Abstract: Surface defects on a substrate (11) are detected by raster scanning the surface (10) with a laser beam (12). Light scattered by the substrate at a large angle with respect to a normal to the surface is collected by at least two bundles of light guide fibers (21,22) located nearly in the plane of the substrate surface, one fiber bundle parallel to the laser scan with the other positioned perpendicularly thereto. The light collected by each bundle is separately processed by a computer (20) to determine the size, in three dimensions, and orientation of defects on the substrate surface. In a preferred embodiment, four light guide fiber bundles (31,32,33 and 34) are used around the substrate surface with the outputs being separately processed.

Abstract: A resonant-tunneling, heterostructure bipolar transistor having a quantum well between emitter contact and collector region is described. In one embodiment, a compositionally graded portion of the emitter region is adjacent to the base region, and there is a double barrier in the base region. In another embodiment the quantum well is defined by the emitter and a potential barrier in the base region. Further embodiments have a quantum well between emitter and collector regions or else within the emitter region.

Abstract: A CMOS logic circuit, such as a crossbar digital switch, multistage multiplexer logic tree in a two-column compact folded layout of two columns, each having a width equal to a single stage of the tree, in order to minimize wiring delays and hence signal skew. Each stage of the tree, except for the first, includes a symmetrized two-input CMOS NAND gate followed in cascade by a symmetrized CMOS INVERTER gate, to minimize signal skew otherwise caused by the difference between pull-up and pull-down gate delays of CMOS gates and the skew otherwise caused by variations in semiconductor manufacturing processing conditions and variations in ambient operating conditions (temperature and power supply voltages). Also, a detailed delay balancing scheme separately for pull-up and pull-down gate delays is implemented along a pair of signal paths for generating each output signal and its simultaneous complement without relative skew between them. In this way a single-chip 64 input.times.

Abstract: Apparatus for discharging static electricity from the human body by ionizing air and utilizing the flow of ions from the apparatus into the surrounding environment to discharge the body. The apparatus utilizes two power supplies to raise two embedded electrodes positioned in a horizontal plane different voltage potentials with respect to the body. The air is ionized by utilizing discharge electrodes of the opposite polarity positioned over each of the embedded electrodes which results in air ions being formed in a ion distribution above each embedded electrode. The embedded electrodes are positioned a predetermined distance from each other in the embedded plane. Within the region between the embedded electrodes, the ions recombine to form air molecules. The ions in the distribution layers above each embedded electrode drift toward this region under attraction from each other.

Abstract: A channel bank unit for interfacing baseband user signals with a PCM carrier communications channel. The channel bank unit includes a circuit allowing verification of the transmission interity between the channel bank unit and external equipment having two-way communication with the channel bank unit. The circuit includes a first portion for evaluating the reception integrity of signals received from the external equipment and a second portion for imposing a parity sense on the signals transmitted to the external equipment that is related to the evaluation results of the first portion.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system automatically responding to a request for executing a new program to establish an extended process that spans a plurality of processors each having resources required for the execution of the new program. Initially, the extended process comprises an user process that is requesting the execution of the new program. Stub processes are created as required to gain access to the object code file of the new program, to allocate a processor to execute the new program, and to initialize the allocated processor for execution for the new program.

Abstract: A mineral oil-free cured cable splice encapsulant comprises between about 20% and about 60% polyurethane, by weight of the cured encapsulant, the balance comprising diluent(s) and/or plasticizers, and typically has a cure and typically has a cure time of at least 50 minutes at 25.degree. C. The relatively long cure time, together with other properties of the material, including a viscosity typically between 150 and 1500 centipose, and relatively good "bonding" to plastic-insulated conductors, results in improved water-intrusion resistance of splices enveloped in the novel encapsulant.

Abstract: A power converter embodying the principles of the invention, and having a positive and negative output utilizes a single magnetic amplifier controller to control two saturable inductor cores utilized to regulate the positive and negative outputs by modulating the positive and negative pulse output of the power converter transformer. The magnetic amplifier controller monitors and sums the two voltage outputs and derives an offset from average representative output signal. This offset from average representative output signal is compared with a reference signal to derive an error signal. A current responsive to the error signal is generated and utilized to periodically reset the two saturable inductor cores and regulate the positive and negative output voltages.

Abstract: A device separates attached multiple printed circuit boards without damaging solder connections and delicate surface mounted components attached to the boards. The device comprises a pair of disc cutters positioned in opposed alignment and minimally spaced apart for providing a bifurcated cutting edge through which commonly attached sections of the printed circuit boards are conveyed while supported by a transporter. The contact pressure on the boards is limited to the commonly attached sections as they are engaged and conveyed by the cutting edge. Minimal stress and vibrations are imparted to the boards and therefore the components connected thereon with this device. The boards are thus separated while avoiding damage to the solder connections or the surface mounted components.

