Abstract: The invention is a communication system having a series of output modules that provide continuous synchronization output signals. Each output module has a driver assembly has a driver output and a backup selector output that is capable of driving a failed next driver assembly. A sensor detects the failure of the driver output and generates a select signal in the failure state. A selector receives the driver output, a backup driver output, the select signal, and a select signal from the next driver assembly. The selector normally selects the driver output, but in response to a failure state from the select signal, isolates the failed driver output. The previous driver assembly transmits a backup selector output to the failed driver assembly to maintain a continuous driver output. The transformers are preferably placed on a separate card to reduce the thermal degradation of nearby electronics. As transformers rarely fail, replacing them when a card fails is wasteful.

Abstract: A package for opto-electrical components includes a casing having a chamber for at least one board or tile adapted to carry the opto-electrical components. The casing includes a set of electrical connections including at least one radio-frequency differential line between the chamber and the casing exterior.

Abstract: A measurement system for analyzing data values that are stored in memory and that represent a sampled electrical signal under analysis (SUA). Each of the data values represents the SUA at respective points in time over a time interval during which the SUA was sampled. The stored data values constitute a main data record. The system includes processing logic that is configured to generate at least a first reduced data record from the main data record. The first reduced data record comprises a subset of the data values of the main data record. The first reduced data record is processed by the processing logic to locate an edge (i.e., a voltage transition) in the first reduced data record. Thus, it is not necessary that the main data record, which is more voluminous than the first reduced data record, be used to locate the edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen includes a light source for illuminating an imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes a motion transducer. A lens receives the reflected images and directs the reflected images onto the motion transducer. The motion transducer includes an electronic shutter for controlling the amount of time that light is collected for image frames. The motion transducer is configured to generate digital representations of the reflected images. The motion transducer is configured to generate movement data based on the digital representations of the reflected images. The movement data is indicative of relative motion between the imaging surface and the motion transducer. A controller coupled to the light source turns the light source on only during the time that light is being collected for an image frame.

Abstract: A rack for holding on its inside multiple electronic devices, which have fans for drawing outside air to inside the devices and exhaust ports for discharging air, including two pairs of support columns, the columns of each pair being placed parallel to one another in the front and the back at a pre-determined distance apart from one another, and air ducts for directing exhaust air from the above-mentioned exhaust ports of these electronic devices positioned between at least one pair of the two pairs of support columns, having a structure wherein there are side covers that cover the side surfaces, and the air ducts are installed between the pair of support columns between the side covers and the inside of the rack and are substantially formed from multiple panels adjacent to one another inside of the rack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a feedback network for connecting an output of an operational amplifier with a feedback input of said operational amplifier, wherein said feedback network comprises a feedback circuit. Said feedback network comprises a semiconductor switch in series to said feedback circuit for turning off and on said feedback network.

Abstract: An apparatus for accelerating assessment of an optical transmission system using Bit Error Rate (BER) tests calculates Q-factors for at least two different extinction ratios from measured test BER values, and extrapolates to determine a Q-factor for an operational extinction ratio, whereby the operational BER value for the operational extinction ratio can be calculated.

Abstract: Fluid-based switches are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch comprises first and second mated substrates defining therebetween at least portions of a number of cavities, the first substrate defining a plurality of indentations defined within a first one of the cavities, a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact deposited within one of the indentations, a switching fluid, held within the first cavity, that serves to open and close at least a pair of the plurality of electrical contacts in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid, and an actuating fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that applies the forces to the switching fluid.

Abstract: A wavemeter for determining a wavelength of an incoming optical beam. The wavemeter comprises a coarse-measuring unit determining in a first wavelength range a first wavelength value as representing the wavelength of the incoming optical beam, and a fine-measuring unit providing a wavelength determination for the incoming optical beam that is ambiguous within the first wavelength range but unambiguous in each of a plurality of unambiguous wavelength ranges, so that a plurality of different wavelength values correspond to a measuring value as measured by the fine-measuring unit for the incoming optical beam. The wavemeter further comprises an evaluation unit for determining a second wavelength range as the one of the plurality of unambiguous wavelength ranges that covers the first wavelength value, and for determining a second wavelength value as the one of the plurality of different wavelength values that corresponds to the measuring value in the second wavelength range.

Abstract: A system and method of processing signals generated at a detector of a mass spectrometer prior to signal conversion in which a pre-ADC offset is applied to the signals that is adjustable in polarity and magnitude in accordance with a user-selected mode. According to a first mode, a positive offset is applied to the signals to improve quantitation accuracy and in a second mode, a negative offset is applied to the signals to improve resolution and mass assignment.

