Abstract: A surface having specular regions shaped to reflect incident light toward an optical sensor provides an ideal surface to be scanned by an optical mouse. When light is shined upon the surface, the reflections off of the specular regions appear as white points in the image acquired by the optical sensor, which gives the optical sensor the distinguishing characteristics it needs to differentiate between images. Since the specular regions reflect light so well, less light is needed to obtain an image, and power is conserved. The surface appears as a dark background in the image, providing contrast to the light reflecting off the specular regions. To protect the specular regions, an optically transparent coating can be layered on top of the surface. An alternative surface that may be easier to manufacture is a light colored surface dotted with darker colored regions.

Abstract: An electrical circuit generates both a differential data signal and a “squelch,” or “out-of-band,” state over a differential signal pair by employing common-mode logic (CML) technology. In one embodiment of the invention, a CML buffer having true and complementary (inverted) data outputs drive the differential data signal onto the positive (‘p’) and negative (‘n’) signal lines of the differential pair. To implement the squelch state, the true and complementary outputs of a two-input CML multiplexer are coupled with the corresponding outputs of the buffer. The data inputs of the multiplexer are driven by the data input signal driving the buffer, as well as the logical inversion of the data input signal. A squelch state signal then drives an input selector of the multiplexer to impress the squelch state over the differential signal pair when active.

Abstract: A photonic crystal interferometric switch has a photonic crystal; a waveguide in the photonic crystal, the waveguide having at least one input portion, at least two output portions and an interference channel connecting the at least two output portions, the waveguide capable of transmitting light within a bandgap of said photonic crystal; and a resonant member connected to at least one of the at least two output portions to control a property of light in the at least one output portion, to control the interference of light in the waveguide. A 1×2 optical switch may be constructed by tuning the parameters of the resonant member, either optically or electronically, resulting in a switching of a light signal from one output portion to another output portion. Furthermore, by isolating one output portion of the interferometer, the apparatus may be utilized as an optical modulator.

Abstract: A fluid-based switch and method for producing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch is produced by depositing switching fluid on a first substrate; depositing a reducing material so that the reducing material contacts at least a portion of the switching fluid, the reducing material to react with oxides on the switching fluid, and mating a first substrate to a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate defining therebetween a cavity holding the switching fluid, the cavity being sized to allow movement of the switching fluid between first and second states.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for tuning a device under test uses a spider diagram-like chart that provides the operator with visual cues as to the tuning status of a device under test (DUT). The spider diagram may be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI), along with various adjustment points or potentiometers. The spider diagram includes a unit circle that represents the acceptable bounds for each measured parameter. Overlaying the unit circle is a polygon of three or more sides, with a vertex of each angle of the polygon representing a measured parameter. The polygon changes shape as the various potentiometers are adjusted. When a measured parameter value is at the center of its allowable range, the vertex of the angle corresponding to that measurement lies near the center of the unit circle. When a measured parameter is at its upper or lower bound, the vertex lies on the unit circle.

Abstract: A device for measuring and/or testing of components of optical and/or electrical networks includes a casing and an optical and/or electrical connection jack attached to the casing, to which an optical and/or electrical lead can be connected directly or indirectly via an adapter, wherein a lift device is provided, with which the connection jack can be moved relative to the casing between a lifted position and a lowered position.

Abstract: A receiver for optical signals arranged in packets of data having a discontinuous flow pre-reads the signal and generates, for each packet, a corresponding signal indicating the phase of the data in the packet, and a threshold level indicating the packet mean signal power. A delay line delays the discontinuous flow by a delay interval. A receiver responsive to the discontinuous flow delayed by the delay line performs, on each packet, a receiving operation on the basis of the threshold level and with a phase identified on the basis of the phase indicating signal.

Abstract: In a method of producing a plurality of hermetically sealed electronic components, first and second substrates are wafer bonded to enclose a plurality of electronic components therebetween. The first substrate is then cut to expose first seals on the first substrate and second seals on the second substrate. The first and second seals define perimeters around the plurality of electronic components. Solder is dispensed into the cuts in the first substrate, and the solder is then reflowed to join corresponding pairs of first and second seals.

Abstract: A cellular handset supports simultaneous service for different frequency ranges, and different wireless standards.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for absorbance detection in instrumental situations which have short absorption path lengths, such as microchip type devices, includes modulating the sample beam incident upon a sample cell to improve the sensitivity of the absorbance measurement. The modulation means includes a scanning device arranged to move the sample beam from a first position in which the sample beam is incident upon the sample area to a second position in which the sample beam is incident upon the cell.

