Abstract: An Ethernet-based optical network system includes a first optical transmitter that can receive a first electric signal and to produce a first optical signal, a first optical receiver that can convert the first optical signal to a second electric signal. The first electric signal, the first optical signal, and the second electric signal have a first transmission baud rate. A down converter can receive a third electric signal having the first transmission baud rate and to produce a fourth electric signal having a second transmission baud rate. A second optical transmitter can receive the fourth electric signal and produce a second optical signal having the second transmission baud rate. A second optical receiver can convert the second optical signal to a fifth electric signal having the second transmission baud rate. An up converter can convert the fifth electric signal to a sixth electric signal having the first transmission baud rate.

Abstract: The detection part has: a subtraction module for calculating correction data from data of detection systems when a reference-voltage generation module applies a reference voltage to the detection systems; a data-holding module for holding the correction data; an addition module for making a correction of detection data; a comparison module for comparing the detection data with switching data; and a selector for switching data of the detection systems including data subjected to the correction according to the output of the comparison module.

Abstract: An optical communication system including a plurality of transceiver ports each including a transmitter configured to produce a downstream MLM-spectrum signal and a receiver configured to receive an upstream spectrum-sliced signal. The spectrum of the downstream MLM-spectrum signal comprises a plurality of distinct narrow-spectrum peaks each corresponding to a longitudinal mode.

Abstract: A foldable polymer-based coil structure and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The coil structure has metal wirings and interconnections between the wirings. The wirings and connections are embedded by a polymer. The coil structure is foldable in two or more layers. In the folded condition, coils of one layer overlap the coils of another layer. A stackable structure and jigs for aligning the foldable and stackable structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes a first wavelength filter, a bidirectional amplifier, and a second wavelength filter. The first wavelength filter can receive a downstream broad-spectrum signal and output a downstream spectrum-sliced signal in response to the downstream broad-spectrum signal. The bidirectional amplifier can amplify the downstream spectrum-sliced signal. The second wavelength filter can receive the amplified downstream spectrum-sliced signal from the bidirectional amplifier and route the amplified downstream spectrum-sliced signal. The second wavelength filter can also output an upstream spectrum-sliced signal in response to an upstream broad-spectrum signal. The bidirectional amplifier can amplify the upstream spectrum-sliced signal to product an amplified upstream spectrum-sliced signal that is subsequently routed by the first wavelength filter.

Abstract: A real-time system adapted to a PVD apparatus for monitoring and controlling film uniformity is described. The system includes a shielding plate, a monitoring device, and a data processing program. The shielding plate is disposed on an inner wall of a reaction chamber above a wafer stage. An opening in the center of the shielding plate exposes the wafer. The monitoring device including a scanner and a sensor respectively disposed on opposite sidewalls of the reaction chamber between the shielding plate and the wafer stage is used for measuring the flux of the particles on every portion of the wafer to acquire real-time uniformity data including a function of the wafer position and the flux. The data processing program compares the real-time uniformity data and reference uniformity data, and a feedback signal is outputted to the PVD apparatus to adjust the process parameter thereof for controlling film uniformity.

Abstract: The invention relates to proton-conducting polymers, including tetrazole-containing polymers. Proton-conducting membranes useful for fuel cell applications are formed from mixtures of a polymer with one or more non-aqueous proton sources. In representative examples of the present invention, tetrazole groups are attached to a polymer backbone such as polyphosphazene, the tetrazole groups interacting with the proton source.

Abstract: Low molecular weight semicrystalline propylene-alpha olefin copolymers containing propylene crystallinity are used as a nucleating agent in crystalline polypropylene and polypropylene copolymers. The nucleating copolymers are propylene-alpha olefin copolymers having a percent crystallinity of 5-75%, a melting point of 45° C.-105° C., and an MFR between 300 and 5000 g/10 min. Nucleated polypropylene compositions comprise a nucleating amount of the copolymer blended in a matrix of polypropylene homopolymer, or 0.01 to 9 wt % ?-olefin copolymer, having a melting point greater than 110° C. The nucleating copolymer improves processing time with little or no effect on the crystallinity-associated characteristics of the matrix. The invention also provides methods of crystallizing polypropylene with the nucleating agent and of forming articles with the composition, and also provides articles formed from the composition and/or by the method.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged. An energy discriminating (ED) detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The ED detector includes a first direct conversion layer and a second direct conversion layer. The first direct conversion layer comprises a first direct conversion material and the second direct conversion layer comprises a second direct conversion material that is different from the first direct conversion material. A data acquisition system (DAS) is operably connected to the ED detector and a computer operably connected to the DAS.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising 1) from 1 to 98 weight % of a first propylene polymer having a melting point of 100° C. or more, 2) from 5 to 98 weight % of a second propylene polymer having a heat of fusion of 70 J/g or less and a tacticity index of 75% or more, 3) from 0.

