Abstract: A facility is provided in wireless communications system which causes a base station to substitute predetermined signals for speech and/or noise signals that are received from a wireless station that has entered a muting request, in which the predetermined signals, may be, for example, silence.

Abstract: A current limiting circuit for a power switching transistor, the current limiting circuit incorporating a DC modulator to control the conducting/non-conducting state of the switching transistor, with an input signal generated and supplied to the modulator (and thus controlling a modulator DC bias output signal and therefore the conducting/non-conducting state of the switching transistor) comprised of two components: a first component which controls the modulator state based upon limiting maximum transistor current when a DC supply voltage is at a nominal design value, and a second component which dynamically adjusts the value of the modulator input signal when values of the DC supply voltage are other than the nominal design value.

Abstract: Dielectric materials comprising Ca.sub.2 Ta.sub.2-x Nb.sub.x O.sub.7 have high dielectric constants (Ks) and relatively low temperature coefficients of dielectric constants (TCKs). Preferably, in this composition 0.20.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1.20 and more preferably 0.32.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.40, and particularly preferred is the composite where x is 0.36. With a preferred embodiment where x is about 0.36, the dielectric constant is near 30 and the TCK is about 2 ppm/.degree.C., and the Q of the polycrystalline ceramic at 1 MHz is approximately 5000.

Abstract: The present invention is a feed forward circuit and method for reducing distortion added to an output signal of the feed forward by its amplifiers without increasing the time delay in the main circuit path of the feed forward circuit. This is accomplished using a pre-distortion circuit to introduce a pre-distortion signal to the input signal of a correction amplifier. The pre-distortion signal is being used to cancel a distortion signal that will be introduced by the correction amplifier. The pre-distortion signal has approximately the same frequency and amplitude as the distortion signal. The pre-distortion signal, however, has a phase difference of approximately 180.degree. with respect to the distortion signal such that the pre-distortion signal and the distortion signal cancel each other when combined.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing stochastic matching of a set of input test speech data with a corresponding set of training speech data. In particular, a set of input test speech feature information, having been generated from an input test speech utterance, is transformed so that the stochastic characteristics thereof more closely match the stochastic characteristics of a corresponding set of training speech feature information. The corresponding set of training speech data may, for example, comprise training data which was generated from a speaker having the claimed identity of the speaker of the input test speech utterance. Specifically, in accordance with the present invention, a first covariance matrix representative of stochastic characteristics of input test speech feature information is generated based on the input test speech feature information.

Abstract: Novel algorithms for computing the responses of circuits to multi-tone excitations. The new algorithms are efficient and robust for large, strongly nonlinear circuits excited by multi-tone (quasi-periodic or envelope-modulated) signals. Hence they are particularly useful for integrated RF applications. The multivariate representation captures features produced by strong nonlinearities (such as spikes or pulses) much more compactly than traditional frequency- or time-domain representations. The new algorithms compute these functions efficiently by solving a partial differential equation ODE) in the time or mixed frequency-time domains. Frequency-domain spectra or time-domain waveforms are generated from the multivariate functions as cheap post-processing steps. Two methods, multivariate FDTD and hierarchical shooting, are purely time-domain techniques suitable for the general strongly nonlinear circuit problem. They differ in their memory and computation needs.

Abstract: In a speech recognition system for performing voice dialing, an inventive connected digit recognizer is employed to recognize a sequence of spoken digits. The inventive recognizer generates the maximum-likelihood digit sequence corresponding to the spoken sequence in accordance with the Viterbi algorithm. However, unlike a prior art connected digit recognizer, the inventive recognizer does not assume that a digit model in a sequence can be followed by any digit model with equal probability. Rather, the inventive recognizer takes into account, for each digit model being decided on, a conditional probability that that digit model would follow a given digit model preceding thereto.

Abstract: The efficiency of a telecommunications network is enhanced by associating each of the communication switches forming the network with an external connection control processor and forming the switches into respective groups of communication switches. The communication switches forming a respective group of switches are fully interconnected to one another and then each of the communications switches forming a respective one of the groups is connected at least one other group of telecommunication switches as a way of interconnecting the groups with one another.

Abstract: A system and method for accepting and responding to queries based on information stored on multiple heterogenous information sources. A uniform query interface to large collections of structured information sources is provided to a user to pose queries using a uniform schema of the available information. A query plan for answering the query is formulated from descriptions of the contents and capabilities of the available information sources. Based on these descriptions logical solutions which are subsets of the complete solution to the query are derived. An order for executing these solutions is determined based on the input requirements and other capabilities of the relevant information sources.

