Abstract: Emulating human faculties of sight, image, and hand control by a testing system to interact with a multimedia switching system. The testing system can control a multimedia video unit by the transmission of infrared command signals emulating a user actuating buttons on a hand-held infrared transmitter unit to verify that the system responds correctly to such actuations. Also, the testing system can analyze quality of images to be transmitted, transmit those images through the switching system via user multimedia video units, receive those signals at other user multimedia video units, and analyze the quality of the resulting video images. Further, the testing system can place varying levels of multimedia traffic through the multimedia switching system. Further, the testing system can test call control performed by the multimedia switching system by utilizing an infrared transmitter unit to place and receive calls.

Abstract: A method for automatically updating a central local number portability (LNP) database shared among a plurality of central office switches is instigated when a message from a provisioning system to add a directory number is received by a central office switch. In response to the message, a first central office switch accesses the central LNP database by sending a query message which contains the directory number to be added and routing data specific to the central office switch. Responsive to the query message, the LNP database searches for the directory number received from the first central office switch. If the directory number is found, the database queries a second central office switch to determine if the directory number is in use. If the number is in use, the central LNP database returns a failure message to the first central office switch.

Abstract: An organic laser according to the invention comprises an electrically pumped source of incoherent radiation with organic active region, and further comprises a waveguide structure that receives the incoherent radiation. The core of the waveguide comprises organic material that absorbs the incoherent radiation and emits coherent radiation of longer wavelength. The laser forms a unitary structure, with the source of incoherent radiation being close to the waveguide core, exemplarily less than 10.lambda. from the core, where .lambda. is the laser wavelength. Exemplarily the laser is embodied in a planar waveguide laser, in a microdisk laser, or in a laser comprising a photonic bandgap structure.

Abstract: A Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed (WDM) network provides delivery of both switched services and broadcast analog video over optical facilities through an intermediate optical apparatus (e.g., Passive Optical Network (PON)) splitter to a plurality of remote optical apparatuses (e.g., optical-network units (ONUs)). The broadcast signal is provided to only a selected ONU, together with the switched service signal for that selected ONU, the selected ONU then distributes the broadcast signal to other ONUs over a separate distribution facility interconnecting the ONUs.

Abstract: A process for device fabrication and resist materials that are used in the process are disclosed. The resist material contains a polymer in combination with a dissolution inhibitor and a photoacid generator (PAG). The dissolution inhibitor is the condensation reaction product of a saturated polycyclic hydrocarbon compound with at least one hydroxy (OH) substituent and a difunctional saturated linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon compound wherein the functional groups are either carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid chloride groups. The condensation product has at least two polycylic moieties. The polymer optionally has acid labile groups pendant thereto which significantly decrease the solubility of the polymer in a solution of aqueous base. A film of the resist material is formed on a substrate and exposed to delineating radiation.

Abstract: A single-mode stabilized laser comprises a laser cavity having a round trip time .tau..sub.r and a linewidth enhancement parameter .alpha.; and a frequency routing device formed in the laser cavity comprising controllable frequency selective pathways such that selective gating of the frequency selective pathways causes selected lasing frequencies to be supported in the laser cavity separated by a frequency spacing .DELTA.F.sub.C, .DELTA.F.sub.C =1/.tau..sub.r. The frequency routing device has an optical grating having unequal length waveguides to form paths. The optical grating has arms, a time delay .tau..sub.f between the longest path and the shortest path, and a grating bandwidth .DELTA.F.sub.F, .DELTA.F.sub.F =1/.tau..sub.f, at least one of (1) .alpha. and (2) .tau..sub.r and .tau..sub.f having sufficient value to stabilize the laser in single-mode operation.

Abstract: A gate contact to a field effect transistor is opened over the source/drain region by forming polysilicon plugs between the gate structure, which has a nitride top layer, and the field oxide regions. The contacts are formed by oxidizing and etching the gate structure and the polysilicon plugs. An oxide layer may be deposited prior to the etching. The latter step opens a gate contact but does not expose the silicon in the plug because the different oxidation rates of the polysilicon plug and the material on top of the gate structure create oxide layers having different thicknesses. The nitride is now removed and contacts formed to the gate structure.

Abstract: A Multi-Code (MC) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) receiver receives N (where N>1) encoded signal channels over multiple air signal paths. The MC-CDMA receiver receives and demodulates the N encoded signal channels into N signal samples and includes a common circuit for time-sharing an accumulator, for accumulating the N signal samples, among a plurality of second correlators. Each of the plurality of second correlator means utilizes the time-shared accumulator to accumulate samples from each of the N signals which are then decoded into an associated one of the N signal channels.

Abstract: The propagation of very high frequency signals, e.g., 8 to 10 GHz, via a path printed on a printed wiring board is enhanced by arranging the path so that it simulates a high-quality transmission path at very high frequencies. The path comprises a conventional lead and a series of microstrips, in which the design of the microstrips is optimized to (a) minimize insertion loss and group delay distortion, (b) maximize return loss, and (c) minimize pulse distortion.

Abstract: The specification describes a refractive lens for focusing cold neutrons. It comprises a plurality of concave lens elements made from materials with low neutron absorption.

