Abstract: A refractory dielectric body is heated with a plasma torch at conditions which do not result in substantial removal of a surface portion of the body, yet which are sufficient to reduce both surface and bulk impurities. Typically, the body is solid, e.g., a rod as opposed to a tube, and is treated with the plasma in the absence of simultaneous deposition of material onto the body. Advantageously, an isothermal plasma torch is utilized, and the torch advantageously produces an oxygen or oxygen-containing plasma. The invention is useful for reducing chlorine impurities by at least about 30% to a depth of at least about 10 .mu.m, with accompanying reduction of hydroxyl impurities. The invention thus provides a useful method for reducing the concentration of impurities that contribute to imperfections during the process of drawing fiber from an optical fiber preform, without requiring substantial removal of the surface of the preform.

Abstract: An equalizer/decoder for a communication channel presenting impairments to error-free reception of transmitted symbols includes a modified Viterbi decoder operating on samples of received signals in a plurality of equivalent subchannels. Estimates of each of the subchannels are updated using a locally best estimate in the Viterbi trellis processing, thereby avoiding delay in updating channel estimates in a rapidly changing channel such as a digital cellular communications channels. A leaky predictor channel updating technique also proves advantageous in an alternative embodiment.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable splice closure assembly includes a base member and a mating cover which, when assembled, form a hollow splice closure with openings at each end. One or more cable gripping members are located within the closure adjacent the open ends for gripping cables passing through the open ends, and a cable strength member is located adjacent to, and aligned with, the cable gripping member. One or more elongated pedestals extend from the floor of the base member, each having latching means on the distal end thereof. A splice tray adapter plate is latched to the distal end of the pedestal or pedestals, thereby creating a slack fiber storage space below the plate. The adapter plate can pivotally hold two or more standard splice trays on one side thereof, or a discrete or mass splice tray on the reverse side thereof. A race track grommet member having insert receiving members on each end thereof form a sealing means for the closure when the base member and the cover member are clamped together.

Abstract: An insertion loss determination system contactlessly and automatically determines an insertion loss of an optical fiber connector having a domed combination of an optical fiber and a surrounding support ferrule. The system is suitable for a fully automated connector assembly line. In structure, the system comprises (a) a core-to-ferrule eccentricity (CFE) inspection system configured to determine a CFE parameter corresponding with an offset between a fiber center and a ferrule center; (b) a fiber light intensity tester (FLIT) configured to determine a FLIT parameter corresponding with an amount of a reference light that fails to pass through the fiber; and (c) an insertion loss evaluation system configured to determine an insertion loss of the connector based upon the parameters. The evaluation system may further be configured to identify an insertion loss class, for example, very good, good, or bad, based upon the insertion loss.

Abstract: An improved method of coating an optical fiber is disclosed. A transducer is submerged in a container of liquid coating material and activated so that it causes the formation of a wave of coating material within the container. The optical fiber is then drawn through the container and through the wave, the wave counterbalancing the negative meniscus produced by drawing the fiber through the container. A curved housing also may be placed in the container and surrounding the transducer for controlling the size, amplitude, shape, or direction of the wave. A plurality of transducers also advantageously may be used.

Abstract: A chassis for containing electromagnetic interference ("EMI")-generating equipment and methods of operation and manufacturing thereof. The chassis includes: (1) a cabinet having a base wall, the base wall having hinge race slots located along a forward edge thereof, lances between the hinge race slots and the forward edge forming hinge pins and (2) a door having arcuate hinge races extending from a hinge edge thereof and through corresponding ones of the hinge race slots to cooperate with the hinge pins to form hinges for the door. The hinge races have locking tabs extending laterally therefrom. The locking tabs have bent portions preventing the hinge races from being withdrawn from the hinge race slots.

Abstract: A hybrid chip having at least two different types of semiconductor devices co-located on a common substrate, and a method therefor, are disclosed. The devices have different multiple epitaxial layer structures so that each different type of device is first grown on a separate appropriately-selected substrate, and then attached to the common substrate. According to the method, a first device is attached to the common substrate using flip-chip bonding methods. Flip-chip bonding involves attaching the device and the substrate at bonding pads, flowing a flowable hardener between the first device and the common substrate and allowing it to harden, and then removing the substrate upon which the first device was grown. The hardener is removed before attaching the second type of device via flip-chip bonding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing ATM network packet type communications to STM frame type communications. This method and apparatus is especially useful for interfacing isochronous ATM cells to STM frames. The apparatus concerns an elastic store which receives ATM cells and sorts them in a set of FIFOs into their respective frames. The FIFO storing and retrieval method removes jitter and delay. A controlled clock within the elastic store clocks reads the information out of the FIFOs and into a STM network.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, a contact and a method of manufacture therefor. The integrated circuit has a silicon substrate with a recess formed therein that provides an environment within which the contact is formed. The contact includes: (1) an adhesion layer deposited on an inner surface of the recess, (2) an amorphous layer, deposited over the adhesion layer within the recess and (3) a central plug, composed of a conductive material, deposited at least partially within the recess, the silicide layer being amorphous to prevent the conductive material from passing through the amorphous silicide layer to contact the adhesion layer thereby to prevent junction leakage.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a circuit includes: at least one differential amplifier. The differential amplifier is coupled in a circuit configuration so that the differential output voltage signal of the differential amplifier circuit includes a scalable second-order harmonic component of the differential input voltage signal applied to the differential amplifier circuit. Briefly, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of applying a differential input voltage signal to a differential amplifier circuit to produce a differential output voltage signal includes the step of: driving the differential amplifier circuit so that the differential output voltage signal of the differential amplifier circuit includes a second-order harmonic component of the differential input voltage signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering an optical path to gain access to data locations in a holographic memory cell (HMC). One of the systems includes: (1) a refractive element that receives a complex, spatially-modulated incident beam of light, (2) first and second reflective elements locatable to receive and reflect the incident beam in a Fresnel region thereof and (3) a reflective element steering mechanism, coupled to the first and second reflective elements, that moves the first and second reflective elements in tandem to steer the incident beam with respect to the HMC thereby to cause the incident beam to illuminate a location on the HMC that is a function of a movement of the first and second reflective elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission system comprising a control circuit which circuit includes a comparator (18, 19, 20; 25 to 29; 46; 50 to 52, 57 to 60) for comparing a first input signal and a second input signal. For reducing the low-frequency phase error, the comparator (18, 19, 20; 25 to 29; 46; 50 to 52, 57 to 60) is provided for changing the state of a first comparing signal derived from the first input signal and/or the state of a second comparing signal derived from the second input signal, or the state of the output signal resulting from a combination of the two comparing signals at instants denoted by an auxiliary signal whose frequency deviates from the frequency of the signal to be changed.

