Abstract: A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule assembly in which the ferrule is mounted in a barrel member having a first bore therein for containing a buffered fiber and a second, larger bore for containing any excess epoxy introduced during connectoriziation. The first and second bores are connected by a tapered section. A cable retaining member has a first, cup-shaped end which surrounds the barrel member, a first bore and a second smaller bore which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the buffered fiber to permit the buffered fiber to bend. The end of the retention member remote from the cup-shaped end has a tapered opening leading into the second bore.

Abstract: A replication protocol which includes associating a database version vector with each copy of the database in the system is provided. Each database version vector keeps track of the total number of updates to any data items in its respective database replica and from which server those updates were originally performed. During replication between two replicas, the database version vectors of the replicas are compared to efficiently determine if update replication is necessary. If the database version vectors are not identical, the server possessing the more recent version of the data items propagates those data items to the server whose replica is older using conventional update propagation techniques. Identical database version vectors indicate that update propagation is not necessary. As such, the protocol avoids examining every data item in the database in order to determine the necessity of update propagation, which is required in conventional replication protocols.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking moving objects, such as people, in real time by grouping existing feature paths from a current video frame with preexisting clusters from current video frames. Grouping is accomplished by selecting, as a candidate cluster to a specified feature path, the cluster having the closest relative distance to the specified feature path. The relative distance is calculated according to a function having a first component and a second component. The first component is representative of a maximum displacement between the select feature path and the candidate cluster, and the second component is representative of the difference between velocity vectors defining the select feature path motion and velocity vectors defining the candidate cluster motion. The method and apparatus also provide for updating the candidate cluster with parameters obtained from the select feature path and for merging overlapping clusters.

Abstract: A personal computer (PC) incorporates a speaker/microphone peripheral, which includes a digital-signal-processor (DSP) based acoustic echo canceler and supports a plurality of modes of operation. One mode is a video/telecommunications mode. In this mode, the acoustic echo canceler is enabled and the speaker/microphone peripheral provides a monaural dual speaker and microphone for use in video, internet telephony, etc., communications. Another mode of operation is a multi-media, or wide-band stereo, mode. In this multi-media mode, the acoustic echo canceler is disabled and the stereo loudspeakers provides high fidelity stereo output signals. In addition, in this latter arrangement an optional sub-woofer may be additionally coupled to the stereo loudspeakers. The speaker/microphone peripheral switches between the operating modes by detecting a predefined sequence of dual-tone-multi-frequency (DTMF) digits. The DTMF sequences are played from wave-type files stored on the PC.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photo mask is formed from a substrate having a first side and a three-dimensional side. A hologram is provided on the first side of the substrate. The three-dimensional side of the substrate has a photosensitive resist material provided thereon. The hologram includes information that defines features to be imaged onto the photosensitive resist material. A method and a system are disclosed for producing the three-dimensional mask.

Abstract: A high-strength Pb-free solder alloy, based on the Sn--Ag--Zn system, is disclosed. The Pb-free solder alloy contains, in weight percent, 0.2-0.6% Zn, 1-6% Ag, one or both 0.2-0.6% In and 0.2-0.6% Bi, and the balance Sn. The addition of Zn significantly improves the mechanical strength and creep resistance of e.g., Sn--3.5% Ag eutectic solder while maintaining substantially the same level of ductility. The increase in strength is as much as 48% over that of the Sn--3.5% Ag alloy. This strengthening from the Zn additions is attributed to a uniform solidification structure and a substantial refinement of the precipitates in the alloy. Essentially all of the added Zn resides in the more corrosion-resistant, Ag-based, intermetallic precipitates, leaving the Sn-rich matrix primarily free of Zn in solid solution.

Abstract: A process for forming isolated active device regions on a silicon substrate comprises the steps of forming at least one trench in a silicon substrate to define at least two active device regions on the substrate to be isolated from each other, depositing an electrically insulative material on the substrate to fill the trench with the material, planarizing the surface of the substrate, performing a masking and etching operation to expose at least one active device region on the substrate, selectively growing a first epitaxial layer of silicon on the exposed active device region, masking the substrate to leave exposed at least one other active device region on the substrate, selectively growing a second epitaxial layer of silicon on the other exposed active device region, the first epitaxial layer and second epitaxial layer being doped with dopant atoms to the same or different dopant concentration to provide at least two isolated active device regions on the silicon substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus aligns device components based on an analysis of an image of features of the components to be aligned. The image is analyzed for deviation in component alignment, and a signal, based on the deviation, is sent to a positioning apparatus to adjust the position of the components relative to each other. The image of the components is advantageously a top view which permits measuring deviations in alignment of features on the top surfaces of components. The components are advantageously bonded together after alignment, and the alignment accuracy of the bonded components is checked.

Abstract: The modulation bandwidth of a long-cavity semiconductor laser and a multi-frequency long-cavity semiconductor laser is increased by electronic precompensation of the modulation input. The modulation bandwidth may be further increased by having the modulated amplifier and the desired output as far apart as possible.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical signal shaping device, such as a long period grating, for use with an optical fiber having a core of a first prescribed refractive index n.sub.1 and a cladding of a second prescribed refractive index n.sub.2 and configured to transmit an optical signal therethrough. The optical signal shaping device comprises a long period grating of predetermined length formed within the optical fiber. The long period grating has a nonuniform refractive index profile extending over at least a portion of the predetermined length and is configured to alter the optical signal to produce an asymmetrical optical signal.

