Abstract: A multiport vector network analyzer calibration employs measurements of an asymmetric reciprocal device to determine a value of a defining parameter of a calibration standard in a set of calibration standards. A method of determining a parameter value determines and reports the parameter value. A method of compensating a calibration determines the parameter value and employs the determined parameter value to optimize a set of error coefficients of an error model of the multiport vector network analyzer. A multiport vector network analyzer that includes a controller, a test set, and computer program executed by the controller, compensates a calibration using the determined parameter value and a set of optimized error coefficients. A calibration compensation system that includes a multiport vector network analyzer, a computer, and a computer program executed by the computer, determines and reports the parameter value.

Abstract: A system for recovering from ground bounce during a boundary scan test is disclosed that includes operationally transitioning a Test Access Port controller from any of at least three undetermined controller states induced by the ground bounce to a determined controller state. The undetermined controller states may be selected from an UPDATE state, a RUN-TEST/IDLE state, a SELECT-DR-SCAN state, and a CAPTURE-DR state. The determined controller state can be the UPDATE-DR. Once in the determined controller state, the Test Access Port controller may also be operationally transitioned from an undetermined data state to a determined data state.

Abstract: X-ray imaging systems are provided. A representative x-ray imaging system includes a gas detector that is configured to retain a volume of gas. The gas detector incorporates a first detection circuit corresponding to a first region of the gas and a second detection circuit corresponding to a second region of the gas. The first detection circuit is adapted to provide a first signal indicative of an intensity of x-rays radiating into the first region of the gas and the second detection circuit is adapted to provide a second signal indicative of an intensity of x-rays radiating into the second region of the gas. Methods and other systems also are provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric cantilever pressure sensor has a substrate and a piezoelectric cantilever having a base portion attached to the substrate and a beam portion suspended over a cavity. The piezoelectric cantilever contains a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between two electrodes and generates a measurable voltage when deformed under pressure. The piezoelectric cantilever pressure sensor can be manufactured at low cost and used in various applications including fingerprint identification devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing multiple-stage multiplexers are disclosed. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, multiplexer circuits in the multiple-stage multiplexer are synchronized based upon a frequency response of the output of the multiplexer. The power level of the output of the multiple-stage multiplexer is measured at a frequency corresponding to the input data rate of the multiple-stage multiplexer, during the time a test pattern is sent through the multiple-stage multiplexer. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the multiple-stage multiplexer is placed in substantially random states until the measured power level reaches the predetermined.

Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for achieving a large depth of field without decreasing the relative aperture of an imaging lens. The imaging system has a light source for sequentially illuminating an object to be imaged with light of different ones of a plurality of wavelengths, and an imaging lens that has a focal length that varies with the wavelength of the light that illuminates the object. For each wavelength of light by which the object is illuminated, the imaging lens will image a different object plane onto an image receiving unit, and the image receiving unit will capture one well-focused, high resolution image of the object.

Abstract: A user interface for an electronic instrument includes a display that displays a signal and a band marker. The band marker demarks a bandwidth of the signal by marking both a start frequency of the bandwidth and a stop frequency of the bandwidth. The electronic instrument performs a function on the bandwidth of the signal between the start frequency and the stop frequency.

Abstract: A method determines power of a modulated signal that is applied to a wavelength meter by summing bin values within a designated bin range of a frequency transformed interferogram representing the modulated signal and provided by the wavelength meter. In a first embodiment of the method, the bin range within which the bin values are summed is designated by mapping a series of signal characteristics indicative of the types of the modulated signals applied to the wavelength meter, to a series of bin spans within the frequency transformed interferograms that represent the modulated signals. The method then enables a selection of a signal characteristic from the series of signal characteristics to identify the modulated signal that is applied to the wavelength meter.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an addressable array of chemical probes at respective feature locations on a substrate surface. The method may use a deposition apparatus with a substrate unit which includes the substrate and with a drop deposition unit which includes a drop deposition head. Such an apparatus when operated according to a target drive pattern based on nominal operating parameters of the apparatus provides the probes on the substrate surface in the target array pattern. The method may include depositing at least one drop from the head unit onto the substrate surface. A fiducial on the substrate unit is optionally viewed from a sensor. A deposited drop on the substrate surface is viewed from a sensor. An actual position of the viewed deposited drop may be determined relative to a fiducial on the substrate unit, based on the views of the fiducial and deposited drop. An error is determined based on any difference between the actual and target positions.

Abstract: A system and method for determining locations of maximum deflection of a printed circuit board (PCB) under test conditioned by boundary and loading conditions of the PCB, first vertical force magnitudes at associated first vertical force locations to be applied to the PCB by a tester fixture in a first direction, and second vertical force magnitudes at associated second vertical force locations to be applied to the PCB by the tester fixture in a second direction. Fixture components may be added to the design to the fixture design and the method iteratively executed until the magnitude of the maximum deflection is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum deflection magnitude.

