Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Alverix, Inc.

Peter R Robrish

Andreas G Weber

Charles D Hoke

Gongjian Hu

Rene P Helbing

Ken A Nishimura

Ian Hardcastle

John Phillip Ertel

Danielle Russell Chamberlin

Pierre H Mertz

A Fourier transform optical detection system for use with a test assay that has a sensitivity pattern, the detection system including a lens having a Fourier transform plane and detectors located in the Fourier transform plane positioned in an arrangement of a Fourier transform pattern of the sensitivity pattern.

Method for recognizing patterns from assay results

A technique for generating and detecting an EM signal in the THz range involves generating EM energy having multiple modes, selecting at least two of the modes of the EM energy to provide a multi-mode EM signal, subjecting the multi-mode EM signal to mixing, and isolating a beat signal component that results from the mixing. The spacing between adjacent ones of the selected modes, i.e., the frequency difference between the modes, is in the radio frequency (RF) or microwave frequency ranges. Signals in these ranges are commonly processed using electronic circuits at room temperature.

Terahertz detection using a multi-mode signal

Embodiments of the invention involve UV resistant liquid crystal cells. One embodiment of the invention is to increase the volume of the liquid crystal material that is stored inside the cell. For example, trenches may be used to provide reservoirs that hold the additional liquid crystal material. The inventive cell can be used as a SLM in photolithographic imaging systems.

Liquid crystal cell that resists degradation from exposure to radiation

The wafer-scale assembly method provides first elements arrayed on a wafer with adjacent ones of the first elements separated by a predetermined spacing. Second elements are also provided. A spacing-defining jig is provided that includes recesses corresponding in size to the second elements. Adjacent ones of the recesses are separated by a spacing equal to the predetermined spacing. The second elements are inserted into the recesses of the spacing-defining jig and are then affixed to the wafer with the second elements in alignment with corresponding ones of the first elements. Inserting the second elements in to the jig in which the recesses are separated by a spacing equal to the predetermined spacing allows a single alignment operation to provide accurate alignment between all the first elements, e.g., image sensors, arrayed on the wafer and all the second elements, e.g., lens assemblies, that are to be affixed to the first elements arrayed on the wafer.

Wafer-scale manufacturing method

A polarization control device, comprising: a liquid crystal device containing a liquid crystal material with an optical anisostropy with substantially homeotropically aligned molecules when in a neutral electrical field state; a plurality of electrodes for applying an electrical field to change an orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal material from their alignment in the neutral electrical filed state; a circuit for applying a voltage to the electrodes; and an optical system for directing light through the liquid crystal material.

Polarization control device

An optical switch constructed from first and second waveguides. The first and second waveguides have ends disposed across a gap such that light traversing the first waveguide enters the second waveguide when the gap is filled with a liquid having a first index of refraction, whereas light traversing the first waveguide is reflected by the gap when the gap is filled with a material having a second index of refraction that is substantially different from the first index of refraction. The gap is part of a trench that contains a liquid droplet made from a droplet material having the first index of refraction. The droplet is located in the trench and is movable between the first and second positions in the trench, the droplet filling the gap in the first position. The gap is filled with a material having the second index of refraction when the droplet is in the second position. The droplet may be moved using an electric field generated by a plurality of electrodes arranged such that an electrical potential applied between a first pair of the electrodes creates an electric field in a region of the trench containing the first position. The droplet can also be moved by differentially heating two edges of the droplet so as to create a net force on the droplet in a direction parallel to the direction of the trench. The heating can be accomplished by illuminating one edge of the droplet with light of a wavelength that is absorbed by the droplet material.

Total internal reflection optical switch utilizing a moving droplet

A polarization device comprising: a light path; a micro lens array disposed in the light path for separating light into a plurality of individual beams of light; a polarization filter disposed in the light path to receive a plurality of the beams of light and to transmit the received light of a desired polarization state and reflect the received light of a perpendicular polarization state that is perpendicular to the desired polarization state; and a reflecting polarization converter disposed to receive and reflect the reflected light of the perpendicular polarization state and to convert the perpendicular polarization state to the desired polarization state.

Polarization device

A controllable optical attenuator comprising an optical waveguide which extends longitudinally along the optical attenuator. The optical waveguide has an exposed surface and a core that is positioned directly adjacent the exposed surface. The attenuator further comprises at least one elongated chamber which is formed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the optical waveguide and a liquid droplet which is disposed within the elongated chamber, the droplet being movable along the chamber from a position lateral of the optical waveguide exposed surface to a position in which contact is made between the liquid droplet and the optical waveguide exposed surface. When the liquid droplet is positioned so as to contact the exposed surface of the optical waveguide, a portion of the optical signal transmitted along the waveguide core is absorbed by the droplet so as to attenuate the transmitted signal.

Controllable optical attenuator

An optical element constructed from a transparent support having a curved surface and a layer of a polarization-dependent film that is affixed to the curved surface. The polarization-dependent film passes linearly polarized light of a predetermined polarization while reflecting linearly polarized light having a polarization orthogonal to the predetermined polarization. The element is constructed by applying a layer of a transparent adhesive either to the layer of polarization-dependent film or to the curved surface. The support and layer of polarization-dependent film are then heated to a temperature above the temperature at which the polarization film can be deformed. The support and layer of polarization-dependent film are then pressed together so as to deform the layer of polarization-dependent film to cause the layer of polarization-dependent film to conform to the curved surface.

Polarization-dependent imaging element

A ferroelectric liquid crystal-based light valve comprising a light input, a light output, a polarizing beam splitter, a reflective spatial light modulator and a switchable half-wave plate. Light polarized parallel to a first direction is received through the light input. Light from the light input and reflected by the spatial light modulator is output from the light output. The reflective spatial light modulator is structured as a quarter-wave plate and has a principal axis that switches through an angle &phgr;. The polarizing beam splitter has orthogonal directions of maximum transmissivity and maximum reflectivity, one of which is parallel to the first direction. The polarizing beam splitter is located and aligned relative to the light input, the light output, and the spatial light modulator to transmit or reflect the light from the light input towards the spatial light modulator, and to reflect or transmit, respectively, towards the light output the light reflected by the spatial light modulator and having a direction of polarization substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The switchable half-wave plate is located between the beam splitter and the spatial light modulator, is structured as a half-wave plate and has a principal axis that switches through an angle &thgr;, substantially equal to &phgr;/2. The switchable half-wave plate inverts the sense of the light valve during the balance period of each display period to enable the light valve to generate a positive image, and therefore be illuminated, during the balance period in addition to during the illumination period.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Peter R Robrish