Abstract: An optical fiber organizer includes a plurality of optical fiber trays. Each tray has a top side for holding a fiber. Each tray has a hinge portion. The tray carrier has a plurality of sockets. Each socket is capable of receiving the hinge portion of a respective tray. Each tray has a first position on the tray carrier. The trays are stacked parallel to each other when the trays are in the first position. Each socket has an associated first detent, including a first boss below the socket, for maintaining its respective tray in the first position. Each socket has a second-position detent, including a second boss above the socket, for maintaining its respective tray in a second position about 90 degrees from the first position. The top side of one of the trays is exposed when at least one of the trays is in the second position. The hinge portion of the tray has a hole capable of receiving either the first boss or the second boss.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an optical waveguide grating with adjustable chirp comprises a waveguide grating in thermal contact with an electrically controllable heat-transducing body which varies the temperature along the length of the grating. The heat-transducing body can generate heat on the fiber or remove heat from the fiber to establish a temperature gradient along the grating. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat-transducing body is a resistive film coating whose local resistance varies along the length of the grating. Electrical current passed through the film generates a temperature gradient along the grating approximately proportional to the local resistance of the film, and the amount of chirp can be adjusted by the current. The resulting devices are simple, compact and power efficient.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system in which, operationally independent of the movable element and the component for moving it, a microelectromechanical sensor senses the position of the movable element. The microelectromechanical sensor adjoins the movable element, at least in part, and may be a strain gage, or a gage of a capacitive, piezoelectric, piezoresistive, or pressure type, among others. The resulting signal is fed back to control the component for moving the movable element. In an array of movable elements and sensors, the signal of each sensor is specific to one movable element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a delay line filter with a single cross-coupled pair of filter elements. In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the filter is comprised of a plurality of symmetrically configured filter elements, wherein only two of the filter elements are cross-coupled. In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the filter is comprised of a plurality of filter elements, wherein a first element is coupled to a second element, and the first and second elements are each coupled to at least two other elements and at least one of the at least two other elements for each of the first and second elements are the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data regeneration circuit including a decision gate for regenerating a symbol stream (e.g., bit stream) by comparing the amplitude of individual symbols thereof to a decision threshold and outputting a logic level in accordance with each comparison. Threshold optimization circuitry dynamically measures first and second probability distribution points of each symbol, and based on the measurements, optimizes the decision threshold applied to the decision gate. A parallel pseudoerror path including a pseudoerror decision gate and pseudoerror counter may be employed to facilitate the measurements.

Abstract: In a digital voice messaging system, a circular message storage selection is added to allow the digital voice messaging system to automatically overwrite previously-stored, e.g., the oldest messages in voice memory as necessary for storage of the newest voice message when the voice memory is filled. Another embodiment of the invention further provides the ability to prioritize certain previously stored voice messages over other stored voice messages to prevent overwriting of the prioritized voice messages when the circular message storage selection is enabled, but which allows overwriting of non-prioritized voice messages.

Abstract: In handling electronic components during manufacturing or other processing, circuit devices are retained within a dual in-line processing (DIP) tube by inserting and securing DIP pins at each end of the DIP tube. The DIP pin apparatus inserts DIP pins into holes of DIP tubes by pressing a DIP pin positioned within a lower slot of a lower plate of the apparatus into a hole of a DIP tube. The DIP pin apparatus removes DIP pins from the holes of DIP tubes by lifting a DIP pin from under its head and removing the DIP pin from the DIP tube. By using the DIP pin apparatus in the handling of electronic components, the adverse effects of operator fatigue, component damage, and production inefficiencies are reduced.

Abstract: A support device for anchoring an antenna on a pylon rafter. The device includes an anchoring base to be applied to the outside of a first wing of an angle bar rafter. The anchoring base having a first hooking element for engaging the edge of the wing. The device has at least one shank hook for hooking to the edge of the second wing of the rafter. Each shank passing into a hole of the anchoring base and receiving at an extremity a tightening nut. The device also includes an interposition element provided to come under the nut and consisting of a rounded profile segment as regards its portion in contact against the anchoring base. This allows a variable slanting of the shank hook so as to obtain an anchoring also effective on different profile rafters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of passivating a semiconductor device having a capping layer formed thereover, comprising: (1) subjecting the semiconductor device to a high pressure within a pressure chamber and (2) exposing the semiconductor device to a passivating gas. The high pressure causes the passivating gas, such as a deuterated passivating gas, to penetrate the capping layer and thereby passivate the semiconductor device. The method provided by the present invention is, therefore, particularly useful in those instances where a final passivation step is desired after the formation of the capping layer. It is believed that the hydrogen isotope bonds to dangling bond sites within the semiconductor device, which are most often present at a silicon/silicon dioxide interface. Further, because of their larger mass, these hydrogen isotope atoms are not easily removed by electron flow during the operation of the device as is the case with the lighter hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: A system or method for human resource skill management, training, career development, and deployment, linking specialties, job functions, skill sets, and experience/training profiles. The method uses skill templates, an innovation that allows for systematic evaluation of employee skills. A weighting system is used to establish the relative significance of various skills. Skills are sub-classified as per technology. Assessment of employee suitability for a project is based on quantitative evaluation and not on a subjective consideration. Various new skills assessment metrics have been introduced.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit, a system and method of programmably controlling the delay between a second clock signal with respect to a first clock signal after fabricating the integrated circuit. Prior to fabrication, a programmable delay group is formed and will be included in the integrated circuit. The programmable delay group includes a plurality of parallel coupled sets of delay stages. Each set having at least one delay stage. For the sets having more than one delay stage, the delay stages are serially coupled. After fabrication of the integrated circuit and in operation, the first clock signal is applied to one end of each of the sets of delay stages. The enable signals are generated and applied to the programmable delay group in order to enable one of the sets of delay stages. The enabled set delays the first clock signal, thereby producing the second clock signal at the other end of the enabled set and hereby controlling the delay of the second clock signal.

