Abstract: The number of unprocessed packets accumulating at a point in a periodically sampled packet switching network carrying encoded voice information are counted and when the number of such unprocessed packets reaches a threshhold, or when the periodic sampling fails to detect the presence of a packet containing voice information a predetermined number of times, some of the packets, up to 20%, are discarded.

Abstract: A previously unknown phase of .alpha.-hexathienyl, designated .alpha.-6T/HT, exhibits diffraction peaks at 2.theta.=4.31.degree., 8.64.degree., 12.96.degree., 17.32.degree., 26.15.degree. and 29.08.degree. in a CuK.sub..alpha. powder X-ray diffraction pattern, and is expected to have properties (e.g., high hole mobility) that make the phase desirable for use in, e.g., thin film transistors. Substitution of thin films of .alpha.-6T/HT for prior art organic thin films in thin film transistors and other devices is contemplated.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting significant deviations in a pattern in near real time by making forecasts about the pattern and determining if the actual pattern is within a threshold of the forecast. The preferred embodiment is a method for detecting recording errors in a telephone network that provides services to a plurality of customers, the method comprising: recording information output by the telephone network relating to a service that was provided to the customers in a first time period; forecasting, based on the recorded information, information that will be output by the network in a second time period that has not yet occurred; recording information output by the telephone network relating to the provision of the service to the customers in the second time period; and comparing the result of the forecasting step with the information recorded during the second time period to generate a deviation.

Abstract: The present invention includes a data buffer, a contiguous counter and an address twister. The contiguous counter generates a contiguous sequence of addresses which are used to load data into the data buffer in a contiguous order. The address twister generates a non-contiguous sequence of addresses which corresponds to an interleaving sequence. The non-contiguous addresses output the encoded data from the data buffer in the order specified by the interleaving sequence.

Abstract: An alignment and lighting system aligns and lights an optical fiber termination so that an inspection system can measure the eccentricity of an optical fiber core relative to the termination. The inspection system has an imaging system comprising a feature imager and one or more boundary segment imagers but preferably four in number, a machine vision system connected to the imaging system, and an alignment and lighting system for aligning the termination with the imaging system and lighting the termination without having to launch light therethrough. The feature imager is positioned to capture an image of the fiber core endface, and the one or more boundary segment imagers are positioned to capture an image of a corresponding boundary segment of the termination endface. The machine vision system determines the offset, or eccentricity, based upon the feature image and the one or more boundary segment images. The alignment and lighting system includes an alignment apparatus and a unique lighting scheme.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer device has an input port for a digital code which defines the frequency to be synthesized and an accumulator circuit for successively counting the digital codes in the form of numbers in time with signals of an accumulation clock. An accumulation decoder is coupled to the accumulator circuit and supplies accumulation information relating to the counted number in the accumulator circuit. A variable divider circuit is controlled by this accumulation information to supply the synthesized frequency signals based upon the signals of a reference clock.

Abstract: The lateral base resistance of a DHBT device is reduced and its high-speed operating characteristics thereby improved by forming a structure that initially includes a relatively thick extrinsic base layer overlying a relatively thin intrinsic base layer. The extrinsic base layer is then etched to form a window in which an emitter layer is deposited. In that way, the growth time for formation of the base-emitter junction is minimized. High-performance devices are thereby realized in a relatively simple process that has advantageous self-alignment features.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the manufacturing yield of semiconductors. The method provides a backside dielectric layer which protects the semiconductor from electro-static discharge damage during manufacturing. The backside dielectric layer may be a nitride. The backside dielectric layer may be an oxide. The method also provides for optimized ion implantation flood gun current control.

Abstract: A central office controlled private branch exchange (PBX) is enhanced to provide more flexible services through the addition of new call vectors for controlling call processing. These new call vectors can access stored customer data to customize the treatment of incoming calls to meet the demands of individual customers. Advantageously, a broad class of new services for such systems is made available through the use of such new call vectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving sound quality in a digital cellular radio system receiver. A voice activity detector uses an energy estimate to detect the presence of speech in a received speech signal in a noise environment. When no speech is present the system attenuates the signal and inserts low pass filtered white noise. In addition, a set of high pass filters are used to filter the signal based upon the background noise level. This high pass filtering is applied to the signal regardless of whether speech is present. Thus, a combination of signal attenuation with insertion of low pass filtered white noise during periods of non-speech, along with high pass filtering of the signal, improves sound quality when decoding speech which has been encoded in a noisy environment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for device fabrication in which a spatially resolved latent image of latent features in an energy sensitive resist material is used to control process parameters. In the present process, an energy sensitive resist material is exposed to radiation using a patternwise or blanket exposure. An image of the latent effects of the exposure is obtained using a near-field imaging technique. This image of the latent effects of the exposure is used to control parameters of the lithographic process such as focus, lamp intensity, exposure dose, exposure time, and post exposure baking by comparing the image so obtained with the desired effects of the exposure and adjusting the relevant lithographic parameter to obtain the desired correlation between the image obtained and the desired effect.

