Abstract: The present invention relates to a power converter which uses pulse width modulated (PWM) control to provide a galvanically isolated dc output. Topologically, the converter uses a full-bridge switching scheme with a boost converter, and can be referred to as an isolated boost converter. The converter includes an ancillary circuit comprised of a switch transistor and a series connected capacitor which act as an active clamp. The converter of the present invention allows for a number of significant advantages. The converter provides zero voltage transitions in all switches, thereby preventing losses due to leakage currents in the switching transistors during switching transitions. The converter further provides a path for transformer magnetizing current flow, and also clamps the leakage inductance related to voltage spikes across the switches. These advantages allow the converter to keep stress on the active components low which makes the circuit more efficient.

Abstract: For use with a boost converter having first, second and third input inductors, a switching network, method of reducing input current total harmonic distortion (THD) associated with the boost converter, and boost converter employing the switching network and method. In one embodiment, the switching network includes first and second switches coupled between corresponding rails of the boost converter. The switching network also includes first, second and third L-C resonant networks wye-coupled to a node located between the first and second switches and coupled to the first, second and third input inductors, respectively. The first and second switches and the first, second and third L-C resonant networks cooperate to create resonant voltages across, and induce phase currents through, the first, second and third input inductors to reduce input current THD associated with the boost converter.

Abstract: A building entrance terminal or the like comprises a housing unit having a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall. One of the sidewalls defines an opening extending from a portion within the sidewall to the edge of the sidewall. A sliding panel is disposed within the opening in the sidewalls. The sliding panel includes a knockout portion, which is foldable along its width. When folded, the knockout portion in the sliding panel provides a mounting space for a RJ 21 interconnect plug. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention a second knockout portion is disposed within the sidewall and adjacent the opening, such that when the sliding panel is removed, the second knock out portion is accessible from the edge of the sidewall.

Abstract: In a wireless communications system, an RF booster provided intermediate an antenna device for receiving RF signals and a receiver device for providing a predetermined amount of gain to said received RF signals and converting said RF signals to audio frequency signals, the RF booster comprising a first amplifier device for receiving input signals from the antenna via a first cable connecting device, the first low noise amplifier providing a first gain equal to the predetermined amount of gain of the receiver device; a second amplifier device connected in series with the first amplifier device, the second amplifier device connected via a second cable connecting device to the receiver device and providing a second amount of gain of a value sufficient to compensate for signal loss provided by the first and second cable means; and a switch element capable of switching out the first gain of the first amplifier device, the switch element controlled by a control signal in accordance with a sensed level of received i

Abstract: A method and fixture for laser bar facet coating are disclosed. A holder for securing devices having surfaces for coating includes first and second channels. A plurality of web slats are received in the channels. The web slats have first and second ends and first and second device engaging surfaces. The ends of the web slats are received in respective channels. The ends of the web slats cooperate with the ends of adjacent web slats. The web slats are secured at one end of the channels and otherwise are movable along the channels between an open position to receive devices therebetween for coating and a closed position in which edges of the web slats engage the devices received therebetween for coating. A bias member may be used to retain the web slats in the closed position gripping the devices for coating. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for coating surfaces of substantially parallelepiped devices.

Abstract: A soft handover system is provided for a multiple sub-carrier communication system, applicable to the uplink (mobile unit to base stations) and/or the downlink (base stations to mobile unit). The soft handover system uses multiple sub-carriers to simultaneously transmit multiple sub-carrier signals between at least two base stations and the mobile unit in the uplink and/or downlink. In certain embodiments, the soft handover system provides for synchronized multiple sub-carrier transmission such that the delay differences between the multiple sub-carrier transmissions from the different base stations arriving at the mobile unit are within the guard time of the multiple sub-carrier symbols. Certain embodiments of the soft handover system use the same set of sub-carriers for links between the mobile unit and the base stations of different cells, and other embodiments use different sets of sub-carriers for links between the mobile unit and the base stations of different cells.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, two lines are utilized to selectively forward calls based on caller ID data. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of connecting a calling party to a called party includes the steps of a customer premise equipment (CPE) receiving an incoming call from the calling party on a first line, the CPE evaluating caller ID data associated with the incoming call, and the CPE placing an outgoing call to the called party on a second line based on the caller ID data. In another embodiment, a CPE includes a first line, a second line, and a calling unit adapted to place an outgoing call on the second line based on caller ID data associated with an incoming call received on the first line.

Abstract: A power supply and method of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the power supply includes: (1) a primary side power switch, (2) an isolation transformer having a primary winding coupled to the primary side power switch, the primary side power switch conducting intermittently to transfer current from an input of the power supply to the isolation transformer, (3) a secondary side power switch, coupled to a secondary winding of the isolation transformer, that is operable to conduct within a conduction period of the primary side power switch to transfer current from the isolation transformer to an output of the power supply, a portion of the current being contained within the power supply during a nonconduction period of the secondary side power switch and (4) a capacitor, coupled to the secondary side power switch, that, circulates the portion toward the output during the nonconduction period.

Abstract: A wire trough for an enclosure for telecommunications or other electrical equipment (such as a building entrance protector) has a latch that is disengaged by the application of a force between the wire trough and the enclosure to remove the wire trough from its full mounting position within a corresponding mounting channel within the enclosure wall. The latch prevents inadvertent removal of the wire trough from within the mounting channel, which, for example, might otherwise result from applying tension to wires retained within the wire trough. In one embodiment, the wire trough and mounting channel have, along each lateral edge, a tongue and a groove that engage one another to guide the wire trough into the mounting channel. In addition, the wire trough and mounting channels may have male and female dimples that help retain the wire trough within the mounting channel at the full mounting position.

