Abstract: A fiber splicing assembly for making butt splices between fiber ends has a horizontal plate member having at least one groove therein containing a pair of fiber guiding rods, adjacent opposite ends of the groove are first and second ramp members which slope toward the guide rods at an angle to the plane of the plate member. Each ramp member has fiber holder guiding means thereon to guide a fiber within a holder toward and in to the V-groove formed by the guide rods. Magnetic means maintain the rods in a relatively fixed position, and the slope of the ramps is such that the bend created in the fiber tends to create a downward force on the fiber, forcing it into the V-groove.The diameter of each of the guide rods is such that the fiber is guided into the V-groove despite undesirable bends in the free end of the fiber.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, gratings are written on an optical fiber while the fiber is under a controlled amount of strain provided by two-point bending. When the strain is relaxed, the regions of perturbation become narrower as the fiber contracts and the spacing becomes smaller. The advantage of two-point bending as compared with tension is that the strain is precisely controllable and reproducible.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical detection system for detecting defects in an optical fiber. The system includes a light source for coupling light into the secondary coating of an optical fiber at a preselected angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fiber and an optical detector positioned adjacent the fiber at a preselected distance from the point at which the light is coupled into the fiber coating. In accordance with one embodiment, the light is coupled into the fiber coating at a sufficiently shallow angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fiber to cause the light to travel through the coating in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the optical fiber for some distance before exiting the coating.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device contains graphic information which is viewable both by direct, visual observation of the memory and electrically, e.g., via a TV screen. The device contains a semiconductor chip having a surface and an array of electrically addressable memory cells therewithin. A photograph is made on the chip for storing graphic information projected onto the chip. The photograph comprises pixels which themselves comprise variable value circuit elements of the cells, or which are optically coupled to cell circuit elements for controlling the values thereof in correspondence with the optical characteristics of the pixels. The circuit elements determine the memory content of the cells in correspondence with the graphic information stored in the photograph.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for specifying alternative phone numbers to be used as Incoming Calling Line Identification (ICLID) numbers. When calling from a remote telephone station, the caller may provide personalized information including a telephone number and corresponding indicia, and indicate the telephone number is to be used as the ICLID number. Further, the caller may provide a personal message along with the telephone number and its accompanying indicia. Advantageously, callers may identify themselves, or for the purposes of ICLID, with their home or business telephone number even when they are calling from a different telephone station.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of CDMA techniques. Data signals to be transmitted from a plurality of wireless devices are spread across a common bandwidth. The data signals are received by a base station as a composite spread signal. The base station partially despreads the composite spread signal with unique codes to extract data signals from individual wireless devices. The data rate and quality of service requirements for each wireless device are used to calculate a power factor and a control signal is sent to control the power from a particular wireless device. In addition, a probability of transmission value is calculated based on an equivalent current load value and an equivalent population value. The probability of transmission value determines whether a particular wireless device is allowed access to an uplink frequency channel.

Abstract: For use in a DC/DC converter fed by a three phase rectifier, an active circuit and method for delivering an inner phase of three phase AC input power provided to the rectifier and a power converter employing the active circuit or the method. The active circuit includes: (1) a phase selection switching circuit, coupled to the rectifier, that selects an inner phase of the three phase AC input power and (2) a switching network, coupled to the phase selection switching circuit, that controls a waveshape of at least the inner phase to the DC/DC converter thereby to reduce harmonics associated with the three phase AC input power.

Abstract: An enhanced call waiting (ECW) feature is provided by a switch serving a called subscriber who, while still on a first telephone call, receives a subsequent telephone call.

Abstract: A device having an optical modulation region and a photodetection region formed on a single wafer, and methods for making the device, are disclosed. In one configuration, the device consists of an off-axis nonpolar substrate that has, on one side, a region suitable for modulating an optical signal. The other side of the substrate has a region suitable for photodetection. The region suitable for modulating an optical signal includes a movable layer suspended over the substrate. As the movable layer moves under an applied voltage, the reflectivity of the modulation region changes. The photodetection region consists of a plurality of III-V layers. In a second configuration, the device consists of a III-V substrate that has a region for photodetection disposed on one surface. A region for optical modulation is disposed on the photodetection region.

