Abstract: For use in a boost converter having first and second boost switches coupled in parallel, a snubber for, and method of, improving current sharing between the first and second boost switches. In one embodiment, the snubber includes: (1) first and second snubber inductors, series-coupled with the first and second boost switches, respectively, that limit a flow rate of the electrical current in the first and second switches, respectively, as a function of a rate of the flow and (2) a conductive path, including a first zener diode coupled to a first node between the first snubber inductor and the first boost switch and a second zener diode coupled to a second node between the second snubber inductor and the second boost switch, that conducts a turn-off energy of said first and second boost switches from the first and second nodes toward an output of the boost converter.

Abstract: A method or apparatus for offering multiple switch access to selected lines and trunks of a multiple telecommunications switch complex. The selected lines and trunks are connected to peripheral units whose outputs are distributed by a network to a group of switches. The switches are interconnected by a second network. Advantageously, the selected lines can be served by several switches so that the failure of one switch does not deprive these lines of service. Advantageously, the two networks and the group of switches form a giant switch having high reliability.

Abstract: Errors or failures in a transmission system (10) can be accurately predicted by a system (18) which processes error or failure data collected by the transmission system during uniform intervals to yield data indicative of the errors or failures during each of a plurality of non-uniform, overlapping intervals. The errors or failures measured during the non-uniform intervals are selectively weighted and summed within a neural network (22), trained with historical error or failure data, to yield a set of predictions, each representing the predicted number of errors or failures during each non-uniform interval. The predictions from the neural network (22) are then thresholded by a control unit (24) and used to raise an alarm which signals the possibility of error or failure in the transmission system.

Abstract: Quantum carrier confinement in a wire-like region defined by intersecting layers is significantly enhanced by various structural modifications of a conventional quantum wire device. In that way, operation of the device at room temperature and above is made feasible.

Abstract: A method of suppressing damage to gate dielectrics by reducing the electrical field across the gate dielectric during plasma etching, photoresist stripping, or plasma assisted deposition of the overlying conductor to be etched. Openings in the gate oxide in the vicinity of the gates to be formed place the two conductive layers in contact with each other before the gates are formed and allows for the underlying conductive layer (usually the substrate) to be exposed to the plasma as the overlying unmasked conductive layer (usually polysilicon) is etched away. Preferably, the layer to be etched is deposited to be in contact with the underlying layer at the openings. This technique is applicable to integrated capacitor structures and other susceptible structures with a dielectric layer between two conductors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining one or more characteristics of a singular circuit, allowing such circuits to be efficiently designed, tested and manufactured. One of the systems includes: (1) a minimum least-squares ("MLS") determination circuit that receives parameters relating to the singular circuit into a matrix A, determines range and null spaces for the matrix A, applies an orthonormalization procedure to determine a solution x to Ax=b', where b' is an orthogonal projection of a known vector b onto the range space of the matrix A and derives an MLS solution from the solution x and (2) a simulation circuit, coupled to the MLS determination circuit, that employs the MLS solution to simulate an operation of the singular circuit and determine the characteristic therefrom.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering a complex, spatially-modulated incident beam of light from a spatial light modulator to gain access to data locations in a holographic memory cell (HMC). One of the systems includes (1) a primary beam steering system that receives the incident beam of light from the spatial light modulator and produces a resulting beam of light, wherein the primary beam steering system traverses the resulting beam of light across a plane of the HMC in increments having a first magnitude and 2) a fine-control translation mechanism, coupled to the spatial light modulator, that translates the spatial light modulator relative to the primary beam steering system to cause the resulting beam of light to traverse the plane of the HMC in increments having a second magnitude smaller than the first magnitude.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for computing branch metrics that are combinations of autocorrelation and cross correlation terms are constructed by first calculating and storing components of the autocorrelation and cross correlation terms at a symbol instant. Once calculated and stored, predetermined ones of the autocorrelation components and the cross correlation components are selected. The selected autocorrelation components and cross correlation components, or their inverse as predetermined, are combined to produce a branch metric. Other predetermined combinations of the stored components of autocorrelation and cross correlation terms, or their inverse, are combined to produce other branch metrics at the same symbol instant. All branch metrics associated with the symbol instant can be calculated in this manner.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a circuit analyzer includes determining a plurality of initial technology parameters characterizing the circuit according to a timing model of the circuit. A delay along an entire logic path of the circuit is expressed as a function of the technology parameters. A benchmark set of circuit paths is determined which has fixed topology, device sizes, and wire capacitances. The technology parameters are then optimized to minimize error over the set of circuit paths to obtain optimized parameters for use in the timing model. The optimized technology parameters minimize the average error for the benchmark set of paths relative to SPICE or physical measurements. Average error is significantly reduced on a representative set of paths when compared to the conventional approach of separately measuring each parameter.

