Abstract: A remote test unit for testing and conditioning one or more telephone lines includes multiple electronically erasable flash memory banks, which contain respective versions of the operating system employed by the test unit's micro-controller. An operating system modification routine employed by the host processor of a remote site allows the functionality of the remote test unit to be selectively modified by electronically installing an upgraded or downgraded version of the operating system, or by electronically selectively activating or deactivating one or more operational features of the currently active operating system.

Abstract: A telephone switching system is comprised of a main controller, switching circuits controlled by the main controller, a peripheral controller for controlling the seizing of subscriber lines for calls routed through the switching circuits, and further comprising a first memory associated with and accessible by the main controller for storing user data associated with each directory number, the user data comprising a ring type, a second memory associated with the peripheral controller for storing ringing cadence indicators associated with respective plural ring types, the main controller for reading the station data from the first memory upon receiving a request for service to a directory number, and sending the ring type indicator with a subscriber line seize message to the peripheral controller, the peripheral controller for reading the second memory and obtaining the ring cadence indicators associated with the ring type, and ringing a line according to the indicated ring cadence.

Abstract: A pinned vane type, positive displacement, rotary device includes a tangentially translatable roller arrangement for sealing each of a plurality of rotatable blades that are pivotally attached to an inner hub and extend through blade spreader elements of an outer hub assembly to contact the interior surface of the device. Each of roller elements on either side of a respective blade is allowed to rotate about its own axis, while the unloaded one of the roller elements is allowed to translate tangentially relative to a circular path described by the outer hub assembly. The sealing arrangement accommodates pivoting of the blade about an axis that passes through the blade in the radial direction from the inner hub to the interior surface of the housing, so that the contact surface between each roller element and its associated blade has no gaps across the surface of the blade between outer hub assemblies.

Abstract: An autobaud detection mechanism, installed as part of the communication control software of a serial communication device's microcontroller, enables the device to automatically determine the baud rate employed by a remote digital data communications device. Starting with a default baud rate, corresponding to the highest available baud rate, the mechanism steps through successively lower baud rates in the course of a search for the baud rate at which the remote device is transmitting. When an incoming call is received, respective bits of the received data are examined for the presence of transmission errors. If a transmission error is detected, the baud rate is stepped to the next lowest baud rate. If no error is detected, the received data bits are compared with a reference character. If the two compared data bit patterns match, the controller locks the baud rate at that baud setting for the remainder of the call. When the call is terminated, the baud rate reverts to its default setting.

Abstract: A radon detector employs an electrically charged pressed, porous metal filter that allows radon gas diffusion, while blocking ambient light, so that it readily traps both attached and unattached Po-214 and Po-218 ions, that may be present in gas passing through the filter, the filter being charged positively relative to an unbiased PN junction of a photodiode detector within a detection chamber. As a consequence, radon daughter products are prevented from corrupting the radon measurement. Since no voltage differential is applied across its PN junction, the photodiode detector operates in a photovoltaic mode, which avoids the problem of Schottky noise, producing low amplitude current pulses, which are amplified, passband filtered, and thresholded to provide well-defined pulses that are counted over a given measurement interval and converted to radon concentration in terms of picocuries per liter.

Abstract: An office channel unit data port is modified to incorporate a test tone detector and modified control software, to provide an analog service channel port that is capable of responding to analog test tones sourced from an analog tone-based test service facility, in order to test local and remote communication channels and analog/digital interface equipment. In addition, operation control codes have prescribed function-representative values that do not introduce disturbing `glitches` onto the analog line; instead when converted into analog format they produce respective voltages that effectively correspond to voltage levels expected to be seen by an analog channel, while conforming with the accepted practice of permitting a zero to be used in the LSB position for control code purposes.

Abstract: A proximity detector includes a low frequency magnetic field generator, located with an individual being monitored, the generator sequentially generating a plurality of encoded, time varying magnetic fields having mutually orthogonal polarizations. A magnetic field sensor unit is provided within a second device, carried by another individual. The magnetic field sensor unit is operative to detect encoded magnetic field energy associated with one or more of the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic field generator. Preferably, the magnetic field sensor unit includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors having respective magnetic field polarization sensitivities that are oriented mutually orthogonal with respect to one another.

