Abstract: A distributed system with mechanisms for automatic selection of master and slave clocks to be used for clock synchronization. The distributed system includes a set of nodes, including a first node and a second node, each having a local clock and a set of information pertaining to the local clock. The first node transfers a packet on a communication link that carries the information. The second node receives the packet on the communication link and determines whether the local clock of the second node is a master clock that synchronizes a time value in the local clock of the first node or a slave clock that synchronizes to a time value from the local clock in the first node by comparing the information in the packet to the information pertaining to the local clock in the second node. Automatic selection of master and slave clocks in boundary nodes is provided along with mechanisms for determining clock synchronization delays and mechanisms for reporting jitter associated with communication devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a timing generator including a frequency generator for generating an output signal, and circuitry for providing a nominal parameter setting value to the frequency generator for setting a nominal value of a parameter of the output signal, such as frequency, delay time and/or pulse width. The timing generator further includes a memory for storing predefined parameter setting values, whereby the memory is directly coupled to the frequency generator for directly applying parameter setting values stored in the memory to the frequency generator for modifying the nominal value of the parameter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method for aligning an optical fibre (3) with an optical device (1) in an opto-electronic package (2). The invention provides a device comprising a platform (5) for mounting an optical device (1), to aid coupling of the optical device (1) with an optical fibre (3) in an opto-electronic package (2) comprising a first part (6) which is attachable to the opto-electronic package (2); a second part (7) moveably attached to the first part (6) such that the second part (7) may only move with respect to the first part (6) along a single axis (Z), and in which the optical device (1) is mountable on the second part (7). The invention also provides a method of aligning an optical fibre (3) with an optical device (1) in an opto-electronic package (2) using such a platform (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device comprising an emitting source and a partly-reflective element which is adapted for receiving an emitted light beam. This element is tilted in a small angle with respect to the emitted light beam. A portion of the emitted light beam is reflected by the partly-reflective element towards a transmittive element which is arranged in close proximity to the emitting source and adapted to receive and transmit the reflect portion. The transmittive element is arranged for at least partly fixing or positioning an optical fiber, which is emitting the input light beam, and provided for transmitting the laterally offset reflected portion of the input light beam away from the input fiber.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an annular ring transducers for determining the velocity of a fluid flow. A novel and accurate flow measurement system is fabricated for measuring transit time of a fluid flow using chirp signals, and a pneumotachometer with annular ring transducers is also disclosed.

Abstract: Low intensity light is incident upon a photodiode whose output is coupled to an integrator. The output of the integrator is coupled to an input of an A/D converter, whose output is coupled to a microprocessor, whose output is coupled to a filter. A second output of the microprocessor is coupled to a gate electrode of a FET to provide a reset signal to the FET to reset the integrator. The microprocessor compares the digital samples of the integrated signal from the A/D converter and, firstly, generates the reset signal if a sample is beyond a set limit, and, secondly, calculates delta values between adjacent samples and interpolates the delta values for the reset periods so as to provide a continuous data stream which can be filtered by a filter matched to the form of the original signal.

Abstract: A device having features for enhancing the cooling of an electronic package subject to laminar air flow. The features include a bluff body, located adjacent the electronic package and within the laminar air flow, for creating turbulence in the air flow to enhance the cooling of the package. The turbulence creates a greater cooling effect of the air flow on the electronic package, and the bluff body can include a rod or other structure mounted adjacent the electronic package. The bluff body can also be mounted on the electronic package or on a heat sink mounted on top of the package.

Abstract: Low surface energy functionalized surfaces on solid supports are provided by contacting a surface of a solid substrate having reactive moieties on the surface with a solution of an organic solvent and water. The surface of the solid substrate is then contacted with a derivatizing composition containing a mixture of silanes. A first silane provides the desired reduction in surface energy, while the second silane enables functionalization with molecular moieties of interest, such as small molecules. Molecular moieties of interest may be attached through cleavable sites. Derivatizing compositions for carrying out the surface functionalization process are provided as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enabling a Joint Test Access Group (JTAG)-type EXTEST to be performed in an alternating current (AC)-coupled system in order to test one or more AC-coupled connections on a printed circuit board (PCB). Direct current (DC)-restore logic receives an AC-coupled signal that corresponds to an EXTEST test pattern output from a transmitting JTAG-compliant integrated circuit (IC), and converts the AC-coupled signal into a DC signal suitable for use by JTAG logic of a JTAG-compliant receiving IC.

