Abstract: The present invention relates to a low frequency discriminator circuit comprised if apparatus for providing a rectangular wave input signal, apparatus for integrating the input signal, apparatus for detecting whether the integrated input signal falls between upper and lower thresholds respectively, and apparatus for providing an output signal indicating when the integrated input signal falls between the thresholds, whereby the frequency of the input signal may be determined to be between higher and lower limits.

Abstract: Region forming steps or interconnect-forming steps through which low voltage CMOS devices are formed in a semiconductor wafer are also employed to simultaneously form one or more regions or layers at selected sites of a substrate where high voltage devices are to be formed. Such selective modification of an already existing mask set designed for low voltage CMOS typography allows additional doping of the substrate or provision of further overlay material to accommodate the effects of high voltage operation of selected areas of the wafer and thereby effectively performs precursor tailoring or modification of those portions of the wafer where a high voltage condition will be encountered.

Abstract: A jitter/wander reduction circuit is provided for a desynchronizer deriving an output clock signal from an independent clock signal and phase adjustment signals. Phase adjustment signals relate to a deviation of the independent clock signal from an input clock signal. The circuit includes a frequency offset estimation circuit receiving phase adjustment signals and providing a frequency offset estimation signal. A phase controller receives the frequency offset estimation signal, provides a feedback signal to the frequency offset estimation circuit, and provides a phase difference signal. A clock generator circuit receives the independent clock signal and the phase difference signal. The independent clock signal is adjusted based on the phase difference signal to provide an output clock signal.

Abstract: A regulated power supply automatically accommodates either a positive or negative polarity connection of a power source and without regard as to whether the source is an DC or an AC source, and accommodating a wide range of input voltage sources. The power supply circuit includes a source voltage conditioning unit which includes an input fuse section, a surge protection circuit, a power switch, and a filter rectifier section, coupled in circuit between a set of external power source connection terminals and a set of output terminals from which a rectified and filtered intermediate voltage is derived. An open fuse detector alerts servicing personnel to an open condition of a user-replaceable input fuse. A DC-DC converter section includes a start up supply circuit and a primary drive winding of a power transformer connected to receive the intermediate rectified voltage from the filter rectifier of the input section.

Abstract: A method of providing a visual indication to a first communication connection (CC) subscriber of the status of a telephone CC comprising the steps of providing ah icon on a display that represents the first CC subscriber, providing a call setup icon on a display representing a command to set up a CC, dragging the icon representing the first CC subscriber to the call setup icon, automatically displaying a directory of subscribers, dragging an identity of a second CC subscriber from the directory to the call setup icon, establishing a CC between communication apparatus used by the first subscriber and communication apparatus used by the second CC subscriber via subscriber's lines, changing the identity of the calls setup icon to a call icon, displaying an icon representing the second CC subscriber in the call icon, and displaying a new call setup icon, whereby icons representing CC subscribers of a call in progress are both represented and are visually discernible by the first CC subscriber in the call icon.

Abstract: A telephone service technician's portable computer has a trouble-shooting mechanism which analyzes craftsperson inputs, trouble ticket data, local and remote test data, and suggests a problem solving strategy. The system includes a trouble-shooting application engine, a knowledge database, and a shared, parameter database. The knowledge database contains rules and static parameters which define the characteristics and behavior of the application engine. These rule sets and information are telephone line trouble-shooting specific, based on a diagnostic evaluation of possible line problems, and recommended procedures to repair the line and remove the fault. The shared database data may be supplied from a variety of external sources, such as through a work order manager software application, measurement data sourced by portable test equipment, or data input by the craftsperson.

Abstract: A self diagnostic test routine resident in firmware in a remote, programmable device for testing telephone lines diagnostically examines the operational capability of each of a plurality of prescribed signal processing functions contained within the test device, on a selected one of a `loop` (effectively continuous) basis, `automatically`--at a less than continuous but still meaningfully periodic rate, or `on-demand`--at any time requested by the user. In addition, a running log is maintained of the results of each diagnostic test, and the results of each diagnostic test are compared with a set of thresholds associated with respectively different standards of performance of the test device. As a result of this comparison, the performance capability or status of the device is classified into one of three categories: PASS, MARGINAL, or FAIL, and communicated to system maintenance personnel.

