Abstract: A wire-insertion and cutting head assembly for a telephone wire impact-type termination tool is selectively operable to effect either a non-cutting mode of operation, or a cutting mode of operation, by selectively positioning a rotatable cam pin-based arrangement. The cam-pin based arrangement is configured such that, for a first rotational pin orientation, during axial translation of the wire insertion blade into the bore of the blade receptacle, the axial bore of the shaft portion of the wire insertion blade passes by the cylindrical shaft portion of the cam pin, and a cam-shaped surface of the cam pin enters into and passes through a reduced width region of a cam-shaped opening of a scissor-shaped blade, which prevents rotation of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A housing for externally mounting an electronic lock to a support structure has a conical sidewall joining front and rear faces of the housing. A cavity extending to the front and rear faces receives the electronic lock, such that a key access face of the lock coincides with the housing's front face. The rear face of the housing has an indented region to which a pivot bracket is mounted. The pivot bracket rotatably engages a pivot shaft coupled to a hinge plate of a pivotable front cover, which is spring biased against the front face of the housing. The housings's conical sidewall has a slot intersecting the indented region. The hinge plate is configured to conform with the slot and the housing sidewall, when the cover is closed against the front face of the housing. A rear end of the hinge plate is tapered so that as said hinge plate rotates about its pivot axis, it clears the structure to which the housing is mounted.

Abstract: A linearization scheme for an RF power amplifier combines an adaptive predistortion modulator with a feedforward error correction loop, which cancels noise imparted by predistortion modulation to the amplified signal, and minimizes distortion in the RF amplifier's output to a level that allows the use of a low cost auxiliary RF error amplifier in the feed-forward loop. The predistortion correction mechanism produces a predistortion signal based upon the input signal and is adaptively adjusted by an error signal extracted from the output of the a main RF power amplifier. The input signal is supplied to a work function generator unit and to a subtraction unit, which is also coupled to receive a fractional portion of the amplifier output signal and outputs the RF error component. The RF error component is coupled to a predistortion function generator, which is driven by the work function generator unit.

Abstract: A frame sync acquisition mechanism accurately locates a frame synchronization word within successive selectively bit-stuffed frames of data by not only looking for the frame sync word in the two expected alternative frame sync word locations based upon either the addition of stuff bits or the lack of such stuff bits, but also selectively examining a pair of additional potential locations, one of which precedes and the other of which succeeds the two expected alternative frame sync word locations. If an exact match with the frame sync word is located in either of the expected locations, that location is selected as the reference for the next succeeding frame. During the search of the next successive frame and for every succeeding frame, an attempt is made to initially match the frame sync word with in either of these expected locations. If unable to do so, the search is expanded to encompass the entire window of location uncertainty, so as to include the two additional locations.

Abstract: A strain relief attachment for attaching a telephone communication cord to a telephone test set has a line cord strain relief element, a grooved neck end of which is insertable through a tunnel through an end of the test set to a strain relief engagement cavity adjacent to a battery compartment of the test set and accessible by a battery door. The strain relief element includes a bore through which the line cord extends and a flange configured to conform with an external surface of the test set adjacent to the tunnel. The strain relief element engagement cavity is connected by a line cord passageway to the battery compartment. A wedge-shaped line cord retention plug is inserted into the strain relief engagement cavity, engaging the grooved neck of the line cord strain relief element and a wall surface of the strain relief engagement cavity.

Abstract: A broadband fiber optic communication system conveys telecommunication messages over a fiber optic link between a master site and one or more remote sites. The remote sites are coupled over an unshielded twisted pair-configured, communication link to an optical network unit, which is ported to the fiber optic link. In order to convey broadband information signals that have been downlinked, from the master site to the optical network unit, to the remote sites, and to provide for return messages from the remote sites, a point-to-multi-point communication scheme is provided. Pursuant to this scheme, an upstream transceiver in the optical interface unit transmits STS-1 frames, which contain broadband information signals, such as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data cells, intended for one or more remote sites, and a return time slot-representative control code associated with each destination remote site, over the communication link to the remote sites.

