Abstract: A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a user network interface, a host network processor coupled to the user network interface, and a cryptographic processor coupled to the host network processor. Additionally, the communications module may include a network communications interface coupled to the cryptographic processor. The host processor may generate cryptographic processor command packets for the cryptographic processor each having an address portion and a data portion, and it may also encapsulate command packets for the communications module in the data portions of the cryptographic processor command packets. The cryptographic processor may pass the communications module command packets to the without performing cryptographic processing thereon.

Abstract: A wireless communications device which may include a wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals comprising unknown data portions over a channel, and a demodulator connected to the wireless receiver. The demodulator may be for estimating a delay spread and a fade rate associated with the channel, determining a desired time-domain interpolation filter based upon the estimated fade rate, and determining a desired frequency-domain interpolation filter based upon the estimated delay spread. The demodulator may further generate channel estimates for the unknown data portions based upon the desired time-domain interpolation filter and the desired frequency-domain interpolation filter, and determine the unknown data portions based upon the channel estimates.

Abstract: A variable resistance device comprises a resistive member having a resistive resilient material. A first conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistive member at a first contact location over a first contact area. A second conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistance member at a second contact location over a second contact area. The first contact location and second contact location are spaced from one another by a distance. The resistance between the first conductor at the first contact location and the second conductor at the second contact location is equal to the sum of a straight resistance component and a parallel path resistance component. At least one of the first location, the second location, the first contact area, and the second contact area is changed to produce a change in resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to fluorinated acrylate compositions, which are suitable for use as low shrinkage, low absorbance refractive index matching adhesives for use in “pig-tailing” polymeric integrated waveguides to optical fiber bundles.

Abstract: A method is for making a spintronic device and may include forming at least one superlattice and at least one electrical contact coupled thereto, with the at least one superlattice including a plurality of groups of layers. Each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked base semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion having a crystal lattice, at least one non-semiconductor monolayer constrained within the crystal lattice of adjacent base semiconductor portions, and a spintronic dopant. The spintronic dopant may be constrained within the crystal lattice of the base semiconductor portion by the at least one non-semiconductor monolayer. In some embodiments, the repeating structure of a superlattice may not be needed.

Abstract: An interference cancelling matched filter (ICMF) may include an antenna array for receiving a signal burst including a training sequence therein, and an adaptive space-time filter connected to the virtual antenna array and having settable filter coefficients. The ICMF may further include a channel impulse response estimator for estimating a channel impulse response based upon the training sequence, and a signal blocker operatively connected between the channel impulse response estimator and the adaptive space-time filter so that the filter coefficients thereof are set based upon the training sequence and not the whole signal burst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor laser diode structure with increased catastrophic optical damage (COD) power limit, featuring three sections, sometimes called windows, at the output facet of the diode. These include an optically transparent section, a current blocking section and a partially current blocking section.

Abstract: A digital watermark which is incorporated, perceptibly or imperceptibly, into a diffractive device such as a hologram. When applied to protect and/or authenticate a document of value or a product, the device provides an increased degree of overt and covert security, and permits tracking of the sale, use or other parameters associated with the product and/or document of value.

Abstract: An alarm indication translation mechanism in a digital access and cross-connect system monitors all incoming tributary DS1 streams for the presence of an alarm indication. Whenever an alarm indication is detected in a fractional tributary DS1 data stream, all DS0 bytes within the T1 stream containing that tributary DS1 data stream include the detected alarm indication. For a Yellow alarm, this means that for the case of D4 superframe format (SF), the second most significant bit of each of the twenty-four bytes of a T1 frame containing at least one fractional DS1 carrying alarm information is set to a ‘0’, irrespective of whether the bytes are valid DS0s or idle bytes. For extended superframe format (ESF), Yellow alarm is transmitted by sending a repetitive sixteen bit pattern consisting of eight marks or ‘1’s, followed by eight spaces or ‘0’s in the data link.

Abstract: A test device enables DOCSIS link testing in a HFC network without requiring the CMTS or other router at the headend of the HFC network to respond to ICMP messages. The test device includes a test packet generator for generating test packets having a destination Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a test device, a memory for storing transmission parameters of the test packets, and a test packet evaluator associated with the IP address in the generated test packets. The test packet evaluator receives the generated test packets after the test packets have been routed through a router at a head end of a HFC network and compares reception parameters for the received test packets to the transmission parameters stored in the memory.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards (PCB's) with edge connectors undergo bending stresses whenever the edge connectors are plugged into mating connectors. The bending stresses causes deformation of the printed circuit board, which can have deleterious effects on electrical components thereon. Slots are provided on the PCB to enable the portion of the PCB surrounding the edge connector to bend relative to the remainder of the PCB, thereby confine the bending to a localized area between the ends of the slots, and isolate the electrical components from any stresses caused thereby.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring spectral tilt uses an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to separate a multiplexed optical signal having a plurality of wavelength channels into a plurality of sub-bands, where each sub-band spans a different wavelength range and includes more than one wavelength channel. A photodetector array is provided to measure the optical power in each of the sub-bands, while control electronics calculate spectral tilt of the multiplexed optical signal using the measured optical power in each of the sub-bands. The spectral tilt monitor in accordance with the instant invention provides spectral resolution, increased monitoring speeds, and decreased manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A method for making an integrated circuit capacitor includes forming a first dielectric layer adjacent a substrate, forming a first opening in the first dielectric layer, filling the first opening with a conductive material to define a first metal plug, and forming a trench in the first dielectric layer adjacent the first metal plug. An interconnection line lines the first trench and contacts the first metal plug to define anchoring recesses on opposite sides of the first metal plug. The method further includes forming a second dielectric layer on the interconnection line, forming a second opening in the second dielectric layer, and filling the second opening with a conductive metal to define a second metal plug having a body portion and anchor portions extending downward from the body portion for engaging the anchoring recesses to anchor the second metal plug. A second trench is formed in the second dielectric layer adjacent the second metal plug, and is aligned with the first trench.

