Abstract: A digital-to-analog converting system for producing an interleaved analog signal with enhanced bandwidth includes a first digital-to-analog converter for receiving a first digital data stream and converting the first digital data stream to a first analog signal and a second digital-to-analog converter for receiving a second digital data stream and converting the second digital data stream to a second analog signal. The digital-to-analog converting system is clocked by a clock signal having a clock period, and further includes first timing circuitry for receiving the first analog signal and outputting the first analog signal for a first half of the clock period and second timing circuitry for receiving the second analog signal and outputting the second analog signal for a second half of the clock period to produce the interleaved analog signal.

Abstract: A method for processing ions in mass spectrometry is provided. The method provides for processing ions in a ion processing cell having elongated segmented rods, a circuit for applying RF voltages and a circuit for applying DC voltage selectively to the segments of the segmented rods. The method comprises applying an RF field to the elongated volume, applying DC voltage selectively to the segments to form a plurality of potential regions having discrete potentials; providing analyte ions to a first potential region and processing at least a portion of the analytes in the first potential region. In one embodiment, the potential region is a potential well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the detection of analyte(s) of interest in a test sample using a rupturable microcapsule biosensor. In general, the microcapsule biosensor includes a microcapsule comprising a shell encapsulating a detectable agent and further includes a probe that is joined to the shell of the microcapsule. The present invention contemplates generally using the microcapsule biosensor to determine if a test sample contains an analyte of interest by exposing the microcapsule biosensor to the test sample and allowing the probe to potentially bind to the analyte. External force is applied to the microcapsule to rupture the shell releasing the detectable agent and thereby indicating the presence of the analyte of interest in the test sample.

Abstract: A method of creating service usage records summarising usage of mobile data communications services, comprises monitoring message packets traversing a signalling link between a serving support node and a gateway support node, these message packets including packets for tunnelling data being transported by a mobile data communications service. First information is extracted from the data tunnelling packets, relating to data being tunnelled by said packets, and second information is extracted, relating to implementation of the data tunnelling. The correlating said first and second information are correlated to generate a service usage record. A source of data packets can be characterised by examining a tunnel destination address in each monitored message packet, and characterising the message packet as mobile-originated if the tunnel destination address is a gateway support node and as mobile-terminated if the tunnel destination address is a serving support node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a determination of a physical state of an optical device by measuring a response signal. At least two subsequent measurements are executed. Therefore, a first optical signal is transmitted to the optical device, wherein a first optical property of said first signal is varied according to a first function of the time. A second optical property of a first response signal returning from the optical device is measured over the time and a first result function of the second optical property of the first response signal over the first optical property of first optical signal is established. Further, a second optical signal is transmitted to the optical device, wherein the first optical property of said signal is varied according to a second function of the time that is different from the first function of time.

Abstract: The magnification Mref for a line scan camera can be found by exploiting a difference in the way Mref affects the notion of ‘focus’ in the x and y directions. Mref enters into the calculations for selecting z while focusing in the y direction, but not in x. A thin opaque calibration target is provided at a convenient height in z called the reference plane, and has straight edges aligned parallel to the x and y directions. To find Mref the line scan camera forms images of the calibration target over a range of trial z values known to include the height of the calibration target. An arbitrary and possibly incorrect trial value Mi of Mref is then assumed and many slices of the calibrations target are calculated. Within these slices the edge parallel to the x direction will be sharply defined for some zx, while at some other zy the edge parallel to the y direction will be sharply defined. Make a note of ei=zy. Repeat these steps for some number different trial Mi that cover the plausible range of Mref.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure ion source, e.g. for a mass spectrometer, that produces ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). It includes a vaporizer, a photon source for photoionizing vapor molecules upon exit from the vaporizer, a passageway for transporting ions to, for example, a mass spectrometer system, and a means for directing the ions into the passageway. The center axis of the vaporizer and the center axis of the passageway form an angle that may be about 90 degrees. Included in the invention is a method for creating ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization along an axis and directing them into a passageway oriented at an angle to that axis.

Abstract: A directional bridge for measuring propagated signals to and from a source device to a load device where both the source device and load device are in signal communication with the directional bridge is disclosed. The directional bridge may include a first bridge circuit network and a first sensing element in signal communication with the first bridge circuit network. The first sensing element may produce a first measured signal that is proportional to the propagated signals.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compositions, columns and methods for improved chromatographic separations. In particular, novel column packings are provided to improve overall chromatographic separation and efficiency. The invention provides a packing material having particles or mixtures of particles that are used for separation of small molecules, proteins or nucleic acids.

Abstract: A system for measuring properties of small volume samples includes a source of electromagnetic radiation; a first optical system; an optical delivery system; a sample holding assembly; a second optical system; a detecting system; an optical transmission system; a data collector interface component operatively connected to the detecting system; at least one processor; and at least one computer readable medium being capable of causing the at least one processor to: receive data from the detecting system corresponding to a measurement, calculate characteristics from the received data, organize the calculated characteristics in a predetermined ordering and output the organized predetermined ordering to the at least one computer readable medium.

