Abstract: A method for performing network reconstruction is provided. The method includes the steps of selecting a predictor set of features, adding a complement to the predictor set based on a quality of prediction, checking to see if all of the features of the predictor set are repeated, and then removing one feature from the predictor set. The Algorithm and method repeats the steps of adding a complement, checking the predictor set and removing a feature until the features of the predictor set are repeated. If the features of the predictor set are repeated, the algorithm and method terminate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlled fabrication of a solid state structural feature. In the method, a solid state structure is provided and the structure is exposed to an ion beam, under fabrication process conditions for producing the structural feature. A physical detection species is directed toward a designated structure location, and the rate at which the detection species proceeds from the designated structure location is measured. Detection species rate measurements are fit to a mathematical model, and the fabrication process conditions are controlled, based on the fitted detection species rate measurements, to fabricate the structural feature.

Abstract: A test method for the detection of redundant tests and inefficient tests (RITs) used for testing integrated circuits (ICs) and a subsequent optimization of test complexity and test time duration. Empirical data from an execution of all tests of interest in a test plan, flow or suite of tests is collected. The empirical data is collected without stopping at errors. This empirical data is then used to determine the identity of one or more redundant and/or inefficient tests in the test plan. In order to reduce testing time and optimize the test flow, one of more of the following occurs. Redundant tests may be selectively removed, inefficient tests may be re-ordered to allow more efficient tests to be executed earlier in the test flow of the ICs, or some combination of this. RIT information is thus used to optimize the test flow, resulting in a reduction in test complexity and in test duration.

Abstract: Optical systems and methods for optical wavelength conversion are provided. One such exemplary optical system includes a waveguide located in a substrate at least partially of a non-linear optical material, the waveguide structured to receive a continuous-wave optical signal. Also included is a grating located at least partially in the non-linear optical material section of the waveguide. The grating has a period “d,” and the waveguide produces a photonic bandgap when a forward propagating state of photonic energy of the continuous wave signal is separated from a backward propagating state of photonic energy of the continuous wave optical signal by a wavenumber (kz) equal to (2?/d), at a first photonic energy level in the waveguide.

Abstract: An imaging system that is capable of capturing images of moving objects as they are moving with minimal blurring by moving a point source of illumination such that the position from which illumination is projected is changed as the object moves to ensure that the position of the image projected onto an imaging plane remains substantially effectively stationary. The position from which illumination is projected functions as a point source of illumination. A image sensor of the imaging system is positioned in the imaging plane and receives illumination projected from the position of the illumination source that passes through the moving object. The image sensor produces electrical signals in response to the received illumination.

Abstract: A preferred integrated circuit for facilitating receiver trip level testing functionality includes a first pad which incorporates a first driver and a first receiver. The first driver is configured to provide a first pad output signal to a component external to the IC. The first receiver is configured to receive a first pad input signal from a component external to the IC, and to provide a first receiver digital output signal to a component internal to the IC in response to the first pad input signal. Additionally, a first test circuit is provided that is arranged internal to the IC, with the first test circuit being adapted to provide information corresponding to at least one receiver trip-level characteristic of the first receiver of the first pad. Systems, methods and computer readable media also are provided.

Abstract: A photo-receiver arrangement includes a photo-sensor that captures light being incident thereon within a predetermined range of light intensity values. The photo-sensor also converts the captured incident light into a first electrical signal. A pre-scaler is connected to an output of the photo-sensor for producing a second scaled electrical signal based on and corresponding to said first electrical signal input into the pre-scaler; and a preamplifier is connected to an output of the pre-scaler for amplifying said second scaled electrical signal input into the preamplifier. The preamplifier has a dynamic range of at least substantially linear gain. The pre-scaler and the preamplifier are designed in a mutually matching configuration such that the second scaled electrical signal falls within the said dynamic range of the preamplifier for any light intensity value falling into said predetermined range of light intensity values.

Abstract: Diffractive optical elements and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, a diffractive optical element is made by forming a multilayer structure comprising multiple amorphous silicon phase shift layers having respective thicknesses selected so that the diffractive optical element is operable to phase shift infrared light within an operative wavelength range. The amorphous silicon phase shift layers are separated by respective silicon dioxide etch stop layers having respective thicknesses of about 5 nm or less. Layers of the multilayer structure are serially masked and etched to form a multi-step optical structure. In another aspect, a diffractive optical element is made by forming a multilayer structure comprising multiple etch layers separated by respective etch stop layers selectively etchable with respect to the etch layers. One or more of the etch and etch stop layers are substantially opaque to light within an operative wavelength range.

Abstract: A setup for providing an optical contact adapted for guiding an optical signal comprises an optical waveguide being adapted for guiding the optical signal and comprising a tip on an end of the waveguide, wherein the tip comprises a transparent elastic material covering the end. A detector is provided for detecting a substantial alignment between the waveguide and an optical path within a device under test, and a first moving unit is used to move the waveguide laterally relative to a longitudinal direction of the waveguide and the device under test until the detector substantially detects the alignment. A second moving unit is adapted to reduce the distance between the tip and the device under test until the tip comes in physical contact with the device under test when the detector has detected alignment.

Abstract: Fluid-based switches and a method for producing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch comprises first and second mated substrates defining therebetween at least portions of a number of cavities, a plurality of electrodes exposed within one or more of the cavities, a switching fluid that serves to open and close at least a pair of electrodes in response to forces applied to the switching fluid, a surface tension modifier coating at least a portion of the switching fluid, and an actuating fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that applies the forces to the switching fluid.

