Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removing contaminants from an ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles, said method comprising:
a) applying a heat-activatable adhesive material over the surface of said nozzle plate having contaminants on the surface thereof;
b) applying heat to said heat-activatable adhesive material to cause it to flow over the surface of said nozzle plate having contaminants on the surface thereof, thereby causing said contaminants to adhere to said heat-activatable adhesive material; and
d) removing said heat-activatable adhesive material having said contaminants adhered thereto.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein pressure is also applied to said heat-activatable adhesive material.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said heat-activatable material is a wax, a colloidal dispersion, a hot-melt polymer, a thermal-curable or photo-curable material or a thermally reversible polymer gel.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said heat-activatable material comprises a thermally reversible polymer gel of a tri-block copolymer of poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate).
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said heat-activatable material contains an organic solvent.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein said heat-activatable material also comprises a thermal-curable or photo-curable material.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said heat-activatable material also contains a cross-linking agent.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said heat-activatable adhesive material is carried by a support which forms a tape which is then applied over the surface of said nozzle plate having contaminants on the surface thereof, and the removal of said heat-activatable adhesive material having said contaminants adhered thereto is accomplished by peeling off said tape from said nozzle plate.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An electronic circuit comprising:
a first transistor having a source terminal coupled to a first node and a drain terminal coupled to a second node, wherein the first transistor has a first nominal threshold voltage;
a second transistor of the same type as the first transistor, the second transistor having a source terminal coupled to the first node and a drain terminal coupled to the second node, wherein the second transistor has a second nominal threshold voltage;
a third transistor having a drain terminal coupled to the second node and a source terminal coupled to a third node, the third transistor being of a different type than the first and second transistors, wherein the third transistor has a third nominal threshold voltage, and wherein gate terminals of the first and third transistors are coupled together; and
a fourth transistor having a drain terminal coupled to the second node and a source terminal coupled to the third node, the fourth transistor being of the same type as the third transistor, wherein the fourth transistor has a fourth nominal threshold voltage, and wherein gate terminals of the second and fourth transistors are coupled together;
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth nominal threshold voltages is different from each of the other ones of the first, second, third, and fourth nominal threshold voltages.
2. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of transistors including the first transistor and a second plurality of transistors including the second transistor, wherein each of the transistors of the first plurality is configured to activate based on the first nominal threshold voltage, and wherein each of the transistors of the second plurality is configured to activate based on the second nominal threshold voltage.
3. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 2, further comprising a third plurality of transistors including the third transistor and a fourth plurality of transistors including the fourth transistor, wherein each of the third plurality of transistors is configured to activate based on the third nominal threshold voltage and wherein each of the fourth plurality of transistors is configured to activate based on the fourth nominal threshold voltage.
4. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 3, wherein each transistor of the first and second pluralities of transistors is a p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor, and wherein each transistor of the third and fourth plurality of transistors is an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor.
5. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first transistor has a first nominal gate oxide thickness, and wherein the second transistor has a second nominal gate oxide thickness different from the first nominal gate oxide thickness.
6. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first transistor has a first nominal channel dopant density, and wherein the second transistor has a second nominal channel dopant density different from the first channel dopant density.
7. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes a NAND gate.
8. The electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes an inverter.
9. A logic gate comprising:
a plurality of p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors including a first subset of PMOS transistors having a first PMOS transistor, wherein each PMOS transistor of the first subset of PMOS transistors is configured to activate based on a first gate-source voltage, and a second subset of PMOS transistors including a second PMOS transistor, wherein each PMOS transistor of the second subset of PMOS transistors is configured to activate responsive to a second gate-source voltage different from the first gate-source voltage; and
a plurality of n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors including a first subset of NMOS transistors having a first NMOS transistor, wherein each NMOS transistor of the first subset of NMOS transistors is configured to activate based on a third gate-source voltage, and a second subset of NMOS transistors including a second NMOS transistor, wherein each NMOS transistor of the second subset of NMOS transistors is configured to activate responsive to a fourth gate-source voltage different from the third gate-source voltage;
wherein a gate terminal of each of the plurality of PMOS transistors is coupled to a corresponding gate terminal of a corresponding one of the plurality of NMOS transistors.
