Abstract: Liquids are transferred from a plurality of wells or depots having openings arranged in a selected format to one or more receptacles, by displacing liquid contained in each well so that a convex meniscus swells from the opening, and contacting the receptacle with the swollen meniscus to draw a portion of the liquid into the receptacle. According to the invention, the liquid transfer is effected directly from the depot to the corresponding receptacle without contact between depots and receptacles, and without interposition of any transfer device between depots and receptacles.

Abstract: A method of evaluating for the presence of a polypeptide in an analyte, using an addressable array of capture agents linked to a substrate. The analyte is exposed to the array and a set of fixed capture agents, such that the target molecules will bind to the array by means of the capture agents. After the target molecule has bound to the capture agents, it is modified using a label. The label does not interact or mark the capture agent. Kits using such arrays are further provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide apparatus has a three-dimensional photonic crystal, the three-dimensional photonic crystal having a plurality of layers arranged one above another, each of the plurality of layers having a plurality of elements that are parallel to and spaced from one another, the plurality of elements in each layer arranged at an angle other than zero with respect to the plurality of elements in an adjacent layer. The three-dimensional photonic crystal also has a waveguide therein comprising a first region of defects in a segment of an element in one layer of the plurality of layers and having a light input, and a second region of defects in at least a segment of an element in an adjacent layer of the plurality of layers and having two light outputs, the first and second region of defects intersecting to provide an optical splitter that extends from the one layer to the adjacent layer.

Abstract: Liquid metal micro-switches. Liquid metal micro-switches and techniques for fabricating them in integrally shielded microcircuits are disclosed. The liquid metal micro-switches can be integrated directly into the construction of shielded thick film microwave modules. This integration is useful in applications requiring high frequency switching with high levels of electrical isolation.

Abstract: A signal-sampling unit for sampling a digital test signal comprises a sampling path receiving the test signal and comprising a first comparator for comparing the test signal against a first threshold value and providing a first comparison signal as result of the comparison. The sampling path further comprises a sampling device for receiving as input the first comparison signal together with a timing signal comprising a plurality of successive timing marks. The sampling device is adapted to derive a value of the first comparison signal for one or more of the timing marks. A clock recovery unit further receives the test signal and derives therefrom the timing signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical sub assembly for receiving an optical fibre transmission line for coupling to an optical device, to a receptacle for use in such a sub assembly and to a method of manufacture of such a sub assembly. In particular, this invention relates to an optical sub assembly which provides electrical isolation between a receptacle (1) having a nose (8) for receiving the optical fibre and a package (2) housing an optical device (3).

Abstract: A signal analyzer has a display with two regions. In a first region there is displayed a first waveform representing a signal. The first waveform is shown in two dimensions. One dimension represents signal amplitude and one dimension represents signal frequency. In a second region is displayed a second waveform. The second waveform represents a subset of data points of the first waveform. The second waveform also is shown in two dimensions. One dimension represents signal amplitude and one dimension represents signal frequency.

Abstract: A positioning device for determining the position of an object includes an anchoring surface, a first movable carriage on which the object is loaded and which has a means for suctioning onto the anchoring surface, a second movable carriage which has a drive assembly and which is connected with the first movable carriage as needed, and a connecting means which controls the connection of the first and second movable carriages. The first and second movable carriages are connected by the drive assembly and the first movable carriage is conveyed to a predetermined position on the anchoring surface and is suctioned and anchored on the anchoring surface at this position by a means for breaking the connection between the first and second movable carriages and for performing the suctioning to position the object.

Abstract: A polarization control device, comprising: a liquid crystal device containing a liquid crystal material with an optical anisostropy with substantially homeotropically aligned molecules when in a neutral electrical field state; a plurality of electrodes for applying an electrical field to change an orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal material from their alignment in the neutral electrical filed state; a circuit for applying a voltage to the electrodes; and an optical system for directing light through the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: The data path into a post decode mechanism is altered to allow post decode to process data before or as that data is placed into a destination memory structure in interior test memory. Other data will continue to be first placed into a memory structure in interior test memory before being applied to the post decode mechanism. Extensive masking capability coupled with copies of error tables allow incremental post decode analysis for a new test, and avoids counting of errors in locations that are already known to have failed during previous tests. Both errors within words and bit errors can be accumulated. The post decode mechanism is often capable of producing multiple type of results from a single pass through the data, whether applied on the fly or from a structure in interior test memory. The post decode mechanism has counters that count down from pre-loaded values representing thresholds for deciding something about error activity. A counts of zero produces a terminal count flag.

