Abstract: A semiconductor waveguide device and method for forming the same provide an InAlAs film as an etch stop layer. The InAlAs film does not etch in the CH4/H2 etch chemistry used to produce the device using reactive ion etching techniques. The etching process etches the waveguide layer and cladding layer or layers formed above the InAlAs layer, and exposes the InAlAs etch stop film to produce a waveguide device having desired physical characteristics.

Abstract: In a method for admitting new connections based on measured quantities in a wireless communications network having a base station and remote hosts, the base station measures and computes performance metrics to determine whether admission of the new connection could cause a failure to meet the Quality of Service (QoS) promised to already admitted connections. Only if the QoS can be maintained is the new connection is admitted. In one embodiment, the base station may optionally disconnect one or more already admitted lower priority connections if doing so will allow a higher priority new connection to be admitted without loss of QoS to the remaining already admitted connections. In one embodiment, each connection request specifies the average bit rate required and a traffic burstiness factor, the base station measures the number of bytes sent by each connection for a certain period of time and a burstiness factor for the traffic in either direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced CMEA, or ECMEA, processing. A forward ECMEA and a reverse ECMEA process are provided. The forward ECMEA process decrypts text encrypted by the reverse ECMEA process and the reverse ECMEA process decrypts text encrypted by the forward ECMEA process. The forward ECMEA process employs a transformation, an iteration of the CMEA process, and an inverse transformation. The reverse ECMEA process employs a reverse transformation, an iteration of the CMEA process, and a reverse inverse transformation. The transformations and inverse transformations, and the iteration of the CMEA process, employ secret offsets to improve security. The transformations and the iteration of the CMEA process also employ an enhanced tbox function using an involutary lookup table.

Abstract: A method and system for testing circuit clusters in a boundary scan environment identifies the circuit clusters and corresponding neighboring boundary scan elements, and generates one or more test vectors to be applied to the cluster under test. The generated test vectors are serialized and input into an identified boundary scan element connected to the cluster being tested in the form of a boundary scan test chain. The output of the applied test vectors is observed from an output of another correspondingly identified boundary scan element connected to the cluster under test. During generation of test vectors a list of faults for detecting by each generated vector is maintained such that the observed output can be used to diagnose faults at the component level within the identified cluster.

Abstract: An improved keyboard, and a data terminal incorporating same, is disclosed. The present keyboard advantageously includes a keyboard membrane having, on an upper side, a plurality of raised regions upon which character designators can be placed. A plurality of upper key members are disposed on a lower side of the keyboard membrane. Each upper key member is advantageously structurally adapted to return itself, after removal of an actuating force, to an unactuated position. The raised regions on the upper side, and the upper key members on the lower side of the keyboard membrane are advantageously molded from a single elastomeric layer, thereby replacing hundreds of parts in conventional computer-style keyboards using sliding-plunger type key mechanisms. A plurality of lower key members are disposed on a circuit board underneath the keyboard membrane. The lower key members are structurally adapted to prevent “rock over” when a user depresses a raised region somewhat off-center.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling bit slips in a high-speed, two-way, communications channel. More particularly, the entire communications system, comprising, inter alia, a receiver, a transmitter and the physical communications channel is operated as a feedback loop. That is, the detection of bit slips is performed continuously in the receiver and a bit slip signal is generated that indicates the number of bit slips and the direction, i.e., forward or backward, of the bit slip. Thus, the bit slip signal is communicated to the transmitter and certain actions are performed to introduce bit adjustments in the bit stream to eliminate the effects of any future bit slips. The bit slip signal contains an indication of the number of bit slips which have occurred, the time between bit slips, and the direction of the slip. As a function of this information from the bit slip signal, bit adjustments are made in the communications stream to correct for the bit slips and mitigate any effect in future transmission.

Abstract: A polarization-mode-dispersion emulator in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a plurality of PMD-generating stages aligned in cascade so as to form a clear light-path through the stage concatenation. Each PMD-generating stage includes an optical birefringent crystal or crystals for the purpose of imparting differential group delay and a polarization-rotating plate such as a half-wave waveplate for the purpose of imparting state-of-polarization rotation from one PMD-generating stage to the next. The polarization-rotating plates are mounted to rotation apparatuses and a controller coordinates the relative rotation of each waveplate for the purpose of generating PMD in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An electromagnetic shield assembly for an optical fiber connector which comprises a conductive frame member enclosing an open space and a plurality of conductive fibers each secured at only one end to the frame member and extending into the open space. The free ends of the conductive fibers overlap in a central region of the open space to provide a “self-healing” mesh shield.

Abstract: A recursive, single-wrong-turn (SWT) decoding method and Viterbi decoder which requires no additional circuitry or processing to keep track of a running list of the L best paths. If the most likely (ML) path fails frame quality metric tests, a search is made through a trellis using an existing survivor (trace back) information stored in a survivor (trace back) memory. An iteration in the recursive algorithm includes tracing back along the ML path to a particular stage, then deviating from the ML path and following the survivor information along that new deviant path, and finally checking the fully decoded frame to see if the frame quality metrics are acceptable for the frame. These same trace back steps can be performed for every stage in the trellis, deviating from a different stage on the ML path each time.