Abstract: A method utilizes time-domain measurements of a nonlinear device to produce or extract a behavioral model from embeddings of these measurements. The resulting behavioral model of the nonlinear device is a black-box model that accommodates nonlinear devices with one or more input ports and one or more output ports. The black-box model is a functional form that is a closed form function of input variables that produces an output as opposed to a structural form. The method of producing a behavioral model comprises the steps of applying an input signal to the nonlinear device, sampling the input signal to produce input data, measuring a response of the device to produce output data, creating an embedded data set, fitting a function to the embedded data set, and verifying the fitted function. The method may apply a CDMA type input signal in the step of applying, and/or may fit a novel radial basis function in the step of fitting a function. The input signal is constructed from a single CDMA signal representation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming an FeRAM integrated circuit, which includes forming a TiAlON bottom electrode diffusion barrier layer prior to formation of the bottom electrode layer in an FeRAM capacitor stack. Subsequently, when performing the capacitor stack etch, the portion of the TiAlON diffusion barrier layer not covered by the FeRAM capacitor stack is etched substantially anisotropically due to the oxygen within the TiAlON diffusion barrier layer substantially preventing a lateral etching thereof. In the above manner, an undercut of the TiAlON diffusion barrier layer under the FeRAM capacitor stack is prevented. In another aspect of the invention, a method of forming an FeRAM capacitor comprises forming a multi-layer bottom electrode diffusion barrier layer. Such formation comprises forming a TiN layer over the interlayer dielectric layer and the conductive contact and forming a diffusion barrier layer thereover.

Abstract: The addition of an array of transistors through areas of the circuit where active devices normally don't exist, such as under routing channels. By connecting this array of transistors such that the gates are tied to one power supply and the sources and drains to another, the transistors act as bypass capacitors between the power supplies and act to reduce noise on the supplies. Also, the transistors may later be reconnected through changes in the design to form diodes, inverters, buffers, or other logic gates to allow changes to the circuit late in the design cycle.

Abstract: An automated method and system for determining an optimal focus distance for scanning a molecular array scanner. Blocks of rows of a reference array are automatically scanned at successively greater distances of the stage from a light gathering medium, such as an optical fiber, or z-positions, to produce data providing a functional relationship between z-position and measured signal intensities. The data is then processed by a peak-height-based, or window-based, focus-finding routine that selects an optimal focus-distance for data scans.

Abstract: An electrically-pumped vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) has multiple active regions. Embodiments of the invention provide an electrically-pumped VCSEL having a number of different p-i-n junction and electrode arrangements, which, in various embodiments, allow independent biasing of the multiple active regions, and, in other embodiments, allow simplified electrical connections.

Abstract: A channel plate is mated to a substrate to define at least a portion of a number of cavities. The channel plate is provided with a switching fluid channel, and a pair of ground channels adjacent the switching fluid channel. A switching fluid is held within a cavity defined by the switching fluid channel, and is movable between at least first and second switch states in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid. In one embodiment, the ground channels are replaced with ground traces. The ground traces may be formed on or in the substrate or channel plate. Switching circuits incorporating one or more these switches are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing three-dimensional relative movement includes a movable motion sensor including a first and a second two-dimensional array of photo detectors. At least one lens directs far-field images onto the first and the second arrays of photo detectors. The sensor is configured to generate digital representations of the far-field images and to generate three-dimensional relative movement data based on the digital representations of the far-field images. The movement data is indicative of motion of the sensor in three dimensions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cooling device. The cooling device may be used to cool an integrated circuit. The method is broadly summarized by the following steps: pressing a metal slug to near-net shape, wherein the near-net shape includes a peripheral wall portion defining a chamber, the chamber having a first open end and a second closed end, the closed end defined by a chamber floor portion, and wherein the near-net shape includes a heat conductive base portion, the heat conductive base portion being defined by a lower base surface and the chamber floor portion; machining the lower base surface; creating a radius on the top of the peripheral wall portion; and cutting a plurality of slot openings in the peripheral wall portion.

Abstract: For visualizing faults in an optical fiber connection, imaging signals from the optical fiber connection are received and an image processing of the imaging signals is provided in order to detect faults in the fiber connection. The imaging signals are graphically represented, whereby a visualization of the detected faults is provided by representing such faults in accordance with a predefined coloring scheme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fibre communication component (1), and particularly a connector receptacle (10) for connecting to a connector plug (20) having an optical fibre (6) mounted within a projecting cylindrical ferrule. The connector receptacle (10) comprises a housing (2) that has a passageway (3) with an entrance for receiving the ferrule (7). A split sleeve clamp (27) is seated within the passageway (3) and has an opening oriented towards the entrance for receiving the projecting ferrule (7). A hollow sleeve (23) having a cylindrical outer surface (36) and an axially extending open channel (37), is gripped by the split sleeve clamp to define the diameter of the opening to the clamp. The open channel (37) extends along the longitudinal axis (5) of the passageway (3) to allow optical radiation (50) to be transmitted through the channel (37) to/from said connector plug (20).