Abstract: A method and a system evaluate an efficacy of a test suite in a model-based diagnostic testing system to determine a revision of the test suite. The evaluation comprises suggesting a test to be added to the test suite based on probabilities of a correct diagnosis and an incorrect diagnosis. The evaluation either alternatively or further comprises identifying a test to be deleted from the test suite based on probabilities of a correct diagnosis for the test suite and for a modified test suite that does not include a test. An efficacy value of each test in the test suite is computed. The system has a computer program comprising instructions that implement an evaluation of diagnostic efficacy of the test suite. The system either is a stand-alone system or is incorporated into the testing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device for separating the components of a fluid sample. A cover plate is arranged over the first surface of a substrate, which, in combination with a microchannel formed in the first surface, defines a separation conduit for separating the components of the fluid sample. An inlet port in fluid communication with the separation conduit allows a mobile phase containing a gradient of a selected mobile-phase component to be introduced from an integrated gradient-generation means to the separation conduit. A method is also provided for separating the components of a fluid sample using a mobile phase containing a gradient of a selected mobile-phase component, wherein the gradient is generated within a small volume of mobile phase.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a tensile diaphragm with an insert region of a material dissimilar to the diaphragm, the insert region being suitable for the fabrication of a nanopore.

Abstract: The movable apparatus of a positioning device comprising a conductive stationary part and a conductive movable part, the stationary part has an electrode constituting a capacitor together with said movable part, and the electrode is covered by a guard electrode insulated from the stationary part, whereby a triaxial structure is formed around these electrodes.

Abstract: Off-chip driver (OCD) NMOS transistors with ESD protection are formed by interposing an P-ESD implant between the N+ drain regions of OCD NMOS transistors and the N-well such that the P-ESD surrounds a section of the N-well. The P-ESD implant is dosed less than the N+ source/drain implants but higher than the N-well dose. In another embodiment, N-well doping is used along with P-ESD doping, where the P-ESD doping is chosen such that it counterdopes the N-well underneath the N+ drains. The N-well, however, still maintains electrical connection to the N+ drains. This procedure creates a larger surface under the area where the junction breakdown occurs and an increased radius of curvature of the junction. The P-ESD implant is covered by N-type on three sides creating better parasitic bipolar transistor characteristics.

Abstract: A system for matching a optical filter characteristic of a first filter tunable in wavelength with an optical first signal comprises a modulator for modulating at least a part of the first signal with a modulation signal before being applied to the first filter. An analyzing unit derives a control signal for tuning the first filter by analyzing the modulated first signal after passing the first filter in conjunction with the modulation signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is presented which is manufactured from hollow, gas-filled glass or ceramic microspheres, which are bound together in a dried or fired matrix. The microspheres may be glass-coated microspheres, which are bound together by sintering the outer layers of glass together. The semiconductor surface may be smoothed by glazing the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bio-molecule resistant surfaces for use in assays, particularly in assay devices such as arrays and microfluidic devices. The biomolecule resistant surface of the present invention are prepared by coating a substrate with hydrophilic terminated alkoxysilanes having formula (A): wherein R is an alkyl group of a size that allows for sufficient hydrolysis and n is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is a hydrophilic moiety; LC is a C1 to a C10 linker chain consisting of a group selected from alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl and m is 1, 2, or 3; R2 is a C1 to a C7 alkyl group and x is 0, 1, or 2; and m+n+x is equal to 4.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a polynucleotide which can, for example, be used during fabrication of an array. A second nucleoside is coupled to a first nucleoside through a phosphite linkage, with the second nucleoside having a hydroxyl protecting group that is a non-carbonate protecting group. The product of the foregoing step is exposed to a composition which both oxidizes the formed phosphite to a phosphate and deprotects the protected hydroxyl of the coupled nucleoside. The method has particular application to fabricating an addressable array of polynucleotides on a substrate which carries substrate bound moieties each with a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: Methods and system for sub-ambient pressure control for column head pressure in gas chromatography (GC) systems. The GC system includes an inlet and a capillary column connected to the inlet. The inlet includes a valve that regulates an inlet pressure and pressure sensor that measures the inlet pressure and outputs a signal that indicates a measured inlet pressure. The GC system also includes an inlet-pressure set-point that can be set to a negative pressure set-point representing a pressure below ambient pressure, the negative pressure set-point driving the valve to change the inlet pressure until the measured inlet pressure equals the negative pressure set-point.

