Abstract: A microwave imaging system suppresses sidelobes in a microwave image captured using a sparse antenna array using an illumination system that operates in two different illumination modes. The antenna array including subarrays of antenna elements arranged in a sparse geometry to form complementary subarray patterns. The illumination system operates in a first mode to transmit microwave illumination to both of the complementary subarray patterns of the antenna array and receive reflected microwave illumination from both of the complementary subarray patterns of the antenna array to produce a first receive signal. The illumination system further operates in a second mode to transmit microwave illumination to a first one of the complementary subarray patterns of the antenna array and receive reflected microwave illumination from a second one of the complementary subarray patterns of the antenna array to produce a second receive signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting deviations in a quadrupole field in a quadrupole ion trap is provided. More specifically the invention provides for correction electrodes positioned in at least one primary quadrupole electrode and a method of using the correction electrodes to provide a field correction potential.

Abstract: There is provided a method that includes, (a) monitoring a pressure on a fluid being conveyed through an intake tube into a chamber by a pump, (b) determining a deviation of the pressure from a predefined value, (c) determining a blockage of the intake tube based on the deviation, and (d) determining an amount of an adjustment of a parameter of the pump to compensate for the blockage.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for identifying peaks in a three-dimensional mass spectrometry/elution time dataset. The dataset is represented as a matrix of intensity values with column and row positions corresponding to specific elution time and m/z value, respectively. Peaks may be detected using a watershed image segmentation technique. Further provided are methods, systems and recordable media for creating a mask matrix to be overlaid on a large three-dimensional dataset represented as an image matrix, to identify a much smaller portion of the three dimensional dataset of interest, and to greatly reduce the amount of subsequent processing required for processing data of interest. The mask matrix has the same dimension as the image matrix and includes areas corresponding to one or more peaks identified by the watershed segmentation technique.

Abstract: Devices and methods for processing multi-wavelength light beams and the single-wavelength components of such light beams are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, a spectral filter includes collimating and focusing optical elements, an apodizing filter, a diffraction grating, and a spatial filter. The collimating optical element collimates an input light beam while the apodizing filter spatially filters this beam. In general, the apodizing filter includes a range of transmissivity that varies according to a distance from a predetermined location on the apodizing filter. The diffraction grating diffracts the input beam which is focused by the focusing optical element onto the spatial filter to generate a filtered output beam. Embodiments of the invention may be employed as spectral filters, optical spectrum analyzers, optical mutiplexers, optical de-multiplexers, and the like.

Abstract: A beam distribution apparatus includes a stack of parallelogram prisms and beam-splitting coatings each located between opposing parallel faces of adjacent parallelogram prisms. The stack is mounted on an entrance face of a triangular prism. The triangular prism includes the entrance face, a reflective face, and an exit face. The reflective face has optical surfaces for shaping output beams from the stack and reflecting the output beams through the exit face.

Abstract: A receiver and method for using the same to process optical signals is disclosed. The receiver includes an optical coupler and a polarization dependent beam splitter. The optical coupler combines an input signal and a local oscillator signal into a first combined signal. The optical coupler includes a polarization filter that operates on the local oscillator to provide a linearly polarized signal having a predetermined LO polarization direction.

Abstract: An optoelectronic system includes an optical signal modulator, an optical input guide and an optical output guide connected to the optical signal modulator. The system further includes a reflective optical element in the optical signal modulator, the element disposed to reflect an input light beam incident through the optical input guide into an output light beam through the optical output guide. The system further includes electrical terminals in the optical signal modulator. The electrical terminals are configured such that an electrical signal on the electrical terminals is operable to interact with the input light beam.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the determination of the state of one or more locations within a nucleic acid and, in particular, to the determination of the methylation state of one or more methylation sites within a nucleic acid such as DNA. In one aspect of the invention, a nucleic acid, such as DNA, that is suspected of being methylated is exposed to a nucleic acid probe able to hybridize the nucleic acid at or near the methylation site. After hybridization, the nucleic acid-probe hybrid is exposed to a methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease able to bind at or near the methylation site. The restriction endonuclease is not able to cleave the nucleic acid-probe hybrid if the DNA is methylated at the methylation site, but is able to cleave the nucleic acid-probe hybrid if the nucleic acid is not methylated at the methylation site. Determination of the cleavage state of the probe can thus be used to determine the state of the methylation site.

