An optical reader in one embodiment can include a substrate defining an opening and solder pads coupled to the substrate proximate the opening. A laserdiode including first, second, and third electrical leads can also be coupled to the substrate. First, second and third solder pads can be provided on the substrate and the first, second, and third electrical leads of the laserdiode can be coupled to the first, second, and third solder pads. An optical reader in another embodiment can include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A laserdiodeassembly configured to emit a laser beam can be coupled to the first surface and an illumination assembly that can include light emitting diodes can be coupled to the second surface.
An electroplating apparatus prevents anode-mediated degradation of electrolyte additives by creating a mechanism for maintaining separate anolyte and catholyte and preventing mixing thereof within a plating chamber. The separation is accomplished by interposing a porous chemical transport barrier between the anode and cathode. The transport barrier limits the chemical transport (via diffusion and / or convection) of all species but allows migration of ionic species (and hence passage of current) during application of sufficiently large electric fields within electrolyte.