Abstract: A method and system characterizes an IF response of a receiver under test, such that an effect on the characterization by errors associated with uncertainties in knowledge of an RF stimulus signal used to perform the characterization is reduced. The method includes determining an estimate of an actual IF response of the receiver under test from IF responses of the receiver under test measured at overlapping frequency bands and a set of conversion coefficients computed therefrom, such that the estimate reduces the effect of the errors. The system includes a signal generator, an IF processor, a computer program, and a controller that controls the generator and the processor and executes the computer program. When a receiver under test is characterized, the receiver is connected between the signal generator, the IF processor and the controller. The computer program includes instructions that implement characterizing the receiver IF response.

Abstract: A device which uses a detection circuit to determine whether an output current thereof is source-induced or load-induced, and the method therefor. The device which performs some type of operation based upon the determination as to whether the output current thereof is source-induced or load-induced, and method therefor. The detection circuit determines whether polarities of the output current and an output voltage are the same, and determines the output current to be source-induced if the polarities are the same and load-induced if the polarities are opposite each other. Such a device may have many applications, including use in systems where distinctions between source and load-induced currents are employed in feedback systems to control the system voltage source, systems where the system voltage source is not controlled, but other sources are controlled to influence a summation of voltages and currents at sensing locations, and systems for measurement instrumentation.

Abstract: A test access point structure for accessing test points of a printed circuit board and method of fabrication thereof is presented. In an x-, y-, z-coordinate system where traces are printed along an x-y plane, the z-dimension is used to implement test access point structures. Each test access point structure is conductively connected to a trace at a test access point directly on top of the trace and along the z axis of the x-, y-, z-coordinate system above an exposed surface of the printed circuit board to be accessible for electrical probing by an external device.

Abstract: At least one optical waveguide is supported on a substrate and has a plurality of key apertures formed in a complaint element thereof. An optoelectronic device such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) has a plurality of projections that register with corresponding key apertures to position the optoelectronic device in a predetermined alignment relative to the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting open defects on grounded nodes of an electrical device using capacitive lead frame technology is presented. In accordance with the method of the invention, an accessible signal node that is capacitively coupled the grounded node is stimulated with a known source signal. A capacitive sense plate is capacitively coupled to the stimulated node and grounded node of the electrical device, and a measuring device coupled to the capacitive sense plate capacitively senses a resulting signal. The value of the capacitively sensed signal is indicative of the presence or non-presence of an open defect on one or both of the grounded node and stimulated signal node.

Abstract: A system for initiating a connection to a wireless network using a wireless modem, where the system maintains the connection to the wireless network when the wireless modem becomes idle. The system determines that there is a problem using the wireless modem by monitoring the status of the wireless modem. In response to a determination that there is a problem using the wireless modem, the system automatically cycles power to the wireless modem and again initiates a connection to the wireless network using the wireless modem. The system may be implemented by an apparatus having a power control device with a power outlet coupled to a wireless modem. The control device controls power to the power outlet according to received power control commands that are based on the status of the wireless modem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for gaining socket testability through the use of a capacitive interposer engineered to create capacitive coupling between signal nodes of a circuit assembly that the tester has access to and nodes of the socket that would not otherwise have any coupling to a testable signal node of the socket. Generally, coupling capacitance is engineered into the interposer by trace and via routing between the signal node of the socket and a location in close proximity to the inaccessible socket node such that their proximity to each other couples them together.

Abstract: A method of protecting memory locations in an embedded system using a write filter. The method includes the steps of starting a write filter that intercepts writes to the protected memory locations and stores the writes in a cache; starting a state machine with a change state and a normal state; upon starting the state machine, entering the change state when an indication is present that data needs to be persisted to the protected memory otherwise entering the normal state; in the normal state identifying critical writes to the protected memory and creating at least one update file containing the changes in such writes; and in the change state, applying the changes in the update file and rebooting the system in a manner that persists the changes to the protected memory.

Abstract: A method for finding the impedance of a device under test using an impedance measuring apparatus having a modem-type auto-balancing bridge, two or more measurement signals, each of which has a different phase with respect to the reference signals supplied to the modem inside said auto-balancing bridge, are applied to a device under test; the impedance of this device under test is measured when each of the measurement signals is applied to the device under test; and the impedance of this device under test is found using the above-mentioned phase and the impedance measurement value of each of these measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionization source having a chamber for ionizing a sample. The ionization chamber has surfaces to reduce the overall interaction with reactive samples. The inner surface walls of the ionization chamber or the ionization chamber may be formed from an inert super alloy. For instance, Inconel™ 625, Inconel™ 601 or Hastelloy® may comprise the ionization chamber or the surface walls of the ionization chamber. The invention also includes a method for reducing the interaction of a reactive analyte with an ion source.