Abstract: An adaptive expander for telephones reduces the gain of a transmitting amplifier in proportion to the intensity of the background noise. Gain reduction occurs when the user is not speaking into the handset microphone. When the user is speaking, however, the gain of the transmitting amplifier is restored to its normal level. Noise is distinguished from speech via long-term averaging of the microphone output signal, and a circuit that precludes the magnitude of the long-term average voltage from ever exceeding the short-term average voltage. The present invention is used in full duplex arrangements where simultaneous transmission in both directions is possible rather than in half duplex arrangements, such as a speakerphone, where transmission occurs only in one direction at a time.

Abstract: An output timing signal is generated by a phase locked loop. The loop includes a phase detector, a low-pass filter and a voltage controlled oscillator. A reference signal that is in synchronism with an incoming digital signal is divided by a first divisor to generate a reference clock signal. The reference clock signal is supplied as a first input to the phase detector. A phase clock signal is generated in the loop by dividing the output timing signal by a second predetermined divisor. The phase clock signal is supplied as a second input to the phase detector to generate an error signal for controlling the oscillator. The first and second divisors are selected to eliminate jitter caused by large gaps in the incoming digital signal resulting from overhead bit removal. Additionally, the phase clock signal is controllably compensated to cause variations in the bit rate of the output timing signal which correspond to variations in the actual data rate of the incoming digital signal because of stuffing bits.

Abstract: A voice-band data symbol is typically impaired by so-called phase jitter prior to symbol being received at a data modem. Modem circuitry estimates the phase angle of the jitter and an infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filter adjusts to that phase angle so that the jitter can be corrected for by a demodulator circuit. Advantageously, the IIR filter is arranged so that its pair of complex, conjugate poles are initially positioned at a first predetermined radius within a unit circle. The angular displacement of the poles around the unit circle is adaptively increased in response to receipt of a series of such estimates until such displacement substantially equals the phase angle of the jitter. The poles are then positioned at a second predetermined radius to increase the gain of the filter.

Abstract: A speech analyzer is adapted to produce speech parameter signals from a Pth order autocorrelation analysis of a speech pattern in a digital signal processor. The analyzer includes a plurality of memories of predetermined arrangement to store feature vector signals used in the analysis, a single set of coded signals for controlling the analysis, and a memory address processor for addressing the feature vector signal memories. In each iteration of the analysis, at least one speech parameter signal is produced by the digital signal processor responsive to the same set of control signals and the feature vector memory addressing signals.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a telephone structure that eliminates the need for fasteners to assemble a keypad and secure the keypad in place in the telephone. This is accomplished by a telephone that comprises a hollow housing (100) having a face portion (120) that includes an array of holes (122) and a keypad assembly (400) that comprises a sandwich of a static shield (430), button member (410), and switch contact member (450). The keypad assembly is assembled on the underside of the housing by means of a locating member (300) which has upstanding collar portions (325) that register in the holes of the face portion and depending pins (328) that register in holes in the members of the keypad assembly. The keypad assembly is held in place by a base member (200) that is joined to the housing and supports a raised pedestal (210) that extends into close proximity with the underside of the face portion and presses the keypad assembly against the face portion (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method of overlaying onto a parallel processing network configured as an initial hierarchical tree one or more other virtual trees for concurrently performing parallel processing operations via each tree. Tree connect messages identifying a second tree are transmitted from leaf nodes of the initial tree that are to become members of the second tree to a root node of the initial tree. Status information is updated at each node in response to the transmittal and receipt of a connect message. Acknowledge messages are transmitted from the root node of the initial tree to the leaf nodes of the second tree in response to receipt of the connect messages from the leaf nodes. Status information is updated at each node in response to the transmittal and receipt of an acknowledge message. The second tree is established when all of its leaf nodes have received an acknowledge message. At this time, individual nodes of the second tree may be addressed by messages containing the identity of the second tree.

Abstract: Processes are described in which solution composition is monitored by extremely accurate measurements of index of refraction involving measurement of reflectivity from a glass-solution interface. A particularly useful application is the swelling operation in metallizing polymer surfaces where dimethylformamate-water solution is contacted with the polymer surface to produce the swelling. Accurate, continuous control of the solution composition is necessary to insure optimum amount of swelling.

Abstract: Individual components (12) in a tube (14) are successively removed and then riented for pickup by first positioning the tube, whose ends are opened, in a horizontal orientation such that the components in the tube are upside down. Thereafter, a component is at least partially expelled from one end of the tube by directing a stream of gas (e.g., air) into the other end of the tube. The component partially expelled from the tube is then withdrawn from the tube to locate the component between a pair of jaws (124) capable of rotation about an arc of 180.degree.. The jaws then engage the component and thereafter rotate it 180.degree. before positioning the component right side up.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable (20) includes a core (21) comprising at least one optical fiber (24) which is enclosed in a tubular member (34) and which includes a sheath system (40). The sheath system includes two strength members 42--42 which extend linearly longitudinally along the cable parallel to a longitudinal axis (29) of the cable. The strength members are enclosed in a plastic jacket (46). The strength members have predetermined relative tensile and compressive stiffnesses. The stiffnesses are such that the strength members are capable of withstanding expected compressive as well as tensile loading and are coupled sufficiently to the jacket to provide a composite arrangement which is effective to inhibit contraction and which controls the position of the neutral axis during bending while providing suitable flexibility.