Abstract: A duplicated part of identical images in an encoded image data master is judged to be selected. Image data to be reused is generated by adding a storage instruction to encoded image data of the duplicated part of the first identical image, and converting encoded image data of the duplicated part of the second identical image into a reuse instruction. In a reproduction process, decoded data in the encoded image data part including the storage instruction is stored in a vacant area and the decoded data is read at the point of the reuse instruction.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes a detection device which detects an improper image portion of image information, a correction device which corrects the improper image portion, a display device which displays an image whose improper image portion has been corrected by the correction device and an instruction device which instructs to re-correct the improper image portion using the image displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.

Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.

Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.

Abstract: A technique involves making mono-axially oriented draw tape. The technique involves forming a solid sheet of thermoplastic material from molten thermoplastic material, and producing a set of draw tape feeds from the solid sheet of thermoplastic material. The technique further involves stretching and annealing the set of draw tape feeds to orient molecules within the set of draw tape feeds such that tensile strength of each draw tape feed is greater in a first direction than in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. As a result, the draw tape feeds are extremely strong in the first direction and well-suited for use in draw tape bags.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing shell for a crankshaft thrust bearing. The bearing shell has a circumferential oil passage (4) formed on the inside of shell (6) of bearing shell (1). Oil passage (4) is connected via a hole (2) to the outside of and to a groove (7) running to one of flanges (5) and (8) at the end of shell (1). In this way, flange (8) is supplied oil to achieve improved lubrication in the axial loading direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a self-lubricating thrust bearing having a number of axially-aligned parts. The bearing is preferably in cartridge form and includes an internal circular spring. The spring is located between two adjacent disks and functions to force the disks apart when the bearing loading is below a predetermined amount. In this manner, when the bearing loading is low, the spring applies pressure to the bearing's components and any attached structure. When the bearing loading exceeds a predetermined amount, the spring becomes compressed sufficiently to enable direct contact between the disks while not interfering with the rotational movement of any part of the bearing. The spring can be made of any resilient material, such as spring steel or an elastomer.

Abstract: In an arrangement and method for mounting a camshaft onto a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine by camshaft bearings disposed on the cylinder head of the engine camshaft bearing by support seats which are formed integrally with the cylinder head and bearing caps which are formed integrally with a cylinder head cover mounted onto the cylinder head, at least one of the bearings is an assembly bearing with a separate assembly bearing cap that has a bearing opening of a diameter greater than that of the camshaft so that the camshaft when placed onto the bearing seats is not fully moved into the bearing seat openings but is fully engaged with the bearing seats only when the cylinder head cover is mounted onto the cylinder head whereby the camshaft in the assembly bearing is moved out of contact with the assembly bearing cap.

Abstract: A bearing system for a turbocharger shaft includes two angular contact ball bearings mounted in the opposite ends of a lubricated rotatable elongated cylinder, which includes a radially extending flange at one end that cooperates with stationary housing portions and carries the thrust load of the rotor in both directions. The angular contact ball bearing on the turbine end (hot end) of the machine is provided with a radial spring between the outside of its outer race and the elongated cylinder, which prevents rotation of the outer race, but still allows axial movement of the outer race in the elongated cylinder due to axial expansion of the shaft when exposed to high temperature. The inner races of the ball bearings are separated by a spacer, which is clamped in place between the bearings when the rotor assembly lock nut is tightened. Thus, the inner race of the bearings and spacer rotate with the shaft as part of the rotating assembly.

Abstract: A shaft suspension comprises a rigid inner ring designed for receiving a shaft bearing, a rigid outer ring surrounding the inner ring with radial clearance, a resilient connecting member bridging the clearance between inner ring and outer ring, and a bearing support which extends about the outer ring and includes lugs for fastening it to the bottom of a motor vehicle. The bearing support is composed of a support plate on which the lugs are formed, a loop and an elastomer member in which the loop is embedded. The loop is made from one or several strands of steel wire or yarns of natural or synthetic fibers, suspended from the support plate and extends, in contrast to the latter, about a part of the outer ring. This suspension results in a specifically good structure-borne noise insulation and allows axial movements of the suspended shaft such as are occurring for example in the case of a vehicle running on a rough road.