Abstract: Phase detector constructed from a plurality of multi-input gates which combine combinations of unretimed input data with retimed data and with clock signals to achieve output pulses proportional to the phase difference between the unretimed data and the clock. In the embodiment the phase detector comprises an input for receiving data signals; an input for receiving clock signals; an output for providing phase control signals; data retiming circuitry for accepting unretimed data signals from said data input and for providing even and odd retimed signals therefrom; a plurality of multi-input gates having inputs connected to different combinations of said unretimed data signals, said retimed data signals, and said clock signals, such that no said gate can be active in two consecutive UIs, when a UI is defined as the length of time allocated to a single bit; and a combiner for mixing the outputs of at least two of said gates.

Abstract: A distributed control system includes a transducer having an electronic data sheet that enables it to be accessed via a variety of differing types of field-bus networks. The electronic data sheet stores a set of object information corresponding to a set of differing object models associated with the differing types of field-bus networks. The distributed control system includes a component node which couples to a particular one of the differing types of field-bus networks and which couples to the transducer through a standard interface. The component node translates between the particular one of the object models and the standard interface during an access of the transducer that originates on the particular one of the differing types of field-bus networks.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically accumulating and storing information has a destination memory and an indexing circuit. The indexing circuit has an input port, a selector having a selector output, a register holding a value from the selector output and presenting the selector output value at a register output, and an accumulator accepting a value from the input port and a value from the register output and presenting a sum of the input port and register output values at an accumulator output. The selector receives the input port value from the input port, the accumulator output, and the value from the register output, the selector output being based upon a programmable selection code. The register output is connected to the destination memory .

Abstract: A photonic crystal waveguide apparatus has a photonic crystal having a waveguide which is capable of transmitting light having a frequency within a bandgap of the photonic crystal, and a resonant stub connected to the waveguide to control light in the waveguide. The resonant stub has a resonator region and a connecting channel which connects the resonator region to the waveguide. The resonant stub controls light transmission characteristics of the waveguide by creating a transmission zero in the transmission band of the waveguide. A tuner for tuning the resonant stub may also be provided to control the transmission zero to provide an active optical apparatus such as an on/off switch or a modulator.

Abstract: Systems and methods of converting data streams from one clocking domain to another are described. In one aspect, a clocking domain conversion system includes an input, an output, a routing circuit, and a clock generator. The input is operable to simultaneously load N input bits during each load cycle at an average rate RIN, wherein N has an integer value of at least 1. The output is operable to simultaneously output M output bits during each output cycle at an average rate ROUT, wherein M has an integer value of at least 1 and M≠N.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a ferroelectric capacitor is disclosed. The method comprises the decreases a reduction in a bottom electrode material during formation of the ferroelectric dielectric portion of the capacitor. In the above manner, a fatigue resistance of the ferroelectric capacitor is increased substantially.

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 that has a driver output and a backup selector output that is capable of driving a failed next driver assembly. The driver output and the backup selector output can be different types. A sensor detects the failure of the driver or a backup driver output and generates a select signal in the failure state. A selector receives the driver output, the 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.

Abstract: Heterodyne based optical spectrum analysis (OSA) involves mixing an input signal with a swept local oscillator signal to generate a heterodyne beat signal and then stretching the heterodyne beat signal before the signal is sampled. A system for optical spectrum analysis includes a local oscillator source, an optical coupler, a heterodyne receiver, and a processor. A circuit for stretching the heterodyne beat signal is included in the heterodyne receiver and may include a diode in series with a capacitor and a resistor or a diode in series with a capacitor and a switch. Stretching the heterodyne beat signal involves extending the duration of the signal so that the signal can be detected with fewer samples per unit of time than an unstretched signal. Another embodiment of an OSA includes a first data acquisition unit for obtaining low resolution data and a second data acquisition unit for obtaining high resolution data.

Abstract: A first system includes a converter, complex signal generator, exponentiator, FFT module and processor to estimate carrier frequency of a high symbol rate quadrature amplutide modulated (QAM) signal relative to a target carrier frequency. The converter converts the applied QAM signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal and digitizes the IF signal at a predesignated sample rate. The complex signal generator extracts a real component of the digitized IF signal, provides an imaginary component of the digitized IF signal and then combines the real component and the imaginary component in a complex signal. The exponentiator, raises the complex signal to a predesignated power and the FFT module performs a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), having a predetermined number of samples, on the complex signal as raised to the predesignated power.

Abstract: A method for accurately analyzing the timing of a clock network on a piecemeal basis in an integrated circuit clock tree is presented. In accordance with the invention, the time delay of each individual subcircuit between an identified clock network node and an identified receiving endpoint may be individually determined. Tags are associated with the connection points of a child block and its parent block. A connection tool uses the tags to match up the connection points of the parent block to the respective connection points in the child block to allow a simulation tool to include the clock signal timing data of the child block in simulating the clock performance of the parent block.