Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting ultra wide-band signals using circuitry having nonlinear dynamics characteristics are disclosed. The receiver circuit can be implemented using a simple tunnel diode or using an op-amp to provide dynamic characteristics. The detector can be used in a variety of modulation schemes, including but not limited to an ON-OFF keying scheme, an M-ary pulse position modulation scheme, and a pulse width modulation scheme. The approach requires only a single frame to detect the signal.

Abstract: A computerized method for building and running natural language understanding systems, wherein a natural language understanding system takes a sentence as input and returns some representation of the possible meanings of the sentence as output (the “interpretation”) using a run-time interpreter th assigns interpretations to sentences and a compiler that produces (in a computer memory) an internal specification needed for the run-time interpreter from a user specification of the semantics of the application. The compiler builds a natural language system, while the run-time interpreter runs the system.

Abstract: An MPEG-2 or other compressed video stream (CP) can be manipulated as separate information bus (IB) and coefficient (CP*) streams. The information bus stream (IB) contains motion vector information but also information derived from a previous decoding operation (14, 18) for use in a subsequent coding operation (22). Processing in the coefficient domain enables bit rate conversion without decoding to the pixel level and also simplifies the combination of MPEG layers.

Abstract: A mechanically compliant probe for electrically connecting to contact pads on microelectronic devices. The probe is used for burn-in of integrated circuits at the wafer level. Additional applications include probe cards for testing integrated circuits and sockets for flip-chips. One embodiment of the probe includes a probe tip which is held on an extension arm projecting laterally from an elongated flat spring. The spring is supported above a substrate by posts such that the probe tip moves vertically in response to a contact force on the probe tip. Deflection of the probe tip is compliantly limited by bending and torsional flexure of the sheet spring. Mechanical compliance of the tip allows arrays of the probe to contact pads on integrated circuits where the pads are not precisely planar.

Abstract: An metal programmable integrated circuit apparatus and method of manufacture and design using elevated metal layers for design-specific customization. The lower metal layer are used to form core cells and to provide power and clocking signals to the core cells. These core cell are customizable by the designer using only the upper metal layers. This new architecture allows faster turn-around time and fewer masks while keeping the time-to-market advantages of gate array structures.

Abstract: A microlens structure such as a solid immersion lens structure is a radiation transmissive pliant elastomer cast to a desired shape and smoothness. A method for construction of a solid immersion lens structure includes providing a mold defining a lens shaped cavity in which a solid immersion lens is cast, casting a translucent liquid elastomeric material into the lens cavity, permitting the elastomeric material to set to form the solid immersion lens portion and removing the solid immersion lens portion from the mold. A specific material for use as the solid immersion lens is a translucent silicone elastomer of a refractive index greater than n=1.4, such as General Electric RTV 615.

Abstract: An IC laser array package is provided wherein standard CMOS integrated circuit (IC) processes are used for fabricating the controller for the laser array and wherein p-channel MOSFET devices are used as switches with the controller which short the anode of the selected laser in the array (connected to the drain of the p-channel MOSFET switches) to ground. In this structure, the modulating signal from the driver input can be applied to the common cathode substrate of the laser array bar in a standard package, along with a negative dc bias current provided from the negative voltage dc bias package pin through an inductor, in the same built-in bias tee manner previously used with a standard single-laser 14-pin package. Because the p-channel MOSFETs are used only as switches, their ft values are typically not a material hindrance to the circuit operation.

Abstract: In packet communication, a method for automatically classifying packet flows for use in allocating bandwidth resources and the like by a rule of assignment of a service level. By rendering discoverable the attributes of a flow specification for packet flows, a finer grained hierarchy of classification is provided automatically that is based on information which is specific to the type of program or application supported by the flow and thus allowing greater flexibility in control over different flows within the same application. The method comprises applying individual instances of traffic classification paradigms to packet network flows based on selectable information obtained from a plurality of layers to define a characteristic class, then mapping the flow to the defined traffic class. The flow specification is provided with some application-specific attributes, some of which are discoverable.

Abstract: A pipelined digital-to-analog converter (DAC) converts a digital input to an analog output. The pipelined DAC has a plurality of stages. A first of the plurality of stages is coupled to an initialization capacitor and ground. Each of the remainder of the plurality of stages is coupled to a respective previous stage. Each of the plurality of stages includes a capacitor, a first switch and a second switch. The capacitor has first and second plates. The capacitor receives a charge at the first plate in accordance with an associated bit of the digital input. The first switch couples the first plate of the capacitor to ground when the capacitor is not receiving the charge. The second switch couples the second plate of the capacitor to ground when the capacitor is receiving the charge. Coupling the capacitor to ground reduces the effect of stray capacitance in the pipelined DAC, improving its performance.

