Abstract: The specification describes techniques for applying under bump metallization (UBM) for solder bump interconnections on interconnection substrates. The UBM of the invention comprises a Cu, Cu/Cr, Cr multilayer structure. Problems in etching the Cu/Cr layer are overcome using a high pH etchant containing a copper complexing ingredient to prevent passivation of the copper constituent by the chromium etchant solution. With the availability of this etchant the UBM multilayer can be formed using subtractive techniques.

Abstract: A multicasting method transmits data segments, including one or more data packets, over an established global multicast tree from a Sender S to a dynamically changing set of receivers, including at least one unknown Receiver R. In response to a data segment transmission, the Sender S receives a first status signal from the at least one unknown Receiver R (and/or any known Designated Receivers DRs) indicating the addition of and packet reception status of the unknown Receiver R (and/or any known Designated Receivers DRs) which has joined the multicast. In response to the status signals, the Sender S retransmits to the unknown Receiver R (and/or any known Designated Receivers DRs) those packets not received thereat. In this manner the unknown Receiver R (and/or any known Designated Receivers DRs) is added to the multicast session and retransmissions thereto are handled in the same manner as other receivers connected to the multicast session.

Abstract: A system for providing a wireless connection from a cell site to its own operations and maintenance panel (OMP). A new unit is built into a cell site on the radio shelf that includes features of a cellular telephone. Such unit includes a modem so that a laptop or other type of computer may be plugged in. This system operates in a plurality of modes, so that it can communicate with any or all of the wireless telecommunication system types (such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA), and frequency ranges (i.e, 850 MHz and microwave). While the system is installation, the wireless telephone unit can communicate with another type of wireless system. However, once the system comes on line, the unit can communicate with other cell sites in the area from its own system, thus reducing the cost of maintenance. Furthermore, such a system can be used for informing the OMP of alarms such as an intruder alarm, etc.

Abstract: A passive cascaded low-pass and high-pass filter comprises a conductive ferrite block (100) for filtering out some and not others of the frequencies of a multi-frequency electrical signal, and a pair of electrical contacts (101) on the block for connecting the unfiltered signal to the block and connecting the filtered signal from the block. The filter characteristic depends upon the ferrite's stoichiometry, but is independent of the ferrite's geometry. Signal attenuation caused by the filter evenly across the whole frequency range can be varied by varying the stress between one or both contacts and the block, via various stress-inducing mechanisms (400, 500).

Abstract: The system of the invention consists of a central office service unit (COSU) connected to a plurality of switching systems via dedicated telemetry trunks or a common channel signaling network such as the CCS7 network. The switching systems are connected to a plurality of inbound-only TIUs located on the customer premise that are in turn connected to customer devices such as utility meters, appliances, security systems or the like. The TIUs are inbound-only that can originate calls but cannot answer calls initiated by the controlling entity. A controlling entity, such as a utility, is connected to one of the switching systems over a customer line such that the controlling entity can be connected to any TIU hosted by the switching systems. The controlling entity requests that an alerting tone be sent by the COSU to a desired TIU. The COSU, as is known in the art, delivers an alert tone through a suppressed ringing connection to the TIU that does not audibly ring the customer's telephone.

Abstract: The maximum wait time for callers in a call center (FIG. 10) is lowered by selecting, for an agent (25) who has just become available to handle a call, a highest-priority waiting call that would most likely wait the longest if it were not selected at this time. Anticipated wait times are computed for the calls at the heads of the non-empty highest-priority call queues that correspond to the agent's skills or splits (202-210). The anticipated wait time of a call is computed as the call's present (elapsed) wait time plus the average rate of advance of calls in the call's queue (210). The call with the longest anticipated wait time is then selected first and is assigned to the available agent for handling (212-216). The process is repeated each time that any agent becomes available.