Abstract: Calibration devices for optical scanners and methods for their use are provided. The subject devices are characterized by having a polymeric coating with at least one fluorescent agent, where the devices have minimal local and global nonuniformities. The subject device may also include one or more photobleached regions. In using the subject devices, a surface is illuminated with at least one light source, fluorescence data is obtained from the surface and the optical system is calibrated based upon the obtained fluorescence data. The subject invention finds use in a variety of optical scanners, including biopolymeric array optical scanners. Also provided are kits for use in verifying and calibrating optical scanners.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating a first sampling circuit with a second sampling circuit having a similar impulse response. The second sampling circuit includes a sample and hold circuit that provides an output indicative of the potential at the sampling circuit input of the second sampling circuit at a time determined by a signal at the trigger pulse input of the second sampling circuit. The apparatus includes a trigger pulse generating circuit for generating a sequence of trigger pulse pairs, each pair having a first pulse that is delayed relative to a second pulse. Each pulse is applied to a corresponding trigger input of the sampling circuits. The first sampling circuit is assumed to generate a kick-out pulse indicative of its impulse response when triggered by the first pulse. A controller measures the output of the second sampling circuit for each delay.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an apparatus, and an apparatus embodying the same is disclosed. First a device chip having circuit elements is fabricated. Next, a cap with a cap circuit is fabricated. Finally, the cap is placed on the device chip to connect a first contact point with a second contact point using the connector on the cap. The apparatus includes a device chip and a cap. The device chip has the first contact point and a second contact point. The cap has the cap circuit that, when the cap is placed on the device chip, connects the first contact point with the second contact point.

Abstract: An ergonomic mouse has an upright freestanding body that is designed to be gripped by a user's fingers in a writing position and manipulated like a writing implement. The mouse has a body shaped like a pen. The pen is coupled to a weighted base so the mouse remains freestanding and does not need to be picked up before each use. The mouse has a primary switch that is activated by the weight of the user's hand bearing down upon the pen. A secondary switch is located on the pen. Alternatively, the ergonomic mouse has a small body that can be gripped in the fingers much like a pen. The small-bodied mouse has switches on its base surface that are activated by the weight of the user's hand bearing down upon the mouse body.

Abstract: A planarization gauge assures probe card-to-wafer parallelism in semiconductor automatic test equipment (ATE) used for wafer test, and provides a standard system reference plane during the building and testing of ATE components. The planarization gauge has two planar and parallel surfaces that may serve as a system reference plane. The planarization gauge has at least one access hole for a depth gauge, and at least one optical target recognizable by a prober's upward looking camera. The planarization gauge is mechanically interchangeable with a probe card; thus, it is compatible with different planarization methods and platforms used in building and testing ATE components. The planarization gauge is manufactured and inspected in a manner as to assure traceability to established standards such as NIST. When used by all ATE vendors, the planarization gauge ensures correlation between the vendors' various planarization methods.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for facilitating positioning of a cursor on a display device are provided. For example, an input device is provided which includes a shifter configured to electrically communicate with a computer. The shifter is configured to enable functional information, provided by a mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor. The shifter provides a shift-disable mode and a shift-enable mode so that, while in the shift-disable mode, the shifter enables the mouse-type input device to influence movement of the cursor on the display device. For instance, a movement of the mouse-type input device in a first direction and a first distance results in the cursor moving the first direction and a corresponding second distance.

Abstract: An ergonomic mouse has a small body that can be gripped in the fingers much like a writing implement or an eraser. A primary switch is located on an angled facet on the top of the mouse. The primary switch is activated by the user's first finger. By locating the primary switch on the angled facet, a user can access the switch without completely pronating the hand. A secondary switch is located on a side of the mouse, and activated by the user's thumb in a pinching motion between the thumb and second finger. The small size of the mouse allows a user to control it with more ease and facility. Due to its small size, an optical sensor is preferably used as the motion sensing mechanism in the mouse. By radically repositioning the secondary switch, the awkward movements used to activate switches in a conventional mouse are eliminated.

Abstract: Methods and systems that compensate for the lateral chromatic dispersion and lateral shifts induced by the propagation through a switching/routing optical system. Utilizing the methods and systems of the present invention, an output of a switching/routing optical system that produces angularly dispersed output beams is achromatized by, first, deviating the output optical beam to a direction sufficient to induce lateral chromatic aberration of the opposite sign to that produced by the switching/routing optical system; and, then, re-deviating the deviated output optical beam to a predetermined direction, where a path length of the deviated output optical beam is a length sufficient to substantially compensate the chromatic dispersion induced by the switching/routing optical system.

Abstract: A pumping arrangement, for example for liquid chromatography, includes a first liquid reservoir at a first height level, connected via a first hydraulic path to a pumping device; a second liquid reservoir at a second height level, connected via a second hydraulic path to the pumping device; and filtration devices arranged in the first and in the second hydraulic path. Each filtration device includes an outer member forming a first chamber, and an inner member arranged within the outer member and forming a second chamber. The inner member is porous and acts as a filter for liquid flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. The arrangement ensures efficient filtering and prevents undesired backflow of liquid.

Abstract: A grey scale is generated by modulating light in response to an information signal using an electro-optical material. An analog sample is derived from the information signal, a drive signal is generated in response to the analog sample and the drive signal is applied to the electro-optical material. The drive signal has a sequence of a first temporal portion and a second temporal portion. The first temporal portion has a temporal duration that has a pre-determined relationship to the analog sample, and the second temporal portion is the temporal complement of the first temporal portion.