Abstract: A fuse for interfacing electrical current with electronic components and for shielding the electronic components from potentially damaging electrostatic discharge. The fuse includes a fuse body having an edge and first and second electrical contacts. A fuse indicator is connected to one electrical contact and a fuse element extends between the indicator and the other contact for providing a conduit for operating current to reach the interfaced electronic components. A window is disposed on the edge of the fuse body and positioned over the fuse indicator. Sealant is disposed between the window edge and the fuse body edge to prevent the accumulation of air therebetween and, thereby, preventing such accumulated air from functioning as a transmission medium through which an electrostatic discharge can travel and reach the electronic components.

Abstract: In a high-speed digital data system, it is advantageous to sample incoming data pulses at the baud-rate rather than at the Nyquist-rate. In such a system of the type that includes a dispersive channel (e.g., an unloaded subscriber twisted pair with bridged taps), effective baud-rate sampling and reliable pulse recovery at a receiver depend on the availability of a suitable pulse synchronization or timing recovery technique. In accordance with this invention, timing recovery is based on the recognition that the precursor portion of the response of the channel is relatively invariant and predictable. By selecting a specified threshold point in a small-amplitude region of the precursor portion, a basis is provided for generating accurated bipolar error signals that insure consistent baud-rate sampling of received pulses.