Abstract: A hybrid adapter permits connection of one type of connector, such as an SC-type, with a different type, such as an ST-type connector. An alternative adapter permits connection between an SC-type connector and an FC-type connector. A main body which holds the connectors in axial alignment includes a side opening. An inner housing is configured for mating with the different type connectors. The inner housing is inserted through the side opening, which is closed off by a cover. Various parts of the adapter are common between the two disclosed style adapters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to high density patching system. The system includes a card housing having a front end positioned opposite from a rear end. The card housing includes top and bottom walls extending between the front and rear ends. The top and bottom walls define opposing sets of top and bottom slots. The patching system also includes a plurality of patch cords including patch plugs each having a width W1 and a height H1. The patching system further includes a plurality of jack access cards adapted to be mounted in the card housing, and a rear interface module positioned at the rear end of the card housing. The jack access cards include circuit boards having top and bottom edges adapted to fit within the sets of top and bottom slots defined by the card housing. The jack access cards also include a plurality of card edge contacts positioned at a rear of each circuit board.

Abstract: The communication system includes a hybride fiber/coax distribution network. A head end provides for downstream transmission of telephony and control data in a first frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network and reception of upstream telephony and control data in a second frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The head end includes head end multicarrier modem for modulating at least downstream telephony information on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the first frequency bandwidth and demodulating at least upstream telephony information modulated on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the second frequency bandwidth. The head end further includes a controller operatively connected to the head end multicarrier modem for controlling transmission of the downstream telephony information and downstream control data and for controlling receipt of the upstream control data and upstream telephony information.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for writing refractive index structures, such as gratings, in an optical waveguide. There is no requirement for structures having interferometric stability of the control elements. The method includes providing first and second light beams, the first beam having a first polarization state and a first wavevector, the second beam having a second polarization state different from the first polarization state, and a second wavevector different from the first wavevector. The method also includes illuminating a diffractive optical element by at least a part of the first beam and a part of the second beam so as to diffract parts of the first and second beams, and positioning the medium in relation to the diffractive element so as to illuminate the first part of the medium by the diffracted parts of the first and second beams.

Abstract: A collar is provided that has a sleeve having a tapered axial bore that defines a tapered surface interiorly of the sleeve. The tapered axial bore is adapted to receive a receptacle such that the tapered surface bears against the receptacle. Moreover, the collar has a resilient device that engages the sleeve. The resilient device, the tapered axial bore of the sleeve, and the receptacle receive a connector. Axial displacement of the connector relative to the sleeve and the receptacle compresses the resilient device such that the resilient device exerts an increasing axial force on the sleeve. The increasing axial force displaces the sleeve axially relative to the receptacle causing the tapered surface to exert a radial force on the receptacle.

Abstract: The communication system includes a hybride fiber/coax distribution network. A head end provides for downstream transmission of telephony and control data in a first frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network and reception of upstream telephony and control data in a second frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The head end includes head end multicarrier modem for modulating at least downstream telephony information on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the first frequency bandwidth and demodulating at least upstream telephony information modulated on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the second frequency bandwidth. The head end further includes a controller operatively connected to the head end multicarrier modem for controlling transmission of the downstream telephony information and downstream control data and for controlling receipt of the upstream control data and upstream telephony information.

Abstract: Techniques for etching a wafer layer using multiple layers of the same photoresistant material and structures formed using such techniques are provided. In a method, first, multiple layers of the same photoresist material are formed over the wafer layer to form a composite photoresist layer. The composite photoresist layer is patterned and developed to form a patterned photoresist layer. Exposed portions of the wafer layer are then removed using the pattern photoresist layer. Each of the multiple layers of photoresist may, for example, be formed to a maximum rated thickness for the photoresist material. Structures formed using this process may have relatively small dimensions (e.g., widths of 5 microns or less or a spacing or pitch of 5 microns or less). In addition, structures may also have sidewalls which are relatively long, smooth, and/or vertical.

Abstract: A variable attenuator formed from a combination of PIN diodes is provided. The PIN diodes may be coupled in a “T,” “p” or other appropriate configuration. At radio frequencies (RF), a PIN diode acts as a variable resistor with a resistance value based on the bias current of the PIN diode. To control the attenuation level of the variable attenuator, the bias current of the PIN diodes are selectively adjusted. Digital values relating to selected bias currents, and thus selected attenuation levels, are stored in a memory. These digital values are provided as control signals that set the bias current levels for the PIN diodes. The bias current levels control the attenuation level of the variable attenuator.

Abstract: A module for radio frequency signal circuits includes an electrically conductive housing. Coax connectors are secured to the rear face of the housing. A circuit board is contained within the interior spaced between sidewalls of the housing. A ground side of the circuit board includes a layer of electrically conductive material which is electrically connected to the housing. Coax cables extend within the interior of the housing from the coax connectors and between the ground side of the circuit board and an opposing sidewall. An opposite side of the circuit board contains circuit components inter-connected with one another through a plurality of circuit paths.

Abstract: A telecommunications electrical connector positions the contacts in a manner to reduce crosstalk problems. An insert assembly positions the spring contacts within a jack for electrical contact with the contacts of a plug. The insert assembly staggers the relative positions of adjacent spring contacts in the y-direction, and staggers the spring contact pivot points in the x-direction, yet maintains a common contact region for all the spring contacts for contacting the contacts of the plug. The distal ends of alternating spring contacts are positioned so as to increase the isolation between adjacent springs. The insert assembly includes selected air passages between spring contacts mounted to the insert assembly to increase isolation and selected dielectric to increase crosstalk cancellation.

