Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device, comprises the steps of providing an insulating layer, forming a series of holes in the insulating layer, depositing a first layer of a metal, or a compound thereof, on the insulating layer such and in the holes, forming a dielectric layer on the first layer, the dielectric consisting of a compound of the metal, and forming a second layer of the metal, or a compound thereof, on the dielectric layer. The first, second and dielectric layers form a conformal capacitive sandwich structure extending into the holes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assigning data from time slots on an input bus to time slots on an output bus comprised of determining the order of time slots of data in a frame, determining whether each time slot of data in an input frame is to be located in the same or later time slot in an output frame, or whether it is to be located in an earlier time slot in an output frame, in the event each time slot of data of the input frame is to be located in the same or later time slot in an output frame, applying each time slot of data of the input frame to the same or a later time slot in the output frame, in the event a time slot of data of the input frame is to be located in an earlier time slot in an output frame, delaying for one time slot interval and then applying each time slot of data of the input frame to the same or a later time slot in the output frame, whereby the order of time slots in a stream of output data is always from an earlier time slot to a later time slot.

Abstract: A phase reversal detector comprises a circuit for receiving an input signal subject to occasional phase reversals, a circuit for generating signals representing the quadrature components thereof, and a circuit responsive to a migration in the quadrature plane of the position of the quadrature components by an amount greater than a predetermined threshold to generate a signal indicative of a valid phase reversal. The detector is capable of exceeding the requirements of ITU standard G.165, and yet is simple to implement and works over a large dynamic range.

Abstract: A telephony switch configurator to manage and control at least one telephony switch from a network device, said telephony switch containing a read/writable storage medium for storing a configuration of said telephony switch and which is accessible from a computer network through a first data transport protocol handler, the network device communicating with said network through a second data transport protocol handler, said configurator comprising: (a) a command generator within said network device that issues commands to be executed by said telephony switch; (b) a first access server within the said network device for managing a connection to said telephony switch; (c) a first interface between said command generator and said first access server for translating said commands between said command generator to said first access server; (d) a second interface between said first access server and said data transport protocol handler for translating said commands between said first access server and said data

Abstract: A web based help desk includes a web server having memory storing a help desk web page. The web server allows remote user computers to access the web server via an internet or intranet connection thereby to access and display the help desk web page. A plurality of computers, operated by support specialists, are in communication with the web server to allow support specialists to communicate with remote users requiring support. The support specialists are selectable through the web page. A support specialist status application monitors the status of the support specialists and remote users requesting support and prompts the web server to establish a connection between a support specialist and a remote user when a support specialist becomes available. A method of providing support to a user operating a remote computer and a help desk web page are also provided.

Abstract: A spark gap assembly having electrodes spaced from bonding pads and the integrated circuit. The electrodes contact a plurality of resistors to reduce voltages and dissipate energy experienced during electrostatic discharge (ESD) which would otherwise damage the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A photonic switching device has a first set of optical waveguides, a second set of optical waveguides, and an arrangement of controllable deformable micromirrors for selectively completing an optical path between any one of the first set of waveguides and any one of the second set of waveguides. Typically, the deformable mirrors are arranged in a pair of opposed grid arrays with the input and output waveguides extending along respective rows and columns in the manner of a crosspoint switch, but with the rows and columns intersecting at an oblique angle.

Abstract: In a method of making electrical connections to an integrated chip, an oxide layer is formed on the surface of the chip and a substrate carrying electrical connections. The conductors on the chip are accurately aligned with the conductors on the substrate. An oxide layer formed on the surface of the chip is then fusion bonded to an oxide layer on the substrate and voids remaining between the conductors filled with a conductive material. This method removes the limitation imposed by the large pad size needed for conventional techniques.

Abstract: An automated telephone system includes a telephone terminal for communicating with a remote party over a telephone line; a storage device for storing a plurality of pre-recorded voice messages entered through said terminal; and a service controller connected to the telephone terminal and the storage device. The service controller is responsive to commands entered through the telephone terminal either to store spoken messages in said storage device and associate them with a unique identifier, or to access a selected one of the stored messages using its unique identifier and replay it over the telephone line to a remote party.

