Abstract: Asynchronous nanoelectronic circuits that operate according to principles of quasi-delay insensitive design are described. Circuit or logic elements comprising n-type devices are fabricated in a first n-plane, p-type devices are fabricated in a p-plane, and connections are formed in a routing plane of a compute tile. A state-holding element comprising a selected one of a C-element, a precharge function-block, and a read-write register is described. The state-holding element can hold a value of an output of a logic element during a time when the output is disconnected from a reference voltage. Isochronic forks having an adversary path designed to make state transitions safe are explained.

Abstract: Third-order intermodulation products (IM3) are attenuated in RF receivers by providing a typical main signal path and a parallel auxiliary signal path in which the IM3 products are accentuated, and the output from the main signal path is adaptively filtered to attenuate the IM3 products. In one embodiment, a multirate filter bank (MRFB) with asymmetric analysis and synthesis sections is used to detect and isolate the IM3 products. In another embodiment an analog nonlinear term generator is placed at the front of the auxiliary signal path. The analog nonlinear term generator takes advantage of the nonlinearities of a differential MOSFET circuit and a multiplier to extract the IM3 products in the RF input signal. The outputs of the main signal path and the auxiliary signal path are inputs to a complex least mean squares filter to attenuate the IM3 products in the resulting signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating light with high index contrast waveguides clad with crystalline substances having that exhibit large nonlinear electro-optic constants ?2 and ?3. Waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers and clad with crystalline materials such as barium titanate are described. Embodiments of waveguides having slots, electrical contacts, and input waveguide couplers are discussed. Waveguides having closed loop structures (such as rings and ovals) as well as linear or serpentine waveguides, are described. Optical signal processing methods, such as optical rectification and optical modulation, are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an indenter tip that is modified to permit both compression testing and tensile testing on samples having dimensions smaller than approximately 1 ?m. The modified indenter tip has both a surface that can be used to apply compressive forces, and tines that can be used to engage a free end of a specimen to be tested in tension. The apparatus used to perform the tests includes elements of a scanning electron microscope that permit visualization of the specimen to be tested and the modified indenter tip, so as to permit appropriate alignment and engagement of the same. The apparatus also includes elements of a microindenter that provide mechanical manipulation of the relative position and orientation of the modified indenter tip and of the specimen to be tested, as well as the necessary controls and instrumentation to perform the test and to collect, record and manipulate data.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a resonant vibratory sensor, such as a disc resonator gyro. A silicon baseplate wafer for a disc resonator gyro is provided with one or more locating marks. The disc resonator gyro is fabricated by bonding a blank resonator wafer, such as an SOI wafer, to the fabricated baseplate, and fabricating the resonator structure according to a pattern based at least in part upon the location of the at least one locating mark of the fabricated baseplate. MEMS-based processing is used for the fabrication processing. In some embodiments, the locating mark is visualized using optical and/or infrared viewing methods. A disc resonator gyroscope manufactured according to these methods is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic dye laser including a pump light source configured to provide light having a pump light wavelength. The microfluidic dye laser also includes an elastomer substantially optically transparent at the pump light wavelength and at a microfluidic dye laser wavelength. A microfluidic channel configured to accept a fluidic dye is defined in the elastomer. An optical grating is formed in a single mode 3D waveguide in the microfluidic channel in order to provide a single mode microfluidic dye laser light as output in response to illumination with light from the pump light source. In another aspect, the invention features a method of tuning a wavelength of a microfluidic dye laser light by mechanically deforming the elastomeric laser chip to change the grating period in the optical cavity.

Abstract: A phased array mm-wave device includes a substrate, a mm-wave transmitter integrated onto the substrate configured to transmit a mm-wave signal and/or a mm-wave receiver integrated onto the substrate and configured to receive a mm-wave signal. The mm-wave device also includes a phased array antenna system integrated onto the substrate and including two or more antenna elements. The phased array mm-wave device also includes one or more dielectric lenses. A distributed mm-wave distributed combining tree circuit includes at least two pairs of differential transconductors with regenerative degeneration and accepts at least two differential input signals. Two mm-wave loopback methods measure the phased array antenna patterns and the performance of an integrated receiver transmitter system.

