Abstract: A method of analysis of a time interval between two selected measurement edges of interest includes locking a plurality of at least three substantially interchangeable oscillators to a common reference frequency, the oscillators containing digital locked-loop (DLL) circuit architecture. The method includes operating one oscillator as a timebase oscillator, and operating the other oscillators as edge-resettable measurement oscillators. The method further includes coupling one oscillator with a switched and physically-immutable parametric variation, producing an offset in the frequency of the coupled oscillator relative to the frequency of the other oscillators.

Abstract: A distributed system with a time synchronization bridge for maintaining a relatively accurate common sense of time across sub-nets despite the use of a communication device such as a router which causes jitter in packet transfers across sub-nets. A distributed system according to the present teachings includes a set of nodes that communicate via a set of sub-nets. The nodes each have a local clock and mechanisms for maintaining time synchronization among the local clocks by transferring timing data packets via the sub-nets. The timing data packets do not pass through a router. Instead, a time synchronization bridge obtains the timing data packets and in response coordinates time synchronization across the sub-nets.

Abstract: An optical encoder module includes a housing that includes at least one recess having an open end and an opposite closed end, and an electrical component accommodated within the recess. A first locking member is formed on the electrical component and a second locking member is formed in the housing. The first and second locking members are engaged with each other for locking the electrical component, when inserted into said recess, into a locking position. At least one resiliently compressible protrusion is provided between the electrical component and the closed end of the recess so as to be resiliently compressed therebetween into its compressed state when the electrical component is locked in the recess in its locking position.

Abstract: An electronic system with power approximation for circuit savings. Power approximation is provided by means for generating an absolute value of a real part of a signal, means for generating an absolute value of an imaginary part of the signal, means for generating a sum of the absolute values, and means for performing an averaging function on the sum such that a result of the averaging function provides an approximate power which indicates an actual power of the signal. The approximate power enables a determination of actual signal-to-noise ratio in the electronic system and a determination of a variety of other signal-to-noise determinations without the use of multipliers.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for detection of a target molecule. The apparatus includes a probe labeled with a transition metal-ligand complex that hybridizes with the target to form an initial complex, a metal ion for doping the initial complex and forming a final complex, and a potential means for providing a potential to the final complex to produce a detectable signal indicating the presence of the target after redox reaction. The method of the invention teaches the steps of hybridizing a probe with an attached label to the target to produce an initial complex, adding a metal ion to the initial complex to form a final complex and applying a potential to the final complex to produce a measurable signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionization source having a chamber for ionizing a sample. The ionization chamber has surfaces to reduce the overall interaction with reactive samples. The inner surface walls of the ionization chamber or the ionization chamber may be formed from an inert super alloy. For instance, Inconel™ 625, Inconel™ 601 or Hastelloy® may comprise the ionization chamber or the surface walls of the ionization chamber. The invention also includes a method for reducing the interaction of a reactive analyte with an ion source.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing rotation includes a plurality of motion sensors constructed in a substantially coplanar arrangement. The plurality of motion sensors is each configured to generate incremental movement data indicative of movement of the sensor in two dimensions. A rotation data generator generates rotation data based on the incremental movement data. The rotation data represents rotation of a first one of the motion sensors about a second one of the motion sensors.

Abstract: The network monitoring system comprises a network router with built-in monitoring data gathering. The network router includes channels through which data pass in packets. Each of the packets includes a packet header. The network router additionally includes a header copier and a packet generator. The header copier generates a header copy from the packet header of at least some of the packets. The packet generator receives the header copies and forms monitoring data packets from them. Each monitoring data packet additionally represents temporal data relating to the header copies included in it. A method of obtaining performance data relating to a data transmission network that includes a node passes data through the node in packets. Each of the packets includes a packet header. At least some of the packet headers are copied to obtain respective header copies as monitoring data from which monitoring data packets are formed.

Abstract: Alteration of a Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) command set for instrument control. In representative embodiments, each command of the command set includes a different combination of SCPI grammatical elements; the SCPI grammatical elements are organized hierarchically in a tree data structure; and the tree has nodes with each node comprising one of the SCPI grammatical elements. A node to alter is selected, and an alteration to the selected node is specified. Access to the selected node, as well as to any descendant nodes of the selected node is restricted; the selected node is altered in accordance with the specified alteration, wherein the alteration of the selected node is performed at runtime; and the access restriction to the selected node and to any descendant nodes of the selected node is removed, wherein the access restriction, node alteration, and access removal are performed while the instrument is operational.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to receive a request from one of a plurality of pipelines to read a data record from a memory location within a first copy of a table. The method also includes a determination that there was a request to read the same memory location within a previous cycle. The method further includes the retrieval of a current version of the data record requested.