10. The logic gate as recited in claim 9, wherein the first subset of PMOS transistors includes a greater number of PMOS transistors than the second subset of PMOS transistors.
11. The logic gate as recited in claim 9, wherein the first subset of NMOS transistors includes a greater number of NMOS transistors than the second subset of NMOS transistors.
12. The logic gate as recited in claim 9, wherein the logic gate is configured to perform at least one of a NAND function and an invert function.
13. An integrated circuit comprising:
a plurality of logic gates, wherein the power switch circuit and each of the plurality of logic gates includes a first plurality of p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors, a second plurality of PMOS transistors, a first plurality of n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors, and a second plurality of NMOS transistors, wherein:
each of the PMOS transistors of the first plurality of PMOS transistors is configured to become active responsive to a gate-source voltage less than a first nominal threshold voltage;
each of the PMOS transistors of the second plurality of PMOS transistors is configured to become active responsive to a gate-source voltage less than a second nominal threshold voltage;
each of the NMOS transistors of the first plurality of NMOS transistors is configured to become active responsive to a gate-source voltage greater than a third nominal threshold voltage;
each of the NMOS transistors of the second plurality of NMOS transistors is configured to become active responsive to a gate-source voltage greater than a fourth nominal threshold voltage;
wherein a gate terminal of each of the first plurality of PMOS transistors is coupled to a gate terminal of a corresponding one of the first plurality of NMOS transistors; and
wherein a gate terminal of each of the second plurality of PMOS transistors is coupled to a gate terminal of a corresponding one of the second plurality of NMOS transistors.
14. The integrated circuit as recited in claim 13, wherein the first nominal threshold voltage is less than the second nominal threshold voltage, and wherein the third nominal threshold voltage is greater than the fourth nominal threshold voltage.
15. The integrated circuit as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the first plurality of PMOS transistors has a channel dopant density different from that of the second plurality of PMOS transistors, and wherein each of the first plurality of NMOS transistors has a channel dopant density different from that of the second plurality of NMOS transistors.
16. The integrated circuit as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of logic gates includes a greater number of the first plurality of PMOS transistors than of the second plurality of PMOS transistors, and further includes a greater number of the first plurality of NMOS transistors than of the second plurality of NMOS transistors.
17. The integrated circuit as recited in claim 13, further comprising a power switch, wherein the power switch includes one or more of the first plurality of NMOS transistors and one or more of the second plurality of NMOS transistors.
18. The integrated circuit as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of logic gates is configured to perform a NAND function, and wherein at least one of the plurality of logic gates is configured to perform an invert function.

1. An electroluminescent device comprising a substrate, a first electrode supported by the substrate, a second electrode positioned over the first electrode, and a layer including at least one semiconductive polymer between the first and second electrodes, wherein said semiconductive polymer is a copolymer in which one of the repeat units is a group of formula (I) or a homopolymer in which the repeat unit is a group of formula (I):
wherein:
A and B are the same or different and each comprises wholly or partially an aryl moiety or a heteroaryl moiety, said moiety in A being fused to the bond a-b and said moiety in B being fused to the bond c-d; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the bond a-b and the bond c-d about the bond b-d.
2. An electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said aryl moiety is an aromatic hydrocarbon moeity having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryloxy groups and alkoxy groups;
wherein the alkyl groups are straight or branched-chain alkyl groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the haloalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one halogen atom;
the alkoxy groups are straight or branched-chain alkoxy groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the alkoxyalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one alkoxy group; and
the aryl moiety of the aryloxy groups is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups and alkoxy groups.
3. An electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said heteroaryl moiety is a 5- to 7-membered aromatic heterocyclic moiety containing from one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, said moiety optionally being substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryloxy groups and alkoxy groups;
wherein the alkyl groups are straight or branched-chain alkyl groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the haloalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one halogen atom;
the alkoxy groups are straight or branched-chain alkoxy groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the alkoxyalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one alkoxy group; and
the aryl moiety of the aryloxy groups is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups and alkoxy groups.