Abstract: A first validation circuit utilizes residual energy unaccounted for by a linear predictive coding model for a specified order of model as a criteria on which to make a validity determination of whether a valid tone or digit has been received. A second validation circuit operating in conjunction with the first validation circuit utilizes discrete Fourier transforms at the center and adjacent frequencies to energy peaks associated with tones. A ratio of the peak energy to the adjacent energies is utilized in combination with corresponding thresholds to make a validity determination. The combination of the first and second validation circuit provides a high level of confidence that a particular tone or digit has been detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting signals at different rates between an originating device and a destination device. The originating device generates a communication signal, including routing data, for transmitting the communication signal at a native rate associated with the originating device. The communication signal is received by a switch which analyzes the routing data of the signal to identify transmission rates recognizable by the destination device and, if necessary, a transmission path for routing the signal across a backbone network at the native rate. The system then determines whether to re-encode the signal for direct transmission at a different rate recognizable by the destination device, or to maintain the signal at the native rate for transmission either directly to the destination device or across the backbone network. The signal is then transmitted.

Abstract: A method and system for the transmission of signals over a large capacity local access network which provides users a dedicated two-way link to a central office The network is built along a single optical fiber ring. Connection to the fiber is obtained by combining time and frequency division multiplexing techniques and by using an optical channel-dropping filter. Optical signals are generated at the central office. The users have a simple device integrated with the channel-dropping filter to receive and transmit data without the use of an optical source.

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 PCS switching system where a wireless set registers on a base station regardless of whether the base station has capacity to complete a call for the wireless set. When an incoming call is received for the wireless set, a central computer providing overall control of the PCS system directs this call to a paging zone controller of a paging zone in which the wireless set is registered. If the base station does not have capacity to handle that call, the paging zone controller transmits a message via the base station and a paging channel to the wireless set informing the wireless set that a page is pending and that it must find a base station with idle capacity. The wireless set does this by listening to the paging channel until a base station is determined that has idle capacity. The base stations periodically transmit on the paging channel, and each of their messages includes the present capacity of the base station.

Abstract: An adaptive equalizer capable of providing compensation for a wide range of cables having different cable characteristics and different cable lengths. The adaptive equalizer comprises a programmable gain amplifier capable of providing a variable amplification factor in response to a feedback control signal. The gain amplifier is configured to receive pulse signals transmitted over a communication channel. A peak detecting equalizer is coupled to the gain amplifier so as to receive its output signals. A pulse shape detector is adapted to receive pulse signals provided by the peak detecting equalizer, and generate a first indication signal indicating over-equalization and a second indication signal indicating under-equalization. A gain control circuit receives the first and second indication signals to provide the feedback control signal to the programmable gain amplifier so as to vary its amplification factor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding whereby a region of an image which includes a predetermined object such as a person's face in the foreground portion of the image is automatically determined. Specifically, the foreground portion of the image is identified, and one or more predetermined (geometric) shapes (e.g., ellipses) are compared with the shapes of objects found in the foreground portion of the image. The foreground portion of an image may be determined by performing a global motion estimation of the overall image to detect global image movement resulting, for example, from camera pan and zoom. That portion of the image whose movement is consistent with the estimated global motion may be identified as the background portion, with the remainder of the image identified as the foreground portion. The identified region of the image which includes the predetermined object and portions of the image which do not include the predetermined object may be coded with differing levels of coding accuracy (e.g.

Abstract: A split boost converter is disclosed herein, suitable for both single phase and three phase AC input applications. It provides two equal but unparallelable output voltages stored on two separate independent output capacitors. The implementation supports two modes of operation in which two power switches are operated simultaneously or alternately. Each mode maintains the advantage of a reduced boost inductor size. In the first mode the charging of the capacitors in parallel circuits and their discharge in a series connection substantially reduces ripple current in the inductor permitting the user of a smaller inductor. In the second mode the capacitors are charged and discharged in differing time intervals achieving a similar result. The circuit is operable with input voltages which must exceed the voltages of its two output capacitors.

Abstract: Voice calls between multimedia workstations (1937-1939) of a LAN-based client-server multimedia communications system (1911) and telephones (1918-1919) of a telephone system (1912) are effected by an interface that comprises a pair of ISDN ports (1920 and 1940) interconnected by an ISDN link (1910) and that transfers ISDN control signals and user communications between the LAN (1936) and the telephone switching fabric (1916), and by proxy-user client software (21210 and 21212) that executes on the server (1933) of the multimedia system and converts control signals between the ISDN signals of the ISDN interface and a call processor (1914) of a telephone switching system (1913), and the middleware signaling of the server and its client workstations. The proxy-user client software comprises an object-oriented programming object, and each telephone that is engaged in a call with a workstation is represented in the multimedia system by its own instance (21210-1 to 21210-2) of the object.