Abstract: A portable, digital processor-based system equips a craftsperson with the ability to test a subscriber line of a telephone network by accessing a direct test unit (DATU) of a telephone office, said DATU being configured to respond to commands from a telephone test set and to generate audio messages that provide the user with information relating to control of the operation of the test unit for testing a subscriber line, said portable, digital processor-based system having an input/output device, including a visual display, through which information input by the user is converted into tone signals and transmitted to said DATU, and through which information associated with the operation of said DATU is presented by said test device to the user. The displayed information is interactively updated in response to one or more inputs supplied via the input/output device by the user, irrespective of the generation of audio messages by the DATU.

Abstract: The need to employ costly precision components to reduce non-linearities in the signal processing path of noise reduction circuitry such as an echo canceler and decision feedback equalizer is successfully addressed by a transversal filter which is capable of effectively tracking for non-linearities in system components that manifest themselves as added noise introduced into the signal propagation path. This non-linear tracking capability is attained by employing cascaded sets of weighting coefficient and scaling factor multiplying stages. The first set of weighting coefficients effectively modifies the contents of each of the transmitted symbol samples in the transversal filter delay line to produce respective sets of `partial sums` associated with the respective data symbols employed in the data modulation scheme. The second, cascaded set of `scaling` coefficients or factors is employed to scale selected ones of the sets of the partial sums.

Abstract: A golf club, in particular, a putter, having a golf ball-seizure device integrated into the putter head. The putter head has a golf ball-seizing aperture. The aperture has an effective interior diameter that allows passage of a golf ball therethrough by relative flexible movement between an interior surface of the aperture and an outer surface of the golf ball. For this purpose, a flexible ring may be installed in the aperture. A retaining element is mounted adjacent to the aperture such that a golf ball, upon passing upwardly through the aperture, is restricted from further substantial movement and thereby captured in a confinement volume by the combination of the effective interior diameter of the aperture and the retaining element.

Abstract: A medical condition quantification and dysfunction-reduction therapy evaluation process enables a health care service provider to monitor the improvement of a patient's condition, as well as the efficiency of the rehabilitation process employed to achieve a patient improvement objective. Based upon initial patient examination data, one or more sets of parameters associated with respective body regions, for which dysfunction-reducing therapy is to be carried out, are provided. For each parameter, a data value is generated. The magnitude of the data value is based upon the condition of the body region associated with the parameter. All of the data values of the parameters of a body region are combined, to quantify the overall condition or dysfunction of the body region. Periodically, during the course of the patient therapy program, the physical condition of the body region being treated is re-examined.

Abstract: A continuous combustion, pinned vane type, positive displacement, rotary compressor and expander engine system comprises a compressor which outputs compressed air, a combustor which effects continuous combustion of a combustion gas mixture containing fuel and the compressed air and produces a combustion gas output. An expander is coupled to receive a mixture of combustion gas and an expansion fluid as an expandable working gas. The expander expands the expandable working gas and performs work to cause rotation of an engine output shaft. Each the compressor and the expander comprises a respective pinned vane type, positive displacement, rotary device. The engine system further includes an expansion fluid flow path having an input port to which the expansion fluid is supplied, and an output port coupled to combine the expansion fluid with the combustion gas as the expandable working gas.

Abstract: A telecommunication test system for a line to be tested includes a test measurement device coupling with the line. The test measurement device determines parameter measurement data from the line. A processor receives the parameter measurement data. A first communication path between the test measurement device and the processor transmits the parameter measurement data. The first communication path is a wireless path. A mobile facility communicates with the processor. The communications are via a second communication path which includes a primary wireless path and a back-up wireline path. A central office and a data test place various signals on the line being tested. A third communication path between the mobile facility and at least one of the central office and the data test center is provided. The third communication path includes a primary wireless path and a back-up wireline path.

Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled voltage source selectively provides to a telephone line either a DC or an AC voltage, prescribed characteristics of which are programmably adjustable, enabling test equipment to controllably condition and test the line with essentially any desired line conditioning voltage or signal waveform. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) provides an output voltage having an amplitude that is digitally programmable. This output voltage is available to be applied either directly or through controlled amplifier circuitry to the line. In order to generate an AC signal having both an adjustable amplitude and waveform characteristic, the output of the DAC sets the amplitude for a combination of signals from a plurality of squarewave generators having programmable frequency characteristics. The output of the combining unit is coupled to a switched capacitor filter which filters the controllably-interrupted, digitally-controllable output voltage, (e.g.

Abstract: To planarize an oxide-filled shallow trench-isolated semiconductor architecture, a composite photoresist sacrificial layer is initially formed on the oxide-filled structure. The composite photoresist layer contains photoresist plugs which are reflowed to fill depressions in the oxide fill layer overlying the trench, and an overlying photoresist layer which effectively planarizes the depression-filled trench oxide layer. Respective photoresist and oxide selective etching chemistries are then successively applied to first etch the composite sacrificial photoresist layer and then etch the trench fill oxide layer down to the surface of an etch stop polysilicon layer.

Abstract: In a time division multiplexed digital communication network through which time division multiplexed data signals are routed over respectively different transmission paths of the network, the paths having respectively different transmission delays, to a bonding receiver at a destination end of the network, the bonding receiver including a digital signal processor for controlling the operation of the bonding receiver, bonding compensation that is normally carried out entirely by the digital signal processor is transferred from the digital signal processor to an auxiliary delay path, which is coupled to the receive path from the network. The auxiliary delay path is controlled by the direct memory access (DMA) functionality of the digital signal processor to transfer selected data time slots through the auxiliary delay path.

Abstract: The unwanted introduction of contaminant material into the interior of a craftsperson's telephone test set is effectively prevented by modifying the housing configuration of the hand and face-conformal segment of the test set to incorporate a resealable module that is sized to accommodate printed circuit components that are to be protected from contaminants in a compact nested arrangement. The resealable module comprises a shell configured to be insertable within a receiver-retaining portion of the test set body. The shell has an acoustic opening which is adjacent to an acoustic energy coupling portion of the test set body, when the module is inserted into the receiver-retaining portion of the test set body. The acoustic opening is configured to seal a bottom portion of the shell with the test set body. A printed circuit motherboard has a plurality of printed circuit modules and is supported on the shell, so as to provide an acoustic chamber within the interior of the shell adjacent to the acoustic opening.

Abstract: A `Eurocylinder` configuration for an electronic lock and key system has a plug fitted into a main body housing which is readily mounted into a mortise of standardized dimensions. The plug has a keyway at one end and a deadbolt-engaging cam at the other end. To operate the lock, an electronic key is inserted into the keyway and, when given permission as a result of an opto-electronic communication exchange between a control processor in the key and a control processor in the lock, the key is rotated so as to operate a deadbolt. A spring biased translatable contact serves as a conductive interface between a flex circuit and a contact on the keyblade. The body also includes a solenoid device which is energized by way of the flex circuit. The solenoid device operates a plunger away from the plug to allow rotation of the plug by the key. The body and plug also include a segmented pin arrangement such that when the key and the plug are rotated from a key insertion position, the key cannot be removed.

Abstract: A method of maintaining directory data in a switching system network having plural switching systems and a centralized directory data management system in which local directory data is stored at each switching system, A copy of directory data of all the switching systems is stored at the management system. Directory data entries of the directory data stored at the management system are associated with groups of switching systems. Data entries associated within each group are downloaded to the switching systems designated in that group.

Abstract: An imagery data memory addressing mechanism writes data representative of respective pixel values of an image into and reads out of immediately successive storage locations of memory, irrespective of whether the number of pixels in the image is the same as or less than the number of storage locations of memory, facilitating the use of a DMA controller and reducing access time. Data values associated with successive pixels of a first line of the m lines of the m.times.n image are stored in successive first through n storage locations of the framestore memory and data values associated with successive pixels of successive ones of second through m lines of the image are stored in successive (n+1) through mn storage locations of the framestore, so that there are no unused or dummy memory locations (in which `fill` data is inserted) between those memory addresses associated with the first line and the last or mth line of the image.