Abstract: The present invention provides a method of using a getter layer on a semiconductor substrate having a first metal stack formed thereon to improve metal to metal contact resistance. The method comprises the steps of forming a getter layer, which may be titanium, on the first metal stack, wherein the getter layer has a higher affinity for oxygen or a higher getter capability than the first metal stack, substantially removing the getter layer by exposing the getter layer to radiation, and forming a second metal stack, which in an advantageous embodiment may also be titanium, on the first metal stack.

Abstract: A communication switching system having a plurality of switch nodes with each of the switch nodes responsive to a failure of a communication link within a group of communication links to switch active calls from channels of the failed communication link to idle channels of other communication links within the group of communication links. If no idle channels are available within the group of communication links when the communication link fails, a predefined time is waited for a channel to become idle or a new communication link to be added to the group of communication links before the active channels are abandoned. Advantageously, the switching of the active calls to idle channels occurs quickly so that only a momentary interruption of the calls occurs. The group of communication links may advantageously be a non-facility access service (NFAS) group having a combination of ISDN BRI and PRI communication links. The calls can be either voice, video, or data calls.

Abstract: Blowable fuses on an integrated circuit are programmed in software, responsive to the control of an addressable memory which communicates with the peripheral data bus of a digital processor to allow increased flexibility of the programming operation, and to allow for correction both during the manufacturing process and after packaging of the manufactured integrated circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the fuses are operated (i.e., blown) responsive to transistor switching elements present on the integrated circuit and which are controlled by the addressable memory. The switching elements, and the associated fuses, can be accessed through software in similar fashion to any other peripheral device. The preferred addressable memory includes an instruction register and a data register, which are loaded from and write to the peripheral data bus. Internally, the data register includes an array of registers corresponding to the fuse links with which the system is associated.

Abstract: A photonics package, and methods for its use are disclosed. In one configuration, a collimating lens is disposed between a photonics device and a ferrule containing two optical fibers. Preferably, one of the fibers delivers an optical signal to the photonics device, and the other fiber receives an optical signal from the photonics device. The fibers within the dual-fiber ferrule are located off of the optical axis of the lens so that light emanating from the signal-delivering fiber will be imaged onto the photonics device at a slight angle from the normal and may be reflected at the same angle for coupling into the signal-receiving fiber Preferably, the photonics device is situated at the Fourier plane to facilitate coupling reflected light into the signal-receiving fiber. The function of the photonics package varies with the included photonics device.

Abstract: The low profile backplane jumper board is mounted over the connector pins on the circuit pack side of the backplane to thereby selectively interconnect designated conductors in the connectors. These interconnections among connector conductors can be within a single connector or can span multiple connecters. The low profile backplane jumper board comprises a circuit board that contains holes for each of the backplane connector pins over which it is inserted. The ones of these holes that require an electrical connection to the associated backplane connector conductor are filled with a miniature spring socket assembly contact which is soldered to or press fit into the plated hole and associated conductors formed on the surface of the circuit board to interconnect a plurality of the holes formed in the circuit board. The thickness of the circuit board is selected to be of sufficient thinness to not interfere with the connection of the circuit packs to the associated connectors.

Abstract: A tunable semiconductor laser comprises a gain section having an MQW active region, a uniform pitch grating DFB region, and first waveguide. A composite reflector, including a second MQW region and a second waveguide, forms a cavity resonator with the DFB region. A tuning voltage applied to the composite reflector induces a quantum confined stark effect, thereby allowing the center wavelength to be altered. A pre-chirp signal applied the composite reflector reduces signal distortion in fiber optic systems.

Abstract: In a communications arrangement, a copper wire pair arrangement traditionally used to provide a plain old telephone service (POTS) is also used to provide an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service. To that end, a patch cord in accordance with the invention is used to re-arrange communications connections in a terminal where both POTS channel unit and ADSL channel unit are deployed. Advantageously, the combined service is efficiently realized by such a re-arrangement, with the existing POTS virtually uninterrupted.

Abstract: For use with a power converter having a main output and an auxiliary output and an auxiliary regulating switch that regulates a voltage at the auxiliary output, a transient response network, and method of diverting energy from the main output to the auxiliary output. In one embodiment, the transient response network, includes: (1) an energy diverting switch interposed between the main output and the auxiliary output, and (2) a control circuit, coupled to the energy diverting switch, that senses a characteristic of the power converter and causes the energy diverting switch to conduct a current in response to a substantial load reduction at the main output thereby diverting energy from the main output to the auxiliary output.

Abstract: For use with a multiple output power converter, a secondary side post regulator (SSPR), a method of secondary side post regulating a multiple output power converter and a multiple output multiple output power converter employing the SSPR or the method. In one embodiment, the SSPR includes: (1) an average input current sensing circuit that senses a current flowing through a switch to be controlled in the multiple output power converter and develops therefrom an intermediate signal that is a function of an average of the current and (2) an input voltage feedforward circuit, coupled between an input of the multiple output power converter and the average input current sensing circuit, that adjusts the intermediate signal based on an input voltage of the multiple output power converter to develop a control signal that is a function of both the input voltage and the average of the current thereby to allow trailing edge control to be employed to control an output of said multiple output power converter.

