Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a desktop search tool that allows users to efficiently retrieve or locate a desired object on their computer. Users specify their search based on a time context. In addition, the desktop search tool may provide its results in a temporal context to assist the user in browsing through the results.

Abstract: A resonator method and system for distinguishing characteristics of surface features or contaminants provides improved inspection or surface feature detection capability in scanning optical systems. A resonator including a surface of interest in the resonant path is coupled to a detector that detects light leaving the resonator. Changes in the resonance peak positions and peak intensities are evaluated against known changes for standard scatters in order to determine the material characteristics of an artifact at the surface of interest that causes a resonance change. The lateral size of the artifact is determined by de-convolving a known illumination spot size with the changing resonance characteristics, and the standard scatterer data is selected in conformity with the determined artifact size.

Abstract: Dynamic tutorial generation for user help and user guidance in generating a property of an exemplar object is provided. The user identifies the exemplar object, the object or one of its properties is analyzed, user operations for producing the property of the object are determined, and the determined user operations are presented. Path finding logic may be used to identify a sequence of states using transform operations to reach a goal state with the desired property of the object. Transformation operations may be applied and the resulting states may each be compared to the goal state using a heuristic that yields a similarity metric between each of the resulting states and the goal state.

Abstract: A method and system for optical measurement via a resonator having a non-uniform phase profile provides a mechanism for measuring and/or detecting sub-micron surface features with increased resolution. A second surface forming part of a resonator is illuminated through a first partially reflective surface that has a non-uniform phase profile that transitions from negative to positive phase with respect to a resonance phase value of the resonator. As a result, a reduced spot size is produced at the second surface, which enhances the resolution of a measurement and/or detection of surface features on the second surface. Additionally, if a discontinuity is provided in the non-uniform phase profile, interaction of the discontinuity with surface features of the second surface will provide enhanced resolution of the surface features. The resolution of the system is improved over the resolution that can be attained using a Fabry-Perot resonator.

Abstract: Users searching for common subject matter on a computer network are identified and enabled to communicate with one another, such as by engaging in an on-line chat. The users' search queries are transmitted to a server and processed to identify which users are searching for common subject matter within a time window. A dialogue such as an on-line chat is launched and the identified users are invited to join. The users may preview the chat before joining. The users can share links to resources such as web pages and provide annotations to accompany the links. Additionally, the users' search queries may be shared in the chat. The functionality may be provided by a plug-in to web browser software, or by an executable script embedded in a web page of search results.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to assist users with the entry of strong passwords. The password may be considered strong if it satisfies one or more requirements. A set of these requirements may be selected and then presented to the user. The requirements may be randomly selected one by one or as a group. The requirements may also be presented to the user one by one in a random order or in the form of a list with a random order. As characters for the password are entered, the user may then be notified when one or more the requirements have been satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system for determining surface feature characteristics (including position and dimensions) using slit detectors provides a low-cost and high-speed measurement system for inspecting a surface. The system includes multiple slit detectors positioned so that a feature on a surface scanned by the system is detected by at least two detectors that are rotationally offset from each other and from the direction of scanning, a scanning control system for providing motion to the surface of interest in relation to the detectors, and an electronic analyzer for computing characteristics (including position and dimensions) of surface features.

Abstract: A chat user interface for threaded text chat systems. The user interface can include a canvas view in which multiple portions of a threaded text tree for a chat session can be rendered separately and concurrently. The user interface further can include a chat participant view, a chat input view and an outline view of an ongoing chat session. Notably, selections of a threaded text tree rendered in the canvas view can be configured for zooming so that certain parts of the threaded text tree can be viewed more readily than other parts of the threaded text tree. Moreover, as new text entries are provided to any branch of the threaded text tree, visual indicators can be activated in the canvas view to alert an end user to the location of the new text entries. Finally, the canvas view can accommodate both imported external objects, such as graphics or links to Web pages, and also a white board region into which notations can be applied by an end user during the course of a chat session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including in-resonator imaging lens for improving resolution of a resonator-enhanced optical system provides resolution improvements for optical inspection and measurement systems, optical storage and retrieval systems as well as other optical systems. An imaging lens is incorporated in the resonator to image a point or area of one of the reflective surfaces of the resonator on a point or area of another reflective surface of the resonator. Resonance may be supported between the two surfaces, or with respect to only one surface with the other surface acting as an intermediary reflector. The partially reflective surface or a totally reflective surface may also be incorporated on a planar outside surface of the imaging lens.

Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging resonator and method therefor provides improved surface height measurement capability in optical measuring systems. A resonator including a surface of interest in a resonant image path is coupled to an external multi-pixel detector that detects an image of intensity of light reflected from or transmitted through the resonator. An imaging system is included in the resonator to image a region of a surface of interest on another reflector forming part of the resonator. By changing an effective cavity length of the resonator, the image is “scanned” in a direction perpendicular to the other reflector and a processing system stores information corresponding to resonance peaks to achieve a mapping of feature height above the surface of interest. The resonator effective cavity length can be changed by sweeping the illumination wavelength or by mechanically or otherwise altering the optical length of the resonator.

Abstract: A resonator method and system for distinguishing characteristics of surface features or contaminants provides improved inspection or surface feature detection capability in scanning optical systems. A resonator including a surface of interest in the resonant path is coupled to a detector that detects light leaving the resonator. Changes in the resonance peak positions and peak intensities are evaluated against known changes for standard scatters in order to determine the material characteristics of an artifact at the surface of interest that causes a resonance change. The lateral size of the artifact is determined by de-convolving a known illumination spot size with the changing resonance characteristics, and the standard scatterer data is selected in conformity with the determined artifact size.