Abstract: A call initiation request generated by an application running on a computer-telephony integration (CTI) server or other CTI device is supplied via a CTI link to a switch. The switch receives the request over the CTI link, and places a "phantom" call from the originator of the call to the destination of the call. The phantom call may be representative of, for example, a real-time voice call or a non-real-time transaction such as a delivery of an e-mail, facsimile or voice mail message. The originator corresponds to a phantom extension or group of phantom extensions which is not associated with any physical communication device of the system. A phantom extension in accordance with the invention does not require an actual physical originator or destination communication device, as well as a corresponding switch port card or other hardware, and therefore does not consume valuable switch resources. The switch reports call status information for the phantom call to the application over the CTI link.

Abstract: A controller for residential telephone wiring. Apparatus associated with the controller provides multiple communication channels on ordinary residential telephone wiring. The controller (1) routes incoming calls to a selected telephonic device within the residence, (2) routes outgoing calls to a free external line servicing the residence, and (3) routes calls within the residence from one telephonic device to another.

Abstract: A method for reducing multiple dominant pilots in a CDMA communication system comprises determining nulls of a first cell and pointing a sector antenna of a neighboring second cell towards one of said nulls of the first cell. A system is also described.

Abstract: An Internet/intranet-based arrangement for interaction between a messaging system and a message originator and delivery of the message originator's message to a mailbox of the messaging system uses TCP/IP communications applications such as HTTP, Telnet, FTP, or Chat as information-transfer and message delivery mechanisms, creating an Internet/intranet-based text, binary, video, and/or multimedia file message-delivery analogue to the call-answer message-creation capability of telephony-based messaging systems.

Abstract: A foldable wire distribution field is provided whereby a non-connectorized double sided wire distribution field is hingeably connected and foldable over a standard feeder/protector field to eliminate the need for adjacent feeder fields and distribution fields on a backboard, wall or other structure. The foldable distribution field is preferably configured using double sided tool-less insulation displacement type connectors on the distribution side of the foldable field. The double sided terminal block includes double sided insulation displacement terminal strips with a reversible test feature.

Abstract: The invention is a method and resulting device which provides a strong bond between a silicon substrate and an oxide component mounted within a cavity in the substrate. A layer of titanium, for example, is deposited on the walls of the cavity, followed by deposition of a layer of aluminum. The structure is preferably annealed to form titanium silicide and titanium-aluminum interface layers. The component is then bonded to the aluminum layer.

Abstract: An improved elastomeric mold for use in fabricating microstructures, the mold having first and second surfaces, the first surface including at least one recessed microchannel and the second surface including an access opening or filling member that extends through the mold to the first surface and communicates with the recessed microchannel. The mold is used by placing it onto a substrate with the recessed microchannel facing the substrate. The access opening of the mold is filled with a liquid material which is capable of solidifying. The access opening continuously introduces the liquid material into the space defined between the microchannel and the substrate. After the liquid material solidifies, the mold is removed from the substrate thereby leaving a microstructure formed from the solidified liquid material on the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing chemical-mechanical polishing is disclosed in which the pad is secured to the platen without the use of adhesives. A polishing pad and a platen are secured together by a releasable attractive force; the force may comprise a vacuum or electromagnetic force, and the pad has a hard or magnetic backside layer for facing the plating and responding to the attractive force. This invention has particular application to chemical-mechanical polishing for use in planarizing dielectrics.

Abstract: A system and method for testing communication devices, such as speakerphones, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a two-way conversation is pre-recorded for playback through one or more test communications devices to evaluate communications device performance. The test set-up permits the recording of a two-way full-duplex communication onto two or more channels of the same recording/playback device, thereby preserving the content and timing relationships between speech segments. A comparison can be made between the live conversation and the conversation as it was realized in the playback condition over a test communications device. The original and the test will be different based on the performance of the communications device. This method decreases the test time and provides other efficiencies useful in connection with testing, evaluation and quality control for communications device acoustic and network performance testing.

Abstract: Recorded telephone messages may be automatically handled as specified by the called party by means of a background speech recognition server for a telephone network, a private branch exchange, or a personal computer telephone manager. The called party initializes the method by storing multiple action records in a computer, each containing a key word and an action description. Incoming telephone messages can then be automatically processed by subjecting the audio record of each message to a speech recognition program to produce a text record. The computer then compares the text record with the key words in the action records. When a match is found, the action specified in the action record bearing the matching key words, is performed. In this manner, recorded telephone messages may be automatically handled and prioritized as specified by the called party.

Abstract: Cost effectiveness and high system reliability are achieved in lightwave systems having at least one tunable sources connected to a network by incorporating a reference signal source within the network useful for tuning at least one tunable source to a predetermined wavelength. The reference signal source generates a signal in a central location within the network and distributes such signal throughout the network. This signal serves as a wavelength reference for tuning the tunable source to a desired wavelength. Transmission of the signal may occur continuously or intermittently. Such a signal may carry one or more wavelengths simultaneously. Alternatively, the reference signal can be generated by wavelength selective reflection of the signal generated by the tunable source.