Abstract: A method of achieving radial (x,y) alignment between an active device subassembly and an optical fiber subassembly of an optical package is disclosed. The method relies on the use of mating sections with essentially identical outer diameters. The subassemblies are brought into contact and are first joined at the two points where the edges of the piece parts coincide (flush points). It has been determined that by continuing the attachment process at symmetric locations about one of the flush points, minimal disturbance of throughput efficiency will be maintained. The optical throughput is continually monitored to determined at which particular flush point the attachment process should proceed. In particular, as soon as the throughput efficiency drops below a predetermined value, the attachment process is rotated to continue at the opposite flush point.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus for providing a plastic jacket (32) about an advang cable core (23) which has been wrapped with a laminated metallic foil (76) includes dual core tubes. An inner one (86) of the core tubes extends into an extrusion chamber and has a free end portion (89) spaced from and disposed concentrically within an end portion (94) of an outer core tube (93). The foil, which is relatively cool and which functions as a shield (26), engages an inner wall of the inner core tube. This causes an overlapped longitudinal seam (78) of the shield to be maintained during the passage of the shielded cable core through the inner core tube. As a result, molten plastic material which is to form the jacket (32) is isolated thermally from the relatively cool shield and is prevented from being cooled prematurely prior to its being tubed about the advancing cable core.

Abstract: A high rate of exchange of information between a control station and each one of multiple associated stations in a key telephone system is economically achieved by using a multipurpose computer in each station to provide the UART function. Serial transmission of asynchronous data is full duplex for the control station and half duplex for ech associated station, with the control station polling a first station and then obtaining that station's response. While the first station is responding, the control station polls a second station and continues in this manner until all the associated stations are polled. The UART function also allows the computer to process other tasks during the same period of time that the serial transmission or reception of data is occurring.

Abstract: In order to connect two optical fibers (26-26), each of two plugs (40-40) each having a passageway (41) in which is received an optical fiber is mounted in a connector body (42). Each optical fiber comprises a core (25) and a cladding (27). The plugs are destined to be received in a sleeve (75) of a coupler (60) such that their longitudinal axes are coaxial. Alignment of the fiber cores, at least radially of the longitudinal axes, is accomplished by locating for each plug the intersection of a radial line which extends through the centroid of the optical fiber core with the periphery of the plug. An orienting pin is mounted in each connector body in intentional radial alignment with the intersection. The connector bodies are inserted into opposite ends of the coupler sleeve to cause each pin of each connector body to be received in a slot in the coupler.

Abstract: In order to connect two optical fibers (26--26), each of two plugs (40--40) each having a passageway (41) in which is received an optical fiber are mounted in a connector body (42). The plugs are destined to be received in a sleeve (75) of a coupler (60) such that their longitudinal axes are coaxial. Alignment of the passageways, at least radially of the longitudinal axes, is accomplished by locating for each plug the intersection of a radial line which extends through the centroid of an opening of the passageway with the periphery of the plug. Each plug is mounted in its connector body such that the intersection is aligned radially with a pin extending from the connector body. The connector bodies are inserted into opposite ends of the coupler sleeve to cause each pin of each connector body to be received in a slot in the coupler.

Abstract: A system for transmitting traces of an oscilloscope (16) to a remote locan. A transmitter circuit (18) digitizes and transmits the traces to the remote location. A receiver circuit (24) at the remote location receives the transmitted signals and delivers these signals to a destination oscilloscope (26). At the transmitting location, the vertical output signal of the oscilloscope is amplified and fed to an analog-to-digital converter. The digitized output signal of the converter and the oscilloscope's timebase gate signal are stored in a memory circuit and subsequently transmitted to the remote location via a first modem (20). At the remote location, the receiver circuit (24) comprises a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) interfacing with a second modem (22), a memory circuit for storing the transmitted signals, and associated circuitry for restoring the oscilloscope signal's amplitude.

Abstract: An alignment sleeve (66) for holding two conically shaped portions (30-30) of plugs (24-24) each of which terminates an optical fiber (25) includes two conically shaped cavities (68, 70) communicating through a common minimal diameter plane (72). After the sleeve has been molded, a tool (100) faced with an abrasive material is inserted into each cavity of the sleeve and turned rotatably while a force is applied in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool. This causes material to be removed from the walls defining the cavities so that when the two plugs are inserted into the cavities, the axes of the fibers will be aligned coaxially and the end faces of the fibers will have a predetermined separation. The methods of this invention also may be used to adjust a length measurement of plugs. This is accomplished by inserting a plug into a conically shaped cavity of a tool.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for laminating multilayer structures with nonplanar surfaces such as structures which include cavity (20) formed therein. A conformal material (32), a release material (31), and an optional template (36) are provided over the structure prior to the lamination bonding operation. The conformal and release materials then fill the cavity during the bonding operation to prevent flow of adhesive (25 and 26) from between the layers into the cavity, and the template redistributes cavity edge stresses to minimize wire bonding pad deflections. The materials can then be removed for further processing of the multilayer structure.

