Abstract: An arrangement for concentrating broadband data from a plurality of CPEs (customer premises equipments) for transmission over a link to an ATM network. Because each CPE can generate data at the full rate of the link, it is necessary to detect peaks of bursty traffic from a CPE user quickly and to limit the rate of data transmission whenever the capacity of the link may be exceeded. This is accomplished first by allowing the transmission of certain classes of traffic (lower priority) only when a token to permit transmission has been accumulated in the CPE, and second, by having a FIFO buffer for each user and detecting whenever the FIFO buffer has accumulated more than n cells; when this condition is detected, no more tokens are sent back to the user. The user is not allowed to accumulate more than m tokens. Advantageously, this arrangement allows essentially the full bandwidth of the link to the ATM network to be utilized by a timely throttling of bursts of traffic when they cannot be accommodated.

Abstract: In a mounting bracket for a connector block of the type having an elongated wall and a plurality of spaced fingers extending therefrom, each of the fingers has a portion shaped to support the connector block. An insulation is provided along at least one surface of one or more of the fingers and a conductor is supported in spaced relation to the fingers upon or within the insulation. The conductor has an exposed contact at, below, or generally proximate the portion of the finger which supports the connector block. Also, the bracket may be used with a connector block of the type including a body and at least one end cap supported on the body. The end cap houses a plurality of terminals with conductive contacts extending therefrom into the body. A conductive power bus including a rail, a plurality of fingers, and a leaf-spring tail is coupled to the connector block, with the power bus positioned clear of electrical contact with the terminals or the conductive contacts.

Abstract: Interleaving and de-interleaving of forward-link Sync channels is performed by implementing closed-form expressions that are equivalent to the table-based processing specified in the cdmaOne telecommunication specification. The implementation can be in either hardware or software or a combination of both. For Sync-channel interleaving, the closed-form expression relates each un-interleaved symbol position to a corresponding interleaved symbol position, which is used to generate an interleaved symbol stream from the un-interleaved symbol stream. For Sync-channel de-interleaving, the closed-form expression relates each interleaved symbol position to a corresponding de-interleaved symbol position, which is used to generate a de-interleaved symbol stream from the interleaved symbol stream. In one hardware implementation, the forward-link interleaver/de-interleaver of the present invention has an address generation unit made from a modulo counter and a bit reversal unit.

Abstract: A torque-limited key includes a grip and a lock or latch engaging member. A torque-limiting device connects the grip to the engaging member. The torque-limiting device may include a spring, a frictional engagement, or any other type of resilient member. The torque-limiting device allows a torque applied to the grip to rotate the engaging member, so long as the applied torque is less than a predetermined level. If the applied torque exceeds the predetermined level, the grip will rotate relative to the engaging member in order to prevent breaking the engaging member off inside the lock or latch, and also in order to prevent damaging the mechanism of the lock or latch.

Abstract: A data communication device includes a controller and a baud rate generator, which is initially set to receive a data stream at the highest baudrate. In response to a start bit in the data stream, the controller suspends the operation of the baud rate generator and determines the proper baudrate by polling for the presence or absence of the start bit. During the suspended period, the baud rate generator is set to the actual incoming baudrate. The baud rate generator is then turned on, and the rest of the characters are then received at the actual baudrate. The device utilizes the execution times of background processing instructions to serve as the polling times. As such, loss of data bits are prevented since all baudrate determinations are completed during the receipt of the start bit.

Abstract: A control circuit, system for, and method of, testing a device under test (DUT) coupled to a load having a controllable load current level. The DUT is capable of operating in a regulated range and an unregulated range. In one embodiment, the control circuit includes: (1) minimum and maximum current control stages that set minimum and maximum load current values, respectively, for the control circuit and (2) an integrator, coupled to the DUT. In a constant current mode, the integrator selects one of the minimum and maximum load current values to control the load current level and test the DUT while the DUT is operating in the regulated range. In a constant voltage mode, the integrator produces an intermediate load current value based on a relationship between a voltage of an output of the DUT and a reference voltage to control the load current level and test the DUT while the DUT is operating in the unregulated range.

Abstract: This invention provides a dial tone for use in analog, TDMA, and CDMA wireless environments and includes the capability to collect additional digits during certain calling feature activation. The dial tone supports call forwarding, cancel call forwarding, call waiting, cancel call waiting, calling number identification presentation, calling number identification restriction, three way calling (including IS-53 version of three way calling, three way calling with cancel call waiting and calling number identification presentation/restriction, and three way calling interactions with call forwarding), and limited call transfer. After the mobile user requests the desired feature, a tone generator typically located at the mobile switching station or the mobile station will provide dial tones or confirmation dial tones to aid the mobile users when initiating a calling feature.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The integrated circuit has a plurality of TFTs and an electrical interconnect structure. In the process, at least some constituents of the TFTs are formed on a first substrate. At least the interconnect structure is formed on a second substrate. The two substrates are laminated together to form the integrated circuit device having fully formed TFTs.

Abstract: Interleaving of forward-link paging or traffic channels is performed by implementing closed-form expressions that are equivalent to the table-based processing specified in the cdmaOne telecommunication specification. The implementation can be in either hardware or software or a combination of both. For each cdmaOne forward-link paging or traffic channel, the closed-form expression relates each un-interleaved symbol position to a corresponding interleaved symbol position, which is used to generate an interleaved symbol stream from the un-interleaved symbol stream. In one hardware implementation, the forward-link interleaver of the present invention has an address generation unit made from a modulo counter, a multiplier, and an adder.