Abstract: The specification describes a method for the manufacture of fluoride glass optical fibers which are covered with a protective coating of phosphate glass. The coating is produced by dipping the fluoride glass preform in a phosphate glass melt prior to drawing the optical fiber. The fluoride glass is ZBLAN. The phosphate glass has a glass transition temperature below 200.degree. C., which allows the dipping step to be carried out at a relatively low temperature where the preform temperature is maintained well below the crystallization temperature of the fluoride glass, and also where the viscosity of the fluoride glass preform is substantially higher than the viscosity of the phosphate glass coating material.

Abstract: The specification describes lightwave systems with remotely powered photoelectric generators. Optical power transmitted through the fiber is incident on a remotely located photodiode array. High power conversion efficiency coupled with a specially designed diode array generates sufficient power to operate electromechanical or electrooptic apparatus in the remote station. Long wavelength photodiodes are serially connected to increase the voltage to practical operating levels. In a communication system, with an optical signal transmitted with the optical power, multiplexers are used for separating the optical power from the optical signal.

Abstract: An article that uses a magnetoresistive material comprising one or more CrO.sub.2 grains having an insulating material, advantageously Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, along at least a portion of the grain boundary or boundaries, the magnetoresistive article advantageously exhibiting a magnetoresistance ratio greater than 12% at 5K and 20 kOe.

Abstract: A boost power converter for powering a load with an AC power source. The boost power converter has an energy storage device, a resonant circuit, a resonator switch circuit, a boost inductor circuit with a boost inductor, and a boost switch circuit. The resonator switch circuit alternately connects the resonant circuit to different sides of the energy storage device, where power from the energy storage device is transferred by the resonant circuit to the load. The boost switch circuit selectively connects the boost inductor to the resonator switch circuit, such that the boost inductor is charged in one of two different directions depending on the phase of the AC power source. The boost power converter is well-suited for ballast applications that drive a fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: A smart card that allows for the categorization of expenses at the time they are incurred and the automatic generation and storage of information concerning the date, payee, and amount of the transaction. A single smart card is utilized to record and categorize transactions as they occur by transaction identities. These transaction identities are business or personal classification, cash, check, or credit card type transactions, and expense categories. The smart card has a alphanumeric display and a keyboard for selecting the class, type, and category. These items are selected by the entry of numbers on the keyboard but textual information is displayed to identify these items in response to the entered numbers. A program in a personal computer is used to specify the class, type, and categories along with the textual information in the smart card via a smart card reader. These specifications correspond to a spreadsheet that has been entered on the personal computer by the user of the smart card.

Abstract: The breakout cable is made up of an arrangement of optical fiber ribbon structures. Arranged above and/or below the optical fibers in each of the ribbon structures are strength members which are preferably made of an aramid fiber, such as KEVLAR. The combined optical fibers and strength members are surrounded by a sheath, which is preferably made of a suitable plastic, such as a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, PVC, low smoke PVC, EVA, FEP, PVDF, and thermoplastic fluoropolymers, thereby forming the high strength, sheathed optical fiber ribbon structure arrangement. A plurality of these individually sheathed ribbon structures can be stacked to form higher density ribbon bundles, or subunits, which can be further surrounded by sheaths.

Abstract: An apparatus for the convenient viewing of scribed numbers upon selected wafers is disclosed. The apparatus supports a wafer cassette and raises predetermined wafers and illuminates the identification numbers scribed thereon.

Abstract: When protected network connections on a connection oriented network are disrupted because a network resource fails (e.g. the severing of a fiber cable upon which multiple links are multiplexed), they must be rerouted around the network failure. This invention expedites this rerouting and permits it to be carried out in a distributed manner similar to conventional routing. Advantageously, the amount of link bandwidth reserved for rerouting of failed connections is reduced relative to conventional methods.For each protected connection, for each anticipated failure condition, a "contingent path" is selected shortly after the connection is established. This contingent path is then used to reroute that connection in the event of the occurrence of that failure condition.