Abstract: The optical switch comprises an input collimator, an output collimator, an input mirror, an output mirror and a converging optical element. The input collimator receives, collimates and outputs an input light beam. The input mirror is arranged to receive the light beam from the input collimator. The output mirror is arranged to receive the light beam reflected by the input mirror and reflects the light beam into the output collimator. The converging optical element is located to receive the light beam reflected by the input mirror and reflects the light beam onto the output mirror. An imaging element may be located between either or both of the input collimator and the output collimator and a respective one of the input mirror and the output mirror.

Abstract: A method for allowing in-place programming of clock buffer delays of clock buffers in an integrated circuit clock tree is presented. The clock tree comprises at least one clock driver connected between a clock driver input line and a clock driver output line. Each clock driver comprises a plurality of clock buffers connected in series between the clock driver input line and, potentially, the clock driver output line. Metal is reserved in intervening metal layers within a clock driver block between the clock driver input line and the input of a first one of said plurality of clock buffers in the variable clock buffer chain. Metal is reserved on one or more metal layers for connecting the output of each of the clock buffers in the clock buffer chain to the clock driver output line. The metal layers are partitioned into one or more programming layers and one or more non-programming layers.

Abstract: A chip scale package assembly comprises an integrated circuit die wire bonded to a carrier for mounting to a printed circuit board. The carrier comprises top and bottom ground planes thermally and electrically bonded together by a number of grounded thermal vias. The top ground plane completely surrounds the wire bond signal connections made with the die, enhancing signal integrity. The top ground plane covers the die mounting area, providing grounding and heat spreading for the die. The thermal vias are also positioned in the mounting area, and thermally couple the die to the bottom-side ground plane. The bottom ground plane is positioned within a central area around which the signal connections from the top-side are arranged. Ground pads with attached solder balls are positioned within the bottom ground plane and conduct heat transferred from the die into a primary circuit board on which the carrier is mounted.

Abstract: The long-wavelength photonic device comprises an active region that includes at least one quantum-well layer of a quantum-well layer material that comprises InyGa1-yAsSb in which y≧0, and that additionally includes a corresponding number of barrier layers each of a barrier layer material that includes gallium and phosphorus. The barrier layer material has a conduction-band energy level greater than the conduction-band energy level of the quantum-well layer material and has a valence-band energy level less than the valence-band energy level of the quantum-well layer material.

Abstract: Channel and test plans are implemented in connection with a plurality of nodes that communicate signals. The channel plan has one or more predefined specifications for each of one or more signal channels on each of the nodes. The channel plan enables a monitoring system to generate and conduct automatic periodic node test plans based upon the predefined specifications. Each test plan prescribes measurement of at least one node and/or channel signal parameter. The monitoring system includes a spectrum analyzer, a switch enabling the spectrum analyzer to interface with the nodes, and a controller. The controller is configured to enable creation of and display the channel plan and test plan, and to automate the node testing. The test plan may include alarm thresholds that are triggered and tracked when a signal parameter of a node or channel exceeds an alarm threshold.

Abstract: In an array of acoustic resonators, the resonant frequencies of the resonators are adjusted and stabilized in order to achieve target frequency responses for the array. The method of adjusting is achieved by intentionally inducing oxidation at an elevated temperature. Thermal oxidation grows a molybdenum oxide layer on the surface of the top electrode of an electrode-piezoelectric stack, thereby increasing the relative thickness of the electrode layer to the piezoelectric layer. In one embodiment, the resonant frequency of an FBAR is adjusted downwardly as the top electrode layer increases relative to the piezoelectric layer. In another embodiment, the method of stabilizing is achieved by intentionally inducing oxidation at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A network operational parameter as experienced by network operational traffic is measured by selecting a packet traversing a first monitoring point in a network in accordance with capability in a data structure definition of the packet for having additional information incorporated in the packet. Predetermined information for measuring at least one network operational parameter is incorporated in the selected packet in accordance with its data structure definition, and the packet is forwarded towards its destination in accordance with addressing information in the packet. The packet is again selected while traversing a second monitoring point in the network in accordance with presence of the predetermined information, which is observed and used to implement a measurement of the network operational parameter in accordance with the observed information. The invention may be implemented by using extension headers in networks conforming to IPv6.

Abstract: A measurement management system adapted to communicate with one or more measurement instruments, comprises at least one driver, each being adapted for communicating with at least one measurement instrument, a database adapted for storing information, and a processing unit adapted for processing information. Data communication within the measurement management system is provided using an MMS data format, in which data content is separated from information about presentation or representation of the data content.

Abstract: A biochemical assay device optically scans individual biological sample containing wells in an assay plate. The device includes an imaging system overlaying the assay plate wherein a scanning light propagates by total internal reflection within an optical waveguide. The waveguide includes a plurality of pixel locations, each aligned with a well in the assay plate, at which total internal reflection is selectively frustrated to output an incident beam of light. That light illuminates the well and causes generation of an emission beam of light that is detected by a photoreceptor. The device further includes a driver circuit that controls the selective frustration of total internal reflection at each pixel location in order to scan each well in the assay plate. A processor is also included in the device to process the detected emission beams of light generated by the scanned wells for purposes of assaying the biological sample contained in each scanned well.

Abstract: A high dynamic range receiver includes a detector that produces a current at a pair of terminals. A first gain element, implemented as a current-to-voltage converter for example, is coupled to the first terminal, receiving the current and generating a first output signal corresponding to the current. A second gain element, implemented as a current-to-voltage converter for example, is coupled to the second terminal, receiving the current and generating a second output signal corresponding to the received current. A switch selectively couples the first output signal or the second output signal to a port based on a comparison of at least one of the first output signal and the second output signal to a threshold.

