Abstract: A pumping arrangement, for example for liquid chromatography, includes a first liquid reservoir at a first height level, connected via a first hydraulic path to a pumping device; a second liquid reservoir at a second height level, connected via a second hydraulic path to the pumping device; and filtration devices arranged in the first and in the second hydraulic path. Each filtration device includes an outer member forming a first chamber, and an inner member arranged within the outer member and forming a second chamber. The inner member 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: An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen includes a light source for illuminating an imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes a motion transducer. A lens receives the reflected images and directs the reflected images onto the motion transducer. The motion transducer includes an electronic shutter for controlling the amount of time that light is collected for image frames. The motion transducer is configured to generate digital representations of the reflected images. The motion transducer is configured to generate movement data based on the digital representations of the reflected images. The movement data is indicative of relative motion between the imaging surface and the motion transducer. A controller coupled to the light source turns the light source on only during the time that light is being collected for an image frame.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for facilitating positioning of a cursor on a display device are provided. For example, an input device is provided which includes a shifter configured to electrically communicate with a computer. The shifter is configured to enable functional information, provided by a mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor. The shifter provides a shift-disable mode and a shift-enable mode so that, while in the shift-disable mode, the shifter enables the mouse-type input device to influence movement of the cursor on the display device. For instance, a movement of the mouse-type input device in a first direction and a first distance results in the cursor moving the first direction and a corresponding second distance.

Abstract: Methods and systems that compensate for the lateral chromatic dispersion and lateral shifts induced by the propagation through a switching/routing optical system. Utilizing the methods and systems of the present invention, an output of a switching/routing optical system that produces angularly dispersed output beams is achromatized by, first, deviating the output optical beam to a direction sufficient to induce lateral chromatic aberration of the opposite sign to that produced by the switching/routing optical system; and, then, re-deviating the deviated output optical beam to a predetermined direction, where a path length of the deviated output optical beam is a length sufficient to substantially compensate the chromatic dispersion induced by the switching/routing optical system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating a first sampling circuit with a second sampling circuit having a similar impulse response. The second sampling circuit includes a sample and hold circuit that provides an output indicative of the potential at the sampling circuit input of the second sampling circuit at a time determined by a signal at the trigger pulse input of the second sampling circuit. The apparatus includes a trigger pulse generating circuit for generating a sequence of trigger pulse pairs, each pair having a first pulse that is delayed relative to a second pulse. Each pulse is applied to a corresponding trigger input of the sampling circuits. The first sampling circuit is assumed to generate a kick-out pulse indicative of its impulse response when triggered by the first pulse. A controller measures the output of the second sampling circuit for each delay.

Abstract: An ergonomic mouse has an upright freestanding body that is designed to be gripped by a user's fingers in a writing position and manipulated like a writing implement. The mouse has a body shaped like a pen. The pen is coupled to a weighted base so the mouse remains freestanding and does not need to be picked up before each use. The mouse has a primary switch that is activated by the weight of the user's hand bearing down upon the pen. A secondary switch is located on the pen. Alternatively, the ergonomic mouse has a small body that can be gripped in the fingers much like a pen. The small-bodied mouse has switches on its base surface that are activated by the weight of the user's hand bearing down upon the mouse body.

Abstract: Fluid-based switches are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch comprises first and second mated substrates defining therebetween at least portions of a number of cavities, the first substrate defining a plurality of indentations defined within a first one of the cavities, a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact deposited within one of the indentations, a switching fluid, held within the first cavity, that serves to open and close at least a pair of the plurality of electrical contacts in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid, and an actuating fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that applies the forces to the switching fluid.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for tuning a laser includes creating a laser with a path between a cavity end element and a tuning element of an external cavity, both being a high reflective or semitransparent mirror, selecting at least one longitudinal mode of the laser by introducing a dispersion element in the path of the laser, rotating the tuning element about a pivot axis theoretically defined by the intersection of the surface planes of the cavity end element, the dispersion element and the tuning element to tune the laser. The method and apparatus also include provisions for moving the dispersion element along such a predetermined path to at least partly compensate a shift between the real position of the pivot axis and the theoretically defined position.

Abstract: An imaging device such as a CMOS image sensor has a cover attached to a standoff surrounding a micro-lens array. Standard wafer processing fabricates the standoff (e.g., out of photoresist) and attaches the cover. The standoff maintains a gap over the micro-lenses. An adhesive attaches the cover to the standoff and can be kept away from the micro-lenses by a barrier having a structure similar to the standoff. Particles in the adhesive can prevent the adhesive from squeezing out from between the cover and the standoff during attachment. The standoff (and barrier if present) can provide a vent to prevent pressure in the gap from causing distortion or damage. The shape of the vent can prevent particles from entering the gap. Cutting the attached cover exposes electrical connections and can use preformed grooves in the cover to allow cutting of the cover without damaging underlying circuit elements.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for determining the bandwidth or transmission rate of a desired type of cell in a cell stream occurring over a digital communications network connection during a time interval between occurrences of a first and second predetermined event. The transmission rate of the desired cell, such as an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Available Bit Rate (ABR) user cell may be measured only when certain conditions exist, eliminating unnecessary calculations from being performed. Furthermore, the cell bandwidth may be determined immediately upon occurrence of the predetermined events, providing real-time feedback and analysis to test and measurement and/or network nodes.

