Abstract: Coupling together two or more communication systems that use different signaling protocols requires a protocol converter. A protocol converter is provided that includes interfaces to communications systems to be coupled together mimics the operation of the communications systems each interface is coupled to providing a seamless coupling between the systems.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener has a telescopically adjustable two-part sleeve which provides a mechanism whereby the length of the fastener is selectively adjustable.

Abstract: One or more groups, into which a circuit simulator may partition an overall circuit, that are determined to belong to a feedback loop, also known as cycles, may be merged into a single group. The length of the loop, which is the number of groups in the loop, determines whether or not the groups of a loop will be merged into a single group. More particularly, loops of a length less than or equal to a number are merged. The number may be specified by the user, or otherwise determined. Once a merged group is formed, its inputs and outputs are determined, and it is treated like any other previously existing group. Preferably, not all the groups are merged into a single group.

Abstract: Efficient formal verification of a system model is obtained by performing a state reachability analysis of an unrestricted full system model that includes constraints selected by the tester for testing a given property, followed by an analysis that permits a reduction in the complexity of the tested system's model. The analysis involves determining variables of the system's model that do not change value in the course of the state reachability analysis, often because of the constraints imposed prior to performing the reachability analysis. The unchanging variables are replaced with constants, and those constants are propagated through the system model to simplify the state transition relations that define the system. The simplified system model is then applied to a verification tool to determine whether the liveness property is satisfied.

Abstract: An optical coupler and method is disclosed in which a polymer material is employed to optically couple a first and second waveguide in a transfer region. In the transfer region, the first and second waveguides are positioned in parallel separated by a specific distance. The polymer material has an index of refraction which varies with temperature. The optical switch device is controlled by adjusting the temperature of the polymer material to obtain a desired index of refraction, thereby resulting in the desired transfer of an optical wave from on waveguide core to another.

Abstract: A screening and monitoring capability for switch based voice messaging systems that allows a called party to hear the caller and the caller's voice as the caller leaves a message and break in to start a normal telephone discussion if the caller or the caller's subject warrants such action. The method and apparatus of this invention provide for an advanced intelligent network service feature that controls the bridging of the connections to the voice mail and the called party's telephone station. The service feature turns the voice mail off and tears down the connection if the monitoring called party speaks.

Abstract: A high efficiency ringer circuit having low distortion of the ringer output signal, which is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture is disclosed. This may be accomplished with a ringer circuit comprising an input signal source, a signal amplifier for receiving and amplifying an input signal from the input signal source, a direct current source for providing power to the signal amplifier, a comparator circuit for receiving an input signal from the signal amplifier, and a switching circuit for receiving an input signal from the comparator circuit for providing an output signal to the direct current source, where, when said input signal to the comparator circuit exceeds a set value, the output signal from the switching circuit de-energizes the direct current source. The amplifier may be a Push-Pull amplifier. The direct current power supply may be a DC/DC SMPS.

Abstract: A Fast Hadamard Transform apparatus having a plurality of transform stages, such as would be employed by a wireless telecommunication system for detecting and correcting errors that occur during the transmission of coded signal blocks, such as a Walsh codeword. Each stage of the apparatus comprises an adder and a subtractor, each having an output terminal. The adder and the subtractor are configured to receive signal pairs and generate intermediate coefficients. A first memory unit is coupled to the output terminal of the adder and to the output terminal of the subtractor, and is configured to receive a first specifiable sequence of the intermediate coefficients from the adder and a second specifiable sequence of the intermediate coefficients from the subtractor. A second memory unit is coupled to the output terminal of the subtractor so as to receive a third specifiable sequence of the intermediate coefficients from the subtractor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for receiving, processing, and storing real-time data from various types of input, including but not limited to information from a vehicle's micro-processing systems, a driver information card, a vehicle information card, and physical attributes of the driver/owner. The system generally includes a processor mounted or otherwise installed in a vehicle which is capable of receiving data from the vehicle's various mechanical and electrical/electronic system, micro-processing systems, information cards, and physical inputs. The data can be used to grant a driver authorization to operate the vehicle and can be transmitted to third parties having an interest in the data such a system can accumulate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber laser system with a cascaded Raman resonator (CRR) or other suitable Raman frequency shifting device having a length of optical fiber with at least one input pump reflector, a series of Raman-Stokes order reflectors and an output reflector therein. The reflectors are written to provide sufficient conversion efficiency despite the use of the cascaded Raman resonator with differing pump laser wavelengths. The reflectors are written not necessarily in correspondence with the gain maxima of the intermediate Stokes orders, but instead are written to reflect with less than maximum gain conversion intensity, yet in a manner that allows different pump laser wavelengths to be converted thereby. When operating the cascaded Raman resonators at sufficiently high pump powers, input pump reflectors are not necessary. Cascaded Raman resonators designed in accordance with embodiments of the invention are useful with different pump laser wavelengths.

