Abstract: A light emitting device having a first mirror, an active layer, a second mirror, and a beryllium implantation resulting in a peripheral boundary of a waveguide through the first and second mirrors, the active layer and the trapping layer. A P-N junction is situated within the implantation and the guide. The turn on voltage is lower for the junction within the waveguide than that within the implantation, resulting in confinement of current within the guide at a voltage applied to the device that is greater than the lower junction voltage and less than the higher junction voltage. The device also has an electron trapping layer between said first mirror and said active layer, and a conduction layer situated on said second mirror.

Abstract: A relay device build using MEMS technology and having a semiconductor wafer base with a surface depression having a first electrically conductive surface pattern. A lower diaphragm is moveably positioned above the depression for contact and has a second electrically conductive surface pattern thereon. An upper diaphragm is positioned above the lower diaphragm, with a central electrode mounted between them to selectively attract and move a diaphragm upon application of voltage. A post connects the upper and lower diaphragms to move a diaphragm when the other is moved electrostatically. The diaphragms define a sealed region enclosing the central electrode. The surface patterns may be tapered at their perimiters to provide a contact contour allowing gradually increasing contact as the diaphragm moves toward the surface. The preferred wafer is a silicon wafer, and the diaphragms are polysilicon.

Abstract: A nonrecycling reset switch has a fixed position anchor mounted on bosses in the casing for holding a resilient member of the conductive snap spring which moves between open and closed positions. A leaf spring or other resilient member is anchored adjacent the snap spring to control the force of snap over when the switch opens or is reset to the closed position.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser is provided with a mode control structure that selectively encourages or inhibits the lasing of the laser in regions of the mode control structure. Light is encouraged to lase and emit light through first portions of the mode control structure while lasing is inhibited in second portions. The first and second portions of the mode control structure are patterned by providing different thicknesses for the first and second portions of the mode control structure.

Abstract: A development process of C4 bump pads is for advanced microelectronic integrated circuit connection technology. This approach involves the laying down of conductor lines on a substrate and an encapsulation over the lines, plus the making of openings for making the bump pads. The bump pads are for situating solder balls for connections with a flip chip or integrated circuit. The openings are made by application of a diffusing material that is patterned on the glass encapsulation to define the areas of the bump pads. After the material is dried and diffused into the encapsulation layer, the diffused material is washed out with water to leave open areas for the bump pads. Then solder balls may be placed on the bump pads and heated to adhere to the conductor lines and form rounded bumps on the respective pads. Flux may then be applied to the solder bumps, and the flip chip is placed with its terminals on the solder bumps which are heated for connection.

Abstract: A flow-through visible-light turbidity sensor is constructed from a molded plastic flow tube with an overmolded opaque housing to shield the optical sensing apparatus from ambient light. The housing also secures and covers all electronics for the sensor. The molded parts provide lower cost and less dimensional variation for the sensor as well as the ability to locate conductivity or other physical probe sensor types within the package.

Abstract: A safety restraint sensor system for detecting a latched position and/or an unlatched position of a latch and a buckle. The latch is movably mounted with respect to a housing. A vane projects from the latch. A magnet and a Hall element are mounted with respect to the housing. When the buckle engages the latch, the vane and the buckle move within the magnetic field of the magnet. A magnetic field is distributed through the Hall element by way of the buckle and the vane. The Hall element sends a signal indicating the latched position to an appropriate receptor, such as a safety restraint.

Abstract: A geartooth sensor is provided with a carrier shaped to form a cavity in which semiconductor chips can be disposed. The carrier partially encapsulates a permanent magnet and a lead assembly. Unencapsulated portions of the lead assembly are exposed within the cavity to permit semiconductor components to be attached to a portion of the lead assembly. A cover is attached to the carrier to seal the cavity and protect the magnetically sensitive components located therein. The carrier, with its associated lead assembly and permanent magnet, can then be attached to a printed circuit board and a support structure to form a geartooth sensor. A protective enclosure can be disposed over the sensitive components of the geartooth sensor.

Abstract: A laser structure is provided with two current confining layers of a material that is subject to oxidation in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The laser structure is shaped to expose edges of the current confining layers to permit the edges to be exposed to the oxidizing agent. The current confining layers are oxidized selectively to create electrically resistive material at the oxidized portions and electrically conductive material at the unoxidized portions. The unoxidized portions of the layers are surrounded by the oxidized and electrically resistive portions in order to direct current from one electrical contact pad by passing through a preselected portion of an active region of the laser. The laser structure can be a vertical cavity surface emitting laser. The device achieves the current confining and directing function without the need to use ion bombardment or implantation to provide the current confining structure within the body of the laser.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided with a permanent magnet structure, a magnetically sensitive component and a transparent plate through which the magnetically sensitive component can be selectively trimmed by a laser beam through the transparent plate. The magnetically sensitive component is attached to an under surface of the plate which is provided with conductive runs, conductive circuit points and conductive pads. The magnetically sensitive component is provided with solder bumps that are soldered to the conductive circuit points on the under surface of the transparent plate. The magnetically sensitive component is rigidly attached to the permanent magnet structure by an epoxy or other suitable material. This disposes the magnetically sensitive component between the transparent plate and the permanent magnet structure. The magnetically sensitive component can be calibrated by laser trimming resistors on an integrated chip through the transparent plate.

