Abstract: A cap for protecting an electrical terminal from corrosion having a base which is insertable upon the terminal, a tapered section designed to guide and surround a mate to the terminal as it is being connected, and a removable top which protects the terminal before connection. The tapered section deforms during the connection operation to surround the mating terminal and seal the connection from corroding species.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for monitoring and controlling an optical mechanical switch, which may include one or more microelectromechanical switches. In communication using the arrangement or the method, independently of any customer signal, a modulated optical signal is generated at wavelengths, both modulation and optical, that are out-of-band with respect the wavelengths of any transmission signals that may appear. The modulated optical signal is directed toward the optical mechanical switch, and system control parameters are changed to maximize a detected signal after passage through the optical mechanical switch. Any remnants of the modulated optical signal may be removed before arriving at any customer-related terminal. Optical cross-connect switching circuits are exemplary circuits in which the invention may be applied. The modulated optical signal is inserted before or during the transmission of any transmission signal.

Abstract: We describe an improved method for decreasing the probability of an unacceptably high peak-to-average power ratio in a signal to be transmitted by a Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) system, such as a discrete multitone (DMT) system. The method involves generating at least two alternative signal sequences, computing Fourier transforms of the respective alternative signal sequences, and selecting for transmission one of these sequences, based on the Fourier transform computations. More specifically, the selection of one sequence may be based, e.g., on the determination that the Fourier transform of that sequence has an acceptable peak power. Alternatively, a comparison may be made among the Fourier transforms of the respective signal sequences, and selection made of that sequence whose Fourier transform exhibits the lowest peak power.

Abstract: This invention uses a computer program to mine preexisting wireless data located in a variety of preexisting source GSM wireless network databases. The computer program either creates a new wireless database from parts of existing wireless databases or modifies an existing wireless database. The computer program replaces the current system's reliance upon manual data entry by data engineers to configure the operation of a new telecommunication switch or replace the software in a telecommunication switch that was damaged or requires a new wireless network data configuration.

Abstract: For use with a semiconductor switch that exhibits a temperature-dependent electrical characteristic and a current sense circuit that employs the characteristic of the switch to derive a switch current signal, a temperature compensation circuit, method of operation thereof and controller employing the same. In one embodiment, the circuit includes: (1) an electrical component, locatable in thermal communication with the switch and having a temperature-dependent electrical characteristic that bears an inverse relationship to the characteristic of the switch, that generates an intermediate signal based on an actual temperature of the switch and (2) a signal conditioning circuit, coupled to the electrical component, that scales the intermediate signal to yield a compensation signal that counteracts temperature-dependent variations in the switch current signal.

Abstract: An improved circuit board apparatus configured for mounting electronic components in a circuit arrangement. The apparatus comprises a metal substrate having a first side and a second side, a first-side laminar structure and a second-side laminar structure. The first-side laminar structure includes at least one first-side conductive stratum alternated with at least one first-side dielectric stratum affixed at the first side The second-side laminar structure includes at least one second-side conductive stratum alternated with at least one second-side dielectric stratum affixed at the second side of the metal substrate. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive interside courses intermediate selected first-side strata of the at least one first-side conductive stratum and selected second-side strata of the at least one second-side conductive stratum.

Abstract: An apparatus holds a feeler gage. The apparatus includes a shaft having an end to which the feeler gage is attached. A fixture aligns the shaft with an opening into which the feeler gage is inserted. The opening may be a gap of a connector. A portion of the shaft is a measuring section having a plurality of markers. The markers are stripes, grooves, or lands on a portion of the shaft. The fixture comprises a channel, sleeve or bearing that guides the shaft onto the fixture. The fixture includes a ridge for insertion of the fixture onto a track. The fixture may have an alignment arm that engages a side surface of the connector. The fixture has a latch that attaches the fixture to the track. The latch of the fixture comprises two substantially parallel elongate members separated by a distance approximately equal to a width of the track.

Abstract: An automated monitoring and notification system for use with a testing arrangement is able to identify “potentially faulty test sockets”. The system uses a set of pre-existing data contained in a manufacturing database regarding the number of device failures for each socket. A threshold number of consecutive device failures is used to flag a particular test socket as “suspect”. Another database, containing historical “failure” data for the test sockets is then queried upon identification of each “suspect”. When the number of “failures” for a “suspect” exceeds a predetermined threshold, the socket is identified as “potentially faulty” and an alarm is sent to the system user.

Abstract: A birefringent wedge is used to multiplex beams of the same or similar wavelength. The multiplexing system has a compact construction and does not require beam splitters or right angle prisms. The birefringent wedge may also be used to polarization demultiplex an incoming multiplexed communication beam. The invention may be used to increase the data-carrying capacity of optical fiber.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) optical device having a reduced footprint for increasing yield on a substrate. The MEM device includes an optical element having an outer edge and supported by a support structure disposed on a substrate. The support structure is mechanically connected to the substrate through first and second pairs of beams which move the structure to an active position for elevating the optic device above the substrate. When in an elevated position, the optical device can be selectively tilted for deflecting optic signals. The beams are connected at one end to the support structure, at the other end to the substrate and are disposed so that the first and second beam ends are located proximate the optical device outer edge. In a preferred embodiment, a stiction force reducing element is included on the outer edge of the optical device for reducing the contact area between the optic device edge and the substrate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for dynamically allocating radio frequency channels in a wireless telecommunications system populated by a plurality of contiguous cells, each of which communicates with mobile units over the allocated radio frequency channels. In accordance with the method, an optimum channel is selected for use by a requesting cell from a cost table containing values representing the cost of the requesting cell using one or more candidate channels. The selected channel is allocated to the requesting cell and the cost table is updated to reflect the new channel allocation.

