Abstract: The present invention teaches a bridging device for telephone communications which may be connected at customer premise locations in order to provide diagnostic information with respect to the line conditions of network side and customer side wiring. Visual indicators are electrically configured such that they may be selectively included in the circuit path between the network side and customer side wiring. The status of the visual indicators when the device of the present invention is placed in a test mode provides diagnostic information about the customer side and network side wiring, such as "short", "open" or "general trouble" indications. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention two LEDs are used in combination within the bridging device. A first LED is attached in series with the wiring loop coupled to customer telephone equipment. A second LED is attached to a switch that shorts the wiring loop before the interface to the network wiring.

Abstract: A modular home information center includes a number of processing modules having substantially identical housings with each of the modules having an operating structure and a multi-bus connector within the housing of the module. Each multi-bus connector is connected to the operating structure within the housing and is engagable and disengageable to form a multi-bus network interface when engaged. The housings and the connectors are interchangeable relative to other housings and connectors, and the connectors when engaged constrain the housings to maintain a uniform parallel relation with each other.

Abstract: A selectable compatibility electrical connector assembly for use in a high performance communication connection has a plug and a jack which mate together in the high performance mode. The plug has a printed wiring board (PWB) therein which is movable in longitudinal translation. The PWB has, on a surface thereof printed circuitry for altering the electrical characteristics and a plurality of conductive leads in contact with the surface. The PWB has a first position where the leads are in contact with the circuitry and a second position where they contact no circuitry. The jack has members therein which engage the PWB and move it from the first position to the second position when the plug is inserted into the jack, and which return the PWB to the first position when the plug is removed from the jack.

Abstract: An equivalence rule having the multiset version of the relational algebraic theta-semijoin operator is used in effectuating Constraint Magic rewriting on a computer programming language query having non-equality, as well as equality, predicates. In particular, the rule effectuates Constraint Magic rewriting for a single join. When applied repeatedly on a sequence of joins, Constraint Magic rewriting is effectuated for a single block query. The rule may be used to generate relational algebraic expressions to optimize or determine the equivalency of queries. Cost estimates for alternative ways of evaluating a complex query can be efficiently computed. Based on these computed cost estimates, the least costly implementation of a complex query is determined.

Abstract: In a first embodiment according to the invention, a cordless telephone handset of a cordless telephone system includes a user input unit, a signal processor and an output driver. The signal processor is coupled to the user input unit. The signal processor processes user input received via the user input unit. The output driver receives processed information from the signal processor and selectively outputs the processed information to at least one of a plurality of output devices. For example, in one embodiment the user input unit is a keypad, and the signal processor selectively processes the user input as telephone control information and as television control information. In a second embodiment according to the invention, a method of receiving an incoming call in a cordless telephone includes the steps of receiving an incoming call telephone signal, and outputting a television control signal in response to the incoming call telephone signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced exclusion filter having a cylindrical stack of substantially identical annular disks and a central rotating element. Each annular disk engages the rotating element by at least one strut which extends inward from the inner perimeter of the annular disk toward the central axis of the cylindrical stack. Protuberances extend from the annular disks and engage depressions in adjacent annular disks to maintain the spacing between adjacent annular disks. Dimples extending through the annular disks may be utilized to form a depression on one surface of an annular disk and a protuberance on the opposite surface of the annular disk. The annular disks are angularly offset by a fixed amount from the adjacent annular disks so that rough vane surfaces are formed by the struts of the annular disks. Preferably a pattern of substantially identical angular offsets is used.

Abstract: A tunable integrator circuit having a main amplifier with an input resistor R and a feedback capacitor C and a tuning amplifier having a variable gain k between the output of the main amplifier and the feedback capacitor. The circuit has an effective capacitance of kC. Thus the integrator can be tuned to compensate for temperature and processing variations of the RC product by adjusting the gain of the tuning amplifier. The tuning amplifier can also be used to multiply the effective capacitance of the filter, kC, by increasing the gain k of the tuning amplifier beyond that needed to compensate for RC variations, thus reducing the area required for on-chip capacitances while maintaining a constant resistance. The circuit can be used independently or in conjunction with a capacitor array.

Abstract: A call scheduling and assignment method and apparatus that schedules each call request on an application processor of a multiple processor system that will process the call request in the smallest amount of time. This method and apparatus then places response time as the important criterion over equal utilization of application processors in a multiple processor system. This method and apparatus recognizes that some application processors are able to respond faster than others, even when operating at the same or higher call load as other processors in the system. For such very common situations, the faster processors can and should be allowed to process a proportionally greater amount of the call processing load. By doing so, the calling customer receives a shorter wait and the system owner receives more call revenue for the same system equipment.

Abstract: A system for preventing or reducing vehicle accidents comprising one or more sensors positioned on a vehicle sensing a condition or conditions indicative of a drivers ability to effectively control the vehicle; a processing unit in communication with the sensors, the processing unit receiving data from the sensors, analyzing the data to determine an appropriate response and initiating the response.

