Other

Raychem Limited

Lam Research Corporation

Stephen F Powell

Pravin L Soni

Robert Guerra

Wendell W Moyer

Joseph T Acklin

Timothy R Webb

Jeffrey V Musser

Patrick M Martens

Daniel R Roberts

Enrique Cuellar

A system is disclosed for remotely determining patient compliance with an orthodontic device. This system includes a handheld portable computing device having a camera, and the handheld portable computing device is configured for communication via the Internet. A patient compliance application is executed by the handheld portable computing device, and an image analysis module is associated with the patient compliance application. The image analysis module receives an image from the camera, and the image analysis module analyzes the image to determine a presence status of the removable orthodontic device. The patient compliance application is further configured to communicate the presence status to an orthodontic provider at a remote location relative the user.

Systems and methods for determining patient compliance with an orthodontic device

A method in a plasma processing chamber for etching through a selected portion of a metallization layer of a wafer's layer stack. The method includes the step of etching at least partially through the metallization layer of the layer stack with an etchant source gas that consists essentially of chlorine and nitrogen. In another embodiment, the metallization layer comprises aluminum, and the flow ratio of the chlorine to the nitrogen ranges from about 1:1 to about 10:1. More preferably, the flow ratio of the chlorine to the nitrogen ranges from about 1:1 to about 4:1 and preferably ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1.

High density plasma etching of metallization layer using chlorine and

There is a need in the field of x-ray optics for an oxygen-free polymeric filter. This is because the mass absorption coefficient of oxygen is greater than that of carbon at every energy in the soft x-ray region except for a narrow band between the oxygen k-edge at 543.1 eV and the carbon k-edge at 284.2 eV. This band of frequencies is known as the 'water window.' The present invention is a method of filtering x-rays with the use of a freestanding, thin film of a polymer, metal-polymer composite, mesh-supported polymer film, or mesh-supported metal-polymer composite where the polymeric component of the filter is a PBI or a PPQ. In accordance with the present invention, the soft x-ray transmission of a 2500 angstrom polybenzimidazole film was measured as 3 to 5% more transmissive than either the polyimide DuPont 2610D or the polycarbonate GE Lexan.

Method of filtering x-rays

A method of fabricating free-standing thin films of polyimide by casting a polyamic acid solution onto a substrate that is free of parting agents and release agents is disclosed. The polyamic acid film is imidized on the substrate. The thickness of the polyimide film can range from about 200 .ANG. to about five microns. A frame is adhered to the polyimide film while the film still attached to the substrate, and the frame, film, and substrate assembly is immersed in an aqueous based liquid bath for several hours wherein the liquid bath is free of reactive chemical agents. The liquid bath is heated, preferably, to a temperature within the range 30.degree. to 100.degree. C. The liquid is prevented from contacting the polyimide film within the interior region of the frame. Next, the assembly is removed from the water bath. The film is scored around the outside edge of the frame with a cutting tool; this cutting step may be performed either prior to, during, or after the immersion step. The frame is then detached from the substrate by first lifting only one side of the frame and then pivoting on the edge 180 degrees opposite. The process uses the frame itself to peel the film off the substrate, thereby producing a frame-supported and free-standing polyimide film. The present method omits the use of chemical agents, release agents, parting agents, and other detachment means whose purpose would have been to loosen the bond between the film and the substrate. The polyimide film may be metallized by vacuum evaporation or by sputtering to create a metal-polyimide composite. Free-standing thin polyimide films find particular utility in x-ray optics as bandpass filters and proportional counter entrance windows.

Method of fabrication free-standing thin films of polyimide

The present invention provides polymerizable compositions which may be cured with ultraviolet light to form polymer compositions which are especially useful as channel optical waveguides. In particular, they exhibit stability at elevated temperatures such as occur in, for example, reflow soldering.

Curable compositions and methods for use in forming optical waveguide

A protected fiber optic waveguide comprising:

Growing community of inventors

Woodside, CA, United States of America

Stephen F Powell