Abstract: A right angle adaptor for a straight coaxial jack having a jack body (10) and at least one jack terminal (48) extending axially from a base of the jack body. The adaptor includes an adaptor board having at least one jack terminal opening for receiving a jack terminal that extends axially from a base of a coaxial jack body. The adaptor board (200) has at least one adaptor terminal (48) mount, and a conductive path that electrically connects the adaptor terminal mount to a corresponding jack terminal opening in the adaptor board. At least one adaptor terminal has one end part electrically connected to an adaptor terminal mount on the adaptor board, and an opposite end part of the adaptor terminal extends substantially parallel to the adaptor board for connection with an outside board.

Abstract: An optical fiber protected from degradation caused by corrosion from environmental fluids. The optical fiber includes a core-cladding assembly surrounded with a thin quasi metal oxide film (preferably .about.10 nm in depth). Over time, particularly under the influence of the elevated temperatures, the initially deposited reagents of the thin film oxidize or hydrolyze, removing the organic components, and bonding a quasi metal oxide film on the surface of the cladding. The resulting film significantly retards corrosion by blocking the environmental fluids from reacting with flaws in the cladding surface of the fiber, thus improving the mechanical performance and reliability of the optical fiber. In addition, the thin film protects the fiber against incidental abrasions.

Abstract: A protectively packaged connector for connecting multiple conductors is disclosed. The connector has multiple parts, each of which is provided with a protective covering of heat shrink thermoplastic film. The connector is assembled in the normal manner but with the film in place. This protects the connector from outside contaminants and is especially useful for filled connectors which readily attract contaminants because of the sticky waterproof filling compound.

Abstract: A cable 20 of this invention includes at least one core 22 comprising a plurality of coated optical fibers 25 and a filling material 26 which is disposed about the fibers 25. Typically, the fibers 25 and the filling material 26 are disposed within a tubular member 28 which is disposed within a sheath system 27. The sheath system 27 may include longitudinally extending strength members 30 in addition to a plastic jacket 32. The filling material made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is one which comprises at least two different hydrocarbons as an oil constituent and/or two different fumed silicas as part of a thickening agent. The hydrocarbon(s) may be a synthetic oil such as polyalphaolefin, for example, or a mineral oil, or a combination of synthetic oils and/or mineral oils. The combination of oils is used to help low temperatures properties as well as better incorporate a gelling system which may include a copolymer. A copolymer is used mainly to reduce oil separation.

Abstract: A process for forming a silicon oxynitride layer in an N.sub.2 atmosphere is disclosed. The silicon oxynitride layer is formed by heating a silicon substrate in an N.sub.2 atmosphere for a period of time that is sufficient to form a nitrided layer with a nitrogen content of at least about 5.times.10.sup.13 atoms/cm.sup.2 therein. Afterward, the substrate is further oxidized in an oxygen containing atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to form a silicon oxynitride layer on the substrate with a thickness of at least about 1 nm and a nitrogen content of at least about 5.times.10.sup.13 atoms/cm.sup.2 on the wafer.

Abstract: A transaction center including a transaction processing platform having an automatic call distribution system for queuing customer transaction requests, for choosing an appropriate service agent according to information gathered about the transaction requests, and for determining when the appropriate service agent is available. Also provided is a transaction request server for receiving and storing the transaction requests. In operation, the message is first received and stored by the transaction request server. Next, the presence of the message is detected and in response thereto a signal is sent to the transaction processing platform. Finally, the message is sent to the appropriate service agent in response to a signal from the transaction processing platform indicating that the appropriate service agent is available to service the transaction request.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an amplifier having an enhanced feedforward arrangement. In a typical operational amplifier output stage of this type, conventional feedforward arrangements comprise one or more active electrical components coupled between the second stage amplifying transistor and the negative output driver. The enhanced feedforward arrangement includes a resistor connected between the second stage amplifying transistor and the negative voltage source and a second resistor connected between the second stage amplifying transistor and the negative output driver. Alternatively, a capacitor is connected in parallel with the second resistor. In this manner, feedforward arrangements according to embodiments of the invention advantageously provide stable, enhanced frequency response, including high frequency response, e.g., above approximately 10 kHz, using economically advantageous passive rather than active electrical components.

