Abstract: When high-vacuum methods are used in the manufacture of miniaturized devices such as, e.g., semiconductor integrated-circuit devices, device layers on a substrate are preferably patterned without breaking of the vacuum. Preferred patterning involves deposition of a semiconductor mask layer, generation of the pattern in the mask layer by ion deflected-beam writing, and transfer of the pattern by dry etching. When the mask layer is an epitaxial layer, further epitaxial layer deposition after patterning may proceed without removal of remaining mask layer material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber connector that comprises two right circular glass tubular cylinders, means for maintaining the cylinders in substantially fixed relative radial relation, and means for maintaining the cylinders in substantially fixed relative axial relation. The fiber ends that are to be connected are maintained in the bores of the respective glass cylinders by UV-curable adhesive means. Connectors according to the invention can have very low insertion loss, are easily field-installed, can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and are useful for single mode as well as for multimode fiber applications.

Abstract: A high capacity metropolitan area network (MAN) is described. Data traffic from users is connected to data concentrators at the edge of the network, and is transmitted over fiber optic data links to a hub where the data is switched. The hub includes a plurality of data switching modules, each having a control means, and each connected to a distributed control space division switch. Advantageously, the data switching modules, whose inputs are connected to the concentrators, perform all checking and routing functions, while the 1024.times.1024 maximum size space division switch, whose outputs are connected to the concentrators, provides a large fan-out distribution network for reaching many concentrators from each data switching module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for removing debris caused during laser rimming of films. A vacuum scoop is attached to a movable head which contains the laser optical components. The scoop removes the debris as it is generated and therefore keeps the trimming apparatus essentially clean.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement for the base unit of a cordless telephone which consists of separate antennas for transmission and reception. A whip antenna is used for transmission, whereas the telephone Tip/Ring wiring is used for reception. The telephone Tip/Ring wiring operates as an antenna with a moderate distributed capacitance to ground. Radiation from the handset can be acquired almost anywhere along the house telephone wiring and can be then conducted to the cordless telephone base receiver by the same wire. Therefore, the telephone wiring serves dual purposes as an antenna and as a feed-line. Because the transmitter and the receiver of the antenna arrangement are isolated, the receiver input filter is simple and easy to tune. The transmitting whip antenna is considerably smaller than the conventional whip antenna used for both transmission and reception, and its filters are also easier to tune than when used in a duplexer configuration.

Abstract: An arrangement for allowing a subscriber to select telephone features from the subscriber terminal is disclosed. The subscriber terminal includes a touch screen display and a customer premises computer. The terminal in response to a touching of the appropriate area of the screen, displays a list of all possible telephone features available to this subscriber terminal together with an indication of currently subscribed features. By touching the screen in the appropriate areas, the subscriber may select features to be added or deleted. The information regarding the subscriber selection is transmitted to the central office to which the terminal is connected. The central office maintains a set of software packages corresponding to each of the possible combinations of features to be selected by a subscriber and in response to information from the terminal defining a new set of features, the central office transmits the appropriate software package to the terminal.

Abstract: A precisely aligned optical fiber switch assembly. A base member has a vee groove for supporting a fixed optical fiber and a second optical fiber in optical alignment with the fixed fiber. The groove contains sections of different dimensions that receive and align sheathed portions of the fibers and groove sections that receive and align unsheathed portions of the fibers. First aligning means on the base member longitudinally position the fixed and second fibers in the groove. Covering means mate with the base member for covering at least part of the sheathed portions of the fibers. Aligning means position the covering means precisely with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for forwarding a customer order received from a requesting customer line to a vendor data link. For use with a telecommunications switching system, the order entry arrangement includes a customer signal receiver for receiving customer signals from a requesting customer line and a processor for sending the orders received from the receiver to the vendor data link. The processor normally controls the operation of the switching network of the switching system but also sends received customer orders and the identity of the requesting line to a vendor data link in response to a customer entered order entry request code. Optional vendor identification information may be entered by the customer for selecting a desired vendor. Customer identification information may also be entered by the customer for billing and order security purposes. After the order is received, the order entry arrangement returns an order confirmation signal to the requesting line.

Abstract: A subassembly for use in packaging an optoelectronic device (e.g., LED or photodiode) includes a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) base and lid having a variety of etched features (e.g., grooves, cavities, alignment detents) and metalization patterns (e.g., contacts, reflectors) which enable the device to be reliably and inexpensively mounted on the base and coupled to the fiber.

Abstract: This adaptive environment control system provides an HVAC control system that adapts to the continually-changing thermal characteristics of the building in which it operates. The adaptive environment control system periodically estimates the thermal characteristics of the building and uses these estimates to control the operation of the HVAC system. The adaptive environment control system also periodically measures the performance characteristics of the HVAC system to obtain data with which to update these thermal characteristic estimates. These thermal characteristic estimates enable the adaptive environment control system to determine both the length of time it takes the building to heat up and cool down when the HVAC system idles, as well as the amount of time it takes the HVAC system to heat or cool the building.

Abstract: A password controlled switching system and method of operation for enrolling and storing passwords identifying lines and trunks of the switching system denied access thereto by other lines and trunks and which is operable upon a match of a calling party command with an enrolled and stored password for selectively interconnecting the calling party via a line with ones of the restricted lines and trunks.

