Abstract: A means for aligning components of an optical system without the use of conventional optical equipment is disclosed. This means includes the use of a pair of electrodes in proximity with the light guiding portion of a pyroelectric system element. The absorption of light in the waveguide produces a current in the pyroelectric material tht is monitored at the electrodes. Alignment of the system components is achieved by adjusting their relative position to increase the monitored signal.

Abstract: A procedure is described for electroplating platinum and platinum alloys. This procedure permits rapid electroplating of platinum and yields platinum films with excellent properties. The electroplating bath comprises a unique platinum complexing agent, namely an organic polyamine compound. The procedure is also useful for electroplating a variety of platinum alloys. In addition, the bath is highly stable and does not adversely affect the base material being plated.

Abstract: A method of liquid phase epitaxy is disclosed for growing a plurality of different layers on each of a plurality of semiconductor wafers during a single heating cycle. Each of a series of melts, each corresponding to a layer to be grown, is divided, in succession, into aliquant portions and a remainder portion. Each aliquant portion is contacted by one or more wafers, and epitaxial growth occurs as the temperature is lowered. Provision of a remainder portion enables a two-phase melt, and a wafer contacts only one distinct melt at a time.After a growth step, the next successive melt likewise is separated into aliquant portions and a remainder portion, the wafers are removed from the preceding melt chambers and placed in contact with the newly formed aliquant portions, and growth of another layer ensues from another drop in temperature. The process is repeated for each melt provided.Apparatus for carrying out the method also is described.

Abstract: In a plasma-assisted etching apparatus and method designed to pattern silicon dioxide in a plasma derived from a mixture of trifluoromethane and ammonia, surfaces in the reaction chamber are coated with a layer of silicon. Contamination of wafers during the etching process is thereby substantially reduced. In practice, this leads to a significant increase in the yield of acceptable chips per wafer.

Abstract: A synchronization scheme is used in a peripheral unit controller which consists of two duplicated units whose outputs are matched. In addition, each duplicated unit contains a pair of microprocessors whose outputs are also matched. The synchronization scheme allows each microprocessor to run its own diagnostics independently, and to synchronize itself with the other microprocessor of the pair. After the synchronization occurs in both microprocessor pairs, the duplicated units are synchronized. Synchronization is achieved by using a real-time clock and the interrupt structure of each microprocessor.

Abstract: GaAs FETs exhibit excellent long-term stability if they have a drain ledge, a drain contact with reduced dendrite size, and a silicon nitride passivation layer. Accelerated aging tests at device case temperatures of 250 degrees C. indicate essentially no device failures after 200 hours of observation and a median failure time of approximately 500 hours.

Abstract: The manufacture of VLSI devices is facilitated by a method for chlorine reactive sputter etching of silicon materials in a plasma reactor that has been passivated by a previous etching operation involving a fluorine-containing gas. The passivated reactor is reactivated for chlorine reactive sputter etching by the generation of a boron trichloride plasma in the reactor. In the preferred embodiment, a mixture of boron trichloride and chlorine is used to initiate the etching of the silicon material before pure chlorine is used to complete the etch. The invention permits silicon materials to be etched in a reactor in which chlorine and fluorine-containing gases are used sequentially.

Abstract: Energy in a received signal is distinguished as being whole band energy or partial band energy by comparing an average value of the received signal to a modified magnitude value of the received signal. A signal representative of the comparison result is supplied to a filter including hysteresis for generating a signal to control representative of whether whole band or partial band energy is present. Hysteresis is provided in generation of the control signal by comparing the output amplitude of the filter to a first threshold value when the control signal is a first state and then comparing the filter output amplitude to a second lower threshold value when the control signal is a second state. When the modified magnitude value exceeds the average value, the received signal includes whole band energy, otherwise the received signal includes only partial band energy.

Abstract: An arrangement for generating x-ray microbeams includes an electron source for generating an electron beam. The electron beam is directed toward a target comprising discrete x-ray emissive spots. X-rays from the spots are formed into microbeams and directed through an examination field.

Abstract: A digital communications satellite (12,44) receives signals from a plurality of narrow input spot-beams (14) of an uplink. It regenerates, multiplexes and routes the signals for transmission in a plurality of narrow output spot-beams (42) of a downlink. The uplink beams (14) each include a plurality of frequency re-use channels (18), while the downlink beams (42) each have only a single wide-band channel. The satellite (12,44) may multiplex the signals either before or after routing them. The spot-beams (14,42) may be fixed or scanning.

