Abstract: A hinge mechanism for separably and pivotably connecting a base with a cover which is integrally molded with the base and the cover. The base has a first hinge body molded therewith, with the first hinge body having a cavity defined a longitudinal pivot axis. The cover has a second hinge body molded therewith and a pivot pin extending from the second hinge body, the pivot pin being receivable within the cavity of the base first hinge body. The second hinge body of the cover and the wall of the base are shaped in a cooperative manner so that there is interference between the second hinge body and the wall to prevent the pivot pin from being inserted into or removed from the first hinge body cavity except when the cover is in a predetermined angular position. In addition, the hinge bodies and the base and cover are formed with cooperating features which inhibit inadvertent pivoting movement of the cover from defined positions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for training classifiers. The apparatus includes a degree of certainty classifier which classifies examples in categories and indicates a degree of certainty regarding the classification and an annotating classifier which receives classified examples with a low degree of certainty from the degree of certainty classifier and annotates them to indicate whether their classifications are correct. The annotated examples are then used to train another classifier. In one version of the invention, the other classifier is a new version of the degree of certainty classifier, and training continues until the degree of certainty classifier has satisfactory performance. The degree of certainty classifier of the embodiment is a probabilistic binary classifier which is trained using relevance feedback. The annotating classifier may include an interactive interface which permits a human user of the system to examine an example and indicate whether it was properly classified.

Abstract: A return loss determination system contactlessly and automatically determines a product-to-product return loss of an optical fiber connector having a domed optical fiber termination endface (i.e., an endface having an optical fiber and a surrounding support ferrule).

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for multicasting an inlet data cell, received as part of a multicast request, through a self-routing multistage routing network by decomposing the multicast request into one or more intermediate multicast requests, each intermediate multicast request being a unique subset of the original multicast request which enables a non-blocking, self-routing distribution to a subset of the desired outlets of the original multicast request in one or two passes through the network, and by generating a non-blocking multicast tree based on the intermediate multicast requests and routing the received inlet data cell to the desired outlets. The invention decomposes the original multicast request and generates a non-blocking multicast tree using a cube routing algorithm, a copy routing algorithm, or a combined routing algorithm, which is a combination of the copy and cube routing algorithms.

Abstract: An interactive communication system includes a portable unit of a cordless telephone for providing wireless telephone communications and integrating telephone functions and control of remotely operated devices, such as television sets, video cassette recorders and cable converters. The portable unit advantageously provides controlling information to a remotely operated device in response to voice and data communications occurring over the telephone network.

Abstract: DMOS-controlled lateral bipolar transistor comprises a first region of a first conductivity type for providing a collector, a second region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type for providing a base, a third region of the first conductivity type for providing an emitter, a dielectric on the second region, and an electrode on the dielectric wherein the electrode provides a gate for a DMOS transistor, the first region provides a drain for the DMOS transistor, the second region provides a channel region for the DMOS transistor, and the third region provides a source for the DMOS transistor.

Abstract: A protocol for labeling various types of data contained in a music chip. The protocol includes a hierarchical arrangement of headers for storing information about selections on the chip and the method in which they were coded in the memory of the chip. A global header located at the very start of memory will specify information needed to successfully decode the content of the music chip. This will include, for example, the necessary bit rate, as well as information pertaining to a specific PAC (Perceptual Audio Coding) algorithm employed in recording audio on the chip. In addition to the global header, each chip will have a section of memory allocated to a table of contents. The table of contents will include information on play times, song titles, music category and artist. Individual track selections will be listed as part of the table of contents by individual headers. The individual header contains a music field to which a track belongs, for example, classical, jazz, country, rock, etc.

Abstract: The quality of solvents used in semiconductor manufacturing for removing photoresist or post halogen etch cleanup is monitored by measuring the conductivity of the solvents.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved transmission system for JPEG images. The present invention may include a separator for separating the JPEG image into Type-I and Type-II information and a transmitter for transmitting the Type-I and Type-II information over a wire or wireless communication medium to a receiver with unequal error protection, wherein the more error sensitive Type-I information is provided with more powerful error protection than the less sensitive Type-II information which makes up the bulk of the JPEG image. The present invention may further include a combiner for combining the Type-I and Type-II information received by the receiver in a JPEG format suitable for the data sink.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a metal film structure having tapered sidewalls is made by the steps of applying a first layer of metal on a substrate, applying a second layer of a different material over the first layer, forming a pattern of resist on the second layer and etching the first and second layers in an etchant. The material of the second layer is chosen to interact with the metal of the first layer to increase the lateral etch rate of the second layer, thereby producing a metal film structure having tapered sidewalls. In preferred embodiments, the first layer is Cr, the material of the second layer is Mo, and the etchant is ceric ammonium nitrate. The preferred application of the method is to make conductive thin film lines for thin film transistor arrays used in active matrix liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: The detection of echo is enhanced using a coarse near-end speech detector at a Y-side of an echo canceler and using a more accurate near-end speech detector at the E-side of the echo canceler, such that the latter detector uses a representation of far-end speech and a threshold value to determine if the magnitude of the echo canceler output is larger than that of an echo signal only. If it is, and there is an absence of an indication of the presence of near-end speech from the coarse detector, then the more accurate speech detector adjusts the value of the threshold in a first direction, otherwise it adjusts the threshold in a second direction, to more "finely tone" such accuracy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing holographic matched filters for application in all-optical holographic processing of ultrahigh-speed optical data. A scaled spatial image of temporal-domain data is provided by a spatial light modulator (SLM). The scaled image of the SLM is read out with a single-mode diode laser and transformed into a wavelength spectrum by a Fourier transform lens. The interference fringe patterns between the spectrum of the scaled spatial data pattern and the reference pattern beam are recorded by a holographic recording medium. Alternatively, the scaled spatial image of the temporal data is fixed in an aperture mask. An apparatus and method are also disclosed for decoding high-speed optical signal packet headers using holographic matched filters.