Abstract: A rolling bearing unit comprises a shaft body, an inner ring mounted on the shaft body, an outer ring concentric with the inner ring, and a plurality of balls between the inner ring and the outer ring. A caulking portion to be caulked onto the outer end face of the inner ring is formed on the shaft body. A pre-load is applied to the balls to fix the inner ring to the shaft body. The retained austenite amount of an edge of the inner ring in the vicinity of the caulking portion is set between 3% or more and 20% or less.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a small and low-cost variable polarization plane rotator that can control a rotation angle of the polarization plane easily, and an optical device using the same.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for compensating for polarization mode dispersion which is caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide, to an optical communication network having such an apparatus, and a method for compensating for polarization mode dispersion which is caused during transmission of a light wave via an optical waveguide is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor interrogation system which comprises an optical fiber, at least one sensor containing first and second fiber lasers attached to the optical fiber with the first fiber laser being located spectrally at a first wavelength and the second fiber laser being located spectrally at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a pump laser for causing light to travel down the optical fiber so as to cause each of the fiber lasers to lase at its distinct wavelength and generate a distinct laser signal representative of the distinct wavelength, at least one filter for receiving the laser signals generated by the first and second lasers and for transmitting the laser signals from the first and second lasers within a wavelength band, and first and second scanning Fabry-Perot spectrum analyzers for receiving the laser signals for determining the wavelength difference between said fiber lasers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for sensing the curvature of a towed hydrophone array and a curvature sensor used in the system. The system has at least two curvature sensors positioned along the length of the array. Each of the curvature sensors comprises a bend member which bends as the array bends, at least one optical fiber within the bend member, and at least one detection device embedded within the at least one optical fiber to detect a change in the strain in the at least one optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical gain device, such as an optical amplifier or an optical repeater, and a method for dynamically adjusting the gain of an optical gain device fast enough to propagate OFC signals. The invention utilizes an active feedback control loop combined with an 1 input power monitor which can respond very quickly to changes in the input power and reduce the gain of the device without turning off the pump laser. Preferably, the gain is reduced by a wavelength-locked loop, used to detune the pump laser center wavelength from the passband of an optical bandpass filter.

Abstract: A system for compensating for distortions in optical signals, wherein the series connection of a controllable polarization-dependent delay element and of a controllable filter allows good signal distortion correction; for example, due to group delay dispersion or polarization mode dispersion. The series circuit also may contain further devices for signal improvement.

Abstract: A system and method directed to an integrated fiber optic splitter assembly having at least two fused splitters disposed in a common substrate. An integrated optical splitter assembly includes a plurality of input fibers, a plurality of output fibers, and a plurality of splitters disposed on a single substrate to either split or couple optical signals between the input and output optical fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photonic device, an optical logic circuit incorporating the photonic device and a method of manufacturing thereof. The photonic device may comprise a clathrated structure including a dielectric material, having a fluorescent material infiltrated therein. The photonic device may include a waveguide optically coupled to the clathrated structure.

Abstract: An optical switch (1) includes a first collimator (5) retaining a first input fiber (11) and a second output fiber (13), a second collimator (6) retaining a first output fiber (12) and a second input fiber (14), a switching element (30), a driving device (40), and a base (50). The switching element has a third reflector (33) fixed to the base and a first and second reflectors (31, 32) attached to a moveable block (41). The driving device moves the first and the second reflectors between a first position and a second position. The switching element switches light signals coming from the first and second input fibers between the first and second output fibers depending on whether the first and second reflectors reflect the light (in the first position) or whether the third reflector reflects the light (in the second position).

Abstract: A first multimode interferometer has a first input port to which an optical signal is applied, a first output port, and a second output port. A first optical waveguide is connected to the first output port of the first multimode interferometer. The first optical waveguide has a refractive index changed in response to a trigger signal externally applied. A second optical waveguide is connected to the second output port. A triggering unit supplies, to the first optical waveguide, the trigger signal for changing the refractive index of the first optical waveguide. An optical switch is provided which can increase the processing speed, can reduce the device size, and is free from dependency on the polarization state of an optical signal.

Abstract: A dispersion mitigating interleaver assembly has a first unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) assembly which includes first and second output ports and which has first transmission vs. wavelength curve and a first dispersion vs. wavelength curve. The dispersion mitigating interleaver assembly also includes a second unbalanced MZI assembly which has a second transmission vs. wavelength curve and a second dispersion vs. wavelength curve. The second unbalanced MZI assembly receives an output from one of the first and second output ports of the first unbalanced MZI assembly. The second transmission vs. wavelength curve is substantially the same as the first transmission vs. wavelength curve and the second dispersion vs. wavelength curve is substantially opposite with respect to the first dispersion vs. wavelength curve, such that dispersion is substantially cancelled by the cooperation of the first and second unbalanced MZI assemblies.

