Abstract: A method applies retention-time locking to the retention times and/or the column(s) void times of a target analyte(s) being eluted thru a multidimensional gas chromatography system. Retention time locking is applied to both standard and comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography via the steps of adjusting column(s) head pressure in a locking multidimensional gas chromatograph system such that the measured retention times and/or void times match the known accepted. Retention time locking may be applied to either or both of the columns in a multidimensional gas chromatography system. Additionally, if the multidimensional system contains more than two columns in series, retention time locking can be applied to any or all of the columns as required.

Abstract: A microfluidic microchip includes a channel structure having a delivery channel connected in a substance conductive manner to a separation channel. Laterally offset discharge channels are at connection points displaced from a connection point between the delivery and separation channels. Between the connection points on the one hand and the connection point on the other are channel sections having concordant channel lengths. By imposing suitable electrical potentials along these channel sections, the filling volumes present in the channel sections are satisfactorily homogenous after a certain period of time to form a representative part of a substance specimen. Substance volume units are formed in these channel sections. The lengths of the volume units are determined exclusively by the lengths of the channel sections. Pulse-shaped substance volume sequences are injected into the separation channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus accommodate for wavelength drift of optical sources. The apparatus includes an optical source having a wavelength control port and an output port, providing one or more optical signals that drift at a first rate. A signal generator within the apparatus provides a control signal to the wavelength control port of the optical source that causes wavelength variations to be superimposed on the wavelength drift of the one or more optical signals. The superimposed wavelength variations occur at a second rate that exceeds the first rate. The apparatus also includes a receiver coupled to the output port of the optical source, that receives the one or more optical signals having the superimposed wavelength variations. The receiver accommodates for the wavelength variations caused by the control signal, enabling a received wavelength to be distinguished from the drifting wavelength of the optical source. A corresponding method accommodates for wavelength drift of optical sources.

Abstract: A probe for a cable tester having a first interface for connection to the cable tester; a second interface, connected to the first interface, for connection to a cable to be tested; and a memory, associated with the probe and accessible by the cable tester, storing configuration data associated with the probe.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved microchip measurement apparatus 15 comprising an external reservoir 24 connected via an input line 28 and output line 29 to a well 21 disposed on the microchip 20. The reservoir and well are preferable sealed and a pump 26 is connected to the input line so as to enable a continuous flow of liquid from the reservoir to the well. Advantageously, the present invention allows for the volume of liquid in the well to be kept constant, thereby improving the overall measurement accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method of determination of at least one optical parameter of an optical signal, comprising the steps of: providing a beam of the optical signal having a diameter, manipulating the beam, the manipulation having polarization properties, the properties being dependent of the position in the beam laterally with respect to a direction of propagation of the beam during manipulation, detecting in intensities at least three parts of the beam in their dependence of the position in the beam laterally with respect to a direction of propagation of the beam during detection.

Abstract: A driver circuit (300) having a laser diode (306) coupled in series between a supply voltage (302) and a collector electrode of a transistor (310). The laser diode (306) has a low input impedance whereas the driving transistor (310) has a high output impedance. Resonances are caused by the impedance mismatch and reactive components. Therefore, an impedance feedback (320) is coupled between the laser diode input and the transistor data input to minimize the effects of the resonances.

Abstract: A gas injector comprises (1) a carrier gas channel through which a carrier gas can enter the injector, (2) an output channel through which the carrier gas and a gaseous sample can be injected from the device to an analytical instrument, (3) a sample gas channel capable of holding the gaseous sample, and (4) a switch structure regulating the connections among the sample gas channel, the carrier gas channel and the output channel. The injector also comprises at least a purge channel through which the carrier gas can flow across part of the device, purging therein and preventing contaminants from reaching the output channel. The gas injector provides a low baseline noise and a high signal to noise ratio when applied to a sensitive analytical instrument.

Abstract: A reconfigurable and customizable nest for a device under test. The reconfigurable nest includes a non-metallic nest plate and nesting blocks. The nesting blocks are positioned around the device under test using removable fastening elements such as doublestick tape. Using the removable fastening elements, the nest may be reconfigured for different devices under test. The nest also provides for audio isolation through a configuration which separates a speaker and microphone that provide audio coupling to the device under test.

Abstract: In a differential condition, an electrophoresis system antisynchronously drives a longitudinally-separated pair of contactless drive electrodes, both of which are coupled to a detection electrode through a separation channel. In this condition, the system provides a series of peaks readout in ITP-separation mode. In a direct condition, the system antisynchronously drives a pair of drive electrodes, only one of which is coupled to the detection electrode through the channel; the other is coupled to the detection electrode but not though the channel. In this condition, the system provides a series of peaks readout in CZE mode. In either case, the antisynchronous drive enhances the detection signal by canceling at the detection electrode signal components associated with the AC drive source. Similar advantages are achieved for a capillary differential electrophoresis system and for a planar direct electrophoresis system.

Abstract: A system and method for finding the position of a waveguide in a planar optical device that has application to the coupling of light to a planar optical waveguide without connectors. The system comprises input and output optical fiber probes, a light source, a photo or light detector and a optical power meter. The light detector is positioned at the exit of the optical waveguide of interest. Typically, the position of the waveguide will be known with some window of uncertainty. Assuming that the photo detector is a photodiode, the area of the photodiode is preferably large enough that the exit of the waveguide can be assumed to lie within the detection area of the photodiode. The input optical fiber probe is coupled to the light source and is moved across the uncertainty window of the entry to the waveguide. The light transmitted through the waveguide to the photo detector is measured and used to find the position of the entry to the way guide.

