Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for personal telecommunication speed calling. The system includes a line unit couplable to customer premise equipment; a network signaling interface for receiving network signaling information; a network trunk interface for receiving corresponding network communications; a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, to the line unit, to the network signaling interface, and to the network trunk interface. The processor includes instructions for generating a user specific affinity database, which contains names and corresponding telephone numbers of those people with whom the user has an affinity and therefore is likely to want to speed call. The affinity database is generated based upon affinity information derived from the user's outgoing calls and the user's incoming calls which have been answered and which have a minimum duration.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing attachment and alignment between an array of surface emitting lasers and an array of optical fibers utilizes a first substrate for supporting the laser array and a second substrate for supporting the fibers. The second substrate is formed to including a plurality of apertures that are disposed to self-align with the laser array upon attachment. Alignment fiducials may be formed on both substrates to facilitate the alignment.

Abstract: A micro-machined transducer having a structure in which an acoustic enclosure is formed on a substrate above the plane of the substrate surface is disclosed. Forming the acoustic enclosure on the substrate above the plane of the substrate surface, rather than an acoustic cavity in a surface of the substrate, provides an acoustic cavity whose size is not limited by the thickness of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention disclose a method comprising the steps of fixing a first device to a first housing using a first manufacturing process and fixing a second device to a first housing using a second manufacturing process. The first device can be a laser and the second device an optical fiber. After the first and second device have been fixed to the first housing, the first device lies at a first position relative to the second device. The first device, the second device, and the first housing comprise a first sample. The first sample can be flexed by an amount y1. The first sample is next subjected to a deterioration process such as baking. After the deterioration process it is determined whether the first device lies within a range of the first position relative to the second device. The method may also comprise fixing a third device and a fourth device to a second housing using the same first and second manufacturing processes as for the first sample.

Abstract: A clad optical fiber comprising a core of glass, optionally a glass cladding with a lower refractive index than the glass core and a polymeric cladding made of a material having a refractive index smaller than that of the core (and smaller than that of the glass cladding, if any). The polymeric cladding is made of a cured material of a viscosity increased di- or multi-functional (meth)acrylate and a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: In the method for transferring sensitive information using unsecured communication, a first party receives a public key of a second party, produces an encryption result by performing keyed encryption on at least a first random number using the public key, and transfers the encryption result to the second party over an unsecured communication channel. The second party decrypts the encryption result to obtain the first random number. Authorizing information is then transferred from the first party to the second party over a first encrypted and authenticated communication channel established using the first random number. Sensitive information is further transferred from the second party to the first party over a second encrypted and authenticated communication channel established using the first random number if the second party accepts the authorizing information.

Abstract: An optical power monitoring tap for use in an optical transmission system advantageously uses existing reflected signal(s) within the transmission system as the “tap” source for the monitor. In particular, one or more multimode fibers are disposed so as to capture reflected signals and directed the reflections into a optical power monitor, such as a PIN photodiode. One or more interfaces within the transmission system (such as a face of an included GRIN lens) provides the reflected signal. In one embodiment, a set of three multimode fibers may be used to capture reflected signals from both an included GRIN lens and isolator component.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip transferring method and apparatus is described having a movable member, a flexible structure having adhesive on a lower surface thereof, a first transport assembly, and a second transport assembly. The first transport assembly is positioned beneath the support structure and includes a rotatable base upon which is mounted at least one arm. The movable member is extended into and flexes the support structure to transfer a semiconductor chip supported on a first side by the support structure to the arm which supports it on a second side. The first transport assembly moves the chip to the second transport assembly which may, in turn, move it to an output container which supports the second side. The chip has now been inverted from its initial orientation.

Abstract: A splice holder is provided for accommodating a plurality of splices of different sizes. The holder is formed with a base from which extend a plurality of splice holder elements, and a plurality of deflectable arms. The splice holder elements are each formed with a primary channel sized to receive and hold a fusion splice. Additionally, a secondary channel is defined between each pair of adjacent splice holder elements that is also sized to receive and hold a fusion splice. The primary and secondary channels are staggered to increase the number of splices the holder can accommodate without increasing the size thereof. Further, the arms are shaped to engage and latch onto array ribbon splices. With the combination of the splice holder elements and the arms, the splice holder can accommodate both fusion splices and array ribbon splices.

Abstract: This invention relates to a frame having a backplane and two side panels for supporting electronic plug-in units in an integrating rack wherein the back ends of the side panels have two separate positions for fixing the backplane with respect to the side panels to allow its depth to be adjusted to one-of two positions and the front end of each side panel is coupled to the integrating rack by a bracket having two legs, one leg of each bracket being connected to the integrating rack and the other leg of each bracket containing apertures located to be aligned with other apertures in the side panels for fixing the side panels to the brackets in one of two positions to allow an electronic plug-in unit to be fixed to the integrating rack at one of two positions.

