Abstract: A method for aligning optical components in an optical assembly. The method comprises the steps of pre-aligning the optical fiber to the optical device, measuring a coupling efficiency of the optical fiber to the optical device, applying energy to a support means, the energy being sufficient to enable the support means to become ductile, and applying a force to the support means in a direction which increases the coupling efficiency.

Abstract: A device which uses a detection circuit to determine whether an output current thereof is source-induced or load-induced, and the method therefor. The device which performs some type of operation based upon the determination as to whether the output current thereof is source-induced or load-induced, and method therefor. The detection circuit determines whether polarities of the output current and an output voltage are the same, and determines the output current to be source-induced if the polarities are the same and load-induced if the polarities are opposite each other. Such a device may have many applications, including use in systems where distinctions between source and load-induced currents are employed in feedback systems to control the system voltage source, systems where the system voltage source is not controlled, but other sources are controlled to influence a summation of voltages and currents at sensing locations, and systems for measurement instrumentation.

Abstract: A pad driver method and apparatus is presented. The pad driver includes a dual path configuration. The dual path includes a first path and a second path. Both paths include a pre-driver. The first path and the second path communicate high voltage signals and low voltage signals. The pre-driver in the first path drives a pFET device. The pre-driver in the second path drives an nFET device. The pFET and nFET devices provide an output signal, which drives a pad. Each pre-driver further includes a first path and a second path. The first path in the pre-driver supports high voltage operation and the second path in the pre-driver supports low voltage operation.

Abstract: A data acquisition circuit and method according to embodiments of the invention insert overflow states into a data storage unit among samples of input data and associated time tags that are of interest. The overflow states allow multiple overflows of the time tags without intervening samples of input data being stored, thus allowing the infrequent capture of samples of the input data while maintaining accurate timing data. Also, the overflow states obviate the need to store an overflow status flag with each stored sample of input data and time tag in the data storage unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting device for providing an optical connection between an apparatus comprising a apparatus port and provided for receiving and/or sending optical signals, and at least one optical fiber comprising a connector. The connecting device comprises a support plate supporting at least one adapter. The adapter comprises an adapter contact adapted for a plug connection with the apparatus port of the apparatus, and a connector contact adapted for a plug and/or screw connection with the connector of the fiber. The support plate provides a grip for manually plugging in/off all of its adapters simultaneously into/from the respective apparatus ports.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a communication device comprising a physical layer (L1) and two or more higher layers (L2/L3), said physical layer comprising means to acquire a data modulated waveform signal (3), comprising at least one data block and an indicator of the format of said data block, means to process said block and indicator, in order to be able to map the received block onto a number of transport channels (24,25) in the higher layers, characterized in that said physical layer (L1) comprises:

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the operation of a plurality of measurement probes enables multi-point measurements of a communications network. The method comprises the step of collecting data packets from a data stream of the communications network using the plurality of probes. The data packets are collected after a predetermined start time. The method further comprises the steps of determining a hash value array from an invariant portion of the sampled data packets, and comparing the hash value array to a start hash mask. Collection by a probe of a data packet that produces a hash value array that matches the start hash mask is used as a synchronization event. The method of the present invention allows multiple measurement probes observing the same data stream at different physical locations to be synchronized such that all of the probes observe the same set of packets being carried by the data stream.

Abstract: A system and method for non-linearity compensating interferometer position data includes receiving a plurality of groups of digital position values. A first group of the digital position values are digitally processed to generate a plurality of data values. The plurality of data values are digitally processed to generate at least one quasi-static non-linearity parameter. A second group of the digital position values are compensated based on the at least one non-linearity parameter.

Abstract: A cube corner reflector is oriented so that incident and reflected beams either entirely miss the edges at the intersections of reflective surfaces or so that the beams have only peripheral portions incident on the edges. A symmetry plane of the cube corner reflector is midway between the incident and reflected beams of the cube corner reflector and contains the central axis of the cube corner reflector and one of the edges between the reflective surfaces. For a minimum size reflector that permits the tight beam spacing, trimmed surfaces perpendicular to the symmetry plane are at different distances from the central axis. The edges, variations in the orthogonality of the reflective surfaces, and beam walk off cause less wavefront distortion that could affect measurements in systems such as interferometers.

Abstract: The system and method enable cost-effective classification of objects, such as solder joints, that are under inspection. A classifier is operable to receive a feature vector f of an object under inspection and compute a probability that such object is properly assigned membership in a first of a plurality of different classes. For instance, a “good” class may be available for objects that meet a pre-determined criteria, and a “bad” class for objects that do not meet such criteria. The classifier analyzes f to compute the probability that an object is properly classified as “good.” Embodiments of the invention enable the classifier to be tuned as desired for a given inspection section for proper risk management. A cost variable is input to the classifier and used to determine whether, given the computed probability that an object is “good,” it is cost-effective to classify the object as “good.