Abstract: A vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) is formed by providing a monolithic portion having a first laser cavity mirror and an active region disposed on the first mirror. The cavity is completed with a second laser cavity mirror, such as a DBR, deposited onto the light-receiving end of an optical device, such as an optical fiber. The DBR-on-fiber-end is mounted with respect to the active region to complete the laser cavity and to provide automatic coupling of the output laser light into the fiber.

Abstract: An optical unit has multiple optical devices, a collimated coupler disposed relative to the multiple optical devices so that laser light can be transferred between at least two of the multiple optical devices and the collimated coupler without crosstalk, and a fused glass collimator, disposed within the collimated coupler, having multiple optical fibers arranged in a predetermined arrangement relative to the multiple optical devices so that the number of optical fibers is always equal to or greater than the number of optical devices on a use basis.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has a laser, an optical fiber, and a guide piece located between the laser and the optical fiber. The laser, the optical fiber, and the guide piece each have a numerical aperature, the numerical aperatures being related so as to modify a multimode light beam passing from the laser to the fiber via the guide piece by preventing coupling of at least some higher order modes to the fiber. A method of enhancing bandwidth in a multi-mode fiber involves passing a light beam through a guide piece having a numerical aperature relationship relative to a laser from which it receives the light beam and a fiber to which it couples the light beam so as to modify modal properties of the light beam and increase bandwidth in a transceiver.

Abstract: An apparatus which couples light to a fiber from a light source at an input plane while reducing back reflections includes returning light reflected back through such that the returning light does not substantially overlap with an output of the light source in the input plane. This apparatus may include a mode matching element and/or an angular distribution altering element. The apparatus may be reciprocal.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a dense wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. The method and system include providing a dual fiber collimator, a filter and a filter holder. The dual fiber collimator includes a lens and a capillary. The capillary is for holding a plurality of fibers. The filter holder has an aperture therein. The filter is disposed between the dual fiber collimator and the filter holder. The filter has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is covered with a filter coating. The filter is affixed to the filter holder by the second surface.

Abstract: A system and method for precisely controlling the wavelength selective function provided by fiber Bragg gratings in optical fiber elements. The system and method exploits a wavelength-locked loop servo-control circuit and methodology that enables real time adjustment of the grating pattern being written to said fiber optical link element by a grating writing source to thereby mutually align a center wavelength of the peaked wavelength selective function resulting from the grating pattern with a center wavelength of the optical signal transmitted over a communication channel provided by the fiber. A real-time adaptive dispersion compensation technique for optical fibers is additionally provided that exploits the wavelength-locked loop servo-control circuit.

Abstract: A light coupling element is proposed with a surface (3) of a material which is transparent to light of a given wavelength (&lgr;). In order for the light coupling element to act independently of the direction of the vectorial parameters of the light, such as in particular of the polarization, on the surface of the light coupling element line-form indentations or elevations (51, 52) are provided which are equidistantly parallel and which intersect at given angles (&phgr;).

Abstract: A regenerated optical waveguide is fabricated by hydrogenating an optical waveguide (12) and exposing a grating section (28) to a UV laser beam interference fringe pattern (14) to form a Type I grating. The grating section (28) is exposed for a second period to erase the Type I grating, and then a third period to cause a regenerated optical waveguide grating to form. The resonant wavelength increases during the third period from being substantially the same as the final wavelength of the Type I grating.

Abstract: A tunable dispersion compensating device includes a grating element in the form of a bulk or large diameter waveguide, having an outer cladding disposed about an inner core. The grating element may be etched, grounded or machined to form a generally “dog bone” shape, wherein the end portions of the grating element has a larger diameter than the center portion disposed therebetween. A chirped grating is written or impressed within the portion of the core disposed in the center portion of the grating element. The center portion is tapered to allow different stresses to be applied along the grating length when the grating element is compressed longitudinally by force F, and thereby vary chirp of the grating to tunably compensate for dispersion.

Abstract: A dispersion compensation apparatus (10) includes a chirped fibre Bragg grating (CFBG) (12) coupled to a mechanical support (16) within a bending apparatus (14). The bending apparatus (14) is operable to bend the mechanical support (16) and hence the grating (12). Bending the grating (12) changes the periodicity, and thus the group delay characteristic, of the grating. The group delay characteristic of an initially linearly CFBG can thereby be made nonlinear. The grating (12) may be used to simultaneously compensate for chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope, and can therefore be used to recompress optical pulses.

Abstract: A collimator lens which makes it possible to limit the direction in which the optical axis of the light discharged from the collimator lens deviates to a specific direction and to accomplish alignment easily is to be provided.