Abstract: Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) or other network information identifiers are transmitted with television signals in order to permit web content to be displayed in synchronization with television programming. In an illustrative embodiment, URLs are embedded in a closed caption portion of a transmitted television signal, and delimited from the closed caption text using predetermined delimiting characters. A decoder extracts the URLs from the television signal, and supplies the URLs to a retrieval device which automatically retrieves corresponding web pages or other similar information over a network. The retrieved web pages are then displayed to a viewer in synchronization with related programming in the television signal. The retrieval device may be a set-top box associated with a television set that displays both a retrieved web page and the corresponding television picture portion of the television signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering a complex, spatially-modulated incident beam of coherent light to gain access to data locations in a holographic memory cell (HMC). One of the systems includes: (1) a reflective element, locatable proximate a first focal plane of the incident beam, (2) a rotational steering mechanism, coupled to the reflective element, that orients the reflective element according to a desired rotational angle to steer the incident beam in a desired direction and (3) a refractive element that refracts the beam reflected from the reflective element to create a second focal plane for the beam, the HMC locatable proximate the second focal plane to receive the beam at a location thereon that is a function of the desired direction.

Abstract: In a power converter having a power switch, a rectifier and a snubber circuit having an auxiliary switch that moderates reverse recovery currents associated with the rectifier, a driver for the auxiliary switch, a method of driving the auxiliary switch and a power converter employing the driver and method. In one embodiment, the driver includes a first driver switch, coupled between the power switch and the auxiliary switch, that allows the auxiliary switch to turn on concurrently with the power switch. The driver also includes a second driver switch, coupled between the auxiliary switch and an output of the power converter, that prevents a voltage of the auxiliary switch from rising above an output voltage of the power converter to assist the auxiliary switch in turning off.

Abstract: A high speed router employs a hashed radix tree method for IP route look-up operations. The first k bits of an X bit IP address are hashed and used as an index to a RAM whose output is a pointer to the root node of one of a plurality of radix trees. Taking into account the subnet mask of the IP address, each of the radix trees examines the significant bits of the remaining X-k bits of the IP address for a match. Each match is stored in memory at least until a better match is found. If a best match is found a pointer to a second RAM is emitted, whose output is the best route. The tree can be constructed such that one or more bits can be examined simultaneously at each level. To gain the benefit of examining multiple bits at each level and minimize the required memory, a perfect hashing method is employed to eliminate unnecessary nodes in each tree.

Abstract: A lid guide ensures that a lid is accurately positioned and oriented when it is lowered over and placed onto a tray used to hold electronic devices, for example, for transport between different stages in the manufacturing process, thereby helping to prevent damage to the devices that might otherwise result from physical contact with a lid that is placed onto the tray in a haphazard manner. A lid guide may have one or more openings, each of which may be keyed to restrict the tray and the lid to a single rotational orientation. In addition, channels may be provided in opposing walls of each opening in the lid guide to enable a technician to hold either a tray or a lid between a thumb and a finger when placing the tray onto the lid guide or the lid onto the tray.

Abstract: This invention relates to non-metallic, corrosion-resistant strength systems for underwater power and communications systems and methods for terminating such cables. The strength system comprises two non-metallic strength members; each strength member is comprised of at least one glass strand, and each strand is comprised of a plurality of glass filaments that are bound together with a polymeric material. The first strength member is applied in a helical lay over transmission media which forms the core of the cable, and the second strength member is applied over the lay of the first strength member in a helical lay having a circular direction opposite to the lay of the first strength member. The invention further embraces a method of terminating such cables involving the use of an inner termination cone, an adhesive used to secure the strength members onto the inner termination cone, and an outer termination cone which is secured over the inner termination cone and adjoining strength members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing apparatus having a drive motor, a carrier head and a polishing platen with a magnetic region formed in either the carrier head or the polishing platen. The magnetic region is configured to create an attracting force between the carrier head and the polishing platen. The drive motor is capable of producing a rotational polishing force. The carrier head is configured to retain an object to be polished, while the polishing platen has a polishing pad and is juxtaposed the carrier head.

Abstract: Techniques and testers for testing a system U including the steps of (a) defining a formal specification of a logical property P that system U is required not to satisfy; (b) generating a passive testing module T based upon property P to monitor system U; (c) invoking a function F at specific invocation points during the execution of system U to compute an abstract representation of the state of system U at the current point of execution; (d) passing the abstract representation computed by function F to passive testing module T in order to determine whether the abstract representation of the execution of system U to the current point matches illegal property P; and (e) declaring a "fail" result if the abstract representation of the execution of system U to the current point matches illegal property P and declaring a "pass" result if the abstract representation of the execution of system U to the current point does not match illegal property P.

Abstract: The specification describes silicon MOS devices with gate dielectrics having the composition Ta.sub.1-x Al.sub.x O.sub.y, where x is 0.03-0.7 and y is 1.5-3, Ta.sub.1-x Si.sub.x O.sub.y, where x is 0.05-0.15, and y is 1.5-3, and Ta.sub.1-x-z Al.sub.x Si.sub.z O.sub.y, where 0.7>x+z>0.05, z<0.15 and y is 1.5-3. By comparison with the standard SiO.sub.2 gate dielectric material, these materials provide improved dielectric properties and also remain essentially amorphous to high temperatures. This retards formation of SiO.sub.2 interfacial layers which otherwise dominate the gate dielectric properties and reduce the overall effectiveness of using a high dielectric material.

Abstract: An optical interconnection apparatus including waveguide arrays, such as grating routers and star couplers, has reduced coupling loss by reducing the width of the waveguides in the array, where they connect to the free-space region, so that they are smaller than the gaps between adjacent waveguides. The free-space region is formed by a slab whose thickness is tapered in a transition region, where it connects to the waveguide arrays, so as to essentially eliminate any mismatch loss that would otherwise be caused in an abrupt junction of the waveguide arrays with the free-space region.