Abstract: A device for puncturing the skin of a patient. The device includes first and second protrusions, each protrusion puncturing the skin when pressed against the skin. The first and second protrusions are arranged such that the first protrusion punctures the skin at a location less than a predetermined distance from the second protrusion. The distance is chosen to be less than the discriminatable distance between distinct pain perception points in the patient, such that the patient perceives a single puncture when the first and second protrusions puncture the skin. In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes a base lip that applies a lateral force to the skin when the base lip is pressed against the skin. In this embodiment, the protrusions are pressed into the skin as the base lip is pressed against the skin.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of and a device for optical demultiplexing that are based on the four wave mixing between the signals to be demultiplexed and pump signals. The two signals are fed into a polarization maintaining fiber (14), which divides them into two components with orthogonal polarization, separated in time; and the four wave mixing is performed separately on the two components, thereby originating two separate signals that are polarization-rotated and re-combined. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: For delivery of ions from a higher pressure ion source to a mass analyzer operating at high vacuum, high pass ion filtration is effected within a dielectric capillary interface between the higher pressure ionization chamber and the lower pressure environment of a mass analyzer, by application of electrical potentials to end electrodes and to at least one electrode associated with the dielectric capillary between the ends, to create an end-to-end electric field generally opposing gas flow-assisted movement of ions from the upstream end to the downstream end, and to create a steeper voltage gradient along an upstream portion than along a downstream portion of the capillary. The voltage gradient along the steeper upstream portion of the capillary is sufficiently steep to cause ions having drift velocities below a lower limit to stall within the capillary. The respective potentials may be adjusted to increase the steepness of the upstream voltage gradient to increase the drift velocity lower limit.

Abstract: Measurement of jitter in a digital communications signal is accomplished by generating multiple successive samples representative of jitter in a digital communications signal and supplying the successive samples in parallel to several (e.g. five) high-pass filter functions to generate filtered samples. The filtered samples from each high-pass filter function are passed to a respective measurement function, for measurement of parameters of the filtered samples from the corresponding high-pass filter function. The parameters include jitter peak amplitude and jitter RMS amplitude. Parameter measurements provided by the measurement functions are selected according to the measurement bandwidth(s) required for the jitter measurement, and a measurement of jitter in the communications signal is derived from those parameter measurements.

Abstract: A tester for testing communication links in a network which carries data frames between communications ports having respective station addresses includes a plurality of communications ports and a test data generator for generating test data frames to be transmitted via the communications ports. A store holds a plurality of sets of predefined station addresses to be associated with the communications ports. A selector receives an indication of user selection of one of a plurality of test modes of the tester, and selects in accordance with that indication a respective one of the sets of predefined station addresses for association with the communications ports. The selector may also receive an indication of user selection of one of several test modes, and select a respective mode of operation of the communications ports and of the test data generator.

Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) has a top mirror structure with a surface, a light generation region, and a bottom mirror structure for reflecting light toward said top mirror structure. The VCSEL has a semiconductor portion with a surface that is disposed substantially planar with respect to the surface of the top mirror structure. At least one aperture-defining layer having an isolatable material is disposed in at least one of the bottom mirror structure and the top mirror structure. The aperture-defining layer has a conducting region, an insulating region having an aperture-defining surface for defining the conducting region, and a single trench adjacent to the insulating region for use in generating the insulating region. The trench having a continuous geometry for reducing the parasitic capacitance of the VCSEL.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator having a first member and a second member. The first member has a first opposed surface that includes an array of driven electrodes. The driven electrodes have a pitch pr. The second member has a second opposed surface and includes an array of drive electrodes. A support positions the first member adjacent the second member with the first opposed surface spaced apart from the second opposed surface by a spacing d. The ratio of the spacing and the pitch should be less than eight, and is preferably less than 2.25. The support permits the first member to move relative to the second member, or vice versa. A voltage source establishes a substantially alternating voltage pattern on the array of driven electrodes.

Abstract: The frequency-selective optical multiplexer comprises, an LC polarization controller, a spectral demux/mux and input/output optics including two ports, a first optical path spatially separated from a second optical path and polarization-dispersive optics. The polarization dispersive optics are disposed between the ports and the optical paths; generate from an optical signal a pair of polarization components, composed of a first polarization component and a second polarization component having orthogonal polarizations; and output the first and second polarization components via the first and second optical paths, respectively. The first and second polarization components have first and second polarizations when the optical signal is received at one port, and have the second and the first polarizations, respectively, when the optical signal is received at the other port.

Abstract: Vertical cavity surface emitting laser systems and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser system has a bottom side that may be flip-chip mounted to a driver substrate and a top side that is configured to transmit light through an optically transparent substrate. By this configuration, vertical cavity surface emitting laser systems may be packed together with a greater density and operated at greater speeds relative to, for example, wire bonded vertical cavity surface emitting laser systems. In addition, such systems may be flexibly tailored to produce light over a wide range of wavelengths. Such systems also may be efficiently packaged on a wafer scale.

Abstract: A mouse for navigating upon grainy surfaces is equipped with at least two optical navigation circuits having different views of the work surface and whose axes may be non-parallel. For each navigation circuit an indication of navigation impairment owing to grain is detected. A suitable algorithm chooses from among the various navigation circuits which one's output to use. The multiple optical navigation circuits can each be separate self-contained mechanisms on separate dies or they can be separate sections of a single integrated circuit. The various metrics used within a navigation circuit for spatial filter selection can be further used by the navigation circuit selection algorithm. Each optical navigation circuit can have its own light source, or they can share a common one. They may also share any imaging optics, although each navigation sensor sees a different image.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product, for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate. The method uses a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid and a drop dispenser having a chamber into which the fluid is loaded and an orifice communicating with the chamber from which the fluid is dispensed. The method includes, when the chamber is loaded, applying a prime pressure to the fluid which varies over a range sufficient to move fluid within the drop dispenser but insufficient to cause fluid to be dispensed from the orifice. Drops are dispensed from the dispenser to the substrate so as to form the array.