Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product, for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate. The method uses a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid and a drop dispenser having a chamber into which the fluid is loaded and an orifice communicating with the chamber from which the fluid is dispensed. The method includes, when the chamber is loaded, applying a prime pressure to the fluid which varies over a range sufficient to move fluid within the drop dispenser but insufficient to cause fluid to be dispensed from the orifice. Drops are dispensed from the dispenser to the substrate so as to form the array.

Abstract: Optical systems are provided. One such system includes an optical transmission path that is defined, at least partially, by a variable optical delay system. The variable optical delay system incorporates a variable refractive index component that is arranged to receive an optical signal. The variable optical delay system provides a control input to adjust a refractive index of the variable refractive index component so that latency of the optical signal can be altered. Methods and other systems also are provided.

Abstract: A novel method for finding optimized solutions for assigning pins to probes in a constrained tester environment is presented. Given a test system network, including the nodes, probes, pins, resources, probe-to-resource mappings, resource-to-pin mappings, and test-to-resource mappings, and constraints including a Multiple-Resource-Per-Probe Constraint, a Same-Module Constraint, and/or a Multiplexing Constraint, the test system network is modeled as a Network Flow Problem to handle all of the constraints of the constrained pin-to-probe assignment problem, using “dummy” probes where necessary to model the constrained network. A modified Maximum Flow Algorithm that satisfies the network constraints is applied to the Network Flow Problem to generate a solution to said constrained pin-to-probe assignment problem.

Abstract: Representative embodiments are directed to systems and methods for processing analyzer trace data of a multi-tone signal to more accurately estimate the frequencies and amplitudes of the tones of the multi-tone signal. Specifically, trace data may be processed to determine peak trace points. For each identified peak point, an error minimization algorithm minimizes the sum of differences between a plurality of trace points surrounding the respective peak point and the predicted Fourier transform through a raised-cosine window of a theoretical tone. The result of the minimization algorithm identifies the amplitude and frequency of a tone of the multi-tone signal with appreciable degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is presented for reducing the slew rate of transition edges of a digital signal on a node of an integrated circuit by connecting transistors with differing threshold voltages between the node and a voltage source and driving the gates of these transistors with the same driving signal.

Abstract: An optical switching and/or routing system including a first opto-electronic assembly, a router assembly, a second opto-electronic assembly and redirecting means interposed between the router assembly and the second opto-electronic assembly. Each opto-electronic assembly includes at least one module, each module having a detector, an amplifier and a laser. During operation, the optical switching and routing system of this invention receives the input optical beams at the first opto-electronic assembly and emits a second group of optical beams from the first opto-electronic assembly. The second group of optical beams is received at the router assembly and each beam from the second group of optical beams is routed to a pre-selected location. From the pre-selected locations to which they have been routed, the second group of optical beams is redirected to the second opto-electronic assembly. The second opto-electronic assembly receives the second group of optical beams and emits the output beams.

Abstract: A maximum sensitivity optical scanning system is disclosed. It finds use in a variety of applications, including the reading of biopolymeric arrays. It operates by scanning sample at a setting selected to result in signal saturation for some, but not all available data. Subsequent scans of the same area are taken at lower sensitivity settings (in terms of detector gain and/or excitation light source gain or attenuation) and data from at least the previously saturated regions is obtained. If system sensitivity is set too low to produce useful results, optional features may adjust sensitivity upward and follow with an increased sensitivity scan as a remedial measure. Full signal sensitivity is better preserved as most needed in taking data for the weakest signals first with the high-level scan. Data for sample producing stronger signals that can better tolerate photobleaching is then taken in one way or another.

Abstract: An electronic module having a configuration for promoting efficient heat dissipation and a circuit board assembly are provided such that when the electronic module is inserted within the circuit board assembly a portion of the electronic module overlaps an EMI shield, with the portion of the electronic module having a configuration for promoting efficient heat dissipation and being external of the EMI shield.

Abstract: An eye diagram analyzer equips each SUT data and clock signal input channel with individually variable delays in their respective paths. For a range of signal delay of n-many SUT clock cycles, the SUT clock signal delay might be set at about n/2. For each data channel there is specified a point in time relative to an instance of the delayed clock signal (data signal delay) and a voltage threshold. The specified combination (data signal delay, threshold and which channel) is a location on an eye diagram, although the trace may or may not ever go through that location. A counter counts the number of SUT clock cycles used as instances of the reference for the eye diagram, and another counter counts the number of times the specified combination of conditions was met (“hits”).