Abstract: A Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical monitor, based on concatenated fiber gratings, uses a single modulator and detector and has high dynamic range and good sensitivity through signal averaging. The WDM optical monitor may be implemented in a time-domain or frequency-domain embodiment and used for SNR measurement of WDM optical signals.

Abstract: An automatic metering information collection system and method in which a remotely controllable line multi-interface at a customer's local multi-interfacing multiport switch responds to an interface selection message from a metering information collection computer at a utility service provider location to connect the hybrid digital/analog customer telephone line to a selected one of a plurality of available interfaces compatible with the type of interface employed by the meter until the metering information is conveyed to the collection computer and then automatically returns the customer's line to a default interface used by the other types of telephonic equipment on the customer's line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming an alloy interconnect in an integrated circuit having a dielectric layer with an opening formed therein. In an advantageous embodiment, the method comprises the steps of forming a metal alloy within the opening. The metal alloy comprises at least a first and a second metal with the first metal selected from a Group 13 metal and having a melting point substantially lower than a melting point of the second metal and the dielectric. This particular method further comprises the steps of subjecting the first and second metals to a temperature sufficient to melt the first metal and reflow the metal alloy.

Abstract: Pose estimation of a camera is facilitated by including in the scene a space fiducial, an object that has the property that its appearance as viewed by the camera uniquely determines the direction from which it is viewed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving alignment between a spray etcher nozzle and a semiconductor (either microelectronic or optoelectronic, for example) wafer surface. A spray nozzle tip is temporarily removed from the spray nozzle and an illumination source, such as a low power laser, is activated and inserted in its place. The laser emission illuminates the wafer surface and, by adjusting the position of the nozzle, alignment between the nozzle and wafer can be achieved. Once aligned, the nozzle is locked in place and the laser is replaced with the conventional spray nozzle tip.

Abstract: A housing for optical integrated circuits for protecting the circuit from temperature induced stresses has a base and cap and a thermal bed contained therein. The thermal bed has a region for containing the integrated circuit therein, suspended in a thermally conductive grease. At least one heater is affixed to the thermal bed for heating it, and temperature monitoring apparatus is included for supplying signals to a control apparatus for activating the heater when the temperature of the thermal bed falls outside of the operating temperature range.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting when a dynamic signal is stable. The apparatus is couplable to a first charge pump connected to receive the dynamic signal and generate a first signal as a function of the dynamic signal. The first charge pump has a predetermined capacitance and current.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for measuring chirp passes an input modulated optical signal through a Waveguide Grating Router (WGR) and processes the signals from adjacent WGR output ports in an oscilloscope, to obtain the real-time dynamic chirp measurements of the modulated optical signal.

Abstract: An optical integrated circuit is used to simultaneously test both the transmit fiber and the receive fiber in a fiber optic pair which extends between a telephone central office and a subscriber's site. By testing both fibers simultaneously testing time is cut in half without the loss of any important information, as fibers are replaced in pairs. In addition, the cost of test equipment is reduced considerably, as the expensive portions of the test equipment can be used for twice as many optical circuits as was heretofore possible. Finally, there are half as many connections needed between the optical switch and the optical integrated circuits built in accordance with the present invention, thereby simplifying their interconnections, and eliminating the extra cost in optical ports and interconnecting fiber.

Abstract: A method for leak testing of a hermetic package closure comprises the steps of: creating a pocket in a lid; plating the lid; placing solder in the pocket; melting the solder in the pocket; drilling a hole through the solder and the plated lid creating an unplated area on the plated lid; testing the hermetic package closure for leaks through the hole; heating the solder reflow, wherein surface tension of the solder over the hole and the unplated area enable the solder to form a hermetic closure.

Abstract: A linear actuator is used to push a spring-loaded ram The loading force of the spring against a stationary workpiece is calibrated with the displacement of the ram once the load exceeds the spring preset value. At a preset loading position, an electrical contact opens, indicating that the spring load has reached or exceeded the preset value. A mechanical stop, acting in conjunction with the stall characteristics of the linear actuator, prevents the operating range from being exceeded. This device has applications where precise standoff from a surface, the application of a precise force to that surface, and a controlled rate of the application of the force is needed.