Abstract: The present applicants have discovered a method for making thin films comprising tantalum oxide that enhances the dielectric constant with or without TiO.sub.2 doping. Specifically, applicants have discovered sputtering Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 in an oxygen-rich ambient at a temperature in excess of 450.degree. C. and preferably in excess of 550.degree. C., produces a new crystalline phase thin film having enhanced dielectric properties.

Abstract: Computer programs such as word processing, spreadsheet and electronic mail are run from a remote telecommunications terminal, without benefit of any user interaction with a screen display, by software associated with the computer that translates a combination of remotely-generated tone and voice signals to executable application program commands. The communication protocols use a conversant system's query-response sequences to call up an application and to run selected portions of the program. Pre-recorded voiceprints of a particular user's voice commands and utterances required to operate the software are stored at the computer; and compared during usage to the actual utterances. Insufficient matches result in suspension or termination of access.

Abstract: A wire terminal block for communication connectors. The block includes a mandrel, and a frame arranged for mounting on a printed wire board and for supporting the mandrel on the board where a number of terminal wires emerge to contact a mating connector. A number of slots are formed along the mandrel, and an inner contour at a base of each slot is configured to form a desired bend radius in the terminal wires when the wires are seated in corresponding ones of the slots and are wrapped about the mandrel within the slots. In one embodiment, the inner contour of the mandrel is configured to form a first bend radius in the terminal wires at a side of the wire board from which the wires emerge, and to form a second bend radius in the terminal wires with which the wires angle back over an opposite side of the wire board to contact the mating connector.

Abstract: A wavelength demultiplexer having at least two photodetectors is disclosed. The photodetectors are arranged in sequential layers along an optical path. The photodetectors differ in bandgap, and are arranged so that the optical signal passes through relatively larger bandgap photodetectors before being received by relatively smaller bandgap detectors. Each photodetector absorbs photons within a predetermined energy range and generates a voltage as a function of the absorbed energy. The photodetectors can be used to detect, and hence demultiplex, a wavelength-division-multiplexed signal.

Abstract: A cladding-pumped fiber structure is disclosed in which mode mixing of pump light injected into the fiber is induced by index modulation. In one embodiment, the index modulation is created by a stress-inducing region disposed in the cladding which simultaneously maintains the polarization within the core to produce a polarization-maintaining fiber useful for multi-mode and laser applications.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus, system and method for distributing passively a coaxial based CATV RF signal over unshielded twisted-pair cables. The distribution of the coaxial based CATV RF signal involves distributing the signal into a group of output signals. The output signals are then coupled to unshielded twisted-pair cables. If the unshielded twisted-pair cable is detached, the output signal is terminated through a resistor. Thus, a coaxial based CATV RF signal can be distributed to many unshielded twisted-pair cables with any unused output signals being properly terminated.

Abstract: The network of the invention uses asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) as the exclusive transport between the central office and the outside distribution plant of either a SONET or analog facility. Telephony and other narrowband signals are transported from a local switching system over synchronous facilities to a host terminal. Digital video and digital data ATM signals are transmitted to the host terminal from a video provider and data service provider, respectively. The host terminal converts the synchronous narrowband signals to composite cell ATM format and combines these signals with the ATM video and data signals and delivers the ensemble of ATM cells over either a standard SONET transport format to a plurality of distribution managers or other network elements or analog network. To convert the synchronous signals, the host terminal of the invention includes a synchronous to asynchronous converter (SAC) that provides the format conversion needed to provide voice and other narrowband signals over ATM.

Abstract: A self adjusting tuned resonant photodiode input circuit wherein an active feedback signal adjusts a reverse bias voltage across a photodiode to tune a resonant frequency to a center frequency. This results in a stable improved passband of the receiver front end.

Abstract: An invention for providing diversity for direct sequence spread spectrum wireless communication systems is presented. The invention provides a receiver technique in which M antennas are utilized at the receiver. Distinct weighting signals are applied to information signals received at each of the M antennas, with the weighing signals being, for example, distinct changes in either phase or amplitude. Applying weighing signals to each of the information signals received at the M receiver antennas results in constructive addition of derived signal vectors at predetermined intervals, which eliminates deep fading at the receiver. Each different time varying weighting signal is determined independently of the corresponding information signal and the combined received input signal.

Abstract: A method for simulating RF energy distribution comprises obtaining a binary tree representation of a geometric environment in three-dimensions and forming a 3-D geometric database model therefrom, obtaining one or more specified receive locations within the 3-D geometric database model where RF energy distribution is desirable, simulating the propagation of an RF signal within the geometric database model, the RF signal being represented as a beam having magnitude and direction, the propagation including querying the database model to trace the beam in the geometric environment; and, determining one or more intersections of the traced beam with one or more receive locations to determine RF energy distribution at the receive locations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a supply device comprising at least two energy converters (10, 20), a common output (4) and a local output (2, 3) per converter. The converters are connected in redundant mode so as to deliver a DC supply voltage (V0) on the common output, their coupling being effected by means of blocking diodes (13, 23) from whose cathode the DC supply voltage (V0) stems. Each converter includes a loop for slaving the voltage on the common output and an independent local slaving loop for delivering a sufficient voltage on the corresponding local output (17, 27) irrespective of the state of the blocking diode (13, 23) of this converter.

