Abstract: A plug-in module such as a transceiver for an optical communications system is adapted to be inserted into the front opening of a cage-like reception member and to slide into the reception member towards an end mounting position. The module comprises a latch mechanism for latching the plug-in module in the end mounting position in the reception member. The module includes a front face having opposite sides and the latch mechanism includes a pair of levers tiltably associated with the plug-in module at the opposite sides of the front face. The levers have homologous end portions with a transverse bar extending therebetween in a general bail-like fashion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for viewing a depiction of an object (for example a solder joint) in a multi-dimensional manner, morphing the object's depiction using a graphical user interface to upper and lower acceptable tolerance limits and storing the tolerance limits for use in a test/inspection apparatus. The invention relates to the translation of human visual inspection-analysis of an object into physical quantifiable parameters used in an inspection device via a graphical user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of making very accurate non-invasive current measurements of current flowing from a power source to a device under test (DUT). A power supply, which operates in a pass through mode and which incorporates a plurality of sense leads, compensates for voltage drops due to system wiring and measurement shunts within the bandwidth limits of the power supply. The resulting circuit voltage and impedance seen by the load, after the addition of the measurement system and system wiring, is nearly identical to the power source's output voltage and impedance.

Abstract: A package for opto-electrical components, includes a casing having (1) a chamber and (2) at least one board or tile for carrying the opto-electrical components. The casing has an opening (shaped as a parallelogram) defining an optical feed-through path between the chamber and the outside of the casing. The casing includes ceramic material in the vicinity of the opening. An adapter associated with the opening has a substantially circular aperture to accept a fiber pigtail and/or a fiber optic connector.

Abstract: A dual path analog-to-digital conversion method and system. The system includes a first and second circuits. The first and second circuits each convert an input analog signal into digital signals at differing sample rates. The circuit having the slower sampling rate aliases frequency components of the input analog signal that are higher than half that sampling rate. Frequency components causing the aliasing in the slower sampling circuit are replicated from the faster sampling circuit at the appropriate amplitude, folded into the aliased frequency, and subtracted from the output of the slower sampling circuit. The outputs of both sampling circuits are then merged. These techniques extend the bandwidth of the slower conversion system without degrading the low-frequency accuracy of the slower conversion system.

Abstract: One or more LIMMS devices on a substrate, possibly having same-surface signal conductors, are hermetically sealed by either: (a) Enclosing each entire LIMMS device beneath a common or respective outer cover that is separate from the LIMMS device(s) and impervious to contaminants; or (b) Fabricating each LIMMS device such that its individual cover block (which is already a component of the LIMMS and is not a separate outer cover) can be hermetically sealed against the substrate. Each case must limit the effects of the hermetic seal upon impedances. In case (a) the substrate is covered with a layer of dielectric material matching the ribbon-like footprint of the perimeter of the separate outer cover. In case (b), the entire (solid) footprint of the LIMMS cover block on the substrate receives a layer of dielectric material, which may itself then be covered, save for near its perimeter, with suitable adhesive. In case (a) the outer cover may be soldered to the perimeter footprint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer, in which an ion enhancement system directs a heated gas to heat ions produced by a matrix based ion source and detected by a detector of the mass spectrometer. The ion enhancement system is interposed between the ion source and the detector of the mass spectrometer. The analyte ions that contact the heated gas are enhanced to increase the number and/or intensity of ions detected by the detector of the mass spectrometer. The method includes producing analyte ions from a matrix based ion source, enhancing the analyte ions with an ion enhancement system and detecting the analyte ions with the detector of the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A feedback network for connecting an output of an operational amplifier with a feedback input of the operational amplifier, wherein the feedback network comprises a feedback circuit. The feedback network comprises a semiconductor switch in series to the feedback circuit for turning off and on the feedback network.

Abstract: A method of interrogating an addressable array having a plurality of different chemical features. The method may include simultaneously illuminating different regions of the array with light of different intensities (which, for example, can, but need not be, also of a same waveband). Light emitted from the different regions in response to the illuminating (which light, for example, can, but need not be, of a same waveband) may be simultaneously detected with different detectors. An apparatus, addressable array unit, and related methods are further provided.

Abstract: An ion optic device is dimensionally stable over variations in temperature when constructed with a ceramic or glass-ceramic substrate. A conductive or resistive coating is applied on surfaces of the substrate that are required to be particularly conductive or resistive for the function of the ion optic device.