Abstract: A lens system defined along an X-Y-Z coordinate system transforms an elliptical optical beam defined as exhibiting a first, fast axis component and a second, slow axis component, into an essentially circular optical beam. A first and a second lens intercepts the elliptical beam and a cruciform cylindrical lens is disposed to intercept the output from the second lens. The cruciform cylindrical lens has a fast lens and a slow lens, the fast lens having a first, front cylindrical surface oriented along the X axis of the coordinate system for magnifying the first, fast axis component, the slow lens having a second, rear cylindrical surface oriented along the Y-axis of the coordinate system for magnifying the second, slow axis component, wherein the magnifications are determined to provide an essentially circular output beam, the cruciform cylindrical lens disposed such that the optical beam exiting the second lens impinges the first, front cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A method for handling upgrades of systems comprising two circuit packs which contain memory. In one embodiment, on some trigger signal to a circuit pack, that circuit pack acts as a slave circuit pack, and causes version information for the data stored in the memory of the second circuit pack, which acts as a master circuit pack, to be transferred to the slave circuit pack. If the transferred version information indicates that the data in the slave circuit pack should be updated, the slave circuit pack causes a transfer of information from memory in the master circuit pack to the slave circuit pack, and stores the new information in the memory of the slave circuit pack.

Abstract: A location or position of a wireless mobile unit is determined using only measurements from a single base station. A distance between the wireless mobile unit and the base station is calculated utilizing a roundtrip delay value of an RF uplink signal received from a wireless mobile unit. Thereafter, an angle of arrival of the received signal is determined using measurements of the received signal from each of a plurality of antenna sectors of a multi-sector antenna. The angle of arrival is determined based upon stored antenna signal measurements of the multi-sector antenna, wherein a combination of different sector signal measurements corresponds to a single angle measurement. Using the determined distance and angle of arrival, a position or location of a wireless mobile unit can easily be determined using only measurements of the single base station.

Abstract: A signal transmission system assigns portions of an image or other type of signal to packets so as to provide an approximate equalization of the signal energy across the packets. As a result, the quality of a reconstructed signal in the presence of a given amount of packet loss is substantially the same regardless of the particular packets which are lost. In one possible implementation, the signal is separated into subbands using a cosine-modulated orthonormal filter bank. The subbands are then assigned to packets in accordance with an energy equalization algorithm such that the cumulative energies of the packets are approximately equal. In another implementation, an image signal is scrambled such that pixels in the image are mapped to different spatial positions, thereby producing a whitened image. The whitened image is then separated into subbands, and the subbands are assigned deterministically to the packets. Similar whitening techniques can be also used with non-image signals.

Abstract: Apparatus for routing cables in a distribution frame. The apparatus includes a planar panel having takeup spools mounted thereon for the storage of excess lengths of cable. A hollow cylindrical member is mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis, where the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member is parallel to the pivot axis. The cylindrical member has a longitudinally extending gap in its wall. Cables are routed to the panel, are selectively wound on selected ones of the spools to provide slack management, are routed into the cylindrical member, and are routed out of the cylindrical member through the gap.

Abstract: A long wavelength (e.g., mid-IR to far-IR) semiconductor laser comprises an active region and at least one cladding region characterized in that the cladding region includes a light guiding interface between two materials which have dielectric constants opposite in sign. Consequently, the guided modes are transverse magnetic polarized surface waves (i.e., surface plasmons) which propagate along the interface without the need for a traditional dielectric cladding. In a preferred embodiment, the interface is formed between a semiconductor layer and a metal layer. The complex refractive index of the metal layer preferably has an imaginary component which is much larger than its real component. In an illustrative embodiment, our laser includes a QC active region sandwiched between a pair of cladding regions one of which is a guiding interface based on surface plasmons and the other of which is a dielectric (e.g., semiconductor) structure.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a MEMS device is disclosed. The device has at least one hinged element. The MEMS device including the hinged element is delineated and defined on a semiconductor substrate. The substrate is placed device side down in a chamber. The MEMS device is then exposed to a release expedient for sufficient amount of time for the release expedient to dissolve a sacrificial material connecting the element to the substrate. Upon the dissolution of the sacrificial material, the element is released from the substrate and pivots away from the surface.

Abstract: The time-of-arrival of the line-of-sight component of a received, or incoming, signal is determined by performing a time/frequency analysis of the incoming signal. The term time/frequency analysis refers to an analysis of the frequency components (i.e. the frequency make-up) of the incoming signal at given instants in time. For example, one form of time/frequency analysis according to the present invention is to compare the frequency make-up of the received signal to the frequency make-up of the transmitted signal. Those points in time in which the frequency make-up of the received signal matches the frequency make-up of the transmitted signal are the instants in time at which a multipath component of the transmitted signal is received. In such a time/frequency analysis, the first-identified component, in time, is assumed to be the line-of-sight component of the transmitted signal.

Abstract: A splice mount and method of making a splice mount having improved structural integrity for telecommunications applications. The splice mount is formed by a two-directional molding process so that resilient holding pockets are separated into groups and remain interconnected to each other by a continuous strip. The continuous strip increases the structural integrity of the splice mount relative to prior art splice mounts.