Abstract: Methods for routing optical beams are provided. One such method for routing a first optical beam comprises: providing a first mirror and a second mirror, both of which are steerable; providing a second optical beam; propagating the first optical beam such that the first optical beam is reflected by the first mirror prior to being reflected by the second mirror; propagating the second optical beam such that the second optical beam is reflected by the second mirror prior to being reflected by the first mirror; and orienting the first mirror and the second mirror such that the first and second optical beams are coincident at both the first mirror and the second mirror. Systems also are provided.

Abstract: A system and method that effectively measures the polarization dependent gain of an optical amplifier without significantly introducing error into that measurement is provided. A saturating optical signal source generates an optical signal capable of saturating the optical amplifier. A slow polarization scrambler then randomly polarizes the optical signal to yield a polarized optical signal, which is used as an input signal of the optical amplifier. The output signal of the optical amplifier is then transferred to a fast polarization scrambler, resulting in a PDG measurement signal, which is then presented to an optical signal analyzer that measures the intensity level of each channel of the PDG measurement signal. Alternately, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) polarization mixer is employed to mix the polarization states of WDM channels of the polarized optical signal from the slow polarization scrambler with respect to each other, yielding the input signal for the optical amplifier under test.

Abstract: For identifying or localizing a serial data stream in a deserialized output provided at a plurality of n output ports (PORT1-PORT5), a pattern recognition is provided at each one of the plurality of n output ports (PORT1-PORT5) for recognizing a deserialized identifier pattern corresponding to an identifier pattern within the serial data stream and for detecting a phase of the deserialized identifier pattern in the deserialized output. The phase of the output of each respective port (PORT1-PORT5) is then shifted in correspondence with the detected phase of the deserialized identifier pattern.

Abstract: An integrated circuit metallization structure using a titanium/aluminum alloy, and a method to generate such a structure, provide reduced leakage current by allowing mobile impurities such as water, oxygen, and hydrogen to passivate structural defects in the silicon layer of the IC. The titanium layer of the structure is at least partially alloyed with the aluminum layer, thereby restricting the ability of the titanium to getter the mobile impurities within the various layers of the IC. Despite the alloying of the titanium and aluminum, the metallization structure exhibits the superior contact resistance and electromigration properties associated with titanium.

Abstract: An electrical relay comprising having two wettable electrical contacts supporting a conducting liquid. A non-wettable switch finger is moved between first and second positions between the electrical contacts by action of an actuator. In the first position the switch finger permits the conducting liquid to bridge the gap between the contacts and complete an electrical circuit between the contacts. In the second position the switch finger separates the conducting liquid into two volumes, breaking the electrical circuit between the contacts. The switch finger may be located at the free end of a beam that is deflected or bent by the action of piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically monitoring communications networks and for determining network configuration use data stream characterizations. The system comprises a plurality of measurement probes that passively probe the network and collect data packets carried by data streams in the network. The system further comprises characterization computational units that process the collected data packets and produce data stream characterizations from the collected data packets. The data stream characterizations represent individual data streams in an arbitrarily unique manner. The system still further comprises a configuration processing unit that compares data stream characterizations taken at different points in the network and determines data stream paths through the network based on data stream characterization matching.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) power meter operates according to a variable loop bandwidth according to the nature of the RF signal to be measured. The RF power meter comprises: a first switch that switchably provides one of a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is the RF signal to be measured; a first signal path for detecting an output signal from the first switch and for providing a first comparison signal according to a first bandwidth, a second signal path for detecting an output from the first switch and for providing a second comparison signal according to a second bandwidth, and a second switch that switchably provides one of the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal to the first switch to complete a closed-loop for the RF power meter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the presence or absence of a component on a printed circuit board. The method and apparatus utilizes a photo-sensor and photo-detector that are positioned within a predetermined non-contacting distance from the expected location of a given component under test. The photo-emitter emits a controlled amount of light energy on the expected location of the component under test on the printed circuit board. The photo-sensor detects the amount of reflection off the surface of the expected location of the component under test. Because the amount of reflection differs between reflection off the surface of the component under test and reflection off the surface of the bare board, based on the reflection measurement, the component under test can be classified as either present or absent at its expected location on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An active pixel sensor having a transparent conductor that directly contacts a conductive element in an interconnection structure to electrically connect the transparent conductor to a pixel sensor bias voltage is provided. The active pixel sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, the interconnection layer, which is formed over the substrate, and a pixel interconnection layer formed over the interconnection layer. Photo sensors that include a pixel electrode, an I-layer, and may include a P-layer are formed over the pixel interconnection layer. The transparent conductor is formed over the photo sensors and the conductive element exposed on the surface of the interconnection layer.

Abstract: An electrical relay having two wettable electrical contacts, each supporting a conducting liquid. A wettable switch finger is moved from a non-deflected position to first and second positions by action of an actuator. In the first position the switch finger touches the conducting liquid and causes it to wet between the contacts and the switch and thereby complete an electrical circuit between the contacts. When the switch finger is in the second position, the conducting liquid cannot wet between first and second contacts and the switch finger and the electrical circuit between the first and second contacts is broken. The switch finger may be located at the free end of a beam that is deflected or bent by the action of piezoelectric elements.