Abstract: A digital phase locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer having the conventional voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) divider in the feedback loop to the phase detector replaced with a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) divider. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the reference divider in the input path may also be replaced with a DDS divider. Moreover, a new architecture for the phase detector and current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) which operate on the instantaneous phase of each DDS is provided. Thus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the update rate of the digital PLL frequency synthesizer is not based on the frequency signal output from the reference divider in the input path (as in conventional digital PLL frequency synthesizer architectures). Rather, the update rate is based on fixed clock signals output from the clock generator, which utilizes the master clock and the output frequency, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a strain relief apparatus includes a body member incorporating a first end for facing the cable-receiving end of a connector, a second end for facing away from the cable-receiving end of a connector, and a flap extending from the body member. The flap is movable between an unbiased position and a forwardly-displaced position so that in its unbiased position the flap is oriented in an overlying relationship with a trigger of the connector. In its forwardly-displaced position, the flap urges the trigger toward the bottom side of the connector such that the trigger urges a latch of the connector to its unlatched position. Preferably, the flap has a handle extending therefrom, with the handle being configured so that a technician can reposition the flap from its unbiased position to its forwardly-displaced position as well as manipulate the connector, such as during patching operations.

Abstract: Transform encoding techniques are disclosed which permit reductions in entropy coding memory requirements. In an illustrative embodiment, a selected discrete linear transform is applied to a discrete-valued version of an information signal to be encoded. The transform is selected such that it produces a transformed output that can be entropy coded using a reduced codeword memory without a substantial increase in entropy coding rate. The entropy coding may be, for example, scalar entropy coding which independently codes each of the components of the transformed discrete-valued version of the information signal, using a single entropy codebook for all of the components to be encoded.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining an attenuator element between two optical fiber connector ferrules. The apparatus is typically formed with the front side of a buildout cap and comprises a sleeve housing including front and rear ends, and a passage that extends from a first opening formed in the front end of the housing to a second opening formed in the rear end of the housing. Inside the passage are inner flanges formed adjacent each of the housing openings. Formed at the front end of the housing is a top notch and an opposed bottom notch. The top notch joins an attenuator element travel slot that extends from the top notch to an end point adjacent the rear end of the sleeve housing. Typically, the apparatus includes a ferrule sleeve adapted to receive and support the attenuator element within said sleeve housing. In use an attenuator element is first placed within the ferrule sleeve and the sleeve placed within the sleeve housing.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention provides a cell containing a first base station with conventional transceivers and base station facilities, and the antenna of a second base station facility; the first base station facility is made up of a group of base stations facilities where the equipment is integrated, but the second base station is a conventional local base station. A transceiver may have unused capacity and a caller with a low priority may not be assigned to the transceiver even though there is still room. This is due to the fact that the capacity is being kept available for a caller with a higher priority, since the assignments are based on priority. Traffic monitors are used by portable telephone providers to manage the traffic in every cell, so traffic can be assigned to the transceiver, based on the provider with the highest volume or according to a prearranged priority scale.

Abstract: Optical devices using non-centric crystals, such as lithium niobate, and methods for making and using the devices, are provided. The devices provide improved temperature stability as compared to conventional devices using non-centric crystals. The improved temperature stability is provided by etching the surface of a non-centric crystal to a depth of less than about 300 angstroms. The devices and methods of the invention reduce the magnitude of change in bias voltage required to maintain an optical crystal at a pre-selected operating point.

Abstract: A wafer configured for in-process testing of electrical components has a plurality of dies disposed on the wafer, wherein adjacent dies are separated from one another by streets. An in-line device monitor having a first port, a second port, and a device-under-test substantially in line with one another is placed within a street, where the device-under-test is between the first and second ports and is electrically coupled to the first and second ports. With such an arrangement, streets having a width of 100 microns and less are suitable for accomodating a RF-device monitor having ground-signal or ground-signal-ground configurations. As a result, accurate GS or GSG RF-device monitors can be provided in narrow streets of wafers, thereby increasing the amount of wafer area available for circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for minimizing quantization noise in signal transmissions between modems coupled together via a digital network resulting from the performance of digital loss insertion in &mgr;-law encoded signal transmissions when the receiving modem is coupled to the digital network via an analog subscriber loop. In a preferred embodiment, the minimization of quantization noise is effected by providing a digital modem capable of &mgr;-law encoding and decoding a signal transmission; and capable of scaling the amplitude levels of signals generated by the modem; and capable of performing an inversion mapping.

Abstract: A block radio design is disclosed that prevents the primary analog-to-digital converter from saturating and thus prevents the introduction of intermodulation products into the multi-carrier signal. The block radio comprises a strong signal suppressor that selectively suppresses any carrier signal in the multi-carrier signal before the multi-carrier signal is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter, thus preventing the possibility that the analog-to-digital converter can be saturated. Furthermore, the strong signal suppressor attenuates the stronger carrier signals without affecting the weaker carrier signals.

Abstract: A micro-photoreflectance technique has been developed for performing non-destructive analysis of III-V optoelectronic devices. By using a significantly reduced spot size (for example, 10 micrometers), various compositional features of the device may be analyzed and the Franz-Keldysh oscillations appearing in the micro-photoreflectance wavelength spectra (such as those beyond the barrier/SCL wavelength in an EML structure) may be analyzed to provide information regarding the physical characteristics of the device, such as the electric field and p-i junction placement within an exemplary EML device structure.

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.