Abstract: Homogeneous illumination of a strip of area (12) on a surface (13) of a substrate (10) is achieved by directing light at a plurality of first light-reflective members (22) arranged above the substrate in spaced relationship parallel to the longitudinal axis (17) of the strip. Each ligh-reflective member (22), which takes the form of a three-sided prism reflector, splits the light incident thereon into two beams (40) which are each reflected by the reflector in an opposite direction downwardly at the strip so as to strike it at a grazing angle. Light is also directed at a second light-reflective body (30) which takes the form of a metal bar spaced above the substrate parallel to the longitudinal axis (17). The bar has a light-reflective surface (32) which serves to reflect the light directed thereat towards the strip (12) at an inclined angle in a direction generally perpendicular to the beams (40) reflected by the first light-reflective members (22).

Abstract: In a private communication network (10) served by a provider of call interconnection services, e.g., a carrier service node (15), the number of trunks (50-52) used within a call path is reduced without affecting the private nature of the private network. The service provider serves customer calls by means of a service node controller (SNC 40)--a switch such as a PBX. The SNC directly interconnects trunks (50,51) that connect it with a call-source and a call-destination node (20,21) of the customer, without routing the call through the customer's tandem node (24). The SNC merely queries the customer's tandem node over a control link (53), such as an ISDN D channel, to obtain requisite call-routing information from the customer's database (60). The customer retains ownership and control of the tandem node and its database, thereby preserving the private nature of the private network.

Abstract: A signal processing system (10) is described which has a processor (12), a random access memory (14) for storage of data, a read-only memory (16) for storage of both coefficients and instructions, and a selective cache memory (18) for storage of instructions that require high performance, and their associated buses. Instructions selected by the program are stored in the selective cache memory during their first call from the read only memory for use later in the program. An address sequencer (50) is described as one form of a control unit for executing the data stored in the selective cache memory. It generates a sequence of addresses repetitively, counts the number of iterations of the sequence of addresses, and informs the controller when a certain number of iterations have been completed. This creates a conditional branch statement in the program of the signal processing system (10).

Abstract: A high capacity metropolitan area network (MAN) is described. Data traffic from users is connected to data concentrators at the edge of the network, and is transmitted over fiber optic data links to a hub where the data is switched. The hub includes a plurality of data switching modules, each having a control means, and each connected to a distributed control space division switch. Advantageously, the data switching modules, whose inputs are connected to the concentrators, perform all checking and routing functions, while the 1024.times.1024 maximum size space division switch, whose outputs are connected to the concentrators, provides a large fan-out distribution network for reaching many concentrators from each data switching module.

Abstract: A test circuit is described for measuring the specific contact resistivity r.sub.c of self-aligned electrodes contacting underlying diffused regions at a major surface of an underlying semiconductor wafer, as well as the sheet (lateral) resistance r.sub.s of the underlying diffused regions in some embodiments. The test circuit illustratively includes a pair of test MOS or other type of transistors advantageously made by a self-aligned metallization process simultaneously with the other MOS or other type of transistors to be tested. The two test transistors share a common diffused region, a self-aligned common controlled electrode contacting a diffused region underneath it, and a common control electrode. During test operation, both est transistors are kept ON by means of an applied above-threshold control voltage, while a current source forces current through one of the transistors.

Abstract: A new method for fabricating devices which include multicomponent metal halide glasses, e.g., multicomponent metal halide glass optical fibers, is disclosed. In accordance with the inventive method, a multicomponent metal halide glass body, essentially free of crystallites, is produced by cooling essentially every portion of a melt incorporated into the glass body at a quench rate which is necessarily greater than or equal to about 10 Kelvins per second (K/sec). This necessary quench rate is achieved by successively quenching relatively small portions of the melt, e.g., thin layers or droplets of melt material, having relatively small cross-sectional dimensions.

Abstract: To produce a high current carring inductor with a high inductance value in space normally too small, a transformer is chosen which meets space requirements and has a primary winding of sufficient current capacity, but too little inductance. A bidirectional current source drives the secondary winding under control of a feedback circuit in response to sensed primary winding current to effectively multiply the primary winding inductance.

Abstract: A back-illuminated InGaAs photodiode is described in which a double layer of silicon nitride on the front surface serves several functions; both layers passivate the surface; an opening in the lower layer provides a diffusion mask for forming the p-n junction; and a narrower opening in the upper silicon nitride layer provides a deposition mask for forming a restricted area contact. In order to reduce strain near the junction, and hence reduce leakage currents and enhance reliability, the contact geometry has a narrow pedestal portion which contacts the surface in a zone remote from the junction edges and has a wider cap portion which is formed on the pedestal portion to seal the surface from the introduction of contaminants.

Abstract: A narrow-bandwidth, high-speed infrared radiation detector is based on tunneling of photo-excited electrons out of quantum wells. Infrared radiation incident on a superlattice of doped quantum wells gives rise to intersubband resonance radiation which excites electrons from the ground state into an excited state. A photocurrent results from excited electrons tunneling out of quantum wells. Conveniently, Group III-V materials can be used in device manufacture. Preferably, quantum well potential barriers are shaped so as to facilitate resonant tunneling of photocurrents as compared with dark current. Preferred device operation is at elevated bias voltage, giving rise to enhancement of photocurrent by a quantum-well-avalanche effect.