Abstract: A modulation drive current control loop for a digitally modulated laser diode uses the small signal, square-law portion of an RF signal diode detection circuit to adjust the magnitude of laser modulation drive current, and compensate for variations in temperature and aging of the laser diode. Operating the RF signal detector diode as a non-switched device, in its square-law region, provides several advantages over large signal, switched, linear region devices. When a detector diode is operated in the large signal, switched, linear region, its output depends upon the reduced slope beyond the `knee` region of the curve, so that the diode functions essentially as a switch. In such a large signal detection mode, the diode conducts during only a portion of the input cycle, with its output voltage following peaks of the input signal waveform in accordance with a linear relationship between input voltage and output voltage.

Abstract: A constant current power supply contains a multimode transformer that supplies constant current power over a two or four wire link transporting telecommunication signals to a remote telecommunication unit. It also supplies a reduced magnitude, constant supply voltage for powering the circuitry of the constant current power supply itself. A primary transformer winding receives a pulse width-modulated voltage from a switched mode voltage generator, which is powered by a reduced magnitude, constant voltage derived from a first auxiliary, forward converter mode, secondary winding of the multimode transformer, through a first diode and a first inductor. The multimode transformer also includes a flyback mode secondary winding coupled to the two wire link and operative to deliver a prescribed constant current to the remote load circuit.

Abstract: A hybrid surge protector architecture is configured to accommodate a plurality of replaceable L-shaped communication signal surge protection modules and a multi receptacle AC voltage terminal strip in the same housing architecture. The modules may be configured to provide surge protection for different types of communications signal lines. The hybrid surge protector has a housing structure which contains a floor, a vertical wall and convex cover. A first portion of the wall has an opening in which an AC voltage terminal strip is installed. A second portion of the wall has an aperture for a plurality of communication signal surge protection circuit modules. Hot and neutral leads of the terminal strip are coupled to input ports of the AC voltage surge protection circuit. A reference ground conductor for the terminal strip and the AC voltage surge protection circuit is mounted along the housing floor adjacent to the terminal strip.

Abstract: A `hands-free` wall-attachable web storage tool comprises a generally elongate body member, having a handle portion and a distal end portion. A grip is affixed to the handle end portion and an end cap is fitted over the distal end portion. Wall surface-piercing probe elements are affixed at an acute angle to the distal end of the body member. Each of the pointed probe elements is inserted through a respective sleeve-configured stand-off. For supporting a roll of web material, a generally L-shaped shaft member is affixed to the generally elongate body member. The L-shaped rod has a leg spaced apart from the distal end portion of the generally elongate body member, which receives and supports the roll of web material in proximity with the distal end of the elongate body member. A clip element is mounted to the generally elongate body member to allow the tool to hang from the hanger's belt or pants pocket in a safe orientation when not in use.

Abstract: The reduction in breakdown voltage of a device which contains adjoining regions of relatively high and low impurity concentrations within a dielectrically isolated island of an integrated circuit architecture is effectively countered by biasing the material surrounding the island, such as a support polysilicon substrate or the fill material of a isolated trench, at a prescribed bias voltage that is insufficient to cause the avalanche-generation of electron-hole pairs in the vicinity of the relatively high-to-low impurity concentration junction between the buried layer and the island. Where a plurality of islands are supported in and surrounded by a common substrate material of an overall integrated circuit architecture, the prescribed bias voltage may be set at a value that is no more positive than half the difference between the most positive and the most negative of the bias voltages that are applied to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Linearity of an RF/microwave power amplifier is enhanced by an amplitude and phase distortion correction mechanism based upon signal envelope feedback, that operates directly on the RF signal passing through the power amplifier. A phase-amplitude controller responds to changes in gain and phase through the RF/microwave power amplifier signal path caused by changes in RF input power, DC power supply voltages, time, temperature and other variables, and controls the operation of a gain and phase adjustment circuit, so as to maintain constant gain and transmission phase through the RF/microwave power amplifier.

Abstract: A paging system controller is accessible from a plurality of input devices, such as an attendant's position, a telephone interface, telephone night bell, programmable switch devices and digital data communications devices, and is user-programmable to respond to signalling activity sourced from such accessing devices to establish a paging connection to and perform prescribed audio/visual output paging signal functions with respect to one or a plurality of paging zones served by the system. The output paging signal functions include the transmission of audio tone and voice paging signals via an audio signal path from a paging source to one or more controllably energized paging loudspeaker amplifiers, the generation of one or more alert tones to a paging zone, talkback audio signalling from the paging zone to a telephone interface, the playback of prerecorded (audio/visual) messages from either or both of audio output (e.g. loudspeaker) and visual output (e.g. silent radio) devices.

