Abstract: A comb splitting system demultiplexes and/or multiplexes a plurality of optical signal channels at various wavelengths. The comb splitting system has at least two interconnected successive stages of wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs). The first stage comprises a Fourier filter that communicates bands of channels to respective WDMs of the second stage via suitable optical paths. Each of the bands has a plurality of the individual channels that are separated by at least one other of the channels. Each second stage WDM, which is allocated to a particular band, is interconnected to respective optical paths for carrying one or more individual channels. Furthermore, in accordance with a significant feature of the present invention, the passband width and periodicity (i.e., free spectral range) associated with the first stage Fourier filter are smaller than the passband width and periodicity associated with the second stage WDMs.

Abstract: A cordless phone configured to operate in both a scrambling mode and non-scrambling mode comprises a base station and a cordless handset terminal. Both the base station and the cordless handset terminal include voice scrambler circuits for scrambling and descrambling audio signals. Each of these voice scrambler circuits includes a bypass switch that when activated is adapted to couple audio signals from the input terminal of each scrambler circuit to the output terminal of each scrambler circuit via a bypass route. When the cordless phone operates in its non-scrambling mode, the audio signals are not affected by the internal circuitry of the voice scrambler circuits, leading to a substantially improved voice quality.

Abstract: An apparatus responds to a video signal representing a succession of frames, where at least one of the frames corresponds to an image of an object, to detect at least a region of the object. The apparatus includes a processor for processing the video signal to detect at least the region of the object characterized by at least a portion of a closed curve and to generate a plurality of parameters associated with the closed curve for use in coding the video signal.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for forming p.sup.+ and n.sup.+ gates on a single substrate. A polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon layer is formed on a substrate with n-type and p-type regions formed therein and with a layer of silicon dioxide formed thereover and the structure is subjected to a low temperature anneal. A layer of metal silicide is then formed over the structure and n-type and p-type dopants are implanted into the resulting structure. A nitrogen implant is performed after the n-type dopant is implanted into the structure. The nitrogen implant reduces the amount to which the p-type dopant diffuses through the silicide layer and into the n.sup.+ gates. A dielectric material is then formed over the structure and patterned, after which the structure is subjected to additional processing steps to form gate stacks over the n-regions and the p-regions of the substrate.

Abstract: An audio coding technique which utilizes a signal adaptive switched filterbank having a first filterbank and a wavelet filterbank. The filterbank switches between the first filterbank and the wavelet filterbank to filter an input signal as a function of the stationarity of the input signal. The first filterbank is utilized to filter stationary signal components. The wavelet filterbank is utilized to filter non-stationary signal components (e.g., attacks).

Abstract: A refractory body having reduced optical attenuation, and a method for making same, is disclosed. A refractory body is exposed to a high-temperature oxygen-containing plasma. A drawing force is applied to the body, elongating the body to form a rod of reduced diameter. The source of the plasma is moved in a direction opposite to the applied drawing force, and, preferably, has a reciprocating component of motion to spread the zone of heating. The method is particularly useful in manufacturing optical fiber core rods having low optical attenuation.

Abstract: A system that has a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to readily define and manipulate a transform function from one attribute, such as numerical value, to another attribute that is more understandable by by the user such as color, size or location. Special two thumb slider controls provide the transform functions. The two thumbs define break points for piecewise linear transform ranges. Further, the center transform range can be manipulated as a unit to show the user what happens if the range is maintained essentially constant but the break points are varied. The aid to visualizing characteristics otherwise hidden in large data sets, such as a monthly telephone bill of a large corporation, is very beneficial.

Abstract: The invention is an image transmitting method and system including receiving encoded images, decoding those images and post-processing the decoded images. The post-processing reduces visual artifacts, such as blocking artifacts and mosquito noise, through separate detection, mapping and smoothing operations while avoiding many of the complexities associated with existing techniques. In detecting blocking artifacts, the inventive method employs DCT-domain detection rather than edge detection in the pixel domain. Also, the interior of a detected block is updated based on the surrounding blocks without disturbing the surrounding blocks. In reducing mosquito noise, the inventive method smooths the non-edge pixels within blocks containing edge pixels rather than smoothing the edge pixels. Also, distortion-induced false edge pixels are distinguished from true edge pixels and heavily smoothed.

Abstract: A method to improve the robustness of an elongated electrode used in an arc fusion apparatus for splicing optical fibers by reshaping the tip of the elongated electrode by electrolytic etching. The method involves reshaping the substantially sharp tip of the elongated electrode by immersing it as the anode in an electrolyte solution, the electrolyte solution is one capable of dissolving an oxidation product of the elongated electrode. Then a second electrode is provided at a predetermined distance from the elongated electrode in the electrolyte solution. Afterward, an electrical current is passed, or caused to flow, between the elongated electrode and the second electrode for a predetermined period of time through the electrolyte solution to reshape the substantially sharp tip of said elongated electrode into a predetermined profile having a substantially round tip.

Abstract: This invention relates to arrangements for interconnecting a plurality of stand-alone switches by data and communication channels (the latter typically used for communicating voice signals) in such a way as to make the plurality of switches act as if they were one switch. The invention further relates to arrangements for permitting groups of lines, the groups connected to different stand-alone switches, to be treated essentially as if they were connected to a single switch. Each switch of a symbiotic network (a group of stand-alone switches) or a virtual symbiotic network (the grouping of the groups of lines) accesses pertinent data in its own data base or the data base of one of the other switches of the symbiotic or virtual symbiotic network and treats the results of such data base accesses as if they were made internally in the switch.