Abstract: An electrically conductive structure and method for making circuit changes on a printed circuit board involves the use of electrically conductive tape to connect two previously unconnected points on the board. One or more sections of the tape may be used to form a low-profile contiguous path between two previously unconnected points on the board.

Abstract: A substrate contact placement system and method are provided for the placement of substrate contacts in a datapath stack in an integrated circuit design. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system establishes a floorplan for the datapath stack containing a plurality of datapath macros in a netlist, and determines a placement of substrate contacts for a datapath macro in the datapath stack to minimize area used for the substrate contacts. Then, the system adds substrate contacts to the datapath stack. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method includes establishing a floorplan for the datapath stack containing a plurality of datapath macros in a netlist, and determining a placement of substrate contacts for a datapath macro in the datapath stack to minimize area used for the substrate contacts. Then, the substrate contacts are added to the datapath stack.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus and a method is provided for measuring performance characteristics of a recording unit including a circular recording medium on which one track is divided into a plurality of sectors, where the recording unit records a data signal on the recording medium by using a magnetic head. A mechanism device including micro actuator and a piezo-electric stage moves the magnetic head in a direction substantially perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the recording medium in response to a control signal. The measuring apparatus writes a write signal for respective sectors while moving the magnetic head by outputting the control signal having different levels corresponding to respective sectors to the mechanism device, and reads out the written write signal, then measuring a read-out write signal as a read signal relative to a position of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A network monitoring and/or troubleshooting system to collect heterogeneous scalar measurement data over a network from a plurality of devices connected to the network and normalize the collected heterogeneous scalar measurement data based on a mathematical transform of collected scalar measurement data into a common mathematical space. When the transformed scalar measurement data is displayed in graphical representations, underlying data of the graphical representation can be drilled into, with context, to display additional heterogeneous scalar measurement data, scalar measurement data from data collectors, and measurement data stored in network devices generating the heterogeneous scalar measurement data.

Abstract: High melt balls dispersed on the surface of a ball grid array package in such a manner that the collapse of eutectic solder balls is controlled during reflow heating in order to ensure appropriate solder ball standoff, pitch and coplanarity of the ball grid array package from the substrate or printed circuit board surface to which it is being attached.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of calibrating an N-port multiport test system for measurement of a DUT. The method consists of coupling each port of an N-port automatic calibration device to a respective port of the N-port multiport test system, and presenting three reflection standards with the automatic calibration device to each port of the N-port multiport test system. The method also consists of providing with the automatic calibration device, N−1 through conditions of a possible N(N−1)/2 possible through conditions, between corresponding ports of the N-port multiport test system, and making measurements with the N-port multiport test system of the three reflection standards at each port and the N−1 through conditions between the corresponding ports. The method further consists of determining all of systematic error coefficients for all of the ports of N-port multiport test system.

Abstract: A magnetron with mechanisms for smoothly and continuously adjusting a DC power applied to its targets to compensate for the changes in the sputtering characteristics of the targets that occur with target aging. A magnetron according to the present teachings includes a set of concentric targets for sputtering a film onto a wafer in response to an AC power and a DC power applied to the targets and a power controller that adjusts the DC power. The adjustments to the DC power enable the magnetron to maintain uniformity in the thicknesses of films formed with the magnetron throughout the life of its targets.

Abstract: In the measurements of optical characteristics, such as measurements of group delay using an interferometric system, vibration noise can be at least partially offset by providing corrections on the basis of detecting light patterns that are indicative of the vibration noise. In each embodiment, light beams propagating through first and second paths are combined to form an interference signal, which is analyzed to provide the basis for the adjustments.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing an arbitrary waveform that approximates a specific waveform. The method includes specifying respective frequencies of component waveforms to be used to generate the arbitrary waveform, the frequencies being less than the maximum frequency needed to synthesize the specific waveform. The method further includes performing a least squares optimization of respective amplitudes and phases of the component waveforms across at least one predetermined time interval. The component waveforms having the amplitudes and phases optimized by the least squares optimization are then summed to produce the arbitrary waveform.

Abstract: Pulse width modulation systems and methods are described. In one aspect, a pulse width modulation system includes a register and a code word generator. The code word generator has an input for receiving a specified output frequency and a specified duty cycle and is operable to generate code words of different lengths. The code word generator is operable to generate a base code word having a length set to achieve the specified output frequency and having a thermometer code value set in accordance with the specified duty cycle. The code word generator is further operable to load the register with a code word pattern including a sequence of one or more copies of the base code word.