Abstract: An improved CDMA base station for insuring a constant supply of energy to each of a plurality of rake fingers, thus improving gain. One aspect of the base station includes a plurality of pairs of diversity antennas. The energy from the first antenna of each pair is subjected to a delay while the energy from the second antenna of each pair is not subjected to a delay. The added delay is greater than the chip time of the rake fingers. The signals from each pair of antennas is combined and converted to digital form. The energy from all the antennas is then routed to the rake fingers, with the energy from each antenna being routed to one of the rake fingers. The energy from the rake fingers is then combined into a single data stream. In an alternative approach, the base station includes a plurality of diversity antennas. The energy from each of the diversity antennas is subjected to a different amount of delay. The delay difference must again be greater than the chip time of the rake fingers.

Abstract: A cognitive intelligent carrying case includes an outer shell layer and a plurality of internal layers defining corresponding interior compartments for storing a variety of specific types of items. The outer shell layer includes access type security systems for authenticating the identity of an individual attempting to access the contents of the case. Each of the internal layers includes one or more security systems operable to destroy the specific items contained in the corresponding compartment. In addition, the case includes communication systems that enable communication with authorized users and/or an owner of the case and which enable the locating of the case when such location information is required. When unauthorized access attempts to the case are detected, the location of the case is determined through an onboard GPS system and the owner of the case is contacted.

Abstract: The spectral distortion introduced by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in an optical fiber transmission system has been determined to always be linear on a dB/nm scale and depend solely on the total input power and not on the input power distribution. By maintaining the total input power to the fiber constant, the resulting Raman gain tilt may be compensated for or canceled by using an optical filter.

Abstract: An attenuator element for use within an optical fiber adapter is disclosed. The attenuator element has an elongate block-like head, the head having tapered side walls and beveled surfaces extending along a portion of the respective side walls and a lower planar surface thereof, a neck extending from the lower surface thereof, and an attenutaor disk extending from the neck. The attenuator element is constructed and arranged so that it may be inclined through an angle of from 90° to 82° with respect to the longitudinal axis of an alignment sleeve used to couple two optical fiber connectors together in order to accommodate the coupling of optical fiber ferrules having end faces which are aligned with one another along the longitudinal axis of the alignment sleeve, or where the ferrule end faces may be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the alignment sleeve.

Abstract: The invention provides tunable optical filters in which operating characteristics such as initial cavity length and mirror tilt, affecting passband wavelength position and filter finesse, respectively, can be controlled independently of membrane tuning bias. An illustrative embodiment incorporates a surface-micromachined plate with an opening in which a moveable frame is supported by, e.g., flexure bars or support arms. A moveable membrane with a high reflective (HR) coated mirror is supported in an opening in the moveable frame. The mirror defines one side of a Fabry-Perot (FP) filter cavity and is movable in a direction along an axis of the filter cavity. The other side of the filter cavity is defined by a second HR-coated mirror. The moveable frame has a number of electrodes arranged on a surface thereof, such that an operating characteristic of the filter, e.g.

Abstract: A support assembly for retaining a laser module of the type having a solid state laser, an optical connector and an optical fiber extending between the laser and the optical connector. The support assembly includes a baseplate having a top surface and a bottom surface. A removable spool extends upwardly from the top surface of the baseplate, wherein the spool is sized to have the optical fiber wound therearound. A laser receptacle disposed on the top surface of the baseplate. The laser receptacle is sized to receive the solid state laser in a first predetermined position and orientation. A connector holder is also disposed on the top surface of the baseplate. The connector holder receives and retains the optical connector at a second predetermined position and orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for iteratively decoding a signal are provided. The apparatus includes a central pool of resources for iteratively decoding signals. The central pool may run a plurality of iterative decoding processes, each process being allocated to a signal processing unit upon request and depending upon resource availability.

Abstract: This invention uses a computer program to mine preexisting private branch exchange configuration data located in a variety of preexisting source private branch exchange configuration databases. The computer program either creates a new private branch exchange configuration database from parts of existing private branch exchange configuration databases or modifies an existing private branch exchange configuration 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 private branch exchange configuration data configuration.

Abstract: In a database, a database manager can generate a view, which can be considered as a subset of the database, and which is placed outside the database for use without disturbing the database. However, if the database changes, the views will not reflect those changes, because the views are separate from the database. To solve this problem, a process called “refreshing” keeps the views consistent with the data within the database. But different refreshing approaches are used: some views require immediate refreshing when the database changes, other types can be refreshed at later times, and still other types can be refreshed at different times and intervals. The invention presents a system which keeps data consistent among the views and the database, despite the different times of refreshing undertaken.