Abstract: Methods and compositions for modifying the surface of a polymeric substrate are provided. In the subject methods, at least a portion of the surface of the polymeric substrate is contacted with a biofouling resistant surfactant composition. At least a portion of the surfactant molecules of the composition are end modified with a non-reactive, charged end group that is charge stable over a pH range of a bout 2 to 12. The subject methods and compositions find particular use with electrophoretic devices, such as capillary electrophoretic devices.

Abstract: A method of fabricating nanosized holes with controlled geometries employs tools and methods developed in the microelectronics industry. The method exploits the fact that epitaxially grown film thicknesses can be controlled within a few atomic monolayers and that by using etching techniques, trenches and channels can be created that are only a few nanometers wide. The method involves bonding two shallow channels at an angle such that a nanopore is defined by the intersection. Thus, a nanopore-defining device includes a nanopore with dimensions that are determined by the dimensions and orientations of the intersecting channels, with the dimensions being accurately controlled within a few monolayers.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical relay including a substrate. A pass through circuit may be mounted on a first face of the substrate. An attenuator circuit may be mounted on a second face of the substrate. An armature assembly may be provided that is movable between first and second positions with respect to the substrate. The armature assembly when moved to its first position causes the pass through circuit to be coupled into a circuit. When moved to its second position, the armature assembly causes the attenuator circuit to be coupled into a circuit.

Abstract: A transceiver module is adapted to be plugged into a port cage within a host system. The transceiver module includes transceiver electronics and a connector attached to the transceiver electronics. The transceiver electronics are sized to fit within the port cage. The connector includes a module portion and a connector jack attached to the module portion. The module portion is sized to fit along with the transceiver electronics within the port cage. The connector jack is sized with dimensions too big to fit within the port cage. The connector jack remains out of the port cage when the transceiver module is placed within the port cage. The connector jack occupies an area larger than an opening of the port cage.

Abstract: The analog-to-digital conversion system comprises an analog-to-digital converter that includes a digital output, memory having a data input and a data output, an output port, an input data bus that extends from the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter to the data input of the memory and an output data bus that extends from the data output of the memory to the output port. The analog-to-digital converter is structured to generate digital samples at a sampling rate. The input data bus is structured to operate at the sampling rate of the ADC. At least one of the data output of the memory, the output data bus and the output port is structured to operate at a maximum rate less than the sampling rate.

Abstract: A bubble optical switch includes a switching chamber, a static bubble drum, and a quenching pipe. The static bubble drum is adapted to contain a static bubble. In the inactive state, the static bubble remains within the static bubble drum and the switching chamber is filled with index matching fluid. To activate the switch, heat is introduced expanding the static bubble into the switching chamber displacing the index matching fluid with vapor. Then, the optical signal is reflected from the wall of the switching chamber. When the heat is removed, the static bubble contracts back into the static bubble drum. Because the temperature required to expand the static bubble is lower than the temperature required to nucleate a bubble from the fluid, the reliability and lifetime of the switch is increased. Further, due to the properties of the contracting static bubble, no residual bubble forms, thereby alleviating problems associated with residual bubbles of the prior art bubble switches.

Abstract: A high dynamic range receiver includes a detector that produces a current at a pair of terminals. A first gain element, implemented as a current-to-voltage converter for example, is coupled to the first terminal, receiving the current and generating a first output signal corresponding to the current. A second gain element, implemented as a current-to-voltage converter for example, is coupled to the second terminal, receiving the current and generating a second output signal corresponding to the received current. A switch selectively couples the first output signal or the second output signal to a port based on a comparison of at least one of the first output signal and the second output signal to a threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining quality metrics associated with a test pattern used to test an integrated circuit (IC). The delays associated with (1) a longest sensitizable path through the IC that includes the delay fault and (2) an actual path exercised by the test pattern through the IC that includes the delay fault are determined. A difference between the delays is then obtained. The difference is then combined with a difference between a speed at which the test is performed and a design specification operating speed of the IC for the actual path. The sum represents the first quality metric associated with the test pattern for a given fault site. The ratio of the delays of the actual path to the longest sensitizable path represents the second quality metric associated with the test pattern for a given fault site.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for manipulating buses and signals on a display window of a graphical user interface of a logic analyzer. Each signal is associated on the display with representations of its sampled data, which may be in the form of lists or of waveforms. The system enables a user to graphically associate the buses and signals. Also, the buses and signals may be visually associated on the display window with user-specified trigger-conditions. The User may graphically associate the signals into buses by selecting the signals then grouping them by selecting a group command. Responsive to this grouping, the system may generate a bus representing the grouped signals. The bus may be graphically associated with the grouped signal-name elements, such as, for example, by a hierarchical structure. The system, responsive to the grouping by the user of the signals into buses, generates bus-data elements representing signal data associated with the grouped signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photoconductive switch module. The photoconductive switch module comprises a first substrate having light-emitting elements, and a second substrate having photoconductive switch elements, whose number is equal to that of the light-emitting elements. The light-emitting elements face the photoconductive switch elements, so that the photoconductive switch elements are turned on/off in accordance with lighting/extinction of the light-emitting elements. The photoconductive switch module further comprises a third substrate arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. The third substrate has through holes, whose number is equal to that of the light-emitting elements. Each through hole is positioned between a light-emitting element and a photoconductive switch element facing each other. Drive light emitted from each light-emitting element travels to the photoconductive switch element via the through hole.

