Abstract: A method and apparatus for high velocity dual coating optical fibers includes passing the fiber to be coated through an entrance die into a coating reservoir, to which liquid coating material is supplied under pressure. The diameter of the die passage and the pressure of the fluid is sufficient to prevent air from entering the reservoir. The coated fiber is passed through a centering and sizing die wherein the recirculation of excess coating material is controlled to produce centering forces on the fiber at the high fiber velocity, and wherein the initial coating is sized. The fiber is then passed through a second coating reservoir into an exit die which sizes the second coating. Upon leaving the exit die, the coatings are cured.

Abstract: A pivotable work table for use with an electrical junction box is disclosed. The work table has a table member which is pivotally movable between a retracted position within the junction box and an extended position in which the table is oriented perpendicular to the box. The table member is hingedly connected to one or more retention pins which extend from the table member and slidably engage one or more respective bosses attached to the junction box. Coil springs coaxially disposed around the retention pins provide biasing forces which draw the table member toward the bosses and maintain the table member in either the retracted or extended positions.

Abstract: For use with a three-phase split boost converter having a primary stage with a primary rectifier and first and second primary boost switches coupled between an input and first and second outputs of the three-phase split boost converter, an auxiliary stage, method of reducing input current total harmonic distortion (THD) at the input of the three-phase split boost converter, and a three-phase split boost converter employing the auxiliary stage and method. In one embodiment, the auxiliary stage includes first, second and third auxiliary boost inductors coupled to corresponding phases of the input. The auxiliary stage also includes an auxiliary boost switch, interposed between the first, second and third auxiliary boost inductors and the first and second outputs of the split boost, that conducts to induce corresponding phase currents through the first, second and third auxiliary boost inductors thereby reducing input current THD at the input of the three-phase split boost converter.

Abstract: A moving mirror switch includes a focusing element adapted to focus an incoming light beam transmitted from an input optical port, a movable mirror, and an actuator. The actuator moves the mirror between first and second mirror positions corresponding to reflective and pass-through states, respectively. In the reflective state, the mirror at least partially reflects the focused beam back upon the input port. In the pass-through state, the focused beam is at least partially transmitted towards an optical output port of the switch. The first and second positions may correspond to complete reflective and complete transmission states, respectively. The mirror may further be positioned in intermediate positions to achieve partial transmission states (and/or partial reflective states), such that the mirror switch operates as a variable attenuator. Embodiments are presented in which the input and output ports are disposed on the same side of the switch, or on opposite sides of switch.

Abstract: A system for correcting errors in the transmission of data packets between a source and a receiver. The source sends data packets to the client unit and server unit. The system uses the client unit and the server unit to send a repaired packet stream to a receiver when an error is detected. The client unit detects errors in the packet stream and sends retransmission requests of the lost data packets to the server unit. The server unit retransmits the lost data packet to the client unit, which then corrects the packet stream by inserting the lost packet into the proper time order and transmitting the repaired packet stream to the receiver.

Abstract: An articulated underwater cable riser system includes at least one articulated anchor section having a plurality of modular anchor segments and an articulated mid-span buoy having a plurality of modular buoy segments. The anchor segments and buoy segments encircle the cable and are secured adjacent one another in appropriate positions along the cable by cable clamps. The buoy segments and anchor segments are interfaced to the cable clamps by fairings which present smooth outlines for the anchor sections and mid-span buoy between the segments and the clamps to facilitate handling the anchor sections and mid-span buoy using conventional cable laying equipment. The anchor segments and buoy segments can be one-piece or, preferably, assembled by securing segment halves to one another. Bend limiters are coupled to at least some of the anchor segments to prevent an articulated anchor section from exceeding the minimum bend radius for the cable.

Abstract: A collection of equivalence rules involving the multiset version of the relational algebraic theta-semijoin operator is used to generate relational algebraic expressions equivalent to a computer programming language query. These expressions may be employed as a search space which is utilized by, for example, optimizing software or software that determines the equivalency of queries. Cost formulas for the multiset version of the theta-semijoin operator may be used in computing cost estimates for the generated expressions. Based on these computed cost estimates, the least costly implementation of a complex query is determined. Thus, queries are cost-based optimized on both a local and global basis by use of the relational algebraic theta-semijoin operator.

Abstract: A building entrance box providing an interface between a signal transmission media cable having a first plurality of filamentary signal transmission elements and a second plurality of individual filamentary signal transmission elements. In a first embodiment, moisture infiltration is reduced by providing potting material in a transition region between a splice chamber of the box and a connector chamber of the box. In another embodiment, a plastic protector panel is specifically shaped to reduce condensation and to reduce the effects of any condensation. Modular protector panels mounted in the box are automatically grounded when mounted to a conductive chassis plate and are so arranged that input and output wires are isolated from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for receiving and transporting semiconductor chips. The chips are placed in pockets on a top surface of a first carrier. A similar carrier has an adhesive sheet placed on its top surface, and it is inverted and placed on the first carrier. A vacuum is pulled on orifices leading to the pockets. The vacuum pulls the flexible sheet into contact with the chips. The second carrier is then removed from the first carrier. Air pressure may be introduced to assist in the removal. A cover may be placed over the second carrier.

