Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEM) apparatus is disclosed which has a platform that can be elevated above a substrate and tilted at an arbitrary angle using a plurality of flexible members which support the platform and control its movement. Each flexible member is further controlled by one or more MEM actuators which act to bend the flexible member. The MEM actuators can be electrostatic comb actuators or vertical zip actuators, or a combination thereof. The MEM apparatus can include a mirror coating to form a programmable mirror for redirecting or switching one or more light beams for use in a projection display. The MEM apparatus with-the mirror coating also has applications for switching light beams between optical fibers for use in a local area fiber optic network, or for use in fiber optic telecommunications or data communications systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a MEM system (10) having a platform (14) that is both elevatable from the substrate (12) on which it is fabricated and tiltable with one, two or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate (12). In one embodiment, the MEM system (10) includes the platform (14), a pair of A-frame structures (40), and two pairs of actuators (30) formed on the substrate (12). Ends (46A) of rigid members (46) extending from apexes (40A) of the A-frame structures (40) are attached to the platform (14) by compliant members (48A, 48B). The platform (14) is also attached to the substrate (12) by a compliant member (48C). The A-frame structures (40) are separately pivotable about bases (40B) thereof. Each pair of actuators (30) is coupled through a yoke (32) and displacement multiplier (34) to one of the A-frame structures (40) and is separately operable to effect pivoting of the A-frame structures (40) with respect to the substrate (12) by equal or unequal angular amounts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a MEM system (10) having a platform (14) that is both elevatable from the substrate (12) on which it is fabricated and tiltable with one, two or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate (12). In one embodiment, the MEM system (10) includes the platform (14), a pair of A-frame structures (40), and two pairs of actuators (30) formed on the substrate (12). Ends (46A) of rigid members (46) extending from apexes (40A) of the A-frame structures (40) are attached to the platform (14) by compliant members (48A, 48B). The platform (14) is also attached to the substrate (12) by a compliant member (48C). The A-frame structures (40) are separately pivotable about bases (40B) thereof. Each pair of actuators (30) is coupled through a yoke (32) and displacement multiplier (34) to one of the A-frame structures (40) and is separately operable to effect pivoting of the A-frame structures (40) with respect to the substrate (12) by equal or unequal angular amounts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a MEM system (10) having a platform (14) that is both elevatable from the substrate (12) on which it is fabricated and tiltable with one, two or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate (12). In one embodiment, the MEM system (10) includes the platform (14), a pair of A-frame structures (40), and two pairs of actuators (30) formed on the substrate (12). Ends (46A) of rigid members (46) extending from apexes (40A) of the A-frame structures (40) are attached to the platform (14) by compliant members (48A, 48B). The platform (14) is also attached to the substrate (12) by a compliant member (48C). The A-frame structures (40) are separately pivotable about bases (40B) thereof. Each pair of actuators (30) is coupled through a yoke (32) and displacement multiplier (34) to one of the A-frame structures (40) and is separately operable to effect pivoting of the A-frame structures (40) with respect to the substrate (12) by equal or unequal angular amounts.

Abstract: Methods of screening compounds for their ability to inhibit monocarboxylate transport, and methods of making and using such inhibitors to treat disorders associated with cellular proliferation, e.g., immune-mediated disorders and cancer.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system is disclosed that constrains the direction of a force acting on a first load, where the force originates from the interaction of the first load and a second load. In particular, the direction of a force acting on the first load is caused to be substantially parallel with a motion of the first load. This force direction constraint is achieved by a force isolator microstructure that contains no rubbing or contacting surfaces. Various embodiments of structures/methods to achieve this force direction constraint using a force isolator microstructure are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a free space optical cross connect for switching optical signals between a plurality of optical signal ports to/from the switch interface. In one embodiment, a single chip 2N OXC (10) for switching optical signals (12) between any one of N input optical fibers (14) and any one of N output optical fibers (16) within a compact free space switch interface (18) includes N reflective microstructures (20) built/assembled on a substrate (30) and N positioning systems (40) associated with the reflective microstructures (20) that are also built/assembled on the substrate (30).