Abstract: An unbalanced to balanced antenna matching unit (AMU) is capable of operating over a relatively large frequency range by utilizing multiple transformers connected in series, with a set of bypass switches used to control the number of transformers that are "active" in the matching unit at any particular time. Complex impedance matching by the AMU is controlled by a variable capacitor in parallel with the multiple transformers and a variable capacitor in series with the unbalanced input. The parallel variable capacitor may be located on either side of the transformer arrangement. The transformer output may be configured to switch between matching either a low impedance antenna or a high impedance antenna.

Abstract: A distribution module for use in a traditional electrical panel that provides coupling functionality for optical and electrical connectors. The distribution module is comprised of a housing with a passage defined therein. The distribution module further includes high density, modular coupling strips, which are chosen based on the type of connectors to be coupled. These coupling strips are joined together and then secured in the passage formed in the housing. Once assembled, the distribution module is received into an opening in the panel thereby integrating both optical and electrical couplers in a single panel.

Abstract: A panel display system having at least one source device coupled to a plurality of display units interconnected to form a larger display having any desired size and shape. Each display unit is a self-contained panel display having a video random access memory (VRAM) for storing image data, a controller for processing data signals to provide the image data to the VRAM, and an image display panel for displaying the image data. The self-contained panel displays substantially reduce the need for a separate driver card for each panel display, and substantially reduce the communications bandwidth between the source devices and the panel displays of the system. Means for interconnecting the display units include the use of data/control bus connectors and power line connectors, cables, network devices, local area networks, and/or wide area networks.

Abstract: A facility is provided for correcting fixed column noise that may appear in a fingerprint image acquired from a capacitive fingerprint sensor. In particular, corrective gain and offset values are determined for each column of pixel signals generated by the sensor and are applied to such signals to greatly diminish the fixed column noise that may be present in that column.

Abstract: A pilot signal detection system uses a band reject filter to reject the frequency band of at least one carrier signal to improve pilot signal detection. For example, in a feed forward distortion reduction system, the carrier signal(s) is on a main signal path along with a pilot signal which is injected into the main signal path at a frequency adjacent to the frequency band of the carrier signal(s). The carrier signal(s) and the pilot signal are amplified on the main signal path, resulting in distortion on the main signal path. To reduce the distortion from the main signal path, the feed forward distortion reduction system detects and reduces the pilot signal. To improve detection of the pilot signal, the pilot signal detection system provides a signal representative of the carrier signal(s) and the pilot signal with distortion from the main signal path onto a pilot detection path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating optical fibers contained in a multiple-fiber cable is disclosed. The method has particular application for separating long cables, that is, of about ten centimeters or more, of the type having a king wire and a plurality of fibers concentrically arranged around the king wire and embedded in a matrix material. The method involves stringing the cable in a taut position and moving a separation mold between the fibers and along the length of the cable while applying heat to the cable.

Abstract: The head in a series of video images is identified by digitizing sequential images, subtracting a previous image from an input image to determine moving objects, calculating boundary curvature extremes of regions in the subtracted image, comparing the extremes with a stored model of a human head to find regions shaped like a human head, and identifying the head with a surrounding shape.

Abstract: At least the power portion of the transmitter and the front end of the receiver of a base station of a wireless communication system are advantageously co-located with the antenna (or antennae), typically atop a tower or other elevated feature. Such co-location however exposes the electronics to lightning damage. This is avoided by placement of the electronics and antenna into lightning protection apparatus that is transparent to rf radiation during lightning-quiescent conditions but is a Faraday cage during a lightning strike, reverting to the transparent condition at the conclusion of the strike. This is achieved by placement of the electronics and antenna inside a housing that comprises a dielectric chamber filled with ionizable gas in contact with electrodes selected such that, during a lightning strike, current can flow between the electrodes.

Abstract: A lossless snubber circuit is described for use with power converters, particularly asymmetric half-bridge converters. The snubber circuit provides a clamping circuit which has a clamping diode and a clamping capacitor connected across each of the rectifier diodes in the power converters output circuit. The clamping diode and clamping capacitor act to clamp the voltage across the rectifier diode and to recover the reverse recovery energy from the rectifier diode's turn-off. The reverse recovery energy is then transferred back to the input capacitors of the converter's input circuit through an energy recovery circuit. The energy recovery circuit includes a recovery switch which regulates the operation of the snubber circuit and a commutation transformer which provides the path from the snubber circuit to the input circuit. The snubber circuit allows the clamping voltage of the clamping capacitor to be adjusted to accommodate changes in the converter's conditions.

Abstract: A circuit and method for detecting mobile ion contamination in a semiconductor device. The circuit uses two transistor structures on the same silicon chip as the circuit being tested to detect the presence (or absence) of mobile ions. The test includes imposing conditions on the silicon chip that may cause any mobile ions present therein to move within the structure. By measuring electrical parameters, such as a band gap voltage, across the transistors before and after the imposition of such conditions, a reliable indication of the presence or absence of mobile ions can be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for selective multi-directional illumination of an object, particularly for selective multi-directional imaging of an object, comprises a central mirror selectively rotatable about a central axis for reflecting light arriving along the central axis in selected directions radial to the axis. A plurality of differently tilted mirrors are mounted on an annular member selectively rotatable around the central axis for disposing selected ones of the tilted mirrors in the path of light from the central mirror. The tilted mirrors reflect light onto an object at a direction determined by the angular position of the central mirror and at an angle of elevation determined by the selected tilted mirror. Light reflected from the illuminated object reaches an imaging device along a path retracing the illuminating light whereby the direction of viewing of the imaged object corresponds to the direction of illumination of the object.