Abstract: A security system for cordless telephones prevents unauthorized telephone lls over telephone lines. The system includes a base unit and a cordless handset unit which must share common information for proper operation. To prevent an unauthorized user in possession of a handset unit from easily matching a security code stored in the base unit and thereby obtain dial tone therefrom, the security code in the base unit is transferred to the handset unit while the handset unit is in a mating cradle in the base unit. Transfer circuits in the base unit and the handset unit respectively transmit and receive the security code and also an operating frequency channel over a direct-current charging path provided for charging of a battery in the handset unit whenever the handset unit is returned to the cradle.

Abstract: A protector module (30) for protecting the conductors of a telephone loop cludes a pair of protector assemblies (40-40') which are supported within a common housing (32). A gas tube voltage protection subassembly (42) of each protector assembly is connected electrically to a grounding subassembly (44) for causing current associated with excessive voltage surges to be conducted to ground. A first electrode includes a portion which extends through annular dielectric and metallic members and an opening of an open-ended metallic container (93) to engage a shunting element (62) of a current protection subassembly (41). The superimposed annular members are held in engagement with the first electrode at a substantially constant pressure by axial forces applied by turned-in portions (109--109) of a side wall of the metallic container. The shunting element is supported at one end of the line pin in an initial position by a fusible material.

Abstract: Copper leads having an average grain size from 0.035 to 0.055 mm are thermocompression bonded to a metallized portion of a ceramic substrate. Surprisingly, such large grain size substantially decreases the "ceramic pullout" of the bonded leads.

Abstract: A protector module (30) for protecting tip and ring conductors of a telepe loop includes a pair of protector assemblies (40--40') which are supported within a common housing (32). A voltage protection subassembly (42) of each protector assembly is connected electrically to a grounding subassembly (44) for causing current associated with excessive voltage surges to be conducted to ground. Each protector assembly also includes a current protection subassembly (41) which comprises a dielectric base, as well as a tubular line pin (61) and a central office pin (57) which are connected together electrically. A shunting element (62) is disposed concentrially about and is supported at one end of the line pin in an initial position by a pellet (70) of a fusible material which extends between a closed end of the shunting element and an edge surface (68) of an open end of the line pin.

Abstract: A method for automatically determining the refractive index profile of a lightguide preform.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a first jacket, typically comprising a polyvinyl chloride material, a core member comprising at least one, typically .ltoreq.10, optical fiber(s), and a core wrap loosely surrounding the optical fiber(s). The optical fiber(s) typically is (are) slightly overstuffed. The cable further comprises three non-metallic strength members (or groups of strength members) completely embedded in the first jacket and coupled thereto. In cables containing three strength members, the coupling is typically characterized by a pull-out strength of at least 25, preferably more than 40, lbs/in of strength member. Each strength member comprises a multiplicity of impregnated filaments, preferably borosilicate glass filaments impregnated with a urethane. The preferred cable typically has a circularly symmetric cross section, with the three strength members, each of radius r.sub.s, disposed longitudinally, their axes a distance R from the axis of the first jacket, with R>1.155(r+r.sub.

Abstract: A transfer pin (40) simultaneously transfers a die (10) to an adhesively ted, electrically conductive cup (23) while depositing adhesive on the upper surface of the die for subsequent bonding.

Abstract: A biconic connector includes two plugs (44--44) each of which terminates a single fiber optical cable (55) and each of which includes a 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 a connection, it becomes important for the axis of the end portion of the core of the optical fiber in the conically shaped end portion of the plug to be 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. Images of light launched into the optical fiber are acquired in two planes at a plurality of positions spaced apart along a reference axis.

Abstract: In an electronic device assembly comprising at least one circuit element an encapsulant therefor, wherein the encapsulant comprises a silicone resin characterized in that subsequent to the curing of said encapsulant, the resin is coated with a fine inorganic powder such as fumed or fused silica which essentially eliminates static charge and tackiness of the surface.

Abstract: The addition of a low viscosity (2 to 100 centipoise) polysiloxane such as olydimethylsiloxane to a two-part heat curable polysiloxane system substantially eliminates the formation of bubbles when such system is employed as a potting compound for encapsulating devices such as electronic devices.