Abstract: In the fabrication of microelectronic, optoelectronic, and photonic devices, methods are being used which involve selective processing of material in the presence of a patterned mask layer; for example, such processing may involve etching. Typically, mask layer material is chosen on the basis of response to suitable radiation, allowing for patterning by selective irradiation followed by selective removal of mask layer material. However, in so-called epitaxial lift-off processing, material to be processed may be covered with a support layer of a material which is selected in view of desired mechanical and thermal properties, and which is not amenable to patterning by radiation. A method is described which provides for patterning of such layer by heated mechanical means such as a heated stylus or roller.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for processing billing records in a data packet transmission network by optimizing the search algorithm for accessing customer records. Using hashing techniques, the hashing parameters of hashing key and modulus base of the modulo arithmetic are varied to optimize the hashing function for recently received billing records. These optimum parameters are then used predictively to hash the next batch of billing records. In a preferred embodiment, the billing records are queued in two ping-pong memories and the contents of one are used to drive the optimizer while the contents of the other are used to drive the billing procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for illustratively implementing a large (e.g. approximately 1 Terabit/second) packet switch (200) or a non-buffer based statistical multiplexor (1810), using a crossbar matrix network in which, first, the output ports of individual switching elements (e.g. 1340.sub.1,1, 1340.sub.2,1) are partitioned into various groups (e.g. 1110) in order to share routing paths (links) (e.g. 1115.sub.1, 1115.sub.2, . . . , 1115.sub.K) among the elements in any such group and, second, the outputs of each such group are themselves recursively partitioned into a succession of serially connected groups (e.g. 1140, 1160) that each provides a decreasing number of outputs until one such output is provided for each corresponding output port (278.sub.1, 278.sub.2, . . . , 278.sub.N) of the switch.

Abstract: A crosspoint matrix switching element and associated method for a large (e.g. approximately 1 Terabit/second) packet switch (200) or a non-buffer based statistical multiplexor (1810), using a crossbar matrix network in which, first, the output ports of individual switching elements (e.g. 1340.sub.1,1, 1340.sub.2,1) are partitioned into various groups (e.g. 1110) in order to share routing paths (links) (e.g. 1115.sub.1, 1115.sub.2, . . . , 1115.sub.K) among the elements in any such group and, second, the outputs of each such group are themselves recursively partitioned into a succession of serially connected groups (e.g. 1140, 1160) that each provides a decreasing number of outputs until one such output is provided for each corresponding output port (278.sub.1, 278.sub.2, . . . , 278.sub.N) of the switch.

Abstract: Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for a large (e.g. approximately 1 Terabit/second), fault tolerant packet switch (200), particularly suited for asynchronous mode transfer (ATM) communication, which utilizes cell address look-ahead in conjunction with parallel planes of self-routing cross-points (550), staggered time phased contention resolution and shared memory based input and output modules (260 and 270, respectively). Each incoming packet cell has added thereto an additional header field containing information identifying a particular output module and a particular output port of that module. An input module associated with the switching crosspoints changes the additional header information to identify the particular output module of the next subsequent packet cell.

Abstract: Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for a large (e.g. approximately 1 Terabit/second), fault tolerant packet switch (200), particularly suited for asynchronous mode transfer (ATM) communication, which utilizes cell address look-ahead in conjunction with parallel, planes of self-routing cross-points (550), staggered time phased contention resolution and shared memory based input and output modules (260 and 270, respectively). The contention resolution involves storing for each input packet in two registers the address of the incoming packet and an indication of whether that packet had priorly lost a contention resolution. In that way a fairness factor is added to the contention resolution.

Abstract: Four parallel spaced-apart substrates are arranged in a stack to provide three gas-containing spaces therebetween. Orthogonally disposed electrodes and dielectric barrier ribs formed on each facing surface of the substrates define individually addressable cells within each gas-containing space. Each picture element comprises three vertically aligned cells each of which contains a gas that, when activated, emits red, green or blue light, respectively. The non-phosphor full-color plasma display device thus formed is characterized by high-resolution and useful memory margins at high frequencies.

Abstract: A 2.times.2 Batcher switching element (18) and a 2.times.2 banyan switching element (19) are formed utilizing dynamic charge storage devices (DL1, DL2, ILD0) and pipelined processing (100, 300). This enables the Batcher and banyan switching elements to be fast enough to switch data cells which are transmitted using the Asynchronous Transfer Mode.

Abstract: Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for a large (e.g. approximately 1 Terabit/second), fault tolerant packet switch (200), particularly suited for asynchronous mode transfer (ATM) communication, which utilizes cell address look-ahead in conjunction with parallel planes of self-routing cross-points (550), staggered time phased contention resolution and shared memory based input and output modules (260 and 270, respectively). An ATM cell applied to an input port of an interface module contains a data field and a virtual channel identifier (VCI) field. The VCI is translated by the interface module into a new VCI, to identify an output of the virtual channel for the switch and appends to the cell an additional routing header which will be used strictly for internal use in routing the entire cell through the switch and which includes distinct first and second portions.

Abstract: A injection-molded connector for single-mode optical fibers includes two mating plugs having aligned fiber-receiving holes. To keep transmission losses in the connector at an acceptable level, the eccentricity of each hole relative to its plug profile must be maintained within a fraction of a micron. The mold utilized to form the plugs includes a dual-eccentric-cam adjustment mechanism that comprises nested conically shaped cams. In a method for fabricating such plugs, rotation of the cams serves to move a part of the mold that positions a hole-forming pin. By rotating this mechanism, the eccentricity of the fiber hole relative to the profile of the molded plug can be established and maintained within the required precision.