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system is disclosed that constrains the direction of a force acting on a first load, where the force originates from the interaction of the first load and a second load. In particular, the direction of a force acting on the first load is caused to be substantially parallel with a motion of the first load. This force direction constraint is achieved by a force isolator microstructure that contains no rubbing or contacting surfaces. Various embodiments of structures/methods to achieve this force direction constraint using a force isolator microstructure are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel optical channel processing unit is disclosed that is useful for multiplexing, demultiplexing and switching optical signals in a WDM network. In one embodiment, the optical channel processing unit is implemented as an optical switch (700) for interfacing any of various multichannel input ports (702) with any of various multichannel output ports (704). The illustrated switch (700) includes a two-dimensional array of input ports (702) and a two-dimensional array of output ports (704). An input signal (705) is transmitted via a spectral device (706) to an input movable mirror array (708). A signal transmitted by an output port (704) is transmitted via a spectral device (712) to mirrors (714) of an output mirror movable mirror array (716). Each mirror of each array (708 and 716) is movable to target any selected mirror of the opposing array (708 or 716). The arrays (708 and 716) thereby support full multichannel switching functionality for more than two channels.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system is disclosed that constrains the direction of a force acting on a first load, where the force originates from the interaction of the first load and a second load. In particular, the direction of a force acting on the first load is caused to be substantially parallel with a motion of the first load. This force direction constraint is achieved by a force isolator microstructure that contains no rubbing or contacting surfaces. Various embodiments of structures/methods to achieve this force direction constraint using a force isolator microstructure are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to off axis optical signal redirection architectures that employ positionable reflective microstructures (e.g. microelectromechanical (MEM) mirrors) fabricated on one or more substrates. In one embodiment, an optical signal redirection system (10) includes a reflective microstructure array (12) formed on a substrate (30). The reflective microstructure array (12) includes one or more reflective microstructures (14). Each of the reflective microstructures (14) includes an optically reflective surface (20) and is positionable with respect to the substrate (30) in order to orient its reflective surface (20) for redirecting optical signals (24) incoming from one or more originating locations (16) to one or more target locations (18).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data recovery technique for recovering unrecoverable data from a sector having a synchronization field damaged after formatting time or a synchronization mark that has been written improperly. The present invention may try conventional or traditional data recovery techniques first, but if these techniques are ineffective, these techniques can be bypassed in favor of an additional recovery mode. Based upon overall design parameters of a disk drive system and the recording medium format, the disk drive firmware estimates a synchronization mark starting position, analyzes the accuracy of that position and when re-synchronization has not yet occurred, the firmware makes iterative estimates within a window relative to the starting position, and analyzes these subsequent positions for accuracy as well. Once a synchronization mark is located, the data in the sector can be recovered.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEM) apparatus is disclosed which has a platform that can be elevated above a substrate and tilted at an arbitrary angle using a plurality of flexible members which support the platform and control its movement. Each flexible member is further controlled by one or more MEM actuators which act to bend the flexible member. The MEM actuators can be electrostatic comb actuators or vertical zip actuators, or a combination thereof. The MEM apparatus can include a mirror coating to form a programmable mirror for redirecting or switching one or more light beams for use in a projection display. The MEM apparatus with the mirror coating also has applications for switching light beams between optical fibers for use in a local area fiber optic network, or for use in fiber optic telecommunications or data communications systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a MEM system (10) having a platform (14) that is both elevatable from the substrate (12) on which it is fabricated and tiltable with one, two or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate (12). In one embodiment, the MEM system (10) includes the platform (14), a pair of A-frame structures (40), and two pairs of actuators (30) formed on the substrate (12). Ends (46A) of rigid members (46) extending from apexes (40A) of the A-frame structures (40) are attached to the platform (14) by compliant members (48A, 48B). The platform (14) is also attached to the substrate (12) by a compliant member (48C). The A-frame structures (40) are separately pivotable about bases (40B) thereof. Each pair of actuators (30) is coupled through a yoke (32) and displacement multiplier (34) to one of the A-frame structures (40) and is separately operable to effect pivoting of the A-frame structures (40) with respect to the substrate (12) by equal or unequal angular amounts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a free space optical cross connect for switching optical signals between a plurality of optical signal ports to/from the switch interface. In one embodiment, a single chip 2N OXC (10) for switching optical signals (12) between any one of N input optical fibers (14) and any one of N output optical fibers (16) within a compact free space switch interface (18) includes N reflective microstructures (20) built/assembled on a substrate (30) and N positioning systems (40) associated with the reflective microstructures (20) that are also built/assembled on the substrate (30).

Abstract: An optical transceiver with a transimpedance amplifier generates a dynamic common mode voltage of the peak-to-peak output current of the photodetector for use as an in-situ optical power meter. Peak-to-peak voltage signal are imposed on the common mode voltage so optical power measurements are obtained using preexisting electrical contacts. An nfet and a capacitor of the transimpedance amplifier smooths the peak-to-peak voltage to create the control signal for the common mode voltage. The common mode current is mirrored into a bank of pfets at the output stage to create a current sink. Depending upon the potential of the common mode voltage, more or less current will be drawn from the peak-to-peak voltage signals output from a final differential amplifier stage of the transimpedance amplifier.

Abstract: Software for building a block diagram representation of a system includes instructions for defining a propagation block having an input port for receiving information indicative of an attribute set of an input signal and an output port for providing information indicative of an attribute set of an output signal on the basis of the attributes of the input signal. The software includes instructions for associating, with the propagation block, a rule-set for determining the output attribute set on the basis of the input attribute-set.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEM) apparatus is disclosed which has a platform that can be elevated above a substrate and tilted at an arbitrary angle using a plurality of flexible members which support the platform and control its movement. Each flexible member is further controlled by one or more MEM actuators which act to bend the flexible member. The MEM actuators can be electrostatic comb actuators or vertical zip actuators, or a combination thereof. The MEM apparatus can include a mirror coating to form a programmable mirror for redirecting or switching one or more light beams for use in a projection display. The MEM apparatus with-the mirror coating also has applications for switching light beams between optical fibers for use in a local area fiber optic network, or for use in fiber optic telecommunications or data communications systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of data to a viewer of a television system. In particular the information is provided in a visual and/or audible indication to the viewer of a selected program as to when the next program in that program series is scheduled to be shown. The identity and schedule data is retrieved from data received relating to the generation of an EPG or alternatively from the data broadcast along with the selected program being viewed.

Abstract: An optical transceiver having a transimpedance amplifier with an in-situ optical power meter is disclosed which realizes that the common mode voltage of a peak-to-peak voltage signal derived from impinging light is related to the optical power of the impinging light. The peak-to-peak voltage signals, moreover, can be imposed on the common mode voltage so that the optical power measurements can be derived with existing electrical contacts. In the preferred embodiment, the optical power meter takes advantage of certain functions within a transimpedance amplifier of the optical receiver. First, the use of an nfet and a capacitor smooth the peak-to-peak voltage to create the control signal for the common mode voltage. Then the common mode current is mirrored into a bank of pfets at the output stage to create a current sink.