Abstract: An approach to synthesizing missing pixels in video images. The invention synthesizes an outermost ring of pixels within a block of missing pixels, based on adjacent, known, pixels. Then, the invention synthesizes the next-outermost ring, using, in part, pixels synthesized in the outermost ring, and proceeds in this manner to the innermost ring.

Abstract: A method for determining waveguide facet reflectivity from the electric field propagated from an optical fiber into an optical waveguide. The method determines the electric field propagated from the optical fiber into the optical waveguide by combining field terms resulting from multiple reflections occurring at an endface of the optical fiber and an input facet of the optical waveguide; determines the amount of optical field transmitted into the waveguide as a function of gap distance between the optical fiber and the waveguide; determines the optical power transmitted into the waveguide from the amount of field transmitted into the waveguide; and determines the waveguide facet reflectivity from the determined amount of optical power transmitted into the waveguide.

Abstract: A watermark is embedded into video/image/multimedia data using spread spectrum methodology. The watermark is extracted from watermarked data without the use of an original or unwatermarked version of the data by using MPEG/JPEG coefficients. The image to be watermarked is divided into subimages. Each subimage is embedded with a watermark. When extracting the watermark, the result from each subimage is combined to determine the originally embedded watermark.

Abstract: Cost effectiveness and high system reliability are achieved in lightwave systems having at least one tunable sources connected to a network by incorporating a reference signal source within the network useful for tuning at least one tunable source to a predetermined wavelength. The reference signal source generates a signal in a central location within the network and distributes such signal throughout the network. This signal serves as a wavelength reference for tuning the tunable source to a desired wavelength. Transmission of the signal may occur continuously or intermittently. Such a signal may carry one or more wavelengths simultaneously. Alternatively, the reference signal can be generated by wavelength selective reflection of the signal generated by the tunable source.

Abstract: In a WDM network employing optical amplifiers, a method of detecting changes in the number of channels present in erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) that are caused by faults or system reconfigurations. In accordance with the technique of the present invention, the power of one signal channel and the power of the amplified spontaneous emission generated by the local EDFA's are monitored.

Abstract: A facility is provided for correcting fixed column noise that may appear in a fingerprint image acquired from a capacitive fingerprint sensor. In particular, corrective gain and offset values are determined for each column of pixel signals generated by the sensor and are applied to such signals to greatly diminish the fixed column noise that may be present in that column.

Abstract: A laser markable Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) terpolymer formulation suitable for a number of applications and in particular, telecommunications terminals and keypads. The ABS terpolymer comprises Acrylonitrile (20-24%), Butadiene (14-17%), Styrene (59-63%), Medium Color Furnace Black (0.008-0.015 PPH), Iron Oxide Red (0.003-0.005 PPH), Titanium Dioxide (0.6-3.50 PPH), Silicon Dioxide (0.07-0.2 PPH), Zinc Carbonate (0.05-0.70 PPH) and Aluminum Hydroxide (0.05-0.25 PPH). The ABS so produced is characterized by desirable performance characteristics, e.g., mechanical strength, impact resistance, gloss, stain resistance, molding processing properties and color, as defined in a 3D color system of the color value (L-star (=67.53)), hue (a-star (=1.15)), chroma (b-star (=3.46)).

Abstract: An upgrade method in which Raman amplification is added to an existing transmission system to provide an increase in power budget and permit a substantial increase in transmission capacity either by time division multiplexing (TDM), wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), or a combination thereof. The power budget improvement permits higher transmission capacity by increasing either a single channel data rate and/or the number of wavelength division multiplexed data channels that can be accommodated by existing fiber links.

Abstract: A synchronous test model (STM) and corresponding method capture the essential behavior of an asynchronous circuit under test. During operation of the method, (1) An STM for the asynchronous circuit is constructed assuming either a user-specified cycle length or an estimated cycle length; (2) a target fault list is created containing only faults in the asynchronous circuit, (3) test patterns are generated from the STM using a synchronous test generator; (4) the test patterns are translated into test sequences for the asynchronous circuit; and (5) the translated patterns are validated by fault simulation on the asynchronous circuit.

Abstract: A computer software installation, distribution and maintenance method that manufactures one or more software products on an end user's target computer system. The method operates by generating a set of blueprints and raw materials for one or more software products to be distributed; provides the blueprints and raw materials to an end user; and manufactures the software products on the target computer according to the blueprints and using the raw materials. The method optionally provides for the testing of the target computer to determine its suitability for operating the software products, determines whether and updates to the software products are available and obtains them prior to manufacture; and tests and/or demonstrates the software products after manufacture.

