Abstract: An apparatus and method for pumping and optionally mixing of small quantities of biological fluid wherein the pumping mechanism is segregated from the biological fluid being pumped. The micro-pump pushes the biological fluid by compressing a cartridge housing the blood and reagents with collapsible walls with a roller or ball bearing, synchronized perpendicular plungers, or an acutely-angled member to push the biological fluid by collapsing the walls of the cartridge in the direction of flow.

Abstract: A user's context can be captured in terms of experimental results and other locally collected data. The use of extracted links between imported scientific text, biological models or experimental data, and proprietary or public data to provide relevance ranking, filtering, and categorization of imported scientific text or biological models, based upon their linking with the local data is described.

Abstract: Methods for producing waveguides are disclosed. In one embodiment, a waveguide is produced by depositing a first metal layer on a substrate, depositing a sacrificial material on the first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer on the sacrificial material, the second metal layer contacting the first metal layer and defining therebetween a cavity for the waveguide, the cavity filled with the sacrificial material, and removing the sacrificial material.

Abstract: A prober includes a frame having a frame ground terminal, a chuck stage, servo motors for driving the chuck stage, servo amplifiers connected to the servo motors, first floating mounts on which the servo amplifiers are provided, a second floating mount on which the servo motor is provided. The first floating mounts are electrically insulated from the frame and have first ground terminals connected to the ground terminals of the servo amplifiers. The second floating mount is electrically insulated from the frame and has a second ground terminal connected to the ground terminal of the servo motor. The prober further includes shielded cables connecting the servo amplifiers and the servo motors, a first wire connecting the first ground terminal and the frame ground terminal and also connecting the first ground terminal and the second floating mount, and second wires connecting the shielded cables and the frame ground terminal.

Abstract: A resistive pin for use in a voltage probe includes a pin-head that is configured to contact a test point in a device under test, and a resistor that is attached to the pin-head. Other systems are also provided for establishing electrical connections between testing instruments and devices under test.

Abstract: A method of interrogating an addressable array having a plurality of different chemical features. The method may include simultaneously illuminating different regions of the array with light of different intensities (which, for example, can, but need not be, also of a same waveband). Light emitted from the different regions in response to the illuminating (which light, for example, can, but need not be, of a same waveband) may be simultaneously detected with different detectors. An apparatus, addressable array unit, and related methods are further provided.

Abstract: Signalling messages conforming to different signalling protocols in a distributed switch telecommunications network are correlated by associating specific pairs of messages according to parameters they have in common. Inter-MGC IAMs and SS7 IAMs are correlated by the combination of Calling & Called address parameters; the connection descriptor parameter included in inter-MGC IAMs and MGCP OK messages can be used to correlate these messages; and the MGCP OK message can be correlated with the MGCP CRCX message using the transaction ID. Hence a correspondence can be deduced between an MGCP endpointname (in the CRCX message) and an ISUP OPC-DPC-CIC identification (in the SS7 IAM).

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the invention provide an optical spectrum analyzer. The optical spectrum analyzer includes a receiver for receiving an optical local oscillator signal and an unknown optical signal. The receiver outputs three or more phase-diverse heterodyne signals. The phase-diverse heterodyne signals are coupled to a phase quadrature generator. The phase quadrature generator produces a first and second phase quadrature signals that are ninety degrees out of phase with respect to each other. The first and second phase quadrature signals are coupled to a complex signal generator. The complex signal generator produces a complex signal having a positive and negative image. A measurement processing unit determines the phase of the unknown optical signal from the relative difference of the phase of the positive and negative image of the complex signal.

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: High port-to-port RF isolation for a test socket in a production RF test environment is achieved by establishing a coaxial-type connection between the test socket and the device under test (DUT). This coaxial-type connection results by at least partially surrounding each port of the DUT with a ground seal connected to RF ground connection. In one embodiment, the ground seal is a metallic base plate of the test socket which surrounds the RF connection to the DUT.

Abstract: A data analysis method, apparatus, and storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therein for use on a spreadsheet software having a plurality of cells displayed as a two-dimensional table on a computer including assigning to a first cell a definition of array representation data including a single array or multiple arrays of data, displaying to the first cell a first array display button, and selectively displaying the array representation data in a graphical or table format using an array data display device when the array display button is selected.

