Abstract: Methods and systems for coupling a light source assembly to an optical integrated circuit are disclosed and may include a system comprising a laser source assembly having a laser, a rotator, and a mirror, where the laser source assembly is coupled to a die including an angled grating coupler and a waveguide. The system may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, rotate the polarization of the optical signal utilizing the rotator, reflect the rotated optical signal onto the grating coupler on the die, and couple the optical signal to the waveguide, where an angle between a grating coupler axis that is parallel to the waveguide and a plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler is non-zero. The angle between the grating coupler axis and the plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler may be 45 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coupling a light source assembly to an optical integrated circuit are disclosed and may include a system comprising a laser source assembly having a laser, a rotator, and a mirror, where the laser source assembly is coupled to a die including an angled grating coupler and a waveguide. The system may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, rotate the polarization of the optical signal utilizing the rotator, reflect the rotated optical signal onto the grating coupler on the die, and couple the optical signal to the waveguide, where an angle between a grating coupler axis that is parallel to the waveguide and a plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler is non-zero. The angle between the grating coupler axis and the plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler may be 45 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coupling a light source assembly to an optical integrated circuit are disclosed and may include a system comprising a laser source assembly having a laser, a rotator, and a mirror, where the laser source assembly is coupled to a die including an angled grating coupler and a waveguide. The system may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, rotate the polarization of the optical signal utilizing the rotator, reflect the rotated optical signal onto the grating coupler on the die, and couple the optical signal to the waveguide, where an angle between a grating coupler axis that is parallel to the waveguide and a plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler is non-zero. The angle between the grating coupler axis and the plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler may be 45 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coupling a light source assembly to an optical integrated circuit are disclosed and may include a system comprising a laser source assembly having a laser, a rotator, and a mirror, where the laser source assembly is coupled to a die including an angled grating coupler and a waveguide. The system may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, rotate the polarization of the optical signal utilizing the rotator, reflect the rotated optical signal onto the grating coupler on the die, and couple the optical signal to the waveguide, where an angle between a grating coupler axis that is parallel to the waveguide and a plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler is non-zero. The angle between the grating coupler axis and the plane of incidence of the optical signal reflected to the angled grating coupler may be 45 degrees.

Abstract: A material for bonding a first wafer to a second wafer, which includes an insulating adhesive with conductive particles embedded in the adhesive substance. When the adhesive is applied and melted or fused, and pressure is applied between the first wafer and the second wafer, the first wafer approaches the second wafer until a minimum separation is reached, defined by a dimension of the conductive particles. Each of the first wafer and the second wafer may have circuitry formed thereon, and the conductive particles may form a conductive path between the circuitry on one wafer and the circuitry on the other wafer. Advantageously, the high fusing temperature required by the insulating adhesive may also serve to activate a getter material, formed in the device cavity between the first wafer and the second wafer.

Abstract: A microfabricated cross flow filter may have multiple filtration stages. The filtration stages may include microfabricated filter barriers and gaps created in a substrate, thereby allowing very tight tolerances in the filter barrier and gap dimensions to be maintained. Using the microfabrication techniques, the filter barriers can be made having arbitrary shapes, and arranged at an angle or curved with respect to the flow direction, making the pressure drop across the filtration stage more uniform in the cross flow direction.

Abstract: A micromechanical particle sorting chip uses an actuator divided into two parts to direct a component of interest into one of a plurality of possible exit paths, based on detection of a fluorescent signal emanating from the component of interest. The two-part actuator may include a force-generating portion and a microactuator portion. The microactuator portion may be disposable, whereas the force-generating portion may be reuseable. By bringing the force-generating portion into proximity to the microactuator portion, the microactuator is induced to move, thereby separating the component of interest from the rest of the fluid stream. The force-generating portion and the microactuator portion may be optimized and fabricated separately, thereby leading to faster, more reliable and less expensive particle sorting.

Abstract: A micromechanical particle sorting chip uses laser light directed through at least one of a reflective and refractive surface to come to a focus in an optically transparent layer. The laser light impinges on a particle of interest, causing it to fluoresce. Upon detecting the fluorescence, a micromemchanical actuator is activated, which directs the particle of interest into one of a plurality of possible exit paths.