Abstract:
A package for a surface-emitting laser encloses the die between a sub-mount and a cap. The sub-mount and the cap can be formed using wafer processing techniques that permit a wafer level packaging process which attaches multiple die to a sub-mount wafer, attaches caps either separated or as part of a cap wafer to the sub-mount wafer, and cuts the structure to separate individual packages. The cap includes a transparent plate that can be processed to incorporate an optical element such as a lens. An alignment post attached to the cap indicates the position of an optical signal from the laser and fits snugly into one end of a sleeve while an optical fiber connector fits into the other end.
Abstract:
A micro-machined valve assembly includes a valve diaphragm that will not adhere to a valve seat during elevated temperature operation. The valve assembly has a valve seat, a diaphragm suspended over the valve seat, the diaphragm configured to contact the valve seat upon the application of an actuating pressure on the diaphragm. The diaphragm has a continuous film of a first material, where a portion of the first material in a region where the diaphragm contacts the valve seat includes a first metallic material. The absence of an adhesive or the addition of the metal layer extends the operating temperature of the valve by preventing adhesion of the diaphragm to the valve seat during high temperature operation. Selection of an appropriate material for the metal layer can improve chemical inertness of valve, thereby reducing the possibility that the material flowing through the valve will react with the metal.
Abstract:
A device with a multi-layered micro-component electrical connector. The multi-layer micro-component electrical connector includes a dielectric layer, a micro-mesh of a first electrical conductor secured to the dielectric layer, and a second electrical conductor secured to and contacting the micro-mesh to provide electrical communication. The dielectric layer has a dielectric layer thermal expansion coefficient and the first electrical conductor has a thermal expansion coefficient different from the dielectric layer thermal expansion coefficient. Due to the presence of the micro-mesh the device is operable at temperatures above 250° C. without delamination or blistering of the first electrical conductor from the dielectric layer.
Abstract:
A flow conditioning system includes a flow randomizing section for receiving an input fluid stream and for increasing the uniformity of the streamwise velocity components of the input fluid stream while randomizing the non-streamwise velocity components, so as to provide a randomized fluid stream; a flow expansion section for receiving the randomized fluid stream and damping the non-streamwise velocity components therein, so as to provide a damped fluid stream; and a flow straightening section for receiving the damped fluid stream and for dividing the damped fluid stream into multiple, parallel output substreams so as to provide a laminar flow profile in an output fluid stream.
Abstract:
Sample analysis in a portable analytical instrument, preferably in the form of a gas chromatograph, benefits from temperature control of one or more thermal zones in the instrument by way of a thermal isolation system that includes a novel pumping assembly to effect a selective amount of thermal isolation of the thermal zone. The pumping assembly includes a pumping element in the form of a tubular or planar palladium structure. The pumping assembly makes use of the unique properties of palladium to allow selective control of a nominal gas pressure within a vacuum cavity. A component system, which may include a separation column and a thermal device for heating and/or cooling the component system, may be provided within the vacuum cavity. The thermal device and the pumping assembly are individually controlled by a control system. The pumping assembly may be operated to allow selective control of the thermal isolation of the thermal zone; alternatively, the component system may be subject to a controlled temperature by operating the thermal device. A sample mixture passing through the separation column may thereby be exposed to a desired temperature profile according to a selected program so that the sample will separate into its components for subsequent detection by a detector.
Abstract:
Sample analysis in a portable analytical instrument, preferably in the form of a gas chromatograph, benefits from temperature control of one or more thermal zones in the instrument by way of a thermal isolation system that includes a novel pumping assembly to effect a selective amount of thermal isolation of the thermal zone. The pumping assembly includes a pumping element in the form of a tubular or planar palladium structure. The pumping assembly makes use of the unique properties of palladium to allow selective control of a nominal gas pressure within a vacuum cavity. A component system, which may include a separation column and a thermal device for heating and/or cooling the component system, may be provided within the vacuum cavity. The thermal device and the pumping assembly are individually controlled by a control system. The pumping assembly may be operated to allow selective control of the thermal isolation of the thermal zone; alternatively, the component system may be subject to a controlled temperature by operating the thermal device. A sample mixture passing through the separation column may thereby be exposed to a desired temperature profile according to a selected program so that the sample will separate into its components for subsequent detection by a detector.
Abstract:
A hybrid RJ-45 plug is provided that has both an electrical coupling configuration and an optical coupling configuration. The electrical coupling configuration is an 8P8C electrical wiring configuration that complies with the RJ-45 electrical wiring standard. The optical coupling configuration includes an optics system that provides the plug with optical communications capabilities. The hybrid RJ-45 plug is backwards compatible with an existing RJ-45 jack that implements an RJ-45 electrical wiring standard. However, the hybrid RJ-45 plug is also configured to mate with an optical jack that has only optical communications capabilities and to mate with a hybrid RJ-45 jack that has both optical and electrical communications capabilities.
Abstract:
An electrical-to-optical and optical-to-electrical converter plug device includes a plug-shaped housing assembly, electrical contact fingers, a substantially planar circuit substrate, an optics block, and one or more opto-electronic conversion devices mounted on the circuit substrate. The opto-electronic signal conversion device has a device optical axis oriented normal to the circuit substrate and electrically coupled to the contact fingers. The optics block has a device optical port aligned with the device optical axis. The optics block has a fiber optical port oriented perpendicularly to the device optical axis. The optics block includes an optical reflector interposed in an optical path between the device optical port and the fiber optical port for redirecting an optical signal at an angle of substantially 90 degrees between a device optical port and a corresponding fiber optical port. An optical fiber can be coupled to the fiber optical port.
Abstract:
An optical package includes a sub-mount, an edge-emitting laser mounted on the sub-mount, a collimating ball lens mounted on the sub-mount adjacent to the edge-emitting laser, a mirror mounted on the sub-mount adjacent to the collimating ball lens. The sub-mount is made of a bottom wafer. A lid is bonded to the sub-mount to form the laser package. The lid is made of a middle wafer bonded to a top wafer. The middle wafer defines an opening that accommodates the edge-emitting laser, the collimating ball lens, and the mirror. The opening is defined by vertical sidewalls. The top wafer further includes a lens above the mirror.
Abstract:
A wafer-level device fabrication process forms standing structures around emitting areas of multiple VCSELs. The standing structures can be shaped to hold ball lenses or other optical elements for respective VCSELs or can include platforms on which optical elements are formed. Ball lenses that are attached to the standing structures either during chip-level or wafer-level processes fit into the standing structures and are automatically aligned. Wafer level fabrication of optical elements can align the optical elements with accuracies associated with photolithographic processes. The optical elements can be formed using a molding or replication process, a printing method, or surface tension during a reflow of lithographically formed regions.