Abstract: A spectral imager includes an elongate light propagation medium that receives light at one end, has graded average spectral absorption properties in the elongate direction, and spectral detectors distributed in the elongate direction. The spectral absorption properties of the medium can be graded in both elongate and transverse directions. Both linear and two-dimensional arrays can be formed, enabling simultaneous hyperspectral detection.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the time delay between adjacent clock edges includes target and delay signal paths, a variable delay module in said delay signal path, the delay cell having a delay bias input, and a phase detector having respective inputs coupled to the target and delay signal paths. The variable delay module is operable to delay a first clock signal on the delay path so that a bias input signal presented to the delay bias input, when a bias input signal is present, corresponds to the time delay between the first clock signal and a second clock signal on the target signal path.

Abstract: Converter system embodiments are formed with signal-processing stages which include successive signal converters and a preceding signal sampler wherein all but a last one of the stages provides an output signal to a succeeding one of the stages and all of said signal converters generate a corresponding digital code. The system embodiments generally address a selected one of the stages and include controllers which are configured to process, at a process rate less than the system's sample rate, a digital error signal and the back-end digital code of back-end ones of signal converters that succeed the selected stage to thereby adjust at least one of the back-end digital code and a control voltage in the selected stage to enhance the accuracy of the system digital code. Once the processes of these embodiments have been applied to the selected stage, they may be successively applied to preceding stages. System embodiments are also directed to nonlinear amplifier gain by including approximations (e.g.

Abstract: A software framework and method for generating a vehicle information system includes a communications manager that manages data inputs and outputs between the framework and vehicle devices, a data warehouse that registers abstract versions of vehicle device data, and a display manager that controls data display on a user interface. The data in the data warehouse is stored in an abstract format, without reference to the specific protocol or platform used to obtain the data, to make the data accessible to modular applications and devices for generating a vehicle information system display.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, apparatus, and method for printing oversized print media which allow for the printing of a preassembled substrate or a single piece substrate without compromising the integrity of the print quality. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a series of stations, wherein a specific task is performed at each station. Prior to printing an image, in preferred embodiments, print substrate segments are preassembled into image size substrates such that upon the completion of printing, the product is complete. A preassembled print substrate is loaded onto the platform at the loading station. Once the print substrate is loaded onto the platform, the platform is linearly translated to the printing station, whereby the platform is incrementally moved under a print head. During printing, the portion of the print substrate being printed is elevated such that the substrate is taut.

Abstract: Reference network embodiments are disclosed that provide reference signals to, for example, switched-capacitor multiplying digital-to-analog converters (MDACs) in pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). These embodiments are configured to maintain accuracy of the levels of the reference signals in the presence of high speed charge-injection and charge-extraction currents which are presented by the MDACs.

Abstract: A waveguide is disclosed that shifts the phase of the signal passing through it. In one embodiment, the waveguide has an impedance structure on its walls that resonates at a frequency lower than the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This causes the structure to present a capacitive impedance to the signal, increasing its propagation constant and shifting its phase. Another embodiment of the new waveguide has impedance structures on its wall that are voltage controlled to change the frequency at which the impedance structures resonate. The range of frequencies at which the structure can resonate is below the frequency of the signal passing through the waveguide. This allows the waveguide cause a adjust the shift in the phase of its signal. An amplifier array can be included in the waveguides to amplify the signal. A module can be constructed of the new waveguides and placed in the path of a millimeter beam.

Abstract: Amplifier systems are provided with bias generators that substantially stabilize operating points of system parameters (e.g., drain current and transconductance) over PVT variations, substantially reduce body effects and Early effects, and substantially reduce system output noise. These advantages are realized without significantly increasing system size and/or power consumption.

Abstract: A serial digital communication system includes a master device and a plurality of slave devices connected serially between the master device's output and input—thereby forming a closed chain. Each slave device transmits a predetermined number of PWM pulses to the device following it in the chain upon receipt of an end-of-transmission (EOT) signal from the device preceding it in the chain, and transmits an EOT signal when the transmission of its PWM pulses is completed. The master device transmits an EOT signal to initiate the transmission of PWM pulses from each slave device. Each slave device passively buffers PWM pulses received from the preceding device, such that PWM pulses are transmitted in one direction sequentially to the input of the master device via the intervening slave device.