Abstract: An electrically tunable coupler device is disposed on a substrate comprising a first and a second waveguide, for guiding optical signals. The coupler device comprises a heater element disposed adjacent the first waveguide for thermo-optically shifting the phase of the optical signal in the first waveguide in response to a control voltage applied to the heater element. The heater element is disposed in an interaction region of the optical signals, such that, within the interaction region, a temperature gradient across the first and the second waveguide is generated in dependence on the applied control voltage. A heat sink element can be disposed adjacent the second waveguide to absorb thermal energy from the heater element. This device can be fabricated at reduced cost and in increased packing density and is usable e.g. in directional couplers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, optical ring resonators, IIR filters, or optical modulators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for cross-connecting the individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons. A plurality of individual optical fibers are routed onto a substrate to form at least one first optical ribbon. The individual fibers are reorganized on the substrate to form a plurality of second fiber optic ribbons. A plurality of individual dummy optical fibers are routed onto the substrate to increase the number of individual optical fibers of the second fiber optic ribbons without including the dummy optical fibers in the at least one first fiber optic ribbon.

Abstract: An optical connector system comprises at least one shield case (14) provided through a panel (12) at a through-hole of the panel, and at least one pair of housings (13 and 13′) provided in the shield case, each housing receiving at least one plug (17) and having at least one sleeve (15) for aligning and holding top end of the plug. The shield case comprises at least one insertion hole (25) in which the plug is inserted, a partition plate (24) made of a conductive material and provided between the pair of housings, and a flange portion (27) made of a conductive material and grounded to the ground of the panel. The partition plate and flange portion are provided such that leakage and entrance of electromagnetic waves from the through-hole of the panel are minimized.

Abstract: An optical head comprises an optical head body having a proximal face and a distal face. Eight optical fibers extend through the optical head body. Each of the optical fibers has fiber ends on the proximal face and the distal face. The fiber ends on the proximal face are grouped in two fiber end arrays each comprising four fiber ends evenly spaced from each other. Each of the fiber end arrays is in optical alignment with a transmitter chip or a receiver chip. The fiber ends on the distal face are evenly spaced from each other in a single array of eight fiber ends.

Abstract: An optical transmitter/receiver unit having an optical connector with an optical device array block and a multi channel optical fiber block is presented. The optical device array block includes at least one optical device for converting an electric signal to an optical signal or for converting an optical signal to an electrical signal. The optical devices is mounted on a silicon optical bench having a series of grooves for inserting, attaching and aligning each optical device. The optical device array block can be optically coupled to a multi channel optical fiber block that includes at least one optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal, the optical fiber being mounted in V-shaped grooves on a silicon V block. The V-shaped grooves on the V-block and the mounting grooves on the silicon optical bench allow for accurate alignment of each optical fiber with corresponding optical devices.

Abstract: An optical transceiver module comprises a base (1), a pair of metallic releasable latches (4) attached to opposite lateral sides of the base, and a housing. The housing includes an upper housing (71) and a lower housing (72), which are mounted to an upper side and a lower side of the base respectively. Each latch includes a retention portion (41), and a spring portion (42) bent generally perpendicularly from an outer end of the retention portion. The retention portions of the latches are inserted into receiving grooves (17) defined in side walls (14, 15) of the base. The spring portions of the latches sit on the side steps (152) of the base. The upper housing electrically engages with rear parts of the spring portions. Any electrostatic charge that develops on the upper and lower housings is dissipated to external ground via the latches.

Abstract: A small form factor pluggable optoelectronic transceiver module comprises top and bottom housings (1, 2), a chassis (3), a receptacle (4), a PCB (5), an optoelectronic subassembly (6), and a shielding shell (9). The optoelectronic subassembly is received in the receptacle. The shielding shell is fixed on the PCB, and encases a transmitting circuit on the PCB. The chassis is attached to the PCB with screws, and accommodates and protects the PCB. The top housing is attached to the chassis and the receptacle. The top and bottom housings are attached together, encapsulating therein the receptacle, the chassis, the PCB and the shielding shell. The shielding shell provides EMI protection and ESD shielding, and reduces electrical crosstalk. The module also forms multiple grounding paths between a grounding circuit of the PCB and the top and bottom housings.

Abstract: A fiber optic module according to the invention includes a housing, a light source, a positioning device, and an optical fiber. The housing defines interior and exterior regions of the module. The housing has a source receiving aperture and a fiber receiving aperture. Each aperture extends from the exterior region of the module to the interior region thereof. The light source is attached to the housing and extends at least partially into the interior region of the module through the source receiving aperture. The positioning device is attached to the housing and extends at least partially into the interior region of the module through the fiber receiving aperture. The positioning device has a central axis, an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the fiber receiving aperture, and a bore extending through at least a portion thereof. The bore has an axis that is eccentric with respect to the central axis.

