Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for overcladding a preform rod (22). The preform rod is aligned with and inserted into an overcladding tube (30). The outer diameter of the preform rod and the inner diameter of the tube are such that the clearance between the tube and the rod does not exceed a predetermined value. Successive increments of length of the tube and rod therein are subjected to a controlled zone of heat while the pressure inside the tube is maintained at a value which is substantially less than that outside the tube. This causes the tube to be collapsed onto the preform rod to provide an overclad preform and subsequently a drawn optical fiber in which the overcladding is substantially concentric with respect to the optical fiber core.

Abstract: A method has been developed for providing tub regions with various resistivities in a dielectrically isolated (DI) structure. The starting substrate material is etched to expose the locations designated for a resistivity modification, and epitaxial material of the modified resistivity value is used to fill the exposed tubs. The remainder of the fabrication process follows conventional DI fabrication techniques. The procedure may simply be used to create a DI structure containing both n-type and p-type tube regions. The idea may also be extended, however, to providing separate tubs with, for example, n+ resistivity, n- resistivity, p- resistivity and p+ resistivity, all within the same DI structure.

Abstract: During the heating of a moving wire (21) such as when the wire is being aaled, the wire is heated in such a manner that the energy applied to each successive increment of length of the wire is substantially constant. This is accomplished by causing an integral number of half cycles of alternating curent to be applied to each successive increment of length of the wire as the increments are moved from one sheave to another in an annealer (20). In one embodiment, the integral number of half cycles is achieved by adjusting the speed at which the wire is being advanced between two sheaves of the annealer in a manufacturing line. This also may be accomlished by adjusting the distance between the sheaves in an annealing leg of the annealer, or by adjusting the frequency of the applied power source.

Abstract: A communications cable comprising a core of at least one transmission media and a plastic jacket includes provisions for preventing the movement of water within the cable. A water blockable yarn (33) or strip (35) is interposed between the core and the jacket (32) and extends either linearly along the cable or is wrapped helically about a portion of the sheath system. In any plane along the cable which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cable, the yarn or the strip extends about an insubstantial portion of an inner periphery of the cable. As a result, any desired bond between the jacket and an underlying element of the cable sheath system is discontinuous for only an insignificant portion of the peripheral surface of contact. The yarn may be one which has been treated with a superabsorbent material whereas the strip may comprise a substrate strip which has been impregnated with a superabsorbent material which upon contact with water swells and inhibits the movement of water within the cable.

Abstract: A resilient and deformable touch screen that is adapted to be overlaid on the surface of a CRT screen is formed from a semi-rigid plastic frame attached to a flexible plastic pouch filled with a soft resilient material which adheres to the surface of the pouch.

Abstract: A communications distribution system (20) provides service for local business and residential premises with fewer splice points required and less waste than encountered in prior art systems. The system includes a feeder distribution interface (60) which is served by a feeder cable or by a carrier system and at least one group interface (61) which is disposed to serve customers' premises. A backbone cable segment (62) extends from the feeder distribution interface to a single group interface and is capable of providing service to a plurality of customer premises. Each customer's premises is served by a single distribution service cable (66) which is connected to a backbone cable segment at a group interface. The single distribution service cables for an area may extend radially or laterally from a group interface.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a fluted strength member core (22) which comprises a plurality of ribs (26--26) extending radially from a center portion and a plurality of grooves (28--28), each groove being disposed between two adjacent ribs. The fluted core is such that the ratio of the diameter of a circle (41) which passes through an outermost surface of each rib to the diameter of a circle (44) through the inverts of the grooves does not exceed a predetermined value and cooperates with a reference width of each rib to allow a plurality of optical fibers to be disposed in each groove. Further, the geometry of the fluted core is such that the optical fibers are capable of longitudinal and lateral movement in the grooves. A core wrap (50) which may be made of a flame retardant material encloses the fluted core and a jacket (60) which is made of a plastic material encloses the core wrap.

Abstract: A telephone line carrier system comprising a master station (221) and one or more remote stations (222) is disclosed. Each station (221, 222) is bridged, in a parallel electrical connection, onto a wire-pair (201) that extends from the station to a telephone line switching system. Each station (221, 222) includes a line interface (110, 310) for connecting to the wire-pair (201) at voiceband frequencies, and a radio frequency interface (700, 800) for connecting to the wire-pair (201) at Radio Frequencies (RF). Each station further includes multiplexer and demultiplexer equipment (500, 600) for frequency shifting voice and data channels between baseband and RF. Frequency modulation and full duplex transmission are used for voice communication while amplitude modulation and half-duplex transmission are used for data communication.

