Abstract: A system and method for allocating trunks in order to minimize glare. Trunk groups between switches are subdivided and each subgroup uses different allocation algorithms. A first switch hunts a first subgroup using a first algorithm and the second subgroup using a second algorithm. The switch on the other end of the trunk uses the second algorithm to hunt on the first trunk subgroup, and the first algorithm to hunt on the second trunk subgroup. In order to minimize glare, a determination can be made that one of the two algorithms will have precedence, i.e., if both switches seize the same trunk, then the switch using the algorithm of higher precedence to set up its call.

Abstract: In a method of incorporating BIST (built-in self test) circuitry in an integrated circuit, at least one metal layer is arranged to relieve stress in the substrate under bond pads from wire attachment to these pads. By providing at least one stress relieving metal layer, which can be incorporated into electrical paths of the bond pads and related circuitry, BIST circuitry can be provided, at least partly, in the conventionally non-active semiconductive portion of the substrate under the bond pad. The method allows BIST circuitry to occupy conventionally non-active areas under the bond pads wherein leakage current from stress cracks in dielectric layers under the bond pads can be redirected to a metal layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for polishing a rotationally symmetric object such as a glass ball lens. The apparatus includes first and second plates for securing a plurality of glass ball lenses therebetween. The plates are secured to one another and the entire apparatus is pressed against a polishing pad in order to flatten a portion of the surface of the lenses. The apparatus also serves to maintain the orientation of the rotationally symmetric objects, so that they may be easily operated upon by future processing steps.

Abstract: A system for providing segmented control of a single, homogeneous routing structure, such as a switch fabric, includes application control elements that are each responsive to embedded signal status information for each of the input signals to the switch fabric. Within each of the application control elements, a configurable arrangement of selectors and control logic is used to provide domain segmented control of each of the separate switching functions for a particular application. Each application control element performs an application specific address resolution function to resolve a single address of one of the input signals based on the embedded signal status of each of the input signals. This single address is provided to the switch fabric so that the corresponding input signal can be selected at the switch fabric output.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing in-line process checks in an integrated circuit fabrication process. The process checks are performed on actual product wafers, rather than control wafers. According to the method, production lots of product wafers are subjected to in-line testing. Selected wafers representing each chamber of the fabrication apparatus are tested for defects. Using the actual product wafers allows the detection of the quantity, size, type, composition, and even the cause of the defects. When defects are found, the fabrication process and apparatus are adjusted to avoid producing additional lots with undesirable defects.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a novel technique for reducing the temperature-related spectrum shifts in optical devices, particularly waveguide grating routers (WGR). In general, the present invention modifies a portion of the length of at least one waveguide within an optical device in a manner that stabilizes the wavelength spectrum passing therethough even when exposed to temperature variations. More specifically, by knowing how the refractive index of a certain material changes with temperature variations as compared to that of common waveguide materials, such a silica, one may employ the teachings of the present invention to precisely modify the nature of the optical path through which a signal travels to fully compensate for any temperature-related wavelength spectrum shift. In other words, be able to produce an optical device with a plurality of waveguides each of which is appropriately modified so that any optical signal passing therethrough has the same wavelength at any two given temperatures.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating chirped optical fiber Bragg grating according to our invention is formed in polarization maintaining (PM) fiber having birefringence of at least 10.sup.-6, preferably 10.sup.-5 or more. Use of the PM fiber makes possible substantial cancellation of the polarization mode dispersion that typically is unavoidably present in chirped Bragg gratings for dispersion compensation.

Abstract: A clock generator having a ring structure and a chain structure. The ring structure is formed of an even number of serially connected distributed oscillator elements, and the chain structure is formed of an even number of serially connected distributed oscillator elements. The chain structure is coupled across an odd number of oscillator elements in the ring structure. The ring structure and chain structure, when connected together, generate a clock signal that can be extracted from any of the distributed of oscillator elements.

Abstract: A printed wiring board for connection to solder tails of connector terminals has conductive traces connected to respective wires of a ribbon cable. The ribbon cable is wrapped around an end of the board to provide strain relief to its connection to the board and then is disposed over the exposed ends of the solder tails. At the other end of the board, the cable is held by a retainer, thereby protecting the solder tails from being short circuited by inadvertent contact with a conductive object.

Abstract: A solid state laser comprises a cavity resonator in the form of a generally cylindrical body and, located within the resonator, an active region which generates lasing light when suitably pumped. The resonator has a relatively high effective refractive index (n>2 and typically n>3) is sufficiently deformed from circularity so as to support at least one librational mode (e.g., a V-shaped or a bow-tie mode, the latter being presently preferred for generating relatively high power, directional outputs). Specifically described is a Group III-V compound semiconductor, quantum cascade (QC), micro-cylinder laser in which the resonator has a flattened quadrupolar deformation from circularity. This laser exhibits both a highly directional output emission and a three-order of magnitude increase in optical output power compared to conventional semiconductor micro-cylinder QC lasers having circularly symmetric resonators.