Abstract: A Fabry-Perot resonator apparatus and method including an in-resonator polarizing element improves detection/measurement sensitivity of an optical system, provides both fields at a single end of the resonator, and overcomes other structural and performance limitations of particular optical systems. A polarizing element, which may be a quarter-wave plate, a 45-degree Faraday rotator or other polarizing element capable of converting between linear and circular polarizations and back, is placed in the resonance path of the Fabry-Perot resonator. The polarizing element effectively doubles the cavity length and orthogonally isolates forward from reverse reflection rays within the resonator, eliminating interference between rays and providing isolated bright and dark fields at each end of the resonator.

Abstract: A resonant ellipsometer and method for determining ellipsometric parameters of a surface provide an efficient and low-cost mechanism for performing ellipsometric measurements. A surface of interest is included as a reflection point of a resonance optical path within a resonator. The intersection of the resonance optical path with the surface of interest is at an angle away from normal so that the complex reflectivity of the surface alters the phase of the resonance optical path. Intensity measurements of light emitted from a partially reflective surface of the resonator for orthogonal polarizations and for at least two effective cavity lengths provide complete information for computing the ellipsoidal parameters on the surface of interest. The resonator may be a Fabry-Perot resonator or a ring resonator. The wavelength of the illumination can be swept, or the cavity length mechanically or electronically altered to change the cavity length.

Abstract: A method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system incorporating a reference resonator provides improved operation in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem, an illumination coupler for producing a measurement beam and a reference beam from an output of the optical illumination source, a reference resonator for receiving the reference beam, a measurement resonator for receiving the measurement beam, at least two detectors, one optically coupled to the reference resonator and one optically coupled to the measurement resonator, and a time-domain measurement system coupled to the detectors for comparing detected optical signals received from the resonators. The detected signal from the reference resonator is used to compensate or detect variations in the wavelength of the illumination system, improving the resolution and accuracy of the measurement provided by the measurement resonator.

Abstract: A method and system for determining surface feature characteristics (including position and dimensions) using slit detectors provides a low-cost and high-speed measurement system for inspecting a surface. The system includes multiple slit detectors positioned so that a feature on a surface scanned by the system is detected by at least two detectors that are rotationally offset from each other and from the direction of scanning, a scanning control system for providing motion to the surface of interest in relation to the detectors, and an electronic analyzer for computing characteristics (including position and dimensions) of surface features.

Abstract: A method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system incorporating a reference resonator provides improved operation in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem, an illumination coupler for producing a measurement beam and a reference beam from an output of the optical illumination source, a reference resonator for receiving the reference beam, a measurement resonator for receiving the measurement beam, at least two detectors, one optically coupled to the reference resonator and one optically coupled to the measurement resonator, and a time-domain measurement system coupled to the detectors for comparing detected optical signals received from the resonators. The detected signal from the reference resonator is used to compensate or detect variations in the wavelength of the illumination system, improving the resolution and accuracy of the measurement provided by the measurement resonator.

Abstract: A method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system provides improved operation in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem having a swept-wavelength mode, a detection subsystem, an interferometer or an optical resonator interposed in an optical path between the illumination subsystem and the detection subsystem and a time domain analysis subsystem. Multiple resonance points of the optical resonator are detected by the time-domain subsystem when the illumination subsystem is in the swept-wavelength mode in order to determine resonator or interferometer characteristic changes. The resulting information can be used directly as a measurement output, or cavity length information may also be used to adjust the operating wavelength of a constant wavelength mode of the illumination subsystem.

Abstract: A method and system for optical measurement via a resonator having a non-uniform phase profile provides a mechanism for measuring and/or detecting sub-micron surface features with increased resolution. A second surface forming part of a resonator is illuminated through a first partially reflective surface that has a non-uniform phase profile that transitions from negative to positive phase with respect to a resonance phase value of the resonator. As a result, a reduced spot size is produced at the second surface, which enhances the resolution of a measurement and/or detection of surface features on the second surface. Additionally, if a discontinuity is provided in the non-uniform phase profile, interaction of the discontinuity with surface features of the second surface will provide enhanced resolution of the surface features. The resolution of the system is improved over the resolution that can be attained using a Fabry-Perot resonator.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling resonance within a resonator-enhanced optical system provides improved tracking performance in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem and a detection subsystem with an optical resonator interposed in an optical path between the illumination subsystem and the detection subsystem. The resonance of the optical resonator is tuned, either by changing the wavelength of the illumination subsystem or the geometric path length within the resonator. Closed-loop feedback control signals can thereby maintain resonance at a desired operating point. The feedback control signal components can be further used to provide measurement data if the resonance of the optical resonator is a function of a measured surface, such as when a reflective surface of the resonator is a surface under measurement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including in-resonator imaging lens for improving resolution of a resonator-enhanced optical system provides resolution improvements for optical inspection and measurement systems, optical storage and retrieval systems as well as other optical systems. An imaging lens is incorporated in the resonator to image a point or area of one of the reflective surfaces of the resonator on a point or area of another reflective surface of the resonator. Resonance may be supported between the two surfaces, or with respect to only one surface with the other surface acting as an intermediary reflector. The partially reflective surface or a totally reflective surface may also be incorporated on a planar outside surface of the imaging lens.