Abstract: Optical modulators are provided. A representative optical modulator includes an optical medium that is adapted to propagate optical signals. An array of lattice sites are arranged in the optical medium, with at least some of the lattice sites exhibiting lower refractive indexes than the refractive index of the optical medium. Preferably, a first of the lattice sites incorporates a first optical component that is moveable relative to the optical medium. By moving the first optical component relative to the optical medium, a propagation characteristic of the optical medium can be altered. Optical systems, methods and other optical modulators also are provided.

Abstract: A driver circuit for an opto-electrical transmitter includes a digital feedback loop. A counter in the feedback loop maintains a count that controls a bias current output to the opto-electrical transmitter. A first fault activation circuit in the driver activates a fault signal that disables the driver when the count causes an overflow or underflow. The overflow/underflow can correspond to the input range of an ADC that converts the count into an analog signal to an output amplifier or to the range of the counter. A second fault activation signal times the duration of any periods during which a digital parameter of the driver is outside a target range. The digital parameter can be e a measured monitor current or the count that controls the output amplifier.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating non-linearity of the high-velocity type manifested in heterodyne interferometer position data includes receiving a plurality of groups of digital position values. A plurality of groups of digital phase values from a measurement channel are received. A first group of the digital position values and digital phase values are digitally processed to generate a plurality of block data values. The plurality of block data values are digitally processed to generate at least one quasi-static non-linearity parameter. A second group of the digital position values are compensated based on the at least one quasi-static non-linearity parameter.

Abstract: A pin-in-capillary apparatus for depositing droplets of fluid onto a surface is described. The apparatus has an off-axis channel for supplying fluid to the capillary. In the capillary the fluid wets the tip of the pin and is delivered to the surface when the pin is extended from the capillary. The capillaries and pins are flexible, allowing spatial reformatting for fluid delivery. Methods of delivering fluid to a surface are also described.

Abstract: A variable gain amplifier has a gain control circuit. The gain control circuit includes a first control input and a second control input. The first control input receives a first control signal. The gain control circuit varies gain of the variable gain amplifier based on a value of the first control signal. The second control input receives a second control signal. The gain control circuit varies gain slope of the variable gain amplifier based on a value of the second control signal.

Abstract: Array units and methods are provided which have constructions to reduce or take advantage of Fresnel reflection. The array units may have a subtantially unreflective substrate. In one arrangement a transparent spacer layer is provided while in another an anti-reflective layer is present.

Abstract: A single-piece flexure and flexure apparatus according to an embodiment allows movement along two perpendicular axes. The flexure is made from a single continuous material having a first and second flexure sections, with the second flexure section allowing translational movement in a direction perpendicular to that allowed by the first flexure section. Two-dimensional flexure assemblies may then be manufactured using these flexures. The flexure apparatus is made from a single contiguous material fashioned to provide a base section and a plurality of legs extending perpendicularly from the base section, with each leg having a first and second flexure sections, with the second flexure section allowing translational movement in a direction perpendicular to that allowed by the first flexure section.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a reaction chamber having relatively small volumes. An apparatus comprises two elements and a mechanism for introducing a gas to form a movable aerodynamic seal between the elements. In this manner a chamber having a controllable interior environment is formed. One of the elements may have at least a portion of a device for dispensing reagents sealingly affixed therein. The other element may be adapted for introduction of a support into the interior of the chamber formed by the top and the bottom element. The apparatus may be used in methods for synthesizing biopolymers on a support.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device comprising an emitting source and a partly-reflective element which is adapted for receiving an emitted light beam. This element is tilted in a small angle with respect to the emitted light beam. A portion of the emitted light beam is reflected by the partly-reflective element towards a transmittive element which is arranged in close proximity to the emitting source and adapted to receive and transmit the reflect portion. The transmittive element is arranged for at least partly fixing or positioning an optical fiber, which is emitting the input light beam, and provided for transmitting the laterally offset reflected portion of the input light beam away from the input fiber.

Abstract: A sub-chassis bracket attached to a horizontal motherboard has holes: (a) through which the connectors pass and that space the connectors apart by an intended nominal amount; and (b) that allow the connectors to shift horizontally as needed to form the mechanical path from a particular spacing on the motherboard to a front panel, with its own actual particular spacing, and to which panel the connectors are each fastened with a nut. The nuts are have a symmetrically tapered or curved surface on the side that contacts the outside of the panel, whose holes therethrough are somewhat oversize. The nuts individually center the connectors in their respective panel holes, and draw each connector perpendicular to the panel. To provide a particular connector feature orientation, and to prevent the connectors from rotating and disturbing that orientation during the tightening of the nuts, each connector has a central region of increased diameter that has two flats and that forms a shoulder.