Abstract: A new memory cell design having differential and dedicated read and write ports is disclosed. The memory cell utilizes separate write and read bit lines. The read bit lines are pre-charged to a first level. A grounding transistor is provided between the circuitry containing the cell's contents and the read bit lines such that the contents of the cell are isolated from the read bit lines. The grounding transistor is activated and deactivated by the data within the cell. The activation and deactivation of the grounding transistor causes the pre-charged bit lines to be pulled-down to a second level or to remain at the first level to accurately reflect the contents of the cell. Since the circuitry containing the contents of the cell is isolated from the read bit lines, a read operation on the cell will not interfere with an in progress write operation and thus, destruction of the cell's contents is prevented. In addition, the isolation prevents bit line coupling.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for providing soft-start and soft-stop to an asymmetrical half-bridge converter and a power supply employing such systems or methods. The power supply includes a power train including an asymmetrical half-bridge converter having an energy storage device coupled across a complementary switch thereof. In one embodiment, a conductive path is coupled across the energy storage device to substantially discharge the energy storage device and thereby reduce current stress in the complementary switch when the converter turns on. In another embodiment, a controller, coupled to the complementary switch, provides a drive waveform to drive the complementary switch. The controller increases a duty cycle of the drive waveform as the converter turns off.

Abstract: A grommet for sealing the interface between two vertically stacked building entrance protector and for protecting wires and/or cables traversing through openings of one building entrance protector to another. The grommet comprises a tubular body defining an axial passageway therebetween wherein cables and/or wires traverse. The tubular body has a diameter the same or smaller than the openings on the sidewall of the upper building entrance protector such that the tubular body fits within the opening. At one end of tubular body is an integral annular base having a diameter larger than the opening on the sidewall of the lower building entrance protector. Radially extending from the mid section of the tubular body towards annular base is an integral flange having a diameter larger than the annular base and having at least one circular ridge.

Abstract: The frequency doubling circuit according to the present invention includes first and second pulse generating circuits generating first and second pulse trains based on a periodic input signal. The second pulse train is out of phase with the first pulse train, and a combining circuit combines the first and second pulse trains to generate a periodic output signal having twice the frequency of the periodic input signal. Both the first and second pulse generating circuits include first and second charge storage devices, with the second charge storage device having half the storage capacity of the first charge storage device.

Abstract: A per-flow queuing method and apparatus for IP networks carrying traffic from feedback controlled TCP connections enables flow of information packets from one or more sources to a destination through a link and comprises a buffer of predetermined size partitioned into a plurality of queues, each queue being allocated an occupancy b.sub.i for receiving and temporarily storing packets of information; a scheduler for removing packets from each buffer according to a predetermined rate and transmitting the packets over a network; and a control device for determining availablilty of queues in the buffer capable of receiving the packet and inputting the packet into a queue if the queue is available, the control device further selecting a queue and releasing a packet from the selected queue to accommodate input of the received packet when the queue is not available.

Abstract: An application-specific single chip digital processor having flexible design expansion capability with minimal impact on the performance of a processor core. The processor core has an ALU and a register file (accumulators). The output of the ALU is connected to a multiplexer whose output is connected to the input of the register file. The output of the register file connects to one input of the ALU. A function unit, separate from the core, has an input connected to the output of the register file and an output connected to another input to the multiplexer. The core operates with a predefined instruction set. The function unit, which may be redesigned depending on the application, operates with a reserved (uncommitted) instruction set under control of the core.

Abstract: A miniature electrical connector assembly including a plurality of detachable pivoting assemblies arrayed in a housing and anchored to a base. A plurality of pivoting assemblies are formed with a frangible grooved spacer in between. Each pivoting assembly is capable of receiving two electrical wires and two terminals, each terminal having insulation displacement portions. As the pivoting assembly is rotated from the open to the closed position, a wire is guided into a wire interface between sharp edges of a pair of prongs. The sharp edges slice the insulation, creating an electrical connection when the pivoting assembly is in the closed position. The electric wire may be easily removed by pulling on it, thus rotating the pivoting assembly to the open position. Through this arrangement, a wire may be replaced without affecting adjacent connections. The lower portion of the terminal may include a second pair of prongs to receive and create an electrical connection with a second wire.