Abstract: A dense waveguide division multiplexer (DWDM) is integrated on a single chip with a plurality of tunable attenuators that are connected in series to the output waveguides of the DWDM in order to equalize the power level on the output waveguides. In the preferred embodiment, the attenuators are thermo-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer (TMZs) with a tunable range of 0 to 6 dB and a response time of approximately 1-10 milliseconds (ms). A heat sink is attached to the back of the chip to dissipate the heat from the TMZs and to reduce thermal crosstalk. In order to achieve a 3 dB loss on one of the output waveguides via the corresponding TMZ attenuator, approximately 0.25 W is required. In an alternative embodiment, the attenuators are variable stress Mach-Zehnder interferometers (VSMZs).

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical detection system for detecting defects in an optical fiber. The system comprises a light source for projecting a beam of light onto the coating layer of an optical fiber. An optical detector positioned adjacent the optical fiber receives a first light ray reflected at the interface of the air and the coating layer as the light enters the coating layer surrounding the optical fiber and a second light ray reflected at the interface of the air and the coating layer as the light exits the coating layer after passing through the optical fiber. When a defect, such as an airline, for example, is present in the optical fiber, a third light ray is reflected by the defect and is detected by the optical detector. A signal processor is electrically coupled to the optical detector for receiving an output signal from the optical detector and for processing the output signal to determine whether or not one or more defects have been detected.

Abstract: There is disclosed an integrated circuit including a programmable driver circuit having first and second transistors. Each of the first and second transistors has first, second and third terminals. The first terminal of each of the first and second transistors are coupled together to form an input node. The second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a power node. A third terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a first intermediate node. The second terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a second intermediate node. The third terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a reference potential. A first switch having at least one input is coupled between the first and second intermediate nodes. Third and fourth transistors each having first, second and third terminals. The first terminal of the third transistor is coupled to a third intermediate node. The first terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second intermediate node.

Abstract: There is disclosed, an optical subassembly includes a platform on which a laser and photodiode are mounted. The laser has a rear facet through which passes a small portion of the light emitted by the laser. The photodiode is mounted on the surface of the platform with a light admitting facet for receiving a portion of the light emitted from the rear facet of the laser being substantially perpendicular to the light emitting facet of the laser. The surface of the platform may include a channel. The channel may be tapered from a narrower end near the laser to a wider end near the photodiode, and may be coated with a light-reflective material.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) damping device includes two concentric coils or groups of coils arranged to produce respective magnetic fields that mutually cancel substantially everywhere but within the gap between them. The rheological properties of the MRF are magnetically controlled within this gap. According to a second aspect of the invention, the piston rod of a MRF damper or other viscous fluid damper communicates its motion to a hollow, capped cylinder. Damping fluid within this cylinder communicates via a narrow channel with damping fluid outside of this cylinder. When the piston rod undergoes motions directed so as to expel fluid from the interior of the cylinder, resistance within the narrow channel causes pressure to build up within the cylinder, but prevents any substantial amount of pressure from building up without the cylinder, thus isolating sealing devices from the highest resistive forces generated within the damping fluid.

Abstract: A radio communication device, suitable for use in a portable computer, is capable of operating at any one of a set of common frequencies which are legally permissible in all countries (or a set of countries) and at any frequency on which it detects that a transmission of its own type is being used for a transmission from another device. Thus, users can legally operate the device in different countries, while manufacturers can obtain certification for use in those countries. If the user attempts to select a frequency which is not one of the common frequencies nor detected by transmission, an indication that such frequency is not available is provided to the user.

Abstract: A self aligned contact to the substrate in the region between two gate electrodes is formed by depositing a conformal dielectric layer and patterning to form a contact window. The conductive elements of the gate electrode are not contacted because of etch rate differentials between the conformal dielectric and the insulating elements of the gate structure.

Abstract: A vacuum collet for handling semiconductor piece parts is formed to include a plurality of separate vacuum ports, disposed in proximity to one another. By selectively turning the vacuum ports "on" and "off", with only one vacuum port turned "on" at a time, a semiconductor chip may be articulated through various 90.degree. rotations to provide the orientation required for placement of the semiconductor chip on a final assembly.

Abstract: For use in a power converter having a controlled full bridge coupled to a transformer, the bridge delivering power received from an input of the power converter to a primary winding of the transformer, a circuit for, and method of decreasing conducted and radiated electromagnetic interference of the power converter. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a switching circuit, coupled across at least a portion of the primary winding, that closes to short the portion as a function of a state of the full bridge to stabilize a voltage level of the primary winding and reduce ringing caused by the intrinsic capacitance, thereby decreasing the conducted and radiated electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: A method for determining the endpoint of a plasma etch process is disclosed. The endpoint of the plasma etch process is determined using an acoustic cell attached to an exhaust port on a reaction chamber of a plasma reactor. At least a portion of the gas from the reaction chamber flows into the acoustic cell during the plasma etch process. Acoustic signals are periodically transmitted through the gas flowing in the acoustic cell and a first velocity for the acoustic signals associated with etching a first material layer formed on a substrate is determined. Thereafter, the endpoint of the plasma etch step is determined when the first velocity changes to a second velocity associated with etching the first material layer through its thickness to its interface with an underlying material layer. The gas from the reaction chamber optionally flows through a compressor prior to flowing into the acoustic cell. The compressor increases the pressure of the gas that flows into the acoustic cell.