Abstract: A micropost microcavity device has a maximum field intensity at the center of a high-index spacer as well as a small mode volume. The device has an approximately half-wavelength thick low-index spacer [400] sandwiched between two quarter wave stacks [410, 420]. The low-index spacer has a high-index subspacer layer [470] positioned at its center. The subspacer layer has a thickness smaller than a quarter wavelength. As a result, the electric field intensity remains a maximum at the center of the spacer where the high-index subspacer is positioned. A quantum dot or other active region [480] may be embedded within the subspacer [470]. The microcavity devices provide, for example, single photon sources, single dot lasers, low-threshold quantum dot or quantum well lasers, or devices for strong coupling between a single quantum dot and the cavity field which can be used as components of photonic integrated circuits, quantum computers, quantum networks, or quantum cryptographic systems.

Abstract: A system and method for optical offset measurement is provided. An offset between two grating layers in a compound grating is measured by illuminating the gratings with light having a plane of incidence that is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the grating lines. This non-symmetrical optical illumination allows determination of the sign and magnitude of the offset. Two measurements are performed at azimuthal angles separated by 180°, and a difference of these measurements is calculated. Measurement of this difference allows determination of the offset (e.g., with a calibration curve). Alternatively, two compound gratings having a predetermined non-zero offset difference can be employed. This arrangement permits determination of the offsets without the need for a calibration curve (or for additional compound gratings), based on a linear approximation.

Abstract: Quasi-phasematching design to provide an approximation to a desired spectral amplitude response A(f) is provided. An initial phase response ?(f) corresponding to A(f) is generated. Preferably, d2?(f)/df2 is proportional to A2(f). Alternatively, ?(f) can be a polynomial in f. A function h(x) is computed such that h(x) and H(f)=A(f)exp(i?(f)) are a Fourier transform pair. A domain pattern function d(x) is computed by binarizing h(x) (i.e., approximating h(x) with a constant-amplitude approximation). In some cases, the response provided by this d(x) is sufficiently close to A(f) that no further design work is necessary. In other cases, the design can be iteratively improved by modifying ?(f) responsive to a difference between the desired response A(f) and the response provided by domain pattern d(x). Various approaches for binarization are provided. The availability of multiple binarization approaches is helpful for making design trades (e.g.

Abstract: In a complete network-in-a-box system acting as an enterprise network demarcation point, packets such as voice, video and data packets, are routed over common network connections, such as LAN and WAN. The packets are mapped from a public address field (such as an IP address) and port number to a private address field and port number, the mapping process typically being handled by a NAT (Network Address Translation). The packets are also prioritized, by marking the packets for priority queuing and routing, and configuring the bandwidths of the WAN traffic and the voice traffic to predetermined quantities and configuring the address fields of the voice devices. Simultaneous transmission of the various packets can be limited to predetermined quantities, typically by utilizing a CAC (Client Access Control).

Abstract: A method to detect and classify a structure of interest in a medical image is provided to enable high specificity without sacrificing the sensitivity of detection. The method is based on representing changes in three-dimensional image data with a vector field, characterizing the topology of this vector field and using the characterized topology of the vector field for classification of a structure of interest. The method could be used as a stand-alone method or as a post-processing method to enhance and classify outputs of a high-sensitivity low-specificity method to eliminate false positives.

Abstract: A dual viewpoint solid catadioptric lens has a first spherical refractive surface S1 having a center C1 located on an optical axis of the lens and having a radius r1, and a second spherical refractive surface S2 having a center C2 located on the optical axis of the lens and having a radius r2<r1. The lens also has a first ellipsoidal reflective surface E1 with foci F1 and F1? on the optical axis of the lens, and a second ellipsoidal partially reflective surface E2 having foci F2 and F2? on the optical axis of the lens. Focus F1 coincides with C1, focus F2 conincides with C2, and focus F1? coincides with F2?. The points C1 and C2 provide dual viewpoints for the lens, which may be used in a variety of imaging applications.

Abstract: Wavelength combining for nonlinear frequency conversion is provided having nonlinear feedback to the sources being combined. Power that is fed back to the sources is obtained from within a wavelength conversion device. Therefore, the feedback power to a source has a nonlinear dependence on input power provided by that source to the wavelength conversion device. Such nonlinear feedback can advantageously reduce the sensitivity of the output power from the wavelength conversion device to variations in the nonlinear coefficients of the conversion device. The reason for this reduced sensitivity is that in preferred embodiments, the feedback power increases if a nonlinear coefficient decreases. This increased feedback tends to increase the power supplied to the conversion device, thus mitigating the effect of the reduced nonlinear coefficient.

Abstract: Merged devices for transient blocking. A pass transistor is placed so that its body potential drives the gate of a depletion-mode JFET-type blocking transistor. Thus a transient which appears on an external terminal is very rapidly propagated to shut off the blocking transistor, before large numbers of carriers can be injected. Preferably a shunt device is also used to drop high potentials which may appear at the same time. This connection can be particularly useful in power or data input terminals.

Abstract: A method of powering one or more electronic devices in a tire monitoring system using a tire pressure based energy scavenger is provided. With this method, a tire is rotated on a surface to generate pressure changes within the tire. These pressure changes are then converted into electrical energy with a transducer and the energy is stored. The electrical energy or stored electrical energy can then be used to power one or more electronic devices in a tire monitoring system, such as a tire pressure sensor, temperature sensor, acceleration profile sensor, and/or a tire wear monitor. A tire monitoring system with a tire pressure based energy scavenger is also provided.