Abstract: Dielectrically isolated trench fill material is used for the formation of one or more isolated resistor elements within respective ones of a plurality of dielectrically isolated island components in which circuit devices are formed, or in adjacent substrate material. A respective island may have a plurality of trench strip resistor devices, which may have the same or differing resistor values depending upon their geometries or doping concentrations. In addition, the resistor-containing architecture may include one or more conductive cross-unders each defined by a respective cross-under trench strip. A cross-under trench strip contains conductive material, such as heavily doped polysilicon, as opposed to lightly doped polysilicon of the resistor fill material.

Abstract: A packaging assembly for a semiconductor circuit chip is formed of a hermetically sealable, `tub`-like structure. The tub-like structure is comprised a laminated stack of thin layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material. The laminated stack of LTCC layers contains an internally distributed network of interconnect links through which a semiconductor die, that has been mounted at a floor portion of the tub, may be electrically connected to a plurality of conductive recesses or pockets located at top and bottom sidewall edge portions of the tub, thereby allowing multiple tubs to be joined together as a hermetically sealed assembly and electrically interconnected at the conductive pockets of adjacent tubs.

Abstract: A method of establishing a telephone communication link from a calling line to one of plural peripheral devices associated with a single telephone number in a central office telephone switching system or PBX is comprised of storing in a memory a first table of directory numbers and equipment identifiers associated with each directory number, storing in a memory a second table of references to physical peripheral devices associated with each equipment identifier, receiving a request for service to a particular directory number, accessing the first table using the particular directory number and obtaining references to all equipment identifiers associated therewith, accessing the second table using the particular equipment identifiers associated with the particular directory number and identifying the particular physical peripheral devices associated with the particular identifiers, ringing all of the particular physical peripheral devices, detecting one of the particular physical devices going off-hook, ceasin

Abstract: A graphics display tool facilitates analysis of product data, to determine at what point or points in a batch manufacturing process sequence the cause of a defective device has occurred. The tool compiles and displays data associated with respective nodes of a multi-node sequential flow semiconductor batch manufacturing process, in the form of easily perceived visual indicators, in particular weighted lines that interconnect successive nodes of the process graphically represented by means of a parallel coordinate system. The use of discriminant level-based visual indicator links of the graphics display according enables a system analyst to readily identify a node that is a likely candidate for either the cause of an anomaly that has contributed to a failed wafer, or to identify a node that is likely not to have contributed to a failed wafer.

Abstract: The need to equip a digital data service termination with the ability to decode digital loopback commands is obviated by a relatively simple hardware modification of a four wire telephone circuit connecting an office channel unit and customer premises equipment. In addition, the signal processing and test control firmware of the office channel unit equipment (OCU DP) is modified so as to realize a simplified circuit configuration for performing loopback testing of the four wire circuit. The hardware modification of the four wire circuit connecting the office channel unit and the customer premises involves the use of a sealing current-dependent relay circuit that responds to respectively different sealing current flow states: normally; interrupted; and reversed, as converted by the OCU DP. The present invention is particularly useful in subscriber loop circuits that are less than 10,000 feet in length, whereby the need for additional amplifier and noise reduction components is obviated.

Abstract: A channel stop is self-aligned with a trench sidewall of a trench-isolated semiconductor architecture, so that there is no alignment tolerance between the stop and the trench wall. An initial masking layer, through which the trench pattern is to be formed in a semiconductor island layer, is used as a doping mask for introducing a channel stop dopant into a surface portion of the semiconductor layer where the trench is to be formed. The lateral diffusion of the dopant beneath the oxide and adjacent to the trench aperture defines the eventual size of the channel stop. The semiconductor layer is then anisotropically etched to form a trench to a prescribed depth, usually intersecting the underlying semiconductor substrate. Because the etch goes through only a portion of the channel stop diffusion, leaving that portion which has laterally diffused beneath-the oxide mask, the channel stop is self-aligned with the sidewall of the trench.

Abstract: The potential impedance mismatch of digital terminal equipment and a line test unit that has been equipped to conform with the Bellcore standard of terminating the line with a 600-900 ohm impedance during data reception is addressed by modifying the craftsman's test unit to include a controllably disabled AC impedance, which is operative to normally bridge the tip and ring leads of the telephone circuit under test with the required (600-900 ohm) impedance during data reception and, under direct control by the craftsman's keypad or software control resident in the test set's microcontroller, to selectively remove the AC matching impedance that would otherwise bridge the line. The AC impedance is comprised of a D.C. blocking capacitor and a resistor coupled in series with a controllable solid state relay which is normally rendered conductive during data reception to bridge the tip and ring leads.