Abstract: The analog-to-digital conversion system comprises an analog-to-digital converter that includes a digital output, memory having a data input and a data output, an output port, an input data bus that extends from the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter to the data input of the memory and an output data bus that extends from the data output of the memory to the output port. The analog-to-digital converter is structured to generate digital samples at a sampling rate. The input data bus is structured to operate at the sampling rate of the ADC. At least one of the data output of the memory, the output data bus and the output port is structured to operate at a maximum rate less than the sampling rate.

Abstract: A bubble optical switch includes a switching chamber, a static bubble drum, and a quenching pipe. The static bubble drum is adapted to contain a static bubble. In the inactive state, the static bubble remains within the static bubble drum and the switching chamber is filled with index matching fluid. To activate the switch, heat is introduced expanding the static bubble into the switching chamber displacing the index matching fluid with vapor. Then, the optical signal is reflected from the wall of the switching chamber. When the heat is removed, the static bubble contracts back into the static bubble drum. Because the temperature required to expand the static bubble is lower than the temperature required to nucleate a bubble from the fluid, the reliability and lifetime of the switch is increased. Further, due to the properties of the contracting static bubble, no residual bubble forms, thereby alleviating problems associated with residual bubbles of the prior art bubble switches.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure MALDI (AP-MALDI) apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a laser beam is reflected from a surface on an ion transfer interface between an analyte target and a mass analyzer. After reflection, the laser beam irradiates the target, which may be disposed on a target substrate. An embodiment includes using a reflective surface on the interface also for viewing the target and, e.g., by means of signals from a processor, adjusting the relative position of the target substrate and the laser beam. The apparatus can also be operated at pressures that are less than or greater than atmospheric.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing integrated circuits are provided. One such method comprises: providing a target fault list corresponding to an integrated circuit, the target fault list including at least a first fault and a second fault; measuring a relationship between the first fault and the second fault, the relationship corresponding to which of the first fault and the second fault is more readily detected by automatic test pattern generation; ordering the first fault and the second fault within the target fault list in a manner corresponding to the relationship; and performing automatic test pattern generation based upon an order of the faults of the target fault list. Systems and other methods also are provided.

Abstract: An adjustable nanopore is fabricated by placing the surfaces of two planar substrates in contact, wherein each substrate contains a hole having sharp corners and edges. A corner is brought into proximity with an edge to define a triangular aperture of variable area. Ionic current in a liquid solution and through the aperture is monitored as the area of the aperture is adjusted by moving one planar substrate with respect to the other along two directional axes and a rotational axis. Piezoelectric positioners can provide subnanometer repeatability in the adjustment process. The invention is useful for characterizing, cleaving, and capturing molecules, molecular complexes, and supramolecular complexes which pass through the nanopore, and provides an improvement over previous devices in which the hole size of nanopores fabricated by etching and/or redeposition is fixed after fabrication.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanosized holes with controlled geometries employs tools and methods developed in the microelectronics industry. The method exploits the fact that epitaxially grown film thicknesses can be controlled within a few atomic monolayers and that by using etching techniques, trenches and channels can be created that are only a few nanometers wide. The method involves bonding two shallow channels at an angle such that a nanopore is defined by the intersection. Thus, a nanopore-defining device includes a nanopore with dimensions that are determined by the dimensions and orientations of the intersecting channels, with the dimensions being accurately controlled within a few monolayers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interpolating color image information are provided. One or more image data values for a portion of a digital image in a vicinity of a target pixel are received and stored in a local array. A processor determines whether there is an edge in the vicinity of the target pixel based on the data values in the local array. If there is not an edge in the vicinity of the target pixel, then long scale interpolation is performed on the image data values in the local array, in order to result in interpolating color information that is missing from the image. If there is an edge in the vicinity of the target pixel, then short scale interpolation is performed using image data values in a subset of the local array in a closer vicinity of the target pixel. As a result, accurate color rendering of a digital image is achieved, even in the presence of an edge portion that exhibits great contrast between regions of the image.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modifying the surface of a polymeric substrate are provided. In the subject methods, at least a portion of the surface of the polymeric substrate is contacted with a biofouling resistant surfactant composition. At least a portion of the surfactant molecules of the composition are end modified with a non-reactive, charged end group that is charge stable over a pH range of a bout 2 to 12. The subject methods and compositions find particular use with electrophoretic devices, such as capillary electrophoretic devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining quality metrics associated with a test pattern used to test an integrated circuit (IC). The delays associated with (1) a longest sensitizable path through the IC that includes the delay fault and (2) an actual path exercised by the test pattern through the IC that includes the delay fault are determined. A difference between the delays is then obtained. The difference is then combined with a difference between a speed at which the test is performed and a design specification operating speed of the IC for the actual path. The sum represents the first quality metric associated with the test pattern for a given fault site. The ratio of the delays of the actual path to the longest sensitizable path represents the second quality metric associated with the test pattern for a given fault site.

Abstract: A transceiver module is adapted to be plugged into a port cage within a host system. The transceiver module includes transceiver electronics and a connector attached to the transceiver electronics. The transceiver electronics are sized to fit within the port cage. The connector includes a module portion and a connector jack attached to the module portion. The module portion is sized to fit along with the transceiver electronics within the port cage. The connector jack is sized with dimensions too big to fit within the port cage. The connector jack remains out of the port cage when the transceiver module is placed within the port cage. The connector jack occupies an area larger than an opening of the port cage.