Abstract: A communications method for a shared-medium communications network having a plurality of stations connected by a first and second bus. The first bus is for data transmission in one direction and the second bus is for data transmission in an opposite direction. The method includes transmitting data between stations in slots. A station desiring to transmit requests the use of a slot by placing a request signal on the bus in a direction opposite to the desired direction of transmission. A slot is then used on a first request, first use priority except for a least one station which is allocated a slot without regard to the first request first use priority. This allocation provides for guaranteed bandwidth traffic.

Abstract: An electrooptic modulator includes structure defining a single crystal substrate upon which are positioned, in succession, an inside reflector formed by a set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer and an outside reflector formed by another set of epitaxial single crystal layers. A first part of the structure, including one or more of the inside reflector, substrate and resonator layer, is electrically conductive (either p-type or n-type conduction) and a second part, including the outside reflector and/or the resonator layer, is electrically conductive (either n-type or p-type conduction, but a different to the first part).

Abstract: A current injection modulator includes structure defining a single crystal substrate, having some refractive index, on which are positioned, in succession, an inside reflector formed by a first set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer and an outside reflector formed by a second set of epitaxial single crystal layers. At least a first part of the structure, including one or more of the inside reflector, substrate and resonator layer, is electrically conductive (either p-type or n-type conduction) and at least a second part of the structure, including the outside reflector and/or the resonator layer, is electrically conductive (either n-type or p-type conduction, but different from the first part).

Abstract: A current injection laser including a single crystal substrate of a given refractive index upon which is positioned successively, an inner reflection formed by a first set of epitaxial single crystal layers, a resonator layer and an outside reflector layer formed by a second set of epitaxial single crystal layers. At least one of the inner reflector, resonator and outer reflector being of p-type or n-type conductivity and at least one of the inner reflector, resonator and outer reflector being of opposite type conductivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually characterizing modulated carrier signals, particularly digitally modulated microwave signals, which may be subjected to multipath fading distortion. The method involves sampling the amplitude dispersion of the received signal during a test period, counting the number of times the sampled values fall within each of a number of value ranges and displaying the count per range against range so that counts corresponding to positive and negative amplitude dispersion values are shown in a symmetrical fashion. The shape of the resultant display provides a useful characterization of the signal.