Abstract: A wireless IC interconnect system and a source synchronous CDMA (SS-CDMA) bus interface facilitate interconnections between first and second IC locations. A signal conveyed using the wireless system is modulated and capacitively coupled to a transmission medium, and then capacitively coupled from the medium to a receiver which demodulates the modulated signal and provides the demodulated signal to the second IC location. Multiple signals can be conveyed simultaneously by modulating and demodulating them using multiple access algorithms such as CDMA and/or FDMA. The SS-CDMA bus interface utilizes source synchronous signaling and CDMA techniques to provide high bus concurrency and low channel latency. The interface is re-configurable, and provides multi-chip access in high-bandwidth multi-drop parallel interconnection applications.

Abstract: A micromirror apparatus includes a device layer having a recess, a multilayer thin-film dielectric reflector coupled to and structurally supported by the device layer on the opposite side of the device layer from said recess, and a stress compensator seated in the recess, with the stress compensator operable to resist device layer bending moments resulting from intrinsic and thermal mismatch stresses between the multilayer thin-film dielectric reflector and the device layer.

Abstract: Phase-locked loop structures are provided that facilitate enhanced stability of loop-generated signals. They include an oscillator network, a feedback loop and a controller. The oscillator network generates a loop output signal with a frequency that varies in response to a control voltage and to a frequency-determining parameter, the feedback loop generates the control voltage in response to the loop output signal and a reference signal and the controller increments the frequency-determining parameter to maintain the control voltage within a predetermined control-voltage range. These structures enhance signal stability by facilitating the use of low-gain oscillator structures and they simplify and shorten loop operations because the structures operate in a closed-loop condition at all times.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupling, for example, an optical switch, for coupling a light source with a light-receiving end face of an optical waveguide comprises a lens for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source at a focal point on the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. An adaptive coupler positioned in the optical path is responsive to a beam steering control signal for steering and aligning the focal point relative to the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: One embodiment of a system for illuminating multiple LEDs has a plurality of LEDs and a controller programmed to provide a plurality of serial binary signals, each of which drives a respective one of the plurality of LEDs. Each of the serial binary signals has a series of pulses with each of said plurality of LEDs emitting light during each pulse of its respective one of the serial binary signals. The emitting intensity of each of the plurality of LEDs depends on the number of pulses in its respective one of the serial binary signals, wherein the light from the plurality of LEDs combines to emit a color of light.

Abstract: A variable focus liquid-filled lens or microlens array is formed with an elastomer membrane and filled with a polyphenyl ether (PPE) liquid. PPE provides approximately twice the refractive power of water and exhibits better absorption/evaporation properties than water.

Abstract: Differential amplifier embodiments are provided for amplifying input signals with enhanced gain and dynamic range. They include first and second amplifier stages and at least one common-mode feedback circuit that is arranged to mirror and adjust a tail current to control the common-mode level of a respective one of the stages. The stages are configured with cascode elements to obtain high impedances that enhance their signal gain and the common-mode feedback circuit is configured to controllably lower the output voltage of a current source that provides the tail current to thereby enhance the amplifier's dynamic range. The amplifier embodiments are particularly suited for use in applications where they must operate with reduced supply voltages and operate in alternating operational modes.

Abstract: A method for estimating and/or reducing uncertainty in reservoir models of potential petroleum reservoirs comprises receiving the results of a stochastic seismic inversion, and transforming the inversion data into a form suitable for reservoir modelling and flow simulations, while honoring inter-property and inter-layer correlations in the inversion data as well as measured well data and other geological constraints.

Abstract: A curvature corrected bandgap reference circuit comprises a first bipolar transistor having a base-emitter voltage Vbe1 and operated such that it has a constant operating current, and a second bipolar transistor having a base-emitter voltage Vbe2 and operated such that it has an operating current consisting of an approximately temperature proportional component and a non-linear component. The circuit is arranged such that the ratio of the current densities in the two transistors varies with temperature, such that the difference voltage (?Vbe=Vbe1?Vbe2) includes a residual component which approximately compensates bandgap curvature error.

Abstract: Bias networks are provided for accurate generation of biases of cascode transistor arrangements. Network embodiments generate a voltage that accurately biases the transistor of a cascode arrangement at a selected point in its saturation region and this voltage is accurately transferred to the drain of a transistor via the gate-to-source voltage drops of a pair of gate-coupled transistors.

Abstract: A filter includes a waveguide with at least one impedance structure with a resonant frequency. The impedance structure is positioned in the waveguide to reflect signals at the resonant frequency. The filter can be tunable by including variable capacitance devices in the impedance structure(s) so that the resonant frequency can be adjusted.