Abstract: A test fixture for the vibration testing of pole-mounted apparatus includes a short length of pole hingedly supported on a vibration shake table, with the apparatus undergoing testing being secured to the pole. The end of the pole opposite its hinged mounting is coupled via a spring assembly to a rigid member secured to the shake table. Adjusting the spring constants "tunes" the response of the pole section to simulate a full size pole.

Abstract: In a switching power supply generating at least a first output voltage and a second output voltage, the second output voltage, being of lower potential is applied to a linear regulator, the power supply further including a storage capacitor on the first output, a holdover circuit includes a comparator circuit for monitoring the first output voltage and for generating an output signal when the first output voltage decreases below predetermined value. A switch is connected to the storage capacitor, the comparator circuit, and the linear regulator. The switch is activated by the comparator output signal and applies the voltage stored in the storage capacitor to the linear regulator. A clamp circuit is connected to the switch for limiting the magnitude of the voltage from the storage capacitor to the linear regulator when the switch is activated.

Abstract: A network interface device is attachable to an intermediate field of a building entrance protector unit. The network interface device includes a jack section having a jack which is designed to receive the plug of a standard telephone. The jack includes wire leads which are connected to the telephone network terminals on the intermediate field. The jack section is mountable into a base module which is in turn attachable to the intermediate field by wedging a portion of the base module between adjacent terminals on the intermediate field. A plug section includes a plug having a pair of conductive blades therein which are connected to a pair of wire leads, which terminate in screw terminals for connection to the customer side equipment. The network interface device performs a connecting function when the plug is positioned within the jack, and an electrical connection is established between the wire leads connected to the telephone company network and the wire leads connected to the customer equipment.

Abstract: The invention is a method for protecting an aluminum layer from corrosion when it is formed by means of a photoresist mask on the same substrate as a multilayer such as titanium, platinum, and gold. A protection layer such as titanium is formed over the aluminum layer prior to stripping the photoresist mask, and is removed subsequent to stripping and prior to bonding components to the aluminum layer.

Abstract: A digital driver circuit with increased maximum output voltage amplitude and therefore also increased maximum current amplitude for constant power supply voltages is provided. A current sensing resistor replaces the conventional current source transistor in the output stage of the driver circuit. In addition, the output current control circuit is applied to an earlier stage of the driver. An automatic output current control scheme is created which keeps the voltage across the current sensing resistor equal to a DC reference and therefore maintains the output current or voltage amplitude by actively level shifting the DATA and DATA drive signals for the output stage to the correct level. This eliminates the necessity to incorporate a voltage safety margin and simultaneously increases the maximum available output voltage amplitude.

Abstract: A connector testing system includes a bridge clip having a body and at least one test lead having a fixed end connected to the body, a connector having a top portion and a housing having at least one test channel formed therein, and at least one terminal strip disposed within the housing. A portion of the terminal strip is disposed within the at least one test channel. A first flap is connected to the housing for substantially sealing the test channel when the first flap is in a first position and for sealing the test channel and for biasing the bridge clip test lead against the connector at a second position.

Abstract: Reading data from a data channel. The data channel is received by an input, and at least one data path processes the data channel to read data from the data channel. The data path is characterized by a plurality of data path parameters, and the data read may be successful or unsuccessful. A processor updates a log entry for the data if the data read was successful, wherein the log entry stores information related to the data path parameters that have produced successful data reads.

Abstract: An interface circuit for, and method of, allowing first and second power converter systems to function in parallel and a power supply incorporating the controller or the method. In one embodiment, the interface circuit includes: (1) a set point selection circuit, coupled to first and second converter controllers of the first and second power converter systems, respectively, that selects one of the first and second power converter systems to provide a global set point voltage signal and (2) a bus, coupled to the set point selection circuit, that conveys the global set point voltage signal to the first and second power converter systems, the set point selection circuit isolating a nonselected one of the first and second converter controllers from the bus.

Abstract: A method for providing universal access to service features by subscribers of a wireless telecommunications service provider comprises establishing a gateway switch interconnected to a plurality of mobile switching centers maintained by other wireless service providers. Trunk connections and signaling links between each mobile switching center and the gateway switch allow the gateway switch to establish call connections and apply service features. Advantageously, the gateway switch is responsible for applying service features and establishing call connection for its subscribers and thereby, results in predictable access to wireless telecommunications services.

Abstract: A method for controlling a bore diameter of an optical fiber ferrule is disclosed. The diameter of the bore is controlled by collapsing the ferrule around a rod inserted in an over-sized bore formed therein. The diameter of the rod is selected to match the diameter of the optical fiber to be supported by the ferrule. Thus, after the rod is subsequently immersed in liquid nitrogen removed from the ferrule, the ferrule has a bore diameter which is defined by the diameter of the rod. Suitable materials for the ferrule and the rod include glass and metal, respectively.

Abstract: The specification describes techniques for applying under bump metallization (UBM) for solder bump interconnections on IC chips with Al bonding sites. The UBM of the invention comprises a copper layer applied directly to the aluminum bonding sites. Reliable bonds are obtained if the Al surface is a nascent surface. Such a surface can be provided by back sputtering an aluminum bonding site, or by a freshly sputtered aluminum layer. The copper layer is deposited on the nascent aluminum surface in e.g. a cluster tool without breaking vacuum. The UBM can be patterned using subtractive techniques.

