Abstract: The specification relates to a broadband multiple access protocol for bi-directional hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks. The protocol supports downstream broadcast transmission from headend to cable modem, and also provides for allocation of bandwidth for cable modems to transmit back to the headend. Although the present invention is described in relation to an HFC network, it is also equally applicable to a cellular wireless communications environment. The protocol supports different access modes such as STM, ATM, and VL; within each subframe of a subframe/frame/masterframe structure. The protocol adapts to changing demands for a mix of circuit and packet mode applications and allocates upstream and downstream bandwidth in response to the a variety of bursty and isochronous traffic sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a component retained to a film carrier by an adhesive bonding force exerted on the component by the film carrier. The method includes the steps of supporting a section of the film carrier lying beneath the component; pulling a portion of the supported film carrier section away from the component to substantially reduce the adhesive bonding force exerted on the component by the film carrier; and lifting the component off the film carrier. The apparatus for performing the method includes a convex-shaped base element having a slot which applies at least a partial vacuum that pulls the portion of the film carrier away from the component and a component pickup element for lifting the component off the film carrier.

Abstract: A public telephone that has the ability to return change to a user is described. A coin changer that is advantageously sized to fit within the space available in a public telephone built to BellCore standards advantageously replaces the coin collect/reject equipment located after a "coin-discrimination" portion of conventional coin mechanisms found in such telephones. Existing public telephones may be readily retrofitted with the present coin changer. A three-position "trigate" is advantageously used to direct a coin to a return chute, or to one of two mechanical coin sorters within the coin changer. In one embodiment, each sorter is operable to sort three different coin denominations. Escrow capacity is included to temporarily store sorted coins. The sorters/escrow are advantageously readily-removable so that a first sorter may be removed and another inserted to provide sorting and escrow for other coins from other coin sets, including those from other countries.

Abstract: An integrated circuit formed within a substrate has a first circuit section and an active noise cancellation section located at least between the first circuit section and a noise source. The active noise cancellation section is coupled to the substrate and injects counter-charge into the substrate to isolate the first circuit section from noise produced by the noise source.

Abstract: An on-chip capacitor structure comprising a lower metal layer and an upper metal layer; an array of metal islands disposed between the lower and the upper metal layers; each island of the array of islands being electrically connected to either the lower layer or the upper layer such that no two adjacent islands are connected to the same layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially planar illuminating device, a visual display having an internal light source and a method of manufacture therefor. The illuminating device includes a transparent substrate having a pair of substantially parallel major surfaces and an entry point for accepting light from the light source wherein the substrate functions as a guide for the light. The device also includes a plurality of microelements located on one of the pair of surfaces. The microelements have a substantially planar surface with an average roughness less than one micron and a side wall abnormal to the planar surface. In advantageous embodiments, the side wall is curved. The planar surface is configured to re-direct a substantial amount of light received in the substrate from an external light source out of the substrate. The side wall is configured to re-direct light from the internal light source out of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention is a receiver front end for a data communications system having adaptive correction for intersymbol interference, DC offset, baseline wander, and flat loss and related method. Each of the compensation circuits is adaptive and is controlled by adaptation logic via a digital feedback loop including a digital integrator for providing perfect or near-perfect integration of the adaptation algorithm feedback error signal. The architecture further utilizes multiple comparators, including continuous-time and clocked comparators, for separately detecting various aspects of the received data signals that are used to determine the signal degradation characteristics needed to generate error signals for the adaptation feedback loops.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for constructing a capacitor loaded memory cell. This capacitor loaded memory cell operates as a static random access memory (SRAM) cell if a particular capacitor and transistor configuration is used. Normally, capacitors are not an obvious choice as a load device for a memory cell because the intrinsic nature of capacitors is one that blocks the flow of direct current, the invention takes into account the secondary effects such as leakage of a particular dielectric used in the construction of the capacitor to modify the current blocking nature of the capacitor.

Abstract: A system and method are described for determining a near-optimum subset of data, based on a selected model, from a large corpus of data. Sets of feature vectors corresponding to natural or other preselected divisions of the data corpus are mapped into matrices representative of such divisions. The invention operates to find a submatrix of full rank formed as a union of one or more of those division-based matrices. A greedy algorithm utilizing Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization operates on the division matrices to find a near optimum submatrix and in a time bound representing a substantial improvement over prior-art methods. An important application of the invention is the selection of a small number of sentences from a corpus of a very large number of such sentences from which the parameters of a duration model for speech synthesis can be estimated.

Abstract: An apparatus for performance improvement of a digital wireless receiver comprises a processing circuit for processing a plurality of received signals and providing a processed signal where the received signals are multiplied by weights and combined; and a weight generation circuit for generating the weights; wherein the received signals are sampled at a multiple of a symbol rate, different weights for each set of samples at a symbol rate are generated and the weights are selected to optimize performance.

