Abstract: An apparatus computes an inner product vector of a matrix and a vector. The matrix has a first set of coefficients and the vector has a second set of coefficients. At least one input register is used to store the second set of coefficients. A plurality of storage elements are used to store partial sums that are pre-calculated from the first set of coefficients of the matrix. The outputs of the at least one input register are used as the address inputs to the plurality of storage elements to select a subset of the partial sums. In addition, a select circuit is coupled to the storage elements' address lines to determine which row in the matrix the vector forms one element of the resultant inner product for that row. The subset of partial sums from the outputs of the storage elements are added in an adder circuit to create a summation output that presents the element of the inner product vector of the matrix multiplied by the vector.

Abstract: A pixel column amplifier architecture creates a reduced noise differential image signal from an pixel sensor array. The pixel column amplifier architecture comprises a first double sampling (DS) circuit and a second DS circuit that has the same configuration as the first DS circuit. An image signal containing a combination of noise components created on a substrate is coupled to the first DS circuit. A reference image signal, held in a reset state, represents the noise component of the image signal and is coupled to the second DS circuit. Further, a reference voltage source is coupled to a reference input of both the first DS and the second DS circuits. The first DS circuit provides the first side of the differential image signal, and the second DS circuit provides the second side of the differential image signal.

Abstract: In a communication system with an optical fibre transmission line (3), a compensation of chromatic dispersion due to the fibre (3) is performed through at least one compensation module (4; 4A . . . 4N) based on chirped optical fibre gratings having a group delay characteristic &tgr;(&ohgr;) which exhibits ripples around a nominally linear profile, as a function of the optical signal frequency. To minimise the effect of said ripples, the compensation is carried out in such a way that, for a given fibre length (3), the operating point is located in a limited slope region along the curve representative of system performance degradation owing to chromatic dispersion.

Abstract: A method and system for producing a compact uniform illumination beam that does not have a positional blind spot. First, non-collimated light beams that have a positional blind spot are received from a light source. Next, the noncollimated light beams are converted into approximately collimated light beams without the positional blind spot. Then, the collimated light beams are split into a plurality of split beams. These split beams are then overlapped to form a compact and uniform illumination beam.

Abstract: A low inductance integrated circuit package such as a ball grid array package in which is provided a electronic device that enhances performance on an integrated circuit mounted in the die attachment region of the package. The electronic device may be either passive or active and may include such devices as sensors, Zener diodes, voltage regulators, chip based devices, etc. Provision of such devices in a ball grid array package creates a cost effective way of improving the performance on an integrated circuit mounted in that package.

Abstract: A light-emitting diode includes a cup component, a plurality of electrical conducting traces formed on a surface of the cup component using an MID means, a light-emitting diode chip mounted on the cup component and electrically connected to at least a first and second electrical conducting trace of the plurality of electrical conducting traces, and a first connection part connected to at least the first and second electrical conducting traces for providing electrical connections to external circuitry. The light emitting diode may also include a protective element that electrically protects the light-emitting diode chip, and the connection part may include first and second leads connected electrically to the first and second electrical conducting traces, respectively. The cup component, light emitting diode chip, protective element, leads and other components may be assembled together and molded and sealed with resin.

Abstract: An electrical circuit and method substantially to mitigate the effects of a current increase due to a fault within the circuit. In particular, where the electrical circuit (80) includes a laser diode it is desirable to create a fault tolerant circuit to avoid a sudden increase in light intensity output by the laser diode. A track (44b) associated with the laser diode is identified and insulated by means of a layout of the circuit. Specifically, where the circuit is an integrated circuit, metal layers (42, 44, 46) and vias (50) are utilised to form an insulating shield (76) around the track (44b) associated with the laser diode.

Abstract: A color display device and a method is provided that renders images in a way optimized for perception by the human visual system, improving image color quality, and reducing device complexity are provided. The display device uses only two phases of illumination. This results in a reduction in sequential color artifact, cost and device complexity. A first illuminant source is optically coupled to a pixel and is adapted to provide a first color component on a first dual-color axis with a first duration. A second illuminant source is also optically coupled to the pixel and is adapted to provide a second color component on a second dual-color axis with a second duration. The first and the second color components are combined to illuminate the pixel with the first and second colors of the respective first and second durations whereby the pixel is perceived to be illuminated by a single color of a single intensity.

Abstract: In an array of acoustic resonators, the effective coupling coefficient of first and second filters are individually tailored in order to achieve desired frequency responses. In a duplexer embodiment, the effective coupling coefficient of a transmit band-pass filter is lower than the effective coupling coefficient of a receive band-pass filter of the same duplexer. In one embodiment, the tailoring of the coefficients is achieved by varying the ratio of the thickness of a piezoelectric layer to the total thickness of electrode layers. For example, the total thickness of the electrode layers of the transmit filter may be in the range of 1.2 to 2.8 times the total thickness of the electrode layers of the receive filter. In another embodiment, the coefficient tailoring is achieved by forming a capacitor in parallel with an acoustic resonator within the filter for which the effective coupling coefficient is to be degraded.

Abstract: A switching and/or rotuing system that utilizes high efficiency switched diffractive gratings to form optical switching, interconnection, and routing networks. The diffractive gratings are electrically, optically, or otherwise switchable, so that they may be turned “off” (a state in which the incident beam is undeviated) or “on” (a state in which the incident beam is diffracted to a new direction). All of the above switching and/or routing operations being accomplished in “free space.

