Abstract: The acoustically-coupled transformer includes first and second stacked bulk acoustic resonators (SBARs), each having a stacked pair of film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) with an acoustic decoupler between them. In one embodiment, the acoustic decoupler comprises a layer of decoupling material has having a nominal thickness equal to an odd integral multiple of one quarter of the wavelength of an acoustic wave having a frequency equal to the transformer's center frequency. In another embodiment, the acoustic decoupler comprises a Bragg stack. Each FBAR has opposed planar electrodes with piezoelectric material between them. The transformer additionally has first terminals, second terminals, a first electrical circuit connecting one FBARs of the first SBAR to one FBAR of the second SBAR and the first terminals, and a second electrical circuit connecting the other FBAR of the first SBAR to the other FBAR of the second SBAR and the second terminals.

Abstract: Systems, methods, computer-readable media for determining optical characteristics, such as polarization mode dispersion and/or polarization dependent loss, of device under test (DUTs) are provided. In this regard, one such system includes a response analyzer that receives data corresponding to responses of a DUT to optical signals. The response analyzer computes fast and slow group delays corresponding to at least some of the optical signals, each of the fast and slow group delays being attributable to one of a first and a second principle state of polarization. The response analyzer then assigns each of the fast and slow group delays to a correct one of the first and second principle states of polarization for at least some of the optical signals.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product, for forming an addressable array of chemical moieties on a substrate. The method may include, for each of multiple locations on the substrate, depositing a reagent drop set during a cycle so as to attach a corresponding moiety for that location. This may be repeated as required, until the addressable array is formed. Test location are also formed by depositing drops from dispensers in a manner which can facilitate detection of dispenser errors.

Abstract: A method and system that utilizes hysteresis in image processing algorithms to minimize interframe noise in video frames is provided. The method includes receiving a video frame and determining a measurement in the video frame, wherein the measurement is associated with an image control feature. The method also includes providing a target value and a tolerance, and calculating an error value using the measurement and the target value. The method further includes comparing the error value to the tolerance, and in response to the error value being greater than the tolerance, adjusting the image control feature. The system includes a video frame stored in a storage medium and a module coupled to the storage medium. The module is operable to determine a measurement in the video frame, wherein the measurement is associated with an image control feature. The module is also operable to calculate an error value using the measurement and a target value, and compare the error value to a tolerance.

Abstract: An electrical system is described which comprises at least one function board and at least one voltage converter. The function board and the voltage converter are connected such that a voltage generated by the voltage converter is supplied to the function board. The electrical circuit comprises a power control circuit for controlling the voltage generated by the voltage converter wherein the power control circuit is clamped if the voltage converter is turned off.

Abstract: A resistive level-shifting biasing network is used with a capacitor in parallel to couple FET-based amplifier stages from DC to several GHz in a multi-stage amplifier. The output of the first amplifier stage is connected to the input of the second amplifier stage without a blocking capacitor or level-shifting diodes, allowing a portion of the drain current for the first amplifier stage to be supplied from the second amplifier stage. In a particular embodiment, a distributed amplifier achieved over 20 dB gain from DC to about 80 GHz using three traveling wave amplifier chips.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating a device under test (DUT) that utilizes a model of the DUT interfaced to DUT interface logic, which is designed to interface the DUT to automated testing equipment (ATE). By ensuring that the model includes a description of the DUT and of the DUT testing interface, conditions such as connections between ports of the IC (i.e., buddying) that may or may not be interfaced to the ATE may be included in the model to enable precise test pattern sets to be generated using the model. The test pattern sets may be used by a simulator to test the design of an IC or by ATE to test a fabricated IC having the design.

Abstract: Radio Frequency (RF) signal network measurement data of a device under test are acquired by exciting the device using a modulated RF excitation signal, while measuring RF signal data at the signal ports of the device, measuring bias signal data, and processing the RF signal data and the bias signal data, providing the RF signal network measurement data of the device. By acquiring bias signal data, in particular by measuring variations in the bias signals, a more accurate and reliable characterization of the non-linear behavior of the device under test can be provided. A Non-linear Network Measurement System (NNMS) is arranged for acquiring the RF and biasing signal data and characterizing the non-linear signal behavior of a device under test.

Abstract: An opto-coupler including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The opto-coupler includes at least three layers of materials between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver that attach and optically couple the optical transmitter and the optical receiver to define a stack. A method of manufacturing the opto-coupler is also disclosed. The method includes disposing an insulating layer on a first die and disposing an isolation layer on the insulating layer. The method further includes disposing a securing layer on the isolation layer and disposing a second die on the securing layer.

Abstract: An LC voltage controlled oscillator for use in a SERDES. The oscillator comprises a pair of cross coupled field effect transistors coupled with a pair of multi-layer inductors.

Abstract: A list of waveforms is received (the list being one that is to be driven to or received from a pin of a device under test, and each waveform in the list being associated with a weight). For each of at least two waveforms in the list, a number of test sample points lost by masking the waveform with a particular parent waveform in a child-parent waveform map is calculated. The number of lost test sample points is determined by 1) a difference in the number of test sample points in the waveform and the number of test sample points in the particular parent waveform, and 2) the weight associated with the waveform. In response to the calculations, a waveform masking is implemented such that the implemented waveform masking results in fewer lost test sample points than another waveform masking.

