Abstract: A method of operating an ion filter for selecting ions and related apparatus. The filter have a plurality of elongated electrodes, and the ions have a secular frequency. The method comprises exciting each elongated electrode with a first voltage component, the first voltage component having a first amplitude and a first frequency; exciting each elongated electrode with a second voltage component, the second voltage component having a frequency substantially equal to a secular frequency of motion for the ion; and generating an electric field and rotating the electric field around the axis.

Abstract: A switch comprises a first switch element configured to actuate by electrowetting, the first switch element comprising at least two radio frequency contacts and at least two control electrodes. The switch also comprises at least two additional switch elements configured to make and break an electrical connection between the at least two control electrodes of the first switch element.

Abstract: There is provided a determination apparatus. The determination apparatus includes (a) a determination device having a plurality of determination terminals, (b) a controller for selecting at least one of the plurality of determination terminals, determining a calibration reference standard, and setting of a property value of the determined calibration reference standard, and (c) a memory for storing a parameter of the determined calibration reference standard and a determined value for the parameter as determined by the determination device. The determination device determines an error of the determined value of the parameter, the error being stored in the memory, the determination device outputting the determined value after removing an effect of the error therefrom, and obtaining and storing a re-determined value for the parameter while maintaining the determined value of the parameter of the calibration reference standard in the memory.

Abstract: There is provided a calibration method for a time measurement apparatus having a time-voltage converter for converting the time interval of measurement signals and clock signals to voltage, an analog-digital converter for converting this voltage to digital values, and a time interval measurement device for measuring this time interval from these digital values. The method includes a calibration signal generation step for calibrating the calibration signals for the subperiod of these clock signals, with these calibration signals having a shorter period difference than the time which corresponds to the resolution of this analog-digital converter; a frequency distribution analysis step for repeatedly measuring these calibration signals, finding this digital value, and analyzing the cumulative frequency distribution of these digital values; and a calibration determining step for determining the calibration value of these digital values such that this cumulative frequency distribution is linear.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometry system. The invention provides an ion source, infrared emitter and sensor with closed control feedback loop coupled to the infrared emitter. Methods of control and heating using the apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to reduce polarization dependent error, the polarization state of incident light is set to at least two different states of polarization, and a first optical property is determined separately for each of said at least two states of polarization. Then, an averaging procedure is carried out in order to obtain a mean value of the first optical property or of a property derived therefrom. Alternatively, the averaging procedure can be performed with respect to a DUT property of a device under test that is determined as a function of said first optical property.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting an analyte, comprising providing a sensor comprising a substrate coated with a free electron metal, a matrix layer disposed on the free electron metal, the matrix layer comprising an organic compound, wherein the organic compound has a boronic acid complexing moiety and, a boronic acid moiety complexed to the boronic acid complexing moiety; and contacting the sensor with the analyte to elicit a response; and measuring the response thereby detecting the analyte.

Abstract: A method of determining imbalance in a vector signal modulator. First and second channels of a vector signal modulator are stimulated with a multi-tone signal having a power versus frequency spectrum having numerous of frequencies. In response to the stimulation, an output of the vector signal modulator is measured. The first and second channels are simultaneously stimulated with a multi-tone signal having essentially the same characteristics as the one used when separately stimulating the channels. Data collected from both the separate and simultaneous stimulations are used to calculate imbalance versus frequency of the vector signal modulator. Alternatively, two channels of a vector signal modulator are simultaneously stimulated with first and second multi-tone signals. The first and second multi-tone signals have tones at main frequencies and at first and second offsets thereto, respectively. Output measurements are then made and imbalances are calculated.

Abstract: A biochemical sensor apparatus having an optical radiation source, a sensor array, and a photodetector array is disclosed. Each sensor of the sensor array includes fluorophores for fluorescence (generating response radiation) when mixed with analytes of interest and exposed to stimulus radiation. An array of photodetectors, such as a CMOS imaging array is used to detect the response radiation. The detected response radiation is converted to digital values and the digital values used to analyze various properties of the analytes present in the sensors.

Abstract: Methods systems and computer readable media for manipulating and displaying sparse data contained within very large datasets. Particular applications includes those to proteomics and metabolomics. Navigation of the large data sets from a global perspective may be practically implemented, so that a user is not confined to a narrow slice of data at a time, thus providing context of the whole dataset while viewing data within the dataset.