4. An electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said repeat unit of formula (I) is a group of formula (II):
wherein:
Y1 and Y2 are the same or different and each represents a single bond or a linking unit that is conjugated with the phenyl group to which it is attached; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl groups about the bond b-d.
5. An electroluminescent device according to claim 4, wherein each of Y1 and Y2 is a single bond.
6. An electroluminescent device according to claim 1, wherein said repeat unit of formula (I) is a group of formula (III):
wherein:
m and n are the same or different and each is 0 or an integer of 1, 2 or 3;
R1 and R2 are same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
wherein the alkyl groups are straight or branched-chain alkyl groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the haloalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one halogen atom;
the alkoxy groups are straight or branched-chain alkoxy groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the alkoxyalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one alkoxy group;
the aryl groups are aromatic hydrocarbon groups having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
the aryl moiety of the aryloxy group is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups and alkoxy groups;
the aralkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one aryl group; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl rings about the bond b-d.
7. An electroluminescent device according to claim 6, wherein X is a moiety of formula -A-B-C- wherein:
A, B and C are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, SO2, NR3, N+(R3\u2032)(R3\u2033), C(R4)(R5), Si(R4\u2032)(R5\u2032), and P(O)(OR6);
R3, R3\u2032 and R3\u2033 are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups, and alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one group of formula \u2014N+(R7)3 wherein each group R7 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups and aryl groups;
R4, R5, R4\u2032 and R5\u2032 are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, halogen atoms, nitro groups, cyano groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups and alkyl groups which are substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, fluorenyl groups and spirobifluorenyl groups, said aryl, heteroaryl, fluorenyl and spirobifluorenyl groups being substituted with a disubstituted amino group the substituents of which are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, fluorenyl groups and spirobifluorenyl groups, or R4 and R5 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent a carbonyl group;
R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups and aralkyl groups; and
said heteroaryl groups are 5- to 7-membered aromatic heterocyclic groups containing from one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, said groups optionally being substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryloxy groups and alkoxy groups.
8. An electroluminescent device according to claim 7, wherein m and n are each 0 and X is a linking unit of formula -A-B-C- wherein A and C each represent a methylene group and B is selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO2, NR3, N+(R3\u2032)(R3\u2033) and C(R4)(R5).
9. An electroluminescent device according to claim 7, wherein m and n are each 0 and X is a linking unit of formula -A-B-C- wherein A and C each represent O or S and B is a group of formula C(R4)(R5) wherein R4 and R5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from one to ten carbon atoms.
10. An electroluminescent device according to claim 7, wherein the unit of formula (III) is selected from the following group:
11. A semiconductive polymer, wherein said semiconductive polymer is a copolymer in which one of the repeat units is a group of formula (II) or a homopolymer in which the repeat unit is a group of formula (II):
wherein:
Y1 and Y2 are the same or different and each represents a single bond or a linking unit that is conjugated with the phenyl group to which it is attached; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl groups about the bond b-d;
with the proviso that, where Y1 and Y2 each represent a single bond, X may not represent a linking unit selected from the group consisting of \u2014CO\u2014O\u2014CO\u2014, \u2014CO\u2014NH\u2014CO\u2014 and \u2014O\u2014P(O)(OH)\u2014O\u2014,
and where Y1 represents a phenyl group which is fused with the phenyl group to which it is attached to form a naphthalenyl group and Y2 represents a phenyl group which is fused with the phenyl group to which it is attached to form a naphthalenyl group, X may not represent a group of formula \u2014O\u2014CH2\u2014O\u2014.
12. A semiconductive polymer, wherein said semiconductive polymer is a copolymer in which one of the repeat units is a group of formula (III) or a semiconductive homopolymer in which the repeat unit is a group of formula (III):
wherein:
m and n are the same or different and each is 0 or an integer of 1, 2 or 3;
R1 and R2 are same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
wherein the alkyl groups are straight or branched-chain alkyl groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the haloalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one halogen atom;
the alkoxy groups are straight or branched-chain alkoxy groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the alkoxyalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one alkoxy group;
the aryl groups are aromatic hydrocarbon groups having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
the aryl moiety of the aryloxy group is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups and alkoxy groups;
the aralkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one aryl group; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl rings about the bond b-d;
with the proviso that, where R1 and R2 are bound by a single bond, X may not represent a linking unit selected from the group consisting of \u2014CO\u2014O\u2014CO\u2014, \u2014CO\u2014NH\u2014CO\u2014 and \u2014O\u2014P(O)(OH)\u2014O\u2014.
