Abstract: A process for fabricating a vertical MOSFET device for use in integrated circuits is disclosed. In the process, at least three layers of material are formed sequentially on a semiconductor substrate. The three layers are arranged such that the second layer is interposed between the first and third layers. The second layer is sacrificial, that is, the layer is completely removed during subsequent processing. The thickness of the second layer defines the physical gate length of the vertical MOSFET. In the process the first and third layers have etch rates that are significantly lower than the etch rate of the second layer in an etchant selected to remove the second layer. The top layer, which is either the third or subsequent layer, is a stop layer for a subsequently performed mechanical polishing step that is used to remove materials formed over the at least three layers. After the at least three layers of material are formed on the substrate, a window or trench is formed in the layers.

Abstract: A wireless telecommunications system is disclosed that provides both telecommunications service and navigational assistance to travelers. In particular, the present invention addresses three common navigation problems. First, to aid a traveler who takes the same trip infrequently, the present invention records the movement of the traveler during one trip and, thereafter, provides navigational assistance on how to recreate the trip again at a later time. Second, to aid a traveler in making the homeward portion of a trip, the present invention records the outward-bound portion of the trip and, thereafter, provides navigational assistance on how to get home. And third, to aid a traveler who is trying to recreate the trip of another traveler, the present invention records the movement of one traveler when taking a trip and, thereafter, provides navigational assistance to other travelers on how to recreate the trip taken by the first. In general, the present invention performs two distinct steps.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator comprises a Faraday rotator including a ferromagnetic garnet film disposed input/output single mode optical signal paths. A collimating/lensing arrangement is used to focus the optical signal between the input/output signal paths and the ferromagnetic garnet film. The ferromagnetic material exhibits multiple types of magnetic domain such that an optical signal will experience ±rotation as its passes through the film. A 90° garnet film thus provides ±90° rotation, resulting in a fill 180° directional difference between the optical signal components. The amplitudes of these signals will thus cancel, providing an essential “full” attenuation of the optical signal. The application and adjustment of a magnetic field to the garnet film controls the strength (i.e.

Abstract: A DAC system provides an expanded SFDR when compared to the SFDR of an individual DAC(s) that makes up the DAC system. The DAC system uses a clipping arrangement which receives the digital input signal and provides an amplitude-limited signal and resulting signal distortion to a first DAC for digital input signals whose amplitudes would result in an insufficient SFDR for the first DAC. By amplitude-limiting the digital input signal, the amplitude of the digital input signal is effectively reduced or “clipped,” thereby improving the SFDR performance for the first DAC. The signal distortion resulting from the amplitude adjustment is routed to a second DAC. The first DAC converts the amplitude-limited digital signal to an analog signal with an expanded SFDR due to the lower amplitude of the adjusted digital signal. The second DAC receives the signal distortion which can be viewed as the clipped amplitude portion of the digital input signal.

Abstract: A flip-flop having one or more stages (e.g., a master stage and a slave stage in a master-slave flip-flop, or a single stage as in a latch), at least one stage having a driver coupled at its input and output to a feedback path with a gated inverter having embedded preset and/or clear logic. By embedding the preset/clear logic in the feedback path, the driver can be implemented using a simple inverter. Moreover, the preset and/or clear functionality can be added without adversely affecting either the setup time or the clock-to-Q propagation time of the flip-flop.

Abstract: For a transmission system in which (a) a received sequence of symbols is processed by an inner decoder followed by an outer decoder and (b) the inner decoder is capable of providing to the outer decoder more than one output sequence corresponding to the received sequence, the decoded sequence released by the outer decoder is screened for errors undetected by the outer decoder, if a predetermined criterion is satisfied.

Abstract: A method of effectuating a change in the operation of a portable communication device such as a laptop or palmtop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a cellular telephone. The device can communicate with a remote host or server using one of two or more different communication arrangements. Various signals indicative of the environment in which the device is operating are monitored, to anticipate or predict a change or transition from one communication arrangement to the other. If the change is determined to be both imminent and significant, the operation change is effected substantially simultaneously, by changing parameters in the transport and/or application protocol layer in the device.