Abstract: A low-complexity method and apparatus for performing waveform interpolation in a low bit-rate WI speech decoder, wherein interpolation between received waveforms is performed with use of spline coefficients generated based thereupon. Specifically, two signals are received from a WI encoder, each comprising a set of frequency domain parameters representing a speech signal segment of a corresponding pitch period. Then, spline coefficients are generated from each of the received signals, wherein each set of spline coefficients comprises a spline representation of a time domain transformation of the corresponding set of frequency domain parameters. Finally, the decoder interpolates between the spline representations to generate interpolated time domain data which is used to synthesize a reconstructed speech signal. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the time scale of at least one of the spline representations is modified to enable the interpolation therebetween.

Abstract: Detection of the existence, magnitude, and frequency of occurrence of a plurality of ESD events is achieved by using an envelope detector to process signals generated by ESD events and received by an antenna. The ESD event detector includes an antenna for producing a signal waveform in response to electromagnetic fields incident thereupon, a demodulator coupled to the antenna for generating an envelope waveform that is related to the envelope of the signal waveform, a threshold window discriminator coupled to the demodulator for generating an indication signal if the envelope detected by the demodulator has a magnitude between a first and a second threshold, and a counter coupled to the threshold window discriminator for counting the number of indication signals received from the threshold window detector.

Abstract: It has been found that a Ga-oxide-containing layer is substantially not etched in HF solution if the layer is a Ga-Gd-oxide with Gd:Ga atomic ratio of more than about 1:7.5, preferably more than 1:4 or even 1:2. This facilitates removal of a protective dielectric (typically SiO.sub.2) layer after an ohmic contact anneal, with the Ga-Gd-oxide gate oxide layer serving as etch stop and not being adversely affected by contact with the HF etchant. Gd-Ge-oxide also exhibits a composition-dependent etch rate in HCl:H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: A four quadrant flyback converter, employable as part of a ringing signal generator, includes: (1) a transformer having first and second primary windings of opposite polarity and a secondary winding, (2) first and second switches that alternatively couple the first and second windings, respectively, to a source of DC input power and (3) a bidirectional switch coupling the secondary winding to an output of the converter, the first, second and bidirectional switches switchable to provide a continuous waveform at the output.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and method for making a DRAM in which the capacitive elements are fabricated to be planar or nearly planar and to be located above the metal regions (M1) that connect the sources and drains of the transistor through conductive windows (W1). Embodiments of the invention fabricate the DRAM by forming a transistor on a suitable substrate in the appropriate manner and depositing a first oxide layer that is subsequently planarized by suitable technique. A window is then formed within the oxide layer and a conductive plug is formed within the window. A first patterned metal region, which functions as a memory cell bit line or as a coupler between conductive plugs, is then formed on the oxide layer. A second oxide layer is formed thereon and appropriate windows and conductive plugs are formed therein. Then, a capacitor is formed thereon in a planar or near planar configuration. A second patterned metal region is formed on the capacitor.

Abstract: Measurement accuracy provided by an optical system that uses a beam splitter is maintained, by containing the beam splitter inside a housing and supplying a dry purge gas to the interior of the housing in the region of the beam splitter while the beam splitter acts on a light source of the optical system. Also, certain portions of the beam splitter where an adhesive mounting compound is applied, are masked from the light source thus avoiding contamination of the beam splitter and degradation in measurement performance of the optical system.

Abstract: The specification describes a thermocompression bonding process using anisotropic conductive film (ACF) bonding material in which the bonding pads are shaped to prevent depletion of conductive particles in the bonding region during compression. The process is useful in bump technology for interconnecting component assemblies on substrates such as glass, printed wiring boards, etc. The shaped structure can be made using photodefinable polymer strips around the bonding pads where the strips are thicker than the bonding pad. Alternative approaches to shaping one or both of the mating conductive surfaces are disclosed.