Abstract: A large router for routing datagrams. The large router comprises a plurality of router slices, each of which receives switches and transmits datagrams. Each router slice has a routing memory for routing the packets. If a packet is received whose destination address is not known to the receiving packet slice, the packet slice broadcasts a request for routing information for that datagram to the other packet slices of the large router and routes the packet in accordance with the received responses. Groups of slices are interconnected by a time slot interchange (TSI) unit, and groups of TSIs are interconnected by a time multiplexed switch. The router can consist of more than one switch; the switches being interconnected by high speed data links. Advantageously, the router, though composed of small slices, acts as if it were a single large high capacity entity.

Abstract: A circuit pack blank occupies an unequipped position in an electronic equipment shelf that is cooled by forced-air convection. The blank incorporates two diffuser blades that protrude into a cooling space in the shelf adjacent to the blank. When air is forced through the cooling space at a constant velocity, a backpressure is generated that is equivalent to backpressures generated at cooling spaces adjacent to equipped positions. In addition, the blank has a faceplate that incorporates one or more cable trays used to retain cables at the unequipped position for future use.

Abstract: A fiber-optic cable tray having adjustable components that provide flexibility in accommodating changes in length of the routed fiber-optic cable and that ensures a minimum bend radius for the routed cable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an integrated circuit having a current supply circuit for supplying a reference current and a signal current; at least one current copier circuit for creating a copy of the reference current and a copy of the signal current; an amplifying circuit connected to the reference supply circuit, the signal supply circuit, and the current copier circuit. The amplifying circuit is configured with the current copier circuit to compare the copy of the reference current to the signal current and to compare the copy of the signal current to the reference current and to generate a comparison signal based upon the comparisons. The present invention may also include an output circuit connected to the amplifying circuit for receiving the comparison signal and generating an output signal and a current mode circuit for receiving the output signal.

Abstract: A pin cutoff tool employs shears to sever pins. The pin cutoff tool is formed in a pliers-like configuration, with working surfaces formed within the jaws, and a pair of handles situated in working arrangement opposite a pivot point to provide leveraging advantage to the shearing surfaces. Stops may be formed within the jaws to limit the amount of closing travel, and to limit the amount of opening travel. The closing stops also may be formed such that, when closed, the inner surfaces of the jaws are substantially equal to the width of a pin being cut. Grooves may be formed in the jaws to accommodate neighboring, closely situated pins, and the jaws may be relatively narrow, so that neighboring pins in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the channels are not disturbed by the tool when shearing a pin.

Abstract: Channel propagation characteristics in a wireless communication system, wherein plural communication links or channels are defined between multiple transmit antenna elements and multiple receive antenna elements, are determined by selecting a matrix of training signals for transmission from the transmit antenna elements, and providing information concerning the selected training signal matrix to a system receiver. The training signals are transmitted from the transmit antenna elements to the receive antenna elements in a determined sequence during a defined training signal time interval, and signals corresponding to the training signals are received via the receive antenna elements. Components of a propagation characteristic matrix for use in discriminating signals transmitted at times other than the training signal time interval, are determined at the receiver as a function of signals received during the training signal time interval and the information concerning the matrix of training signals.

Abstract: An optical filter for correcting non-linear gains across a wavelength band includes a first layer having a first layer thickness according to the formula: first layer thickness=m&lgr;/(4nfirst), where m is an odd multiple integer, &lgr; is the central wavelength of the wavelength band, and nfirst is the refractive index of the first layer, and a second layer having a second layer thickness according to the formula: second layer thickness=&lgr;/(4nsecond), where &lgr; is the central wavelength of the wavelength band, and nsecond is the refractive index of the second layer. The optical filter introduces an insertion loss for wavelengths in a wavelength band of optical fiber transmission having an insertion loss curve approximating a quadratic shape in the wavelength band and having a maximum insertion loss at a central wavelength of the wavelength band.

Abstract: A robotic optical cross-connect to operate with three motors irrespective of the number of input fibers. A preferred embodiment includes a ferrule loader arm operated by a first motor; a ferrule loader ring rotatably operated by a second motor; and a loading piston upon which the ferrule loader-ring is mounted. The first motor imparts a motion to the ferrule loader arm in a first direction. The loading piston imparts a motion to the ferrule loader ring in a second direction, the second direction being substantially orthogonal to the first direction. A plurality of connectorized patch fibers is connected at a first end (leaving a second end free) to a first fiber bundle arranged in a substantially circular fashion. A second fiber bundle is also arranged in a substantially circular fashion and is configured to receive connections from the free second end of the plurality of patch fibers. Ferrules are loaded from the ferrule loader arm onto the ferrule loader ring.

Abstract: This invention relates to a footwear grounding device to reduce static charge buildup on personnel handling electronic components and products that are sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. The device incorporates a conductive strap having reusable adhesive elements near one end which permit proper positioning of the strap in the user's shoe and prevent the strap from shifting out of said position during the course of the day.