Abstract: A integrated circuit buffer includes a first inverter comprising a pull-up transistor of a first conductivity type (e.g., p-channel) and a pull-down transistor of a second conductivity type (e.g., n-channel) for driving a load. The buffer further includes a second inverter comprising a pull-up transistor of the second conductivity type (e.g., n-channel) and a pull-down transistor of the first conductivity type (e.g., p-channel) that also drives the load. The first and second inverters are driven by a drive circuit that provides signals that are substantially out of phase. Therefore, in operation the pull-up transistors are active during a first time period, and the pull-down transistors are active during a second time period. In this manner, the drive capability of the buffer is improved in the face of voltage bounce on the power supply bondpads, which is typically due to package inductance.

Abstract: A hinged mounting bracket used in conjunction with a telephone wire connecting block for termination of telephone circuit wires. The mounting bracket accepts modular connectors to form any size connecting block. The hinged bracket consists of two pieces, a bracket base and a front flap which receives the modular connectors. In one preferred embodiment, the front flap is coupled to the base by a hinge which enables the bracket to rotate open so that the rear of the modular connectors may be easily accessed. Access to the rear of the connectors at a time after the bracket has been mounted provides additional flexibility in all types of wiring schemes in that the front side of the connecting block may be kept from becoming overly congested. In a preferred application of the invention cable termination are made to the rear of connector modules and the cables enter the bracket through apertures in the base portion of the bracket.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing interactive communication between video conferencing devices of the type in which a delay is inserted into the audio transmission path to provide lip synchronization of the image and speech of the respective users thereof. Each video conferencing device includes a display device for displaying images of at least one communicating party and a speech communicating system for communicating with the communicating party. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a speech detecting circuit detects an utterance by a first user of a first video conferencing apparatus. An audible or visual indication is provided to at least a second user of a second video conferencing apparatus before the utterance is reproduced. As a result, the potential for simultaneous speaking by two or more users is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A minimally invasive detection circuit for determining whether a current flow is present in an electrical conductor, such as a telephone line, without appreciably loading the conductor. A load is placed in series with the conductor to generate a voltage drop when current flows therethrough. The voltage drop is detected by powered components that provide a signal, across an electrical isolation barrier, to an electrically isolated output. The powered components are powered by a voltage source that is on the isolated or remote side of the isolation barrier and whose voltage output is provided to the powered components across the isolation barrier so as to maintain electrical isolation between the powered components and the output and thereby avoid unnecessary loading of the conductor.

Abstract: An ISDN modem. The modem includes an independent clock which controls the modem's input and output filters and two dependent clocks whose rates are functions of the independent clock and which are synchronized with external timing signals. When a dependent clock is synchronized, timing adjustment signals to other components of the modem specify the type and direction of synchronization. One of the dependent clocks and the independent clock are used to control a decimator which provides two samples of a symbol which are one independent clock cycle apart. The decimator, in conjunction with other elements, employs low frequency filters in selectively providing time-invariant samples. Advantageously, the use of low frequency filters reduces the overall circuit complexity and power consumption of the decimator. One of the samples is a primary sample from which the symbol is interpreted and the other is a secondary sample which is used to continually train a jitter canceller.

Abstract: Any existing transitive closure in a database can be found using a method based on standard 4th Generation Structured Query Language (SQL) without non-standard extensions to perform recursion analysis. There are no requirements to stay within a preset number of levels in the database to prevent breakdown as in previous known methods. The method represents each database as a graph and builds path and edge tables which are updated as data, that is verticies and edges, are added or deleted. Since this method uses instructions that are entirely within standard 4GL SQL, it can be used over multiple platforms as long as the platforms are 4GL SQL compliant.

Abstract: The characters of liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) normally exhibit asymmetrical visibility or identifiability dependent upon the direction from which the display is viewed. The asymmetrical identifiability is controllable by the bias applied to the LCD. The contrast of a liquid crystal display device used in a telephone apparatus is automatically controlled by a position sensing switch in accordance with the spatial orientation of the telephone apparatus in order to select the bias that will effectuate the greatest identifiability for the characters of display.

Abstract: Remote call pick-up is provided for analog telephones. Upon receiving a call request for a first analog CPE, a first record associated with the first CPE is read. The record contains a directory number for a second analog CPE. The first CPE is rung with a standard ring pattern and the second CPE is concurrently rung with an alternate ring pattern signifying that the second CPE is not the original call destination. The call is completed to the second CPE if a remote call pick-up code is received from the second CPE before the first CPE goes off-hook.

Abstract: Packaging for a reflective optical device, methods for manufacturing the packaging, and use of the packaging in an optical communications system are disclosed. The optical package assembly includes an optical package and an optical package subassembly. The optical package receives the optical subassembly, which includes a packaging component attached to a reflective optical device. An end of the optical package receives a optical fiber that is delivered to a fiber alignment region in the packaging component that is in optical communication with the reflective optical device.

Abstract: A system for scrambling a video signal, wherein multiple modes of scrambling are available, including (i) line reversal, (ii) line inversion, (iii) line permutation, and (iv) block permutation. The invention changes the combination of modes used as time progresses. In addition, particular modes can be implemented, or suppressed, in response to such factors as (i) noise in the transmission channel and (ii) amount of motion within the video image.

Abstract: The problem of tracking rapid changes in the echo signals associated with modems is eliminated by using an echo canceler consisting of cascaded adaptive filters. Each filter in the structure contributes to the modeling of the overall echo path impulse response, with a longer filter providing the ability to model long echo path impulse responses and a shorter filter providing the ability to track changes in the echo path impulse response over time.