Abstract: A new architecture and operational techniques for supporting high quality live and on-demand streaming multimedia on a data network. By using Helper machines inside the network as data forwarding, caching, and buffering agents, and by forming meshes among Helper machines, advantages of homogeneous, synchronous multicast transmission and of heterogeneous, asynchronous reception are achieved. The architecture provides essentially transparently support to the receivers for near-zero start-up latency, improved playback quality, improved CR-like operations. These are achieved while reducing network and server load compared to today's multimedia networking techniques.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital (A/D) converter system which converts an attenuated analog input signal into a digital value and shifts the position of the digital value within the digital output depending on the attenuation of the analog input signal. For example, in response to an analog input signal which saturates a first A/D converter, a second A/D converter receives and converts an attenuated analog input signal, and the output of the second A/D converter is used to produce the more significant bits of the digital output value to convert a higher amplitude range (power or voltage level range) for the analog input signal. In another example, a level detector can detect the amplitude of the analog input signal and provide an indication of the amplitude of the analog input signal. In response, the analog input signal is attenuated and provided to an A/D converter.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable having a core which includes at least one optical fiber transmission medium, a sheath system which is disposed about said core, and a filling material disposed within said core. The filling material of the optical fiber cable includes both a hydrocarbon carrier means, and a thickening system disposed within the hydrocarbon carrier means. The thickening system may include an inorganic constituent, either alumina or fumed alumina, and a polymer.

Abstract: A polishing fluid comprising a distributed organic phase and a continuous aqueous phase. The distributed phase has at least one complexing agent and the aqueous phase has abrasive particles dispersed therein. Reaction products generated during polishing interact with the complexing agent(s) to form organometallic complexes. Further disclosed is a polishing method, a semiconductor device and semiconductor device fabrication method utilizing the polishing fluid.

Abstract: A coupled data network with an accounting system is disclosed. The coupled data network includes a foreign network and a home network. The foreign network includes a base station with an access hub and a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a foreign accounting collection module. The home network includes a home mobile switching center with a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module. An end system is a subscriber to the wireless data network and coupleable to the foreign access hub. The home and serving accounting collection modules collect accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

Abstract: An adaptive filter (and a corresponding adaptive filtering method) for use in an echo cancellation environment, comprising a finite impulse response filter having a vector of adaptive coefficients, and an adaptive coefficient vector update module which modifies the vector of adaptive coefficients in response to an error signal and based on a predetermined probability density function for said error signal. In accordance with several illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the probability density function is advantageously non-Gaussian, and has certain advantageous characteristics which provide for robustness in the adaptive algorithm based thereupon.

Abstract: A header containing a semiconductor die, method of manufacture thereof and electronic device employing the same. In one embodiment, the header includes first and second contacts, and an intermediate body. The intermediate body includes an insulated section interposed between the first and second contacts and has a cavity therein. The intermediate body also includes a semiconductor die, located within the cavity, adapted to condition a signal passing through at least a portion of the header.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for polarization measurements. A polarization state of an optical signal can be determined using a polarization analyzer comprising a polarization controller, a polarizer, a wavelength dispersive element and a photo-detector. The method and apparatus can be applied to polarization and polarization mode dispersion measurements in wavelength division multiplexed communication systems.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data between circuit boards within a housing. The system includes a switch card placed within a housing having a plurality of slots for holding circuit boards. The switch card includes a five gigabit switching matrix having at least a first data port and a second data port for receiving data packets. A first data bus connects a first circuit board to the first data port of the switching matrix, and a second data bus connects a second circuit board to the second data port of the switching matrix. The first circuit board transmits data to the second circuit board by transmitting to the switching matrix a data packet that is addressed to the second circuit board and that contains the data.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for coating a fiber with a coating material are described. The apparatus includes a coating block and a curing device for curing the coating on the fiber. In the process, the fiber is drawn through the coating block containing the coating material. The coating material on the fiber is then cured in the curing device.

Abstract: A system, a transceiver, and methods for code division multiple access (CDMA) communication. The system includes first and second code division multiple access transceivers. The first code division multiple access transceiver has a plurality antennas disposed to provide transmission via a plurality of paths and the second code division multiple access transceiver has a rake arrangement for processing a plurality of signals received at the rake arrangement with differing delays or other characteristics. A driving arrangement is provided for causing the first code division multiple access transceiver to use a relative few, e.g., one, of the plurality of antennas. When, however, an indication is obtained that an adequate number of resolvable signals are likely not received at the rake arrangement of the second transceiver, a circuit switches the driving arrangement to cause the first transceiver to use more of the plurality of antennas.