Abstract: An interlocutor system and method is described that allows for at-speed testing of an embedded microcontroller at the control of an embedded digital signal processor in a system-on-a-chip architecture. The interlocutor system includes a buffer for temporarily storing test program data words output by the DSP and retrieved by the microcontroller being tested and a control circuit for controlling the microcontroller and DSP. The microcontroller, DSP, and interlocutor system are all located on a single integrated circuit.

Abstract: Precomputation techniques for determining primary and/or restoration paths in an optical or electrical network. A hybrid centralized/distributed approach is provided in which certain information used in distributed precomputation is downloaded from a central controller of the network. The downloaded information is used as an input to a distributed precomputation algorithm implemented by the network nodes in order to provide improved performance. The central controller makes use of its knowledge of global network topology in computing the information to be downloaded to the nodes. The downloaded information generally represents network information which changes with less frequency than other network information processed by the nodes as part of the distributed precomputation algorithm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating portions of multi-tasking software for integration testing (debugging) are disclosed. One or more applications software tasks can advantageously be isolated for testing from other "remote" tasks in the same subsystem or other subsystems, or one or more complete computer subsystems having multi-tasking software can be isolated from other "remote" subsystems having other multi-tasking software. Such isolation facilitates debugging without having to modify the application software. In accordance with illustrated embodiments of the invention, tasks or complete subsystems are isolated using a test task and an external user. The test task is operable to alter communications pathways for the transfer of messages between tasks that are supported by a common communications mechanism that is resident in multi-tasking computer systems. The external user is operable to emulate the functions of the remote software tasks.

Abstract: A system and method employing a rate 24/25 (0,9) code constructed in accordance with a data byte interleaved with a rate 16/17 (0,5) codeword formed from two data bytes limits the number of consecutive zeros seen by a channel to nine. The 16/17 (0,5) codeword is formed from the two data bytes in accordance with a set of pivot bits and a set of corrections for predefined code violations. The additional data byte is interleaved into the 16/17 (0,5) codeword by splitting the byte into a pair of portions and inserting the portions into the 16/17 (0,5) codeword at locations adjacent to predefined ones of the pivot bits. The rate 24/25 (0,9) code is suitable for magnetic or similar recording media and may be employed in partial response maximum likelihood read channels. A feature of the constructed code is a high transition density which allows for more frequent timing and gain control updates, which results in lower required channel input signal to noise ratio for a given channel performance.

Abstract: A process for determining at least one dynamic of a vehicle, particularly slip angle, during travel. The process involves optically monitoring, in real time and from the vehicle itself, the movement in one or more camera images of surface features as the vehicle passes over the surface. The direction in which the surface features are moving at any given time indicates the actual direction of vehicle movement with respect to the orientation of the optical monitoring equipment. From this actual direction of movement, in combination with the known orientation of the optical monitoring equipment and the direction in which the vehicle is being steered, it is possible to calculate the slip angle in real time.

Abstract: A frequency divider circuit operable at high frequencies for producing an output signal having a frequency value equal to substantially half the frequency value of a clock signal from which the circuit operates. The circuit includes a first transistor branch, an inventor and a second transistor branch. The first transistor branch is connected to an input of the inventor and the second transistor branch is connected to an output of the inventor. The first transistor branch receives a plurality of input signals including the clock signal, a compliment of the clock signal, and the circuit output signal and produces an input signal which is provided to the inventor. The second transistor branch receives a plurality of inputs including the compliment of the clock signal, the clock signal and the inventor output signal, and produces the circuit output signal. The circuit is configured such that the next inventor state is always available for conveyance to the output signal upon a change in the clock signal.

Abstract: A tag and an interrogator exchange proprietary information using Modulated BackScatter (MBS) technology. A method for encrypting the RFID user's PIN and thereby making the interception and the subsequent illegal use of RFID accounts at least as difficult as a present day ATM cards. For example, the encryption method can be based upon the US Digital Encryption Standard (DES), either first or third level. The Tag's personal encryption key is only known by the financial database and the RFID Tag. This method can be applied to any type of financial, debt, identification, or credit card.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lifting and positioning system for use by a single person in installing onto or removing from an elevated position a microcell module, all without the aid of major powered machinery. In addition to the use of a portable hoist, a bracket for permanently mounting the microcell module to a desired surface at the installation site, and a lifting bracket that detachably mounts to the module, the lifting and positioning system of the present invention uses structural features of the microcell module itself to simplify installation and removal. In this latter manner, only a relatively small number of parts need to be carried to the installation site, and can be done so safely and without undue bodily strain.

Abstract: A system and method for processing electronic data and voice audio calls providing an interLATA (Local Access Transport Area) fast connect routing scheme that bypasses an interexchange carrier. An interLATA communication circuit is established between a first switch in a first LATA and a second switch in a second LATA. The step of routing a call from the first switch to the second switch is performed. The call is routed to an interexchange carrier if the interexchange carrier is not a subscriber to a fast connect service. The step of bypassing the interexchange carrier is performed if the interexchange carrier is a subscriber to the fast connect service. Upon determining that the interexchange carrier is a subscriber to the fast connect service, the call is directly routed from the first switch located in the first LATA to the second switch located in the second LATA without utilizing interexchange carrier trunks or switches.