Abstract: A multi-device system and method for controlling voltage peaking of an output signal transmitted between input and output circuits of integrated circuit devices utilizes various electrical elements that can be adjusted after the fabrication of the integrated circuit devices to change the impedance of the input and output circuits. These adjustable electrical elements include one or more pass transistors in the input circuit whose on-resistances can be changed by adjusting a control signal supplied to the pass transistors. The adjustable electrical elements may also include one or more of the following: an adjustable current source, an adjustable resistor and a resistance-adjustable transistor operated as an adjustable resistor.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making microwave circuits using thickfilm components, the thickfilm components including: a first, multi-layer thickfilm dielectric deposited on a ground plane; a thickfilm conductor deposited on the first thickfilm dielectric; a second, multi-layer thickfilm dielectric deposited on the first dielectric and conductor to encapsulate the conductor; a thickfilm ground shield layer deposited over the first and second dielectrics; and thickfilm resistors deposited in close proximity to the first and second dielectrics.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a thin film resonator has a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and a composite layer between the two electrodes. The composite layer includes a piezoelectric (PZ) layer having a first coupling coefficient and a coupling coefficient control (CCC) layer having a second coupling coefficient. By varying the relative thicknesses of the PZ layer and the CCC layer during the manufacturing process, the coupling coefficient of the resonator can be established (to any value between the first coupling coefficient and the second coupling coefficient) with minimal impact on resonant frequency. Further, it is relatively less difficult to fabricate the PZ layer and the CCC layer having the desired coupling coefficient (as a combination of the first coupling coefficient and the second coupling coefficient) compared to the difficulties of fabrication of a uniform PZ layer having the desired coupling coefficient.

Abstract: An alignment system that uses a single optical sensor to enable the end of an optical fiber to be aligned with the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that the output of a single optical sensor can be processed and converted into digital signals, which are then further processed in accordance with an alignment algorithm to generate feedback signals that enable precise alignment to be achieved. The alignment system includes the single optical sensor, a lens and processing logic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-artwork timing verification of an integrated circuit design are provided. A representative system includes a computer and a memory element associated with the computer, the memory element configured to store information related to a contemplated integrated circuit design and model functional blocks of the integrated circuit responsive to the expected signal timing behavior of signals that traverse a functional block of interest. A representative method includes the following steps: acquiring circuit information that represents a plurality of functional blocks and a plurality of conductors of a contemplated integrated circuit, where the functional blocks are modeled by a plurality of signal characteristics; receiving timing constraints used in designing each respective functional block; generating a representation of each functional block; and applying the representation in a static timing analyzer.

Abstract: A wafer-level package includes a first wafer comprising a bonding pad, an optoelectronic device on the first wafer, and a second wafer comprising a gasket. The second wafer is attached to the first wafer by a bond between the gasket and the bonding pad.

Abstract: Vertical cavity optical devices, and a method of manufacturing therefor, are provided where the method includes partially forming a first vertical cavity optical device on a wafer, adjusting the lasing wavelength of the first vertical cavity optical device, and fixing the lasing wavelength of the first vertical cavity optical device to complete the forming thereof.

Abstract: A differential register slave structure is presented. In one embodiment, a differential register includes a storage node (218, 318). The storage node (218, 318) stores and holds the differential values generated by the differential register. In one embodiment of the present invention, on power-up, when the state of various clocks (i.e., master, slave) in the differential register may be indeterminate, the storage node (218, 318) will discharge the differential values and the differential register will produce a differential output.

Abstract: A CMOS buffer with hysteresis is implemented. In one embodiment, an upper-trip circuit (102) and a lower-trip circuit (104) are implemented with CMOS inverters. The upper-trip circuit (102) and the lower-trip circuit (104) provides output to a pull-up device (110) and a pull-down device (111), respectively. The pull-up device (110) and the pull-down device (111) both generate an output signal onto a net (112). A bus holder (114) is coupled to the net (112) and maintains the output signal. In addition, an output circuit (116) is coupled to the net (112) and processes the output signal. In one embodiment, the output circuit is implemented with a CMOS buffer and functions as a buffer with hysteresis. In another embodiment, the output circuit is implemented with an inverter and functions as an inverting buffer with hysteresis. In a third embodiment, the output circuit is implemented with a connection (i.e., signal conveyance) and functions as a non-inverting buffer with hysteresis.

Abstract: A method of digitizing first and second signals in imperfect quadrature for obtaining characteristic parameters of the first signal comprises providing a first signal, the first signal comprising an inphase quasi-sinusoidal analog signal. The method comprises providing a second signal, the second signal comprising a quadrature signal. The method comprises digitizing the first signal at a sampling rate, thereby generating a first plurality of sets of digital signal waveform samples and digitizing the second signal at the sampling rate, thereby generating a second plurality of sets of digital signal waveform samples. The method comprises digitally processing successive first and second sets of digital signal waveform samples to generate continually updated digital characteristic parameters representing a characteristic behavior of the first signal.