Abstract: An optical port with directional control. The port includes a transmitter, receiver, and first actuator. The transmitter generates an outgoing light signal that propagates in a transmission direction in response to an outgoing electrical signal. The receiver receives an incoming light signal and generating an incoming electrical signal therefrom, the receiver having a reception direction aligned with the transmission direction. The first actuator alters the transmission direction of the outgoing light signal in response to a first control signal. In one embodiment, the first actuator determines the direction of the outgoing light signal in a first plane, and a second actuator controls the direction of the outgoing light signal by an amount determined by a second control signal. The second actuator controls the direction of the outgoing light signal in a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing digital and analog signals from an integrated circuit includes an adder or subtractor 17 for being supplied with an analog signal outputted from the integrated circuit of a device under test and a signal outputted from a driver 11, an integrator 14 for being supplied with an analog signal outputted from the adder or subtractor 17, a switch 22 for selectively transmitting an analog signal outputted from the integrator 14 and a digital signal outputted from the integrated circuit to the comparator 13, and a switch 24 for selectively transmitting a signal outputted from a memory 20 and a signal outputted from a comparator 13 to the driver 11. At least one of the switches 22, 24 is operated depending on whether a signal to be tested is analog or digital.

Abstract: Device interconnects and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, a device interconnect system includes a bonding pad portion and a transmission line portion. The bonding pad portion is disposed on a device substrate and is constructed and arranged for electrical connection to a bond wire. The transmission line portion is disposed on the device substrate and is constructed and arranged to electrically couple the bonding pad portion to a device formed on the device substrate. The transmission line portion has a width dimension that is substantially parallel to the device substrate and a height dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the device substrate. The width dimension and the height dimension of the transmission line portion both vary from the bonding pad portion to the device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of testing current sinking and sourcing capability of a driver in an IC calls for positioning a charge storage element at an output of the driver and charging it to a known voltage value. A pulse of known duration and voltage level is applied to an input of the driver and a resulting voltage value is measured at the output of the driver. A current flow through the driver is determined to be within testing limits by comparing an expected voltage value against the resulting voltage value. An apparatus for testing current sinking and sourcing capacity of a driver in an IC has the driver with a charge storage element of known or measurable capacitive value at an output of the driver. An input circuit permits application of a test pulse of known duration and data input values to the driver. A receiver accepts an output of the driver for determining a threshold voltage value at the driver output.

Abstract: A sensor includes an array of photodetectors each generating an output signal of pixel data indicative of incident light intensity. This pixel data is read out from the array one line at a time and stored in a line buffer. A bad pixel processor includes a first buffer that stores pixel data obtained from the line buffer for a certain pixel in a currently read out line and pixel signal light data for pixels adjacent to the certain pixel.

Abstract: An optical switching assembly comprised of a substrate, a first plurality of waveguides in a first plane in the substrate, a second plurality of waveguides in a second plane parallel to said first plane in the substrate, the optical signals being selectively transferable from one substrate to the other. The second waveguides cross the first waveguides at an angle and the first waveguides each have a segment extending generally parallel to a segment of the second waveguides at the crossing. Controllable coupling material is disposed between the segments of the waveguides at the crossing and a control circuit is employed for selectively changing the index of refraction of the coupling material by electrical or thermal means.

Abstract: Optical navigation upon grainy surfaces whose orientation is inclined at about 45° to the X and Y axes of the navigation mechanism is enhanced by: First, detect that a spatial filter in use is inappropriate for the orientation presently occurring, and; Second, employ a different and more appropriate spatial filter subsequent to such detection. Two spatial filters have been developed that are respectively effective about the 45° and 135° inclinations of the Standard filter. The shape of a correlation surface used in the navigation process is tested for the presence of a transverse ridge in the correlation surface. This generates control metrics whose filtered excursions are tracked by a control system that changes the spatial filter in use. The control system incorporates a time constant to prevent thrashing and excessive sensitivity to isolated random variations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device having a housing for one or more optoelectronic components, for example a semiconductor laser transmitter or a photodiode. The optoelectronic device (30), comprises an open-ended metal canister (36), an insulating substrate (34), at least one optoelectronic component (42) mounted on said substrate, and one or more electrical connections (39,44,49) made to said component(s) (42). The insulating substrate (34) closes the open end (37) of the metal canister (36) so that the metal canister and insulating substrate (34) together form a housing (32) for one or more of said components (42) mounted on the substrate (34). The insulating substrate (34) acts as a circuit board to carry said electrical connections from said component(s) externally of the housing (32). The canister (36) has at least one optical port (38) by which optical radiation (45) may be transmitted into and/or out of said housing (32).

Abstract: The present invention refers to an electronic apparatus, preferably a microchip testing device, comprising at least one circuit board mounted on a cooling device. This circuit board supports at least one microchip. The circuit board supports the microchip on a side turned to the cooling device, wherein the cooling device is adapted for providing a cooling of a side of the microchip, which side is turned to the cooling device. A thermal conductor is arranged between the microchip and the cooling device for providing a thermal contact between the cooling device and the one side of the microchip turned to the cooling device. The thermal conductor comprises at least one of a group comprising: a thermally conductive knead, a plasticine, a kneadable and thermally conductive material, and a plastically deformable and thermally conductive material.

Abstract: A personal display system having an ocular scan unit for generating user identification information and an interface for conveying user identification to a connected system.