Abstract: A compact, low power ambient pressure pyroelectric ionization source. The source can be constructed using a z-cut lithium niobate or lithium tantalate crystal with an attached resistive heater mounted in front of the atmospheric pressure inlet of an ion trap mass spectrometer. Positive and negative ion formation alternately results from thermally cycling the crystal over a narrow temperature range. Ionization of molecules such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol or benzoic acid results in the observation of the singly deprotonated species and their clusters in the negative ion mass spectrum. Ionization of molecules such as triethylamine or triphenylamine with the source results in observation of the corresponding singly protonated species of each in the positive ion mass spectrum. The pyroelectric crystals are thermally cycled by as little as 30 K from ambient temperature. Ion formation is largely unaffected by contamination of the crystal faces. This ion source is robust.

Abstract: The invention provides a high efficiency coupling structure for extracting illumination such as fluorescent radiation from a chemical reaction vessel such as a cuvette. The cuvette is provided with a mirrored surface. An end cap for the cuvette includes a probe portion that exhibits total internal reflection. Lenses are provided in various embodiments that improve the light collection and directing properties of the end cap. A fast optical system for free space coupling of optical radiation emanating from a chemical processing cuvette that uses the end cap as an element is also described.

Abstract: A single-photon absorption all-optical modulator, systems employing the same, and methods of making and using the same. An illustrative example is provided based on silicon semiconductor technology that employs rectangular waveguides. In some embodiments, it is observed that the waveguides operate with an absorption density of less than 1017 cm?1s?1mW?1 to provide a single-photon absorption operation mode.

Abstract: Ge/Si and other nonsilicon film heterostructures are formed by hydrogen-induced exfoliation of the Ge film which is wafer bonded to a cheaper substrate, such as Si. A thin, single-crystal layer of Ge is transferred to Si substrate. The bond at the interface of the Ge/Si heterostructures is covalent to ensure good thermal contact, mechanical strength, and to enable the formation of an ohmic contact between the Si substrate and Ge layers. To accomplish this type of bond, hydrophobic wafer bonding is used, because as the invention demonstrates the hydrogen-surface-terminating species that facilitate van der Waals bonding evolves at temperatures above 600° C. into covalent bonding in hydrophobically bound Ge/Si layer transferred systems.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for separating a microorganism from a sample by selectively hybridizing the microorganism's nucleic acid with a labeled probe. Suitable labels include antigens as well an enzymes. In one embodiment, an antigen is introduced to the sample which is activated by the enzyme. The labeled microorganism is then exposed to a substrate that is coated with an antibody which is specific to the activated antigen, thus binding the labeled microorganism to the substrate. The substrate may be, for example, a magnetic substrate such as a paramagnetic bead.

Abstract: The invention provides circuits that are tolerant to soft errors, such as a single event upset (SEU). The circuits have a chain of permitted state changes. Redundant elements, including redundant literals and assignments, are designed and implemented in the circuit. The design is such that a disruption or change of state on a single element by an SEU will not change the state flow of a circuit or lead to impermissible state changes. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) asynchronous circuits.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for performing all-optical modulation. A semiconductor layer having a defined thickness has an insulator adjacent one surface of the semiconductor. Conductive layers are provided adjacent the semiconductor layer and the insulator. A photodetector is provided to generate an electric field across the conductive layers in response to an input optical gate signal. An input optical signal is modulated by interaction with a plasmon wave generated at the semiconductor/conductive layer interface. By defining the thickness of the semiconductor layer, a desired wavelength of light supports the plasmon waves. Operation of the all-optical modulator requires the provision of an input optical signal of a desired wavelength and the provision of a gate optical signal. An output optical signal is recovered and can be used to store, display or transmit information, for example over a fiber optic communication system, such as a telecommunication system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manipulating light with high index contrast waveguides clad with substances having that exhibit large nonlinear electro-optic constants ?2 and ?3. Waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers and clad with electro-optic polymers are described. Embodiments of waveguides having slots, electrical contacts, and input waveguide couplers are discussed. Waveguides having closed loop structures (such as rings and ovals) as well as linear or serpentine waveguides, are described. Optical signal processing methods, such as optical rectification and optical modulation, are disclosed. Designs having responsivity of less than 1 volt-centimeter are described.