Abstract: A biconic connector includes two plugs (44--44) each terminating a single fiber optical cable (55) and each including a conically shaped end portion (50). In order to minimize loss through a connection, the axis of an end portion of the optical fiber in the conically shaped end portion of the plug should be substantially coincident with the axis of revolution of the conically shaped end portion. This is accomplished by holding the plug in a fixture such that its conically shaped end portion is exposed and the fixture adapted to be turned about an axis of rotation (105). Scattered light from a laser (166) directed toward a gauging length (100) of optical fiber in a passageway of the plug and extending beyond an end face thereof as the plug is turned rotatably is received on a target area. The fixture is turned pivotally to cause the axis of the gauging fiber to parallel the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus are provided for winding strand such as optical ers on alternate spools and for storing and protecting from damage coiled end portions of the strand to be wound on the spools in which the coils are clamped laterally of the coils with forces applied parallel to the axis of the coils. The methods and apparatus of the invention may be used for urging portions of the strand being fed to the spools and associated strand storage and clamping devices against the peripheral surfaces thereof to aid in the transfer of the distribution of the strand from one spool to the other spool.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards having a plurality of circuit layers are produced on a copper-clad substrate by first forming a pattern in a desired configuration to produce the first layer of the printed circuit board, then covering it with an energy-sensitive material comprising a rubber modified epoxy resin, an acrylated epoxy resin and a viscosity modifier; the energy-sensitive material is delineated in a desired pattern and developed to uncover portions of the underlying metallization pattern and the entire substrate is then blanket cured to produce a rigid layer having openings in appropriate places; the openings are metallized and a second copper pattern is produced on the cured polymer by conventional metallization and lithographic techniques. If desired, the process is repeated until a suitable number of copper patterned levels are obtained.

Abstract: A biconic connector (40) includes two plugs (44-44) each of which terminates a single fiber optical cable (55) and each of which includes a truncated conically shaped end portion (50). The connector also includes an alignment sleeve having back-to-back conically shaped cavities each of which is adapted to receive an end portion of a plug. In order to minimize loss through the connection, it becomes important for the centroid of the cross-sectional area of a light beam in the end face of the plug to be coincident with the axis of revolution of the conically shaped surface of plug. This is accomplished by holding the plug in a fixture such that its end portion is exposed and the fixture adapted to be turned about an axis of rotation. Images of a light beam launched into the optical fiber are acquired in a plane through the end face of the plug.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable particularly suited for use in building distribution systems includes a core which comprises a plurality of coated optical fibers (22--22) with each being enclosed in a plastic buffer (26). The optical fibers are individually or collectively enclosed in a fibrous strength member. Over the strength member in each of several embodiments is provided an outer jacket comprising a plastic material having excellent resistance to flame spread and smoke evolution. The plastic material comprising the jacket is disposed about the strength member and decoupled sufficiently therefrom to avoid the introduction of microbending stresses in the optical fiber. This may be accomplished by vacuum sizing the plastic material which has been tubed over an advancing optical fiber core as the plastic material is being drawn down onto the strength member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for soldering each of a plurality of members (40), arranged in one or more parallel rows, to a separate one of a plurality of metallized pads (42) on a substrate (10), each pad being contiguous with a corresponding member. The method is initiated by tilting the substrate so that one end of each row of members and the metallized pads contiguous therewith are at a higher elevation than the other end. A stream (80) of molten solder and a dripping stream (88) of flux droplets are directed onto the substrate into the regions where the members are contiguous with the metallized pads. Simultaneously, the substrate is displaced relative to the streams along a path (96) inclined with respect to the horizontal and parallel to the rows of members so that the members and the metallized pads are successively coated with solder and then flux.

Abstract: An apparatus coupled to an electroless copper plating bath for analyzing controlling, on-line, the primary constituents of the bath is described. The apparatus detects and controls not only the copper concentration of the bath by optical means, but the concentrations of hydroxyl ion, formaldehyde reducing agent and cyanide ion as well.

Abstract: A wafer handling technique allows for picking up a wafer from its front side. One or more vacuum ports pull the periphery of the wafer into contact with a ledge raised from a broad surface, providing a friction force that prevents lateral movement of the wafer. A port in the broad surface of the handler flows pressurized gas onto the wafer, thereby preventing contact between the handler and the interior of the wafer. The handler may be sized to be relatively thin, and to cover less than half of the surface of the wafer, thereby allowing for readily loading wafers back-to-back in a furnace boat.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a core (22) comprising optical fibers (24-24) in ribbon or single fiber form and a sheath system (50) which provides flexibility for ease of handling and installation, strength to resist tensile and torsional stresses and rodent and/or lightning protection. The core is enclosed by a tube (28) which is made of a plastic material, a shield system (52) and outer plastic jacket (54). The shield system provides rodent and/or lightning protection. Strength is provided by a plurality of longitudinally extending strength members (58-58) which are disposed in a single layer concentric with the core and which in a preferred embodiment are disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the shield and with substantial portions of their perpheries embedded in the plastic of the outer jacket.

Abstract: An aerial service wire (20) includes a jacket (40) having a generally rectangularly shaped cross section and comprising a polyvinyl chloride plastic material. Enclosed by the jacket are two strength members (36--36) each of which includes a plurality of filaments and each of which is impregnated with a material which is compatable with that of the jacket. The strength members are disposed along an axis (42) of the cross section which passes through a geometric center through which a longitudinal axis (50) of the jacket passes. Conductors (30--30) which are individually insulated are disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis with each strength member being disposed between the conductors and the outer surface of the jacket.

Abstract: A four surface point type drill has its primary clearance faces configured so that their circumferential width decreases as the longitudinal axis of the drill is approached. The trailing edge and cutting edge of the primary clearance face surfaces substantially intersect each other at a point where they both intersect the opposite ends of the chisel edge of the drill point. The chisel edge itself is totally defined by a line formed by the intersection of the two secondary clearance face surfaces of the drill point. This new improved drill point geometry permits the use of reduced primary and secondary clearance face relief angles at the drill point which improves the structural integrity of the cutting edge of the drill and hence reduces chipping at the cutting edge.