Abstract: Pressure-actuated bi-stable optical switching is provided. In this regard, a pressure-actuated bi-stable optical switch includes an optical path and a cavity intersecting the optical path. The cavity defines a first position along the optical path and a second position displaced from the optical path. An index-matching liquid, which exhibits an index of refraction closer to an index of refraction of the optical path than to that of a vacuum, is arranged within the cavity. A pressure generator generates pressure that selective moves the liquid between the first and second positions. Additionally, a potential profile maintains the liquid in the one of the first and second positions to which it was most recently moved while the pressure generator is not generating pressure. Methods, systems and other switches also are provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing circuit tests. In a first embodiment of the invention, a number of electrical characteristics of a number of electrical components which exist in a circuit are identified, and the number of electrical components are then grouped in response to the number of electrical characteristics. Thereafter, and for each group of electrical components, a circuit test which is common to the electrical components of the group is established. When the execution of a test results in a false fail, the test is debugged, and the debugged test is then associated with each other component in its group. Much of a programmer's debug effort is therefore “proactive” rather than “reactive”. Preferably, a test history log is maintained for each component group so that previously abandoned test solutions are not repeated as tests are debugged.

Abstract: In a shielding scheme for circuit boards, conductive shields have contoured mating surfaces that become flat, or co-planar, at the circuit board-shield interface when the shields are fastened to opposite sides of the circuit board. The contoured mating surfaces compensate for deformation of the shields resulting from the fastening so that uniform mechanical pressure is applied at all designated points along the circuit board-shield interface even though fastening points are intermittently spaced throughout the shields. When compressible conductive gaskets are optionally interposed between the shields and the circuit board, stops are included to accommodate for the thickness of the gasket. High signal isolation is achieved without correspondingly high contact area on the circuit board and without closely-spaced fastening points. Low assembly time and manufacturing cost results for shielded circuit board assemblies incorporating the shielding scheme.

Abstract: A system for manipulating optical signals in an optical switch utilizes a light-absorbing region. The region efficiently converts light to thermal energy and is in thermal communication with an index-matching fluid disposed within an intersecting gap between a first input optical waveguide and a first output optical waveguide. In one embodiment, exposing the region to optical radiation elevates the temperature of the fluid within the gap, resulting in vaporization of the fluid into gas. Filling the gap with gas creates a refractive index mismatch that causes light from the first input waveguide to be diverted to a second output waveguide. In another embodiment, the manipulation of optical signals is achieved by exposing a light-absorbing fluid to the source radiation.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for controlling the shutter open time in an opto-electronic device is presented. A frame of pixel intensity data is collected and the average pixel intensity value is across said frame is calculated and compared to a first threshold. If the average pixel intensity is outside a first intensity range defined by said first threshold, the shutter open time is adjusted in a first direction. Otherwise, the peak pixel intensity value across the frame is found and compared to a second threshold. If the peak pixel intensity value is outside a second intensity range defined by said second threshold, the shutter open time is adjusted in said first direction. If the peak pixel intensity value is not outside a second intensity range, the peak pixel intensity value is compared to a third threshold. If the peak pixel intensity value is outside a third intensity range defined by the third threshold, the shutter open time is adjusted in a second direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor test data analysis system (1) automatically recording, during an analysis operation, operation information of the analysis operation, including analysis conditions or an analysis procedure for input test data, or analysis information obtained by the analysis operation. The analysis system includes a processing means (101), an analysis target data storage means (109), which stores the test data as analysis target data, a historical data storage means (107), which stores as historical data either operation information of the analysis operation or analysis information obtained by the analysis operation, and a display data storage means (112), which stores analysis information obtained by the analysis operation, which stores analysis display data generated by the processing means for the purpose of displaying the analysis information obtained by the analysis operation.

Abstract: A pumping arrangement, for example for liquid chromatography, comprises a first liquid reservoir at a first height level, connected via a first hydraulic path to a pumping means; a second liquid reservoir at a second height level, connected via a second hydraulic path to the pumping means; and filtration devices arranged in the first and in the second hydraulic path. Each filtration device comprises an outer member (1) forming a first chamber (6), and an inner member (2) arranged within the outer member and forming a second chamber (5). The inner member (2) is porous and acts as a filter for liquid flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. The arrangement ensures efficient filtering and prevents undesired backflow of liquid.

Abstract: A data analysis method, apparatus, and storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therein for use on a spreadsheet software having a plurality of cells displayed as a two-dimensional table on a computer including assigning to a first cell a definition of array representation data including a single array or multiple arrays of data, displaying to the first cell a first array display button, and selectively displaying the array representation data in a graphical or table format using an array data display device when the array display button is selected.

Abstract: Optical packaging assemblies and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, an optical packaging assembly includes a package housing, a hermetically sealed optical device housing, and an optical fiber alignment assembly. The package housing includes an optical fiber feedthrough and a package electric feedthrough. One or more optical fibers extend through the optical fiber feedthrough. The hermetically sealed optical device housing is mounted within the package housing and includes an optical window and a device electric feedthrough that is electrically connected to the electric feedthrough of the package housing. At least one optical device is mounted within the hermetically sealed optical device housing in optical alignment with respect to the optical window.

