Abstract: An on-chip inductor structure includes top and bottom metal plates that are formed to surround a conductor coil formed between the top and bottom plates, but is separated therefrom by intervening dielectric material. The top and bottom plates are preferably formed from a ferromagnetic alloy, e.g. Permalloy, and are subdivided into a plurality of space-apart segments, thereby reducing eddy currents. The number of segments is optimized based upon the process technology utilized to fabricate the structure. Preferably, a finite gap is formed between the top plate and the bottom plate, the height of the gap being chosen to adjust the total inductance of the structure.

Abstract: A method of intracavity frequency conversion in a CW laser includes causing fundamental radiation to circulate in a laser resonator. The fundamental radiation makes a first pass through an optically nonlinear crystal where a fraction of the fundamental radiation generates second-harmonic radiation in a forward pass through the crystal. The residual fundamental radiation and the second-harmonic radiation are then sum-frequency mixed in forward and reverse passes through an optically nonlinear crystal such that a fraction of each is converted to third-harmonic radiation. The residual second-harmonic radiation and fundamental radiation from the sum-frequency mixing then make a reverse pass through the second-harmonic generating crystal where the second-harmonic radiation is converted back to fundamental radiation. The third harmonic radiation can be delivered from the resonator as output radiation, or can be used to pump another optically nonlinear crystal in an optical parametric oscillator.

Abstract: A spinal implant system for restricting flexion of a spine includes an elongate band proportioned to engage at least two spinous processes. During use, the band is positioned engaging the spinous processes at a spinal segment of interest, where it restricts flexion at the segment. The length and tension of the band may be adjustable following to implantation using percutaneous or transcutaneous means.

Abstract: A hybrid method of fabricating magnetic core elements of an on-chip inductor structure addresses issues associated with conventional bottom up and damascene magnetic core plating techniques. The process uses two seed layers: a low resistance seed layer that solves the IR drop problem associated with the damascene plating techniques and a high resistance seed layer that is local to magnetic core features thus avoiding eddy current related performance degradation associated with the bottom up techniques.

Abstract: A compact conical diffraction Littrow spectrometer is disclosed. The distortion of the conically diffracted spectral component beams is compensated and as a result, the diffracted spectral beams can still be focused into a substantially straight line to shine onto a detector array. A spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system incorporating a Littrow spectrometer or a spectrometer having one or more shared focusing element(s) and an SD-OCT system incorporating a spectrometer that is substantially polarization independent are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for obtaining ellipsometric measurements from a sample. A probe beam is focused onto the sample to create a spread of angles of incidence. The beam is passed through a quarter waveplate retarder and a polarizer. The reflected beam is measured by a detector. In one preferred embodiment, the detector includes eight radially arranged segments, each segment generating an output which represents an integration of multiple angle of incidence. A processor manipulates the output from the various segments to derive ellipsometric information.

Abstract: A single 4-transistor non-volatile memory (NVM) cell includes a shared static random access memory cell. The NVM cell utilizes a reverse Fowler-Nordheim tunneling programming technique that, in combination with the shared SRAM cell structure, allows an entire cell array to be programmed at two cycles. A single NVM cell approach with shared SRAM allows a 50% area reduction with an insignificant increase in program time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging within the eye is provided whereby a component of eye position is detected using optical imaging data. Tracking eye position over time and correctly registering imaging data for scan locations or using eye position to detect decentration achieves improved imaging. In one embodiment, essentially perpendicular B-scans are imaged sequentially and the corneal arc within each B-scan is analyzed to determine the vertex of the eye. The eye vertex is tracked over pairs of perpendicular B-scans to determine eye motion. In another embodiment, the decentration in the Pachymetry map is removed by correcting for the misalignment of the center of the Pachymetry map and the actual location of the corneal vertex.

Abstract: An improved laser system includes a sealed-off, RF excited, diffusion cooled, high pressure, short pulsed, high peak power waveguide and slab CO2 laser that avoids problems typically associated with obtaining a diffused discharge at high gas pressures, without arcing and without corona, while maintaining the unsaturated gain and gas temperature experienced at low pressures and scaling to higher pressures. Such a system has a long operating life-time, and is capable of operation at high gas pressures to obtain relative fast rise and fall time pulses. The system emits relatively short pulse widths, with pulse energies up to and exceeding 30 mJ, with reasonably high pulse repetition rates. The system also has a low pulsed RF power duty cycle, thereby enabling the generation of high peak power pulses, as well as reasonable average power and reasonably high peak powers.