Abstract: Improved cavity ring down spectroscopy is provided by binning decay time vs. wavelength data into wavelength bins defined by discontinuities in a wavelength monitor signal. Average decay times and average wavelengths are computed for each bin. The optical loss of a target analyte at the average wavelengths is determined from the corresponding average decay times.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an input system interfacing a human user with an electronic device uses empirically determined bi-action times for users to perform a second input action (e.g., pressing a second key) immediately after performing a first input action (e.g., pressing a first key). The bi-action times (or, more generally, n-action times) are used together with a selected interface map which associates input actions (e.g., pressing keys) to corresponding signifiers (e.g., characters) to calculate a peak expert input rate for the input system. One or more optimized interface maps can be found by combining the evaluation method with any of various optimization strategies. For example, one method for optimizing the input system repeatedly changes the interface map and recalculates the peak expert input rate, while another optimization method calculates peak expert input rates for multiple interface maps in parallel.

Abstract: A nanotube mat is provided with an array of conduits to support, direct growth, select or interface one or more biological cells or cell processes. The carbon nanotube mat provides mechanical stability, is biocompatible, will support cell growth, can desirably be derivatized with growth factors, molecules, nutrients, inhibitory factors, ligands, transduction molecules or morphogenic factors, and would allow the formation of conduits to guide cells and cell extensions to be hosted or grown. The conduits could take any size or shape to support, direct growth, select or interface one or more cells or processes. In general the conduits could be channels, discontinuous channels, tapered channels or walls. The nanotube mat could be used to interface biological cells with other cells, tissue or structures that have electrical, mechanical, magnetic means, or optical means. The nanotube mat could also incorporate chemicals, analytes, drugs, lips, carbohydrates, secretory products or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides nano-patterning based on flow of an ion current within an ionic conductor to bring ions in proximity to a microscope probe tip touching a surface of the conductor. These ions are then electrochemically reduced to form one or more features on the surface. Ion current flow and the electrochemical reaction are driven by an electrical potential difference between the tip and the ionic conductor. Such features can be erased by reversing the polarity of the potential difference. Indentations can be formed by mechanically removing features formed as described above. The ions in the ion current can be provided by the ionic conductor and/or by oxidation at a counter electrode.

Abstract: A cell library which enables reduced quantization over-design in large scale circuit design is provided. Library cells having the same cell function have drive strengths selected to provide delays about equal to a predetermined set of design delays, at a nominal load corresponding to the cell function. In contrast, conventional cell libraries typically have drive strengths which correspond to a predetermined set of cell physical areas. Preferably, the spacing between adjacent design delays is a non-decreasing function of cell drive strength. Such spacing reduces quantization induced over-design compared to conventional cell libraries which have a design delay spacing that is a decreasing function of cell drive strength.

Abstract: A light-driven energy generation system using proteorhodopsin is provided. Proteorhodopsin sequences were retrieved and amplified from naturally occurring members of the domain Bacteria using proteorhodopsin-specific polymerase chain reaction primers. Proteorhodopsin sequences were placed in expression vectors for production of proteorhodopsin proteins in a host, for instance, E. coli and other bacteria. The system also includes a light source and a source of retinal, that allows the system to convert light into biochemical energy. The generated biochemical energy could be mediated into electrical energy by a mediator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a physical parameter of features on a substrate by illuminating the substrate with an incident light covering an incident wavelength range ??, e.g., from 190 nm to 1000 nm, where the substrate is at least semi-transparent. A response light received from the substrate and the feature is measured to obtain a response spectrum of the response light. Further, a complex-valued response due to the feature and the substrate is computed and both the response spectrum and the complex-valued response are used in determining the physical parameter. A direct approximate phase measurement is provided when the response light is transmitted light.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically characterizing the reflection and transmission properties of a sample with a beam of light having a small diameter on a surface of the sample over a broadband of wavelengths, from 190 nm to 1100 nm. Reflective optical components, including off-axis parabolic mirrors with a collimated incident or reflected broadband beam of light, minimize non-chromatic aberration. The apparatus and method further disclose an optical light path that can be focused by adjusting the position of an off-axis parabolic mirror and a planar mirror.

Abstract: A new computerized tracking system, IndeliTrak, that incorporates the state-of-the-art technologies including cell phones, GPS, Internet, and scanners to gather and distribute up-to-the-minute tracking data with little effort. As an example, a courier carries a mobile phone that is attached to a barcode scanner and programmed with IndeliTrak's tracking software. The mobile phone enables the courier to log in, retrieve his service schedule, verify each service location, log arrival/departure time, scan packages for pickup and delivery, and sign off. Scanned data are stored on the phone and transmitted to a customized IndeliTrak database. End users can track the packages via IndeliTrak's browser-based user interface almost instantaneously. IndeliTrak does not require unique package identifications (IDs) or barcodes. Acceptable IDs include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, non-serialized barcodes, electronic product codes (EPCs), etc. The same ID code can be reused daily.

Abstract: An integrated color pixel (ICP) with at least one integrated metal filter is presented. Rather than utilizing a separate color filter, the wavelength responsivity of the ICP is specified and integrated at pixel level into the ICP itself using metal materials already available for standard integrated circuit design and fabrication process. The ICP of the present invention is thus distinguished from a conventional color pixel constructed in a two-stage process that combines an image sensor with a color filter array or other optical material.

Abstract: An optical head for confocal microscopy that is especially advantageous for measurements on thick samples is provided. An interface between the optical head and the sample is index matched, to avoid beam aberration at this interface. The optical head includes a window having a convex surface facing away from the sample, so that light beams crossing this convex surface do so at or near normal incidence and are therefore not significantly aberrated. The window is rotationally symmetric about an axis perpendicular to the interface between the head and the sample. The head also includes at least two optical fibers, which can be used for input and/or output. Beams passing to and/or from the fibers are collimated by collimators. A single focusing element couples all the collimated beams to focused beams which pass through the window to intersect within a target region of the sample as confocal beams.