Abstract: An active pixel sensor having a transparent conductor that directly contacts a conductive element in an interconnection structure to electrically connect the transparent conductor to a pixel sensor bias voltage is provided. The active pixel sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, the interconnection layer, which is formed over the substrate, and a pixel interconnection layer formed over the interconnection layer. Photo sensors that include a pixel electrode, an I-layer, and may include a P-layer are formed over the pixel interconnection layer. The transparent conductor is formed over the photo sensors and the conductive element exposed on the surface of the interconnection layer.

Abstract: A timebase establishes the timing of samples acquired by a signal sampler relative to a trigger signal that is synchronous with an input signal applied to the signal sampler. The synchronous trigger activates a first pair of samplers included in the timebase to acquire samples of a reference signal and of a shifted version of the reference signal provided within the timebase. A divider receives the reference signal and divides the frequency of the reference signal by a predesignated divisor, and a third sampler included in the timebase acquires samples of this divided reference signal, also according to the synchronous trigger. The samples of the input signal are acquired by the signal sampler according to the divided reference signal. A timing analyzer determines the timing of these acquired samples of the input signal relative to the synchronous trigger, based on the acquired samples of the reference signal, the shifted reference signal and the divided reference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating a mass spectrometer by internally introducing calibration masses at a post-source stage of the mass spectrometer is provided. A source of lock mass ions adjacent the ion optics creates lock mass ions within the ion optics. Lock mass ions mix with the analyte ions in the ion optics prior to mass analysis. The source of lock mass ions may include various means for ionizing lock mass molecules including but not limited to photoionization, field desorption-ionization, electron ionization, and thermal ionization means. An apparatus and method of mass calibrating a tandem mass spectrometer is also provided. The mass calibration apparatus includes a collision cell for fragmenting analyte ions and a source of lock mass ions adjacent said collision cell for creating lock mass ions in the collision cell.

Abstract: Known differential pair amplifier circuits can suffer from transistor saturation resulting in a reduction in switching speed. An alternative to the differential pair amplifier circuit is a common-emitter configuration, but the common-emitter configuration lacks differential operability and results in ground bounce. An amplifier circuit is provided for an output stage of a driver circuit comprising a pair of common emitter circuits cross-coupled by a pair of transistors. Slow operation is therefore overcome while providing a differential output signal in response to a differential input signal.

Abstract: The frame of data that is decoded is one of a set of frames that represent a packet of information words, and that additionally represent coded control words preceding and following the packet. The frames each include a master transition and a payload field. The payload field either is composed exclusively of ones of the information words, or includes a TYPE word that defines the structure of the payload field. The master transition is in a first state when the payload field is composed exclusively of ones of the information words, and is otherwise in a second state. In the method, a determination is made of whether the master transition is in the first state. When the master transition is in the first state, the payload field is adopted as a block of received data. When the master transition is not in the first state, the TYPE word is extracted from the payload field, the payload field is expanded in response to the TYPE word, and the payload field, after expansion, is adopted as a block of received data.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for synthesizing a plurality of compounds on the surface of supports. Biopolymer features are attached to the surfaces of the supports. The synthesis generally comprises a plurality of steps. In the present invention at least two of the steps are performed by placing a support having a functionalized surface into a chamber of a flow cell and subjecting the surface to a step of the synthesis and placing the support into a chamber of another flow cell and subjecting the surface to another step of the synthesis. An apparatus generally comprises a plurality of flow cells and one or more fluid dispensing stations are mounted on the platform and are in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of flow cells. A station for monomer addition to the surface of the support is mounted on the platform. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for moving a support to and from the station for monomer addition and a flow cell and from one flow cell to another flow cell.

Abstract: An improved optical switch includes a movable optical switching element configured to selectively direct optical signals traveling in an optical input path to one of at least two optical output paths. The movable optical switching element may include waveguide portions and/or mirrors to direct the optical signals. In an alternative embodiment, the moveable optical switching element may include waveguide grating couplers to allow the selective reflection of a particular wavelength of light from an optical waveguide carrying a number of such of optical wavelengths.

Abstract: The arrangement includes first and second patterns such as photolithographic patterns of electrically conductive indicia provided on respective first and second surfaces of the components to be positioned. The patterns are adapted for relative movement in sliding contact relationship along the positioning axis. The patterns of electrically conductive indicia define electrically conductive pads at least one of which reaches the condition of being either open or closed when the surfaces on which the patterns are provided reach a given position along the positioning axis. Sensing is preferably effected by means of an amperometer.

Abstract: A transfer capillary and interface are provided that allow samples from multiple fluid streams to be introduced into a single mass analyzer. The transfer capillary has two or more channels and is placed between a first chamber, in which ions from the multiple fluid streams are generated, and a second chamber that is in fluid communication with a mass analyzer. The interface includes ionizers that generate ionized sample from each fluid stream and that direct the ionized sample toward the channels of the transfer capillary. The transfer capillary includes a multiplex selector that allows ions to flow through a selected subset of channels and sequentially changes which of the channels are included in the subset of channels through which ions flow.

Abstract: A short-wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is flip-chip bonded to a long-wavelength VCSEL. The short-wavelength VCSEL is used to optically-pump the long-wavelength VCSEL. Certain embodiments of the invention can serve as optical sources for optical fiber communication systems. Methods also are provided.

