Abstract: A micro-machined back-flush injector that allows for a sample introduced into the injector to be properly injected into a gas chromatography apparatus in a short time period of between 10 and 100 milliseconds. A micro-machined injector having back-flushing capability that allows back-purging of unwanted components in the device and provides clean-up of channels in contact with the sample. Further, a method of operating an injector such that a sample is properly injected and purged from the system to which the injector is operably attached.

Abstract: Plasma charging devices and methods are disclosed for detecting plasma charging during semiconductor wafer processing. Charging monitors are disclosed having ferroelectric capacitance elements which can be preprogrammed prior to processing steps of interest, and then subsequently measured afterwards, in order to determine whether plasma related charging is a problem in the intervening processing steps.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module including a skeleton structure, a platform portion, and a vertical portion is provided. The skeleton structure has a socket portion and the vertical portion extends from the socket portion to a transverse back plate. The platform portion has a first array of recesses arranged to receive a plurality of pins extending from a first circuit board disposed on the optoelectronic module.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to evaluate logical values from target systems. The system includes a configuration in a field programmable gate array for performing a doubly bounded comparison. The configuration advantageously allows the user to determine when values are greater than or less than a predefined value while employing a reduced number of lookup tables in the field programmable gate array. The configuration includes an input to receive a parallel logical value. The system also includes a number of equality lookup tables configured to detect an equality between a portion of the logical value and a portion of a predefined value. The system also includes a number of inequality lookup tables configured to determine a type of an inequality between the portion of the logical value and the portion of the predefined value. The predefined value is preprogrammed and downloaded to the equality lookup tables at startup.

Abstract: A method and system for more efficient completion of host-initiated FC I/O operations. Rather than returning FCP response frames from an FC port to host memory within an FC node, the FC port determines, from the content of received FCP response frames, whether or not an I/O operation has successfully completed. In the common case that I/O operations successfully complete, successful completion is indicated to the host processor of the FC node via a single bit flag within a completion message queued to a queue within the host memory. In the uncommon case that an I/O operation unsuccessfully completes, the FC port queues the FC response frame received from the target node to a queue within the host memory and a completion message queued to a queue within the host memory with the single bit flag set to indicate that an error has occurred.

Abstract: Digital cameras and methods for using digital cameras incorporate or append authentication stamps in digital images. Each authentication stamp contains information that is useful in authenticating the source of a digital image, and thus an authentication process can use the authentication stamp to determine whether the digital image is authentic or was modified outside the camera.

Abstract: A track and hold circuit includes a MOS transistor switch and a holding capacitor, and a bulk potential of the MOS transistor switch is changed in phase with an input signal in order to reduce harmonic distortions.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a one-step process for forming a transition metal aluminum oxynitride layer over a transition metal aluminum nitride layer. The transition metal aluminum nitride layer is sputter deposited using a transition metal/aluminum target in an atmosphere containing nitrogen. Subsequently, the oxygen content of the atmosphere is increased, whereby the transition metal aluminum oxynitride layer can be deposited without interrupting the process or otherwise reconditioning the target. Another aspect of the invention relates to depositing a transition metal aluminum nitride layer over a transition metal aluminum oxynitride layer by reducing the oxygen content of the atmosphere. The invention provides a one-step process for depositing a hard mask layer and upper diffusion barrier layer for the capacitor stack of a FeRAM. A top electrode, such as an Ir/IrO electrode, can be deposited as part of the one-step process.

Abstract: Compliance margin of a waveform is determined relative to a standard, indicating the extent to which the waveform either complies or fails to comply with the standard. An acquisition system captures the waveform of an applied signal in a display space, and a memory stores a representation of a series of scaled masks in the display space. Each scaled mask in the series is a version of the standard that is scaled relative to the standard according to a corresponding scale factor. A comparator determines which scaled masks in the series coincide with the waveform at one or more predesignated locations in the display space by comparing the waveform to the represented series of scaled masks at the one or more locations. An output device indicates the compliance margin of the waveform based on the corresponding scale factors of the scaled masks that coincide with the waveform at the one or more locations in the display space.

Abstract: Measurements are obtained of a signal within each one of multiple ranges of a parameter. For each range a representative measurement value is derived together with the extent of the range. A respective graphical display element is defined for each range of the parameter, a first dimension of each display element (such as its height) being indicative of the representative measurement value for the respective range of the parameter, and a second dimension of the display element (such as its width) being indicative of the extent of that respective range of the parameter. A display of the measured signal throughout the multiple ranges of the parameter is generated, with the graphical display elements superimposed at positions corresponding to the respective ranges of the parameter.

Abstract: An optical device under test—DUT—having m inputs, with m=1, 2, 3, . . . , M, and n outputs, with n=1, 2, 3, . . . , N, is tested by applying a plurality of different characteristic stimulus signals to at least one of the m inputs. A response signal is received at at least one of the n outputs, and a property of the DUT can be determined or verified by evaluating the received response signal in conjunction with at least one of the applied stimulus signals or at least an indication thereof. The plurality of different characteristic stimulus signals are provided in a way allowing tracing each respectively applied stimulus signal in each received response signal—if present or beyond a detectability threshold.