Abstract: A strain relief mechanism for securing a cable that runs through a knockout portion disposed on the surface of a building entrance terminal is provided. The mechanism utilizes two or more brackets, where each bracket has a mounting and a clamping end. The mounting ends are fixedly securely to the inner surface of the building entrance terminal at a distance away from the knockout portion. The clamping portions are rotatable to constrain the circumference of the cable that is inserted into the building entrance terminal. A cable tie may be utilized for further constraining the clamping ends of the brackets about the cable.

Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining the amount of undercutting in a hidden layer of material disposed on a substrate after device patterning by etching. The method involves forming at least two lines of etch resistant material of increasing width over the hidden layer of material of the substrate and inspecting the lines after etching for a given time period to determine how many lines have been removed. The width dimension of the largest removed line corresponds approximately to the amount of undercut for two sides in the hidden layer of material after etching for the given time period.

Abstract: A size reduced modular jack housing comprising a body with at least two sides, a back, a top and a front surface; a modular plug body receiving space formed in the back surface and having a top region substantially proximate to the top surface for receiving a modular body plug latch; the body having a notch formed through the front surface and extending towards the back surface; wherein an upper boundary of the notch is defined by a bottom surface of an integrated mounting latch for mounting the housing on a mounting surface; and wherein a lower boundary of the notch is defined by a portion of the housing that is between said top region of the receiving space and the geometric center of the housing.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for automatically reconnecting wireless call(s) to a wireless terminal user when a communications link carrying the call is disconnected. In one illustrative embodiment, the wireless communications system maintains and updates call information associated with the wireless terminal when the communications link between the wireless communications system and the wireless terminal is disconnected. The present invention then automatically determines whether the wireless terminal is available for communications in the wireless communications system. If the wireless terminal is available, then the wireless communications system reestablishes communications between the wireless terminal and all other parties on all calls, and restores the updated call information associated with all calls at the wireless terminal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes topological features for weakening or otherwise modifying a blowable fuse in order to decrease the current needed to blow the fuse. This allows a decrease in the size of the circuit components which are needed to supply the current for blowing the fuse, in turn allowing compaction of the layout of the circuitry needed to blow the fuse. To this end, topological features are used to deform the shape of or otherwise modify the fuse, in turn increasing the resistance of the fuse or introducing flaws that allow the fuse to blow at a lower current.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method of generating a soft symbol confidence level for use in decoding a received digital signal includes calculating a difference between two potential next state accumulated costs to provide a soft symbol confidence level. Simultaneously with calculating the difference between two potential next state accumulated costs, performing a compare-select operation to identify one of the two potential next state accumulated costs as an extremum of the two present state accumulated costs.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that improves memory storage and access speed by repackaging various types of memories, SRAM, DRAM, and Disk, into a single storage unit. Each unit contains a slice of all the various memories along with programmable logic to control the accessing of the memories. This unit appears to the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system as an extremely large secondary cache. Independent management of each unit greatly reduces bus traffic to implement any particular address space. By using a plurality of these memory units, an extremely large amount of memory can be accessed by the CPU with the speed of accessing a cache system.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a mobile communications terminal includes a high accuracy clock for providing a timebase in a normal operating mode, a "slow clock" for providing the timebase in a low power mode of operation, and at least one processor coupled to the high accuracy clock and the "slow clock" for controlling the modes of operation. In a preferred embodiment, the mobile communications terminal includes a conversion signal processor (CSP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a communications protocol processor, and a radio frequency (RF) segment. The CSP, which includes a plurality of registers, interfaces with the DSP to execute the timing control functions for the terminal. In the normal operating mode, the timebase is maintained from the high accuracy clock. During inactive periods of terminal operation (e.g.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system achieves synchronism for each one of multiple portable units to the same communication channel for communicating with a common base unit. The cordless system uses a dual channel process to allow both the freedom to dynamically change channels as needed to avoid interference while simultaneously providing a capability to resynchronize any portable unit with the base unit on a selected active channel. This is achieved through the use of a fixed service channel and an active channel which changes as needed. If a channel change is made during a call, after the call is completed, the base unit returns to the previous active channel and broadcasts a message to the multiple portable units indicative of the new active channel. Also, any portable unit that attempts to communicate with the base unit on the wrong channel and fails to get a response will transmit a message on the fixed service channel requesting the current active channel from the base unit.

Abstract: A quadrature mixer architecture that mixes the in-phase and quadrature phases within the same cell. The input voltage is applied to the base of a voltage conversion transistor, which converts the input voltage into a bias current on the collector of the voltage conversion transistor. Four mixer transistors have their emitters connected to the collector of the drive transistor so as to receive the bias current. The bases of a first pair of the upper transistors are fed with the in-phase components (e.g., 0 and 180.degree.), while the bases of the other pair of transistors are fed with the quadrature phase components (e.g., 90 and -90.degree. of a local oscillator). The collectors of the mixer transistors are taken as the four output components of the circuit, I.sub.out, I.sub.out.sbsb.--, Q.sub.out, and Q.sub.out.sbsb.--.

Abstract: A programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), has a programmable clock manager (PCM) that converts an input clock into at least two different output clocks having different clock rates. The different output clocks can be used to control different processes either within or outside the FPGA. For example, one output clock can be used to control the FPGA's input/output registers, while a second, faster output clock can be used to control the FPGA's internal registers.