Abstract: A shared bus system comprising multiple cards (10, 12, 14) containing clock sources (16) connected to at least one bus system (18), and transferring circuitry (22, 28) for disturbance-free transferring of control of a backplane clock signal between said cards.

Abstract: An RF direct down-conversion topology that is insensitive to leakage and device mismatching is presented. According to the system the RF signal is split into two arms with each arm having a mixer. Each mixer has two inputs namely a phase modulated local oscillator signal and the RF information signal. The phase modulated local oscillator signal between each arm differs by a 90 degrees phase shift. The output of the mixers is subtracted and the output of the subtractor is mixed with the phase modulation signal. The output of the third mixer represents the base band. A low pass filter then removes the unwanted signals.

Abstract: A method of generating timing signals for constant bit rate data received over an asynchronous data network carrying, comprises recovering clock signals from at least two separate sources, selecting one of the sources to drive a phase-locked loop generating a high speed output signal locked to the selected source, dividing the high speed output signal to provide the required timing signals for said constant bit rate data, and continually monitoring the selected source. In the event of failure of the selected source, the phase-locked loop is allowed to free run in a hold-over mode while it is switched over to the other source.

Abstract: A symbol synchronization and timing recovery method for stabilizing jitter in a data receiver is provided. A one tap LMS algorithm is used for a pre-cursor estimate. A dead zone is set around the desired timing location and the local clock in the receiver is updated only if the timing signal is outside of the dead zone.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least one active region. A thick dielectric film with an opaque layer embedded therein is deposited over the light sensitive active regions to provide protection from incident light without detrimentally affecting the optical properties of an uppermost optically active layer. An active layer is deposited over the thick dielectric film.

Abstract: A method of forwarding calls, comprises storing a list of possible forwarding destinations for each subscriber, maintaining a behavior database for each subscriber indicating the probable location of the subscriber at any particular time, and forwarding incoming calls to the probable location determined from the behavior database. The behavior data base is dynamically updated according to the success rate of the forwarded calls.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes an interface between a metal layer and a barrier layer of a nitride of a refractory metal, comprising the steps of depositing the barrier layer onto a wafer at high temperature; subjecting the barrier layer to a mixture of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas and an inert gas in the presence of a plasma at low pressure and for a time sufficient to oxidize the surface of the barrier layer; removing the oxygen-containing gas; and depositing the metal layer onto the oxidized surface without subjecting said wafer to an air break. The method permits high throughput to be achieved at low cost.

Abstract: Algorithms for quickly and efficiently detecting a periodic signal such as a DTMF signal in a telephone system are described. The algorithms, implemented in a tone detector, detect the periodicity of the input data and do not require an estimation of the tone frequency.

Abstract: A computer controlled telephone apparatus comprised of a processor controlled telephone set, apparatus for interfacing the telephone set to a telephone network, a computer for interfacing the telephone set, comprising a stored telephony service program for receiving call control signals from the apparatus for interfacing the telephone set to the telephone network, and for controlling operation of functions of the telephone set in accordance with the stored telephony service program; and monitoring apparatus in the telephone set for monitoring operation of the telephony service program and in the event there is no operation of the controlling program, for causing direct connection of the telephone set to the apparatus for interfacing the telephone set to the telephone network.

Abstract: A method of forming capacitors in a semiconductor device, involves providing a first insulating layer, providing a first mask with an array of apertures over the insulating layer, and etching an array of holes in the first insulating layer through said apertures in said first mask. A first electrode layer extending into the holes is formed over the first insulating layer. A second dielectric layer extends into the holes on said first electrode layer. A second electrode layer extends into the holes on the dielectric layer. The capacitors are patterned with a second mask. The capacitors can be subsequently connected into the circuit in a sequence of processing steps that only involve the addition two extra masks beyond those conventionally employed in integrated circuit manufacture.