Abstract: A planar optical device is formed on a substrate (12) and comprising an array of waveguide cores (14) and a cladding layer (16) formed contiguously with the cores. At least one of the array of waveguide cores (14) and the cladding layer (16) is an inorganic-organic hybrid material that comprises an extended matrix containing silicon and oxygen atoms with at least a fraction of the silicon being directly bonded to substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon atoms. In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, a method of forming an array of cores comprises the steps of preparing a core composition precursor material; partially hydrolyzing and polymerizing the material; forming an array of waveguide cores under conditions effective to form an inorganic-organic hybrid material that comprises an extended matrix containing silicon and oxygen atoms with at least a fraction of the silicon being directly bonded to substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon atoms.

Abstract: A binder system for use in the formation of ceramic or other powder-formed greenware which includes a binder, a solvent for the binder, a surfactant, and a component that is non-solvent with respect to the binder and solvent. The non-solvent component exhibits a lower viscosity than the solvent when containing the binder and includes at least a portion of an organic liquid having a 90% recovered distillation temperature of no greater than about 225.degree. C. and more preferably less than 220.degree. C. Also disclosed is a process of forming and shaping plasticized powder mixtures and a process for forming ceramic articles utilizing the binder system.

Abstract: A method of making an imaged ink pattern, wherein an ink receiving surface is formed which has a raised surface pattern thereon and ink is transferred to the raised surface pattern by bringing the raised surface pattern into contacting relationship with an intaglio ink imaging pattern. The raised surface pattern is extended into the intaglio ink imaging pattern so that only the raised surface pattern of the ink receiving surface contacts the ink in the intaglio ink imaging plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation curable ink formulation which has a tan .delta. of from about 0.5 to about 1.5. The radiation curable ink formulation includes a pigment, a radiation cross-linkable monomer or oligomer, and a rheology modifier. Flat panel color filters which contain a black radiation curable ink formulation and one or more colored radiation curable ink formulations are also disclosed. At least one of the black and colored radiation curable ink formulations has a tan .delta. of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 and includes a pigment, a radiation cross-linkable monomer or oligomer, and a rheology modifier. Methods for manufacturing these flat panel color filters are also disclosed. The radiation curable ink formulations of the present invention have the advantage of permitting clean doctoring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A transfer layer is formed on a collector roll, and a raised pattern corresponding to the desired black matrix pattern is formed on the transfer layer by an embossing means. A plurality of colored ink patterns is formed in the appropriate location within the boundaries formed by the raised pattern, thereby forming the multicolor image that will become the color filter. This multicolored image is then transferred to the substrate. Preferably, the multicolored ink pattern is deposited to a substrate while in a deformable state, flattened during the deposition process, and the deformed, more uniform shape of the printed cells is thereafter retained, preferably by curing during deposition to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A raised pattern corresponding to the desired black matrix pattern is formed on a substrate, e.g., by an embossing means. A plurality of colored ink patterns is formed in the appropriate location within the boundaries formed by the raised pattern, thereby forming the multicolor image that will become the color filter.

Abstract: A method for extruding a stiffer powder mixture at lower extrusion pressure involves providing an aqueous mixture of inorganic powder that can be metal, ceramic, glass, glass ceramic, molecular sieve, and/or carbon, fatty acid the main chain of which has at least 12 carbon atoms, thermally gellable cellulose ether binder, and wax that can be paraffin and/or propylene glycol hydroxystearate, wherein the powder is coated with the fatty acid component. If clay is included in the mixture, it is provided as either calcined or hydrous. The mixture is passed through an extruder and through an extrusion die to produce a green extrudate at an extrusion pressure that is equal to or lower than it would be absent the combination of the fatty acid, the cellulose ether binder, and the wax. The mixture in the extruder and the extrudate are stiffer than without this combination.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped article involves forming an aqueous mixture comprising inorganic powder material, supercritical fluid, organic binder component a portion of which is essentially insoluble in water, and aqueous vehicle, and extruding the mixture into a shaped article.