Abstract: A memory tester supports testing of multiple DUT's of the same type at a test site. The tester can be instructed to replicate the segments of the test vectors needed to test one DUT on the channels for the other DUT's. This produces patterns of transmit and receive vectors that are n-many DUT's wide. Conditional branching within the test program in response to conditions in the receive vectors (DUT failure) is supported by recognizing several types of error indications and an ability to selectively disable the testing of one or more DUT's while continuing to test the one or more that are not disabled. Also included are ways to remove or limit stimulus to particular DUT's, and ways to make all comparisons for a particular DUT appear to be “good.

Abstract: An optical spectrum analyzer involves a swept local oscillator signal that is depolarized before the swept local oscillator signal is combined with an input signal. An embodiment of a system for optical spectrum analysis includes a depolarizer, an optical coupler, and a heterodyne receiver. The depolarizer has an input to receive a swept local oscillator signal and an output for outputting a depolarized swept local oscillator signal. The optical coupler has a first input and a second input, the first input receiving an input signal, the second input being optically connected to the depolarizer to receive the depolarized swept local oscillator signal. The optical coupler also has an output for outputting a combined optical signal that includes the input signal and the depolarized swept local oscillator signal. The heterodyne receiver has an input for receiving the combined optical signal from the optical coupler and an output for outputting an electrical signal representative of the combined optical signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring thin film deposition are described. In one aspect, a thin film deposition sensor includes an acoustical resonator (e.g., a thin film bulk acoustical resonator) that has an exposed surface and is responsive to thin film material deposits on the exposed surface. A substrate clip may be configured to attach the thin film deposition sensor to a substrate. A transceiver circuit may be configured to enable the thin film deposition sensor to be interrogated wirelessly. A method of monitoring a thin film deposition on a substrate also is described.

Abstract: An integrated polysilicon fuse and diode and methods of making the same are provided. The integrated polysilicon fuse and diode combination may be implemented in a programmable cross point fuse array. The integrated polysilicon fuse and diode may be used in a random access memory (RAM) cell. The polysilicon diode may be isolated from a substrate and other devices, use less area on a substrate, and cost less to manufacture compared to other diodes.

Abstract: An optical measuring unit for measuring an optical property of an incoming optical beam comprises a polarization converter receiving the incoming optical beam and providing a first output beam and a second output beam thereof, which are spatially separated and with substantially matching states of polarization. A polarization dependent analysis unit receives the first and the second output beams from the polarization converter, and measures the optical property of both the first and the second output beams. The polarization converter comprises a polarization dependent beam splitter splitting up an incoming optical beam into a first output beam of the polarization converter and into a second beam, each with a defined state of polarization but different from each other.

Abstract: The pivot-less Watt linkage supports a first rigid element relative to a second rigid element and permits relative motion between the rigid elements. The pivot-less Watt linkage comprises an elongate, rigid, floating beam, an elongate first flexible beam, an elongate second flexible beam and a flexible member. The first flexible beam extends in a first direction from a first point on the floating beam to the first rigid element. The second flexible beam extends in a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, from a second point on the floating beam to the first rigid element. The second point is spatially separated from the first point along the length of the floating beam. The flexible member extends in the first direction from a third point on the floating beam to the second rigid element. The third point is intermediate between the first point and the second point.

Abstract: For measuring a polarization dependent parameter of an optical device under test—DUT—, an optical source provides an optical stimulus signal at variable wavelengths, and a polarization translator translates the polarization state of the optical stimulus signal applied from the optical source at its input to its output in a deterministic way dependent on the wavelength of the optical stimulus signal. A receiving unit receives an optical response signal from the DUT to the applied optical stimulus signal, and an analyzing unit analyzes received optical response signals for different wavelengths for determining values of the polarization dependent parameter of the DUT.

Abstract: A protocol analyzer for a test system has a control system coupled to a first interface and a second interface. The first interface receives a packet from a packet network. The control system receives the packet from the first interface and either deletes the packet or transfers the packet to the second interface based on a destination address in the packet. The second interface transfers the packet to another protocol analyzer. The destination address could be a MAC address.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating the DC voltage level of measurement equipment supplies a calibration voltage through a DC voltage superposition means to the measurement equipment, detects the voltage level supplied to the measurement equipment, and adjusts the calibration voltage. Therefore, in the high-frequency range, the calibration apparatus can reduce the effect on the measurement accuracy of the measurement equipment and supply a highly accurate calibration voltage to the measurement equipment.

Abstract: An eye diagram analyzer can assign a plurality of SUT data signals to be members of a labeled group of channels. There may be a plurality of such groups. The measured data for components within a group can be merged according to various different modes into a composite eye diagram presentation. When a composite eye diagram is being displayed, the operator may position a screen pointer (cursor) over some interesting part of the eye diagram, and the analyzer will display a list those channels that contributed to the displayed pixels in that part of the eye diagram, as well as other related information. The operator may also select a channel from among the group, and then have the displayed pixels for which it is responsible be displayed in a selected color or otherwise highlighted in a way that allows them to be distinguished from all others.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a two-dimensional array of ferroelectric memory cells in which plate lines within the array are grouped. The grouping of plate lines accommodates the use of larger plate line drivers, such as CMOS driver inverters. Each plate line group may include some but not all of the rows of memory cells and some but not all of the columns of memory cells within the array.