Abstract: Packaging for components of an optical module. The packaging includes a flexible circuit coupled to two stiffeners. The packaging has a first sub-assembly with the first stiffener for receiving a first component. The packaging also has a second sub-assembly with the second stiffener for receiving a second component and for coupling to an external circuit. The packaging has a flexible portion with a first end for coupling to the first sub-assembly and a second end for coupling to the second sub-assembly. The flexible portion allows the first sub-assembly to be oriented with respect to the second sub-assembly to form an angle that is greater than zero degrees and less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A preferred method for identifying analytes of samples by utilizing chemometric analysis for interpreting chromatographic data obtained under locked conditions includes the steps of: (1) providing a locking GC system which includes a column operated at a column head pressure; (2) adjusting the column head pressure of the locking GC system so that a column void time of the column in the locking GC system, when a known analyte is eluted therethrough, is matched with the column void time of the column in a reference GC system, when the known analyte is eluted therethrough; (3) analyzing the sample with the locking GC system so that chromatographic data corresponding to the sample is compiled, and; (4) performing chemometric analysis on the chromatographic data.

Abstract: An interface controller for a communications network port that includes support for an efficient client/server protocol for exchanging data between client computers and target mass storage devices. The interface controller includes support to allow a server computer to forward a read or write command from a client computer to a target mass storage device containing the identification of a client computer as the source of the read or write command. Interface controller support also allows a clients computer to receive response to messages elicited by a read and write command transmitted to a server computer directly from a target mass storage device by copying the identification of the mass storage target device into a data structure within the interface controller to which subsequent identifications within subsequent data and status messages received from the target mass storage device are compared.

Abstract: Telephone traffic is displayed on a screen so a message source and a message destination are represented by lines, such as vertical lines, for example, each with a label denoting its location. An arrow joining the location lines points in the same direction as the message and has an associated label indicating message identity. Further message source and destination locations are denoted by further lines, such as vertical lines, for example, only if the location is additional to a location already displayed. Otherwise an already displayed line denotes the relevant location. Further labelled arrows denote further messages. Each successive monitored message is denoted by a further arrow at a lower place on the display than the arrows denoting previous messages so successive items are added in a non-overlapping bottom-down manner.

Abstract: The invention shows a method and an apparatus for tuning a laser, comprising the steps of: creating a laser with a path between a cavity end element and a tuning element of an external cavity, both being a high reflective or semitransparent mirror, selecting at least one longitudinal mode of the laser by introducing a dispersion element in the path of the laser, rotating the tuning element about a pivot axis theoretically defined by the intersection of the surface planes of the cavity end element, the dispersion element and the tuning element to tune the laser. The inventive method and apparatus is characterized by moving the dispersion element along such a predetermined path to at least partly compensate an shift between the real position of the pivot axis and the theoretically defined position.

Abstract: In the context of matching a laser diode (154) with a laser driver IC (20), a microwave stub (166, 200, 202, 220, 222) is used in place of a conventional shunt resistor/capacitor network and takes advantage of radio frequency/microwave effects of electrical conductors on high frequency signals. The microwave stub (166, 200, 202, 220, 222) is a piece of microwave transmission line with a characteristic impedance defined by its physical dimensions and the PCB material of which it is made. With a transmission line having a characteristic of a distributed set of capacitors and inductors, the transmission line can be tuned to work over a range of frequencies by changing its operating length/width. A capacitor (168) is used to short circuit between the microwave stub (166, 200, 202, 220, 222) and ground (170b), with the position of the capacitor along the microwave stub (166, 200, 202, 220, 222) determining the operating length (and hence the frequency) of the microwave transmission line.

Abstract: The invention shows a method and an apparatus for tuning a laser, comprising the steps of: creating a laser with a path between a cavity end element and a tuning element of an external cavity, both being a high reflective or semitransparent mirror, selecting at least one longitudinal mode of the laser by introducing a dispersion element in the path of the laser, rotating the tuning element about a pivot axis theoretically defined by the intersection of the surface planes of the cavity end element, the dispersion element and the tuning element to tune the laser. The inventive method and apparatus is characterized by moving the dispersion element along such a predetermined path to at least partly compensate an inclination between the real position of the pivot axis and the theoretically defined position.

Abstract: A device power supply includes an amplifier, a high output-side force terminal connected to the output of the amplifier, a high-output side sense terminal, and a first feedback circuit from the high output-side sense terminal to the input of the amplifier, where there is a first low-pass filter in between the amplifier output and the first feedback circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking attitude of a device includes fixing a two-dimensional array of photosensors to the device and using the array to form a reference frame and a sample frame of images. The fields of view of the sample and reference frames largely overlap, so that there are common imaged features from frame to frame. Sample frames are correlated with the reference frame to detect differences in location of the common features. Based upon detection of correlations of features, an attitudinal signal indicative of pitch, yaw, and/or roll is generated. In the preferred embodiment, the attitudinal signal is used to manipulate a screen cursor of a display system, such as a remote interactive video system (RIVS). However, attitudinal tracking using the invention may be employed in other applications.