Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch comprises a trench formed in a substrate. A free moving conductive mass may be formed within the cavity. When the switch is moved or otherwise acted upon my an inertial force to conductive mass makes contact with a pair of electrodes partially covering the trench thus turning the switch on.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a three-switch dual output buck converter includes a converter circuit having N+1 switch circuits, the converter circuit being configured to receive an input voltage and to provide N output voltages, where N is two or more, and a control circuit to selectively provide control signals to the N+1 switch circuits at time intervals in accordance with the N output voltages, wherein the N output voltages include at least two different types of outputs. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a three-switch dual output buck converter includes a converter circuit having N+1 switch circuits, the converter circuit being configured to receive an input voltage and to provide N output voltages, where N is two or more, and a control circuit to selectively provide control signals to the N+1 switch circuits at time intervals in accordance with the N output voltages. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator may be adapted to receive bi-directional drive signals. The spatial light modulator may include a plurality of pixel elements having individual first electrodes and a common electrode providing a second electrode for each of the pixel elements. The pixel elements may be adapted to change between a first state and a second state in accordance with signals applied thereto, and the bi-directional drive signals may include at least a first drive signal and a second drive signal. Both drive signals are applied to change the pixel elements from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a power manager may be coupled to a load circuit and configured to receive an input signal indicating a line disturbance on a power supply line and to reduce a load requirement of the load circuit in accordance with the received signal. The power manager may be configured to selectively reduce power to components with low entrance latency while continuing to provide full power to components with high entrance latency. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Thermally tuned lasers may use a resistive thermal device (RTD), sensitive to hydrogen, within a hermetic enclosure. Over time, hydrogen trapped within the enclosure or out gassed from other components within the enclosure may degrade the accuracy of the RTD. A vent comprising a hydrogen selective permeable membrane, such as palladium or a palladium alloy, provided in the enclosure vents hydrogen to mitigate damage to the RTD.

Abstract: An unregulated isolated DC/DC converter is configured to receive an input signal and to provide an output signal. A ripple control circuit is coupled to the unregulated isolated DC/DC converter, wherein the ripple control circuit is configured to reduce an amount of low frequency ripple transferred to the output signal from the input signal.

Abstract: A system includes multiple agents coupled to an optical bus for transmission of high speed signals and to an electrical bus for transmission of low speed signals. The agents can be memory modules, such as DIMMs. An optical connector housing for coupling the agent to the optical bus can include a reflective device such a mirror, a semi reflective mirror, a pellicle beamsplitter, or the like. The low speed signals can be, for example, power, ground, and supervisory signals. The high speed signals can be, for example, data, address, control, and clock signals.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a slot antenna may include a primary slot and one or more secondary slots. The size of the antenna may be reduced by adding one or more of the secondary slots which may add additional inductance to the antenna. Furthermore, the size of the antenna may be reduced by increasing the inductance of the secondary slots via increasing the length of the slots or by changing the shape of the slots. The antenna may include one or more MEMS varactors coupled to one or more of the secondary slots. The resonant frequency of the slot antenna may be tuned to a desired frequency by changing the capacitance value of one or more of the MEMS varactors to a desired capacitance value.

Abstract: A split microprocessor socket is disclosed that provides a cavity created at an outer edge of the microprocessor socket. An optical module may be fitted in the cavity thus providing an optical fiber or waveguide connection directly to the socket. This low cost optical interconnect, closely packaged with the microprocessor, may alleviate bandwidth constraints associated with conventional electrical connections.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a display system includes a spatial light modulator including at least one pixel, a pixel source including pixel data corresponding to the pixel, a memory circuit connected to the pixel source and configured to store a pixel value corresponding to the pixel data, a pulse width modulation circuit connected between the memory circuit and the spatial light modulator, the pulse width modulation circuit adapted to generate a pulse to drive the pixel of the spatial light modulator, wherein a duration of the pulse corresponds to the pixel value and wherein the pulse is offset with respect to a start time and an end time of a refresh cycle of the spatial light modulator, and a control circuit connected to at least one of the memory circuit, the spatial light modulator, and the pulse width modulation circuit. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating authentication or identification services including an authentication server configured to provide an authentication certificate to a user of a first client device for authentication or identification of a user of a second client device. The first and second client devices are configured to communicate with each other and the authentication server. Each of the first and second client devices includes a user control program configured to communicate data to and from the authentication server. A media gateway is coupled to the authentication server to enable communication of media data from the first and second client devices to the authentication server. The user control program of the first client device is configured to receive a certificate corresponding to the user of the second client device and the authentication certificate from the authentication server.

