Abstract: A new SOI device which permits both the kink effect to be avoided and threshold voltage to be regulated, as well as a new method for fabricating SOI ICs, is disclosed. The new device included an electrically conductive pathway extending from the active volume and terminating in a non-active region of the substrate of the device. A back-gate bias is communicated to, and kink-inducing charges are conducted away from, the active volume through the conductive pathway. The new fabrication methd permits SOI ICs to be fabricated using available circuit designs and pattern delineating apparatus, e.g., IC mask sets. This method involves the formation of a precursor substrate surface which includes islands of insulating material, each of which is encircled by a crystallization seeding area of substantially single crystal semiconductor material. The boundaries of the islands are defined with a first pattern delineating device, e.g.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable (20) includes a core (22) comprising at least one optical fiber (23) which is enclosed in a tubular member (28) and which includes a non-metallic sheath system (30). The sheath system includes two contiguous layers (40, 50) of non-metallic strength members which extend longitudinally along the cable and which are wrapped helically in opposite directions about the tubular member. The layers of strength members are enclosed in a plastic jacket (36). At least some of the strength members which are capable of withstanding expected compressive as well as tensile loading are coupled sufficiently to the jacket to provide a composite arrangement which is effective to inhibit contraction. Those strength members cooperate with the remaining strength members to provide the cable with a predetermined tensile stiffness and to cause the cable to be relatively flexible.

Abstract: Lithium nonaqueous rechargeable batteries are described in which the separators in the cells have been exposed to a radiation grafting process to increase wettability. This increases charging and discharging rates without use of a wetting agent or addition of undesirable substances to the electrolyte system. In a preferred embodiment, a particularly advantageous electrolyte solvent system (propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate) is used with excellent charge and discharge rates and excellent cycle life.

Abstract: A timing control arrangement that dynamically controls the distribution of iming information in a distributed digital communication system. A reference timing signal is distributed from a reference master node to all other nodes in the system. The distribution is accomplished on a dynamic basis without the use of a central control. Each node is connected by links to at least one other node and each node receives timing signals from all of the links to which it is connected. Each node selects one of these signals as its timing reference by scanning the various signals it receives to identify the one signal that is applied via a link path that is the "closest" to the master reference node as indicated by information specifying the number of intermediate nodes through which the timing signal has traveled from the reference node to reach the receiving node.

Abstract: A switching system having a control network for establishment of a path and a data switching network responsive to the path determined by the control network for switching data between a plurality of input ports to a plurality of output ports. The control network is a self-routing network that is fabricated utilizing electronic devices; whereas, the data switching network is fabricated using photonic devices. The electronic network is of the butterfly architecture and the photonic network is of the cross-bar architecture. A translation circuit is utilized to convert the path determined through the self-routing butterfly control network for use in determining the path through the photonic cross-bar network.

Abstract: A process is described for making semiconductor lasers with cleaved facets for end mirrors. The process involves electrochemically photoetching slots with deep, narrow cross-sections in a wafer and applying stress to cleave the wafer in the desired place. Extremely short and reproducible semiconductor lasers can be made by this procedure (less than 50 or even 25 .mu.m) which yields extremely useful semiconductor lasers particularly for communication applications. Also, the procedure requires a minimum of skill to produce excellent quality cleaved semiconductor lasers (including short-length lasers) with high yields.

Abstract: A single ended forward converter periodically resets the transformer core to prevent saturation and returns magnetizing energy to the energy source, requiring only the addition of one resonating capacitor to the converter circuit.The transformer is reset and the energy recovered into the input voltage source by resonant commutation of the magnetizing current between the magnetizing inductance and a resonating capacitor. A resonant current path is completed during a nonconducting interval of the power transistor switch through a resonating capacitor, shunting the output rectifying diode connected to the secondary winding, and the flyback diode of the output filter to permit transfer of the transformer's magnetizing energy to the input energy source. This magnetizing energy transfer from core to capacitor to input energy source has a resonant quasi-sine waveform and utilizes the resonant properties of the network to enable its flow back into the input voltage source.

