Abstract: A phase-compensating cube corner retroreflector includes three rear reflecting surfaces. The first and the third rear reflecting surfaces can be coated with a phase-compensating film stack that induces 2n? phase difference upon reflection, where n is an integer including 0. Alternatively, all three rear reflecting surfaces can be coated with a phase-compensating film stack that induces n? phase difference when handling linearly polarized light, or 2n? phase difference when handling linearly or circularly polarized light. So coated, the phase-compensating cube corner preserves the polarization orientation and ellipticity of the incident light. Such a phase-compensating cube corner can be used to improve the accuracy of distance-measuring interferometers. The cube corner directs light to and from other optical elements, including a polarizing beam-splitters, mirrors, and quarter-wave plates.

Abstract: A software product tests and monitors an Internet server system. Advantageously, the software product communicates with a web browser without the need for other client software to configure transactions. The user of the web browser is guided through web pages to record, edit, and playback transactions. Recording may occur over a secure connection. The software product performs automated tests using the transactions in addition to measuring both system performance data and business performance data. The software product generates alarms when thresholds are exceeded. The test data, performance data, and alarms are correlated in time and presented graphically to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a mixture of sample substances comprises a fluid-guiding structure wherein the sample substances are moving essentially in one dimension along the structure and are subject to at least two separation mechanisms, such as capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and capillary zone electrophoresis using high voltage. The signals from a detection means are supplied to a signal processing means, which derives a parameter therefrom which in turn is used to derive improved measuring results for each of the separation results associated with the various separation mechanisms, respectively. The apparatus can be used for protein analysis, for example in combination with a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a path of a beam includes a first wedge and a second wedge. The first wedge includes a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface. The second wedge includes a third refractive surface adjacent to the second refractive surface, and a reflective surface. The beam refracts at the first refractive surface, refracts at the second refractive surface, refracts at the third refractive surface, reflects from reflective surface, refracts at the third refractive surface, refracts at the second refractive surface, refracts at the first refractive surface. At least one of the first wedge and the second wedge can be rotated so that the beam exiting the apparatus can be oriented substantially orthogonal to the beam entering the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for pulse placement to form a binary pulse signal, said binary pulse signal having a constant pulse rate being reciprocal of a constant pulse rate period, comprising the steps of generating a bit clock having a bit clock period of shorter duration than said constant pulse rate period, synthesizing pulses with leading and trailing edges, said leading and trailing edges of said synthesized pulses being placed at N-multiples of said bit clock period within said constant pulse rate period, with N=0, 1, 2, . . , and selecting said bit clock period individually for successive pulses of said binary pulse signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, first and second mated substrates of a switch define there between at least portions of a number of cavities. A switching fluid is held within one or more of the cavities and is moveable between at least first and second switch states in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid. An actuating fluid is also held within one or more of the cavities and serves to apply the forces to the switching fluid. First and second electrical contacts are supported by the second of the mated substrates. A concentric curvilinear heater resistor is deposited on the second substrate and couples the first and second electrical contacts. The concentric curvilinear heater resistor is positioned such that it contacts the actuating fluid within one of the afore-mentioned cavities that hold the actuating fluid. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical circuit detects a “squelch,” or “out-of-band,” state of a differential signal pair having a positive (“p”) signal line and a negative (“n”) signal line. In one embodiment of the invention, a first and a second comparator each have positive inputs driven by the positive and negative signal lines, respectively. The negative inputs of the comparators are driven by the outputs of separate digital-to-analog converters (DACs) which are set to a lower squelch threshold voltage. The outputs of the comparators then drive the inputs of a logical AND gate, the output of which indicates the current squelch state of the differential signal pair.

Abstract: The heat-induced current that flows from the bushing on the outside into the electrostatic shield tube is recirculated to the conductive bushing by dividing the bushings into inside and outside insulating bushings in a concentric circle and a conductive bushing sandwiched by these insulating bushings with respect to the heat-induced current that flows as a result of the heat that has been transmitted from the coil bobbin to the electrostatic shield tube, and connecting the electrostatic shield tube and conductive bushing with a separate conductive member.

Abstract: A current configuration of instruments which are connected in a user's test system is determined. The current configuration of instruments is then displayed within a graphical user interface (GUI) by 1) displaying icons representing the instruments, and 2) graphically connecting the icons.

Abstract: A manipulator for a fiber optic cable assembly (FOCA) provides microradian accuracy in control of the direction of a beam emanating from the FOCA. Such manipulators can control FOCAs to control the incidence angles of beams at a beam combiner in a beam-combining unit. Accordingly, fewer additional optical elements are required for control of input paths in the beam-combining unit. The manipulator and the beam-combining unit are accurate enough for use in an interferometer that combines beams with different frequencies and polarizations. One such interferometer includes a Zeeman split laser providing a heterodyne beam. A beam splitter separates frequency components of the beams, and AOMs increase the frequency separation between the separated beams. The separated beams can be sent via optical fibers to the beam-combining unit, which combines the beams for use in interferometer optics.

