Abstract: Silicon conductive vias and pedestals are disclosed for use in microwave integrated circuits. The pedestals are isolated from a ground plane on the bottom surface by glass, while the vias are used to make electrical contact to ground. Electrical circuit elements in the top surface of the integrated circuit are selectively grounded or isolated by the choice of connection to a via or pedestal, respectively.

Abstract: A Raman amplifier is provided that includes at least a portion of optical fiber in which an optical signal travels. The optical fiber portion may encompass all or part of the optical transmission path of an optical communication system. A pump energy unit is provided that includes first and second pump sources providing pump power at first and second wavelengths, respectively. The first and second wavelengths generate first and second overlapping gain profiles in the optical fiber portion. An optical circulator has a first port receiving the pump power, a second port providing the pump power to the optical fiber and receiving the optical signal, and a third port transmitting the optical signal received from the second port. As a result of this arrangement, a Raman amplifier is provided in which the bandwidth is substantially increased over the bandwidth that can be achieved by the previously mentioned Raman amplifier.

Abstract: A fiber winding and storage assembly is disclosed. The fiber winding and storage assembly includes a fiber winding fixture and a fiber storage device. The fiber winding fixture may include a winding structure, a handle member, and a mounting member. The winding structure has a first side and a second side where the first side defines a recess therein. The handle member is disposed on the second side of the winding structure. The mounting member is disposed within the recess of the winding structure and extends perpendicularly therefrom. The fiber storage device is received within the recess of the fiber winding fixture. In a second embodiment for the fiber winding fixture, the winding fixture also includes a push button and a biasing member. The push button is mounted in the handle member and biased to a first position within the fiber winding fixture.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting an optical signal in an optical communication system. The system includes a transmitter for generating the optical signal, a receiver for detecting the signal, and an optical fiber communication link interposed between the transmitter and receiver. The optical fiber communication link includes transmission optical fibers concatenated with a plurality of Raman amplifiers and at least one rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier. The method includes the steps of: amplifying the optical signal as it advances through each of the plurality of Raman amplifiers; and compensating for variations in transmission path losses to restore the optical signal to a nominal power level as it advances through the rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier by maintaining the doped optical fiber amplifier in its saturated state.

Abstract: A path couples a pair of optical fibers in an optical transmission system. The transmission system includes a plurality of optical amplifiers placed along the transmission line. Associated with these optical amplifiers are optical isolators that limit the flow of optical energy to a single direction. The path allows reflected or scattered light from one optical fiber after the optical isolator to be returned via the other optical fiber. This enables an OTDR device to obtain measurement information along the entire length of the fibers between optical isolators.

Abstract: An optical transmission system allows for the remote determination of the total output power of each repeater. The optical transmission system includes two terminals, an optical path that transmits a plurality of optical signals between the two terminals, and a plurality of repeaters spaced along the optical path. In each of the repeaters, pilot signals are inserted by impressing them upon the amplified optical signals output from the repeater. The pilot signals are derived from an oscillator whose frequency is unique to the repeater in which the pilot signals are inserted. The magnitude of each pilot signal is proportional to the output power of its associated repeater. Each terminal provides a measurement of the total power output from each repeater using a receiving device. The receiving device selects the unique oscillator frequency for each of the repeaters desired to be measured, and measures the pilot signals at the selected frequency.

Abstract: In a fiber optic assembly that is sealed within an enclosure and that has a plurality of optical transmission paths available to transmit input signals through the assembly, a separate link is provided for each transmission path. Each of the separate links has a first end that is located external to the sealed enclosure and a second end that is located within the enclosure and adjacent to the link's associated transmission path. The link is capable of transmitting energy from an energy source coupled to the link at the first end through the link to the second end. The energy is received at the second end of the link, where the second end's proximity to its associated optical transmission path allows the energy to act on the transmission path to render the path inoperable for transmitting an input signal along the path and through the assembly.

Abstract: In a WDM network employing optical amplifiers, a method of detecting changes in the number of channels present in erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) that are caused by faults or system reconfigurations. In accordance with the technique of the present invention, the power of one signal channel and the power of the amplified spontaneous emission generated by the local EDFA's are monitored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for speech recognition in which a single criterion or set of criteria is selected manually by the user, from plural classes of recognition criteria. The stored classes of recognition criteria include a default class optimized for an average user in normal conditions, at least one class having a probability of recognition greater than said default class, and at least one class having a probability of recognition less than said default class. Accordingly, the user may select that class of criteria which provides the best results for him or her, as measured by greater accuracy (fewer false positive detections) or fewer instances of non-rejection. An utterance is compared to one or more models of speech to determine a similarity metric for each such comparison. The model of speech which most closely matches the utterance is determined based on the one or more similarity metrics.

Abstract: A system and method in which the chromatic dispersion characteristic, as a function of distance along a section of transmissive fiber, is measured. First and second optical signals are launched into a fiber under test to thereby generate, by a four-wave mixing process in the fiber, a probe signal. Because of a wave-vector phase mismatch, the probe signal power oscillates with a spatial frequency that can be measured as a function of distance in the fiber. The intensity oscillations are measurable as, for example, temporal variations in the Rayleigh backscattered light detected at the input end of the fiber. According to the present invention, the dispersion parameter at one or both of the first and second optical signal wavelengths, as a function of length along the fiber, is derived directly from these intensity oscillation measurements. From this information, it is possible to further derive maps at other wavelengths of interest.