Abstract: A method of passivating copper interconnects is disclosed. A freshly electrodeposited copper interconnect such as formed as via/trench structures in semiconductor manufacturing is chemically converted to passivating surface of copper tungstate or copper chromate either through MOCVD reaction with vapors of tungsten or chromium alkoxides, or by pyrolytic reaction with tungsten or chromium carbonyl in the presence of O.sub.2. The copper interconnect having the formed passivation service is then chemically mechanically polished. The process can be used with various manufacturing processes, including single and dual damascene processes.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor includes an array of fingerprint sensing elements and associated active circuits and an impedance matrix filter connected to the active circuits for filtering the signals. The impedance matrix filter preferably comprises a plurality of impedance elements with a respective impedance element connectable between each the active circuit for each fingerprint sensing element and at least one other active circuit for an adjacent fingerprint sensing element. The impedance matrix filter may also include a plurality of switches with a respective switch connected in series with each impedance element. In one embodiment, the switches may be selectively operated to determine ridge flow directions of the fingerprint image. In addition, the ridge flow directions may be used to determined a core location of the fingerprint image. The switches may also be selectively operated to convert a gray scale fingerprint image to a binarized fingerprint image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a connection of portions of a moving folded web of disposable undergarments is provided. The apparatus preferably includes a registration conveyor positioned to register and convey a folded web of disposable undergarments moving along a predetermined path of travel and a web connector positioned adjacent the registration conveyor to connect portions of the folded web as the folded web is conveyed along the predetermined path of travel. A method preferably includes registeringly conveying a folded web of disposable undergarments along a predetermined path of travel and connecting portions of the folded web as the folded web is conveyed along the predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: An integrated structure comprises a protective Zener diode connected between a first and a second terminal of the structure, and is formed in a chip of semiconductor material within an insulating region. The structure includes first and second biasing Zener diodes connected back-to-back between the first and the second terminals of the structure. The first and the second biasing diodes are disposed respectively in the opposite direction to and in the same direction as the protective diode, and having a common terminal connected to the insulating region. The protective diode has a reverse threshold voltage lower than a reverse threshold voltage of the second biasing diode.

Abstract: A urinal anti-splash-back apparatus and associated methods are provided which preferably include a frame, a urine anti-splash-back filtering device mounted to the frame for filtering urine so that major portions of urine being deposited against an outer surface thereof are prevented from splashing back toward the urine depositor, and a urinal frame mount connected to the frame and positioned to be mounted to an inner back wall of a urinal for readily mounting the frame to the inner back wall of the urinal. The urine anti-splash-back filtering device preferably includes a urine filter material which absorbs urine and is preferably formed of a fibrous material, such as a fabric fibrous material. A method of reducing splash-back in a urinal is provided which preferably includes attaching a urine absorbing and filtering material to an inner back wall of a urinal.

Abstract: A new cartridge excimer laser system and method for generating an excimer laser beam using the system are provided. The system utilizes a cartridge (10) which contains a halogen-noble gas mixture (19), electrodes (50, 60) having external electrical connections (30, 40), and assembly (20) for transmitting a laser beam output (400), and an external gas port (90). The cartridge (10) fits onto a receptacle (100) located within a receiving compartment (200) of the laser base (300) of the new system. The cartridge (10) is easily replaced by the system operator and is refurbished by the manufacturer when the gas mixture (19) therein is exhausted.

Abstract: A gear-based airboat transmission is provided for driving a pair of coaxial, counter-rotating propellers. The transmission includes a fore output gear rotatably affixable within a housing and affixable to the inner shaft for rotating the outer propeller. An aft output gear is rotatably affixable within the housing and is affixable to the outer shaft coaxial with the inner shaft for rotating the inner propeller opposite the outer. The aft output gear is generally coaxial with the fore output gear. An intermediate gear shaft has a fore end and an aft end, and both ends are opposedly and rotatably affixable within the housing. This bracing confers additional stability to the transmission, conferring longer life and decreased vibration. An intermediate gear is mounted thereon, and is positioned in driving relation to the fore output gear. A drive gear is rotatably affixable within the housing and is affixed for corotation with a drive shaft.