Abstract: The conversion efficiency of a cascaded Raman laser (CRL) can be significantly improved if it comprises one or more of the below recited design features. The CRL comprises an intracavity section between an input section and an output section. The CRL is adapted for receiving pump radiation of wavelength .lambda..sub.p, and for emitting output radiation of wavelength .lambda..sub.n >.lambda..sub.p, and each of the input section and output section comprises fiber Bragg gratings of center wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2 . . . .lambda..sub.n, where n.gtoreq.2 and .lambda..sub.1 <.lambda..sub.2 < . . . .lambda..sub.n-1. Among the efficiency-increasing features is ordering of the fiber Bragg gratings such that in the input section and the output section the gratings of center wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 . . . .lambda..sub.n and .lambda..sub.1 . . . .lambda..sub.

Abstract: A communication system where a central module repetitively sends interrogation optical pulses to endpoint modules in order to determine operational state of the endpoint modules and of the two-way communication path to the central module. Those pulses also determine whether the endpoint module wishes to initiate communication with the central office. In the endpoint module, a modulator whose function is to send data from the customer's terminal is arranged to operate in two distinct modes. When it is "powered off", which is when the customer terminal is inactive, it allows central office signals to loop-back to the central office. In this state, the optical pulses sent by the central office serve the function of optical continuity checking. When an endpoint module wishes to establish a connection, i.e.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microcavity organic light emitter having reduced variation in emission spectra per change in viewing angle. In an illustrative embodiment, a microcavity EL device comprises a microcavity layer structure stacked on a symmetric, non-planar surface of a substrate. The microcavity layer structure includes at least a first reflective layer on the non-planar substrate surface, a second reflective layer and an active layer having organic material capable of electroluminescence between the first and second reflective layers. The non-planar surface may be a shallow cone, frustum, a dome-like surface, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually rendering a three dimensional structure as an image on a two dimensional display without specialized hardware. The invention renders each object of the structure one at a time on the display in descending order according to a measured distance, i.e., rear to front of the structure, of the object from a predetermined view point. As each object is rendered, depth relationships between the objects are conveyed to users. To reduce the number of computations required for rendering the objects, the present method and apparatus use a reference point to determine the measured distance from the predetermined view point to each object.

Abstract: A gain-switched optical distributor, i.e., commutator, is realized by employing an optical rare earth-doped fiber optical amplifier as the switching element per se. Each of the optical rare earth-doped fiber optical amplifiers acts as an ON/OFF switch. Also, the gain-switched optical distributor of this invention is a natural fit into today's optically amplified optical communication systems. In one embodiment, this is realized by employing a pump select circuit in conjunction with a plurality of pumps and a plurality of corresponding rare earth-doped fiber optical amplifiers. The particular pump and corresponding amplifier is selected by use of a monitor arrangement to determine which signal is to be selected and routed to an output. In another embodiment, a so-called tuned pump arrangement is employed in conjunction with a plurality of filters and a corresponding plurality of rare earth-doped fiber optical amplifiers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for providing continuous speech-to-subtitles translation utilizing a video-based communications device but without speech synthesis at the output. Instead, a translation of each user's speech is displayed continuously in text form on the other user's screen. In the preferred embodiment, the sending party speaks into a conventional videophone. Speech recognition and translation of the transmitted signal are performed by a remote device at the receiving party's location. The audio portion of the signal is sent both to a speaker for audio output and to a speech recognizer and text-based translation system, the output of which is text translated into the target language. The video portion of the signal and the translated text are combined in a subtitle generator and sent to a display device for viewing by the receiving party.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and specifically, a process for cleaning a silicon substrate before gate silicon dioxide is formed on the silicon substrate. The gate silicon dioxide is used to form transistor gates. The process of the present invention provides a silicon/silicon dioxide interface and the bulk silicon dioxide with advantageous electrical properties. In the present process, the silicon substrate is first subjected to a stream of hydrofluoric acid (HF) vapor. The vapor HF stream is a mixture of anhydrous HF, methanol, and nitrogen. Following this, the substrate is subjected to gaseous chlorine that has been irradiated with broad band UV radiation. After the substrate has been cleaned according to the present process, a layer of silicon dioxide is grown thereon using conventional techniques such as rapid thermal oxidation (RTO).

Abstract: The inventive III/V semiconductor lasers comprise mode-shaping layers disposed in the upper and lower cladding regions, respectively, and having larger refractive index than the adjoining cladding material. Incorporation of the mode-shaping layers can significantly spread the mode structure of the laser, with attendant reduction of beam spreading. Preferred embodiments are Al-free III/V semiconductor lasers. Especially preferred are such lasers that do not have quaternary III/V semiconductor material between active region and substrate, for improved heat removal.

Abstract: In an automatic message accounting (AMA) record distribution network, a method and system for sorting AMA records by using an area code or numbering plan area (NPA) data array and directory number bit maps to identify AMA records which are of interest to an operation center. Operation centers have access to every AMA record generated by a toll switching network and are initialized with a table of AMA structure and call-type codes, an NPA data array and directory number bit maps. NPA entries in the data array which are of interest to a particular operation center contain pointers (i.e., memory address locations) of the directory number bit maps. As AMA records are received by the operation center, directory numbers which have NPAs of interest to the operation center are compared to directory number bit maps. A directory number of an AMA record which corresponds to a numbered bit position of the directory number bit map is processed by the operation center.