Abstract: An optical fiber sensing system for detecting intrusion of optical fiber or optical fiber cables includes an interferometric arrangement. Two ports (28, 30) of a four port splitter (25) are connected to a source (26) of optical power such as a laser, for example, and to a detector (32). The other two ports (46, 48) are connected to ends of a length (50) of monitoring optical fiber. An input signal to the splitter is split with one subsignal being directed in one direction around the length of optical fiber which serves as a common path between the two ports. The other signal is caused to travel around the common path in an opposite direction. The split signals are recombined in the splitter and their phase difference measured as a detectable pattern by the detector. Should there be intrusion of the optical fiber or a cable containing the monitoring optical fiber, the pattern which is detected will change a significant amount.

Abstract: A packet switch arrangement in which a first plurality of user devices is connected to a packet network by a first interface unit and a second plurality of user devices is connected to the packet network by a second interface unit. A virtual circuit is established between the interface units and control information is exchanged over the virtual circuit. The control information defines virtual channels on the virtual circuit and ones of the first and second pluralities of user devices which are to be sources and destinations for data in the defined virtual channels. Data from user devices is packetized and transmitted in the virtual channels by the interface units in accordance with the exchanged control information. Further, packets received in virtual channels on the virtual circuit are distributed to user devices by the interface units in accordance with exchanged control information.

Abstract: Optoelectronic chips, such as Group III-V compound lasers and photodiodes, are mounted on a single-crystal silicon base, and are optically interconnected to one another by silica waveguides and couplers integrally formed on the base. Integrated circuit chips to provide electronic function are also mounted on the base. Various schemes for optically coupling and aligning lasers, photodiodes and optical fibers to the waveguides are described. Also described is the use of a single-crystal silicon lid, which serves to provide optical and electrical isolation between chips on the base, as well as a plug-in arrangement in which the edges of the base are adapted to receive parallel guide rods.

Abstract: A dual wavelength optical coupler is disclosed which provides either bidirectional or unidirectional communication at different wavelengths over a single fiber. The coupler utilizes a dichroic filter and a set of three lenses to achieve dual wavelength communication. Additional blocking filters may be incorporated to decrease the degree of optical crosstalk present in the system.

Abstract: A key telephone management controller system enabling telephone customers to control and implement changes to customer key telephone systems served by a telephone switching system. Apparatus and a method interactive with telephone customers records customer-selected key telephone button and line features and controls the telephone switching system to assign the customer-selected button and line features to telephone sets of the customer key telephone system.

Abstract: The integrity of surface structural features (e.g., distributed feedback gratings) in Group III-V compound semiconductors are preserved during heating (e.g., subsequent LPE regrowth) by a thin coating containing a transition metal (e.g., Os, Ru or Rh). DFP-DCPBH InP/InGaAsP single frequency lasers made in this way are also described.

Abstract: A self oscillating converter with regenerative switching includes circuitry to enhance the gain of circuity to turn off a MOSFET power switch and enhance the regenerative action culminating in turn off in order to eliminate bursting at low loads. The MOSFET power switching device turn off circuitry includes the addition of a supplementary drive transistor operative for counteracting the effects of the parasitic capacitances of the MOSFET power switching device. This permits the converter to operate with the shorter on times and to provide a low ripple output at very low load.

Abstract: A conductive polymer interconnect structure (10) is comprised of an insulative polymer (18), a silicone or an epoxy, having a plurality of particles (20) arranged therein to provide conductive paths which extend in the z direction. At least a portion of those particles (20) proximate a separate one of the major surfaces of the matrix has at least a portion thereof coated with a solder 24 whose composition is tailored to melt below the cure temperature of the matrix (18). In this way, when the matrix (18) is sandwiched between a pair of conductive members (12 and 14) and the matrix is cured, a metallurgical bond, rather than a mechanical bond, will be formed between the members.

Abstract: Real space hot electron transfer devices using hot electron transfer between two conducting channels are described.

Abstract: A power converter includes an input primary switching system with its output connected to phase shift or impedance inversion circuit. These two circuits cooperate to function as a current source at the output of the impedance inversion circuit. A secondary switching system is connected in parallel with the output of the impedance inversion circuit and is switched synchronously with a controlled phase delay to the input primary switching system to synchronously charge a charge storage capacitor. The phase delay determines the voltage of the charge storage capacitor. An output load circuit is connected in parallel with both the output of the impedance inversion circuit and the input to the secondary switching system so that the capacitor voltage determined by the phase delay is controlling of the output voltage of the output load circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated resonant-tunneling device having multiple negative-resistance regions, and having essentially equal current peaks in such regions, is useful as a highly compact element, e.g., in apparatus designed for ternary logic operations, frequency multiplication, waveform scrambling, memory operation, parity-bit generation, and coaxial-line driving. The device can be made by layer deposition on a substrate and includes a resonant-tunneling structure between contacts such that side-by-side first and third contacts are on one side, and a second contact is on the opposite side of the resonant-tunneling structure.