Abstract: A gas plasma process for removing photoresist and etch residues and other contaminants involved in etching vias in integrated circuit devices is disclosed. The process involves placing the substrate having etched vias or contact holes in a suitable low bias reactor; applying to the substrate surface a mixture of gases at low bias selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, hydrofluorocarbon and fluorinated methane and amine gases to both remove the photoresist layer and alter the composition of the residues such that the residues are soluble in water; and rinsing the substrate with deionized water. The plasma process should be carried out at temperatures of less than about 100 degrees C to avoid mobile ion contamination problems and oxidation of the etch residues.

Abstract: A dispersive optical waveguide tap comprises a blazed and chirped refractive index grating in the core of the waveguide, coupling means and utilization means. The grating is selected such that guided mode light of predetermined wavelength will, in the absence of the coupling means, be directed into one or more cladding modes of the waveguide. The presence of the coupling means in optical co-operation with the waveguide, changes the guiding conditions such that the cladding modes are substantially eliminated from a portion of the waveguide that includes the cladding, whereby the grating directs the guided mode light into one or more radiation modes. The blaze angle typically is .ltoreq.15.degree.. The chirp serves to bring the radiation mode light substantially to a focus in at least one dimension, the focal point (or line) depending on the wavelength of the light.

Abstract: The specification describes a cleaning process for electronic devices and assemblies such as printed wiring boards. In the cleaning process deterioration of a terpene based cleaning solution, as evidenced by yellowing, is prevented using a copper chelating additive.

Abstract: A glossary construction tool for generating and maintaining a translation glossary, consisting of a number of terms and their translations. The glossary construction tool includes a terminology list development tool for generating a terminology list in the source language and a glossary development tool for automatically obtaining candidate translations for the terms in the terminology list. The terminology list development tool will construct the terminology list in the source language by analyzing the source text document to be translated and automatically extracting a list of candidate terms, comprised of multiple word noun phrases and single words not appearing on a standard or predefined stop list of "noise" words.

Abstract: Compensating for color variations affecting color detection by a video system. In one aspect, compensation for highlights of a prop having multiple color regions is provided. The prop is preferably designed so that every color region of the prop is affected by highlights at the same rate. The color mix ratio for a color region of the prop representing the deviation of the color region from a nominal color value is computed, and an expected color for each color region of the prop is then computed based on the color mix ratio. In another aspect, compensation for variations in a light source illuminating the environment detected by the video system are provided in combination with highlight compensation. A white color balance ratio for a frame of video data is estimated, the color ratios of background white pixels are detected and these ratios are then used to continually update the estimate of the white color balance ratios.

Abstract: Magnetic-free DC/DC converters, methods of operation thereof and a computer system employing at least one converter. In one embodiment, the converter includes: (1) an input capacitor coupled to a DC input of the converter, (2) a first switch coupled between the input capacitor and an output of the converter to transfer electrical power from the DC input to the output when the first switch is closed, (3) an output capacitor coupled in parallel with the output of the converter, (4) a second switch coupled in parallel with the input capacitor to short the input capacitor when the second switch is closed and (5) a switching controller circuit, coupled to the first and second switches, that provides complementary control signals to the first and second switches that are a function of an output voltage of the converter.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely controlling an interactive voice response (IVR) system. At least one command for controlling the IVR system is displayed using a graphical user interface based on locally stored information relating to a command menu for the IVR. When a command is selected from the display, a command sequence, that includes at least one DTMF tone, is generated that is related to each selected command. The command sequence also includes at least one DTMF tone that controls the IVR system to return to a higher level within the command menu when the command menu is hierarchical.

Abstract: The disclosure is of an indoor transceiver system in which first electromagnetic waves at 20 KHz are transmitted from a single loop primary coil in or adjacent a room to a plurality of data storage devices in the same room and having respective multi-turn secondary coils coupled by an induction coupling to such primary coil to receive such waves which provide both operating power and signals for such devices. Each device is responsive to a signal transmitted thereto by such first waves to transmit information from such device via second electromagnetic waves at 900 MHz. Each device has a panel providing a non-volatile display of information which represents the price of goods proximate the device, and which price is updated from time to time by signals transmitted to the device by such first waves.

Abstract: For use in a processor supervisory circuit, a power-on reset circuit, a method of producing a power-on reset ("RESET") signal and a power supply including the circuit. The circuit includes: (1) an adaptive, nonlinear voltage divider having a voltage input and a voltage output, the divider dividing an unscaled, unregulated voltage received at the voltage input by a factor that varies a function of the unscaled, unregulated voltage to produce a scaled, unregulated voltage at the voltage output and (2) a comparison circuit for comparing the scaled, unregulated voltage with a scaled, regulated voltage to produce the RESET signal when the scaled, regulated voltage exceeds the scaled, unregulated voltage, the divider being adaptive and nonlinear to ensure that the comparison circuit continuously produces the RESET signal when the scaled, regulated voltage exceeds the scaled, unregulated voltage and thereby avoid premature activation of a processor couplable to the power-on reset circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for generating an output signal representing an initial Huffman Coding rate for use in compressing a received digital signal. The digital signal includes a plurality of digital sets wherein ones of the digital sets are non-unique. Ones of the digital sets are stored and an indicator is associated with each. The indicator represents the probability of occurrence, or frequency, of the associated digital set within the digital signal. While more than one associated indicator remains stored, pairs of the associated indicators are selectively combined and each of the selectively combined pairs of associated indicators are accumulated to determine the initial Huffman Coding rate. The initial Huffman Coding rate is used to compress the digital signal.