Abstract: A supporting device for a portable device to measure and/or test components of electrical and/or optical networks includes a supporting plate, which is built in, or may be attached to, the equipment; a supporting frame, which may stand at one end on the sub-surface and may be adjustably filled at the other end to a sliding guide arranged on at least one supporting frame; and at least one lever, which at one end may be swivel mounted on a supporting frame between both ends around a first swivel axis that essentially runs parallel to the support surface, and may be swivel mounted at the other end onto a supporting plate under the sliding guide around a second swivel axis running parallel to the first swivel axis. This is where, on the sliding edge adjacent to the equipment side of the supporting plate, the sliding guide has at least one locking recess, into which the supporting frame end leading to the sliding guide tightly fits in order to support the supporting plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing an improved generated arbitrary waveform using a sigma-delta modulator with pulse width modulation, said method comprising the steps of sigma-delta modulation of said generated arbitrary waveform, and pulse width modulation of the output signal of said sigma-delta modulator, introducing a minimum pulse width (pwmin) during said pulse width modulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of using an input signal from a single-transverse mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with a multimode fiber (MMF) link to enable improved stabilization in time variation and improved modal dispersion of the output signal to facilitate the use of adaptive equalization techniques. The improvement results from using a conditioned launch of the input signal from the VCSEL into the MMF link. The increase in performance may be measured by the improved impulse response and an improved bandwidth-distance product of the MMF link.

Abstract: A method of scrolling through information displayed on a display screen of an electronic device includes providing a first plurality of user selectable scrolling zones on the display screen. Each scrolling zone in the first plurality of scrolling zones is associated with a scrolling technique. The display screen includes a screen pointer controllable by a user with a screen pointing device. Zone selection information identifying a first one of the scrolling zones selected by a user with the screen pointing device is received. The displayed information is scrolled through based on the scrolling technique associated with the selected scrolling zone.

Abstract: Bit-error-rate (BER) testing includes a data pattern generator transmitting a known data pattern to a device under test (DUT), which processes the data pattern and outputs the processed data pattern to an error analyzer. BER testing of telecommunications systems often uses data patterns in the form of SONET or SDH frames, which have error-checking bytes known as B bytes. The B Bytes computed for a given SONET or SDH frame are inserted into a next SONET or SDH frame. In memory-based BER tests, a fixed number of SONET or SDH frames is input to the DUT by the pattern generator. The last frame of the data pattern is adjusted so that the B bytes calculated using the last frame match the B bytes present in the first frame, which approach avoids parity errors that can occur in response to B byte mismatches between the last and the first frame.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for a bus interface and/or a bus bridge is described. The electrical circuit comprises a global master being coupled with a first bus and at least one function block being coupled with the global master. An address and/or data is transmitted from the first bus to the function block. The function block comprises a application specific functionality for carrying out a function in connection with the received address and/or data.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an optical (visible-light or near IR) imaging system and a microwave imaging system. The optical imaging system captures an optical image of the object, produces optical image data representing the optical image and extracts optical image information from the optical image data. The microwave imaging system produces microwave image data representing a microwave image of the object in response to the optical image information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus permits use of a tester memory (31) as storage for an inversion mask. The inversion mask indicates to the tester which cells in a DUT memory (14) are logically inverted during testing. Data information and the inverse of the data information is input into a first data multiplexer (802). The stored inversion mask (902–908) is used to independently select a data information bit or its inverse for presentation as a masked output (814) at the output of the first data multiplexer (802).

Abstract: Managing volatile storage of information, such as executable code within dynamic random access memory (DRAM) embedded within an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), includes systematically checking the contents of the volatile memory during periods of extended inactivity. Volatile memory checking routines may be initiated on the basis of time, on the basis of a specific event, or on a combination of timing and event occurrences. If a specific error condition is detected, the device in which the volatile memory resides may be automatically reinitialized, so that the corrupt executable code is not used. The information management techniques may be extended to other types of semi-permanent memory i.e., memory that is susceptible to losses in the form of soft errors.

Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed. The connector assembly comprises a connector having an internal conical shaped bore dimensioned so that a capillary column and auxiliary tubing can be press-fit into the bore, and an auxiliary length of cylindrical tubing having an inner diameter dimensioned so that a close fit is created when a capillary column is inserted through the auxiliary tubing and having an outer diameter dimensioned so that a fluid seal is created when the auxiliary tubing is press-fit into the bore.