Abstract: Many potential applications of CVD diamond film require the ability to remove a predetermined quantity of material from a surface of the film. We have discovered that such removal is advantageously accomplished by contacting the surface of the polycrystalline diamond film with a metal selected from Fe, Ni, Mn and Ti (preferably Fe and Mn, most preferably Mn), and maintaining the metal-contacted diamond film at a temperature in the range 600-1100° C. (preferably 800-1000° C.) without relative lateral motion between the film and the metal, for an effective time for removal of the quantity of material, exemplarily less than 100 hours. The metal can be in any appropriate form, e.g., a deposited layer, (including a patterned layer), a foil, or powder. We have also discovered that the local thermal conductivity of CVD diamond films typically increases with distance from the lower surface of an as-grown film.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for allowing a user of a wireless station to screen incoming calls by presenting to the user a displayed text generated by a speech-to-text converter, the text corresponding to the initial portion of a message that the caller is leaving on the called party's voice mail system. Advantageously, the called party can screen calls, not only by caller identification, which may or may not be present, but also by the specifics of the message that the caller is planning to leave for the called party. Advantageously, using this arrangement, the caller need not know that the called customer could have answered the call, a disadvantage with arrangements such as call waiting, in which there is a brief exchange before a connection is either established, or not established, to the interrupting party.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing fluxless soldering includes an enclosure having a gas inlet through which an inert gas is introduced to create an inert gas-rich environment. Components are placed in the enclosure via an access port which also functions as a vent for allowing purge gases to vent from the enclosure. In one embodiment, a heating stage is provided in the enclosure which provides sufficient heat to reflow solder provided between two or more components. The inert gas is constantly flowing, or purging the enclosure in order to displace oxygen that would initially be present in the system. The presence of inert gas exclusive of other materials provides an oxygen-free environment, i.e., the inert gases provide a “shield” or environment around the parts to be soldered to inhibit the formation of additional oxides during soldering.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for interlocking a connector for a communication card including a first connection portion for connection to signals in the communication card relating to a first device such as a cellular telephone. A second connection portion in the interlocking connector provides for connection to signals in the communication card relating to a second device such as the PSTN. A blocking portion of the interlocking connector prevents electrical connection with the second connection portion and allows electrical connection with the first connection portion when the interlocking connector is connected to the communication card. A communication card is also provided which comprises modem circuitry, and an interface for connection between the modem circuitry and a computing device. A PSTN interface is provided for connection between the modem circuitry and a telephone line, and a cellular telephone interface is provided for connection between the modem circuitry and a cellular telephone.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of automatic delay compensation for use in data transmission, particularly in optical communication systems. The invention presents an inter-coding, real-time automated delay compensation method that minimizes the effects of polarization and inter-symbol interference without expensive dispersion compensation fiber in each data transmission channel. The invention is a simple-to-use, cost effective, single-wavelength method of delayed signal alignment with coarse and fine tuning that while conserving half of the power used to transmit wavelength information in conventional WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) systems.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a slug made from a malleable material and positioned behind a ferrule within a barrel member. The slug includes a capillary hole along its longitudinal axis for accommodating an optical fiber. One or more pins extend outwardly from the barrel and are generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The pins provide several functions in the optical connector, including securing the slug within the barrel member, securing the optical fiber within the slug, and securing the barrel to a connector housing that includes a latch.

Abstract: A control system for stabilizing the frequency of optical light output from a laser source including an oscillator for producing a modulation signal and a detection signal. An optical modulator receives the optical light output from the laser source and also receives the modulation signal and outputs a first and second modulator output signal. At least one filter is included for receiving the first modulator output signal and outputting a filtered signal having an amplitude that is a function of the change in frequency of the output light output from the laser source. A first optical detector receives the filtered signal and outputs a first electrical signal. A second optical detector receives the second modulator output signal and outputs a second electrical signal. A wavelength control circuit receives the first and the second electrical signals and the detection signal and outputs a control signal received by the laser source for adjusting the frequency of the optical light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for completing intra-data-network calls and calls between a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a data network. For the case of an Internet data network, an Internet Phone Register is provided to identify the User Location Service (ULS) server that stores the temporary Internet Protocol Address (TIPA) of a called terminal. Advantageously, the TIPA of any called terminal can then be readily obtained by querying that ULS server.

Abstract: A power supply that provides a source of backup AC voltage and a method of operating thereof. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a transformer having main power and backup power windings and a secondary winding. The power supply also includes multiple stages, namely, (1) a primary power stage coupled to the main power winding, (2) a backup power stage coupled to the backup power winding and having a backup battery, one of the primary and backup power stages acting as a current fed source and (3) an AC power stage, coupled to the secondary winding, that provides a source of AC voltage. The power supply is operable in a normal mode of operation in which the primary power stage supplies power to the secondary winding and further supplies power to the backup power winding to allow the backup power stage to charge the backup battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining a hot carrier lifetime of a transistor. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of determining an initial transconductance (gm1) of a transistor, and then, applying a stress voltage, which does not exceed a maximum breakdown voltage of the transistor, to the transistor to cause a transconductance degradation of the transistor, and then determining a subsequent transconductance (gm2) of the transistor. A hot carrier lifetime of the transistor can then be determined as a function of gm1 and gm2. Thus, the present invention provides a method in which the hot carrier lifetime is determined from sequential transconductance measurements without intervening, transistor characteristic tests that are typically conducted between the transconductance measurements that degrade the sensitivity of the gm measurement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for cleaning a contaminated chamber used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of injecting, under pressure, a gas mixture of a fluorine-containing gas and an inert gas into the contaminated chamber, radiating the contaminated chamber with a radio frequency during the step of injecting, and removing volatile by-products or solid particulates from the contaminated chamber by performing pump-purge cycles within the contaminated chamber.

Abstract: An optical connector (20) includes a ferrule assembly (22) which is adapted to be received in a plug frame (70). The ferrule assembly is held in the plug frame by a cable retention assembly (40) which is adapted to be secured to said plug frame. A leading end of the plug frame is symmetrical in an end cross-section which is normal to a longitudinal axis of the connector. After the ferrule assembly has been assembled to the plug frame, the direction of any eccentricity of the plug passageway or of an optical fiber terminated by the ferrule assembly is determined. Then the plug frame is assembled to a housing of a grip (90) such that the direction of eccentricity is aligned with a key (92) of the grip. The plug frame is capable of being assembled to the grip notwithstanding the rotational orientation of the plug frame with respect to the grip.

Abstract: An optical connector (20) includes a ferrule assembly (22), which is adapted to be received in a plug frame (70). The ferrule assembly is held in the plug frame by a cable retention assembly (40) which is adapted to be secured to said plug frame. A leading end of the plug frame is symmetrical in an end cross-section which is normal to a longitudinal axis of the connector. After the ferrule assembly has been assembled to the plug frame, the direction of any eccentricity of the plug passageway or of an optical fiber terminated by the ferrule assembly is determined. Then the plug frame is assembled to a housing of a grip (90) such that the direction of eccentricity is aligned with a key (92) of the grip. The plug frame is capable of being assembled to the grip notwithstanding the rotational orientation of the plug frame with respect to the grip.