Abstract: The light detection system includes at least two light detection elements. Each element is responsive to a selected light color in a first mode, and each element has a different sensitivity and is responsive to a single color in a second mode for enhanced dynamic range. A preferred embodiment includes four light detectors for responding to four separate colors or for responding with enhanced dynamic range to two colors. Embodiments are disclosed using a mirror/beam splitter arrangement to switch between modes and an embodiment including dichroic filters serving as fractional beam splitters.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip contains a small non-volatile “ID” memory such as an FeRAM array that stores information associated with manufacturing, testing, and performance of the IC chip. The stored information can include but is not limited to a serial number, a wafer ID, a batch ID, a date code, chip history, test data, and performance information. The storing information on the chip eliminates any difficulty in matching the information with the IC chip and provides a flexible permanent record of any information the manufacturer may find useful. The ID memory thus permits tracking and identification of ICs to a degree that was not previously practical. Additionally, a self-test can compare prior test results stored in the ID memory to current self-test results to detect defects or to select operating parameters of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A graphical indicator to assist a user in adjusting the value of a parameter to a target value. The graphical indicator has target value indicia that represents a target value of the parameter, and measured value indicia that represents a measured value of the parameter. A change in a measured value of the parameter relative to the target value is represented by a first corresponding amount of movement of the measured value indicia relative to the target value indicia when the measured value is within a first span of parameter values, and a second, different corresponding amount of movement of the measured value indicia relative to the target value indicia when the measured value is within a second span of parameter values. The graphical indicator provides increased sensitivity to changes in the measured value of the parameter as the measured value becomes closer to the target value of the parameter.

Abstract: A novel RF to IF converter operates in two modes allowing both wide bandwidth signals and narrow bandwidth signals to be processed using the same wide bandwidth bandpass filter as well as a dual-mode image-reject mixer. As a mobile receiver, both wide bandwidth WCDMA or IMT-2000 signals and narrow bandwidth GSM signals pass through the same wide bandwidth channel select filter. In the GSM mode, signals lying to one side of the frequency range of the narrow GSM signal are attenuated by the wide bandwidth channel select filter. Then signals lying to the other side of the GSM signal are attenuated by an image-reject mixer. The image-reject mixer also downconverts the GSM signal. In the WCDMA or IMT-2000 mode, the wide bandwidth channel select filter attenuates signals outside of the WCDMA or IMT-2000 channel bandwidth, and the image-reject mixer downconverts the wide bandwidth signal without rejecting signals.

Abstract: An attenuating device for attenuating optical power of a light beam, comprises an at least partly absorbing element adapted to receive and attenuate the optical power of the light beam, and a supporting element for supporting on at least one side the at least partly absorbing element. The at least partly absorbing element comprises at least one layer coated or evaporated on the supporting element with an increasing, decreasing, or varying thickness. The supporting element is provided with a material having a crystalline structure to provide compensation to a local heating in the at least partly absorbing element resulting from absorption of the light beam.

Abstract: Multi-phase clock time stamping for improving time stamp resolution is provided. One of many possible embodiments is a method for generating a time stamp having an improved time resolution for an event signal. Briefly described, one such method comprises the steps of: receiving an event signal for which a time stamp is to be generated; generating a first pulse signal having a pulse width defined by the event signal and a first clock signal; generating a second pulse signal having a pulse width defined by the event signal and a second clock signal; and determining which of the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal is to be used for generating the time stamp for the event signal.

Abstract: An optical mouse images as an array of pixels the spatial features of generally any micro textured or micro detailed work surface below the mouse. The photo detector responses are digitized and stored as a frame into memory. Motion produces successive frames of translated patterns of pixel information, which are compared by autocorrelation to ascertain the direction and amount of movement. A hold feature suspends the production of movement signals to the computer, allowing the mouse to be physically relocated on the work surface without disturbing the position on the screen of the pointer. This may be needed if the operator runs out of room to physically move the mouse further, but the screen pointer still needs to go further. The hold feature may be implemented with an actual button, a separate proximity detector or by detecting the presence of a characteristic condition in the digitized data, such as loss of correlation or velocity in excess of a selected limit.

Abstract: A solution to the problem of broken micro-browser probe assemblies caused by the accidental application of excessive force is to manufacture the rods out of a material that resists forces found in normal usage and appears stiff, but that will abruptly deform harmlessly under less force than causes permanent damage to other elements of the micro-browser. The sudden deformation serves as a signal to the operator to stop being a gorilla. That leaves the problem of re-shaping the rod. A preferred solution is to use as the rod a Nitinol superelastic metal wire that automatically returns to its previous shape once the force causing deformation is removed. An alternate solution is to make the rod from a length of Nitinol “memory metal” wire that restores itself to a pre-set shape upon the application of mild heat, such as immersion in a cup of hot water from an office coffee machine. The small circuit board and its components are not bothered by the bath.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing equipment has a storage that includes a packet template area for storing at least a first packet template and a second packet template and a source/destination address pair area for storing at least a first set of source/destination address pairs. The source/destination address pairs are configurable to simulate non-consecutive network traffic (e.g., Internet traffic). A stream generator receives a profile identifier and responsive thereto dynamically accesses the packet template area corresponding to the profile specified by the profile identifier for at least one packet template and accesses the source/destination address pairs corresponding to the packet template for at least one address pair, and builds a test packet that includes the accessed packet template and the accessed address pair.

Abstract: A system and methods for selecting single-features from a microarray scan image of genomic data and rearranging the selected single-features of the microarray into a virtual array having a format or arrangement that is more relevant or informative to the analyst or user than that of the original microarray scan image.