Abstract: A toy bubble-in-bubble assembly includes first and second coupled together bubble generators and first and second air supply conduits. The first gas supply conduit is positioned relative to the first bubble generator such that gas passing through the first air supply conduit impinges on the first bubble generator. The second gas supply conduit is positioned relative to the second bubble generator such that gas passing through the second gas supply conduit impinges on the second bubble generator. The openings in the first and second bubble generators are adjacent and positioned relative to each other such that a bubble generated at the opening in the first bubble generator is adjacent to an opening in the second bubble generator and thus enables the generated bubble to be blown into an opening in the second bubble generator to generate a bubble within a bubble.

Abstract: In a stabilized laser system, a an output signal is to be generated having a desired central wavelength. At least one laser, which, while emitting light and having a preselected portion thereof fed back thereto, causes the output signal of the laser to be shifted in wavelength in a first direction which is spaced apart from the center wavelength of the fed back signal. A feedback generating arrangement processes a first portion of the output signal from each laser and generates a feedback signal having a spectral response peaking at a wavelength shifted in an opposite direction to the first direction generated by each laser. The feedback signal each laser to provide an output signal at the output of the stabilized laser system having a spectral response that peaks essentially at the desired wavelength.

Abstract: In a stabilized laser system, an output of a desired wavelength is generated. Each of a plurality of n lasers, which, while emitting light and having a preselected portion thereof fed back thereto, causes the fed back portion to be amplified and shifted in wavelength in a first direction which is spaced apart from the center wavelength of the feedback signal. A feedback stabilization arrangement is coupled to output ports of the plurality of n lasers for generating a feedback signal having a wavelength spectrum peaking at a wavelength shifted in an opposite direction to the first direction generated by the lasers in response to the feedback signal so as to provide an output signal at the output of the stabilized laser system having a wavelength spectrum that peaks essentially at the desired wavelength. A reflector is located at a predetermined signal round-trip time delay distance from the feedback stabilization arrangement.

Abstract: A basic reflector arrangement has first and second power splitters. Each power splitter has first to fourth ports where the first port of the first power splitter is coupled to a remote signal source for receiving signals therefrom and providing feedback signals thereto. Signals received at each of the first and fourth ports of each power splitter are combined and split into first and second portions for transmission via the second and third ports, respectively, and signals received at the second and third ports are combined and split into first and second portions for transmission via the first and fourth ports, respectively. The second port of the second power splitter is coupled to provide an output signal from the reflector arrangement, and the first, third, and fourth ports thereof are coupled to the second, third, and fourth ports, respectively, of the first power splitter.

Abstract: A toy bubble-in-bubble assembly includes first and second hollow tubes, first and second rings, first and second connecting members, and a handle. First ends of the first and second tubes are located on a top portion of the handle. The first tube has a fluted second end which is connected to and separated from a bottom surface of the first ring by the first connecting member. The second connecting member connects the second ring to the handle. The rings are positioned such that planes across each of openings in the rings are essentially perpendicular to each other. The area of the opening in the first ring is smaller than the area of the opening in the second ring. A second end of the second tube is positioned adjacent a top surface of the first ring.

Abstract: A conference call system receiving calls through a common carrier switch, where the conference call system includes a plurality of multi-port conference bridges, is operated by accepting a bridge having adequate port capacity and for each incoming call for the requested conference: establishing a first incoming connection segment from the carrier switch to the system; prompting the incoming caller for a conference access code; and, if the access code received in response to the prompt matches the conference access code, calling the target bridge through the carrier switch to establish an outgoing connection segment from the system to the carrier switch and a second incoming connection segment from the carrier switch to the target bridge; associating the second incoming connection segment with the incoming call; dropping the first incoming connection segment and the outgoing connection segment; and adding the incoming call to the conference on the target bridge.