Abstract: A hierarchical database reporting and updating system is disclosed. The invention makes unique use of bit vectors to represent the relationship between various data items to enable the system to provide powerful data analysis functions. The data structure allows users to change values which represent intermediate or grand summary levels. Such changes are prorated across all lower level data items which make up the intermediate or grand summary level. The invention also allows for the graphical representation of data. Users may modify these graphical representations and the system will update the underlying data.

Abstract: A pen computer has a double hinge connector and a first member which is rotatably connected to the connector. The first member has a pen sensitive screen. A second member, having a flat surface, is also rotatably connected to the connector. The pen computer is in a closed position when an angle between the first and second members is equal to zero degrees. The pen computer is in an open position when the angle between the first and second members is substantially equal to 180 degrees. When the pen computer is in the open position, the flat surface of the second member is substantially level with the pen sensitive screen of the first member, such that the flat surface is operable as a palm rest for facilitating the use of the pen sensitive screen.

Abstract: A single-port, reflective, optical modulator with internal amplification. In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the single-port modulator includes a semiconductor waveguide amplifier with a high reflector at one end. The single-port geometry reduces the high packaging cost associated with two-port modulators, while the internal amplification compensates for splitting and coupling losses. The single-port optical modulator generally includes an input/output port for receiving a light input signal. A modulation region for modulating the light input signal in response to an electrical drive signal is included along with an amplification region for providing amplification of the light input signal. The modulation region and the amplification region include a waveguide for directing the light input signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved wireless transmitter and method for transmitting incremental redundancy. In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, switched antenna diversity is used in conjunction with punctured error correction codes to provide an independently fading channel for the punctured bits. In this embodiment, the transmitter includes an error correction encoder which outputs a punctured packet and punctured bits encoded from the information packet. The transmitter further includes a modulator for modulating the punctured packet and punctured bits, a first antenna for transmitting the modulated punctured packet to a receiver, and a second antenna for transmitting one or more of the punctured bits to the receiver, in response to a negative acknowledgment received by the transmitter. The first and second antennas in this embodiment are positioned to provide first and second channels having independent fading characteristics.

Abstract: A method of making an x-ray mask intended to expose photoresist upon a layer which is to be etched to a nominal dimension, whereby effects such as global divergence, local divergence, and dose non-uniformity are compensated by adjusting the feature dimension in the mask. The compensation is achieved by varying the dose provided by an electron beam which is used to define the feature upon the x-ray mask or by adding or subtracting pixels during writing of the pattern with an electron beam. The dose is varied by changing the electron beam current or the rate at which the electron beam scans the field. The features are typically those encountered in the processing of a semiconductor wafer wherein the smallest dimension is 250 nm or less.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to energy-sensitive resist materials and to a process for device fabrication in which energy-sensitive resist materials are used. The energy-sensitive resist materials contain a polymer wherein at least 10 mole percent of the repeating units that make up the polymer have a sulfonamide moiety. The aqueous base solubility of the sulfonamide moiety provides the polymer with desirable properties. The energy sensitive resist materials also contain a compound that generates acid when exposed to radiation.In the process of the present invention, a film of the energy-sensitive material is formed on a substrate. The film is exposed to delineating radiation. The pattern is developed by a post-exposure bake step followed by application of an aqueous base developer solution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a glass preform which can be directly drawn into a single or multi-mode optical fiber. Single or multi-mode fibers drawn from the preforms described herein have high quality core-clad interfaces since the core and cladding materials are not exposed to crystallization temperatures upon the addition of the core material to cladding material.

Abstract: The longitudinal edges of the overlying channel layer of a thin-film transistor are substantially aligned with the longitudinal edges of the underlying polysilicon gate layer. As a result of this line-on-line arrangement of the channel and gate layers, integration area is minimized so that optimum integration density is achieved. Source-to-drain on current is increased as the result of the increased channel width gained from the sidewall section of the polysilicon gate, which may occur as a result of the permissible lateral extension of the body (channel) layer over one longitudinal edge of the channel gate layer due to a misalignment in lithography or processing delta.