Abstract: The incident angle of the beam with regard to an etalon is arranged finely tunable by either rotating the etalon provided with a plane of incidence inclined with regard to the rotational axis thereof in the vicinity of the optical axis or rotating a lens whose edge surface is obliquely ground around the optical axis, which allows the incident angle of the laser beam with regard to the etalon to be adjusted and fixed with high precision.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for optically coupling a semiconductor light-emitting device to an optical fiber, includes (a) a lens which focuses lights emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device, onto the optical fiber, (b) a shell which supports the lens therewith, the shell being comprised of a cylindrical first portion, a second portion integral with the first portion at an upper end of the first portion and being formed centrally with an opening into which the lens is to be fit, and a cylindrical third portion extending from the first portion upwardly beyond the second portion, (c) glass arranged around the lens for keeping the lens and the opening hermetically sealed, and (d) a reinforcement formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the second portion for preventing the shell from being deformed due to a stress acting on the shell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical coupling device which can realize compulsive cooling, temperature detection, and effective use of energy in its package, and has a simpler arrangement for the conventionally-used thermal design, improved safety by a temperature detection, and less energy consumption. The optical coupling device of the present invention includes: a light emitter provided on an input lead frame; a photoreceptor provided on an output lead frame; a load driving semiconductor element provided on a front surface of the output lead frame, and connected to the photoreceptor via the output lead frame; and a sealing resin section as a package for protecting the light emitter, the photoreceptor and the load driving semiconductor element, wherein a thermoelectric conversion element is provided in the package.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a drop cable includes the step of providing a strength member including a yarn including a non-conductive and tensile strength fiber. The method includes the step of arranging a core including an optical fiber side-by-side the strength member. The method includes the step of arranging a messenger wire side-by-side the core. The method includes the step of extruding the strength member, the core, and the messenger wire together for sheathing.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical fiber cable of diameter D1 (mm) in which an adhesive layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 200 &mgr;m, a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer are sequentially formed around the outside of an optical fiber in which the outermost layer is composed of vinylidene fluoride polymer; wherein, in the case the diameter of the optical fiber is represented with Da (mm), the thickness of the adhesive layer is represented with d (mm), and Da+2d is represented with D2, then D1/D2=1.2 to 3.5, and an optical fiber cable with plug that uses this optical fiber. Thus, the resulting optical fiber cable has superior flame resistance, is resistant to peeling of the optical fiber and coating layers, and is resistant to the occurrence of pistoning phenomenon. The optical fiber may also be composed of a core, a sheath formed around the core, and a protective layer formed around the sheath.

Abstract: A three-dimensional prism image guide system for multiple optical signal transmission including a first prism formed from a fiber image guide having first and second ends, with the second end having first and second angled faces. A second prism formed from a fiber image guide is also provided with first and second ends. The first end has first and second angled faces. The first angled face of the first end of the second prism is in facing relationship to the second angled face of the second end of the first prism to form a first optical connection. A third prism is provided having first and second ends. The first end has at least a first angled face that is in facing relationship to the first angled face of the second end of the first prism to form a second optical connection.

Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit includes at least one optical waveguide core, and at least one feature proximate the core having a stress-engineered property to balance stress and therefore minimize birefringence affecting the core. A protective passivation layer is formed over the core and the feature to be substantially non-interfering with the balanced stress provided by the feature. The stress balancing feature may be an overcladding layer formed over the core, doped to have a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately matched to that of an underlying substrate, to symmetrically distribute stress in an undercladding between the overcladding and the substrate, away from the core. The protective passivation layer is formed to have a coefficient of thermal expansion approximately matched to that of the overcladding. In one exemplary embodiment, the passivation layer is formed from silicon nitride. Related concepts of stress release grooves, and core overetching, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coplanar waveguide for use in dielectric spectroscopy of biological solution is described. The waveguide's inner conductor can have a small gap and a sample containing space is laid over the gap. The sample containing space holds a small volume, ranging from a few picoliters to a few microliters of a biological solution. The waveguide is then driven with electrical signals across an extremely wide frequency range from 40 Hz to 40 GHz. The waveguide is coupled to a network or impedance analyzer by means of appropriate connectors and the response of the biological solution to the input signals is recorded. One-port and two-port measurements can be made without any modifications. The simple geometry of the waveguide makes it easy to integrate with microfluidic systems.