Abstract: Patterning of a layer of material that can be etched with gaseous mixture of oxygen, chlorine, and nitrogen as etchant species, such as a chromium or a chromium-containing compound layer, is accomplished by using a patterned organometallic resist, such as a polymer which contains silicon or germanium. Although gaseous mixtures of chlorine and oxygen etch chromium anisotropically. Some undercut of the chromium is still observed. This undercut is controlled or eliminated by adding nitrogen to the gas mixture. Layers of material that have been patterned in this way can then be used for photolithographic masks or reticles, for X-ray masks, for e-beam masks. or for direct patterning of other, underlying layers in semiconductor integrated circuits or other devices.

Abstract: For use with a DC power supply having first and second output rectifying circuits couplable in alternative configurations to provide dual voltages at an output of the DC power supply, an adaptive voltage controller and a method of adaptively controlling the output voltage. In one embodiment, the adaptive voltage controller includes: (1) a configuration determination circuit, coupled to the output, that generates a configuration signal that is a function of a configuration of the first and second output rectifying circuits, (2) a voltage feedback circuit, coupled to the configuration determination circuit, that develops a voltage feedback signal based on the configuration signal and (3) a voltage control circuit, coupled to the voltage feedback circuit, that receives the voltage feedback signal and controls an output voltage of the DC power supply as a function thereof.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided for controlling an N-bit barrel shifter to shift the bits of an input word by a shift value. The method includes the steps of performing a ones' complement of an m-bit binary representation of a shift value to generate an input when the shift direction takes on a first direction and passing the binary representation of the shift value as the input when the shift direction takes on a second direction. Decoding the input into 2.sup.m control signals and generating a plurality of groups of control signals from the 2.sup.m control signals. Selecting one of the plurality of groups of control signals as the control activation for the barrel shifter. The apparatus provides bits of a binary representation of the shift value are passed through a plurality of exclusive OR gates and provided as inputs to a first decoder. The first decoder decodes the inputs into a plurality of bits used as control signals.

Abstract: The multi-functional clip provides two functions: holding a plurality of multi-layer magnetic transformers together in a vertical stack; holding together the respective E-Cores of each of the plurality of multi-layer magnetic transformers. This is accomplished by the use the multi-functional clip that comprises a body, having four tapered flanges that extend vertically from the periphery of the body to form the arms that enclose and contact the multi-layer magnetic transformers. The vertically oriented arms each include a feature formed at a distal end thereof that mates with a recess formed in a side of a corresponding one of the multi-layer magnetic transformers. The vertically oriented arms are manufactured of a spring material to thereby apply a horizontal force to the multi-layer magnetic transformer.

Abstract: The distribution of multicast information in a communications network formed from a plurality of communications nodes, e.g., ATM switches, is enhanced by providing an efficient mechanism for routing a request to join a multicast connection to an originator of the multicast and an efficient mechanism for then connecting the requester to the multicast connection.

Abstract: A telephone system and method where telephones automatically learn the required prefix codes used in a private system to reach a public telephone exchange. The telephone has a memory that stores the numbers of callers who have called that telephone. A microprocessor then compares each number dialed on that telephone to the stored numbers saved by the telephone. The comparison is done from the last digit in each number to the first digit in each number. If at least the last seven digits of a dialed number match at least the last seven digits of a saved number, then a match is considered to occur. By analyzing the numbers in a dialed number that are not the same as the numbers in a matched saved number, the microprocessor can determine a possible prefix code that was contained within the dialed number. By performing a statistical analysis of possible prefix codes, the microprocessor can determine the proper prefix code for the telephone.

Abstract: The invention presents a method and apparatus for forming a restricted model from a system model to reduce the computational resources required to formally verify the system design, without substantially reducing the ability to test all system model functions, or properties. In general, the restricted model is formed by restricting the range of assumable values of system model variables and system model inputs to a restricted set of values, based on the values assumed by the system model variables and system model inputs during a partial search of the system model. The restricted model can then be fully searched by a conventional verification tool to identify system design errors. Advantageously, the restricted model requires less computational resources to verify the system design (i.e. through a full search) than the original system model.

Abstract: A system for creating still image or video collections for guests of amusement parks and the like a) identifies individuals by a unique tag assigned to the individual, b) automatically records the images of the individuals while they are at various attractions, c) collects the images over a communications network, d) arranges the images in a collection, and e) presents a personal set of collected images to the guest. In one embodiment of the invention, cameras are located throughout an amusement park. Each guest is associated with a unique identifier. This identifier may be contained within a readable tag, e.g., a card, badge or pendant. Tag readers identify guest when they are at a particular location and provide identification and location information to a control system. A communications network is used to interconnect the cameras, tag readers, control system and image recording devices. The control system controls the recording and storage of the appropriate image(s) associated with that guest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining mobile station position in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A mobile station of the wireless system includes a silent echo generation circuit which receives a transmit time stamp transmitted in a sync channel from a base station, and processes the transmit time stamp to generate a receive time stamp. The silent echo generation circuit transmits the receive time stamp back to the base station on a spurious-like echo carrier which is offset from a data carrier of the wireless system. The base station processes the transmit and receive time stamps to compute a first ranging value, receives corresponding second and third ranging values computed by two other system base stations which receive the echo carrier and its time stamp, and processes the first, second and third ranging values to determine a position vector indicative of the position of the mobile station.