Abstract: A detector, such as a photodetector, is provided with a serial output and serial input capability so that a first plurality of pulses can be transmitted from the detector in a first preselected direction. The first plurality of pulses represent a coded pattern. When pulses are received by the receiver portion of the detector, the received second plurality of pulses is compared to the first plurality of pulses to determine whether or not the two pluralities of pulses represent precisely matched coded patterns. The use of coded patterns that comprise a plurality of bits, or pulses, significantly decreases the chance of a mis-identification of a received pulse as being representative of a reflected transmitted pulse.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor is operated by a method which provides a magnetic field extending through a preselected detection zone. A permanent magnet can be used to provide the magnetic field. The method disposes a magnetically sensitive component within the magnetic field and the magnetically sensitive component, such as a Hall effect element, provides a first signal that is responsive to a portion of the magnetic field imposed on the magnetically sensitive component. The sensor also determines a base value and measures a maximum magnitude of the first signal during a preselected period of time, such as the time required for a gear to rotate so that all of its ferromagnetic teeth pass through the detection zone. The sensor also determines a reference value as a function of the base value and the maximum magnitude.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for causing a change in the physical condition of an optical fiber in order to analyze the effects of modal noise on a communication system in which the optical fiber is used. One method for performing the physical change is to flex the fiber in a flexing station that comprises two clamps that are attached to generally opposite sides of a multiple turn loop of optical fiber that is twisted to form a figure-eight pattern. The two clamps are moved away from each other and toward each other to flex the optical fiber by twisting, compressing and expanding it. A second means for changing the condition of the optical fiber is to provide an optical attenuation block that is designed to hold opposite termini of the optical fiber at a discontinuity formed therein. Two halves of the block are configured to be movable relative to each other in response to threaded members passing through selective portions of the block.

Abstract: A photodetector is provided with two light sources and a light sensitive component. The use of two light sources significantly reduces the opportunity of a surface feature, or abnormality, from focusing light back toward the light sensitive component in a manner that could possible cause the photodetector to misinterpret the intensified light as being indicative of the absence of an object in the detection zone. The light sources and light sensitive component can be arranged along an axis which is either parallel to the path of the objects to be detected or perpendicular to their path.

Abstract: A laser and photodetector are combined in a common package. This permits the photodetector to monitor the light intensity emitted by the laser. The laser and photodetector can be produced monolithically on a common chip to improve the accuracy of positioning of the various components. The device can be disposed within a common container having a window through which the emitted light passes. The window can be configured to have inside and outside surfaces that selectively reflect a portion of the light back to the photodetector while transmitting the remaining portion of the light through the window to a phototransmissive device, such as an optical fiber. The light reflected back to the photodetector can be focused in a predetermined pattern to cause the light to be accurately received by the photodetector and not fall on the laser.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for causing a change in the physical condition of an optical fiber in order to analyze the effects of modal noise on a communication system in which the optical fiber is used. One method for performing the physical change is to flex the fiber in a flexing station that comprises two clamps that are attached to generally opposite sides of a multiple turn loop of optical fiber that is twisted to form a figure-eight pattern. The two clamps are moved away from each other and toward each other to flex the optical fiber by twisting, compressing and expanding it. A second means for changing the condition of the optical fiber is to provide an optical attenuation block that is designed to hold opposite termini of the optical fiber at a discontinuity formed therein. Two halves of the block are configured to be movable relative to each other in response to threaded members passing through selective portions of the block.

Abstract: A method for washing objects automatically provides the taking of turbidity measurements before and after a portion of water is removed from the dishwasher. This partial drain allows first and second magnitudes of turbidity characteristics, taken before and after the partial drain, to be compared to each other for an analysis of the degree and/or character of particulates within the water of a dishwasher. In certain applications of this method, the turbidity characteristics can be the absolute magnitude of turbidity, the rate of change of turbidity, the absolute magnitude of turbidity variability and the rate of change of the absolute magnitude of turbidity variability. The portion of water removed between the two sets of readings that yield the first and second magnitudes of the selected characteristics is less than the total amount of water within the dishwasher.

Abstract: A laser and photodetector are combined in a common package. This permits the photodetector to monitor the light intensity emitted by the laser. The laser and photodetector can be produced monolithically on a common chip to improve the accuracy of positioning of the various components. The device can be disposed within a common container having a window through which the emitted light passes. The window can be configured to have inside and outside surfaces that selectively reflect a portion of the light back to the photodetector while transmitting the remaining portion of the light through the window to a phototransmissive device, such as an optical fiber. The light reflected back to the photodetector can be focused in a predetermined pattern to cause the light to be accurately received by the photodetector and not fall on the laser.