Abstract: A micro-browser has pair of rods each rod entering a corresponding bore in a sleeve that retains them, and that may itself be carried by a grip shaped to be rotated between a thumb and a finger. The edge of a small circuit board is soldered at the distal end of the rod. One of the rods is allowed to rotate within its bore in the sleeve, while the other is held stationary by a notch in the sleeve. The rotatable rod has a captive spring that resists the force of probe contact. Each board carries a coupling network connected to a short sharp probe tip bent downward away from the plane of its board, allowing the distance between the probe tips to be a function of the amount of rotation. The other end of each coupling network is coupled to a short length of a respective 50 ? coaxial cable that passes through an axial slot in the grip to enter an amplifier pod that drives a main cable leading to test equipment. The rods may be held within the bores by friction created by slight bends in the rods.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer having a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source which operates at ambient pressure is disclosed.

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 fitting has a contact surface that engages a landing area on the chamber surrounding one of the openings. Engagement of the contact surface with the landing area forms a metal to metal seal between the fitting and the chamber. A method of sealing a column for liquid chromatography is also disclosed. The method involves a chamber containing packing medium, the chamber having an opening surrounded by a landing area. The method includes providing a compression fitting having a contact surface and compressing the contact surface against the landing area to form a fluid tight seal between the compression fitting and the chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for synthesizing oligonucleotides using nucleoside monomers having carbonate protected hydroxyl groups that are deprotected with ?-effect nucleophiles. The ?-effect nucleophile irreversibly cleave the carbonate protecting groups while simultaneously oxidizing the internucleotide phosphite triester linkage to a phosphodiester linkage. The procedure may be carried out in aqueous solution at neutral to mildly basic pH. The method eliminates the need for separate deprotection and oxidation steps, and, since the use of acid to remove protecting groups is unnecessary, acid-induced depurination is avoided. Fluorescent or other readily detectable carbonate protecting groups can be used, enabling monitoring of individual reaction steps during oligonucleotide synthesis. The invention is particularly useful in the highly parallel, microscale synthesis of oligonucleotides.

Abstract: A method for exposing the internal signals of a system model or software model of a dynamic system to a client application outside the original modeling environment is provided. A designer of the system model is provided with a way to select internal signals of the system model in order to expose those internal signals to other computer applications external to the modeling environment. Such computer applications are then able to access the internal signals by way of interfacing software while the system model is being exercised within the modeling environment, or while a software model based on the system model is executed outside of that environment.

Abstract: An offline phase of a cable length measuring method involves a determination of a plurality of preset frequency test signals for facilitating the length measurement of the cable based on a maximum measurable length of the cable. An online phase minimally involves a measurement of the length of the cable based on a first reflected phase shift between a first preset frequency test signal as transmitted at a transmission end of the cable and a first preset frequency reflection signal representative of a reflection of the first preset frequency test signal at a reflection end of the cable, and based on a second reflected phase shift between the second preset frequency test signal as transmitted at the transmission end of the cable and a second preset frequency reflection signal representative of a reflection of the second preset frequency test signal at the reflection end of the cable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a channel plate for a fluid-based switch. The channel plate is produced by 1) depositing a photoimagable dielectric layer onto a substrate, 2) photoimaging at least one channel plate feature on the dielectric layer, and 3) developing the dielectric layer to form the at least one channel plate feature in the dielectric layer, thereby forming the channel plate. A method for making a switch with a photoimaged channel plate is also disclosed.

Abstract: A translator tool for translating simulation test data generated to test clock recovery circuitry of a device from an event-based format to a cycle-based format readable by integrated circuit testers is presented. The simulation test data includes test timing irregularities intentionally injected into a serial data signal that will be processed by the clock recovery circuitry of the device under test. The translator tool includes a normalization function that extracts the intentionally injected timing irregularities from the event-based test data and generates corresponding normalized event-based test data without the extracted timing irregularities. The translator tool includes a cyclization engine that cyclizes the normalized event-based test data to generate corresponding cycle-based test data without the timing irregularities.

Abstract: A power supply programmable for a constant current mode and a constant voltage mode and selectively operable in either mode. Respective circuits associated with each of a constant voltage loop and a constant current loop track a control voltage of the other loop when the other loop is operating closed loop and maintains a control voltage of the open loop at a tracking offset value from the control voltage of the closed loop, allowing the open loop to rapidly assume control of the power supply during a mode transition. The tracking offset value is briefly increased during a mode transition to interrupt oscillation tendencies, resulting in faster mode cross-over and reduced overshoots, while maintaining stability.

Abstract: A filter that includes an analyzer, thresholding circuit, and synthesizer. The analyzer generates a low-frequency component signal and a high-frequency component signal from an input signal. The thresholding circuit generates a processed high-frequency signal from the high-frequency component signal, the processed high-frequency signal having an amplitude of zero in those regions in which the high-frequency component signal has an amplitude that is less than a threshold value. The synthesizer generates a filtered signal from input signals that include the low-frequency component signal and the processed high-frequency signal. The filtered signal is identical to the input signal if the threshold value is zero. The analyzer is preferably constructed from a plurality of finite impulse response filters that operate on a small fraction of the input signal at a time.