Abstract: A color filter for an AMLCD panel has a pattern of multi-color dots, each dot having red, green, and blue components in a black matrix. Each component is the cured product of a color pigment dispersed in a radiation-curable ink. The ink may be an ink curable by a cationic mechanism, a free-radical ink, or a hybrid, free-radical/cationic ink. The filter is produced by successively applying patterns of colored inks to a transfer roll, collecting the patterns on a collector roll to form an array of multi-color dots that is transferred to the substrate, and irradiating the array of dots to at least partially cure the inks.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of extruding a plasticized inorganic powder mixture having a plasticizing organic binder carried in an aqueous vehicle, by passing the mixture through an extruder and then through a die to produce an extrudate. The improvement involves homogeneously blending in the extruder as part of the mixture, carbon dioxide in the supercritical and/or liquid form, to lower the viscosity of the mixture and produce an extrudate that is stiffer in a shorter time than it would be, absent the carbon dioxide, without increasing the extrusion pressure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making formed glass structures. A glass frit containing material is deposited within a recessed pattern, hardened in the recessed pattern, and transferred to a substrate. The method and apparatus of the invention are particularly useful for forming barrier rib structures for use in plasma display panels.

Abstract: An improvement in a method of extruding a plasticized powder mixture having a thermally gellable binder carried in an aqueous vehicle, by passing the mixture through an extruder and then through a die to produce an extrudate, the improvement being the additional step of contacting the extrudate directly after it leaves the die with an agent for simultaneously lowering the gel point of the binder and dehydrating the extrudate. The result is a stiffening of the extrudate in a shorter time than it would be, absent the additional step.

Abstract: A method of making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A multicolored ink pattern is formed on a collector device, then hardened or cured while on the collector device. The multicolored pattern is then applied to a substrate using a suitable adhesive.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus useful for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A multicolored ink pattern is deposited to a substrate while in a deformable state, flattened during the deposition process, and the deformed, more uniform shape of the printed dot is thereafter retained, preferably by curing during deposition. The transfer layer is preferably formed on a collector roll. A plurality of colored ink patterns is then transferred to the collector roll, preferably from a single pattern roll having multiple patterns thereon, to form the multicolor image that will become the color filter. This multicolored image is then transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A transfer layer is formed on a collector roll, and a raised pattern corresponding to the desired black matrix pattern is formed on the transfer layer by embossing. A plurality of colored ink patterns is formed in the appropriate location within the boundaries formed by the raised pattern, thereby forming the multicolor image that will become the color filter. This multicolored image is then transferred to the substrate. Preferably, the inks are deposited into the black matrix pattern using typographic imaging pins which are smaller than the cells of the black matrix pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making color filters for liquid crystal display panels. A transfer layer is formed on a collector roll, and a raised pattern corresponding to the desired black matrix pattern is formed on the transfer layer by an embossing means. A plurality of colored ink patterns is formed in the appropriate location within the boundaries formed by the raised pattern, thereby forming the multicolor image that will become the color filter. This multicolored image is then transferred to the substrate. Preferably, the inks are deposited into the black matrix pattern using typographic imaging pins which are smaller than the cells of the black matrix pattern.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions having a polymeric component and an inorganic filler which undergoes a crystal (phase) inversion within the operating temperature range of the composition are provided. The present invention relates to a method for reducing the water sensitivity of particles of a crystallized phosphate glass. The particles are composed of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and one or more cations selected from the group consisting of magnesium, cobalt, arsenic, zinc, iron, aluminum, and zirconium. The method includes nitriding the particles.

Abstract: Thermoplastic binder compositions comprising a high molecular weight polymer component and a molten wax component are compounded with sinterable ceramic or other inorganic powders. Upon cooling, a thermally reversible gel is formed in the binder by the gelation of the polymer in the molten wax. Ceramic batches comprising these binders behave as shear-thinning and thermally reversible gels. They exhibit substantially improved dewaxing performance and, preferably, extensibility sufficient for sheet reforming processes.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for encasing an object in a shell or layer of outer material. The encased object and the outer material are formed from sinterable metal or ceramic particulate material. Both the object to be encased and the shell or encasement are formed by extrusion. Novel methods are disclosed by which the object and the outer material can be simultaneously formed by co-extruding the sinterable particulate materials, or by extruding the outer layer onto a formed object using the die assembly of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for packaging an optical waveguide coupler where the coupler includes a body having two end portions and a constricted portion located between the end portions. The method includes placing the coupler in a mold where the mold surrounds at least the constricted portion of the coupler, introducing a polymeric composition into the mold so that the polymeric composition substantially fills the constricted portion, curing the polymeric composition, and removing the mold.