Abstract: A biconic optical fiber connector (20) comprising two plugs (24--24) each having truncated conically shaped end portions (30--30) for terminating optical fibers to be connected and a sleeve (66) in which the plug eng portions are received is provided with an attenuator (70) which results in low reflected power. The attenuator comprises a plate-like element which is disposed between the plug end portions. Advantageously, the plugs are seated in the sleeve and the thickness and mounting of the attenuator cooperate to cause the plug ends to engage the attenuator when the plugs are seated in the sleeve cavities. Also, the attenuator is supported within the sleeve so that it is capable of slight movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (91) of the sleeve to self-adjust, if necessary, as the plug end portions are inserted and become seated in the sleeve.

Abstract: A discrete event simulation system that avoids all blocking and advances the simulation time in an efficient manner by treating the simulated system as a set of subsystems and simulating the subsystems concurrently. The simulation proceeds iteratively by restricting the simulation of scheduled events for each subsystem at any one time to a chosen simulated time segment (bounded lag) beginning with the lowest simulation time found among the subsystems. With each simulation iteration, an "at risk", demarcation time is evaluated based only on a subset of the subsystems that can potentially affect the simulation at the considered subsystem. Events scheduled for a time earlier than the "at risk" time are simulated.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing of electrical circuits has a buckling beam probe assembly having advantageous features that make it useful for contacting area arrays of test points, and for reliably establishing contact therewith. The probe elements remain essentially parallel even in the buckled state, and the probe tips execute a small "wiping" movement on the contact point. In some preferred embodiments the probe tips are shaped to result in reduced contact area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dense channel packing wavelength division multiplexed optical fiber communication system that is parsimonious in its cable length requirements and that does not require the presence of widely tunable lasers at the remote terminals. The system comprises a central station and N remote stations (N frequently greater than about 50) connected to the central station by optical fiber means that comprise a "backbone" and l (1<l<N) fiber "laterals". Associated with each remote station RS.sub.i is a predetermined wavelength .lambda..sub.i, typically in the spectral region 1.25-1.6 .mu.m. The central station comprises means adapted for generating electromagnetic radiation of a multiplicity of distinct wavelengths including all .lambda..sub.i. The radiation from the central station is coupled into the backbone fiber and transmitted to the laterals and the remote stations. Each remote station RS.sub.i comprises means for selecting the radiation of the associated wavelength .lambda..sub.

Abstract: A new associative computation network that is capable of storing multi-bit vectors includes a decision network and a feedback arrangement that, functionally, is separable into serially connected networks. The first network has its inputs connectd to the outputs of the decision network and is arranged to develop sets of excitatory and inhibitory drive signals. Each set corresponds to a stored vecor. For each different output state of the decision network, a different one of the drive signal sets appears at the output of the first network. The output leads of the first network, which may also be employed as the input interface leads, are connected to the second network. The second network develops output signals, applied to inputs of the decision network, which are proportional to the projection of the input signals applied to the second network on the stored vectors.

Abstract: An insulation system and method utilizes multiple helically wound insulating tape windings wound on a wire. Each individual insulating tape winding is wound so that each wrap overlaps a specified area of the preceding wrap of the winding.

Abstract: A polarization insensitive optical device is disclosed which is capable of providing direct optical amplification of an input signal of unknown (and possibly varying) polarization. A polarization diversity technique is utilized wherein a polarization beam splitter is used to divide the incoming signal into orthogonal components of known polarization (TE,TM). The orthogonal components are then separately amplified, using a semiconductor laser as the amplifying device. The amplified components are then recombined, either optically or electrically, to form the final output signal.

Abstract: A network architecture of the sort-then-expand type for routing packets including destination information is disclosed. The network includes a distribution stage comprising a plurality of input sorts units, an intermediate stage comprising a plurality of intermediate sort units and an output stage comprising a plurality of output switches. The input sort units each distribute a plurality of packets to the intermediate sort units such that each intermediate sort unit receives approximately the same number of packets destined for each output switch as the other intermediate sort units. Each intermediate sort unit identifies packet groups for a common output switch and connects the groups to the destination output switch. Each destination output switch merges the received groups of packets and distributes them to output ports.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber connector useful for high density arrays. A locking collar is mounted near the rearward portion of a fiber ferrule. The collar includes tabs which engage holes in the connector sleeve when the ferrule is inserted therein. The fiber can be inserted and removed by a tool which depresses the tabs. Space is conserved since the locking mechanism is located entirely within the sleeve.