Abstract: A method for scaling-up an existing and successfully operating telecommunication system to an increased capability telecommunication system by using newer, higher performance components while keeping as much of the original software and hardware architecture as possible. To provide this scaling capability a detailed modeling method is disclosed which allows individual attention to each process of the original software to determine the impact of scaling on key performance parameters such as cycle time. With this method re-use levels of 80-90% of the existing software have been achieved when moving to increased capability telecommunication systems. This re-use means scaled-up systems will have lower development costs and lower risk of software error since a great majority of the software has already been tested and corrected. The model also allows big problems to be discovered and solved in the laboratory instead of at a field installation site where costs will be higher and development more complicated.

Abstract: A clock circuit for providing an integrated circuit with a high accuracy, crystal oscillator clock which interfaces to an "off-chip" crystal to provide a high accuracy clock signal while an internal, low power oscillator provides a low power clock source. Either clock may be selected to drive a programmable processor under program control. When high accuracy and stability are required, the crystal oscillator may be chosen as the processor clock, and when lower power is desired, the low power oscillator may be chosen as the processor clock while the high accuracy clock is disabled. The high accuracy oscillator is used to clock a first timer circuit, while the low power oscillator is used to clock a second timer circuit. The second timer circuit output, in turn, is synchronized to the processor clock so that the programmable processor can utilize the second timer circuit even when the processor clock is asynchronous to the second timer circuit.

Abstract: For use with a central database associated with a server of a network, the central database having distributed counterparts stored in volatile memories of clients of the network to allow operations to be performed locally thereon, the central database further having multiple checkpoints and a stable log stored in the server for tracking operations on the central database to allow corresponding operations to be made to the multiple checkpoints, the stable log having tails stored in the volatile memories to track operations on corresponding ones of the distributed counterparts, the distributed counterparts to corruption, a system for, and method of, restoring a distributed counterpart stored in one of the volatile memories.

Abstract: A voice-following video system for dynamically capturing the view of an active speaker includes a video camera, a position control system for the video camera, and one or more voice-activated emitters. A voice-activated emitter is associated with each potential speaker. As a person talks, the associated voice-activated emitter transmits a position signal. The position control system uses the position signal as a beacon to determine the location of the active speaker. The position control system then adjusts the pan and/or tilt of the video camera to bring the active speaker into the field of view and tracks that person's movements. In this manner, as one person stops speaking and another starts, the video camera is automatically repositioned, capturing the view of the active speaker.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protector device designed for insertion in connecting blocks. The device includes a ground connector which has a detent on one end for receiving a ground bar from the connecting block. The other end of the connector contacts the ground electrode of a voltage surge protector element when the ground bar is inserted without any forces supplied by the housing.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of scheduling media segments of varying display rate, length and/or periodicity on at least one clustered, vertically-striped or horizontally-striped continuous media database volume. With respect to the at least one horizontally-striped database volume, one method includes the steps of: (1) associating a display value with each of the media segments, (2) sorting the media segments in a non-increasing order of value density to obtain an ordered list thereof and (3) building a scheduling tree of the media segments, the scheduling tree having a structure that increases a total display value of the media segments.

Abstract: A system for scheduling read-requests for a serpentine data tape. The transit time between arbitrarily selected locations in the tape is not a linear function of distance between the locations. Despite this non-linearity, a model has been developed which accurately predicts such transit times. Using the model, a list of read-requests is re-organized into a sequence requiring a minimal, or at least smaller, total time to execute.

Abstract: For use in a split-boost converter having a DC input, first and second outputs, a power train interposed between the DC input and the first and second outputs, a damped electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter circuit and method of reducing the EMI. In one embodiment, the EMI filter circuit includes (1) an EMI filter interposed between the power train and the second output, the EMI filter subject to oscillation from line disturbances arriving at the DC input and (2) a conductive path, coupling a rail of the second output to the DC input, that routes at least a portion of the line disturbances from the DC input directly to the second output to damp the oscillation of the EMI filter.

Abstract: There is disclosed a laser driver or transmitter in which a drive current is generated by monitoring the temperature of an integrated circuit that generates drive current for the laser. The temperature sensed at the integrated circuit is transformed to a corresponding temperature at the laser. A drive current is generated for the laser that is dependent on the corresponding temperature at the laser.

Abstract: In a DH-PHEMT the channel layer comprises InGaAs and the donor layers comprise In.sub.0.5-q (Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x).sub.0.5+q P in which the mole fraction of Al is in the range of about 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.3. In another embodiment, an InAlGaP layer forms a Schottky barrier gate contact with a barrier height of about 1.0 eV and hence low leakage current. The devices exhibit high 2DEG density, current drivability, and breakdown voltage, making them suitable for low voltage application such as battery-powered, portable wireless equipment. The Schottky barrier contact may be used in devices other than HEMTs.

Abstract: An isolated flyback secondary inductor converter (IFSIC) and method of operation thereof. The IFSIC has a transformer with a primary winding for receiving electrical energy from a source of electrical power and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding. The IFSIC also has a switch for intermittently coupling the transformer to the source of electrical power. The IFSIC includes a series-coupled inductor and diode coupled in parallel with the secondary winding to provide a path for the energy from the transformer when the transistor is ON, allowing the energy to be stored in the inductor rather than in the transformer.