Abstract: A frame relay protocol-based earth station interface architecture provides full mesh connectivity for a relatively small number of network stations. The fundamental component of the architecture is a frame relay protocol-based switch, which employs a network interface `frame relay` standard to define the multiplexing of multiple virtual ports across single physical communications port. Through address and control fields of its connectivity control software, the frame relay protocol-based switch can be dynamically configured to provide multilayer addressing and device selectivity, thereby enabling point-to-point connectivity of multiple terminal devices, such as a plurality of audio circuits, to be effected via a single port. Dial codes on the station side of an audio signal multiplexer link are translated into frame relay addresses (data link connection identifiers) that are added to each frame of data for routing through the network.

Abstract: A wireline bridge tap device and an associated signal processing mechanism are capable of successfully extracting and recovering the respective signalling components of a full-duplex wireline digital data link without having to disturb the link during its use (e.g. as by interrupting service to sever the link in order to install a line coupling device, such as a modem or attenuator pad to signal monitoring equipment). The full-duplex wireline bridge device comprises a signal characteristic monitoring device that is capable of monitoring the link and providing respective output signals representative of the respective unidirectional signal components being transmitted simultaneously in opposite directions along the link. A directional signal separator, comprised of a voltage probe and a current probe, each of which can be coupled to the link without severing the link or otherwise disrupting ongoing communications, couples the signal characteristic monitoring device to the link.

Abstract: A screen-to-registration surface interface translates coordinate system parameters associated with screen-base image manipulation software to latitude and longitude parameters of a co-registration surface-based coordinate system. By invoking a data file linking mechanism of the `windows`-based display and manipulation software, the user may specify a given image manipulation operation to be executed with respect to plural images that have been imported into respective windows of the display. The registration surface coordinate system parameters are compatible with image collection geometry models. These values are then transformed by the respective collection geometry models to the respective digital image files of the linked images.

Abstract: A micro-valve assembly for providing precise regulation of fluid flow between an input port and an output port comprises a valve body configured to installed with the valve assembly and forming therewith a fluid flow chamber between the fluid flow rate control port and the output port, the valve body having an internally threaded cylindrical portion. A rotatable valve adjustment member has an externally threaded cylindrical portion sized to engage the internally threaded cylindrical portion of the valve body. The externally threaded cylindrical portion of the rotatable valve adjustment member has an internally threaded axial bore. The internally threaded bore of the rotatable valve adjustment member has a longitudinal axis and a pitch finer than that of the externally threaded cylindrical portion thereof.

Abstract: A compact utility trailer for pick-up and delivery of relatively small sized lots of material is readily towable behind a variety of commonly driven vehicles such as automobiles, pick-up trucks and the like, and contains a hand operated hydraulic jack-operated forklift that allows a pallet of material to be easily seized and lifted into a transport position within the confines of the trailer. The trailer comprises a front end hydraulic jack-mounting portion, and a rear end pallet-housing portion affixed thereto within which a pallet is to be seized and transported. The front end hydraulic jack-mounting portion has a longitudinal member having a trailer hitch fixture. A floor is affixed to the front end portion, and a hydraulic jack is mounted to the floor. A driven piston of the jack is vertically translatable to engage a fork lift-translating lever unit, which is coupled to a fork lift frame supported in the rear end portion of the trailer.

Abstract: Simulcasting from a television transmitter facility of both NTSC video signals, via a UHF/VHF portion of the broadcast spectrum, and digital HDTV signals, over a prescribed UHF portion of the broadcast spectrum, is accomplished by converting the NTSC video signals into digital format at the television studio and multiplexing the digitally formatted NTSC signals and digital HDTV signals into a combined NTSC/HDTV digital television signal. The combined NTSC/HDTV digital television signal is transmitted over a common microwave radio frequency communication channel linking the television studio with the television transmitter facility. At the television transmitter facility, the combined NTSC/HDTV digital television signal is demultiplexed into separate HDTV and NTSC video digital signals. The digital NTSC video signals are converted into analog NTSC format, and the NTSC video signals and the HDTV signals are simulcast from the television transmitter facility.