Abstract: An arrangement for introducing modifications in the program of a program-controlled system. Each time a modified version of a selected program function is stored in the system, it is tagged with a function sequence number; meanwhile, the original version of the program function is retained in the system. Each time a program process is initiated, it is tagged with a process sequence number. The two types of sequence numbers are assigned from a common source. Whenever the selected program function is called by a program process, a comparison is made between the process sequence number and the function sequence number. If the comparison indicates that the process was initiated before the modification was stored in the system, the original version of the selected program function is executed; otherwise, the modified version is executed. Thus, the original version or the modified version is used consistently throughout the active life of a process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a programmable universal data set which is defined as a data set that is capable of simultaneously servicing a plurality of data terminals desiring diverse types of data sets for several different transmission speeds and formats. The universal data set comprises analog and digital buffer processors adapted for interfacing with a plurality of data terminals and with a multi-input transmission medium, a high speed digital processor having a "highly parallel" structure for computing the various elemental functions of the diverse types of data sets, and a cyclic processor for controlling the operational sequence of the high speed processor to achieve the overall operation of the selected types of data sets. The cyclic processor includes means for modifying the types of data sets implemented.

Abstract: A process is described for plating silver on metallic surfaces electrically attached to a compound semiconductor. This process involves a photoelectrochemically induced oxidation reaction in which the compound semiconductor is oxidized and reduction to metallic silver takes place on the metallic surface electrically connected to the semiconductor. This procedure is particularly valuable where silver is to be plated in small holes or crevices in the semiconductor structure. It is particularly valuable because plating is specific to the metallic surface and does not occur on the semiconductor surface. It is useful in providing low inductance electrical connections to various parts of semiconductor devices such as in the source for gallium arsenide field effect transistors. Silver is particularly valuable in such applications because of its chemical inertness, high electrical conductivity and exceptionally high thermal conductivity which permits high transistor power handling capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement which uses an imaging reflector (10) combined with a small feed or horn (14) which is capable of launching or receiving a spherical wavefront (18) to obtain a nearly frequency independent field distribution over a large antenna aperture. The antenna arrangement comprises a parabolic main reflector (10) disposed confocally with one focal point of a subreflector means (12) and a feed (14) disposed with the apex of the spherical wavefront at the other focal point of the subreflector means and the aperture of the feed centered on the image of the main reflector. If the rim of the feed aperture corresponds to an image of the edge of the main reflector, spill-over is substantially eliminated. Generally, any feed arrangement comprising a feed and subreflector means which transforms a spherical wavefront from the feed into a spherical wavefront emanating from the focal point of the parabolic main reflector can be used.

Abstract: A process is described for electrolessly plating palladium metal on a variety of surfaces including palladium surfaces. The process involves use of a special electroless plating bath which is sufficiently stable for practical commercial use and yields excellent plating results. The plating bath contains a palladium salt and organic ligand. A narrow class of reducing agents is used including formaldehyde. The bath is made acid generally by the addition of nitric acid or hydrochloric acid. The process yields plating rates of about 6 microinches per minute and plating thicknesses in excess of 1 micrometer.

Abstract: Circuitry, and associated methodology, for locating resistive shunt faults on a cable pair comprises DC source (120) and current sensors (121,122) which provide measured information utilized to estimate the resistance of the pair between the fault and a test position. In locating faults of a single-sided nature, two sets of measurements, either absolute or ratio type, are effected from the test position with the pair shorted at a point beyond the fault. In locating double-sided faults, three sets of current dependent measurements are taken at the measurement point. A reference pair is required for double-sided faults, and various strapping arrangements between the pair under test and the reference pair are required at a point beyond the fault depending on the required set of measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a molded, field-installable optical connector. The method uses a support assembly which includes a wire mandrel, (10), a mandrel holder, (11), surrounding a portion of the wire, and a mandrel sleeve, (12), surrounding a portion of the mandrel holder and including an end surface, (15). Positioned at the end surface is a watch bearing jewel, (16), with an aperture, (17), through which the wire is inserted. As backbone insert, (19), is also located around a portion of the mandrel sleeve. The assembly is positioned within a molding apparatus including a precision frusto-conical die, (25), by inserting the wire through a second jewel, (26), mounted in the die. After molding, the connector, which includes the first jewel embedded at one end of the molded part and the backbone insert as a strength member, is removed from the support assembly.

Abstract: The disclosed signal multiplexing circuit (110) makes use of a single pair of wires (T, R) to interface a data and voice communication circuit such as an electronic key telephone (EKT) station set (100) with a central data and voice communication system such as a communication system (BCS). The signal multiplexing circuit transmits outgoing standard voice signals, outgoing auxiliary signals and outgoing data and, in turn, simultaneously receives incoming standard voice signals, incoming data and incoming auxiliary signals on the single pair of wires. Both time division and frequency separation techniques are concurrently employed to achieve multiple use of the single pair of wires without crosstalk between the plurality of signals. The data signals are transmitted as bipolar bit pairs preceded by a data start pulse pair. The outgoing data bipolar bit pairs are delayed until the center transition of the incoming data bipolar pulse pair is detected.