Abstract: Techniques for more accurately detecting the data rate of a frame of data in a cellular telephone system are described. Data is preferably received at one of four rates: full, half, quarter and eighth. A correlation is performed between the incoming soft data and the data generated by re-encoding and re-repeating the data. Variations on the approach make it readily possible to accurately perform rateset 1 or rateset 2 rate detection.

Abstract: A telephone system with a caller ID logging feature includes a plurality of telephone stations which share a plurality of telephone lines connected to the telephone system. Each one of the plural telephone lines is associated with one or more of the telephone stations. A control processor (CPU) monitors the incoming calls on the telephone lines connected to the telephone system, and also receives caller ID information from the Central Office of the telephone service provider. For unanswered incoming calls and answered calls which are to be stored, the CPU stores the associated caller ID information in a memory as a caller ID record including data indicating the telephone lines on which the incoming call was received. The stored caller ID records for each telephone line are accessible from telephone stations that are associated with that telephone line. Therefore, only one record is required which all users may access, thereby increasing the efficiency of the memory over prior art systems.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting counterfeit currency are disclosed wherein a currency bill encoded with security data is scanned by a currency scanning terminal placed at a currency exchange location such as a store or a bank. The security data can include the currency bill's serial number and a corresponding code number, and is preferably magnetically encoded on a magnetic medium affixed to or embedded in the bill. The currency scanning terminal reads the security data and transmits it via a communications link to a programmable security computer. The security computer responds to receipt of the security data by comparing the transmitted security data with previously stored security data and generating a comparison result. If the comparison result is true, the security computer calculates an updated security code, stores the updated security code in the data store, and transmits the updated security code to the currency scanning terminal.

Abstract: A method of responding to overload in a real time control system. Overload is measured through the use of a control parameter such as the occupancy of a control processor or the number of entries in a queue of a module of the system. The overload indication is reduced to one of a plurality of levels. The levels corresponding to a longer term more serious overload are based on control parameter measurements over a longer period of time than the less serious short term overload levels. With autonomous control, each module of the system determines its own overload level and performs overload control actions corresponding to that level. In integrated system overload control, a centralized processor receives overload indications from each of the modules of the system and requests an appropriate overload control action of each module. Advantageously, these arrangements allow the system and its modules to respond to overload more rapidly and to return to normal operation more rapidly.

Abstract: A method for echo-locating underground structures, such as piping, by launching a series of acoustic impulses into the ground to insonify the structures in an area where the structures are believed to be buried, detecting acoustic echoes returned from the insonified structures and displaying the returned echo data in such a manner that the oldest sequence of echo signals appears in an upper portion and the newest in a lower portion of the display.

Abstract: A simple carrier recovery circuit capable of accurately detecting and synchronizing an incoming carrier frequency without the use of a phase locked loop (PLL) is provided. Instead of a PLL, the carrier recovery circuit includes an injection locked oscillator. The injection locked oscillator includes an input for connection to the received modulated signal. The gain of an inverter stage of a amplifier in the injection locked oscillator is modulated by the received modulated signal using an injection transistor connected between the power source and the output of the inverter stage. The gate of the injection transistor receives a signal corresponding to the received modulated signal.

Abstract: A jack assembly is provided in which the central body of the assembly includes integrally cast posts for aligning and securing follower springs, wiper springs and spacers. To assemble the jack, the follower springs, wiper springs and spacers are stacked onto the posts and then secured with a pushnut that engages the posts with a friction fit, avoiding separation from the central body.

Abstract: For use with a power converter having a modulator, a controller and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) signal processing circuitry that develops a unified control signal based on an output voltage, an output current and a current sharing signal of the power converter and (2) compensation circuitry, coupled to the signal processing circuitry, that compares the unified control signal with a reference signal to develop a modulator control signal for the modulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing contaminant metals from a solvent used in the manufacture of a semiconductor wafer. The method may comprise the steps of bringing a solvent having contaminant metals therein into contact with a sacrificial body having titanium oxide associated therewith and cleaning the semiconductor wafer with the solvent. The titanium oxide reacts with the contaminant metals to substantially remove them from the solvent to provide a substantially cleaner solvent for the production of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)devices. The present invention is particularly applicable in "back-end" processes of such devices.

Abstract: A singlemode optical fiber 700 having very low loss at 1385 nm, and a practical method for making same are disclosed. A core rod 20 is fabricated using vapor axial deposition to have a deposited cladding/core ratio (D/d) that is less than 7.5. The core rod is dehydrated in a chlorine- or fluorine-containing atmosphere at about 1200.degree. C. to reduce the amount of OH present to less than 0.8 parts per billion by weight, and then consolidated in a helium atmosphere at about 1500.degree. C. to convert the porous soot body into a glass. The consolidated core rod is elongated using an oxygen-hydrogen torch that creates a layer of OH ions on the surface of the rod that are largely removed by plasma etching. Finally, the core rod is installed in a glass tube 40 having a suitably low OH content. Thereafter, the tube is collapsed onto the rod to create a preform 60. Conventional methods are employed for drawing an optical fiber from the preform and applying one or more protective coatings 75, 76.