Abstract: A system for building a packet of test data for testing a communications network comprises a characterizing component which describes one or more protocols by providing one or more rules which are used to build the packet of test data. The system also includes a packet building component for building the packet of test data in accordance with the one or more protocol descriptions, and a storage component for storing one or more packets which are built by the packet building component.

Abstract: A system for the analysis of polyionic molecules by mass spectrometry is provided. The polyionic molecule is attached to a charged tag which neutralizes some of the charge on the polyionic analyte. The formed adduct with a reduced net charge is then analyzed by mass spectrometry, and the determined molecular weight of the adduct can be used to calculate the molecular weight of the analyte. Mass spectrometric analyses of polynucleotides and proteins are particularly amenable to this method.

Abstract: In a signalling network employing the SS7 signalling protocol, it is known to use masks to mine CDR stores in order to obtain data for analysis in respect of a particular customer of a communications network associated with the signalling network. However, the use of masks to mine the CDRs can result in the retrieval of unwanted CDRs or the omission of relevant CDRs. The present invention therefore provides a call monitoring apparatus that receives a CDR and accesses a reference database, comprising a list of customers and respective telephone numbers, in order to identify an association between the CDR and a given customer. Consequently, speed and efficiency of analysis of CDRs is increased.

Abstract: In apparatus for generating a Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) curve for an input signal, an analog to digital converter (ADC) samples the input signal at sampling points to provide a parameter value corresponding to a desired parameter of the input signal at each sampled point. A memory element provides a frequency count of occurrence of each received parameter value from an address in the memory corresponding to the received parameter value. An adder receives the frequency count, increments the count and provides the incremented count to an input of the memory element for writing back into the address corresponding to the received parameter value. A CCDF curve generating module reads the frequency count stored in the memory element corresponding to each parameter value and generates a CCDF curve therefrom.

Abstract: A planar extensible structure in a flat planar flex circuit can be extended out of the plane of the circuit by a distance of more than the width of the structure to carry fluids, electrical signals or optical signals into and out of the circuit. The planar extensible structure may be an Archimedes spiral, a parabolic spiral, a polygonal spiral, a non-spiral extensible shape, or other extensible shape. The invention can be used to siphon fluid samples from each well in a multiple-well microtiter plate into a microfluidic manifold for utility in chemical and biochemical analysis. The invention can also be used to allow electrical interconnect between adjacent circuits or circuit boards, and can allow signals carried in optical fibers to be transferred between optical circuits in different planes.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an addressable array of biopolymer probes on a substrate according to a target array pattern using a deposition apparatus, and a deposition apparatus which can execute the method and computer program products for the apparatus. The deposition apparatus which, when operated according to a target drive pattern based on nominal operating parameters of the apparatus, provides the probes on the substrate in the target array pattern. The method includes examining at least one operating parameter for an error from a nominal value which error will result in use of the target drive pattern producing a discrepancy between the target array pattern and an actual array pattern deposited. When an error is detected deriving, based on the error, a corrected drive pattern different from the target drive pattern such that use of the corrected drive pattern results in a reduced discrepancy between the target and actual array patterns.

Abstract: A system for measuring properties of small volume liquid samples, where the system includes wavelength selective filters.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding liquid samples.

Abstract: A device adapted to hold and compress a granular medium is disclosed. The device includes a body having an opening. A channel is positioned in fluid communication with the opening. A flexible substrate is attached to the body overlying the channel. The substrate and the channel cooperate to form a conduit in fluid communication with the opening. A compression member is mounted on the body. The compression member is engageable with the substrate. Engagement of the substrate by the compression member compresses the granular medium within the conduit. A plug blocks the opening and retains the granular medium within the conduit.

Abstract: A buried heterostructure quantum cascade laser structure uses reverse biased junction to achieve current blocking. Doping and ridge width of the structure may be adjusted to provide effective mode discrimination.