Abstract: A multiple-compartmented cat food serving system for simultaneously introducing at least two differently flavored cat food products in a manner which allows the cat owner to determine which foods appeal to the cat and which foods do not. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the inventive system, different flavors of cat food products are supplied at the point of purchase in respective compartments of a sealed, multiple-compartmented receptacle. If desired, one of the receptacle compartments may be supplied empty so that the cat owner may fill it with a small quantity of water for consumption with the meal. In order to allow the cat owner to ascertain whether a particular flavor is not being eaten by his or her cat, each compartment of the receptacle has associated therewith indicia to identify the flavor of the food product contained therein. If one or more newly introduced flavors of cat food do not appeal to the cat, then the owner may avoid purchasing and serving those flavors in the future.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides optical multiple wavelength signals using a single, broadband optical source such, for example, as an LED, to generate many independent optical wavelength channels. An optical transmitter includes a wavelength channel defining assembly which resolves the broad spectrum pulses output by the source into discrete wavelength bands constituting respective pulses (i.e., wavelength channels) and which inserts a delay between the bands to define a sequence of individually addressable channels.In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, spectral splicing is achieved by a multiple channel filter, and insertion of the respective delays is achieved by individual fiber sections, each section having a length selected to introduce a particular delay, coupled to the output ports of the router. The inserted delays can be conveniently selected to separate adjacent wavelength channels and thereby minimize the likelihood of crosstalk.

Abstract: A prescription dosage unit dispensing system including a housing having a plurality of cells, each cell adapted to contain a base-port subunit including a dosage unit dispensing device, a disposable drug-containing tower unit containing in sealed condition a single type of solid dosage unit is operatively connected to the base-port subunit and a device for securing a vial in place so that it can receive the solid dosage units from the drug-containing tower unit as instructed manually or via automated microprocessor/computer control.

Abstract: A beverage holder which comprises an elongated member having a pointed, ground penetrating tip, a container carrier dimensioned to receive a beverage container such as an aluminum can containing soda, beer, or the like, and a pivotal coupling assembly for coupling the container carrier to the elongated member, the carrier being selectively angularly positionable into an upright orientation relative to the elongated member regardless of the angular position of the latter relative to the ground. Illustratively, the elongated member may be configured with an axial bore dimensioned and arranged to receive and support the butt-end or handle portion of a fishing pole, the thus configured beverage holding assembly functioning also as a fishing pole holder.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tipped tool for producing holes in non-ferrous and non-metallic composite materials without delamination. The tool comprises an elongated body portion having a distal cutting region and a proximal shank region and first and second cutting regions including first and second planar surfaces, respectively. The planar surfaces diverge in a direction from the distal cutting region toward the proximal shank region to define a cutting angle that is preferably about 120.degree..A first axial flute separates a forward edge of the first cutting region from a trailing edge of the second cutting region and a second axial flute radially opposed to the first axial flute separates a forward edge of the second cutting region from a trailing edge of the first cutting region. Each of the first and second cutting regions further includes a planar surface forming with a forward edge thereof respective first and second clearance angles of between 10.degree. to 20.degree.

Abstract: A linearized optical transmitter in which predistortion is employed to cancel both third and fifth order intermodulation distortion includes a modulated optical source responsive to a time varying electrical input signal to supply a time varying optical output signal containing multiple subcarrier signals. The modulated optical source is characterized by a non-linear transfer function such that intermodulation of the multiple subcarrier signals occurs, and for this reason, the optical transmitter further includes a predistortion circuit for supplying a predistorted signal comprising both the multiple subcarrier signals and intermodulation products substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in phase to those associated with the non-linear transfer function such that odd-order subcarrier intermodulation distortion products in the optical output signal are substantially canceled through the fifth order.

Abstract: Optical system architectures with improved spatial resolution are provided in which the radiation useful for THz spectroscopy and other investigative procedures can be directionally coupled, in a highly efficient manner, into and out of photoconductive structures such, for example, as dipole antennas. An optical system constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises a source for emitting radiation in a range of frequencies within from 100 GHz to 20 THz, a coupling lens structure for coupling radiation emitted by said source into free space, at least one collimating optical element for collimating received coupled radiation into a beam having a substantially frequency independent diameter and substantially no wavefront curvature, and a detector for detecting the beam collimated by the at least one collimating optical element.

Abstract: An optical distribution network connects a downstream central office terminal to a number of upstream optical network units which service respective subscribers. Transmit and receive feeder fibers branch out to the optical network units. An optical carrier is modulated with an amplitude-varied signal including at least two different amplitude levels above a selected amplitude threshold, with at least one of the amplitude levels being selected so that it will not be reliably detected at the upstream end when a fiber in the path between the central office terminal and a destination optical network unit fails to meet a threshold power margin. The amplitude-varied optical signal is transmitted upstream to each destination optical network unit during, for example, a corresponding time slot. The portion of the signal containing the lower amplitude portions has no significance to the optical network units and is ignored.

Abstract: A method is provided of trimming the optical coupling ratio of an optical coupler to a prescribed value. The optical coupler is formed from a plurality of waveguides which each include a core and cladding. In accordance with the method, an irradiation energy is selected that is absorbed by portions of the waveguides located in a coupling region. A dosage of radiation is applied to the waveguide portions at least sufficient to adjust the optical coupling ratio to the prescribed value. The radiation, which may be absorbed by the cladding and/or the core of the waveguides, causes a change in the refractive index difference between the core and cladding of the waveguides. This change in the refractive index difference will result in a change in the optical coupling ratio of the device.

Abstract: An optical distribution network using optical fibers connects a central office terminal to a number of optical network units which service respective subscribers. In order to monitor the onset and pace of signal degradation in the individual fibers of the network, an optical carrier signal is modulated with an amplitude-varied signal including at least two different amplitude levels that are above a selected amplitude threshold. At least one of the amplitude levels is chosen so that a portion of the signal having the chosen amplitude will not be reliably detected when a fiber in the path between the central office terminal and a destination optical network unit fails to meet a specified threshold power margin.