Abstract: The system of the present invention allows a customer to access a company computer system via a data network and to request contact with a customer service representative. The company computer system automatically selects a customer service center and a customer service representative in accordance with a set of selection criteria, including customer preferences. A monitor, also connected to the company computer system via the data network, may choose to accept or to change the selections made by the company computer system. Once a customer service representative has been selected, the company computer system causes a telecommunication control device to connect the customer, the selected customer service representative, and the monitor via a voice network. If a monitor is not available, the company computer system causes the telecommunication control device to connect the customer and the selected customer service representative, and then records the communication therebetween for future review by a monitor.

Abstract: A tuning circuit for generating a digital code to be used to calibrate a capacitor array of the type used in active RC filters is comprised of a single-slope A/D converter with fixed reference voltages as inputs and an output value which is dependent on the RC product of a resistor and capacitor within the converter. A decoder converts the RC product as measured by the A/D converter into a digital code which, when applied to the appropriate capacitor array, sets the array capacitance to compensate for the difference between the measured RC product and the nominal design value.

Abstract: An optical fiber storage reel has a central axis of rotation and a plurality of arcuate surface members extending radially and spaced about the axis of rotation. Each arcuate surface has a radius of curvature that is equal to or greater than the critical bend radius of the optical fiber. The arcuate surfaces are spaced from the axis of rotation a distance such that a cable wound on the reel has a substantially straight line path between the arcuate surfaces, with the sum total of the straight line distances being sufficient to reduce the false loss readings on the cable which can occur when a cable is wound upon a circular drum or hub.

Abstract: Transmitting changes to its routing information by a switch node to other switch nodes that are directly connected to the switch node. No information is transmitted if there has been no change in the routing information. In addition, the switch nodes each transmit their routing information at different times as determined by the identification number of the switch node. The exchange of routing information is controlled by a low level software layer.

Abstract: A strain relief boot for attachment to an optical fiber or fiber containing cable has a mounting section and a tapered section extending therefrom with a smooth bore extending to the exit end of the tapered section. The exit or distal end of the tapered section has formed therein a curved funnel shaped portion, the curve of which is faired into the bore. The radius of curvature of the funnel is greater than the critical bend radius of the fiber or fiber cable and protects the fiber or cable exiting the boot from bending too sharply. The tapered section has a plurality of transverse slots which increase flexibility of the tapered section, but which limit the bend radius thereof under side loading to a value greater than the critical bend radius of the fiber or fiber cable. The mounting section is formed with a ridge or ridges for effectively attaching the boot to a connector.

Abstract: In a power converter having a power train that includes a power switch and a rectifier for conducting forward currents from the power switch, a circuit for, and method of, reducing switching losses associated with the power train. The circuit includes: (1) an auxiliary switch and an inductor coupled to the power train that reduce a switching loss associated with the power switch and (2) an impedance element series-coupled to the rectifier that reduces a change in current through the rectifier thereby decreasing a reverse recovery current flowing therethrough.

Abstract: An LED drive circuit comprising a plurality of LEDs coupled together in parallel, the LEDs configured to be powered by a battery. A current source coupled to the LEDs provides a current signal level for driving the LEDs. A current sensor circuit is coupled to the current source and is configured to provide a first indication signal in response to the current signal flowing in the LEDs. A controller circuit is coupled to the current sensor so as to receive the indication signal. The controller circuit is further coupled to the current source so as to provide an appropriate control signal to the current source so that the current drawn through the LEDs remains substantially at a desired level.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for presenting a viewer with an overall representation of the present number of entertainment programs available for selection given one week of program schedule data for 300 or more channels and one or more filtering criteria to limit the number of items represented in the overall representation. Sequentially applied filters will filter the group of program schedule data items that has at least 100,000 half hour time slots offered by 300 channels each week into a smaller subgroup where individual consideration of each item of the subgroup can be made in a reasonable time. A set top box drives the display of overall representations or results of filtering criteria on a commercial TV set. Once a reasonable sized subgroup is obtained, other displays provide specific information of the program offerings of the subgroup.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit device is described in which fluorine ions are implanted into the patterned photoresist and the exposed polysilicon layer prior to etching the polysilicon. The ion implantation minimizes the chemical reaction between the photoresist and etchant, thereby significantly reducing the formation of polysilicon etch delta, and also significantly reducing etch delta variation due to pattern density variations.

Abstract: A method of semiconductor fabrication which permits the creation of openings which have dimensions smaller than what may be achieved by conventional lithography. In an illustrative processing sequence, a pattern transfer material is deposited upon another material layer. The pattern transfer material is covered with photoresist which is subsequently patterned. With the patterned photoresist as a mask, the pattern transfer material is etched with a process which creates inward sloping walls. Then the pattern transfer material is used as a mask to etch the underlying material. The inward sloping walls of the pattern transfer material permit creation of an opening in the underlying material which is smaller than the corresponding opening in the photoresist. The method may also be used to create trenches or field oxides which have dimensions smaller than those achievable by lithography.