Abstract: A plurality of n light sources are coupled to an optoelectronic module by first coupling a light detector to an optical output port of the optoelectronic module after the module is attached to a carrier member. The plurality of n light sources are sequentially moved adjacent a separate one of a plurality of n optical input ports of the optoelectronic module while pulsing the light source being moved with a low power signal sufficient to prevent failure of the light source. Each light source is permanently affixed adjacent the associated separate one of the n optical input ports when a maximum light intensity signal propagating through the optoelectronic module from that light source is detected by the light detector. A heat dissipating means is attached to a base of the carrier member capable of removing sufficient heat from the n radiation sources and the module to prevent overheating during normal operation thereof.

Abstract: A hermetic package having connectors, such as optical fibers or electrical leads, connected and bonded thereto with a bonding material such as epoxy resin, has the bonding material coated with a single layer or multiple layers of sealing material, such as chromium, copper, gold, tungsten, titanium, nickel, or aluminum, to prevent outgased material from the bonding material from entering the hermetic package enclosure. The bonding material may be recessed prior to coating of the sealing material to permit the sealing material to be polished from the optical element and the optical element polished flush with the inside of the package while leaving the sealing material covering the bonding material.

Abstract: Alignment of an array of N elements, such as optical fibers, within a preselected tolerance value is obtained using a primary substrate with a plurality of N apertures extending therethrough from a first surface to a second opposing surface. Each aperture, at its narrowest point, has a cross-section that is greater than a cross-section of an element to be inserted therethrough. Each of the elements passes through its corresponding aperture and rests against the same corresponding point and/or sidewall of the aperture so as to result in the desired alignment. A directing arrangement directs the elements toward the primary substrate at a predetermined angle to cause a spring-like action to occur in each of the elements when threaded through its associated aperture for aligning the elements to engage the same corresponding point and/or sidewall of the aperture.

Abstract: Participants of a conference call are permitted to see a continuously updated display on their own web browsers identifying the current speaker(s) on the conference call. In a telecommunications conferencing system which includes a conference bridge having a plurality of ports, voice connections are established between a plurality of conference participants and respective ports of the conference bridge, human readable visual labels are assigned individually to each of the participants and their respective ports, data connections are established between the conference bridge and respective video monitors for at least some of the participants, respective visual labels for the active speakers are displayed at a fixed location on each of the video monitors, the ports being used by the currently active speakers are detected, and the displayed labels are continually updated according to detected ports as the currently active speakers change.

Abstract: Preselected alignment of an array of N optical fibers is obtained using a relatively thick primary substrate with a thin layer mounted thereon. The primary substrate has a sufficient structure to support an array of N spaced-apart optical fibers passing therethrough. The primary substrate has first and second opposing surfaces and defines a plurality of N primary substrate apertures which each extend therethrough from the first surface to the second surface and have a cross-section which is greater than a cross-section of an optical fiber such that one of the N optical fibers can be inserted through each of the N primary substrate apertures. The layer is metal, is relatively thin, and engages one of the first and second opposing surfaces of the primary substrate, and defines N layer apertures therethrough. Centers of the layer apertures are aligned to a preselected tolerance value which is required for the array of elements.

Abstract: Ultra-miniature electrical contacts are provided with the strength and resilience necessary to give stable low resistance connection, to minute areas of a device, such as a thousand or so closely spaced surface pads of an integrated circuit. Each contact is initially formed on a substrate as a thin, narrow elongated flat body comprised of selectively deposited layers of metal. Depending on the final configuration desired for the contact, the metal of one metal layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion such as chromium (Cr), and the metal of another layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion such as copper (Cu). Each contact is permanently formed (by differential expansion of the metal layers when heated) into a three-dimensional structure and is then made “robust” by a covering of a specialized stiffening metal plating which adds substantial strength to the contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vertical power MOSFET having additional column-like zones (11, 12) which are arranged in an inner zone (1) and have the same and the opposite conductivity type as/to the inner zone (1). The charge carrier life is reduced in the additional zones (12), which are of the same conductivity type as the inner zone (1), and the inner zone (1) is dimensioned such that the space charge zone does not reach the junction between the inner zone and a drain zone.