Abstract: Resonance within an attenuator relay caused by stray coupling capacitances to, and stray reactance within the switched conductor that replaces the attenuator section, is mitigated by reducing the stray coupling capacitances to as low a value as possible, and by using a conductor that is a section of controlled impedance transmission line that matches the system into which the attenuator relay has been placed. A substrate having SPDT LIMMS switches on either side of a switched transmission line segment and its associated attenuator, all of which are fabricated on the substrate, will have significantly lower stray coupling capacitance across the open parts of the switches when the attenuator segment is in use. This will increase the frequency for the onset of the resonance driven by the RF voltage drop across the attenuator. A reduction in the amplitude of the resonance can be obtained by including on the substrate an additional pair of LIMMS damping switches at each end of the transmission line segment.

Abstract: An optical switch constructed from first and second waveguides. The first and second waveguides have ends disposed across a gap such that light traversing the first waveguide enters the second waveguide when the gap is filled with a liquid having a first index of refraction, whereas light traversing the first waveguide is reflected by the gap when the gap is filled with a material having a second index of refraction that is substantially different from the first index of refraction. The gap is part of a trench that contains a liquid droplet made from a droplet material having the first index of refraction. The droplet is located in the trench and is movable between the first and second positions in the trench, the droplet filling the gap in the first position. The gap is filled with a material having the second index of refraction when the droplet is in the second position.

Abstract: During the process of writing a grating, the fiber is placed in a support which has a surface cut-out such as a V-shaped groove. The side walls of this groove form an angle (&agr;) of 60° with respect to the direction of propagation of the radiation arriving from the source. The aforesaid surfaces have characteristics of high reflectivity with respect to the aforesaid radiation. Consequently, during the writing process, the core of the fiber is subjected to the action of a plurality of radiation fronts converging on the core. The first radiation front corresponds to the radiation arriving from the source and two other radiation fronts are obtained from this radiation by the effect of the reflection from the walls of the surface cut-out of the support. The preferred application is to the making of long-period gratings.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for use with a mass spectrometer. The multimode ionization source of the present invention provides one or more atmospheric pressure ionization sources (i.e. electrospray, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and/or atmospheric pressure photoionization) for ionizing molecules. A method of producing ions using the multimode ionization source is also disclosed. The apparatus and method provide the advantages of the combined ion sources without the inherent disadvantages of the individual sources.

Abstract: A sample may be analyzed by sampling a quantity of the sample so as to provide a respective quantity of vapor phase molecules of the respective complex sample to a, mass sensor; performing a succession of scans of the sample, so as to generate a respective series of mass spectra; compiling a k×n vector matrix representative of a plurality of temporal profiles derived from the plurality of mass spectra; performing one or more multivariate data analysis routines with respect to the vector matrix; and, in response to the multivariate data analysis routine, reporting the results of the analysis.

Abstract: An integrated circuit metallization structure using a titanium/aluminum alloy, and a method to generate such a structure, provide reduced leakage current by allowing mobile impurities such as water, oxygen, and hydrogen to passivate structural defects in the silicon layer of the IC. The titanium layer of the structure is at least partially alloyed with the aluminum layer, thereby restricting the ability of the titanium to getter the mobile impurities within the various layers of the IC. Despite the alloying of the titanium and aluminum, the metallization structure exhibits the superior contact resistance and electromigration properties associated with titanium.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering ions between vacuum stages. The apparatus includes a concave electrode ion pipe originating in a first vacuum stage and terminating in a second vacuum stage. The design of the concave electrode ion pipe provides for transport of ions over long distances without substantial loss of the ions while at the same time restricting overall gas flow. The invention allows for the elimination of vacuum stages or a reduction in vacuum pumping speed(s) if the same number of vacuum stages is employed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention recites forming a number of first openings in a first substrate. The present embodiment then recites forming a copper region within each first openings during a damascene process, wherein each copper region has a top surface. The present embodiment then disposes a dielectric layer proximate to the top surface of each of the first copper regions during the damascene process. After depositing a second substrate over the dielectric, a number of second openings in a second substrate are made. Next, a number of second copper regions are formed in the second openings, during the damascene process. The dielectric region is thus disposed between the first copper regions and the second copper regions. In so doing, the dielectric region forms a dielectric barrier between the first copper regions and the second copper regions such that a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is formed during a damascene process.

Abstract: Improved data acquisition systems and methods that enable large numbers of data samples to be accumulated rapidly with low noise are described. In accordance with this inventive approach, a plurality of data samples is produced from a transient sequence in response to sampling clock, and corresponding data samples across the transient sequence are accumulated in response to an accumulation clock that is shifted in phase relative to the sampling clock.

Abstract: An optical heterodyne detection system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes two optical receivers for separately measuring the power of an input signal and a local oscillator signal before the signals are combined. The measurements of the input signal and the local oscillator signal are then utilized to enhance the heterodyne signal to noise ratio by removing the intensity noise contributed by the input signal and the local oscillator signal. By measuring portions of the input signal power and the local oscillator signal power and then subtracting out the scaled quantities from the photocurrent measurement during signal processing, the signal to noise of the heterodyne signal is improved beyond that which is accomplished by known balanced receivers.