Abstract: An optical beam having a randomly and unpredictably variable input polarization state propagates through an optical system containing a first optical surface, for example a diffraction grating, a first adjustable mirror, and means for rotating the respective parallel (P) and perpendicular (S) plane polarization components of the optical beam relative to the first optical surface by ninety degrees, thereby generating a polarization rotated optical beam having reversed orientations of the S and P polarization components relative to the input. The optical beam is reflected from the first adjustable mirror, which redirects the optical beam onto an optimized location on the first optical surface, thereby reducing PDL due to propagation through the optical system. In some embodiments the optical beam location on the first adjustable mirror remains substantially constant during adjustment.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a resonator, and in particular, a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), and a resonator embodying the method are disclosed. An FBAR is fabricated on a substrate by reducing mass from a top electrode layer. For a substrate having multiple resonators, mass is reduced from only selected resonator to provide resonators having different resonance frequencies on the same substrate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an acoustic resonator includes forming a ferromagnetic compensator, such as one comprised of a nickel-iron alloy, which at least partially offsets temperature-induced effects introduced by an electrode-piezoelectric stack. The compensator has a positive temperature coefficient of frequency, while the stack has a negative temperature coefficient of frequency. By properly selecting the thickness of the compensator, temperature-induced effects on resonance may be neutralized. Alternatively, the thickness can be selected to provide a target positive or negative composite temperature coefficient of frequency. In order to prevent undue electromagnetic losses in the ferromagnetic compensator, a metallic flashing layer may be added to at least partially enclose the compensator.

Abstract: Electronic probes are provided. One such electronic probe includes: a housing configured to house electronic components; a coaxial cable connector configured to rotationally engage the housing, the coaxial cable connector having at least one inner surface that faces at least a portion of a first hole that extends through the coaxial cable connector, and having at least one outer surface; a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the outer conductor being attached to the at least one inner surface of the coaxial cable connector, and the inner conductor extending through the first hole in the coaxial cable connector. Methods and other systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A laser and method for making the same are disclosed. The laser includes a p-layer, an n-layer, and an active region located between the p-layer and the n-layer. The active region includes a quantum well layer sandwiched between first and second barrier layers. The quantum well layer includes an InP-based material. The first and second barrier layers also include an InP-based material. The barrier layers are homogeneous layers of the InP-based material. The barrier layers are preferably deposited by chemical vapor deposition from precursors that include a surfactant element that inhibits the formation of P—P dimers on a surface of the barrier layer during the deposition process. In one embodiment, the surfactant element is chosen from the group consisting of Sb, Si, and Te, and the barrier material includes InGaP or AlInP.

Abstract: A method of displaying a number of measurement curves is described. The measurement curves are displayed in at least two windows. Each one of the windows comprises two axes. One or more measurement curves are displayed in each one of the windows. The method comprises the steps of changing the scale of one of the curves in the direction of at least one of the two axes by a user and synchronizing at least one of the other curves of one or more other windows with respect to one of the two axes depending on said change carried out by the user.

Abstract: Optical switches that create bubbles in a liquid to change the state of switching sites use guard bubbles to prevent liquid that is rapidly displaced when creating a bubble in one switching site from disturbing another switching site. Liquid in the optical switch can be at a fluid pressure and temperature such that the guard bubbles, which are relatively large, are stable without local heating, and such that bubbles in the switching site can be turned on and off through activation and deactivation of heating elements for the switching sites. A power-up process for the optical switch can create the guard bubbles using either heating elements in the guard chambers or the heating elements in the switching sites.

Abstract: A piezoelectric relay is disclosed in which a solid slug moves within a switching channel formed in relay housing. An electrical circuit passing between fixed contact pads in the switching channel is completed or broken by motion of the solid slug. Motion of the solid slug is controlled by at least two piezoelectric actuators within the switching channel. Motion of the solid slug is resisted by an electrically conductive liquid, such as a liquid metal, that wets between the solid slug and the contact pad in the switching channel. The surface tension of the, liquid provides a latching mechanism for the relay.

Abstract: An electrical relay that uses a conducting liquid in the switching mechanism. In the relay, a pair of switching contacts is attached to the free end of a switch bar and positioned between a pair of fixed electrical contact pads. A surface of each contact supports a droplet of a conducting liquid, such as a liquid metal. A piezoelectric actuator is energized to push or pull the switch bar and move the pair of switching contacts, closing the gap between one of the fixed contact pads and one of the switching contacts, thereby causing conducting liquid droplets to coalesce and form an electrical circuit. At the same time, the gap between the other fixed contact pad and the other switching contact is increased, causing conducting liquid droplets to separate and break an electrical circuit. The piezoelectric actuator is then de-energized and the switching contacts return to their starting positions.

