formulation comprises a) a compound having a single radically polymerisable unsaturated group which is copolymerised with the compound having a plurality of polymerisable unsaturated groups per molecule, and b) a multivalent metal salt of a long chain alkyl or alkylphenyl phosphate ester as slip agent. These two factors (a & b) work together, and if either is omitted, relief from scratching does not generally occur.

Abstract: A benzofuranone of the Formula (1): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently --H or optionally substituted C.sub.1-20 -alkyl;R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently --H or optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;R.sup.5 is selected from --H, --CN, --COOR.sup.10 and --COR.sup.10, in which R.sup.10 is --H or C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are each independently selected from --H, --NR.sup.1 R.sup.2, --NO.sub.2, halogen, optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 -alkyl and optionally substituted C.sub.1-6 -alkoxy.

Abstract: A security laminate comprises a thermal transfer print having a receiver layer comprising a thermoplastic dye-receptive polymer doped with a cross-linked silicone-containing release system in which the total silicone content is reduced to 0.01-1% by weight of the thermoplastic dye-receptive polymer, and a cover sheet of plastics material bonded to the receiver layer by heat and pressure, preferably without further adhesives between the print and cover sheet.

Abstract: A dyesheet is provided for thermal transfer printing, comprising a base sheet having a dyecoat containing a thermal transfer dye layer on one surface, and on the other a croselinked heat resistant backcoat formulated to minimize dye migration from the dyecoat to the backcoat during storage. The backcoat comprises the reaction product of radically copolymerising in a layer of coating composition, a) at least one organic compound having a plurality of radically polymerisable unsaturated groups per molecule, and b) at least one organic compound having per molecule a single unsaturated group radically copolymerisable with constituent a, and having at least one alicyclic group per molecule. Preferred additional constituents include slip agents, especially a multivalent metal salt of a long chain alkyl or alkylphenyl phosphate ester.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer print, the ready diffusion of dyes through the receiver layer, which is necessary for effecting their thermal transfer from a dyesheet during printing, can also lead to subsequent diffusion within the print, with consequent degradation of print quality. This form of print instability is now countered by using a receiver layer comprising a dye-receptive polymer composition doped with a print stabilizer consisting of a toluene sulphonamideformaldehyde condensation product.

Abstract: A receiver sheet for dye-diffusion thermal transfer printing, comprising a sheet-like dielectric substrate supporting a layer of dye-receptive material on one side, has an antistatic treatment on both sides to improve handling. The antistatic treatment on the side supporting the receiver coat comprises a conductive undercoat located between the substrate and the layer of dye-receptive material. Effective conductive undercoat materials include a cross-linked organic polymer containing a plurality of ether linkages doped with an alkali metal salt to provide conductivity. The antistatic treatment on the other side is preferably incorporated into a heat resistant and/or low friction backcoat, but like that of the receiver side, could also be in the form of a conducting undercoat between the substrate and backcoat.

Abstract: A thermal transfer receiver sheet with improved handling properties comprises a sheet-like dielectric substrate supporting a receiver coat of dye-receptive material on one side, characterized in that there are antistatic treatments provided on both sides of the dielectric substrate, such treatments being sufficient on each side to reduce the surface resistivity to less than 1.times.10.sup.13 .OMEGA./square. The side of the substrate remote from the receiver layer suitably has an antistatic backcoat for reducing the surface resistivity on that side, and the use of a textured surface provided by particulate materials either in the antistatic backcoat or in a further backcoat overlying the antistatic backcoat, may further improve the handling properties.

Abstract: To enhance the optical density of colors produced by thermal transfer printing, a dyesheet is used having an intermediate dye-barrier layer between the substrate and the dyecoat. This layer consists essentially of a reaction product of polymerizing acrylic functional groups in a layer of a coating composition comprising: (a) an organic resin comprising at least one polyfunctional material having a plurality of pendant or terminal acrylic groups per molecule available for cross-linking, at least 50% by weight of the polyfunctional material having at least 4 such acrylic functional groups per molecule; and (b) at least one linear organic polymer soluble or partially soluble in the resin, and comprising 1-40% by weight of the resin/polymer mixture.

Abstract: A receiver sheet for dye-diffusion thermal transfer printing comprises a sheet-like substrate supporting a receiver coat layer in which a dye-receptive polymer composition is doped with a release system comprising the reaction product of at least one silicone having a plurality of hydroxy groups per molecule and at least one polyfunctional N-(alkoxymethyl) amine resin reactive with such hydroxyl groups under acid catalyzed conditions.

Abstract: A transfer sheet, suitable for use in a dye diffusion thermal transfer printing process for the production of images in accordance with a pattern information signal, comprising a substrate having a coating comprising a binder, one or more anthraquinone dyes of Formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, cyanoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxyalky, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylthioalkyl, tetrahydrofurfuryl, alkenyloxyalkyl, tetrahydrofurfuryloxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, alkoxycarbonyloxyalkyl or alkoxycarbonyloxyalkyl, andR.sup.2 represents any of the substituents represented by R.sup.1 or a radical of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each independently represents hydrogen, halogen, and one or more bisazo dyes of Formula II:A--N.dbd.N--B--N.dbd.N--E IIwherein:A is the residue of a diazotizable phenylamine or naphthylamine, A--NH.sub.

Abstract: An asymmetric membrane formed from a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone has a salt rejection of at least 99%. Alternatively, a membrane has a good salt rejection and an acceptable water flux such that the ratio ##EQU1## has the value of at least 0.7. The membranes can be obtained using barium salts of the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, with the proportion of barium being controlled to be at least 85%, preferably at least 86%, and not more than 91%, preferably not more than 90% of the barium required to react with the sulphonic acid groups on the sulphonated polymer.