Abstract: The present invention minimizes unneeded memory accesses by providing a digital processor having control circuit for terminating on-going memory accesses, and by a data transfer circuit that allow jump instructions to be detected sooner in the decode unit. The digital processor includes a decode unit, fetch unit and a memory controller. When the decode unit of the present invention processor determines that a discontinuity must occur in the instruction fetch sequence, it asserts a "jump taken" signal to the fetch unit to indicate that any pre-fetched instruction codes are to be discarded and that fetching is to resume at a new fetch program counter (FPC) value. If the fetch unit is currently stalled because of an outstanding request to the memory controller unit, then the fetch unit asserts an "abort" signal to the memory controller.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a methodology for producing parallel beams having like polarizations or parallel like polarization modes (PLPM) without utilizing 90 degree polarization interchangers, e.g., half wave plates. By utilizing Faraday rotators in combination with one or more walk off devices, non-reciprocal termination of PLPM can be achieved without half wave plates. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention an optical apparatus of the present invention comprises a first walk-off device having a first optical port at a first end thereof and a second and third optical port at a second end thereof. A first Faraday rotator is coupled in an optical path with the second optical port of the first walk off device and a second Faraday rotator is coupled in an optical path with the third optical port of the first walk off device, where each of the Faraday rotators are made from the same material and provides a polarization rotation opposite to each other which is a multiple of 45 degrees.

Abstract: For use with a synchronous rectifier coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer and having a rectifier switch, a circuit for, and method of driving the rectifier switch and a power converter employing the circuit or the method. In one aspect of the present invention wherein the synchronous rectifier has at least first and second rectifier switches, the circuit includes: (1) a series-coupled drive winding and capacitor, coupled between a first control terminal of the first rectifier switch and a second control terminal of the second rectifier switch, that generates first and second drive signals and delivers the first and second drive signals to the first and second control terminals, respectively, and (2) first and second clamps, coupled to the first and second control terminals, respectively, that control first and second capacitive charges within the first and second rectifier switches to limit voltage excursions of the first and second drive signals.

Abstract: A cordless telephone is arranged for operation in a frequency hopping system includes an arrangement which achieves optimum utilization of multiple cordless telephone portable units by permitting these units to simultaneously access a common base unit. A physical layer of an air interface is provided by a two channel time division multiple access protocol for supporting a two channel multiple access system for the portable units. These two channels are considered as virtual channels and not dedicated to any particular telephone line, as in the case of two line telephone products. Nor are these two channels dedicated to any particular portable unit, but rather they are available for use by any portable unit in the telephone. A signaling layer of the air interface is provided for supporting the two channel multiple access system. Two types of subframes, acquisition and traffic, are illustratively provided in the air interface for the cordless telephone.

Abstract: The invention is a laser assembly for reducing distortion ripple. The assembly includes a spherical lens which has a portion of its surface made optically asymmetric to prevent multiple reflections of scattered light within the lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a channel of a fiber-optic system. According to one embodiment, a filter is adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal resulting from modulation of a carrier frequency over a frequency range by a modulation signal. The filter has a plurality of transmissivity peaks over the frequency range, whereby the filter generates a plurality of intensity pulses as frequency of the electromagnetic signal varies over the frequency range. A detector is adapted to detect the modulation signal based on the plurality of intensity pulses. According to another embodiment, an electromagnetic signal corresponding to a channel and resulting from modulation of a carrier frequency over a frequency range by a modulation signal is received. A plurality of intensity pulses are generated as frequency of the electromagnetic signal varies over the frequency range, and the channel is detected in accordance with the intensity pulses.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly simply, and securely, grounds a shielding layer of a telephone cable to a conductive, grounded electrical box housing a protector module. During assembly, an insulation layer is removed from an end of the telephone cable to expose a portion of the shielding layer. The exposed portion of the shielding layer is folded back onto an adjacent, remaining portion of the insulation layer. A first sleeve is inserted into the end of the telephone cable and resides beneath a portion of the shielding layer. A second sleeve, formed of an electrically conductive material, is physically and electrically attached to the electrical box. The end of the telephone cable, having the first sleeve inserted therein, is inserted into the second sleeve.