Abstract: Using component-level test data to reduce system test. By modeling a system, sensitivity analysis reveals critical components and parameters of those components required to meet system performance parameters. Critical components are tested for these parameters, and these measurements associated with the components. Systems may be assembled which are modeled to meet the system performance parameters based on the model and the measured parameters. Systems may be assembled and calibration coefficients derived and applied from the model and the measured parameters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The ion enhancement system of the present invention is used to direct a heated gas toward ions produced by a matrix based ion source and detected by a detector. The ion enhancement system is interposed between the ion source and the detector. The analyte ions that contact the heated gas are enhanced and an increased number of ions are more easily detected by a detector. The method of the invention comprises producing analyte ions from a matrix based ion source, enhancing the analyte ions with an ion enhancement system and detecting the enhanced analyte ions with a detector.

Abstract: An electronic switch comprises a substrate having a surface and an embedded electrode, a droplet of conductive liquid located over the embedded electrode, and a power source configured to create an electric circuit including the droplet of conductive liquid. The surface comprises a feature that determines a contact angle between the surface and the droplet.

Abstract: An integrated contact is disposed on the end of a conical coil form. Fine magnet wire is soldered to the integrated contact and wound around the coil form to fabricate a high-frequency inductor for use in high-frequency chokes and other high-frequency devices. In one embodiment, the integrated contact is plated on the tip of a polyiron coil form and less than one turn of wire is wrapped around the plated portion of the polyiron coil form. The integrated contact has reduced contact area, reducing capacitive coupling and improving high-frequency electrical performance.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition, kit and method for hybridizing a probe and target at a temperature lower than their standard hybridization temperature. The chemical component added to the composition has a formula R(NH2)C?O, where R is amino or alkyl. A method for use of the chemical component and composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which enable measurement of usage of one or more gateways in managing network elements. A system may include at least one gateway that is executable to maintain gateway usage information detailing the amount of usage of such gateway in managing network elements. Gateway usage may include, for example, gateway processing, such as handling of messages received by a gateway from one or more network elements. The gateway(s) may be communicatively coupled to a usage management system and may communicate usage information thereto. An Application Program Interface (API) may be implemented on a gateway, which may provide the functionality for maintaining a count of different types of usage that may occur thereon. The gateway may include software code that invokes the API upon occurrence of a particular type of usage, and the API may maintain a count of such particular type of usage.

Abstract: An electronic discharge circuit. The discharge circuit includes a first current source having first current source input and output and a current control circuit having first, second, third, and fourth control contacts. An electronic circuit element of an electronic circuit has first and second element contacts. If first control contact and first current source input are electrically connected, second control contact and first current source output are electrically connected, third control contact and first element contact are electrically connected, and fourth control contact and second element contact are electrically connected, and if the electronic circuit element is electronically charged, current discharging the electronic circuit element is limited to the current from the first current source, otherwise when so connected, current discharging the electronic circuit element is zero and current from the first current source flows into the second control contact and out the first control contact.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method and apparatus for acquiring multiple capacitively sensed measurements from a circuit under test. Multiple digital sources are respectively connected to stimulate multiple respective first ends of multiple respective nets of interest. Respective second ends of the multiple respective nets of interest are capacitively sensed. The respective capacitively coupled signals are digitally sampled and shift correlated with respective expected digital signatures. If a high level of correlation is found for a given net, the net is electrically intact; otherwise, the net is characterized by either an open or some other fault that prevents it from meeting specification.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator for use in a photolithography system includes light modulation elements configured to photolithographically transfer an image onto a substrate using an optical oversampling technique to reduce defects in the transferred image. A first set of the light modulation elements is operable to photolithographically transfer a portion of the image onto an area of a substrate, and a second set of the light modulation elements is operable to photolithographically transfer the portion of the image onto the area of the substrate. The spatial light modulator further includes memory elements in communication with respective light modulation elements for storing data representing the portion of the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The ion enhancement system of the present invention is used to direct a heated gas toward ions produced by a matrix based ion source and detected by a detector. The ion enhancement system is interposed between the ion source and the detector. The analyte ions that contact the heated gas are enhanced and an increased number of ions are more easily detected by a detector. The method of the invention comprises producing analyte ions from a matrix based ion source, enhancing the analyte ions with an ion enhancement system and detecting the enhanced analyte ions with a detector.