Abstract: A low voltage source of input edges is AC coupled to positive and negative edge differentiators. Each differentiator briefly drives ON a corresponding normally OFF switch, the pair of which switches serves as an impulse driver and that may be clamped to symmetrical opposing reference voltages. The bi-stable switch driver responds to a particular polarity impulse driver voltage by applying thereto through a load resistor a percentage of a power supply voltage of opposite polarity. The impulse driver is also coupled to a complementary pair of MOSFET switches that are in series between precise reference voltages of opposing polarities, and whose common junction may be connected to a current determining resistance. The output of the MOSFET switches may be assisted by an auxiliary bi-stable output driver that reduces the amount of load current drawn from those MOSFETS.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enabling reconfiguration of a test system. The test system includes an adapter assembly (106) and a tester electronics assembly (108). The adapter assembly (106) includes two probe plates (200, 202), which hold a probe field (116). The two probe plates (200, 202) include a plurality of holes (208) extending through each probe plate (116). Each hole (208) includes a flange area (206) for accommodating deflection of the probes (204), inserted in the holes (208) extending through the probe plates (200, 202). The flange area (206) and the use of flexible probes (204) facilitate a deflection and an offset (210) of the probes (204) in the probe plates (200, 202). A tester assembly (300) includes a plurality of wear pads (308) on the topside of a printed circuit board (302). The wear pads (308) positioned to engage the bottom end of the probes (204).

Abstract: A heat sink comprises a core member comprising at least one core member first surface. The core member first surface is adapted to contact or be located adjacent at least a portion of the heat source. At least one outer peripheral surface is located on the core member. At least one cooling fin is operatively connected to the outer peripheral surface and extends in a direction substantially normal to the core member first surface. At least a portion of the outer peripheral surface is tapered, wherein the circumference of the outer peripheral surface in the proximity of the first surface is greater than the circumference of the outer peripheral surface not in the proximity of the first surface.

Abstract: A method and structure for an electrical switch. A gas-filled chamber is housed within a solid material. Contacts within the gas-filled chamber are coupled to the solid material, while a plurality of piezoelectric elements within the gas-filled chamber are also coupled to the solid material. A slug within the gas-filled chamber is coupled to one or more of the plurality of contacts and further coupled to one or more of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. A liquid metal within the gas-filled chamber is coupled to the slug, and coupled to the plurality of contacts. One or more of the piezoelectric elements are actuated, with the actuation of the one or more piezoelectric elements causing the slug coupled to the one or more piezoelectric elements to move from a first number of contacts to a second number of contacts wherein the first number of contacts and the second number of contacts are wetted by the liquid metal.

Abstract: A process of constructing an array of chemical moieties having the following steps: forming multiple discrete physical entities (tiles) from a substantially planar material having one or more species of chemical moiety attached thereto; and picking and placing the entities (tiles) stably on a support at spatially distinct ascertainable locations to form an array of chemical moieties. The formed array includes at least two species of chemical moiety and preferably from about 50 to about 1000 species. The claimed invention includes an array formed by this process.

Abstract: A method of forming a high quality epitaxial indium phosphide layer on a silicon substrate and a semiconductor device formed by the same method are described. In one aspect, a lead-based perovskite buffer is formed on a silicon substrate, and an epitaxial indium phosphide layer is formed on the lead-based perovskite buffer. In accordance with this approach, relatively large (e.g., up to 300 millimeters in diameter) high quality indium phosphide films may be produced with the relatively high mechanical stability provided by silicon substrates. In this way, intrinsic problems associated with prior approaches that involve growth of high quality indium phosphide thin films on indium phosphide substrates, which are characterized by small wafer size, brittleness and high cost, may be avoided.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package is provided with an alignment mechanism by 1) heating a wetting media that has been applied to a number of annular ring shaped alignment pads provided on the integrated circuit package, at known locations with respect to a pattern of contacts pads that is provided on the integrated circuit package, and then 2) while the wetting media is heated, attaching a number of alignment balls or alignment bullets to the annular ring shaped alignment pads.

Abstract: Fluid-based switches and a method for producing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a switch is provided with first and second mated substrates that define therebetween at least portions of a number of cavities. A plurality of wettable pads is exposed within one or more of the cavities. A switching fluid is held within one or more of the cavities, and is wetted to the wettable pads. The switching fluid serves to open and block light paths through one or more of the cavities, in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid. Forces are applied to the switching fluid by an actuating fluid that is held within one or more of the cavities. At least a portion of the switching fluid is coated with a surface tension modifier.

Abstract: An optical device having an optical circuit integrated on a side of a substrate having a column of substrate material. The column of substrate material preferably includes a cylindrical portion having a circular cross-section. The optical device preferably includes an optical waveguide that is wound around the cylindrical portion of the substrate. The waveguide is defined by a core region in a layer of optically transparent material on the side of the column. The core region can be generated by altering the index of refraction of the transparent material. The core region can also be generated by depositing a patterned layer of a second optically transparent material. The optical device can also include active devices such as fiber amplifiers, semiconductor lasers, and optical sampling devices. The optical device is preferably constructed by rotating the substrate while depositing optically transparent materials and/or various semiconductor materials on the substrate.

Abstract: A device and manufacturing method are provided comprising first and second substrates comprising a main channel provided in at least one of the substrates and a first connecting channel provided in at least one of the substrates and in fluid communication with the main channel. The main channel comprising spaced apart electrodes and filling the main channel at least partially with liquid metal. The method further comprising a first heater substrate comprising a first suspended heater element in fluid communication with the first connecting channel with the first suspended heater element operable to cause a fluid non-conductor to separate the liquid metal and selectively interconnect the electrodes and surface joining the first, second, and first heater substrates.

Abstract: An evaluation device and method for DUT boards and probe cards which increase the reproducibility of the measured values and decrease the abrasion of pads in evaluation tests. A connection box is provided with contact pins, mounting mechanisms used to mount the DUT boards, and a plurality of connectors which feed signals from the contact pins to the outside.