Abstract: A method of staggering the arrival of frames of data at a head end in a communication system. The method includes receiving at a first service unit upstream telephony data is described. The telephony data includes a first payload message. The method includes receiving at a second service unit upstream telephony data, wherein the telephony data includes a second payload message. The method further includes formatting the first payload message at the first service unit as a first sequence of frames and formatting the second payload message at the second service unit as a second sequence of frames. In addition, the method includes transmitting the first sequence of frames on a first carrier so as to arrive at the head end at a first time and transmitting the second sequence of frames on a second carrier so as to arrive at the head end at a second time.

Abstract: A method for monitoring at least one telephony communication n-bit channel, wherein one of the bits is a parity bit, includes sampling the parity bit of the n-bit channel. A probable bit error rate is derived from the sampling of the parity bit. The probable bit error rate can be compared to a pre-determined bit error rate value to determine if the at least one telephony communication n-bit channel is corrupted. If the at least one telephony communication n-bit channel is corrupted, the at least one telephony communication n-bit channel is re-allocated to an uncorrupted and unallocated telephony communication n-bit channel. Further, at least one unallocated telephony communication channel can be periodically monitored and error data accumulated to indicate the quality thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting heat from electrical devices mounted on a circuit board is disclosed. A heat sink for conducting the heat is provided that includes a pair of substantially parallel vertical legs and a horizontal member coupled between the pair of substantially parallel vertical legs to form a “U” shape. The horizontal member includes an outer surface and an inner surface both having a layer of thermal interface material. The heat sink is surface mountable to a heat sink mounting pad on a surface of a printed circuit board. The heat sink mounting pad is adjacent to and thermally coupled to a heat transfer pad of an electronic device. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the electronic device.

Abstract: A ring network for transporting data packets between network devices is provided. The ring network includes a number of ring switches. Each ring switch has at least one ring port, at least one local port and at least one table that self learns which network devices are associated with each port of the ring switch based on a selected source identifier from the packets processed by the ring switch. The source and destination identifiers may, for example, be a media access control (MAC) address from an Ethernet packet, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, at least a portion of a hierarchical address, a combination of two or more identifiers at different protocol levels for the data packet, a port number of a universal datagram protocol, or other appropriate identifier. The at least one ring port of each ring switch is coupled to a ring port of another ring switch in the ring network.

Abstract: A testing apparatus that comprises an electrical device. A first circuit is in electrical communication with the electrical device. The first circuit including an amplifier. First and second couplers are electrically connected to the first circuit and arranged in series with the amplifier. The amplifier is positioned between the first and second couplers. A second circuit has a first end in electrical communication with the first coupler and a second end in electrical communication with the second coupler. The total gain of the first coupler, the second coupler, the portion of the first circuit between the first and second couplers, and the second circuit is approximately zero.

Abstract: A microcontroller generates a digital signal in response to input data, such as temperature and/or fan speed data. The digital signal is converted to an analog signal that is used to control a variable power supply. The variable power supply outputs a regulated substantially constant output voltage at a voltage level corresponding to the value of the digital signal. The analog signal is produced by a resistor divider and a feedback adjustment circuit that includes a plurality of resistive elements that are selectively coupled in parallel with a portion of the resistor divider in response to the digital signal. The resistive elements coupled in parallel with the portion of the resistor divider adjust the voltage generated at the resistor divider's center node. The voltage on the center node is the analog signal that is used to control the variable power supply.

Abstract: A method of burst identification in a communication is described. The method includes receiving, at each of a first set of m service units, a plurality of modulated orthogonal carriers having information modulated thereon in a plurality of bands of a first frequency bandwidth transmitted from a head end terminal, wherein the first band includes at least one control channel. The method further includes scanning, at each of the m service units, the at least one control channel to detect identification information corresponding to each of the m service units to identify a particular band of the plurality of bands that each of the m service units is to use for receiving information from the head end terminal.

Abstract: A switching coax jack module (10) contains two removable jacks (14, 14′). The jack module (10) includes a sheet metal housing (12) with a front wall (22) and a rear wall (24). An interior wall structure (20) within the housing (12) defines two recesses (34, 34′) within the housing (12) recessed from and open through the front wall (22). The interior wall structure (20) carries four sliding coax connectors (60a, 61a, 60a′, 61a′) with two of the four exposed within each of the recesses (34, 34′). Coax cables (60b, 61b, 60b′, 61b′) contained within the housing connect each of the four sliding coax connectors with individual ones of coax connectors (60, 61, 60′, 61′) mounted on the rear wall (24) and exposed to an exterior of the housing (12). Two switching jacks (14, 14′) containing switching components (125) are slidably received within the recesses (34, 34′).

Abstract: A ring network for transporting data packets between network devices is provided. The ring network includes a number of ring switches. Each ring switch has at least one ring port, at least one local port and at least one table that self learns which network devices are associated with each port of the ring switch based on a selected source identifier from the packets processed by the ring switch. The source and destination identifiers may, for example, be a media access control (MAC) address from an Ethernet packet, an Internet Protocol (IP) address, at least a portion of a hierarchical address, a combination of two or more identifiers at different protocol levels for the data packet, a port number of a universal datagram protocol, or other appropriate identifier. The at least one ring port of each ring switch is coupled to a ring port of another ring switch in the ring network.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution frame is disclosed which includes a plurality of modular cabinets. The plurality of cabinets includes a connector cabinet having a front panel with sleeve adaptors for mounting a plurality of connector sleeves on said panel at an angle to said panel.