Abstract: In packetized data communication, certain special data packets must be identified quickly without the variable overhead of processing through the data protocol stack. A common example of such packets is those used for triggering events: immediate action must be taken on their arrival. This disclosure concerns a method for identifying such packets through the use of the error checking codes which are usually included in packet transmission protocols. By adding appropriate bits to a special data packet before transmission, the error checking code can be forced to a specific, predetermined sequence which will be recognized by error checking hardware at a receiver. If the specific sequence is all ones (or all zeros), the recognition hardware can be simplified.

Abstract: A sensor and method for using the same is disclosed. The sensor includes an optical cavity defined by first and second mirrors that have a spacing therebetween that varies in response to a force applied to the sensor and to a control voltage. The sensor has a drive circuit that measures light leaving an output port that samples light in said cavity and applies the control voltage to the optical cavity such that the spacing between the mirrors remains at a predetermined value independent of the force, the control voltage determining an output signal that provides a measurement of the force applied to the optical cavity. In one embodiment, the first mirror is fixed to the second mirror by a spring mechanism that causes the first mirror to move away from the second mirror, and the control voltage causes the first mirror to move toward the second mirror.

Abstract: An electro-optic delay line frequency discriminator has an optical signal source providing first and second optical signals that are directed along first and second paths, respectively. In the first path, the first optical signal is converted to a first corresponding optical signal that corresponds to an electrical input signal, and the first corresponding optical signal is then delayed. In the second path, the second optical signal is delayed, and the delayed second optical signal is then converted to a second corresponding optical signal that corresponds to the electrical input signal. The first and second corresponding optical signals are converted to first and second corresponding electrical signals, respectively; and a detector, responsive to the first and second corresponding electrical signals, provides an electrical output signal from the discriminator. Optical source relative intensity noise (RIN) is canceled out and does not degrade the signal-to-noise ratio of the discriminator output.

Abstract: A delta-sigma converter has coarse and fine ADCs, wherein an integrated error signal is coupled to the coarse ADC whose output drives a DAC to create feedback that achieves loop balance. The coarse ADC provides the most significant bits of the result. The integrated error signal is also applied to a fine ADC whose output bits are not incorporated into the feedback, but which are combined with those of the coarse ADC and the combination applied to a filter that averages the hunting that represents loop balance. A DC feed forward circuit shunts the integrator with a replica of the applied input signal to apply it to the coarse ADC through a summer, allowing its output to be just the integrated error signal without including the applied input. If continuous integration is used, an AC feed forward circuit provides a compensatory voltage that is removed from the integrator output (or alternatively, is added to its input) and that corrects for a frequency dependent error.

Abstract: Electronic devices having image-based data input systems are described. In one aspect, an electronic device includes a window, multiple indicia, an image sensor, and a data input processor. The window has a contact surface with an input region. The multiple indicia are viewable in the input region of the contact surface. The image sensor is constructed and arranged to produce image signals corresponding to images of the input region. The data input processor is coupled to the image sensor and is operable to produce input signals based on image signals produced by the image sensor and a mapping between areas of the input region images and locations of the input indicia.

Abstract: A column for liquid chromatography includes a chamber adapted to receive packing medium. Openings in the chamber allow fluid to pass through it. Porous plugs in the chamber retain the packing medium. A piston and one porous plug are movable within the chamber to compress the packing medium. A fitting engages the piston and is adjustably movable for moving the piston.

Abstract: An electrospray device for a mass spectrometry system is described. The electrospray device comprises a body portion and a tip portion extending from the body portion. The tip portion comprises a polymeric material. The electrospray device also comprises a hydrophobic coating substantially selectively covering the tip portion.

Abstract: There is provided a prober that includes a chuck, a support base that supports the chuck, a first inner shield that shields the chuck, and an outer shield that encloses the chuck and the first inner shield. The outer shield is connected to a chassis, the chuck is connected to a first connector by a first cable, and the first inner shield is connected to a second connector by a second cable with an impedance device in between.

Abstract: Methods for determining delay offsets of communication systems are provided. One such method comprises: determining components of a propagation path of a base station of a communication network; determining a propagation delay associated with each of the components; and determining a delay of the propagation path using the delays of the components. Systems also are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel technique for transferring power and signals between two electrical devices over a single wire pair. In particular, a remote sensor is connected to a host device. Power to the remote sensor is supplied through a voltage reference and control loop circuit that holds the voltage component of the power signal present on the wire pair constant during remote current sensing. The remote sensor itself can transmit measurements or information by driving a load on the sensor and thereby modulating the loop current. The current signal in the sensor-to-host loop can be a precision AC analog signal or a serial digital bit stream. Both types of signals can coexist using a multiplexing scheme.