Abstract: For use in the display screen of a teleconferencing system, a shutter capable of assuming alternative transparent and scattering states and a method of manufacture therefor. In one embodiment, the shutter includes a film of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) composition of a polymer and a liquid crystal material wherein the liquid crystal material makes up about 78% by weight of the film. The film is cured at a temperature ranging from about 32.degree. C. to about 38.degree. C., thereby decreasing the time it takes for the film to switch between the transparent and scattering states. The shutter further includes first and second layers of a transparent conductor for containing the film therebetween and driver circuitry, coupled to the film, for causing the film to have a response time equal to or less than 8 ms.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an RFID system has a homodyne receiver having two outputs; the in-phase or I output and the quadrature or Q output. The modulated backscattered signal is composed of an information signal, modulated onto a single frequency subcarrier signal, generating a modulated subcarrier signal; this modulated subcarrier signal is then backscatter modulated onto the incoming RF signal. To demodulate this modulated backscattered signal, the I and Q outputs are combined using an IQ combiner. This IQ combiner introduces a 90.degree. phase shift, with respect to the frequency of the subcarrier signal, onto one of the demodulator outputs and then combines the outputs of the demodulator.

Abstract: The specification describes an interconnection technique using compliant metal coated photodefined polymer bumps for mounting and interconnecting component assemblies on substrates such as glass, printed wiring boards, etc. The polymer chosen for the bump structure has a relatively low T.sub.g and the polymer bump is metallized in a way that substantially encapsulates the polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving selected lines and trunks from two or more switches. The selected line and trunks are connected to peripheral units each served by two or more switches. The switches each maintain translation information and the supervisory states of the selected lines and trunks. Advantageously, at low cost, the selected lines and trunks can be provided with service even when one of the switches is out of service.

Abstract: A fiber distribution shelf containing an optical switch within the confines of the shelf structure. The fiber distribution shelf is part of an optical fiber administration system where various stages of switching are used to interconnect an optical time domain reflectometer to the optical fibers that terminate on a fiber distribution shelf within a fiber administration system. By having the shelf optical switch entirely contained within the shelf structure of a fiber distribution shelf, a unique configuration is provided that greatly reduces the size and complexity of the overall fiber administration system.

Abstract: A cost effective mechanism for integrating device models into vendor simulation environments. A generic model wrapper accesses the device model's symbol table and interfaces with the host simulator interface to align the interface signals at initialization/powerup of the device model. In addition, the generic wrapper provides integration flexibility from device to device, and from simulation environment to simulation environment by isolating the specific tasks of the simulation environment at a low level and allowing for the plugging-in of new primitives for each new simulation environment. As a result, the generic wrapper provides a single integration layer for any IDM in any simulation environment without hard-coding the alignment therebetween.

Abstract: The specification describes a metallization system for barium nanotitanate substrates that provides a combination of high dielectric properties and excellent metal adhesion. It comprises Ti, Pd or Ti/Pd alloy, and copper.

Abstract: Storing messages intended for a communication terminal in a service circuit associated with the local network of a switch node serving the communication terminal. A switch node may have one or more local networks and can use a service circuit of these networks to store the message. If the switch node does not have capacity to store the message, the switch node will request that another switch node store the message. When it is necessary to process and store a message for a communication terminal connected to a local network, the service circuit associated with the local network may be busy and unable to process the call or the service circuit may not have sufficient memory to store a message. In which case, the switch node will attempt to find a service circuit with the ability to process the message and store the message on another local network controlled by the switch node.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved WDM optical fiber communication system that comprises, in addition to dispersion compensating fiber, dispersion slope compensating fiber (DSCF) selected to provide substantially all channels of the WDM system with nominally zero total chromatic dispersion. Exemplary refractive index profiles for DSCF are disclosed. Such fibers exemplarily can be produced by MCVD.

Abstract: A fiber optic access architecture consisting of a remote terminal for receiving broadband asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) traffic from a broadband switching system is disclosed. The broadband traffic is delivered over a pair of OC-12 links to common elements of the remote terminal. The common elements deliver the traffic to one of two high speed ATM buses. The ATM buses deliver the ATM traffic to one of a plurality of line cards that interface with the customer drop to the customer premise equipment. The line cards can include POTS (plain old telephone service) line cards and special line cards as are known to provide the traditional voice and special service. In addition to the standard line cards, the system includes the fiber line cards of the invention for delivering high speed, broadband traffic to the customer premise. The fiber line cards include 16 bit cell-based UTOPIA-2 bus interface for receiving traffic from each of the ATM buses.

Abstract: A machine vision system and method of enhancing the imaging of an article which is comprised of optically translucent or semi-transparent material. Generally, the system includes a vision processor, a video camera, a computer, and an illuminator. The illuminator directs light, in a three dimensional space, at a surface of the material other than a surface to be imaged. The light which enters the translucent material is scattered isotropically within the material and emerges from the surface to be imaged, in effect illuminating the material. The illumination enhances contrast, that can be typically achieved with conventional lighting, between the material and its background or adjoining components permitting the machine vision system to clearly image and detect features of the article.