Abstract: A variable capacitor. The variable capacitor has a movable capacitor electrode including a major surface and a fixed capacitor electrode including a major surface. The major surface of the fixed capacitor electrode is opposite the major surface of the movable capacitor electrode and is separated therefrom by a gap. The major surface of the movable capacitor electrode includes a rigidity-increasing feature. The rigidity-increasing feature further provides a capacitance-increasing topography and reduces snap-together of the capacitor electrodes.

Abstract: VCSEL array configurations for use with parallel WDM transmitters are disclosed. Transmitters that use several wavelengths of VCSELs are built up out of multiple die to avoid the difficulty of manufacturing monolithic arrays of VCSELs with different optical wavelengths. VCSEL configurations are laid out to insure that VCSELs of different wavelengths that destined for the same waveguide are close together.

Abstract: A probe for connecting a device under test to a measurement device that corrects for dc errors and noise generated by the current flowing through the ground shield of a transmission line used by the probe. The probe identifies a voltage drop in the ground preferably using an additional line between the device under test and the measurement device. The signal provided to the measurement device is corrected based on the identified voltage drop.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of target molecules bound to a working electrode in a first location. The first location is coated with a detection solution containing labeling molecules that include a first charge-separation moiety attached to a first molecule that binds to the target molecule. The first charge-separation moiety includes a material that generates hole-electron pairs in response to being illuminated by light in a first band of wavelengths. After removing any unbound labeling, the working electrode is immersed in a solution containing a compound that is oxidized by the generated holes. The first location is then selectively illuminated with light in the first band; and the change in the current and/or potential is measured between the working electrode and a reference electrode in contact with the solution. The first charge-separation moiety is preferably constructed from particles of a semiconducting material such as TiO2.

Abstract: A dynamic probe system for probing a FPGA with at least one core. A trace core is added to the FPGA, the trace core in communication with a plurality of signal banks, each signal bank comprising a plurality of signals in the at least one core. A logic analyzer, in communication with the trace core and selecting the bank of signal to be sent from the trace core to the logic analyzer.

Abstract: A method for vector characterization of a frequency translation device (“FTD”) includes coupling a first signal from a first signal source through a reference directional coupler and through a test directional coupler of an electronic test set to a first port of the FTD. A second signal from the reference directional coupler is coupled to a first receiver of a vector network analyzer (“VNA”). A third signal is coupled from the test directional coupler to a second receiver of the VNA; and a vector parameter of the first port of the FTD is measured with the VNA.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of a single-wavelength optical signal constituting part of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal is provided. The WDM optical signal is adjustably diffracted to select the single-wavelength optical signal. An optical-to-electrical conversion is performed. An electrical sampling signal representing the selected single-wavelength optical signal is generated by one of (a) optically sampling the selected single-wavelength optical signal to generate an optical sampling signal on which the optical-to-electrical conversion is performed, and (b) electrically sampling an electrical signal generated by performing the optical-to-electrical conversion on the selected single-wavelength optical signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for comparing data quality for multiple wireless communication networks are provided. One such method comprises: obtaining information related to a location of a first mobile wireless device associated with the first wireless data network and a second mobile wireless device associated wish the second wireless data network; establishing a first data call between the first mobile wireless device and the first wireless data network and a second data call between the second mobile wireless device and the second wireless data network, the first and second data calls based on a predefined testing scenario; obtaining information related to the quality of data service associated with the first and second data calls; and correlating the information related to the quality of data service associated with the first and second data calls with the information related to the location of the first and second mobile wireless devices.

Abstract: A packaged IC includes an IC die with signal and signal complement traces positioned relative to each other to maximize broadside coupling for a matching impedance. The signal and signal complement traces are electrically connected to transmission or receive channels of the IC die. Use of a broadside coupled trace configuration alleviates routing congestion in an IC package and permits an IC to accommodate a greater number of channels within a given surface area than is possible under the prior art.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure ion source, e.g. for a mass spectrometer, that produces ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). It includes a vaporizer, a photon source for photoionizing vapor molecules upon exit from the vaporizer, a passageway for transporting ions to, for example, a mass spectrometer system, and a means for directing the ions into the passageway. The center axis of the vaporizer and the center axis of the passageway form an angle that may be about 90 degrees. Included in the invention is a method for creating ions by atmospheric pressure photoionization along an axis and directing them into a passageway oriented at an angle to that axis.

Abstract: A channel plan with a corresponding test plan are implemented in connection with a plurality of nodes that communicate signals. The channel plan has one or more predefined specifications for each of one or more signal channels on each of the nodes. The channel plan enables a monitoring system to, among other things, conduct automatic periodic test plans, comprising tests, on the nodes, based upon the predefined data specified in the channel plan. Each test plan prescribes measurement of at least one signal parameter, pertaining to one or more nodes as a whole and/or to one or more channels contained within the nodes. The monitoring system includes a spectrum analyzer, a switch enabling the spectrum analyzer to interface with the nodes, and a controller controlling the switch and the spectrum analyzer. The controller is configured to enable creation of and display the channel plan and test plan, based upon user inputs.

