Abstract: A compensation circuit for a DC—DC converter having a low voltage output line and a plurality of high voltage output lines applied to a plurality of loads includes an adjustable impedance source connected to the low voltage output line. The impedance source generates a feedback control signal to the DC—DC converter used to control the transformer duty cycle. A sensing circuit is connected to the plurality of high voltage output lines for generating a control signal which represents variations in the output voltages of the high voltage output lines. The control signal is applied to the impedance source to thereby regulate the feedback control signal which in turn provides regulation for the high voltage output lines.

Abstract: Optical components, such as optical semi-isolators, are placed in a fixture that exposes at least a portion of the mounting surface of each optical component when a plasma or ion beam is directed at one side of the fixture, while shielding sensitive surfaces of the optical components (e.g., an optical element mounted within the frame of the optical component) from direct exposure to the plasma or ion beam. Exposure to the plasma or ion beam removes contaminants (e.g., metal oxide) that form on the mounting surface during the fabrication of the optical components when the optical element is mounted within its frame using glass solder in a heated oxygenated environment (e.g., air). By removing enough of the contaminants, the plasma or ion beam cleaning step produces optical components that can be reliably mounted onto substrates, such as the ceramic substrates used in encapsulated laser packages, using flux-less auto-bonding techniques.

Abstract: A dynamically and chromatically variable transmissivity apparatus (e.g., a channel equalizer or an add-drop circuit) controls channel powers in wavelength-division multiplexed systems. The input WDM signal is split into two components, in one component a phase shift is added to the wavelengths needing equalizing, the two signal components are then recombined. The phase shift added at each wavelength determines the amount of equalization obtained for that wavelength. For a decrease in equalization (i.e., attenuation) range the apparatus exhibits a decrease in insertion loss.

Abstract: The modem of a portable computer device draws a portion of its required power from the telephone line using a low noise switching power supply. The switching power supply can alternatively or additionally assist in keeping the battery of the portable computer device charged. The generation or propagation of electrical noise on the input telephone line is minimized by actively maintaining a constant input impedance from the telephone line to the modem. In one embodiment, a switchable shunt impedance is placed in parallel with the input to a PWM switching power supply and actively controlled to maintain the impedance of the input of the PWM switching power supply constant to the extent that a constant current draw is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention is a extended range concentric cell base station and a method for extending a cell size or access range without incurring ASIC correlator re-design. This is accomplished with a concentric cell base station design that incorporates multiple timing protocols. The concentric base station has associated a micro cell and a macro cell, wherein the micro and macro cells use a different timing protocol that will cause signals transmitted by mobiles within their respective cells to be received within the confines of search windows associated with the timing protocols.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of optical transmission and particularly to a method and a system for controlling optical amplification in wavelength division multiplex optical transmission. WDM systems currently under development will have eighty or more channels, i.e., modulated optical signals with different wavelengths (known as Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing, DWDM). These DWDM systems are demanding optical amplifiers which, especially considering the cascadation of a plurality of optical amplifiers along the transmission path of the DWDM system, have only very limited tolerances in certain parameters. Among these parameters gain flatness and gain tilt are of special importance. The present invention discloses a method and a system which make use of auxiliary optical signals having a given power level which is equal for all auxiliary signals.

Abstract: A set of identifiers (for example, the name of a party and the associated telephone number) is stored in the memory of telephone apparatus. Sequential retrieval of the stored identifiers is facilitated by the use of a prominent button that is oversized relative to the size of the buttons of a conventional telephone keypad. Retrieved identifiers are indicated visually, aurally, and/or tactilely. Selection of an indicated identifier initiates a call to the party represented by the identifier.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the power with which a wireless terminal transmits is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention comprises: transmitting a first signal at a first power level; receiving a series of n power control signals, bi−n+1 through bi; setting a step size based on a measure of dispersion of the n power control signals; and transmitting a second signal at a second power level that is based on the first power level and the step size.

Abstract: It has been found that through the use of ferrocene or iron pentacarbonyl based compounds, it is possible to produce semi-insulating epitaxial layers of indium phosphide-based compounds by an MOCVD process. Resistivities up to 1×109 ohm-cm have been achieved as compared to resistivities on the order of 5×103 ohm-cm for other types of semi-insulating epitaxial indium phosphide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling a process parameter for fabricating a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a test substrate using a given process parameter, determining a flatband voltage of the test substrate, and modifying the given process parameter to cause the flatband voltage to approach zero. The process parameter that is modified to cause the flatband voltage to approach zero may vary. The flatband may be determined by a non-contact method, which uses a kelvin probe to measure the flatband voltage and a corona source to deposit a charge on the test substrate.