Abstract: A method of efficient branch metric computation for a Viterbi convolutional decoder wherein a reduced and optimized set of branch metrics is distributed among one or more base sets is provided. A sequence of data transformations and associations are defined according to the connections of the delay elements in the convolutional encoder to its outputs. Each encoder state is associated with one of the base sets and one of several groups of path metric equations. During the add portion of the add-compare-select phase of Viterbi decoding, a branch metric value is extracted from the base set associated with the encoder state being evaluated. The group of path metric equations associated with state being evaluated are evaluated using the extracted branch metric value. The results of the addition are then be processed according to the remaining steps of the Viterbi algorithm.

Abstract: A circuit for stabilizing the gain-bandwidth product of analog circuits containing bipolar devices which determine the gm is disclosed. The stabilization circuit is formed to generate a reference current that is proportional to a reference capacitance C.sub.S and the thermal voltage V.sub.T. The reference current is ultimately mirrored (as the bias current) into the bipolar devices which determine the gm within the analog circuit. Since the transconductance gm of a bipolar device can be expressed as collector current, I.sub.C, divided by V.sub.T, the thermal voltage factor of the bias current itself will "cancel" the thermal voltage factor present in the transconductance. The effects related to the remaining variable, the capacitance, will be eliminated as long as the reference capacitance is formed to "track" the analog circuit capacitance by using similar types of capacitance to implement both capacitors and forming both the stabilization circuit and the analog circuit on the same silicon chip.

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: An apparatus and method of implementing an equalizer filter configuration including a plurality of memory blocks and a plurality of filter blocks. The respective pluralities of memory blocks and filter blocks are coupled so that the equalizer filter configuration has the capability to process input signal samples. The input signal samples include signal samples selected from the group consisting essentially of complex-valued signal samples and real-valued signal samples.

Abstract: Measuring and setting techniques for relative component orientations and separations is accomplished by projecting a coherent light beam into one end of a gap formed between facing surfaces of adjacent components. This light beam projection causes a corresponding light ray pattern to be projected out of an opposite end of the gap. The arrangement of light rays in the resulting pattern is indicative of the relative positions of, and distance between, the facing surfaces. Such a projected pattern is used for determining the relative positions between adjacent components, alone, or as feedback for adjusting such component positions to achieve a desired orientation and/or separation distance between the components.

Abstract: A boost power converter for powering a load with an AC source is disclosed. The boost power converter comprises an AC to DC conversion circuit, a resonator, and a boost circuit. The resonator includes an energy storage device and a resonant circuit, and alternately applies energy from the energy storage device to the resonant circuit for powering the load. The AC to DC conversion circuit generates a DC signal in response to the AC source. The boost circuit includes a choke for receiving the DC signal, a rectifier for electrically coupling the choke to the energy storage device, and a switching device for selectively coupling the choke to the resonant circuit for charging and discharging the choke. The resonator operates in full resonant mode with zero voltage switching. The boost power converter is well-suited for ballast applications that drive a fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A hinged mask and a method for its use in manufacturing MEMS device are disclosed. According to the invention, the hinged mask and a portion of the MEMS device are formed at the same time on a support. Openings are formed in the mask, the openings defining a pattern that is transferable in the form of a patterned layer. After release of the MEMS device, the hinged mask is rotated out-of-plane about 180.degree. to lie on top of the MEMS device. The hinged mask is used as a micro-sized shadow mask to deposit a patterned film of arbitrary composition on the MEMS device. Since the hinged plate is formed by the original lithography, it is aligned to the MEMS device with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacture therefor. The semiconductor device includes: (1) a substrate having a recess therein, (2) an aluminum-alloy layer located over at least a portion of the substrate and filling at least a portion of the recess and (3) a protective metal layer at least partially diffused in the aluminum-alloy layer, the metal protective layer having a high affinity for oxygen and acting as a sacrificial target for oxygen during a reflow of the aluminum-alloy layer.

Abstract: A controller for a power switch having an isolated control terminal and coupled to a secondary winding of a drive transformer and a method of preventing spurious turn-on of the power switch. The controller includes: (1) a controllable switch, coupled between the secondary winding and the power switch, that alters a control voltage of the power switch in response to a characteristic of the secondary winding, and (2) a bias circuit coupled to the controllable switch and the power switch that provides a voltage differential between the controllable switch and the power switch to prevent spurious turn-on thereof.

Abstract: A DC termination device particularly adapted for use in a device coupled to a two wire telecommunications system. The termination device controls the tip-to-ring current through the telecommunications device by means of a voltage controlled current source. The control voltage for the voltage controlled current source is provided by digital signal processing of the tip-to-ring voltage such that the tip-to-ring current is linearly proportional to the tip-to-ring voltage when the voltage is below a specified threshold level, but is maintained constant when the tip-to-ring voltage is over the threshold voltage. Preferably, the constant current is the minimum adequate current needed for operation.