Abstract: Electronically tunable and reconfigurable hyperspectral IR detectors and methods for making the same are presented. In one embodiment, a reconfigurable hyperspectral sensor (or detector) detects radiation from about 0.4 ?m to about 2 ?m and beyond. This sensor is configured to be compact, and lightweight and offers hyperspectral imaging capability while providing wavelength agility and tunability at the chip-level. That is, the sensor is used to rapidly image across diverse terrain to identify man-made objects and other anomalies in cluttered environments.

Abstract: Low cost millimeter wave imagers using two-dimensional focal plane arrays based on backward tunneling diode (BTD) detectors. Two-dimensional focal arrays of BTD detectors are used as focal plane arrays in imagers. High responsivity of BTD detectors near zero bias results in low noise detectors that alleviate the need for expensive and heat generating low noise amplifiers or Dicke switches in the imager. BTD detectors are installed on a printed circuit board using flip chip packaging technology and horn antennas direct the waves toward the flip chip including the BTD detectors. The assembly of the horn antennas, flip chips, printed circuit board substrate, and interconnects together work as an imaging sensor. Corrugated surfaces of the components prevent re-radiation of the incident waves.

Abstract: A voltage comparator including a quantum tunneling coupled transistor and a method for tuning the voltage comparator. The comparator includes a quantum tunneling coupled transistor coupled to a resistor and is capable of operating above 10 Giga-samples-per-second or a clock rate of 10 GHz. The comparator has a low power consumption of about 1 mW excluding the power required for clock generation and independent from the sampling rate. The threshold or reference voltage of the comparator is controllable by adjusting the pulse height of the clock signal. The comparator has relatively low hysteresis estimated at about 1 mV.

Abstract: A post-distortion method for cascading amplifier stages in a two-stage microwave power amplifier and a dynamic biasing method using back-end processing for correcting nonlinearity in the power amplifier output. A first or driver stage biased in a near-A region with low distortion is cascaded with a second or power stage biased in a near-C region with high efficiency. The amplitude and phase responses of the two stages compensate another to yield a more linear overall gain for the overall power amplifier. The dynamic biasing scheme modulates the source to drain voltages of the transistors used in the amplifier stages based on the harmonics in amplifier output in order to minimize the harmonics and correct non-linearity in the output.

Abstract: A system and method for recording a reflection Bragg Grating in a photosensitive target. A photosensitive target is located between transmissive members on three sides. Beams incident on one of the transmissive members pass through the other two members before creating an interference within the photosensitive target. Either two transmissive members are used and the second member limits angular mobility of the first, or three members are used and the third member limits angular mobility of the other two. The target is coupled to the transmissive members through a transmissive liquid that has a refractive index similar to the refractive index of the target. Accordingly, angular deviations in the location of the target from the intended location or in the shape of the target only negligibly impact the interference pattern of the beams in the photosensitive target.

Abstract: Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) and single or double heterojunction bipolar transistors with low parasitics, and methods for making the same is presented. A transistor is fabricated such that the collector region underneath a base contact area is deactivated. This results in a drastic reduction of the base-collector parasitic capacitance, Cbc. An embodiment of the present invention provides a transistor architecture for which the base contact area can be decoupled from the collector and hence allows for dramatic reduction in the parasitics of transistors.

Abstract: A system and/or method for temporal profiling of an incident laser pulse. The system and/or method includes a laser beam source for providing the incident laser pulse and a Bragg grating (BG) coupled to receive the incident laser pulse. The BG includes a distribution of diffraction efficiency density at various depths within the BG and provides a plurality of diffracted beamlets from the incident laser pulse. The system and/or method combines the diffracted beamlets into a single temporally shaped laser beam.

Abstract: An InGaAs/InAlAs-based avalanche photodetector provides high gain and high bandwidth over a range of operating biases. A graded transition region alleviates the barrier to electron transport from the absorption region to the multiplication region when an operating bias is applied. The graded transition region is a graded bandgap material with a relatively wide bandwidth in the region closer to the multiplication region and a relatively narrow bandgap in the region closer to the absorption region. In another embodiment, a p-type dopant profile is introduced within the absorption layer to produce an electrostatic field which accelerates electrons towards the multiplication region. In another embodiment, a bi-level multiplication region with a wide bandgap ternary layer and a narrower bandgap quarternary layer is provided at an increased thickness to improve gain per unit length.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes first and second modulator segments. The first and second modulator segments form an optical signal path for an optical signal. The optical modulator also includes an electrical signal path capable of receiving and carrying a modulation signal, which is applied to the optical signal at the first and second modulation segments to generate a modulated optical signal. An inductive element may be disposed between electrical inputs to the first and second modulator segments. The optical modulator may be an electro-absorption modulator (EAM). The inductive element may be an inductor or a transmission line segment.

Abstract: An optical receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises an optical signal branching circuit for receiving a signal light input from an optical transmission line, a discriminator for discriminating an output signal of the optical signal branch circuit, an evaluator for evaluating characteristics of another output signal of the optical signal branching circuit. The evaluator includes a saturable absorber for determining the discrimination threshold of the discriminator.