Abstract: A method for testing semiconductor laser devices is described. The method includes testing a monolithically integrated semiconductor laser device via electrical contact testing and/or far field testing. These tests will provide the total performance of the entire device. Further, the method includes accurate cleaving off of a portion of the laser device and re-testing to determine the relative performance of the remainder of the device. Through comparison of the test and re-test results, it is possible to reduce the design cycle for monolithically integrated semiconductor laser devices by detecting design flaws and imperfections or by ascertaining a more advantageous design.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a color based alerting signal to a user to alert them to the occurrence of a predetermined event. The color based alerting device can be integrated into jewelry, garments, or a releasable strap and includes at least one color element that is visually observable by the user. Upon occurrence of the predetermined event, such for example as an incoming telephone call or page, the user is silently alerted to the event by a change in color of the visible color element. Subsequent action by the user, as for example answering of the incoming call or page, causes the color based alerting device to reset to its initial, non-alert color.

Abstract: Interpolating filter banks are constructed for use with signals which may be represented as a lattice of arbitrary dimension d. The filter banks include M channels, where M is greater than or equal to two. A given filter bank is built by first computing a set of shifts &tgr;i as D−1ti, i=1, 2, . . . M−1, where ti is a set of coset representatives taken from a unit cell of the input signal lattice, and D is a dilation matrix having a determinant equal to M. A polynomial interpolation algorithm is then applied to determine weights for a set of M−1 predict filters Pi having the shifts &tgr;i. A corresponding set of update filters Ui are then selected as Ui=Pi*|M, where Pi* is the adjoint of the predict filter Pi. The resulting predict and update filters are arranged in a lifting structure such that each of the predict and update filters are associated with a pair of the M channels of the filter bank.

Abstract: An improved anvil tool for use in laser bar or wafer cleaving comprises a relatively small cross section such that the anvil does not overhang the device edges in any direction. In one embodiment, the surface of the tool contacting the laser wafer or bar is compliant and contains a laterally disposed slit that aligns with the scribe mark on the top surface of the material to be cleaved. The anvil may be formed as a columnar tool or as a film deposited on a substrate. The compliant surface may be removable and in a preferred embodiment may comprise a continuous feed membrane tape so that a “clean” surface is used for each subsequent cleave operation.

Abstract: A method for maximizing the coupling efficiency of a fabricated fiber-optic laser module by deforming the module. In a first embodiment, the method can use a plurality of previously determined influence coefficients to determine how to deform the module, wherein such deformation aligns the focal point of the optical fiber and the laser to maximize the coupling efficiency. Alternatively, in a second embodiment of the present invention, the method is implemented without the use of influence coefficients, wherein the changes in the coupling efficiency resulting from deforming the module are observed to determine which deformations will maximize the coupling efficiency. Irrespective of which embodiment of the present invention is used, the module is deformed to account for its elastic properties by deforming the module beyond the final shape it attains when the coupling efficiency is maximized.

Abstract: An abbreviated dialing code capability is introduced to a telephone calling card (prepaid or postpaid) system. A calling card account customer can, via an intelligent network (IN) dial a recognized abbreviated dialing code in place of a full-length destination telephone number. A table of abbreviated codes and corresponding telephone numbers is stored for each calling card account. The calling card account subscriber or calling card customer (if given access by the calling subscriber when they are not the same person or entity) can modify the table by changing the destination number associated with a particular code, or changing the abbreviated code by changing the actual digits in the code, the number of digits, designating start, stop or cancel digits, or combinations of the above. The IN includes a service switching point (SSP) and a service control point (SCP).

Abstract: A method and system for testing a circuit. A test program is downloaded into the circuit, which causes the circuit to provide a serial test output pattern comprising a series of identical signals to indicate whether the circuit passes the test. Signals of the test output pattern are compared against corresponding signals of an expected test output pattern only for non-masked signals of the expected test output pattern, wherein the expected test output pattern is masked for a maximum tolerable time period around an expected test output pattern start time.

Abstract: A mains interface module is disclosed for a screened enclosure containing electronic equipment. A mains interface module for a screened enclosure containing electronic equipment has a screened casing having a weather proof mains inlet connector, one or more mains outlets and contains EMI filters operative to protect the outlet(s) from interference from a mains supply when connected to the inlet connector. The screening prevents radiation of interference within the enclosure. The weatherproof mains inlet allows the equipment to be used and installed outside. The EMI filters prevent interference from being conducted through the outlets.

Abstract: A selected image view generator is disclosed for generating a selected portion of a larger compressed image. A selected image view from an overall image is generated with significantly reduced computation and reduced latency (for video processing). Frame insensitivity permits selected image views to be formed from static images or from a video stream. Multiple users can simultaneously control a selected view received from an image source. Remote cameras can be panned electronically, rather than physically. The overall compressed image may be encoded using a suitable intra-frame macroblock-based image encoder. A portion of the DC coefficient values are recomputed when generating the selected image view from the overall image, to reflect the reordering of the pixels in the selected image view (that results in a portion of the pixels being adjacent to different pixels than they were in a subimage).

Abstract: An improved stepped etalon comprises a transparent body having a stepped surface. Adjacent step lands are separated from each other by a transition region which includes a curved, waved, or otherwise varied step wall such that the average height of the stepped surface does not change abruptly in the transition region from the height of one land to another, but instead varies gradually according to the particular shape of the step wall. In an alternative embodiment, the step transition is formed using a grey-scale or half-tone patterning in which the average height gradually varies across the transition region. The non-planar transition region reduces the amount of coherent interference caused by the step transition thereby reducing the dead spot behind the step transition portions where interference prevents accurate measurements of light transmission from being made.