Abstract: Spurious energy suppression for a data communication system is achieved without using a large order noise suppression filter, by means of a pre-mixer tracking filter incorporated into an emitter-coupled logic configured buffer of a carrier frequency generator, using a MOSFET-implemented current-controlled resistance component of a resistor-capacitor network and an associated current control stage. The MOSFET-implemented resistance components of the filter are controlled by the same control current that establishes the carrier generator's output frequency. As a result, the cut-off frequency of the tracking filter is linearly proportional to the carrier and effectively independent of process parameters.

Abstract: Semiconductor-on-glass integrated circuits may include photodetectors which are stimulated by backside light passing through the glass substrate; this provides information reception by optical communication. Bipolar and field effect transistors are shielded from the light by their buried layers. Further, LEDs integrated together with photodetectors permits all optical communication among glass substrate chips. Alternative uses of glass substrate include thermal isolation for efficient thermally regulated integrated circuits.

Abstract: A reduced hardware complexity, reduced computational intensity finite impulse response filter architecture for filtering multiple (quadrature) channels of an RF modem comprises a cascaded arrangement of L data register stages through which respective digitally encoded data sample values of a signal to be filtered are sequentially clocked. Each data register stage has a data capacity greater than twice the code width of a respective digitized channel sample, so that each register stage can store both I and Q channel data. A multiplier unit is coupled to the data register and multiplies both I and Q contents of respective ones of the register stages by respective impulse response coefficient values. The resulting I and Q products are summed into I and Q channel convolutional sums.

Abstract: An integrated media image information storage and retrieval system processes information supplied by different types of media. A processor-based network server operates as a system interface between one or more user control terminals, a media image capture station through which media image input/output devices are coupled to the network server, and a memory for storing media image files to be retrieved for reproduction. A supervisory media image manipulation and control program is accessed through a supervisory graphical user interface at any user control terminal, and has embedded subordinate media image manipulation programs for different types of media and information formats. When using the interface to import information from an arbitrary medium, the user is able to generate a first, index storage file, and a supplemental text description-based file, so as to facilitate rapid retrieval of any type of data, regardless of its original format (e.g.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit prevents damage to the electronic circuitry of a craftsperson's test set, in the event of accidental application of a potentially destructive high voltage to one or more leads of the test set. The test set's dial pulsing circuitry employs a power-dissipating N-channel MOSFET as the operative switching component. The protection circuit is coupled to the MOSFET and includes a power-dissipation controlled current-limiting and timing circuit, either as an electronic or thermostat-based implementation. During the dialing mode, the current path through the power MOSFET is alternately turned on and off by the test set's internal dial pulse control circuitry. At all times, the protection circuit provides instantaneous overvoltage protection and constant current limiting.

Abstract: A door assembly apparatus comprises a table having a top frame and a controllably driven lift frame supported immediately beneath the top frame to support a first door component, such as an insert, adjacent to the top frame for insertion into an associated opening in the main body of the door that has been placed upon the top frame and is captured by a workpiece member capture and manipulation unit. The workpiece grasping and manipulation unit is mounted adjacent to opposite ends of the table to grasp and manipulate the orientation of the main body relative to the door insert, to join the door components together into an assembled door. To facilitate removal of the assembled door from the table, a controllably tiltable frame is arranged to receive the assembled door from the top frame and controllably tilt the assembled door away from the top frame.

Abstract: A synthesized message storage and retrieval .Iadd.system .Iaddend.generates response messages by concatentating a sequence of words that have been recorded in digital memory in the voice of the operator in accordance with prescribed inflection characteristics. By linking together phrases or words having selectively chosen inflections in the voice of the operator, the resulting vocalized message will more naturally simulate the manner of speech of the operator and thereby provide a more realistic verbalization of the message to the customer. In accordance with the communications functionality of the operator's voice message mechanism, the system performs a plurality of tasks for the operator, including automatically answering all incoming calls with a prerecorded phrase dependent on the type of call being serviced and, by means of an auxiliary audio interface with the call director, the output message can be delivered to the customer whether or not the operator is connected to the call.