Abstract: The system for party line suppressed ringing access enables a service provider to access both a subscriber line and the equipment that is connected to this subscriber line. The present system makes use of the availability of party line communication apparatus, in the form of a subscriber line network interface that is equipped to interface to two lines: the subscriber line, and a telemetry party line. When an incoming call is identified as a suppressed ringing telemetry access call, the serving central office accesses the subscriber line via a suppressed ringing connection on the telemetry party line. The service provider can poll a plurality of the subscribers that are connected to the telemetry party line by means of distinctive signaling to poll each subscriber network interface seriatim.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus initiates a transaction and includes a capture device for capturing transaction data from marks contained on an object. The marks have a code corresponding to transaction data for initiating a transaction. The capture device includes a scanner, operable by a user, for reading marks contained on the object. A controller interprets the marks and retrieves the transaction data embedded in the marks. The capture device originates a telephone call and transfers at least a portion of the transaction data to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

Abstract: For use in a buck+boost DC/DC power converter having first and second switches, a switching controller, a method of controlling the first and second switches and buck+boost DC/DC power converters employing the switching controller or the method. In one embodiment, the switching controller includes: (1) a regulation circuit that provides a drive signal and (2) a drive signal generator, coupled to the regulation circuit, that generates a pulse of fixed duration based on the drive signal and provides the pulse and the drive signal to the first and second switches. In another embodiment, the switching controller further includes a comparison circuit that compares an input voltage with an output voltage and generates a control signal based thereon to a drive signal generator that routes a pulse and a drive signal to the first and second switches.

Abstract: A multicarrier linear RF power amplifier incorporating an improved signal splitter and an improved signal combiner is disclosed. The amplifier comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped amplifier modules. When such modules are radially disposed and abutted against one another, the inwardly facing edges of the modules collectively define a central or axially-located opening. An improved signal splitter, signal combiner, or dual splitter/combiner is advantageously disposed in the axially-located opening. The signal splitter or signal combiner is a conductor arrangement comprising a plurality of equal length conductors radially disposed on a dielectric substrate. The conductor arrangement is advantageously disposed within a suitably-configured housing. The housing is disposed within the axially-located opening.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a heat dissipative external enclosure is disclosed. The external enclosure having a containment wall from which depend extended surfaces or fins having a length extending vertically and defining channels therebetween. The thickness of the enclosure between external surfaces of opposed containment walls varying between a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion to provide an interior space having a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion to accommodate components or units of corresponding different extent. The fins having outer edges, spaced from the containment wall, and having plain first opposed surfaces adjacent their outer edges, the first surfaces including a first angle therebetween. The fins or parts of fins adjacent the relatively thin portion of the enclosure also having plain second opposed surfaces inwards of the first surfaces, the second surfaces including therebetween a second angle greater than the first angle.

Abstract: The invention is a method of fabricating a device which includes the step of etching a layer of tantalum oxide or niobium oxide. A material comprising chlorine and a material comprising oxygen are applied to the layer and energy is added to the layer in the form of heat or ion bombardment.

Abstract: For use in a power system having a power train, a rectifier having an input and an output and a method of controlling the rectifier. The rectifier comprises: (1) switching circuitry coupled between the input and the output, the switching circuitry adapted to operate in selected one of (a) a bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an unidirectional mode of operation to rectify substantially alternating current at the input to produce substantially direct current at the output; and (2) control circuitry coupled to a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing a characteristic of the power system and transitions the switching circuitry between the bidirectional mode and the unidirectional mode as a function of the characteristic thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier.

Abstract: A controller for a power switch having an isolated control terminal and coupled to a secondary winding of a drive transformer and a method of preventing spurious turn-on of the power switch. The controller includes: (1) a controllable switch, coupled between the secondary winding and the power switch, that alters a control voltage of the power switch in response to a characteristic of the secondary winding, and (2) a bias circuit coupled to the controllable switch and the power switch that provides a voltage differential between the controllable switch and the power switch to prevent spurious turn-on thereof.

Abstract: The conforming, tungsten carbide collet utilized for odd shaped integrated circuit structures is replaced by a plurality of individual collects of the type utilized for integrated circuits. These are typically made of polymide, which is substantially softer than tungsten carbide. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated collect usually used with respect to laser bars is replaced by two individual collects of the type described, which contact the laser bars only near their ends.

Abstract: For use with a reserve battery couplable to a charging circuit capable of providing a charging current to the reserve battery, a mode selection circuit and a method of operation thereof. The mode selection circuit includes, in one embodiment, (1) a signal generator that generates a signal based on a temperature of the reserve battery and (2) a mode-changing circuit, coupled to the signal generator, that accepts the signal and selects an alternative one of: (a) a non-charge mode in which the charging current is substantially interrupted when the temperature is greater than a reference temperature and (b) a charge mode in which the charging current is provided to the reserve battery when the temperature is less than the reference temperature.