Abstract: A remote management unit—RMU—manages a local data processing unit—DPU—from remote by a remote DPU. The RMU is coupled to the remote DPU by means of a network external with respect to the local DPU, and the RMU is coupled with the local DPU through an internal bus of the local DPU. The RMU comprises a data exchange interface for providing a data exchange between the local DPU and a remote data carrier coupled with the RMU through the external network. The data exchange interface is configured such that the local DPU regards the data exchange interface as representing or providing a standard interface of a data carrier type known by the local DPU. The data exchange interface is further configured to provide a data exchange of the RMU with the remote data carrier through the external network for executing the data exchange between the local DPU and the remote data carrier.

Abstract: An electro absorption modulator in which the photocurrent generated by the absorption of light is monitored and the bias voltage applied to the electro absorption modulator is varied in order to vary the photocurrent and thence the extinction ratio of the electro absorption modulator.

Abstract: A high-power coupler formed from a substrate, such as a dielectric printed circuit board, is disclosed. The through arm and coupled arm(s) of the coupler have a conductor plated on the top, bottom and edges of the dielectric printed circuit board, completely enclosing the dielectric material in the conductor. A metal package surrounding the coupler forms the outer ground. Thin non-conductive struts of the dielectric material of the printed circuit board interconnect the separate arms of the coupler. The coupler may be integrated with microstrip circuitry, such as switches and resistors.

Abstract: Quasi-coaxial transmission lines to be “crossed” (over) are fabricated on a substrate. There are two cases: a true ground plane of metal will cover the substrate, or, each quasi-coaxial transmission line will have its own separate meandering bottom-half ground shield. In either case, when the crossed quasi-coaxial transmission lines are complete they will have top-half ground shields connected to metal against the substrate that is ground. If there is no ground plane the “crossing” quasi-coaxial transmission line that is to cross over must now have its bottom-half ground shield applied. It can overlay any top-half ground shield for any crossed quasi-coaxial transmission line that is in its path. If there is a ground plane, then that step is not necessary. Now a bottom-half layer of KQ dielectric material is applied along the path of the crossing quasi-coaxial transmission line. To this layer of KQ dielectric material is applied a layer of metal that becomes the center conductor.

Abstract: A timebase establishes the timing of samples acquired by a signal sampler relative to a trigger signal that is synchronous with a signal applied to the signal sampler. A first pair of samplers included in the timebase acquires samples of a reference signal and of a shifted version of the reference signal provided within the timebase, according to a synchronous trigger, to establish a first time position on the reference signal. A second pair of samplers included in the timebase acquires samples of the reference signal and the shifted reference signal according to the synchronous trigger as delayed by a programmed time interval, to establish a second time position on the reference signal. While the programmed time interval is adjusted to designate timing of the sample acquisitions by the signal sampler, the two pairs of samplers in conjunction with a timing analyzer accurately determine the timing of these sample acquisitions based on the established time positions on the reference signal.

Abstract: A method for managing execution of program includes a memory management process to optimize use of primary and secondary memories 20,21, by storing all software units in the secondary memory 21 and copying specific software units necessary for execution of the program to the primary memory 20. Because the memory management process is performed during run-time, a process of calculating address values for the step of copying and offset values for the step of pattern dependency resolution are implemented in hardware. A development and debug application of the disclosed method is used to access specific memory locations without requiring a recompile and download of the code, while the data manipulator is used to perform efficient memory de-fragmentation.

Abstract: A housing for enclosing a measuring apparatus for a hard disk recording medium and a recording apparatus for recording a signal on the hard disk recording medium is provided with a fan including a high efficiency particulate air filter. The fan blows air onto the hard disk recording medium and the recording apparatus under measurement through the high efficiency particulate air filter at a substantially constant air temperature and at a substantially constant air flow rate. An automatic door is located at a position other than an air protection area which includes positions of the hard disk recording medium under measurement by the recording apparatus and the recording apparatus, and includes a predetermined surrounding area. The automatic door shields the other area from the air protection area in the housing for enclosing the measuring apparatus under no measurement.

Abstract: The problem is to branch back to an appropriate location within a memory tester test program, and also restore its state of algorithmic control, when an error associated therewith occurs later in time at the DUT. Owing to delays in pipelines connecting the program execution environment to the DUT and back again. These delays allow the program to arbitrarily advance beyond where the stimulus was given. The arbitrary advance makes it difficult to determine the exact circumstances that were associated with the error. A branch based on the error signal can restart a section of the test program, but it is likely only a template needing further test algorithm control information that varies dynamically as the test program executes. The solution is to equip the memory tester with History FIFO's whose depths are adjusted to account for the sum of the delays of the pipelines, relative to the location of that History FIFO.

Abstract: A process and device are provided for stabilizing the emission wavelength of an optical source, which emits radiation at a first wavelength, by locking to the emission wavelength of an optical reference source which emits radiation at a second wavelength which is substantially different from the first. The stabilization device applies to the source to be stabilized a feedback signal obtained by detection of an optical beat between the two radiations. A two-photon absorption for the first wavelength is used to generate the beat.