Abstract: A telephone instrument is disclosed which includes a swivel visual display module overcome by employing a telephone base having upper and lower housings. A swivel visual display module is pivotally mounted and supported by pivot points in both the upper and lower base housings. At least one cantilever snap member is molded into one of the base housings, for example, the upper base housing, and is employed to engage indents molded into an outer convex surface of the visual display module to hold the visual display module in several angular positions. Additionally, the at least one cantilever snap member is employed to engage a lower edge of the visual display module and in conjunction with stop members on the visual display module to secure the visual display module in a full upright position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of deterring the illicit copying of electronically published documents. It includes utilizing a computer system to electronically publish a plurality of copies of a document having electronically created material thereon for distribution to a plurality of subscribers and operating programming within the computer system so as to perform the identification code functions. The steps are to encode the plurality of copies each with a separate, unique identification code, the identification code being based on a unique arrangement of the electronically created material on each such copy; and, creating a codebook to correlate each such identification code to a particular subscriber. In some embodiments, decoding methods are included with the encoding capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a method of fabricating a heterostructure bipolar transistor. This particular embodiment comprises forming a n-type doped region in a semiconductor substrate to form a collector, epitaxially forming a base on the collector, epitaxially doping the base with indium while forming the base, and forming an emitter on the base. The base is epitaxially formed, and at the same time the base is doped with indium. In other words, the indium is epitaxially incorporated within the base as the base is being formed. In addition to the indium, the base may also be epitaxially doped with boron. Since, indium is incorporated into the base with the same epitaxial process used to form the base, the damage typically associated with conventional implantation processes are not present, and thus, the high annealing temperatures to repair the damage are not required. The base can be doped and formed at the same time; thereby, saving processing time.

Abstract: A code division multiple access system provides a way of allocating an increased data rate to a requesting mobile station. A mobile station requesting a data rate in excess of the basic data rate sends received pilot strength data for its base station and base stations in adjacent cells. The received pilot strength data is used to determine an increased data rate to be assigned to the requesting mobile station. One feature assigns an increased data rate based on the difference in the maximum received received pilot strength data from a non-active base station (one not in connection with the mobile station) and the maximum received pilot strength data from an active base station (one in connection with the mobile station). Yet another feature utilizes a series of threshold levels, each pair of levels associated with a different permitted data rate. Using the received pilot strength data, a data rate is determined which satisfies all adjacent cell interference concerns.

Abstract: A hybrid tunable Bragg laser including a double heterostructure gain section, a Bragg reflector section optically coupled to said gain section, and an optical extension constructed to yield a plurality of longitudinal modes. Preferably, the optical section has a predetermined length and effective reflectivity adapted to yield the plurality of longitudinal modes.

Abstract: A system and method for training a plurality of equalizers to recognize a plurality of symbols in a received signal, the plurality of equalizers deriving intermediate symbols from the received signal as a function of at least one filter coefficient, the system including 1) a phase detection circuit that determines a phase error between at least one intermediate symbol and at least one symbol in a predetermined constellation of symbols, and 2) a coefficient modification circuit that modifies at least one filter coefficient of the plurality of equalizers as a function of the phase error to cause the at least one intermediate symbol to converge toward a symbol in the predetermined constellation of symbols as the phase error approaches zero, the intermediate symbols being substantially equal to the predetermined constellation of symbols when the phase error is equal to zero.