Abstract: A memory subcontroller (203) of a computer (100) includes a queue (301) for storing read and write requests issued by memory using units (101-103) to a memory (104), apparatus (303, 304) for executing requests on the memory, and a circuit (302) for administering the queue. When the queue is empty and the executing apparatus is ready to receive a request for execution, a request incoming from a using unit bypasses the queue: it is received by the executing apparatus directly and is not stored in the queue. Otherwise, the queue administration circuit stores the request in the queue and then awaits results of validity checks on the stored request. If the request is found to be invalid, generally the administration circuit discards the request from the queue by freeing the queue location (210) or locations that store the invalid request to store the next received request. The invalid request is then overwritten by the next received request.

Abstract: An MOS current steering circuit (10) includes a current mirror arrangement with an input branch (12) and an output branch (16). In the input branch, the conduction channels of a current-limiting transistor (M1) and a current mirror input transistor (M3) are connected in series with each other between a first power supply voltage node V+ and one side of a current source (14). The other side of the current source and the gate of the current-limiting transistor are connected to another supply voltage node (V-). In the output branch, a current mirror output transistor (M4) has one side of its conduction channel connected as a current output node (D). The gates of the input and output transistors are connected together and to the common node (A) of the input transistor and the current source. A control transistor (M2) has its conduction channel connected between the other side of the output transistor and the first voltage supply node.

Abstract: A modular, hierarchical local area network is realizable by using existing twisted pair wiring, for example, in a building together with several elements known as network access units and hub units. A network access unit is connected to a device (microprocessor, display terminal, peripheral device, other local area network, information systems network or the like) in the local area network to give that device access to and from the network. The network access device is designed for simple daisy chaining with other devices to form a node when devices are colocated in the same section or room in the building. The hub unit is the network building block which permits extensive expansion of the local area network. It provides a connection point for access units or other hub units, performs collision detection operations, if necessary, and serves as a loop-back point for the network.

Abstract: There is disclosed a clock circuit for a PBX system that uses phase locked loop technology to perform synchronization between two input signals. The system can switch between different reference sources without introducing error and without requiring the entire circuit to become realigned with the phase of the newly selected reference signal. This is accomplished with a phase build-out circuit that uses a phase locked loop divider to change the phase of the internal control signal to match the phase of the newly selected reference thereby eliminating timing changes on the system clock bus. The system can also be used to change between redundant clock circuits.

Abstract: A switching converter in which current mode voltage regulation is implemented includes circuitry to add ramp compensation to the sensed current signal at light load and reduce or disable this ramp signal compensation at heavy load. This load dependent ramp signal improves the stability of operation of the converter and maintains its inherent current limit performance over a wide range of loading. An alternative connection allows for disabling the current sense signal and hence, transforming the current mode to voltage mode control under light load.

Abstract: A multi-positional mercury switch (1, 2) for use with miniature relays. The mercury switch apparatus has mercury wettable magnetic contact structures (11, 12, 13, 21, 22) supported in a sealed envelope member (10, 20) supporting the magnetic contact structures with free ends thereof positioned to engage or disengage each other in response to a magnetic field generated by current appearing in a coil (410) externally surrounding the envelope member. A mercury wettable member (3, 15, 23, 24) having a porous construction for holding mercury is mounted on ones of the magnetic contact structures within the sealed envelope member for wetting the magnetic contact structures.

Abstract: A gas feeder pipe assembly includes a central duct capable of functioning as a gas feeder pipe and a plurality of pairs of electrical conductors in a unitary structure. The gas feeder pipe is located at the center of the structure, and the conductors surround the pipe in an oscillating lay. The pipe and the conductors are wrapped in a polyester film and enclosed in a coated aluminum sheath. A polyethylene jacket bonded to the aluminum sheath provides the outermost protection for the assembly.

Abstract: The loop switching system of this invention overcomes the problems of prior art loop switching systems by providing dynamic rearrangeability of loop switching systems. In particular, the subject loop switching system is comprised of a number of port circuits or nodes serially connected together to form one or more loops. The interconnection of these various ports into one or more loops is implemented on a dynamic basis by means of a central switching matrix.