Abstract: A protection device for a sprinkler is connected between two rods of the sprinkler and includes two recessed support areas which are located beneath two extreme positions of a travel trace of the pivotable tube of the sprinkler. When the pivotable tube is pressed by a load, the pivotable tube is supported by either of the two recessed support areas so as to protect the gear mechanism from being damaged.

Abstract: A hose includes a central tube located at a center of the hose and a plurality of ribs are connected between the central tube and an inner periphery of the hose so as to define multiple second passages between the central tube and the inner periphery of the hose. The hose includes a circular cross section and is conveniently connected with existed spray nozzles or sprinklers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed to compensate for skew and asymmetry of a locally processed system clock used to synchronize an output signal, e.g., a data signal or a timing signal, from a logic circuit, for example a memory device. A first phase detector, array of delay lock loop (DLL) delay elements and accompanying circuitry are disclosed to phase-lock the rising edge of the output signal with the rising edge of the system clock XCLK signal. Additionally, a comparator circuit, a register delay, an array of DLL delay elements and accompanying circuitry are disclosed to add or subtract delay from the falling edge of the DQ signal in order to produce a symmetrical output of the DQ signal.

Abstract: A novel on-line method is presented for the extraction and preconcentration of amino acids using a sol-gel coated column coupled to a conventional UV/vis detector. Extraction, stacking and focusing techniques are used in the preconcentration procedures. Sol-gel coatings are created by using N-Octadecyldimethyl[3(trimethoxysilyl)proply] ammonium chloride (C18-TMS) in the coating sol solutions. The resulting sol-gel coating carries a positive charge. For extraction, the pH of the samples is properly adjusted to impart a net negative charge to amino acids. A long plug of the sample is then passed through the sol-gel coated capillary to facilitate extraction via electrostatic interaction between the positively charged sol-gel coating and the negatively charged amino acid molecules. The focusing of the extracted amino acids is accomplished through desorption of the extracted amino acid molecules carried out by local pH change. The described procedure provides 150,000-fold enrichment effect for alanine.

Abstract: A data strobe synchronization circuit includes first and second logic circuits receiving global data strobe pulses and respective enable signal. A control circuit initially applies an enable signal to the first logic circuit so that the first logic circuit generates a first data strobe pulse responsive to each global data strobe pulse. The control circuit receives a write control signal. When the write control signal becomes active, the control circuit terminates the enable signal applied to the first logic circuit and applies an enable signal to the second logic circuit. The second logic circuit then generates a second data strobe pulse responsive to the next global data strobe pulse. The first and second data strobe pulses are used to latch a data signal in respective flip-flops. The data strobe pulses may latch the data signal in pairs of flip-flops on the leading and trailing edges of the data strobe pulses.

Abstract: A CT detector includes a plurality of metallized anodes with each metallized anode separated from another metallized anode by a gap. A direct conversion material is electrically coupled to the plurality of metallized anodes and has a charge sharing region in which an electrical charge generated by an x-ray impinging the direct conversion material is shared between at least two of the plurality of metallized anodes. An x-ray attenuating material is positioned to attenuate x-rays directed toward the charge sharing region.

Abstract: A detector module for a CT imaging system includes a scintillator to convert x-rays to optical photons. The scintillator is optically coupled to a solid-state photomultiplier with internal gain to receive the optical photons and convert them into a corresponding electrical signal output.

Abstract: A CT detector includes a pixel having a single photodiode and multiple charge storage devices that are alternately stored and read out. The photodiode is a frontlit diode with a pair of capacitors that alternately store charge generated during data acquisition. Multiple pixels are connected to a single readout amplifier. Charge is continuously acquired from each photodiode and stored on the charge storage devices, but such readout is from a single charge storage device at a time. As such, each charge storage device is read out independently, but the charge storage devices are connected to a common readout channel or port.

Abstract: A proton conducting polymer includes a polymer backbone and a heterocyclic compound attached to the polymer backbone. The heterocyclic compound includes a sulfonyl functionality bonded to heterocyclic compound.

Abstract: An adaptive data acquisition circuit (26) includes an amplifier (14) for amplifying electrical pulses generated by a detector (12) responsive to energy incident at the detector. The adaptive data acquisition circuit also includes a counting circuit (28) for counting amplified electrical pulses generated by the amplifier. In addition, the adaptive data acquisition circuit includes a digital logic circuit (30) for determining a pulse parameter indicative of a pulse rate and an amount of energy present in the amplified electrical pulses and for generating a control signal (34) responsive to the pulse parameter for controlling an operating parameter of the data acquisition circuit.