Abstract: An optically pumped semiconductor pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPS-pumped OPO) includes an OPS laser resonator and an OPO resonator A portion the OPS laser resonator axis and the OPO resonator axis are collinear. An optically nonlinear crystal is located in the coaxial portion of the resonators and arranged to frequency divide fundamental radiation generated in the OPS laser resonator into signal and idler radiations. In one arrangement, the OPO laser resonator is also an OPS resonator and is arranged to generate radiation at the wavelength of the signal radiation, with the idler radiation having the difference-frequency wavelength of the signal and fundamental radiations.

Abstract: Several examples of double-pass fiber amplifiers including a polarization maintaining (PM) gain-fiber are disclosed. In each example, input and twice-amplified output are separated by an all-fiber, polarization-maintaining polarization splitter combiner. One example includes a double-pass fiber amplifier which relies on a double pass through a 45 degree fiber based rotator to rotate the polarization of the light.

Abstract: A boot with a flexible actuator can be used to provide improved protection and ease of use for an electrical connector plug. The plug, such as an RJ45 plug connected to a data or communications cable, can have an extended latch member adapted to releasably engage a connection mechanism of a receptacle into which the plug is placed. A recess in a receiving portion of an actuator can capture the extended end of the latch member, whereby damage to the latch member due to snagging or catching on nearby objects is prevented.

Abstract: Fluid immersion technology can be utilized to increase the resolution and angular range of existing metrology systems. An immersion fluid placed between the metrology optics and the sample can reduce the refraction at the sample interface, thereby decreasing the spot size of the beam on a feature of the sample while simultaneously increasing the angular range of the system. The decreased spot size, in combination with an increased angular spread, allows an existing metrology system to measure parameters of a sample, such as a semiconductor or microelectronic device, with improved resolution and without expensive and/or complex changes to the mechanics of the metrology system.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are described for retaining a medical implant within a body cavity. According to one aspect, one or more plications are formed and the medical device is coupled to or seated against the plication(s). A patch may be positioned between tissue layers forming the plication so as to reinforce the tissue adhesion forming between the tissue layers.

Abstract: A frequency-doubled, edge-emitting semiconductor laser includes a separate confinement heterostructure surmounted by a waveguide including a converting layer of a periodically poled, optically nonlinear material. Fundamental radiation generated in the heterostructure is directionally coupled from the heterostructure into the waveguide, is converted to second-harmonic radiation in the converting layer and is delivered from the waveguide as output radiation. In one example, a distributed Bragg grating is included at an interface between the heterostructure and the waveguide for facilitating coupling of fundamental radiation from the heterostructure into the waveguide.

Abstract: A low cost patterned spinning disk is disclosed for achieving relatively rapid discrete optical phase shifts for an optical beam. The invention is particularly useful in a spectral domain optical coherence tomography system. The disk contains stepped patterns of different heights and/or refractive index distribution such that as it spins, an optical beam passing through or being reflected by the disk will experience different discrete optical phase delays. The disk can be operated as a phase shifter or it can be operated in synchronization with an intensity modulating chopper disk or a direct intensity modulation of the light source. The disk can also contain intensity modulating patterns such that both phase shifting and intensity modulation can be achieved at the same time. Various possible methods are also disclosed for the fabrication of the disk.

Abstract: An optical pulse-shaper includes a prism, a delay line having positive optical power and a reflective spatial light modulator. In one arrangement the delay line has a selectively variable optical path length for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth and positive optical power is provided by a concave mirror. In another arrangement, the delay line includes a zoom-mirror arranged to provide selectively variable optical power for accommodating pulses of different spectral bandwidth.

Abstract: A two-way communication and data transfer system allows a field technician and a designer to work together to create a retrofit design for a flow system, make a cost estimate for the retrofit, and gather an approval from a customer all in a single visit to the customer site. The field technician can utilize a remote unit including a digital camera, data entry device, and communication device, which allows the technician to transfer images and dimension information about the existing system to a base unit. A designer can take this information from the base unit and generate a virtual design for a new system, allowing a virtual view and cost estimate to be generated for display to the customer. The technician and the designer can communicate during the process to improve the accuracy of the design and estimate.

Abstract: An optical system for projecting a laser-beam on a mask to illuminate the mask includes a beam homogenizing arrangement including spaced arrays of microlenses. The beam homogenizing arrangement redistributes light in the laser beam such that the intensity of light in the laser-beam on the mask is nearly uniform along a transverse axis of the laser-beam. A stop extending partially into the laser-beam between the microlens arrays provides a more uniform light-intensity on the mask along the transverse axis than can be achieved by the microlens arrays alone.

Abstract: A biased conductive plate is provided over an NVM cell structure to overcome data retention charge loss due to the presence of dielectric films that are conductive at higher temperatures. The biased conductive plate is preferably formed from the lowest metal layer in the fabrication process flow, but any biased conductive layer can be used.