13. A semiconductive polymer according to claim 12, wherein the polymer is selected from copolymers of the following general formulae (IV), (V), (VI) and (VII):
wherein:
(I) is a repeat unit of formula III; and
D1, D2 and D3 are repeat units which are conjugated with the adjacent units in the polymer chain, n1 is an integer greater than 3, the ratio of x:y is from 99:1 to 1:99, and the ratio of x:(y+z) is from 99:1 to 1:99.
14. A semiconductive polymer according to claim 13, wherein the repeat units D1, D2 and D3 are selected from the following conjugated units of formulae (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV) and (XV):
wherein:
each of R8 to R15 and R17 to R33 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups and groups of formula \u2014COR16 wherein R16 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups, amino groups, alkylamino groups including the alkyl groups, dialkylamino groups including two alkyl groups wherein each alkyl group is the same or different, aralkyloxy groups including the aralkyl group and haloalkoxy groups comprising an alkoxy group which is substituted with at least one halogen atom;
each of Z1, Z2 and Z3 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, SO2, NR3, N+(R3\u2032)(R3\u2033), C(R4)(R5), Si(R4\u2032)(R5\u2032) and P(O)(OR6), wherein;
R3, R3\u2032 and R3\u2033 are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups, and alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one group of formula \u2014N+(R7)3 wherein each group R7 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups and aryl groups;
R4, R5, R4\u2032 and R5\u2032 are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, halogen atoms, nitro groups, cyano groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups and alkyl groups which are substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, fluorenyl groups and spirobifluorenyl groups, said aryl, heteroaryl, fluorenyl and spirobifluorenyl groups being substituted with a disubstituted amino group the substituents of which are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, fluorenyl groups and spirobifluorenyl groups, or R4 and R5 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent a carbonyl group; and
R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups and aralkyl groups;
said heteroaryl groups are 5- to 7-membered aromatic heterocyclic groups containing from one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, said groups optionally being substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryloxy groups and alkoxy groups;
each of X1, X2, X3 and X4 is the same or different and is selected from:
aryl moieties having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryloxy groups and alkoxy groups;
straight or branched-chain alkylene groups having from one to six carbon atoms;
straight or branched-chain alkenylene groups having from two to six carbon atoms; and
straight or branched-chain alkynylene groups having from one to six carbon atoms; or
X1 and X2 together andor X3 and X4 together can represent a linking group of formula (V) below:
wherein X5 represents an aryl moiety;
each of e1, e2, f1 and f2 is the same or different and is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3;
each of g, q1, q2, q3 and q4 is the same or different and is 0, 1, or 2;
each of h1, h2, j1, j2, j3, l1, l2, l3, l4, r and s is the same or different and is 0 or an integer of 1 to 4;
each of i, k1, k2, o1 and o2 is the same or different and is 0 or an integer of 1 to 5; and
each of p1, p2, p3 and p4 is 0 or 1.
15. A semiconductive polymer according to claim 14, wherein the repeat unit D1, D2 or D3 is a unit of formula (VIII); and
Z1, Z2 and Z3 are selected from the group consisting of O, S and C(R4)(R5).
16. A semiconductive polymer according to claim 14, wherein said polymer is a statistical copolymer of formula (VI) wherein D1 is selected from the conjugated units of formulae (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI), (XII), (XIII), (XIV), and (XV)
and the ratio x:y is from 10:90 to 50:50.