Abstract: A trench capacitor structure for improved charge retention and method of manufacturing thereof are provided. A trench is formed in a p-type conductivity semiconductor substrate. An isolation collar is located in an upper portion of the trench. The substrate adjacent the upper portion of the trench contains a first n+ type conductivity region and a second n+ type conductivity region. These regions each abut a wall of the trench and are separated vertically by a portion of the p-type conductivity semiconductor substrate. A void which encircles the perimeter of the trench is formed into the wall of the trench and is located in the substrate between the first and second n+ type conductivity regions.

Abstract: A memory system on a semiconductor body is tested by testing components formed on the semiconductor body. A programmable clock signal generator receives an external clock signal and selectively generates an output clock signal having a frequency at a predetermined multiple of the received external clock signal. A counter receives the output clock signal from the clock signal generator and generates output signals having a cyclical binary count up to the predetermined multiple of the received external clock signal. Memory locations in a programmable look-up memory store separate commands for testing the memory system. The programmable look-up memory receives each of selective remotely generated binary encoded address signals to access a separate predetermined look-up memory section, and the binary output signals from the counter for sequentially accessing separate memory locations within the separate predetermined look-up memory section.

Abstract: A system includes a microprocessor and first and second memories. The microprocessor is programmed to receive a text stream of words and to compare the words received with key words stored in the first memory. The second memory stores data representing musical sounds with one or more of the sounds being associated with a key word stored in the first memory. If there is a match between a word received by the microprocessor and a key word stored in the first memory, an electrical signal representing the corresponding sound stored in the second memory is provided to the microprocessor which then sends same to a speaker or to a display device such as a computer monitor. In one embodiment the data representing the received words is converted into an analog electrical speech signal which is sent to the speaker. The text stream can be generated by a person speaking or from a computer disk which contains words in digital format.

Abstract: One or more electrostatic sensors 3 and a tacho generator 2 are provided in a machine 1 such as a gearbox. Signals from the sensors 3 and the tacho generator 2 are processed by a signal processing circuit 6 to monitor for abnormal interaction between plural interacting components of the machine 1. The signal from the tacho generator 2 may be used by the signal processing circuit 6 to produce a signal which is an average of the electrostatic activity at the interacting components over a cycle of the machine. Such an averaged signal will contain enhanced components relating to electrostatic activity relating to the cycle of the machine.

Abstract: A method for forming a field effect vertical bipolar transistor that includes a semiconductive body that has at its top surface a plurality of emitter zones of one conductivity type, each surrounded by a base zone of the opposite conductivity type, and gate electrodes for creating a channel at the surface through the base zone into the bulk inner portion of the one conduction type and at a bottom surface a collector zone that includes a collector electrode overlying a collector layer of the opposite conduction type overlying a field stop layer heavily doped of the opposite conduction type overlying the inner portion lightly doped of the one conduction type. Each of the collector layer and the field stop layer is less than 2 microns in thickness and the collector layer is used to inject minority carriers into the inner zone when appropriately biased.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining dopant impurity concentration ND in certain semiconductor devices, such as high voltage lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (HV LDMOS) transistors. Such a device is scanned along its length by a beam of radiant energy (e.g., a laser beam focused through a microscope onto the device) while the device is reverse biased by a voltage V. A resulting beam induced current signal measures a depletion width W, for a given bias voltage V, the widths W increasing with increasing bias voltages V. From a series of respective voltages V and widths W a profile of corresponding dopant concentrations ND is determined using a suitable mathematical algorithm.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory is formed in a silicon chip in arrays of clusters, each of four cells in a single active area. Each active area is cross-shaped with vertical trenches at the four ends of the two crossbars. The central region of the active area where the two crossbars intersect serves as the common base region of the four transistors of the cluster. The top of the base region serves as a common drain for the four transistors and each transistor has a separate channel along the wall of its associated vertical trench that provides its storage capacitor. Each cluster includes a common bit line and four separate word-line contacts.