Abstract: In a method of making a GaAs-based semiconductor laser, a fully processed wafer is cleaved, typically in the ambient atmosphere, into laser bars, the laser bars are loaded into an evacuable deposition chamber (preferably an ECR CVD chamber) and exposed to a H.sub.2 S plasma. Following the exposure, the cleavage facets are coated in the chamber with a protective dielectric (preferably silicon nitride) layer. The method can be practiced with high through-put, and can yield lasers (e.g., 980 nm pump lasers for optical fiber amplifiers) capable of operation at high power.

Abstract: Nonpolar substrates comprising off-axis growth regions for the growth of polar semiconductors, and a method for making such substrates, are disclosed. According to the invention, an erodible material, such as a photoresist, is applied to a substrate at a site and is exposed to radiation at that site which has an linear variation in energy at the surface of the erodible material. Due to this variation in exposure energy, a taper results in the erodible material after development. The tapered region is then etched in a manner which etches both the erodible layer and the underlying substrate. The taper in the erodible layer provides a varying attenuation during the etching process such that the taper of the erodible layer is transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: Connection of a communication initiated by a user over a telephone, computer or cable network to a projector in arena or other event facility during an event. A user terminal is connected to the network and operative to initiate the communication from the user. Routing circuitry directs information in the user communication to the arena. A controller receives and processes the information in the user communication, and projectors in the arena project during the event a signal corresponding to information in the user communication. The signal may be an audio signal corresponding to voice information from the user and the projectors may be a set of loudspeakers. The voice information from the user may thus be projected within the arena as it is received. Alternatively, the number of incoming calls may be counted to determine a volume level for a set of loudspeakers which projects random applause through the arena, such that the user can influence the noise level in the arena at a particular time.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a high power, broad bandwidth light source comprises at least one rare earth doped fiber coupled to a long period grating. When the rare earth doped fiber is pumped to operate as an amplified spontaneous emission source, the grating flattens and broadens the output spectrum. Using an Nd doped fiber, applicants have achieved an output power of 25 mW at a center wavelength of 1.08 .mu.m, a spectral width of 40 nm and a coherence length of 10 .mu.m. The source has a flat output spectrum with a maximum slope of 0.1 dB/nm across the full spectral width, and it can be conveniently dropped into any fiber system requiring high power and a broad spectrum. Using an Er-doped fiber, applicants have achieved an output power of 7.3 mW at a center wavelength of 1.55 .mu.m and a spectral width of 38 nm. The source has a flat output spectrum with a maximum ripple of 1.7 dB across the full width. This source is compatible with the needs for a spectrum sliced source.

Abstract: The problems associated with slow timing recovery in an ATM receiver are overcome by detecting the transmission rate of a received bit stream and periodically detecting the transmitted Enc.sub.-- CR values, which are used to calculate additional estimated clock reference (Est.sub.-- CR) values between the actual transmitted Enc.sub.-- CR values. The Est.sub.-- CR values are then used along with the actually received Enc.sub.-- CR values to generate a phase locked loop (PLL) error signal (TC.sub.-- ERROR), wherein the PLL is caused to converge more rapidly. In one embodiment, the TC.sub.-- ERROR values are generated for each received cell or packet instead of only for each received Enc.sub.-- CR value and, consequently, timing recovery is significantly speeded up. Additionally, the Est.sub.-- CR values can be adjusted to minimize the effects of lost cells, as well as, drift in the transmission rate.

Abstract: Solder bonding of first and second contact pad arrays is accomplished by forming contact structures, such as posts with vertical or tapered sides, on the contact pads of the first array and solder bumps on the second array. The respective contact structures should have an average cross-sectional area that is less than the average cross-sectional area of the corresponding solder bumps. The contact structures and solder bumps are then bonded by a bonding process at a temperature and pressure where the solder bumps deform and envelop at least a portion of the respective contact structures. It is possible to employ the contact structures as a compression stop during the bonding process. The temperature should be below the melting points of the contact structures. In this manner, solder bump spreading can be reduced during bonding which correspondingly reduces electrical shorting of adjacent formed interconnect bonds.

Abstract: A self-verifying identification card having an image area which may contain a portrait, a finger print, a retinal image, or all of these together with an image signature which is derived from scanned intensity measurements taken from the image area. In the verification process, the image is scanned and aligned with respect to reference points corresponding to the original printing process which created the card, and intensity values, their averages, or any other function are compared to information provided by the image signature. Mathematical transformations, such as a one-way hash, an encryption, a compression algorithm, or a truth table may be used to encode the image signature. Alignment markers aid in scanning the image and the image signature. The use of average values aids in reducing noise and the use of comparison functions makes the process less sensitive to variations among scanners.