Abstract: A digital phase locked loop includes a digital phase detector which provides a magnitude control signal to adjust the step size of up and down adjustments in the phase/frequency of a digitally controlled oscillator, resulting in shorter lock-in or acquisition time and smaller jitter as compared to conventional digital phase locked loop devices. In the disclosed embodiments, the digital phase detector includes multiple bit shift registers in both the up and down directions to count or measure a number of up or down minimum width pulses and provide a pulse magnitude control based on the value of the shift registers to the digitally controlled oscillator. The digitally controlled oscillator includes a charge pump and voltage controlled oscillator. In one embodiment, the charge pump provides programmable control over its output current pulses to a capacitor which controls the output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A tool-operated sliding security system for a lockable enclosure comprising a bracket mounted to an outer door of an enclosure, the bracket being movable between an open position and a closed position, the bracket having at least one cutout therein; the outer door having a tool-operated security member mounted thereto, the security member extending through the cutout and moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; the outer door also comprising a tool-operated releasable retention member mounted thereto, the retention member releasably maintaining the outer door in a closed position; the bracket being immovable when the security member is in the engaged position and the bracket being movable when the security member is in the disengaged position; wherein the releasable retention member is accessible when the bracket is in the open position thereby rendering the outer door openable.

Abstract: The invention is a reconfigurable optical grating device using force from programmable magnets to alter the mechanical strain, preferably a tensile strain, on the gratings so as to induce a latchable change in grating periodicity using a pulse or short-duration current. It includes apparatus for limiting the maximum strain applied to the grating so that the fiber does not fracture, and it provides strain without rotation or twisting of the fiber grating. In preferred embodiment it provides control of magnetic force so as to accurately obtain a predetermined amount of strain and hence wavelength shift in the grating with a minimal amount of electrical power. The inventive structure is useful, e.g. for wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system comprising wavelength channel add/drop devices and/or dynamically gain-equalized amplifiers.

Abstract: A stereo panoramic view is provided through the use of multiple virtual optical centers. A reflective polyhedral cement, such as a pyramid, redirects the field of view of each camera in a first set of cameras to form a group of substantially co-located virtual optical centers at a first location within the pyramid. The pyramid also redirects the field of view of each camera in a second set of cameras to form a group of substantially co-located virtual optical centers at a second location within the pyramid. Panoramic images from the first and second virtual optical centers provide a stereo panoramic view when one panoramic image is provided to a user's left eye and the other panoramic image is provided to the user's right eye.

Abstract: The specification relates to a method and apparatus for all-optical regeneration of return-to-zero (RZ) data streams. The effect of self-phase modulation (SPM) of a data signal passing through a nonlinear medium (NLM) creates spectral broadening in individual data pulses which are then subsequently filtered to pass a selected bandwidth centered at a frequency, .omega..sub.f, which is shifted with respect to the input data carrier frequency, .omega..sub.0. Since the degree of broadening of a pulse passing through the NLM is a function of the initial intensity of the pulse, noise in data "zeros" (null values) possess insufficient intensity (providing incidental distortion pulse intensity attributable to accumulated process noise is less than a critical value) to cause the requisite amount of spectral broadening to encompass the selected filter bandwidth centered around .omega..sub.f, and the noise is subsequently suppressed.

Abstract: A method for applying forward error correction in a transmission network includes the steps of choosing one of a plurality of possible error correction codes, using an appropriate field to encode a complete forward-error-correcting (FEC) code algorithm in each FEC packet to be transmitted. The packet stream, consisting of media packets and FEC packets can be sent to both FEC-capable and FEC-incapable receivers. Decoding methods are independent of the forward-error-correcting code transmitted. The sender can adapt the forward-error-correction code algorithm and the degree of error correction provided on a one-time basis or even more dynamically. Decoding and recovery at the receiver require no prior notification from the sender. Applying the FEC code algorithm to decode includes interrogating the bits in an offset bit mask in each FEC packet to yield links with media packets, and applying other fields of the FEC header to obtain instructions to recover lost data in one of the media packets.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator and a method for actuating a micro-machine structure. The micro-machine structure has a stationary part and a movable part that is relatively movable between a rest position and an activated position and is resiliently connected to the stationary part. The stationary part and the movable part form a flexible sub-structure having a resonant frequency. The actuator comprises a first electrode disposed on the stationary part and a second electrode disposed on the movable part. The actuator also includes a wave generator, connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, for generating an alternating voltage signal to the first electrode and a reference voltage signal to the second electrode so as to impart an electrostatic force between the stationary and movable parts and to move the movable part from the rest position to the activated position. The electrostatic force for fixed amplitude wave has a constant force component and a vibratory force component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving an occupancy map reflecting an athlete's coverage of a playing area based on real time tracking of a sporting event. The method according to the present invention includes a step of obtaining a spatio-temporal trajectory corresponding to the motion of an athlete and based on real time tracking of the athlete. The trajectory is then mapped over the geometry of the playing area to determine a playing area occupancy map indicating the frequency with which the athlete occupies certain areas of the playing area, or the time spent by the athlete in certain areas of the playing area. The occupancy map is preferably color coded to indicate different levels of occupancy in different areas of the playing area, and the color coded map is then overlaid onto an image (such as a video image) of the playing area.

