Abstract: A circulator is used as a notch filter having a notch at a notch frequency band outside its frequency band of operation as a circulator. It has been observed that circulators operate as a notch filter at a relatively narrow band of operation outside its typical band of operation as a circulator. In certain embodiments, the circulator operates as a narrowband notch filter with sharp edges. Such a notch filter can be used between frequency bands carrying communications signals to reduce energy from one frequency band from spilling into a different frequency band. Since the notch has been observed to be relatively narrow and deep with sharp edges, such a notch filter can be used to reduce the guard bands between frequency bands, thereby increasing the amount of bandwidth that can de used to transmit communications signals. Furthermore, since a typical ferrite circulator is a relatively low cost component, the resulting notch filter can also be of low cost.

Abstract: A rate control system is provided for a link between a first node, such as an RNC and a second node, such as a Node B, within a wireless communications system where at least one user is provided a rate over the link as a function of link load. For example, the rate control system sets at least one user to a reduced rate on the link as a function of the rates of a plurality of users on the link. In certain embodiments, the rate control system controls the rate by selecting the size of a transport format block used to transport data for a user over the link during a transmission interval. The size of the transport format block can be selected by changing the number of transport blocks used to form the transport format block as a function of the total user data to be transported over the link at that time. The rate of data offered to the link can be controlled by the way user data is mapped into the transport format blocks used to send user data over the link.

Abstract: A spread spectrum (SS) pilot extraction system clips the RF carriers before the SS pilot is de-spread and the RF carriers are spread. The clipping of the RF carriers raises the noise level in the spectrum. However, the small increase in the in-band noise level is more than offset by the reduction of the in-band RF noise from spreading the clipped carriers. As a result, the reduction in the in-band noise from spreading the clipped carriers expands the detection range of the de-spread pilot. In doing so, the control circuitry can achieve further cancellation of the pilot and the IMD components. Thus, the SS pilot extraction system for feed forward RF amplifiers improves the spread spectrum pilot extraction and detection at the final output coupler to achieve improved pilot and IMD cancellation.

Abstract: The traffic shaping system according to the principles of the present invention increases the connection-carrying capacity of a network node by shaping the data cells to increase the admissible number of connections. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, the traffic shaping system uses a data buffer at the ingress of the network node to selectively buffer classes of data cells. As such, the traffic shaping system exploits differences in delay tolerances between traffic classes to shape the less delay sensitive traffic classes to reduce the effective bandwidth of a connection of the particular traffic class and thereby increase the nodal connection-carrying capacity. Certain embodiments of the traffic shaping system operate within a framework to provide parameters for the traffic shaping system which increase the connection-carrying capacity for the node while meeting quality of service requirements for the data cells.

Abstract: The self-cleaning wire stripper includes a wire stripping element, such as an RF coil, which burns insulation from a segment of wire. A wire guide, such as a insulating burn tube, positioned within the wire stripping element guides the wire through the wire stripping element. The self-cleaning wire stripper uses a reamer having a wire channel such that the wire passes through the reamer. At the desired time, such as at the end of every burn operation, the reamer cleans the wire guide, resulting in no down time for tube removal/cleaning. The reamer cycle time is transparent to the process and does not slow down throughput because reaming occurs during the coil winding process.