Abstract: An oscilloscope probe test fixture provides separate clamps for pressing each probe tip against a location along a transmission line. Multiple adjacent clamps may share a common axle. One clamp is positioned over a ground plane that adjoins the center conductor of a strip transmission line, while another is positioned over that center conductor. Each individual clamp has a respective compression spring on one side of the axle to produce clamping on the other, and the lengths from the axle to the springs act as a respective thumb lever that allows each clamp to be opened to receive a probe tip. The length from the axle to the spring is significantly longer than that from the axle to the actual clamping surface (foot) to provide increased clamping force. The foot of each clamp is mostly under the axle, while their thumb lever portions extend parallel to a substrate that carries the strip transmission line, allowing the location of the clamping to be close to the driven end of the test fixture.

Abstract: A method for automatically verifying the existence of a target compound comprises generating a total ion chromatogram. The total ion chromatogram comprises a plurality of peaks, each peak representing one or more compounds in a sample matrix, each peak comprising at least two compounds. The method also comprises deconvoluting each peak to isolate each target compound present in the peak, and automatically verifying the identity of each target compound against a target compound library.

Abstract: A method for processing measuring data and a device to perform the method, wherein the measuring data can be determined by using a measurement system, more particularly a chromatographic analyzing system, for the measurement of measuring values that correspond to certain information about, or of, a technical process and that depend on at least two variables.

Abstract: Uncontrolled characteristic impedance along a spring biased pin probe assembly is avoided by providing a stepped shelf of ground plane that extends outward along the pin and toward the target signal. The length of outward extension is chosen such that even when there is only (or at least) an expected minimum amount of compression of the spring while producing and maintaining contact, the entire exposed portion of the pin is over the shelf, whose depth of step has been selected to produce a selected Z0 for the exposed pin that matches Z0 for existing transmission lines already within the probe assembly. The spring biased pin may be a resistor tip spring pin that includes a small resistor in its tip.

Abstract: Planar resonant tunneling sensor devices and methods for using the same are provided. The subject devices include first and second electrodes present on a surface of a planar substrate and separated from each other by a nanodimensioned gap. The devices also include a first member for holding a sample, and a second member for moving the first member and planar resonant tunneling electrode relative to each other. Also provided are methods of fabricating such a device and methods of using such a device for improved detection and characterization of a sample.

Abstract: A package for an addressable array of multiple features carried on a first side of a substrate, and a method of using such package. The package includes a housing which receives the substrate such that the housing and received substrate define a chamber into which the multiple features face, and which chamber is accessible through a first port. The housing includes a first set of multiple fluid distribution channels each disposed between the first port and the multiple features of the received substrate so as to direct fluid flow between multiple different regions across the first side of the received substrate to or from the first port. The fluid distribution channels may be valved such as by being capillary sized or by being provided with a bubble formation device (such as a nucleating resistor). The channels can provide for an even flow of wash fluid across the array while confining sample to the region of the array.

Abstract: The subject invention includes constituent separation apparatuses that include a fluid pathway and a pair of spaced-apart electrodes positioned within the pathway for detecting current flow within a mobile phase present in the pathway. Coupled to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes is a mix ratio determinator for determining the mix ratio of the mobile phase from the detected current flow. Also provided are methods that include contacting a mobile phase with an apparatus for separating constituents of a mobile phase, detecting the current flow of the mobile phase when the mobile phase is in contact with the apparatus and determining the mix ratio of the mobile phase from the detected current flow. The mix ratio may be adjusted based on the determined mix ratio. Algorithms for practicing the subject methods are also provided on computer readable mediums. Systems and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Abstract: A technique for imaging an object with a coherent beam of electromagnetic radiation involves sequencing at least a portion of the coherent beam through a set of orthogonal transverse spatial modes and summing the output signals that result from set of orthogonal transverse spatial modes. To create an image of an object, the coherent beam is applied to multiple spots on the object and sequenced through the same set of orthogonal transverse spatial modes at each spot. The output signals generated from the sequencing are summed on a per-spot basis.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a multi-port S-parameter measurement device reduces the number of full calibrations necessary to characterize the multi-port S-parameter measurement device by utilizing a reciprocal network concept. The multi-port S-parameter measurement device includes a network analyzer having network ports connected to respective sets of switch ports on a switch. Full calibrations are performed on selected port pairs of the switch to determine the calibration arrays for each of the port pairs. Each port pair includes one switch port from two different sets of switch ports. A switch error having three switch error terms attributable to a reciprocal network introduced by an unselected one of the switch ports not included within any of the one or more port pairs is determined, and the switch error is de-embedded from the calibration arrays to construct a complete set of calibration arrays for all of the measurement paths in the multi-port S-parameter measurement device.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board device, the device including at least one component mounted on a circuit board, the apparatus comprising an object carrier for carrying the printed circuit board device, imaging means for imaging along an optical axis so as to receive light reflected from surfaces of the device when placed on the object carrier within a field of view of the imaging means, and light projecting means for projecting light toward the object carrier in an oblique direction with respect to the optical axis of the imaging means for illumination of said surfaces of the device. The light projecting means includes a substantially dome-shaped structure incorporating a plurality of light elements for producing and projecting the light. Said plurality of light elements includes light elements of different light characteristics and light elements of different orientations of projection for creating a predetermined illumination pattern on said surfaces of said printed circuit board device.