Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a plug nose body; a printed circuit board positioned within a cavity of the plug nose body; and a plug cover that mounts to the plug nose body to enclose the printed circuit board within the cavity. The printed circuit board includes a storage device configured to store information pertaining to the electrical segment of communications media. The plug cover defines a plurality of slotted openings through which the second contacts are exposed. A connector assembly includes a jack module and a media reading interface configured to receive the plug. A patch panel includes multiple jack modules and multiple media reading interfaces.

Abstract: A surface PIN (SPIN) device and a method of fabricating such a SPIN device. The SPIN device, when activated, confines carrier injection to a small volume near the surface of the device such that the device is sufficiently conductive to simulate a planar conductor. The SPIN device comprises a P+ region and an N+ region formed in an intrinsic (I) layer. The P+ and N+ regions are separated by a lateral length of intrinsic material of length L. The length L is approximately the carrier diffusion length. When DC bias is applied across the N+ and P+ regions carriers are injected into the intrinsic region at a density exceeding 1018 carriers per cubic cm. The intrinsic region is sufficiently thin to confine the carriers near the surface of the intrinsic region. As such, in the “on” state, the SPIN device simulates a conductive material. In the “off” state, the SPIN device is no longer conductive.

Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna capable of dynamic reconfigurability of several antenna parameters. Specifically, the present invention is an antenna comprising a plurality of surface PIN devices arranged in a gridlike array. Each of the SPIN devices can be individually activated or deactivated. When a SPIN device is activated, the surface of the device is injected with carriers such that a plasma is produced within the intrinsic region of the device. The plasma can be sufficiently conductive to produce conductor or metal like characteristics at the surface of the device. Various ones of the SPIN devices can be activated to electronically paint a conductive pattern upon the substrate supporting the PIN devices. Through selective activation of the SPIN devices various surface antenna patterns can be produced upon the substrate including dipoles, cross dipoles, loop antennas, Yagi-Uda type antennas, log periodic antennas, and the like.

Abstract: A microelectronic mechanical systems (MEMS) switch includes a vane formed over a substrate for electrically coupling an input line to an output line formed on the substrate. The vane includes flexible hinges, which support the vane from the input line and allow the vane to rotate about a pivot axis. The substrate includes pull-down and pull-back electrodes to actuate the MEMS switch. The pull-back electrode allows the present invention to overcome stiction effects.

Abstract: A microelectronic mechanical systems (MEMS) switch includes a vane formed over a substrate for electrically coupling an input line to an output line formed on the substrate. The vane includes flexible hinges, which support the vane from the input line and allow the vane to rotate about a pivot axis. The substrate includes pull-down and pull-back electrodes to actuate the MEMS switch. The pull-back electrode allows the present invention to overcome stiction effects.

Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna capable of dynamic reconfigurability of several antenna parameters. Specifically, the present invention is an antenna comprising a plurality of surface PIN devices arranged in a gridlike array. Each of the SPIN devices can be individually activated or deactivated. When a SPIN device is activated, the surface of the device is injected with carriers such that a plasma is produced within the intrinsic region of the device. The plasma can be sufficiently conductive to produce conductor or metal like characteristics at the surface of the device. Various ones of the SPIN devices can be activated to electronically paint a conductive pattern upon the substrate supporting the PIN devices. Through selective activation of the SPIN devices various surface antenna patterns can be produced upon the substrate including dipoles, cross dipoles, loop antennas, Yagi-Uda type antennas, log periodic antennas, and the like.

Abstract: A surface PIN (SPIN) device and a method of fabricating such a SPIN device. The SPIN device, when activated, confines carrier injection to a small volume near the surface of the device such that the device is sufficiently conductive to simulate a planar conductor. The SPIN device comprises a P+ region and an N+ region formed in an intrinsic (I) layer. The P+ and N+ regions are separated by a lateral length of intrinsic material of length L. The length L is approximately the carrier diffusion length. When DC bias is applied across the N+ and P+ regions carriers are injected into the intrinsic region at a density exceeding 1018 carriers per cubic cm. The intrinsic region is sufficiently thin to confine the carriers near the surface of the intrinsic region. As such, in the “on” state, the SPIN device simulates a conductive material. In the “off” state, the SPIN device is no longer conductive.

Abstract: A method of forming metal lines is described for semiconductor processing wherein a line mask is initially ion milled to provide a mask contour which promotes the onset of chemical etching at the base of the mask. This produces a metal line that has a tapered cross-sectional dimension wherein the base of the line is narrower than the top.