Abstract: A movable support for a coaxial structure, such as a coaxial feed-through, connector, or cable, allows adjusting the height of a center pin of the coaxial structure relative to the surface of a high-frequency planar microcircuit mounted on a base. The height of the center pin is optimized to provide a high-frequency transition between the coaxial transmission structure and a planar transmission structure, such as a stripline structure, on the planar microcircuit. An interference fit between the movable support and base at the operating height provides a high-quality ground contact underneath the center pin.

Abstract: An optical signal emitter for a multi-channel, wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication system is disclosed. This optical signal emitter does not require an optical multiplexer, or other device, to combine components of an optical signal. Semiconductor die attached to a substrate emit independent components of a multi-channel optical signal from emission apertures that are positioned offset from the center of the die toward an aperture corner of the die. This aperture corner may be shaped so that the apertures can be located closer to each other. The shaping of the die may include a photolithographic process, an etching process, a reactive ion etching process, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for selectively depositing light emitting film on a light emitting base layer, such as phosphors in a silicon gel carrier on a light emitting diode (LED). The combination of light emitting film and light emitting base layer are selected to give the desired light color, such as white light. The screen printing method comprises applying a photoresist layer to a base layer, masking the photoresist layer, irradiating the photoresist layer through the mask to make a soluble portion and insoluble portion, dissolving the soluble portion to reveal the base layer, and applying a light emitting film to the base layer where the soluble portion was removed. The base layer is then sawn to form LED chips or LED lamps.

Abstract: A nano-scale system is provided, and a method of manufacture therefor, including a support material, a nanotube embedded in the support material and an electrical connection to the nanotube.

Abstract: A piezoelectric relay is disclosed in which a liquid metal droplet is moved within a switching channel formed in a relay housing. A signal path passing through the switching channel is blocked or unblocked by motion of the liquid metal droplet that coalesces with one of two additional liquid metal droplets. Motion of the liquid metal droplets is controlled by one or more piezoelectric pumps that control the flow of actuation fluid between a fluid reservoir and the switching channel. The liquid metal droplets are held in place by surface tension acting on wettable contact pads within the switching channel. The surface tension of the liquid provides a latching mechanism for the relay.

Abstract: A transfer switch having a test signal input and first and second ports. The transfer switch includes a first routing switch and first and second port termination switches. The first routing switch has a routing switch input for receiving the test signal input and first and second outputs. Each output is connected to the routing switch input by a first switching element and each output is connected to ground by a second switching element. The first and second port termination switches are connected to the first and second outputs, respectively, of the first routing switch. Each termination switch includes a common-base transistor, and preferably, a Darlington amplifier with feedback. The common-base transistor is connected to the output of the routing switch and the Darlington amplifier has an output connected to a corresponding one of the first and second ports.

Abstract: An optical attenuator having a multi-mode waveguide segment and a perturbation element. An incident single-mode optical signal is converted to a multi-mode optical signal in the multi-mode waveguide segment. The optical attenuator couples incident light into higher order modes of the multi-mode waveguide segment resulting in attenuation of the incident optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which provide RPC communication services utilizing distributed shared memory. A process operating on a first client platform may write an RPC message into a shared memory segment that is also accessible by an RPC server. The process may notify the RPC server of the RPC message by setting a condition variable. A thread operating on the RPC server may remove the RPC message for distribution to another client. Similarly, RPC messages may be distributed to clients by writing the RPC messages into respective shared memory segments. Notification of outbound RPC messages may also be provided by respective condition variables.

Abstract: A connector-less probe is disclosed. The probe permits probing of a board or bus without the use of a mating connector. The probe has a support attached to the probing end of the probe. A spring pin and an isolation network are attached to the support. The support is arranged substantially perpendicular to a target board during probing of a test point on the target board. The spring pin engages the test point on the target board. The spring pin is arranged substantially perpendicular to the target board when the spring pin engages the test point on the target board, and the spring pin is securely attached to the support so that the spring pin is substantially parallel to the support. The isolation network is electrically coupled to the spring pin so that the spring pin is located between the isolation network and the test point during probing of the test point. The isolation network is also securely attached to the support.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for interfacing a circuit, such as a microcircuit, with an IC. The circuit is formed on a thick film dielectric structure supported by a substrate having a cut out to receive the IC. A ground plane is formed on the substrate. The thick film dielectric structure abuts the cut out with an area having at least two projections forming at least one recess, the edge of the recess having a conductive layer in electrical communication with the ground plane. A conductive pad on top of the dielectric structure is in electrical communication with the conductive layer in the recess. A ground connection on the IC is connected to the conductive pad thereby grounding the IC.

Abstract: One or more optical slits of a variable optical slit assembly limit the widths of optical beams propagating through the optical slits. A frame assembly of the variable optical slit assembly operatively couples one or more encoded translators to the optical slits. In operation, rotations of the encoded translators alter the widths and/or positions of the optical slits.