Abstract: In a method and system for loading a magazine capable of feeding the material into a molding machine, a material to be loaded is placed into a hopper above the magazine. The magazine is slidably seated on a slide plate. The slide plate is moved with a reciprocating motion, causing the magazine to move with a reciprocating motion, and causing the material to fall from the hopper to the magazine. The reciprocating motion of the magazine may be allowed to lag behind the reciprocating motion of the plate, and may, at times, include motion in a direction opposite that of the slide plate. The step of moving the slide plate may include rolling the plate on a plurality of bearings. The motion of the magazine may be limited relative to the slide plate, using at least one stop. A pneumatic cylinder may be included to actuate the at least one stop. The operation of the pneumatic cylinder may be controlled with a solenoid valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that employs static partial order reduction and symbolic verification allow the design of a system that includes both hardware and software to be verified. The system is specified in a hardware-centric language and a software-centric language, as appropriate, and properties are verified one at a time. Each property is identified whether it is hardware-centric or software-centric. A hardware-centric property that contains little software is does not employ the static partial order reduction. Software-centric properties, and hardware-centric properties that have substantial amounts of software do employ the static partial order reduction. Following partial order reduction, the software-centric language specifications are converted to synchronous form and combined with the hardware-centric specifications. The combined specification is applied to a symbolic verification tool, such as COSPAN, and the results are displayed.

Abstract: A method for providing fluxless soldering without oxide formation includes mounting a component on a pedestal of a base. A housing is also mounted on the base, the housing and the base together define a closed cavity containing the component. An inert gas is introduced into the cavity to create an inert gas-rich environment. Thereafter, the cavity is heated sufficiently to reflow solder provided between the component and the housing, to join the component to the housing without the formation of additional oxides on the solder joint.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a first circuit section and a second circuit section. The first circuit section has a local ground and is coupled to an external ground of a power supply for the first circuit section. The first circuit section adds an offset potential to the local ground potential when the first circuit section is on, due to an IR drop between the local ground and the external ground. The second circuit section has a signal-generating device and an offset correction circuit. The signal-generating device is referenced to the local ground potential and provides an output signal related to an input signal applied thereto. The offset correction circuit subtracts an offset adjust value from one of the input signal and the output signal to reduce offset error in the output signal caused by switching the first circuit section on and off.

Abstract: The specification describes a method for dispensing IC chips from a chip carrier tape for a flip-chip assembly operation. In a conventional assembly operation, the solder bumped side of the chip is the top side of the chip as loaded on the tape, and is normally the side of the chip that engages the head of the pick tool. For flip-chip assembly it is necessary to invert the chip for solder bonding to an interconnect substrate. In the technique of the invention, the chip carrier tape is inverted and inserted into the dispensing machine upside down. The IC chips are then ejected through the back of the tape instead of being lifted from the from of the tape. In this way the pick tool head engages the back side of the solder bumped chip and the chip is in the proper orientation for flip-chip placement and bonding on the interconnect substrate. Carrier tapes designed for through-tape dispensing are also disclosed.

Abstract: An anvil for a press for assembling a fastener to a plate having an aperture. The press includes a ram assembly for pressing the fastener into the plate aperture. The anvil includes a housing and a pin disposed in the housing. The pin is slidable between an extended position, partially extending outwardly of the housing and is adapted to extend through the plate aperture. The pin moves to a retracted position disposed within the housing for contact with the bottom surface of the plate. The anvil further includes a collar disposed in the housing and concentrically disposed around the pin. The collar includes a plurality of spaced apart collar sections, each collar section having a bottom flange retained by the housing and a top flange. The collar sections are movable between an expanded position when the pin is in the extended position, and a collapsed position when the pin is in the retracted position within the housing.

Abstract: An optical filter, system, and method capable of detecting optical signals in an optical fiber trunk for purposes of diagnostics and control of a wavelength division multiplexing system using optical fiber network. The optical filter is described comprising a predetermined number N of cascaded Mach-Zender circuits having a predetermined transfer function with a predetermined scanning peak, the cascaded Mach-Zender circuits having an optical input and an optical output. In another embodiment, a system is provided which employs the optical filter in which a control circuit coupled to each of the Mach-Zender circuits to shift the scanning peak according to a predetermined criterion. The control circuit advantageously causes a phase shift in the Mach-Zender circuits, thereby allowing the optical filter to scan a predetermined frequency spectrum with a narrow pass band or scanning peak to determine the existence and/or the condition of optical signals within the predetermined frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A deposition apparatus includes a controllable edge exclusion assembly for controllably excluding deposition adjacent a peripheral edge of a wafer within a deposition chamber and based upon fluid flow. The controllable edge exclusion assembly includes a ring-shaped body extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of the wafer and spaced above an adjacent front surface of the wafer. The ring-shaped body has fluid passageways so that fluid flow from adjacent a back surface of the wafer passes over the peripheral edge of the wafer and through the fluid passageways to thereby exclude deposition adjacent the peripheral edge of the wafer. The assembly also includes a flow controller associated with the fluid passageways for controlling fluid flow therethrough. The flow controller may include a control body having a plurality of fluid passageways therein, and which is relatively movable with respect to the ring-shaped body.

Abstract: An arrangement for enclosing a fluid includes a circuit board and an enclosure member. The circuit board includes an electronic component secured thereto. The enclosure member is secured to the circuit board such that the enclosure member and the circuit board cooperate so as to create a fluid tight barrier of a compartment defined by the circuit board and the enclosure member.

Abstract: An apparatus and a technique for adapting a plurality of tap weights in an adaptive filter where tap weights are adapted utilizing every other sample of a sequence of samples. The apparatus comprises a sampler circuit for sampling an input signal producing a sequence of samples; a tap weight processor for generating the plurality of tap weights coupled to the sampler circuit; wherein the plurality of tap weights are adapted utilizing every other sample of the sequence of samples.