Abstract: A cassette containing cartridges for sampling blood from a patient. The cassette includes a container for storing a plurality of cartridges and at least one cartridge in the container. The cartridge includes a cartridge case and a lancet. The lancet has a tip and is housed in the cartridge case. The lancet can be driven to extend the tip outside the cartridge case for lancing the skin of the patient to yield blood. The container has a compartment that contains at least one cartridge. A cartridge from the compartment can be loaded onto a glucometer that drives the lancet in the cartridge to lance the skin of a patient.

Abstract: A fiber channel interface controller incorporating a cost-efficient hardware implementation of the fiber channel arbitrated loop initialization protocol. Cost efficiency is achieved by determining the minimal buffer size required for storing information extracted from fiber channel arbitrated loop initialization frames and including in the fiber channel interface controller a memory buffer having this calculated minimum size. The inherent buffering capacity within all FC ports of the arbitrated loop and the ability to generate, on the fly, large portions of fiber channel arbitrated loop initialization frames, rather than storing and forwarding entire fiber channel arbitrated loop initialization frames, both combine to decrease the memory buffer size requirements for the fiber channel interface controller and to decrease the time required to carry out fiber channel arbitrated loop initialization.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) isolation test device providing versatility and flexibility, along with RF shielding, in the testing of various types of devices. The test device includes a removable plate providing connections for access to a device under test when located within the test device. It also includes a base plate for use in securing a removable nest plate within the test device to accommodate testing of various configurations of devices under test.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a resonator, and in particular, a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), and a resonator embodying the method are disclosed. An FBAR is fabricated on a substrate by introducing a mass loading electrode to a bottom electrode layer. For a substrate having multiple resonators, mass loading bottom electrode is introduced for only selected resonator to provide resonators having different resonance frequencies on the same substrate.

Abstract: A test fixture for electrically connecting a limited-access test target on a loaded circuit board with an interface probe of a tester may comprise an elongate test probe having a first end and a second end and a wireless interface printed circuit board having a first side and a second side. The first end of the elongate test probe is substantially aligned with the limited-access target on the loaded circuit board when the test fixture is positioned adjacent the loaded circuit board. A contact pad on the first side of the wireless interface printed circuit board is substantially aligned with the elongate test probe so that the contact pad contacts the second end of the elongate test probe. A contact target on the second side of the wireless interface printed circuit board is electrically connected to the contact pad on the first side of the wireless interface printed circuit board. The contact target contacts the interface probe of the tester when the test fixture is mounted on the tester.

Abstract: An ion acceleration apparatus and method, and a mass spectrometer using the apparatus and method, require only a single pulse generator for the collection and acceleration of ions. The apparatus, method and mass spectrometer are useful in time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). The apparatus, method and spectrometer save on manufacturing costs and complexity, without compromising measurement sensitivity or reliability. The ion acceleration apparatus comprises a plurality of conductive plates comprising a pulser electrode, three grids and preferably, a plurality of frames units, in a stacked relationship. The pulser electrode and a third grid form the outside ends of the ion acceleration apparatus. The plates of the stack are spaced apart and electrically insulated from one another. A power source provides fill, pulse and bias voltages to the plates.

Abstract: An efficient optical coupling arrangement of waveguides is achieved by providing compensation for the Goos-Hänchen effect along a total internal reflection interface. In one embodiment, the lateral shift of reflected light along the interface is calculated in order to determine a distance between axes of two waveguides. The spacing between the axes may be calculated to maximize coupling of light having a transverse electric polarization or light having a transverse magnetic polarization. Preferably, the spacing between axes is established to minimize polarization dependent loss. In another embodiment of the invention, the incidence angles of the two waveguides are selected on the basis of achieving equal lateral shifts of the two polarizations, so that polarization dependent loss is minimized.

Abstract: A voltage ramp/threshold variable pulse delay circuit implemented on an IC varies the R instead of the C, which may be fixed. A variable R is formed by a plurality of FET's arranged in parallel. The FET's are sized according to a weighting scheme, which may be binary, and the amount of R produced is determined by which combination of FET's is switched ON, rather than by analog variations in their drive level. If the plurality of sized parallel FET's is made up of individual FET's all of the same polarity, then an undesirable reduction in voltage comparison range will obtain, which may produce an objectionable reduction in available pulse delay if VDD is reduced such that it is no longer many times larger than FET threshold voltage. That reduction in voltage comparison range can be eliminated by replacing each such individual FET with a pair of similarly sized FET's in parallel, the members of which pair are of opposite polarities.

Abstract: Bistable switchable waveguide includes a guide layer constructed from a layer having a first index of refraction when the molecules of the material are aligned in a first direction and a second index of refraction when the molecules are aligned in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The guide layer is sandwiched between first and second surfaces that are in contact. The first surface causes the molecules of the guide layer adjacent to it to be aligned in the first direction. The second surface also includes a third region in which the second surface causes the molecules of the guide layer adjacent to it to be aligned in a second direction. The waveguide has first and second electrodes for causing the molecules of the guide layer to be aligned in a second direction that is the second direction in a region bounded by the third region and first surface.

Abstract: A ball grid technology circuit assembly for mounting and connecting a ball grid array circuit package having a grid array of ball pads to a printed circuit board and providing enhanced connections for testing of the ball grid array circuits. The printed circuit board includes a via array of vias wherein each via extends from the upper face of the printed circuit board to a lower face of the printed circuit board and is co-located with a ball pad of the ball grid array to provide a path between the ball pad and the lower end of the via to provide electrical access to the corresponding ball pad. A probe array includes a pin array of probe pins wherein each probe pin is co-located with a via of the via array to provide electrical contact with a ball pad of the ball grid array.