Abstract: A surface finish which provides improved wirebonding performance for integrated circuit packages is disclosed. The surface finish which is formed on a substrate includes a palladium layer and one or more material layers. The one or more material layers are interposed between the substrate and the palladium layer. The palladium layer has a hardness that is less than about 500 (KHN.sub.50) while at least one material layer has a hardness that is less than about 250 (KHN.sub.50).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the throwing power of electroplating solutions which provides a nearly linear current density distribution across the panel. The apparatus includes a cylindrical body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof, a cylindrical cathode arranged coaxially about a central portion of the cylindrical body, an anode coaxially positioned at a lower end portion of the cylindrical body, a conical shield coaxially arranged around an upper end portion of the cathode; and an annular disk-baffle coaxially arranged around a lower end portion of the cathode. The conical shield and the disk-baffle provide a substantially linear current distribution over the cathode.

Abstract: The invention provides improved computer network firewalls which include one or more features for increased processing efficiency. A firewall in accordance with the invention can support multiple security policies, multiple users or both, by applying any one of several distinct sets of access rules. The firewall can also be configured to utilize "stateful" packet filtering which involves caching rule processing results for one or more packets, and then utilizing the cached results to bypass rule processing for subsequent similar packets. To facilitate passage to a user, by a firewall, of a separate later transmission which is properly in response to an original transmission, a dependency mask can be set based on session data items such as source host address, destination host address, and type of service. The mask can be used to query a cache of active sessions being processed by the firewall, such that a rule can be selected based on the number of sessions that satisfy the query.

Abstract: A resistance tester is incorporated into a grounding device. The resistance tester includes a test circuit, a battery, a switch and a set of indicator devices. With the grounding device being worn and the cord end of the device in contact with the user so as to form a closed circuit, the test circuit measures the resistance level of the grounding device upon activation of the switch. The indicator devices provide a visual indication of the resistance level, i.e., too high, too low or within acceptable limits. The resistance tester is self-contained and may be used anytime by the user to ensure that the resistance of the grounding device is acceptable.

Abstract: Complementary vertical bipolar and DMOS devices are formed in a single substrate with fully isolated wells and retrograde well doping. The retrograde well doping results from a process in which the complementary wells are formed in a silicon substrate and heavily doped collector regions formed at the surface. The wafer is then inverted and the backside of the wafer ground away exposing the retrograde doped wells. With appropriate well doping complementary IGBT devices can be integrated with bipolar and/or DMOS devices in the same substrate. Trench technology is used for isolation.

Abstract: A transmission line balun transformer for providing a single ended output signal from a pair of differential input signals includes two transmission line signal couplers. The couplers are individually designed to be relatively loosely coupled devices, i.e. having a coupling factor greater than 3 dB, but are coupled together with proper phase relationships so as to achieve a relatively tighter composite coupling characteristic in the order of 3 dB, thereby resulting in an increase in bandwidth.

Abstract: A technique for updating the software in a remote computer (e.g., a base station, a spacecraft in space, an electronic postage meter in an office, a medical monitoring device in a patient's home, etc.) from a central control (e.g., a wireless switching center, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Houston Control, a postage meter facility, a medical equipment manufacturer's factory, etc.) is disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for providing current sharing between parallel power supplies using a modified master/slave scheme in which any of the parallel modules can be designated the master is described. A current-share circuit is incorporated into each power supply which includes its own controller producing an internal control signal and is interconnected to the other power supply modules on a current-share bus. The current-share circuit includes a switch, which is operable to connect the power supplies internal control signal to the current-share bus when closed and disconnect the internal control signal from the current-share bus when open. The switch is controlled by master/slave logic, which determines whether the power supply is the master or a slave and controls the switch accordingly. The master is determined by closing all of the switches, thereby placing all of the power supplies' internal control signals on the bus.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package including a die housing an integrated circuit and having a plurality of electrical contact pads on a surface of the die. The electrical contact pads include energizing contact pads for connecting power and ground lines to the integrated circuit, and include data contact pads. The energizing contact pads lie along the path of intersecting first and second directional lines. The intersecting directional lines define four quadrants on the surface of the die, each quadrant containing at least one data contact pad.

Abstract: A pilot-aided rake receiver suitable for CDMA wireless telecommunications is disclosed. Some rake receivers in accordance with the present invention require fewer computational resources to be consumed by the conjugate pilot estimate multipliers than some pilot-aided rake receivers in the prior art. One embodiment of the present invention comprises: N rake receiver fmgers, wherein each of the N rake receiver fingers outputs an information-bearing signal, I.sub.i (n), and a conjugate pilot estimate, P.sub.i (n); N multipliers; and an N.times.N switch interposed between the N rake receivers and the N multipliers for routing the information-bearing signal, I.sub.i (n), and the conjugate pilot estimate, P.sub.i (n), from any of the N rake receiver fingers to any of the N multipliers. In some embodiments of the present invention, the N multipliers are pooled and shared by the resources (e.g., rake receiver fingers, coherent combiners, etc.) associated with a plurality of users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing end faces of integrated circuit chips using a cutting machine having a straight blade. The apparatus is a wedge shaped block having one surface angled at the desired angle to be imparted to the end face. The one surface has an alignment member thereon for aligning the chip on the top surface, and at least one locating member at the end of the block for positioning the end of the chip relative to the cutting blade. The block has a plurality of bores therein for applying suction to hold the chip on the one surface during cutting with the blade. The method includes the steps of placing a foot or feet on the chip, placing the chip on the block and aligning it and locating it, and applying a force thereto to hold it fixedly in position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for forming a dopant barrier layer in a gate stack in a semiconductor device. In one advantageous embodiment, the process includes forming a gate oxide on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate layer on the gate oxide, and forming an ultra thin (less than about 2.5 nm) silicon nitride dopant barrier layer between the gate oxide and the gate layer. The dopant barrier layer provides an excellent barrier to inhibit dopant diffusion through the gate oxide and into the p-channel during the formation of the source/drain areas. Moreover, the formation of this dopant barrier layer and the formation of the gate layer can easily be achieved in a single furnace, if so desired.