Abstract: A quantitative fluorometer for multiple fluorophores having a separate time-modulated beam of excitation light for each fluorescent target. Each beam is synchronized with a separate lock-in amplifier. The fluorophores are simultaneously excited and the combined fluorescent emission is resolved into components corresponding to each fluorophore. Confocal scanning means are used to excite and detect fluorescent emission from locations throughout a volume. The location specific output of each amplifier is stored in a computer which resolves the emission into the components corresponding to each fluorophore. The location specific data may be further processed or visually displayed.

Abstract: In electrostatic liquid toning, an apparatus for removing excess liquid toner from a recording medium using an air knife integrated with a toner applicator into a single mechanical structure. The toner applicator contains a toning channel and an air channel adjacent to a toner drain channel. The recording medium carrying a latent electrostatic image is directed past the toning channel in the toner applicator. The toning channel in the applicator contains toner and is in fluid communication with the recording medium. Air under pressure is expelled through the air channel and against the recording medium such that excess toner deposited onto the surface of the recording medium is directed into the toner drain channel.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly and method includes a connector body and at least one unitary fastening member that is deformed at a central region of the fastening member after insertion through a mounting hole in the connector body. Projecting integrally from the deformed region of the fastening member is an internally threaded post which may receive cable screws of a cable mated with the connector assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening member secures a ground strap and a faceplate to the connector body, and the internally threaded post is inserted through a panel of a computer system component.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid-driven engine includes an engine chamber defined by a housing having one or more endplates which include serpentine channels for the flow of temperature-regulating fluid. Preferably, each endplate has a pair of channels that each has a scroll pattern. The temperature-regulating fluid may be the same fluid that is employed in driving the engine. The fluid is utilized both to preheat the engine and to cool the engine during use. The engine may be coupled to a generator for the production of electrical energy.

Abstract: A pressure wave supercharger includes a fixed cellular member having an array of parallel longitudinal cells. A segmented impeller fan at a first open end of the cells alternates the cells from being in fluid communication with a supply of fresh air and being in communication with an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. At the opposite open end of the cells, a segmented turbine fan alternates the cells from being in communication with a supply of exhaust gases and being in communication with a path to the atmosphere. The walls of the cells are coated with a catalytic material, so that the cellular member acts as a catalytic converter substrate. The collision of the exhaust gas with fresh air within the cells and the sonic and positive-pressure pulses compress the fresh air while reversing its direction of flow, whereafter the air is channeled to the engine. The exhaust gases are likewise reversed in direction, expanded, reduced in noise and toxins, and then released into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An optical amplifier with at least one high reflectivity facet oriented at a nonperpendicular angle to the amplifier's waveguide to couple light vertically through a top or bottom surface of the amplifier. Angled facets could be at just one end of the waveguide or at both ends of the waveguide. In the latter case, the facets can be approximately parallel to or perpendicular to each other for respective coupling to opposite or same sides of the amplifier. Multiple amplifiers can be formed end-to-and with v-grooves defining the angled facets or can be formed side-by-side with parallel waveguides. Waveguides can also branch to form a 1:2, 1:4 or 2:2 optical signal multiplier or optical switch depending on whether just one or all of the waveguide branches are electrically pumped. Fibers are coupled to the amplifier receiving and emitting surfaces. Angling the fiber end with respect to the surface prevents reflections from feeding back into the amplifier waveguide.

Abstract: An optical modulation system having cascade-coupled electro-optic modulator stages in either dual tandem or split tandem configurations. An electrical splitter derives multiple electrical drives for the multiple stages from a single modulating input signal. The multiple drive signals are linearly related in magnitude and preferably induce simultaneous antiphase (180.degree. out-of-phase) optical modulation in the tandem stages. While a double Mach-Zehnder cascade configuration could be used, at least one modulator stage might instead be a balanced-bridge interfometer-type modulator having at least one directional coupler. At least one directional coupler in such a configuration may be a .DELTA..beta. coupler. Application of bias voltages to the interferometer sections and to coupler sections by means of a parametric feedback loop is done in order to simultaneously enhance the linear modulation coefficient, minimize odd order distortions and null the even order distortions that are associated with biased .

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for a light diffracting surface employs a planar array of individually addressable light valves for use as a spatial filter in an imaged Fourier plane of a diffraction pattern, with valves having a stripe geometry corresponding to positions of members of the diffraction pattern, blocking light from those members. The remaining valve stripes, i.e. those not blocking light from diffraction order members, are open for transmission of light. Light directed onto the surface, such as a semiconductor wafer, forms elongated curved diffraction orders from repetitive patterns of circuit features. The curved diffraction orders are transformed to linear orders by a Fourier transform lens. The linear diffraction orders from repetitive patterns of circuit features are blocked, while light from non-repetitive features, such as dirt particles or defects is allowed to pass through the light valves to a detector.

Abstract: A read circuit for a semiconductor memory that includes a pass transistor between the output of a first sense amplifier reading the memory and a latch. The pass transistor blocks transmission of the sense amplifier's output to the latch whenever a noise glitch producing condition is sensed. A second sense amplifier connected through the same conductive line to the memory cell array as the first sense amplifier has a faster response and lower current threshold in order to detect the glitch producing condition. A pulse generator receives the output of the second sense amplifier and provides a control signal pulse of predetermined duration following detection of the glitch producing condition by the second sense amplifier. The pulse is received by a control gate of the pass transistor, turning the transistor off during the duration of the pulse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying liquid toner to a recording medium using a toner applicator, wherein the applicator contains a channel for toner flow peripherally surrounded by an air channel. The recording medium carrying a latent electrostatic image is directed past the channel in the toner applicator. The channel in the applicator contains toner and is in fluid communication with the recording medium. Air under pressure is introduced into the air channel surrounding the toning channel thus providing a barrier around the toning channel, such that the toner is confined within the channel, thereby preventing unwanted leakage of liquid toner from the channel.