Abstract: A method of extending a template of a network management system for operating a communication network is describe. Data is received by the network management system from the communication network relating to a network object or a network device or the like of a specific type. The network management system adapts a pre-configured information of a template corresponding to this type of network object or network device or the like depending on the received data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a mass spectrometer. The skimmer of the present invention has a surface to reduce the overall interaction and deposition of unwanted compounds. The surface of the skimmer may be formed from an inorganic conductive nitride or may be applied to a substrate as a coating. The invention also includes a method for reducing the interaction or deposition of compounds on a mass spectrometer skimmer by application or coating the skimmer with an inert conductive material.

Abstract: A system and method for improving linearity of data outputted from an analog-to-digital converter and reducing digitization artifacts, is provided. A noise generator is provided for generating noise and adding the noise to at least one code word that is introduced to the system, wherein the at least one code word comprises a unitary portion and a fractional portion, the noise being added to the fractional portion of the at least one code word. A storage device is also located within the system for storing the at least one code word, and a high threshold and a low threshold for each of the at least one code word. The storage device is capable of outputting the high threshold and the low threshold of the at least one code word as a result of receiving the unitary portion of the at least one code word, wherein the low threshold and the high threshold, in combination with the fractional portion, are utilized to derive linear digital data having a uniform resolution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microdevice having a valve structure that contains low or no dead volume. The microdevice comprises a substrate and a cover plate each having a substantially planar contact surface and each contact surface having a fluid-transporting feature associated therewith. The substrate contact surface is positioned in slidable and fluid-tight contact with the cover plate contact surface to allow for controllable alignment between the fluid-transporting features. As a result, fluid communication is provided therebetween through a small area. Where the cover plate fluid-transporting feature comprises a conduit, the conduit may have a substantially constant cross-sectional area. The controllable alignment between the fluid-transporting features may form an alignment-dependent variable-length flow path.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cooling integrated circuit assemblies uses a heat sink having a base and a displacement element having a size substantially similar to an area of heat concentration appropriately positioned on the integrated circuit. A compressive force placed upon the displacement element between the heat sink and the integrated circuit provides an optimum thermal resistance at an interface between the IC and the heat sink for efficient transfer of heat to the heat sink.

Abstract: A bias circuit for preventing excessive emission from light emitting diodes includes a switch connected to power. A light emitting diode connects to the switch output. Two bias current legs, electrically connected in parallel, interpose the light emitting diode and ground. A fault comparator connects to the bias current legs and a logic OR gate. Four fault comparators can be implemented, each detecting a unique fault condition. The logic OR gate has an output connected to the input of the switch.

Abstract: A high-precision high-linearity digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a method for converting a digital input signal having N bits to a substantially equivalent analog current output signal is presented. The DAC segments the digital input signal bits into groups separate processing. The invention includes a first current-steering digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a first group of i input signal bits and a first reference current to produce a first current signal. A second current-steering digital-to-analog converter is configured to receive a second group of j input signal bits and the first reference current to produce an intermediate current signal. The intermediate current signal is scaled down by a factor of 2j to produce a second current signal. A summing circuit sums at least the first and second current signals to produce an analog current signal representative of the digital input signal value.

Abstract: A series of logic clouds is used to distribute and propagate signals traveling a relatively long distance across a data logic circuit fabric. One or more long distance signals originate from an initial logic cloud that may be located on a source data block and pass through a series of logic clouds that may be located on an intermediate data block before passing through a destination logic cloud located on a destination data block. Each logic cloud reads both stabilized logic signals and long distance signals and employs a NAND gate connected with an inverter to perform not only logical operations but also to act as a repeater between the logic clouds. The stabilized logic signals may represent signals that originate from other sources along a given data path.

Abstract: A comparator-type sense amplifier compares a constant voltage that was read out of a FeRAM cell to a sequence of reference voltage levels. A multiple-comparison operation includes (a) reading out data to a bit line, (b) applying a first/next reference voltage, (c) comparing the bit line voltage to the applied reference voltage, and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) one or more times. The multiple comparison operation can be used to characterize operation of an FeRAM cell, predict or detect an FeRAM cell that may introduce a bit error, or to read a multi-bit value from an FeRAM cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an analog-to-digital converter having first and second comparator stages, a voltage reference stage, a switching stage, and an encoder. The first comparator stage receives an analog signal and a threshold and outputs a control signal. The voltage reference stage receives the control signal and outputs one of two or more sets of reference voltages. The second comparator stage receives the analog signal, as well as the set of reference voltages output from the voltage reference stage, and outputs a thermometer code in response to comparisons of the analog signal to the reference voltages. The switching stage receives the control signal, and in response thereto, variously couples inputs of the encoder to: bits of the thermometer code output from the second comparator stage, a first potential, or a second potential. Methods for converting analog signals to digital signals are also disclosed.