Abstract: An adaptive filter and method that proportionately adjusts individual tap gain distributors such that the individually adjusted tap gains are not necessarily equal to one another and that the average of tap gains remains substantially constant. The filter employs a proportionate normalized least-means-squares (PNLMS) method of adaptation that imparts improved convergence speed over prior art adaptive filters that utilize a normalized least-means-squares (NLMS) method of adaptation, without affecting the adaptation quality of the filter.

Abstract: A switching network that utilizes at least three degrees of freedom, time, wavelength and space. In one embodiment that involves point-to-point switching, each space channel between an input and an output is assigned a time slot and wavelength coordinate characteristic of the output and the input transmitter and output receiver are tuned to the appropriate time and wavelength coordinates and selective switching is used to complete the space channel between the input and output. In another embodiment for generalized switching, each input channel is assigned a set of space, time slot and wavelength coordinates and an input signal is broadcast to all of the outputs which selectively makes connection to those inputs with an appropriate set of coordinates.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical, anti-reflective, switched optical modular array that utilizes a continuous, uninterrupted modular membrane across an array of individual modulators. The individual modulators are positioned within an optical window of the device, the optical window being defined by a region of the membrane situated between an array of electrode pairs, where an individual pair of electrodes is used to control an individual one of the modulators. Alternative electrode shapes and fabrication methods are described.

Abstract: A compound semiconductor that is suitably doped to exhibit the DX effect is irradiated with an optical beam of spatially varying intensity whereby localized regions of persistently higher conductivity and lower refractive index are created in the semiconductor where sufficient intensity of the beam was incident. The persistently higher conductive region can be used to bridge selected gaps in conductive paths on a support member use in memory device and the regions of lower refractive index can be used to providing guiding in a wave guide, to form high resolution gratings, or to form holograms.

Abstract: An improved waveguide grating router enhances the transmissivity of a dominant passband selected from a plurality of passbands. The router includes a first waveguide coupler, a second waveguide coupler, and a plurality of M waveguides coupled between the first and second waveguide couplers. Each waveguide m has a length L(m). The difference in length (.DELTA.L) between any two adjacent waveguides, m and (m-1), is equal to an arbitrary constant plus (A*m) for each of the waveguides. Mathematically, this may be expressed as .DELTA.L={L(m)-L(m-1)}=k+A*(m), where k is an arbitrary constant, m denotes a given waveguide out of a total M waveguides, and A is a positive or negative real number. In this manner, the difference in length .DELTA.L between adjacent waveguide arms is a monotonically increasing or decreasing function of m; i.e., a parabolic function of m.

Abstract: The interface between a telephone station device and a telecommunications system/network is digitized at a point at which a telephone call is originated such that signals generated by the device and other intelligence, e.g., voice or data signals, are formed into respective data packets. The data packets are then sent to the telecommunications system/network via a data network as they are so formed. Similarly, the intelligence contained in data packets received from the telecommunications system and destined for the telephone station device is converted into a form acceptable to the telephone station device.

Abstract: In a WDM network employing a plurality of optical amplifiers in at least one optical fiber link, a system and method for dynamically controlling gain in accordance with the collective behavior of the amplifier chain. According to the present invention, the required response time of dynamic gain control is selected substantially inversely relative to the number of amplifiers in the communication path. Illustratively, in a large-scale optical network (with signal channel paths traversing say, a hundred optical amplifiers), the response time of gain control in accordance with the present invention may be on the order of 5 .mu.s or even less.

Abstract: A method for finding a match between a pattern of data of relatively small size in a base of related data or relatively large size in the presence of occlusions which are gaps or noise that obscure portions, either of the pattern or of the base. The method involves masking out occluded points in both the base data and the pattern so that correlation can be computed only at those points that are not occluded.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides optical multiple wavelength signals using a single, broadband optical source such, for example, as an LED, to generate many independent optical wavelength channels. An optical transmitter includes a wavelength channel defining assembly which resolves the broad spectrum pulses output by the source into discrete wavelength bands constituting respective pulses (i.e., wavelength channels) and which inserts a delay between the bands to define a sequence of individually addressable channels.In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, spectral splicing is achieved by a multiple channel filter, and insertion of the respective delays is achieved by individual fiber sections, each section having a length selected to introduce a particular delay, coupled to the output ports of the router. The inserted delays can be conveniently selected to separate adjacent wavelength channels and thereby minimize the likelihood of crosstalk.

Abstract: A number of layered vanadium oxide crystalline compositions are prepared by simple hydrothermal reactions. Generally, the compositions comprise parallel layers of mixed valence vanadium oxides with guest cations intercalated between the layers. The guest cations may comprise metal coordination complexes with bidentate ligands, monomeric ammonium or diammonium cations, or mixtures of alkali metal cations with monomeric ammonium cation or diammonium cations.