Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for printing using paste like inks such as those used in intaglio printing, wherein the inks include specialty flakes such as thin film optically variable flakes, or diffractive flakes. The invention discloses an apparatus having an energy source such as a heat source for temporarily lessening the viscosity of the ink during alignment of the flakes within the ink.

Abstract: A coherent planar lightwave circuit (PLC) optical mixer chip is described comprising a matched pair of symmetrical four-coupler interferometers for in-phase and in-quadrature detection of two polarization components of light using a polarization diversity arrangement. The waveguide structure of the chip is symmetrical about two orthogonal central axes of the chip, whereby the effect of temperature gradients on the mixer is reduced. A light traveling from an input to an output of any of the two interferometers is cross-coupled by one of the two couplers it passes through, and is bar-coupled by the other of the two couplers, so as to compensate for polarization, wavelength, and manufacturing process dependence of bar-coupling with that of cross-coupling.

Abstract: A method for mounting a semiconductor device onto a composite substrate, including a submount and a heat sink, is described. According to one aspect of the invention, the materials for the submount and the heat sink are chosen so that the value of coefficient of thermal expansion of the semiconductor device is in between the values of coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the submount and the heat sink, the thickness of the submount being chosen so as to equalize thermal expansion of the semiconductor device to that of the surface of the submount the device is mounted on. According to another aspect of the invention, the semiconductor device, the submount, and the heat sink are soldered into a stack at a single step of heating, which facilitates reduction of residual post-soldering stresses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring Hum on a digital QAM carrier using a testing device for testing digital TV signals including a QAM demodulator therein, and to a testing device implementing the method. A micro-controller is used to sample a register associated with an AGC circuit in the QAM demodulator, and to process the collected register values to obtain one or more Hum characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing the performance of a digital network include capturing a stream of digital data, e.g., internet protocol (IP) packets, that represent streaming video, identifying which of the IP packets include bit errors, determining to which of a plurality of pixels the IP packets including bit errors belong and identifying such pixels as corrupted pixels, and illuminating only the corrupted pixels on a display of a tool. Corrupted pixels in different time blocks can be displayed with different colors to gain a better appreciation of the bit error rate over time.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operating parameters of an optical modulator, without using a dither signal, is provided. Past operating parameters are compared to present operating parameters using a quality of modulation signal obtained by cross-correlating the data modulation signal used to drive the optical modulator with the modulated optical signal output from the optical modulator. The quality of modulation signal is used to optimize the operating parameters (e.g., bias point) of the optical modulator, or other operating parameters of the arrangement, such as the modulator drive level, timing alignment, etc.

Abstract: The testing equipment of the present invention calculates a single “AGC stress” value, which provides an indication of the stability of the level of a digital carrier based on the change in gain required to stabilize the power of an incoming cable signal over time. Ideally the AGC stress value is rated on a scale, e.g. 1 to 10 or 0 to 5, and is fed into the DQI measurement system as a new data model.

Abstract: The invention provides an optically powered device interface module for operating an external device, and an optically powered data link comprising the same. In one embodiment the device interface module includes an optical interface for receiving optical power and data signals, an electrical USB interface for providing USB compliant electrical data signals and a 5V electrical power signal to an external USB device, a transducer coupled to a signal processor for converting the optical power and data signals into the 5V electrical power signal and the USB-compliant electrical data signals, and a power distribution circuit for providing electrical power obtained from the optical power signal to the device interface module circuitry. The transducer may be embodied using a single photovoltaic power converter for receiving the optical power and for receiving and transmitting optical data signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in which the alanine at AA position 111 is replaced by proline. The arginine at AA position 110 may moreover be replaced by another amino acid. The invention also relates to derivatives of the VEGF according to the invention, nucleic acids, expression systems, medicaments and the use of the VEGF mutants of the invention for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Abstract: A structure for providing an optical effect includes first and second substrates hot stamped together by an adhesive. The adhesive includes an energy activated binder having a plurality of particles distributed therein or thereon for providing the optical effect detectable through the first substrate. The particles may be optically variable flakes, thin film light interference flakes, diffractive flakes, and reflective flakes.

Abstract: A grating trim retarder fabricated from a form-birefringent multi-layer dielectric stack including at least one anti-reflection coating and supported on a transparent substrate is provided. The form-birefringent dielectric stack includes an axially-inhomogeneous element in the form of a ?C-plate grating and a transversely-inhomogeneous element in the form of an A-plate grating. Each of the ?C-plate and the A-plate gratings are fabricated with dimensions to form a zeroth order sub-wavelength grating structure. Fabricating the grating trim retarder with anti-reflection coatings and/or a segment where the ?C-plate and A-plate grating overlap enables the in-plane and out-of-plane retardances to be tailored independently according to the desired application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetron sputtering device and technique for depositing materials onto a substrate at a high production rate in which the deposited films have predictive thickness distribution and in which the apparatus can operate continuously and repeatedly for very long periods. The present invention has realized increased production by reducing cycle time. Increased coating rates are achieved by coupling a planetary drive system with a large cathode. The cathode diameter is greater than the diameter of a planet and less than twice the diameter of the planet. Lower defect rates are obtained through the lower power density at the cathode which suppresses arcing, while runoff is minimized by the cathode to planet geometry without the use of a mask.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying and locating points of impairment in a cable plant, such as that used for cable television (CATV). The methods utilize both known characteristics of signals as well as propagation times in free space and within the cable in conjunction with accurate determination of locations at which measurements are taken. The methods can be applied to both RF cable leaks as well as points of ingress of interference.

Abstract: A method of planarizing a plurality of orientable non-spherical flakes supported by a longitudinal web is disclosed. A web supporting a coating of field orientable non-spherical flakes is placed between magnets so that the fields from the magnets traverse the web. First and third magnets are provided on one side of a feedpath and a second magnet is provided between the first and third magnets on the other side of the feedpath.

Abstract: Two intensity modulated test signals are generated with precise frequency offset from a single laser source, and multiplexed into a combined test signal. The two modulated signals are demultiplexed at a receiver using a fixed periodic optical filter with complementary output ports. Group velocity dispersion/chromatic dispersion is measured over a large dynamic range, using pseudo-random intensity modulation and digital demodulation techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of the 4-1BB receptor for identifying and/or separating specific regulatory Th cells after activation with an antigen, polyclonal regulatory Th cells after polyclonal activation and to a method for the identification and/or separation of regulatory Th cells, the regulatory T cells being detected on the basis of the expression of the 4-1BB receptor by an antibody, an antigen or ligands which are coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles. The invention also relates to a kit comprising an antibody, an antigen or ligands for detecting the 4-1BB receptor for the identification and/or separation of a regulatory Th cell, the antibody being coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles.