Abstract: A method for electrically connecting a circuit board connector to an external device. An embodiment of the method comprises providing a probe block through one end of a guide sleeve open on opposing ends, linking at least one contact on the probe block is linked to the external device, positioning the probe block so that the at least one contact is substantially aligned with a corresponding pin on the circuit board connector, and moving the probe block through the guide sleeve until the at least one contact makes a connection through one of the opposing open ends of the guide sleeve with the corresponding pin on the circuit board connector.

Abstract: An optical attenuator for attenuating the intensity of an input light beam comprises a scattering element for scattering the input light beam into a range of scattering directions. A beam collecting device is arranged in the range of scattering directions for collecting a portion of the scattered light as an output beam. The attenuation of the output beam with respect to the input light beam is dependent on the portion of the collected light relative to the range of scattering directions. The scattering element is provided with a varying scattering angle distribution in order to control the attenuation.

Abstract: A fiber optical engine and manufacturing method therefor is provided with an optical element having an optical substrate and optics. An opto-electronic element, which converts between light and electronic signals, is secured to the optical substrate and is passively aligned with the optics. A integrated circuit for controlling the opto-electronic element is secured to the optical substrate. An electrical substrate is secured to the optical element.

Abstract: A buffer composition, method and kit for hybridizing microarrays of nucleic acids bound to an adsorbed polymer surface of a siliceous substrate provide an envelope of conditions to hybridize nucleic acid targets, while preserving theintactness of the adsorbed polymer surface of the array. The buffer composition comprises a non-chelating buffering agent, a pH within a range of pH 6.4 and 7.5, a monovalent cation having a monovalent cation concentration that ranges from about 0.01 M to about 2.0 M, and optionally relatively lower concentrations of a chelating agent and an ionic surfactant. The total cation concentration of the buffer composition ranges from about 0.02 M to about 2.0 M. The method comprises incubating the targets with the microarray in the buffer composition at a temperature between about 55° C. and 70° C.

Abstract: Trigger jitter in an internally triggered real time digital oscilloscope can be reduced through correcting the horizontal position value obtained from a conventional trigger interpolation mechanism by an error or substitute amount learned from an inspection of the acquisition record that notes where in the acquisition record the signal actually crossed the trigger threshold. The display (and measurement) sub-systems that utilize the selection by panning and zooming of a portion of the acquisition record for viewing (and measurement) are supplied with the acquisition record portion of interest, and with an associated horizontal position value that originates with trigger interpolation and that may be subsequently modified by panning.

Abstract: A reconfigurable and customizable nest for a device under test. The reconfigurable nest includes a non-metallic nest plate and nesting blocks. The nesting blocks are positioned around the device under test using removable fastening elements such as double-stick tape. Using the removable fastening elements, the nest may be reconfigured for different devices under test. Once configured, the reconfigurable nest may be converted into a permanent nest by attaching each nesting block to the nest plate using a fastener such as a self-tapping screw.

Abstract: A titanium alloy strip which has a reduced cross section in the central region of the strip. By concentrating heat in this central region the process of bonding laser devices to a substrate is greatly improved. Furthermore, the titanium alloy strip allows for the possibility of removing the laser device from the substrate without destroying the laser device.

Abstract: The optical fiber tap establishes optical communication between a branch optical fiber and a main optical fiber and includes a housing, a serpentine main channel and a branch channel. The main channel is defined in the housing and is shaped to accommodate part of the main optical fiber. The main channel includes a coupling curve portion shaped to define a main coupling curve in the main optical fiber. The branch channel is also defined in the housing and is shaped to accommodate part of the branch optical fiber. The branch channel communicates with the main channel at the coupling curve portion of the main channel. Optical signals couple laterally between the main optical fiber located in the main channel and the branch optical fiber located in the branch channel. Optical communication between the optical fibers is therefore established.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for rendering data indicative of delays associated with enabling and/or disabling an analog-to-digital conversion system employed by a telephony communication network. The system of the present invention utilizes a display device and an interface manager. The interface manager receives data indicative of power levels at various frequencies and times of signals received by a transceiver that is communicating via the conventional telephony communication network. The interface manager then renders a graphical display via the display device based on the received data. The graphical display may include clusters, in which each of the clusters is associated with a particular range of power levels. By analyzing the clusters, a user can determine the delays associated with enabling and/or disabling the analog-to-digital conversion system. The graphical display may also include indicators that may be used to determine the foregoing delays.

Abstract: A head/disk testing device including an air-bearing plate with which disk mounting and removal are simplified. The head/disk testing device including an air-bearing plate and a means with which the disk and air-bearing plate are moved away from one another so that the disk and air-bearing plate do not contact one another when a disk is being mounted or demounted.

Abstract: The present invention tunes a coupled resonator filter to a given tuning specification using a reference filter that was previously tuned to the specification. A method of tuning a subject filter comprises determining a frequency change for each resonator of the subject filter and applying each determined change to the respective resonator, such that the subject filter is tuned to the specification. The frequency changes are determined from frequency-pushing interactions between combinations of resonators in either the reference or subject filter. A system for tuning the subject filter comprises a measurement system, a tuning program stored in a system memory, and a controller that controls the measurement system and executes the tuning program. The tuning program comprises instructions that preferably implement the tuning method. A tuned coupled resonator filter comprises a plurality of resonators that are adjusted in accordance with the method or using the tuning system.

Abstract: A system, designed to interact electronically with an RF device, is able to test many types of RF devices and is operable to apply a variety of test inputs to an RF device. The RF device, located within a nest inside an RF enclosure, interacts with the system via a nest electronics component. The nest electronics component, located within the RF enclosure and coupled to a nest interface component and a fixture interface component, supplies power and input test signals to the RF device. The nest electronics component may be configured to interact with a particular RF device, which allows the RF enclosure to used with different types of RF devices. The arrangement of these components allows control and measurement of the RF device to be located as close to it as possible and also allows functionality not required within the RF enclosure to be externally located.

Abstract: Channels and cavities in a LIMMS device are formed from a layer of thick film dielectric material deposited on a substrate, which layer is then covered with a thin cover plate of ceramic or perhaps glass. The layer of dielectric material may be patterned using established thick film techniques, and good dimensional control can be achieved. The dielectric layer is itself its own hermetic seal against the substrate, and readily lends itself to the formation of the additional hermetic seal needed between itself and the cover plate. Suitable thick film dielectric materials that may be deposited as a paste and subsequently cured include the KQ 150 and KQ 115 thick film dielectrics from Heraeus and the 4141A/D thick film compositions from DuPont.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for imaging surfaces that comprise a sample. One embodiment of the present invention is an imaging apparatus comprising a holder for a surface, a light source adapted to illuminate the surface, a diffractive element between the holder and the light source and an imaging detector adapted to receive light from the surface. In a method for imaging a surface comprising a plurality of discrete features, light is selectively diffracted on to one or more predetermined features of the surface at a predetermined point in time. This step is repeated until substantially all of the features on the surface are illuminated. Light is detected from the surface to thereby image the surface.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a piezoelectrically actuated relay that switches and latches by means of a liquid metal is disclosed. The relay operates by means of a plurality of shear mode piezoelectric elements used to cause a pressure differential in a pair of fluid chambers. Differential pressure is created in the chambers by contracting and expanding the chambers due to action by the piezoelectric elements. The differential pressure causes the liquid metal drop to overcome the surface tension forces that would hold the bulk of the liquid metal drop in contact with the contact pad or pads near the actuating piezoelectric element. The switch latches by means of surface tension and the liquid metal wetting to the contact pads.

Abstract: A probe assembly provides the capability to test integrated circuit (“IC”) packages mounted onto ball grid arrays. The method comprises the step of first creating the lay out of the flexible attachment. Top and bottom rigid PC Boards are lain out and drilled. The drill creates holes that are the press fit diameter of nail pin. The holes are then plated with an annular ring on the outer exposed surface. The next step comprises laminating the flexible circuit between the two rigid PC Boards. Press fit nail pins are inserted through the holds in one side of the laminate sandwich until flush with the surface of the PC Board. Solder preforms are soldered the bottom surface of the laminate sandwich. The preforms mechanically and electrically attach the pins to the bottom rigid PC Board. A BGA socket can then be attached to the pins extending from the bottom of the laminated Flex-Rigid-Flex assembly.

Abstract: A liquid crystal micro display (lcmd) is manufactured by creating a hole in an lcmd surface, filling the lcmd with liquid crystal material through the hole, and then sealing the hole. The invention allows an lcmd to be tested before it is separated from other lcmds and packaged. As a result, the invention increases the yield and reduces the cost associated with lcmd manufacturing.

Abstract: A test structure supports simultaneous characterization of a two port optical component. The test structure includes an input port for receiving an input signal from an optical source, two test ports for connecting the test structure to a component under test, separate optical paths for supplying reflected and transmitted optical response signals from the component under test to separate receivers, and optical components for combining a first portion of the input signal with the reflected optical response signal before the first portion of the input signal and the reflected optical response signal are detected by a first receiver and for combining a second portion of the input signal with the optical response signal before the second signal and the optical response signal are detected by a second receiver. The optical component of the test structure may be connected by optical fibers or integrated into a single substrate.

Abstract: Methods for forming optical systems are provided. A representative method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; depositing on the substrate a first contoured channel preform of material capable of ion exchange with the substrate; and diffusing ions from the first channel preform into the substrate to form a first waveguide channel at least partially buried in the substrate. Optical systems and other methods also are provided.

Abstract: A method is presented for generating test vectors for an integrated circuit. Input test vectors and output test vectors are generated for non-core cell portions of the integrated circuit. Input test vectors and output test vectors are generated for core cell partitions of the integrated circuit. The input test vectors for the non-core cell portions and the input test vectors for the core cell partitions are combined into a single combined input test vector.