Abstract: To facilitate the debugging an imaging device having a large number of pixels, a debugging apparatus has an image view display for qualitatively displaying pixel characteristics in a first range of the imaging device, and a code view displaying unit for quantitatively displaying numerical or symbolic data of individual pixels in a second range that is smaller than the first range and designated in an area displayed by the image view display.

Abstract: The invention includes a composition of matter and method that utilizes energy transfer between one or more donor and acceptor molecules. The composition of matter includes an encapsulation vesicle having a matrix, a surface coating of an organo-metallic complex and a transparent protection layer. The transparent protection layer is capable of modification by addition of biomolecules to the surface in order to bind other molecules. The proximity of the bound biomolecules to the protective layer allows for energy transfer from a donor molecule internal to the protection layer to an acceptor molecule outside the protection layer. The protection layer acts to diminish the effects of collisional quenching on the donor molecules caused by ubiquitous small molecules such as molecular oxygen. The application also teaches a method of making and applying the complexes to immunoassays.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating an object-oriented class wrapper to simplify writing of device enabling programs is disclosed. In a simplified embodiment, a storage device is utilized having plug and play drivers stored therein. Logic configured to encapsulate functions universal to the plug and play drivers and a vi session handle within a base class is also utilized. The system also comprises logic configured to assign a name for the object-oriented class wrapper; logic configured to enable use of functions defined by the plug and play drivers; logic configured to enable use of parameters associated with the functions defined by the plug and play drivers; and logic configured to limit acceptable values for the parameters in accordance with acceptable parameter values defined by the plug and play drivers.

Abstract: A light-emitting diode includes a cup component, a plurality of electrical conducting traces formed on a surface of the cup component using an MID means, a light-emitting diode chip mounted on the cup component and electrically connected to at least a first and second electrical conducting trace of the plurality of electrical conducting traces, and a first connection part connected to at least the first and second electrical conducting traces for providing electrical connections to external circuitry. The light emitting diode may also include a protective element that electrically protects the light-emitting diode chip, and the connection part may include first and second leads connected electrically to the first and second electrical conducting traces, respectively. The cup component, light emitting diode chip, protective element, leads and other components may be assembled together and molded and sealed with resin.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining scattering parameters of a scattering matrix of an optical device. A method according to the present invention comprises applying an optical stimulus to a plurality of ports of the optical device, measuring optical fields emerging from the plurality of ports in amplitude and phase, and calculating the scattering parameters using the measured optical fields. The applying step includes applying the optical stimulus to the plurality of ports simultaneously. The method ensures a consistent phase reference for measurement of all of the scattering parameters so that all measurable characteristics of the device can be calculated directly from the scattering parameters.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for sensing the level of a fluid in a reservoir. The device comprises a generator for generating symmetrical pulses of electric potential, a ground generator in communication with the above generator, means for sensing resistance, and a latch circuit in communication with the above means for sensing resistance. In a method of the invention, a first electric potential is applied to an electrode within the reservoir. The first electric potential has a predetermined value and duration. The resistance of fluid within the reservoir is measured during application of the first electric potential. A second electric potential is applied to the electrode after the measurement for a period of time substantially equivalent to the duration of the first electric potential and of a value substantially equivalent to and opposite to the predetermined value of the first electric potential.

Abstract: Optical frequency conversion systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an optical frequency conversion system for generating a frequency-shifted replica of an input optical signal includes a phase modulation control signal generator and an optical phase modulator. The phase modulation control signal generator receives the input optical signal and generates a phase modulation control signal characterized by a sequence of phase shift control portions synchronized to the input optical signal. The optical phase modulator receives the input optical signal and phase shifts the input optical signal in accordance with the phase shift control portions of the phase modulation control signal to generate a frequency-converted replica of the input optical signal. An optical frequency conversion method for generating a frequency-shifted replica of an input optical signal also is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pushback FIFO architecture that enables a value that has been unloaded from the FIFO to be pushed back into the FIFO at the beginning of the data stream if a determination as made that the data value should not have been unloaded from the FIFO. Therefore, the pushed back data value will be the first data value unloaded from the FIFO on the following read cycle. Because the data value that should not have been unloaded is not lost, and is placed at the beginning of the data value sequence, the pushback FIFO enables speculative unloads of data values from the FIFO to be performed.

Abstract: An N2 algorithm for optimizing correlated events, applicable to the optimization of the detection of redundant tests and inefficient tests (RIT's), is disclosed. This algorithm represents a set of N tests with L defects as N L-dimensional correlation vectors. The N2 algorithm optimizes in terms of the minimum set of vectors, and the set of vectors that take the minimum time to detect the L defects. The minimum set optimization determines a set of vectors (tests) that contains the minimum number of vectors (tests) by analyzing the correlation among the N vectors. This minimum set optimization provides the minimum test set containing all defects in an algorithm that takes O(N2) operations. The minimum time optimization determines a sequence of vectors (tests) that will detect the defects in a minimum amount of time.