Abstract: In an optical device, each of a plurality of radiation sources generates a separate different wavelength output signal to a wavelength locking device wherein a grating device receives the separate wavelength output signals from the plurality of radiation sources. The grating device generates a multiplexed wavelength output signal at a zero diffraction order output port thereof, and resolves separate symmetric wavelength?? and wavelength?? output signals at separate predetermined locations within at least one non-zero diffraction order thereof for each of the radiation sources. Each of a plurality of radiation detectors is coupled to receive a separate one of the symmetric wavelength?? and wavelength?? output signals and generate an output signal representing the magnitude of the received wavelength output signal.

Abstract: An optical system has a transmission filter device, a feedback mechanism, and one or more radiation sources. Each radiation source generates an output signal with a predetermined wavelength band and polarization and is coupled to a separate input port of the transmission filter device. The transmission filter device, which is responsive to output signal from each radiation source, generates an output signal from at least one output port thereof. The feedback mechanism is coupled to at least one output port of the transmission filter device for providing a feedback signal that is directed back through the transmission filter device to each of the radiation sources for stabilizing each of the radiation sources. The apparatus is polarization maintaining wherein the one or more radiation sources, the transmission filter device, and the feedback mechanism are interconnected such that principle axes of polarization thereof are substantially aligned.

Abstract: In a star coupler, a Free Propagation Region (FPR) is bounded by a first interface and a second opposing interface, and guides an input signal launched from the first interface in a predetermined first plane while allowing the input signal to travel unguided in a predetermined second plane in the FPR which is orthogonal to the first plane. A plurality of output waveguides are formed in an array and terminate at the second interface of the FPR. The axis of each output waveguide at the second interface is separated from an axis of an adjacent output waveguide by a predetermined distance “t”. An input waveguide is split into a plurality of subsections which each terminate at the first interface of the FPR. The subsections of the input waveguide are arranged for simultaneously launching parts of the input signal into the FPR which diffracts and produces mode patterns at the second interface having a maximum intensity at inputs of each of the output waveguides, and a low intensity elsewhere.

Abstract: A hermetic package having connectors, such as optical fibers or electrical leads, connected and bonded thereto with a bonding material such as epoxy resin, has the bonding material coated with a single layer or multiple layers of sealing material, such as chromium, copper, gold, tungsten, titanium, nickel, or aluminum, to prevent outgased material from the bonding material from entering the hermetic package enclosure. The bonding material may be recessed prior to coating of the sealing material to permit the sealing material to be polished from the optical element and the optical element polished flush with the inside of the package while leaving the sealing material covering the bonding material.

Abstract: Alignment of an array of N elements, such as optical fibers, within a preselected tolerance value is obtained using a primary substrate with a plurality of N apertures extending therethrough from a first surface to a second opposing surface. Each aperture, at its narrowest point, has a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of an element to be inserted therethrough. Each of the elements passes through its corresponding aperture and rests against the same corresponding point and/or sidewall of the aperture so as to result in the desired alignment. A directing arrangement directs the elements toward the primary substrate at a predetermined angle to cause a spring-like action to occur in each of the elements when threaded through its associated aperture for aligning the elements to engage the same corresponding point and/or sidewall of the aperture.

Abstract: A plurality of M PBXs are coupled to a plurality of N nodes forming a Distributed Transit Private Branch Exchange (PBX). The plurality of N nodes are located remotely from each other and form a wide area network. Each node is coupled to predetermined ones of the other nodes via separate links so that each node is able to communicate with all other nodes. One or more D-channel Server Modules (DSMs) are located in predetermined nodes of the plurality of N nodes. Each DSM is associated with a plurality of D channels which are each coupled to a separate interface device in the same node or different node by means of a link for receiving and transmitting signaling data to one of an associated predetermined PBX of the plurality of PBXs.

Abstract: A method of Distributed Call Control is provided in a Distributed Transit Private Branch Exchange (PBX) comprising a plurality of Nodes forming a wide area network, and a plurality of D-channel Server Modules (DSMs). The DSMs are located in predetermined ones of the Nodes with each DSM coupled to at least one associated PBX via at least one D channel. The method includes the following steps. First, a listing of all Exchange Codes (ECs) handled by a DSM and each associated PBX coupled thereto is stored in a local routing table of a memory in the DSM. Second, a listing of all ECs handled by all of the other DSMs of the Distributed Transit PBX and their associated PBXs is stored in a remote routing table of the memory in each of the DSMs.