Abstract: Systems, tools and methods of assaying biological material are used to perform complex sandwich hybridization assays. The tools used comprise biological solution probes that are customized for each assay. The solution probe comprises a first region for hybridizing to a probe, in a generic set of capture probes on a universal assay apparatus, and a second region for hybridizing to a target in a sample. The solution probe assembles the target to the assay apparatus by hybridizing the second region to the target and the first region to the capture probe. In array assays, one or more biological samples, having one or more targets per sample, can be multiplexed on the same universal array comprising the generic set of capture probes in an array pattern of features on the substrate. The customized solution probe addresses and assembles a predetermined target-sample combination onto the array at a corresponding capture probe address location.

Abstract: Nanostructures and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, a film including a vector polymer comprising a payload moiety is formed on a substrate. The film is patterned. Organic components of the patterned film are removed to form a payload-comprising nanoparticle.

Abstract: The frequency changes in a bang-bang PLL that are generated using a digital phase detector's up/down signal are initially set to produce a faster pull-in rate and then reduced to produce a slower pull-in rate. The faster pull-in involves relatively large frequency changes and the slower pull-in rate involves smaller frequency changes. The changes in frequency of a bang-bang PLL can be implemented using a step size controller that includes timing control logic and step size logic. The function of the timing control logic is to control the timing of step size changes. The function of the step size logic is to set the step size of the frequency changes that are made by the VCO in response to the pd_up/down signal that is delivered directly to the VCO from the digital phase detector.

Abstract: A system for monitoring water concentration in gaseous sample is disclosed. It is readily applicable in the synthesis of biopolymer arrays/microarrays involving the use of water-sensitive reagents. A flow cell is provided in which a capacitance sensor is placed separate from a production or synthesis environment. Sample and dry gas may be provided to the flow cell via conduits and valves or a manifold system. Dry gas, such as N2, is used to dry the sensor or simply to maintain it in a dried condition. The same gas may be used to drive an optional venturi pump to draw sample for measurement into the cell from the synthesis environment.

Abstract: Combining the approaches of cavity ring down spectroscopy with surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy allows creation of an ultra-high sensitivity apparatus to detect extremely low concentrations of chemicals and biomolecules.

Abstract: A method and system for circulating sample solution within a reaction chamber containing a microarray. The reaction chamber contains, on each side, a shallow vertical and a deep vertical well at the corners of the microarray. The vertical wells having a gap between the active surface of the microarray and the bottom of the reaction chamber are filled with sample solution. As the reaction chamber is rotated, sample solution from the deep vertical well displaces sample solution in the gap between the active surface of the microarray and the bottom of the reaction vessel, and sample solution from that gap is, in turn, displaced into the shallow vertical well, from which it flows along the inner surface of a cover strip above the microarray back to the deep vertical well.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a network analyzer, comprises applying a stimulus signal on at least one port of the network analyzer for provision to a device under test (DUT) within a test fixture coupled to the network analyzer; generating measurement data from the DUT in response to the stimulus signal on at least one port of the network analyzer; and generating an amplitude response of the DUT across a frequency range, wherein a port extension module of the network analyzer automatically applies loss compensation to the amplitude response in a manner that is non-linearly related to frequency according to at least one controllable parameter.

Abstract: A circuit and method is provided for determining the delay of an integrated circuit common associated with chip-to-chip variations in the manufacturing process, changes in operating voltage, and fluctuations in temperature. A clock signal is inverted, thus generating an inverted clock signal which is then delayed multiple times, resulting in several delayed versions of the inverted clock signal, with each version being delayed a different length of time. The logical state of each delayed version of the inverted clock signal is then stored. That stored logical state provides an indication as to the magnitude of the delay of the integrated circuit which may then be used to tune critical signals of the integrated circuit to avoid timing problems resulting from variations in IC propagation delay.

Abstract: A dynamic model of non-linear tuning behavior is used to tune a tunable device. The model quantifies a difference between a tuning characteristic of an ideal device and an actual tuning characteristic of the device. The model adjusts the tuning according to the difference. A method of compensated tuning of tunable device comprises employing a dynamic model of the tunable device to produce a compensated tuning control input to the tunable device during tuning. A tuning compensator for a tunable device comprises the dynamic model that is employed with an input tuning command to generate a compensated tuning command. A tuning-compensated YTF comprises a dynamic model-based tuning compensator and a YTF. A spectrum analyzer having a tuning-compensated preselector comprises a YTF preselector, a frequency converter, a video signal processor unit, a tuning compensator, and a controller. The tuning compensator uses the dynamic model to tune the preselector.