17. An optical device comprising a substrate and at least one semiconductive polymer supported by said substrate, wherein said semiconductive polymer is selected from copolymers of the following general formulae (IV), (V), (VI) and (VII):
wherein:
(I) is a repeat unit of formula III;
wherein:
m and n are the same or different and each is 0 or an integer of 1, 2 or 3;
R1 and R2 are same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
wherein the alkyl groups are straight or branched-chain alkyl groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the haloalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one halogen atom;
the alkoxy groups are straight or branched-chain alkoxy groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the alkoxyalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one alkoxy group;
the aryl groups are aromatic hydrocarbon groups having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
the aryl moiety of the aryloxy group is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups and alkoxy groups;
the aralkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one aryl group;
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl rings about the bond b-d;
with the proviso that, where R1 and R2 are bound by a single bond, X may not represent a linking unit selected from the group consisting of \u2014CO\u2014O\u2014CO\u2014, \u2014CO\u2014NH\u2014CO\u2014 and \u2014O\u2014P(O)(OH)\u2014O\u2014, and
D1, D2 and D3 are repeat units which are conjugated with the adjacent units in the polymer chain, n1 is an integer greater than 3, the ratio of x:y is from 99:1 to 1:99, and the ratio of x:(y+z) is from 99:1 to 1:99.
18. An optical device comprising a substrate and at least one semiconductive polymer supported by said substrate, wherein said semiconductive polymer is a copolymer in which one of the repeat units is a group of formula (II) or a homopolymer in which the repeat unit is a group of formula (II):
wherein:
Y1 and Y2 are each single bonds; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl groups about the bond b-d.
19. An optical device comprising a substrate and at least one semiconductive polymer supported by said substrate, wherein said semiconductive polymer is a copolymer in which one of the repeat units is a group of formula (III) or a homopolymer in which the repeat unit is a group of formula (III):
wherein:
m and n are the same or different and each is 0 or an integer of 1, 2 or 3;
R1 and R2 are same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
wherein the alkyl groups are straight or branched-chain alkyl groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the haloalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one halogen atom;
the alkoxy groups are straight or branched-chain alkoxy groups having from one to 20 carbon atoms;
the alkoxyalkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one alkoxy group;
the aryl groups are aromatic hydrocarbon groups having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, and aralkyl groups;
the aryl moiety of the aryloxy group is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from six to 14 carbon atoms in one or more rings which may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups and alkoxy groups;
the aralkyl groups are alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one aryl group; and
X is a linking unit, X being such that there is a torsion angle of at least 5\xb0 between the two phenyl rings about the bond b-d.
20. An optical device according to claim 19, wherein X is a moiety of formula -A-B-C- wherein:
A, B and C are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO, SO2, NR3, N+(R3\u2032)(R3\u2033), C(R4)(R5), Si(R4\u2032)(R5\u2032), and P(O)(OR6);
R3, R3\u2032 and R3\u2033 are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups, and alkyl groups which are substituted with at least one group of formula \u2014N+(R7)3 wherein each group R7 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups and aryl groups;
R4, R5, R4\u2032 and R5\u2032 are the same or different and each is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, halogen atoms, nitro groups, cyano groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, aralkyl groups and alkyl groups which are substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, fluorenyl groups and spirobifluorenyl groups, said aryl, heteroaryl, fluorenyl and spirobifluorenyl groups being substituted with a disubstituted amino group the substituents of which are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, fluorenyl groups and spirobifluorenyl groups, or R4 and R5 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached represent a carbonyl group;
R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups and aralkyl groups; and
said heteroaryl groups are 5- to 7-membered aromatic heterocyclic groups containing from one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of sulfur atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, said groups optionally being substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of nitro groups, cyano groups, amino groups, alkyl groups, haloalkyl groups, alkoxyalkyl groups, aryloxy groups and alkoxy groups.
21. An optical device according to claim 20, wherein m and n are each 0 and X is a linking unit of formula -A-B-C- wherein A and C each represent a methylene group and B is selected from the group consisting of O, S, SO2, NR3, N+(R3\u2032)(R3\u2033) and C(R4)(R5).
22. An optical device according to claim 20, wherein m and n are each 0 and X is a linking unit of formula -A-B-C- wherein A and C each represent O or S and B is a group of formula C(R4)(R5) wherein R4 and R5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from one to ten carbon atoms.