Abstract: Apparatus processes mixed YUV and color palettized video signals for display on an interlaced NTSC or PAL television receiver by storing first and second fields of one or more sprites in a graphic memory. Each sprite is stored as YUV or color palettized data and given a priority. A higher priority sprite overwrites pixel data of sprites of a lower priority when sprites overlap. First and second adjacent horizontal lines of pixel data in the first and second fields, respectively, are concurrently stored in respective first and second double buffers of a pixel assembly buffer during each line period. A delay buffer and the first and second double buffers generate first, second, and third adjacent horizontal lines, respectively, of pixel data at the output of the pixel assembly buffer while third and fourth adjacent horizontal lines of pixel data are inputted to the first and second double buffers.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus includes a nozzle which is directly connected to a mold for injecting a molding material into the mold. The mold defines at least one cavity in the shape of a element to be molded and at least one gate passage, each gate passage interconnecting a separate cavity with the nozzle. The shape of the gate passage permits a rapid curing of any residual molding material, and permits separation of the mold and the nozzle before the molding material in each cavity is cured. The nozzle is then used for a subsequent procedure or molding process while the molding material in the cavity cures. The nozzle defines a first bore and a second bore arranged longitudinally in sequence, and a side hole for introducing the molding material into the first bore. The nozzle includes a first plunger which is selectively reciprocally movable in the first bore, and a second plunger which is selectively reciprocally movable in the second bore and in a central bore defined in the first plunger.

Abstract: A system for determining the performance of a first piece of sport equipment mounts the first piece of sports equipment such as a bat, golf club, tennis racket, or hockey stick having known characteristics of a Moment of Inertia, a weight, and a location of a Center of Mass for impact by a second piece of sports equipment which has a known Coefficient of Restitution in a mounting device. The mounting device is arranged to freely move the first piece of sports equipment from a predetermined starting position when the first piece of sports equipment is impacted substantially at a center of a predetermined impact area thereof by the second piece of sports equipment moving at a velocity "v".

Abstract: In a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication network, a central office (CO) provides interactive communication between a service provider and a plurality of user terminals. To synchronize transmissions of the user terminals, a timebase timer in the CO generates modulo N-bit cyclical reference counts as time markers. In a downstream direction to the plurality of user terminals, time marker insertion units in the CO receive both (a) separate digital TDMA transport streams having a predetermined data rate including data packets and Media Access Control (MAC) packets that are interspersed between the data packets at predetermined intervals, and (b) the time markers generated by the timebase timer, and insert a currently received time marker count into a concurrently received MAC packet. The resultant downstream TDMA transport streams with the inserted time marker counts in the MAC packets are transmitted in continuous TDMA output transport stream to the remote user terminals.

Abstract: A medical device having a regular or irregular shape is sterilized in a sterilizing apparatus comprising a means for moveably supporting the medical device, and a electrode having an anode tip at one end thereof which is positioned to form a gap with a predetermined length between the anode tip and the medical device. To sterilize a portion of an outer surface of the medical device at the anode tip of the electrode, predetermined first and second voltages are applied to the anode tip and the medical device, respectively. The voltage and current applied to the anode tip and the medical device are raised to predetermined values to provide a voltage differential across the gap to form a glow discharge adjacent the outer surface of the medical device for sterilizing the outer surface of the medical device.

Abstract: A system for overlaying digital character signals on an analog video source signal including a predetermined color subcarrier includes a subcarrier phase lock loop, a digital character generating device, a digital video encoder, and a switching device. The subcarrier phase lock loop separately generates a color subcarrier and a system clock signal which are locked to the color subcarrier of the analog video source signal. The digital character generating device detects horizontal and vertical timing of pixel information in the analog video source signal, and generates digital character signals that are to be overlaid in predetermined pixels of the analog video source signal. The digital video encoder is responsive to the color subcarrier and system clock signals for generating a separate color subcarrier which is locked to the color subcarrier of the analog video source signal.