Abstract: An apparatus used to inspect patterned wafers and other substrates with periodic features for the presence of particles, defects and other aperiodic features in which a spatial filter placed in the Fourier plane is used in combination with either broadband illumination, angularly diverse illumination or both. In contrast to prior devices that direct light from a single monochromatic source through a pinhole aperture stop, embodiments are describes that illuminate a patterned substrate using (1) a single monochromatic source with a slit-shaped aperture stop for angularly diverse illumination, (2) a single broadband source with a pinhole aperture stop for broadband illumination, (3) a single broadband source with a slit-shaped aperture stop for both broadband and angularly diverse illumination, or (4) multiple sources with an aperture stop for each source for at least angularly diverse illumination.

Abstract: A card-independent method of forming a module for subsequent attachment to a card body includes increasing both the area and the height of contact pads on an integrated circuit die and includes forming a leadframe in which contact sites are electrically connected to the contact pads of the die by Z-axis epoxy. The epoxy is unidirectionally conductive, so that the epoxy as a mechanical link, an electrical link, and acts as an overcoating of the active side of the die A die-alignment layer having a center cavity properly positions the contact pads of the die relative to contact sites of the leadframe.

Abstract: An optical crossbar switch matrix for use in switching optical signals from a first set of optical fibers to a second set of optical fibers, in any order, which is characterized by having a matrix of rows and columns of diffraction gratings formed in a semiconductor heterostructure. Each grating is independently biased with either a forward or reverse bias voltage to switch the grating between a reflective state and a transmissive state. The gratings are oriented at an angle relative to the rows and columns so that when the Bragg condition for the light received from an optical film is met, a portion of the light is diffracted from the row in which it is propagating into a column toward another optical fiber. The heterostructure may include optical amplifiers to restore the optical signal to its original power level. Beam expanding, collimating and focussing optics may also be integrated into the heterostructure.

Abstract: A baseball-style cap includes a crown portion and a bill that is rotatable about a generally horizontal rotational axis. The bill projects outwardly from the crown portion, but is repositionable along the outer periphery of the crown portion from a forward eye-shading position to a rearwardly directed neck-shading position. Resilient members fix the bill to the crown portion and provide a force that maintains the bill in a desired position. Fastening members can be used to maintain the bill in traditional eye-shading position.

Abstract: A low power logic array and a programmable logic device made up of two successive logic arrays, at least one of which being a low power array, in which the programmable elements in the array are multibit memory elements. Logic gates combine the outputs of corresponding memory elements. The logic array includes a set of array inputs which may be arranged in groups connecting to decoder inputs. Decoder outputs provide an address signal to address inputs of the memory elements. In a preferred embodiment, the memory elements are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns with each row connected to a decoder and each column coupling to one or more logic gates. The logic gates may be AND, OR, NAND or NOR gates, and may be arranged in a hierarchy of successive stages of logic gates.

Abstract: A method of electrically connecting a tape automated bonding lead to an aluminum input/output pad of an integrated circuit includes sequentially sputtering an adhesive layer, a diffusion barrier layer and a gold layer on the input/output pad. The adhesive layer is a metallic film having good step coverage and adhesive properties to contact the pad. The diffusion barrier layer is formed atop the adhesive layer and is sandwiched by the gold layer. The method employs "bumpless" techniques and the bond lead is connected to the gold layer by applying a combination of pressure and vibrational energy.

Abstract: A broadband area-division beamsplitter that includes a pair of abutting triangular prisms providing two surfaces that are in optical contact in certain areas and are out of optical contact in other areas. One prism surface is substantially planar while adjoining surface of the other prism has alternating protrusions and depressions. The protrusions contact the substantially planar surface to form an optically continuous medium for light transmission. The depressions do not contact the planar surface forming gaps. The two surfaces are oriented on a diagonal so that light incident through one of the other prism faces is incident on the adjoining surfaces at an angle larger than the critical angle, providing total internal reflection at the out-of-contact gap regions. The protrusions and depressions on the one prism surface may be in the form of a corrugation or a checkerboard or some other patterns. The reticulation size of the pattern may be less than about 10 .mu.

Abstract: An erasable optical, wallet-size data card utilizing an erasable recording strip in which laser written data is recorded. The data card also contains permanently stored prerecorded information in the form of surface contours or photographic marks. The prerecorded information is stored either atop of or directly below the erasable recording strip either in a transparent protective layer, a polymer underlayer or a plastic card base. Both sets of data, the laser written and the prerecorded, may be read and viewed simultaneously without interfering with each other. The erasable material used in the erasable recording strip may be magnetooptical material, amorphous-crystalline material or liquid crystal material or material showing a metal-insulator transition.

Abstract: A programmable logic device architecture having a matrix of smaller functional units, each of which being a programmable logic array, and a set of fixed conductive lines connected to the functional unit inputs and outputs, the conductive lines forming programmable interconnection matrices. The input pins can be programmably connected to any input of any functional unit, and the outputs of functional units can be programmably connected to any input of any functional unit or any output pin. The interconnection matrices may be a simple array of crossing conductive lines with crossings connected by fuses, EPROM, or EEPROM switches or may have additional series switches to limit the effective impedance so as to speed propagation through these matrices. A fast path through one functional unit bypassing the interconnection matrices is available for a limited number of input and output pins.