Abstract: A unified policy management system for an organization including a central policy server and remotely situated policy enforcers. The central policy server includes a central database storing configuration information for the remotely situated policy enforcers. Each policy enforcer includes a policy enforcer database storing a portion of the configuration information associated with the policy enforcer. Changes in the policy settings made at the central policy server are stored in a log for later processing and sending to the appropriate policy enforcers. Upon receipt of the change information, each receiving policy enforcer updates the portion of its policy enforcer database affected by the change.

Abstract: High resolution projected digital images are produced by projecting in quick succession slightly different and slightly displaced low resolution images which are digitally derived from an image having several times more pixels than any single image the projector can project. The result is that the viewer perceives a single image with substantially higher resolution.

Abstract: A pipe running tool for use in an oil drilling system and the like comprises a lower drive shaft adapted to engage a drive shaft of a top drive assembly for rotation therewith. The pipe running tool further includes a lower pipe engagement assembly which is driven to rotate by the lower drive shaft, and is designed to releasably engage a pipe segment in such a manner to substantially prevent relative rotation between the two. Thus, when the lower pipe engagement assembly is actuated to securely hold a pipe segment, the top drive assembly may be actuated to rotate the top drive output shaft, which causes the lower drive shaft and lower pipe engagement assembly to rotate, which in turn rotates the pipe segment. The pipe running tool having a greater slip back offset such that drill pipe and drill pipe tool joints may be passed through the central passageway of the tool without interfering with the front of the slip.

Abstract: A system for indicating to a message subscriber when a message has been left for that subscriber accommodates multiple time zones by providing information to the subscriber related to the subscriber's time zone indicating that the message was left. When the caller leaves his message, the caller's time zone is determined based the caller's phone number's time zone determined from a database corresponding these data. Then the subscriber's local time zone is determined. The difference in time zones is determined and the time indicated to the subscriber is related to the subscriber's time zone, not the caller's, by adding or subtracting the appropriate amount of time indicated by the difference in time between the time zones to give the subscriber the time of the call in the subscriber's local zone.

Abstract: Encoded video recorder/player timer preprogramming information listed in a television calendar allows a timer preprogramming feature on a video cassette recorder VCR to be programmed using a compressed code of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder built into a remote control, video cassette recorder, television or other video device to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. The compressed code indications associated with each television program can be printed in a television program calendar in advance. The user would use the remote control or controls on the video device to enter the code that signifies the program to be recorded. The channel, date, time and length information is used to select channels, start recording, and stop recording at the appropriate time.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a media storage disk of a kind having a surface forming a central hole. The apparatus includes a base portion and two arms, each arm resiliently cantilevered and extending substantially perpendicular from the base portion. A disk locating means includes two portions, each having a disk engageable region. The two portions are also articulated to each other about an articulation axis and each portion is pivotally connected to one of the arms, respectively, about a pivot axis, the articulation axis located between the pivot axes. The two portions are moveable in a manner that moves the articulation axis from a side on one side of and between the two pivot axes, wherein the two portions are in a disk securing condition, to a position on the other side of and between the two pivot axes, wherein the two portions are in a disk releasing condition.

Abstract: A high temperature battery of one or more cells is disclosed in which each cell is made by holding an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, of different metallic substances, together through a fused flux wetted to an electrode, which fused flux is an electrolyte, to make an anode-to-cathode contact, and the anode-to-cathode contact is heated, by a heat source, to a high temperature above a threshold temperature to generate voltaic voltage, in excess of any thermoelectric voltage; such batteries with electrodes of various configurations are disclosed. The heat-activated flux and electrolyte, such as borax, may have, vegetable-growth ashes or chemical constituents of ashes, such as lithium carbonate, added to the heat-activated flux and electrolyte to catalyze or improve the current-generating capability of the battery. The preferred anode substance is aluminum, and the preferred cathode substance is copper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption by gallium arsenide integrated circuits divides the integrated circuit into higher and lower frequency sections. The high frequency sections require a substantial portion of the system clock period to resolve their longest combinatorial paths. The lower frequency sections require a relatively small portion of the system clock period to resolve their longest combinatorial logic paths. The combinatorial logic paths of each of such lower frequency sections are designed using logic gates which are capable of being decoupled from the chip power supply by way of a power enable input. Edge triggered memory circuits such as flip-flops are also designed using the reduced power logic gates, except for their cross-coupled outputs so that they may retain their state.

Abstract: An automated system and process is provided for pooling samples from a multiplicity of blood or plasma donations for subsequent testing to uniquely identify any such blood or plasma donations which may be infected with a particular virus. The system includes an autosampler needle which is directly inserted into a blood or plasma sample aliquot container in order to withdraw an aliquot portion of the contents for forming a sample pool with aliquot portions of other blood or plasma samples. The autosampler comprises a tubular piercing member having a hollow interior bore and a tubular shroud surrounding the piercing member.