Abstract: A Cable Television (CATV) Converter box or computer has a Smart Card connector mounted in a bottom wall thereof. The Converter box includes a case having a top wall, the bottom wall, and four side walls, a main printed circuit (PC) board mounted within the Converter box and parallel to the top and bottom walls thereof, and a Smart Card connector. The Smart Card connector is mounted directly onto the PC board and within a protrusion of the bottom wall of the Converter box. The Smart Card connector defines an opening which is aligned with a first end of a groove defined in the bottom wall of the case for receiving a Smart Card storing a predetermined signal security decrypting algorithm. A second end of the groove is either formed in one of the side walls of the device or in the bottom wall of the case. The Smart Card is installed by inserting the Smart Card in the groove and placing it into contact with the Smart Card connector.

Abstract: A diverter interfaces first and second telecommunication lines from first and second telecommunication sources, respectively, with a third line coupled to a station set. The diverter includes separate line and set monitors and a control unit. The line and set monitors monitor and detect predetermined selective signals such as (a) ringing signals propagating on the first and second lines, and (b) line access codes, flash hook, and line change requests signals generated by the station set. In response to the detected predetermined selective signals, the line and set monitors generate first, second, and third output control signals representative of the predetermined selective signals on the first, second, and third lines, respectively, to the control unit.

Abstract: A high power optical system includes an array of a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes each having a light emitting surface. A plurality of optical fibers each has one end adjacent the light emitting surface of a separate one of the semiconductor laser diodes. A cylindrical lens extends transversely across the one end of each of the optical fibers to direct the light beam from the semiconductor laser diode into the optical fiber. The other ends of the optical fibers are bundled together so as to effectively emit a single beam of a power equal to the combined beams from each of the optical fibers. A delivery optical fiber has an end adjacent the bundled ends of the optical fibers. A lens system, which is between the bundled ends of the optical fibers and the delivery optical fiber, directs the large beam of light emitted from the bundled ends of the optical fibers into the delivery optical fiber.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating two output signals with a selective predetermined constant phase difference therebetween from an input reference signal having a predetermined frequency and phase includes, in one embodiment, a first and a second Programmable Delay, and a first and a second Synthesizer. The input reference signal is provided as separate inputs to the first and second Programmable Delays which generate first and second output signals, respectively, with selective predetermined delay differences therebetween for transmission to the respective first and second Synthesizers. Each of first and second Synthesizers are phase locked loops with a Programmable Divider and an optional Prescaler added to the loop to divide a high frequency output signal generated by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) to a frequency of the output signal from the associated Programmable Delay in order to correct for any phase difference between the output signal of the VCO and the input signal from the Programmable Delay.

Abstract: A double conversion frequency converter includes first and second mixing stages. The first mixing stage includes a first programable Local Oscillator (LO) synthesizer and a first mixer, and the second mixing stage includes a second programable LO synthesizer and a second mixer. The first and second LO synthesizers have a wide band tuning range for receiving a separate predetermined reference signal and generating therefrom first and second LO output signals, respectively, which each are changeable by predetermined large frequency steps. The first mixer mixes an input signal to the frequency converter with the first LO output signal for generating a first predetermined mixer output signal. The second mixer mixes a predetermined sideband generated in the first predetermined mixer output signal with the second LO output signal for generating a second predetermined mixer output signal which is use for the output signal for the frequency converter.

Abstract: A device for testing the performance of high speed integrated circuits (ICs) while in wafer form or separated from the wafer which includes first and second spaced-apart probes fixedly mounted on a support member for accurately positioning the first and second probes in three dimensions for contacting at least one first point and a second point, respectively, on an IC under test. The first and second probes are interconnected at a predetermined portion of their length by a capacitor means which provides sufficient flexibility so as to facilitate independent movement of the first and second probes and avoid introducing parameters (e.g., inductance) which interfere with high speed testing of the IC. In one embodiment, the first probe is a transmission line probe (e.g., a coaxial line) and the second probe is a wire probe for supplying power to the second point on the IC.

Abstract: In the present invention, a first agent terminal, of a group of multi-windowing agent terminals, answers an integrated voice/data call by (i) directly receiving and displaying call-related information from a communication system in a "Phone" window, and (ii) retrieving data information from a host database system, and then transferring the voice portion and either (a) predetermined received call-related information, or (b) a current data display status indication directly to a second agent terminal of a second group of agent terminals. The second agent terminal uses the received data to access a same or other host database system for automatically displaying the pertinent data at the second agent terminal to continue the voice and data call.