Abstract: Instrument control and data acquisition in advanced analytic systems that utilize optical pulses for sample analysis are described. Clocking signals for data acquisition, data processing, communication, and/or other data handling functionalities can be derived from an on-board pulsed optical source, such as a passively mode-locked laser. The derived clocking signals can operate in combination with one or more clocking signals from a stable oscillator, so that instrument operation and data handling can tolerate interruptions in operation of the pulsed optical source.

Abstract: The contribution of noise to digitally sampled signals is reduced using a statistical processor and a slope limiter. The statistical processor determines an average value (mean and/or standard deviation) of the filtered signal which is used to determine a slope limit corresponding to an expected maximum first derivative value of a target signal frequency. This slope limit is applied to constrain the output of an analog to digital converter, to prevent the output of the analog to digital converter from exceeding this maximum rate of rise or fall. By constraining the output of the analog to digital converter, it is possible to digitally sample analog signals without first utilizing an anti-aliasing filter, since the post processing of the digitally sampled signals limits the contribution of the higher frequency components of the signal to thereby enable a fully digital sampling and filtering circuit to be provided for receiving signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a symbol decision threshold at a receiver in a communication network enables the receiver to be adapted to more correctly receive symbols as transmitted by a transmitter. In one embodiment, a received bit imbalance is detected by a receiver prior to error correction and after error correction to determine whether an error component of the received signal contains larger numbers of ones or larger numbers of zeros. Where the transmitter scrambles the signal prior to transmission, the receiver will also scramble the signal after error correction and prior to counting the number of zeros or ones. Any imbalance between the number of transmitted and received ones or zeros is used as feedback to adjust threshold values used by detectors to fine tune the manner in which the receiver interprets incoming signals.

Abstract: The contribution of noise to digitally sampled signals is reduced using a statistical processor and a slope limiter. The statistical processor determines an average value (mean and/or standard deviation) of the filtered signal which is used to determine a slope limit corresponding to an expected maximum first derivative value of a target signal frequency. This slope limit is applied to constrain the output of an analog to digital converter, to prevent the output of the analog to digital converter from exceeding this maximum rate of rise or fall. By constraining the output of the analog to digital converter, it is possible to digitally sample analog signals without first utilizing an anti-aliasing filter, since the post processing of the digitally sampled signals limits the contribution of the higher frequency components of the signal to thereby enable a fully digital sampling and filtering circuit to be provided for receiving signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the contribution of noise to digitally sampled signals includes a statistical processor and a slope limiter. The statistical processor determines an average value (mean and/or standard deviation) of the filtered signal which is used to determine a slope limit corresponding to an expected maximum first derivative value of a target signal frequency. This slope limit is applied to constrain the output of an analog to digital converter, to prevent the output of the analog to digital converter from exceeding this maximum rate of rise or fall. By constraining the output of the analog to digital converter, it is possible to digitally sample analog signals without first utilizing an anti-aliasing filter, since the post processing of the digitally sampled signals limits the contribution of the higher frequency components of the signal to thereby enable a fully digital sampling and filtering circuit to be provided for receiving signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the contribution of noise to digitally sampled signals includes a statistical processor and a slope limiter. The statistical processor determines an average value (mean and/or standard deviation) of the filtered signal which is used to determine a slope limit corresponding to an expected maximum first derivative value of a target signal frequency. This slope limit is applied to constrain the output of an analog to digital converter, to prevent the output of the analog to digital converter from exceeding this maximum rate of rise or fall. By constraining the output of the analog to digital converter, it is possible to digitally sample analog signals without first utilizing an anti-aliasing filter, since the post processing of the digitally sampled signals limits the contribution of the higher frequency components of the signal to thereby enable a fully digital sampling and filtering circuit to be provided for receiving signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting a symbol decision threshold at a receiver in a communication network enables the receiver to be adapted to more correctly receive symbols as transmitted by a transmitter. In one embodiment, a received bit imbalance is detected by a receiver prior to error correction and after error correction to determine whether an error component of the received signal contains larger numbers of ones or larger numbers of zeros. Where the transmitter scrambles the signal prior to transmission, the receiver will also scramble the signal after error correction and prior to counting the number of zeros or ones. Any imbalance between the number of transmitted and received ones or zeros is used as feedback to adjust threshold values used by detectors to fine tune the manner in which the receiver interprets incoming signals.

Abstract: Gas is admitted to an in-container purification unit 202 via an inlet 212 located at or near the gas discharge end 220 of the unit. This feature is advantageous because it allows a liquefied gas container to be filled to a level above the second end of the body of the unit without the problem of dispensing liquefied gas.

Abstract: Gas is admitted to an in-container purification unit 202 via an inlet 212 located at or near the gas discharge end 220 of the unit. This feature is advantageous because it allows a liquefied gas container to be filled to a level above the second end of the body of the unit without the problem of dispensing liquefied gas.