Abstract: A distributed queue dual bus data packet network includes an adaptive bandwidth balancing mechanism in which a station priority, equal to the highest priority of waiting data at that station, and a network priority, equal to the highest priority of data received at a station, are defined. A bandwidth balancing system utilizing a balancing modulus to skip every (n+1)st time slot is enabled and disabled in response to the relative values of the station priority, network priority, request priority and data priority so as to maximize the efficiency of the balancing system. Activity timers are used for determining the if a station is the only active station on the network, and an end bit accompanies the request for transmission of the last segment of multi-segment transmissions, to further optimize the balancing enablement and disablement.

Abstract: Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for illustratively implementing a large (e.g. approximately 1 Terabit/second) packet switch (200) or a non-buffer based statistical multiplexor (1810), using a crossbar matrix network in which, first, the output ports of individual switching elements (e.g. 1340.sub.1,1, 1340.sub.2,1) are partitioned into various groups (e.g. 1110) in order to share routing paths (links) (e.g. 1115.sub.1, 1115.sub.2, . . . , 1115.sub.K) among the elements in any such group and, second, the outputs of each such group are themselves recursively partitioned into a succession of serially connected groups (e.g. 1140, 1160) that each provides a decreasing number of outputs until one such output is provided for each corresponding output port (278.sub.1, 278.sub.2, . . . , 278.sub.N) of the switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing storage and retrieval in an information storage system is disclosed which uses the hashing technique. In order to prevent contamination of the storage medium by automatically expiring records, a garbage collection technique is used which removes all expired records in the neighborhood of a probe into the data storge system. More particularly, each probe for insertion, retrieval or deletion of a record is an occasion to search the entire chain of records found for expired records and then removing them and closing the chain. This garbage collection automatically removes expired record contamination in the vicinity of the probe, thereby automatically decontaminating the storage space. Because no long term contamination can build up in the present system, it is useful for large data bases which are heavily used and which require the fast access provided by hashing.

Abstract: A light-pen system for use in connection with a video display installation includes a projector for receiving an externally generated video signal and for projecting a video image onto a screen. Illustratively, the light-pen system includes a source of a beam of radiation for forming a spot at a desired location on the screen. The source of radiation may provide a well collimated visible optical beam or colinear beam of visible and infrared radiation. An adjunct video camera is used to detect the location of the spot on the screen and to produce an output signal indicative of the location of the spot. A host computer or graphics overlay generator receives the position indicative output signal and modifies the externally generated video signal so as to modify the displayed video image.

Abstract: In a structure comprising an ultra-sharp silicon tip coated with a layer of material, the silicon is removed from the structure. The remaining material is utilized as a mold. Metal deposited in the mold replicates the original silicone tip. In this way, ultra-sharp all-metal tips suitable, for example, as field-emitter sources are provided.

Abstract: Two or more individual fuel cells are connected together to form a modular assembly whose output voltage is two or more times that of a single cell. Corrugated current collectors interconnect adjacent cells and allow a required fuel/oxidizer mixture to have access to virtually the entire surface area of one side of each of the interconnected cells. Such a modular assembly is advantageously made by a continuous fabrication process. Each assembly is packaged in either a flat or a spiral form.

Abstract: In a distributed processing system having a least an originating node and a responding node connected through a communication path, the responding node comprising a plurality of processors and a memory device and where each of these processors is capable of accessing information from a corresponding database residing within the memory device, the inventive method involves: storing context information for an associated conversational transaction using a first processor situated within the responding node wherein the context information is stored at a pre-defined address in a first database residing within the memory device and associated with the first processor; producing a first message using the first processor for transmission from the responding node over the communication path to the originating node wherein the first message contains a first transaction identifier field having a value that corresponds to the pre-defined address; generating within the originating node a second message for transmission fr

Abstract: A superconducting device and method of making in which a superconducting YBaCuO layer is laser deposited on a SrTiO.sub.3 or similar substrate such that the c-axis of the YBaCuO layer is vertically aligned with that of the substrate. A non-superconducting layer of PrBaCuO or MgO is laser deposited on the superconducting layer and another superconducting YBaCuO layer is laser deposited on the non-superconducting layer with the c-axes of all the layers being aligned. Contacts are applied to the two superconducting layers to form a junction device across the non-superconducting layer, which acts as a barrier layer.

Abstract: A technique for bit synchronization and error detection of received digital data bursts in a TDM/TDMA system, such as that which will be used with low power portable digital telephony. A cyclically redundant codeword, e.g. a (161,147) codeword, is formed for transmission, using e.g. either a TDM packet or TDMA burst. The first and last bits in the codeword are then inverted to form a first set of marker bits. At a receiver, a second set of marker bits is inserted into a received word, again through inverting the first and last bits. The resulting marked word is then rotated by a pre-determined number of bits to place potentially erroneous bits at the end of this word. A multi-bit timing syndrome value is then determined and is used to access a look-up table for a value of bit slippage. The received word is advanced or retarded as specified by the bit slippage value to yield an intermediate word.

Abstract: A real time fault tolerant transaction processing system, particularly one suited for use in a service control point (SCP), is described. Specifically, the system utilizes a communication protocol, such as signalling system 7, that adaptively distributes message packets on an equal basis over multiple physical links that connect two points, such as an SCP and a signalling transfer point (STP), and non-fault tolerant front end and back end processors that are connected to each physical link for processing packets appearing on that link and providing corresponding responses thereto. All the front and back end processors are loosely coupled together for purposes of processor synchronization and re-assignment. Through this system, all the physical links simultaneously carry an equal number of packets which are, in turn, processed by all the processors connected thereto. In the event any physical link or either a front or back end processor connected thereto fails, then that link is declared to be out of service.