Abstract: According to a supercritical drying method of this invention, a substrate having a pattern is dipped in water and rinsed with water. Then, the substrate is placed in the reaction chamber of a predetermined sealable vessel, and surfactant-added liquid carbon dioxide is introduced into the reaction chamber. The substrate is dipped in surfactant-added liquid carbon dioxide, and liquid carbon dioxide is changed to the supercritical state. After that, supercritical carbon dioxide is gasified.

Abstract: A micro-resonator ferrite microstrip coupling filter that has reduced susceptibility to variations in the manufacturing process, as well as from changes due to mechanical or environmental stress, and allows for an assembly process that can be easily automated. The filter comprises bottom and top substrates with conductive ground planes on one side of the substrates and microstrip conductors on the other side of the substrates, with the conductors of both substrates being orthogonal to each other. A circuit block is disposed between the bottom and top substrates such that the circuit block contacts the sides of the substrates containing microstrip conductors. Multiple YIG spheres are inserted into round orifices on the circuit block and positioned between the bottom and top substrates. A magnetic field is applied orthogonally to the conductors.

Abstract: A solid immersion lens structure is a translucent pliant elastomer cast to a desired shape and smoothness. A method for construction of a solid immersion lens structure includes providing a mold defining a lens shaped cavity in which a solid immersion lens is cast, casting a translucent liquid elastomeric material into the lens cavity, permitting the elastomeric material to set to form the solid immersion lens portion and removing the solid immersion lens portion from the mold. A specific material for use as the solid immersion lens is a translucent silicone elastomer of a refractive index greater than n=1.4, such as General Electric RTV 615.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detection and control of multiple-axis active alignment for a free-space-coupled single-mode fiber-optic transmission system that automatically optimizes the coupling through the system. In a specific embodiment, a measurement of coupled power is made and error signals are used to control actuation via four axes of beam steering elements to null four generally orthogonal alignment errors (combinations of two lateral errors and two angular errors) of the beam between the input and output fibers. The four alignment errors are detected using a synchronous-detection approach. A feedback control system nulls the four errors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for processing a wide dynamic range analog signal which comprises a compressive nonlinear transfer function responsive to the average amplitude of the signal without feedback along the signal path. The invention employs frequency selective filtering and expansion of the compressed signal. The invention is applicable to any analog signal system having a plurality of channels carrying related signal information.

Abstract: A method is provided for calculating the change in level which is output from a multivariable power series as a separate variable, where this change out put signal is the change in level which is output when supply input is from two different data points. This method requires defining a structure of a change-variable and modifying the arithmetic operations so this structure can be processed. A similar procedure is followed to calculate the derivative of the parameters used in the construction of the multivariable power series with this change output signal. Given an error in the change output signal and the existents of appropriate derivatives, it is possible to train the power series using the change-variable. As with any training algorithm, a matrix technique can be used to increase the training rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to process spatial data including seismic data. Given a spatial dataset of n dimensions, a data-driven partitioning of the dataset is effected into topographically contiguous regions using feature specific indices. Then on each region, a set of features is calculated according to a computer process, wherein the features are considered sufficiently descriptive of the region. Thereupon, two or more regions which are topographically contiguous are grouped together and the associated features are assembled in an analytical structure to be input to a classifier.

Abstract: An array apparatus has a micromachined SOI structure, such as a MEMS array, mounted directly on a class of substrate, such as low temperature co-fired ceramic, in which is embedded electrostatic actuation electrodes disposed in substantial alignment with the individual MEMS elements, where the electrostatic electrodes are configured for substantial fanout and the electrodes are oversized such that in combination with the ceramic assembly are configured to allow for placement of the vias within a tolerance of position relative to electrodes such that contact is not lost therebetween at the time of manufacturing.

Abstract: A device such as a transparent solar cell or optical filter and method of its manufacture. The method includes steps of forming a first conductive layer overlying a substrate. The method also includes forming a first amorphous silicon layer overlying the first conductive layer. A step of annealing the first amorphous silicon layer is included. The annealing step may be performed using a laser. It may also be performed by maintaining the substrate at a temperature of less than 450 degrees Celsius. A second conductive layer may be formed overlying the second amorphous silicon layer.

Abstract: A spherical resonator device includes a resonant sphere around which transducers for electrical coupling are metallized layers on a flat surface shaped to provide exposure of a sphere to a quasi constant field. In particular, the pattern comprises a transmission line of non-constant width in the region proximate to the sphere where a taper is provided which increases in width with distance from the sphere.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating pulses that includes a circuit having a dynamical transfer function is disclosed. The circuitry exhibits oscillatory behavior when its operating point is forced to an unstable region of the transfer function by means of manipulating the transfer function. In an embodiment, a voltage source signal is used to manipulate the transfer function of the circuit. By manipulating the transfer function, the operating points can be dynamically set in the stable or the unstable region.