Abstract: Reverse bias leakage testing may be used to determine the health of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL). When VCSELs are integrated on a die with other electronic devices such testing may damage the other electronic devices or be prohibited by circuits on the die designed to protect the electronics from being reverse biased. Accordingly, reverse bias testing may be facilitated by providing a second ground pad, separate from the die ground pad, specific to the VCSEL.

Abstract: In a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) switch, a common switch failure is a short between the upper and the lower electrostatic actuation plates. Such shorts may occur due to torque deformation. Stopper bumps having a slightly lower height profile than that of the contact bumps are provided to prevent such shorts. The stopper bumps may be made using the same mask as that used to create the contact bump with the height of the respective bumps controlled by determining the diameter of the bumps.

Abstract: An optical network may be configured dynamically so that a given channel wavelength can operate in either direction over a fiber in a network. Thus, network providers can provision bandwidth according to the traffic characteristics of the network link in question. A plurality of transceiver modules on either side of a fiber may be switched from a transmit mode to a receive mode depending on the desired direction of the channel.

Abstract: A limiting amplifier (LIA), used for example in high speed optical communication systems, includes a loss of signal (LOS) feature that may provide improved optical receiver performance and includes wide range user-programmable thresholds for generating analog loss of signal (LOS) alarms. In particular, multiple sampling points within the limiting amplifier may be used. These samples may be differentially amplified with weighted gains and then combined and compared to a threshold value to generate an LOS alarm signal.

Abstract: A package to encapsulate an optical component includes a RF interface to receive high frequency signals from an external source. The RF interface pins that can be configured as one or more single-ended transmission lines or as one or more differential transmission lines. For example, the RF interface includes four pins that can be coupled in one of two configurations to provide a single-ended transmission line and in a third configuration to provide a differential transmission line. In one embodiment, the first, second, and fourth pins are coupled to ground while the second pin is coupled to receive a RF signal. Alternatively, the first, second and fourth pins are coupled to ground and the third pin is coupled to receive a RF signal. For a differential transmission line, the first and fourth pins are coupled to ground while the second and third pins are coupled to receive a differential RF signal.

Abstract: Anti-reflective coatings may be used on laser high index gain media to mitigate reflection. An absentee layer may be used to compliment the antireflective coating to improve its antireflective performance over a broader range of wavelengths. The absentee layer comprises a material having a higher index of refraction than that of the gain media and has a thickness corresponding to multiple halfwave thicknesses related to the center wavelength output by the laser.

Abstract: An antenna for a wireless device may be kept dynamically tuned to a desired center frequency to compensate for detuning which may be caused by environmental influences. A sensor provides a feedback signal to a controller to select an appropriate capacitance value from a variable capacitor to tune the antenna for the wireless device. The variable capacitor may comprise a plurality of fixed capacitors and MEMS switches arranged in parallel or may comprise a variable MEMS capacitor having a fixed lower plate and a flexible upper plate.

Abstract: A transmitter comprises an oscillator, a phase lock loop, a serializer, and an electrical-to-optical converter. The oscillator is enclosed in a metal shield. The metal shield is soldered to a ground ring of the printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the oscillator is voltage-controlled oscillator.