23. An optical device according to claim 20, wherein the unit of formula (III) is selected from the following group:

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for securing a data set, the method steps implemented by a programmed computer system, the method steps comprising:
encrypting, using a hardware processor, the data set based on an encryption key to produce an encrypted data set;
creating hash information based on a hash operation using the data set;
generating data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed;
separating the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information, wherein each share contains one or more, but not all, of the units of data of the encrypted data set, and wherein at least two of the plurality of shares contain different amounts of the encrypted data set;
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encryption key and the hash information; and
causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations;
wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a deterministic technique.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a substantially random technique.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a plurality of data units in each of the shares to be rearranged relative to one another after the separating step.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data into the plurality of shares comprises causing the plurality of shares to have a substantially randomly distribution of the encrypted data set.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the encryption key comprises data created using a Shamir secret sharing algorithm.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of including data indicative of the encryption key comprises:
encrypting the encryption key with a second key; and
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encrypted encryption key.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the method step of storing the second key outside of the plurality of shares, wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares, and the second key.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate storage locations are located on at least two separate storage devices.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to carry out a method for securing a data set, the method comprising the steps of:
encrypting the data set based on an encryption key to produce an encrypted data set;
creating hash information based on a hash operation using the data set;
generating data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed;
separating the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information, wherein each share contains one or more, but not all, of the units of data of the encrypted data set, and wherein at least two of the plurality of shares contain different amounts of the encrypted data set;
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encryption key and the hash information; and
causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations;
wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a deterministic technique.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a substantially random technique.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises causing a plurality of data units of the encrypted data set to be rearranged relative to one another after the separating step.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data into the plurality of shares comprises causing the plurality of shares to have a substantially randomly distribution of the encrypted data set.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the data indicative of the encryption key comprises data created using a Shamir secret sharing algorithm.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the step of including data indicative of the encryption key comprises:
encrypting the encryption key with a second key; and
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encrypted encryption key.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises storing the second key outside of the plurality of shares, wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares, and the second key.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the separate storage locations are located on at least two separate storage devices.
19. A computer system for securing a data set, the system comprising:
at least one processor;
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to carry out the following steps:
encrypting the data set based on an encryption key to produce an encrypted data set;
creating hash information based on a hash operation using the data set;
generating data splitting information, wherein the data splitting information is usable to determine into which of a plurality of shares of data a unit of data of the encrypted data set will be placed;
separating the encrypted data set into the plurality of shares based on the data splitting information, wherein each share contains one or more, but not all, of the units of data of the encrypted data set, and wherein at least two of the plurality of shares contain different amounts of the encrypted data set;
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encryption key and the hash information; and
causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations;
wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a deterministic technique.
21. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data set comprises using a substantially random technique.
22. The system of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises causing a plurality of data units of the encrypted data set to be rearranged relative to one another after the separating step.
23. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of separating the encrypted data into the plurality of shares comprises causing the plurality of shares to have a substantially randomly distribution of the encrypted data set.
24. The system of claim 19, wherein data indicative of the encryption key comprises data that was created using a Shamir secret sharing algorithm.
25. The system of claim 19, wherein the step of including data indicative of the encryption key comprises:
encrypting the encryption key with a second key; and
including in the plurality of shares data indicative of the encrypted encryption key.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the method further comprises storing the second key outside of the plurality of shares, wherein the data set is restorable by accessing less than all, but at least a threshold number of, the plurality of shares, and the second key.
27. The system of claim 19, wherein the separate storage locations are located on at least two separate storage devices.
28. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate storage locations are located on one storage device.
29. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate storage locations are geographically separated.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations comprises causing the plurality of shares to be stored in respective separate storage locations.
31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the separate storage locations are located on one storage device.
32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the separate storage locations are geographically separated.
33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations comprises causing the plurality of shares to be stored in respective separate storage locations.
34. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the separate storage locations are located on one storage device.
35. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the separate storage locations are geographically separated.
36. The computer system of claim 19, wherein causing the plurality of shares to be stored in separate storage locations comprises causing the plurality of shares to be stored in respective separate storage locations.