Abstract: Fast detection of a selected portion of a data packet (e.g. the preamble of a Bluetooth data packet) is accomplished by defining a reference signal waveform conforming to an expected waveform representing a signal modulated in accordance with the selected portion of a data packet. A waveform representing a received data signal containing a data packet with the selected portion is derived, and the reference signal waveform is correlated with this derived waveform to produce a correlation result. This correlation result is used to identify the selected portion in the received data signal.

Abstract: A drop deposition apparatus, and a method and computer program products using the drop deposition apparatus, for fabricating at least one addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate. The drop deposition apparatus has a drop dispenser unit and a sensing element. The method comprises includes for each of multiple addresses, dispensing droplets carrying the biopolymers or biopolymer precursors from a drop dispenser unit onto the sensing element, and onto the substrate so as to fabricate the array. Electrical signals resulting from dispensed droplets striking the sensing element are detected. A performance characteristic of the deposition apparatus is evaluated based on the detected signals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a circuit measures picoampere current levels. The circuit comprises: an operational-amplifier that has differential inputs and differential outputs; a switching structure that switchably couples an input line to one of the differential inputs in response signals from a timing circuit; a first integrating capacitor coupled to one of the differential inputs and to one of the differential outputs; a second integrating capacitor coupled to the other of the differential inputs; and a charge injection compensation structure that selectively injects charge into the input line and removes charge from the input line in response to signals from the timing circuit.

Abstract: A coupling unit provides a signal path between at least two of: a first device under test (DUT), and first and second couplers. The first coupler is coupled to a signal analyzer. The second coupler is coupled to another DUT. Both couplers provide and receive signals to and from the coupling unit which includes first and second multiplexers. An output of the first DUT is coupled to a first input of the first multiplexer and to a first input of the first coupler. A first output of the first coupler is coupled to a second input of the first multiplexer. The output of the first multiplexer is coupled to the input of the second coupler. The output of the second coupler is coupled to a first input of the second multiplexer and to a second input of the first coupler. A second output of the first coupler is coupled to a second input of the second multiplexer. The output of the second multiplexer is coupled to an input of the first DUT.

Abstract: A motion control system having a set of control nodes each of which controls motion along a single axis of the motion control system and which coordinate their collective motions using time synchronization technology. Each control node corresponds to an axis of the motion control system and each control node includes a synchronized clock and participates in a protocol for synchronizing the synchronized clocks. The application of a series of control values to each axis in the motion control system is coordinated using the synchronized clocks.

Abstract: A package for an optoelectronic device includes a hermetically sealed cavity into which a mirror or other optical element is integrated. For a side-emitting laser, an integrated mirror turns the light emitted from the laser inside the cavity so that the light exits through a top surface of the package. The packaging can be implemented for individual lasers or at the wafer level. A wafer level process fabricates sub-mounts in a first wafer, fabricates depressions with reflective areas in a second wafer, electrically connects optoelectronic devices to respective sub-mounts on the first wafer, and bonds a second wafer to the first wafer with the lasers hermetically sealed in cavities corresponding to the depressions in the second wafer. The reflective areas in the depressions act as turning mirrors for side emitting lasers.

Abstract: A wavelength tunable laser resonator includes first and second resonator end reflectors for reflecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation towards each other, the first and second resonator end reflectors defining a resonator having an optical path with a length, a gain medium for generating and/or amplifying and emitting the beam towards the first and second resonator end reflectors, arranged within the resonator, and a diffractive optical element within the optical path to filter a wavelength of the beam and to focus a portion of the beam towards the gain medium. One of the resonator end reflectors are movable with respect to other optical elements within the resonator for increasing or decreasing the length of the optical path. The diffractive optical element is movable with respect to other optical elements within the resonator for adapting the filtered wavelength to the increase or decrease of the optical path length.

Abstract: In one representative embodiment, multiple ensembles of samples of a periodic or cylcostationary signal are processed in a time aligned manner. The sampling rate of the processing system is adjusted so that an integer number of sampling intervals equals the period of the signal. A cyclic counter is programmed to reset according to the integer number. Also, the cyclic counter may be initialized according to an external trigger. During operation, the cyclic counter is incremented when each sample is received. Continuous operation of the cyclic counter with the capturing of samples enables precise time alignment between ensembles of samples. Specifically, the beginning of a discrete ensemble is identified by a reset of the cyclic counter. Because each ensemble is time aligned, further processing (e.g., coherent averaging) may occur without post-processing to time-shift each sample to achieve the time alignment.

Abstract: An electron impact ion source includes an ionization chamber in which a first rf multipole field can be generated and an ion guide positioned downstream from the ionization chamber in which a second rf multipole field can be generated wherein electrons are injected into the ionization chamber along the axis (on-axis) to ionize an analyte sample provided to the ionization chamber.