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.

Abstract: A battery compartment for use with an electrical device having a circuit to be powered by one or more batteries. The device has a housing for substantially housing the circuit and a surface with an aperture therethrough. Each battery has first and second terminals. The compartment includes a slidable drawer for insertion through the housing aperture and receipt of the battery, a plurality of connectors for electrical connection to the battery's terminals, and a plurality of conductors to eclectically connect the connectors to the device's circuit. The drawer is movable between an open position exposing at least a portion of interior of the drawer, and a closed position. An aesthetically pleasing, easy to access compartment which does not consume surface area of the device's circuit and which maintains electrical connection of the battery to the circuit whether the door is in the open or closed positions results.

Abstract: A portable telephone includes a telephone body; a circuit mounted in the telephone body for receiving a signal and for supplying a signal for transmission; and a bass reflex speaker connected with the telephone body and the circuit for radiating an audio signal therefrom in response to the transmitted signal, the bass reflex speaker including a housing connected to the telephone body, an opening in the housing, a speaker mounted in the opening of the housing and connected to the circuit for radiating an audio signal outwardly of the housing in response to the received signal, a tuned port in the housing for radiating a back wave audio signal of the speaker therethrough, a tube in the housing and connected with the tuned port for enhancing tuning of the tuned port, a pressure switch for activating the bass reflex speaker to radiate the audio signal when the telephone body is positioned on a surface in an upright position, and a volume control connected to the circuit and which controls a volume of the audio si

Abstract: A query translator translates a query between a graphical user interface and a knowledge representation system. The knowledge representation system reformulates the query and generates an access plan to access data requested by the query. The access plan utilizes several different protocols to access the query information located in dissimilar databases distributed throughout a network. The knowledge representation system generates the access plan by first processing the query through a world view which defines the information in conceptual terms that a human being would understand and then processes the query through a system/network view which redefines the query into network and database access information so that the data requested by the query can be located.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with a capacitor includes a conductive substrate, a layer of field dielectric formed on the conductive substrate, a layer of conductive metal or conductive polycrystalline silicon formed on the field dielectric, and first and second laterally spaced apart layers of conductive material formed on the conductive metal or polycrystalline silicon. Each spaced apart layer preferably includes a layer of titanium nitride disposed over a layer of titanium. A layer of capacitor dielectric is deposited on the first of the spaced apart layers, and metal is deposited over the capacitor dielectric and the second layer of conductive material.

Abstract: A wireless terminal utilizing digital radio processing utilizes stored program control to allow the wireless terminal to operate in a plurality of disposed wireless communication systems. In particular, the digital radio processing with appropriate stored program control operates in a plurality of wireless communication system by selectively and controllably enabling selection of frequency, channel bandwidth, modulation type, channel coding and source coding operational components appropriate to the communication system that the wireless unit is to operate in. A function control enables the wireless terminal to actively seek out and search for availability of wireless communications system in which it may operate.

Abstract: A method of semiconductor fabrication having applicability to forming contacts to sources and drains especially in SRAM applications is disclosed. A dielectric and an overlying polysilicon conductor are formed and patterned thereby exposing a semiconductor substrate. A silicide layer is deposited, thereby contacting the polysilicon layer and the substrate. Subsequent patterning of the silicide layer using an oxide hard mask provides electrical contact between the polysilicon layer and the substrate without the risk of trenching into the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating an optical signal, and a method for fabricating such an apparatus, are disclosed. The modulator comprises a membrane, which consists of at least three layers, and a substrate, spaced to form an air gap. The layers of the membrane are characterized by a relationship between the refractive indices of the layers and the refractive index of the substrate. The membrane is suspended in a first position over the substrate by a flexible support arrangement. A biasing force is applied to the membrane and the substrate to create an electrostatic force to move the membrane towards the substrate to a second position. The reflectivity of the device to an optical signal changes as the membrane moves from the first position to the second position, thereby modulating the signal.

Abstract: The present invention is predicated upon the fact that a process signature from a plasma process used in fabricating integrated circuits contains information about phenomena which cause variations in the fabrication process such as age of the plasma reactor, densities of the wafers exposed to the plasma, chemistry of the plasma, and concentration of the remaining material. In accordance with the present invention, a method for using neural networks to determine plasma etch end-point times in an integrated circuit fabrication process is disclosed. The end-point time is based on in-situ monitoring of at least two parameters during the plasma etch process. After the neural network is trained to associate a certain condition or set of conditions with the endpoint of the process, the neural network is used to control the process.

Abstract: Responding by telcommunication terminals to data messages received during the silent intervals of ringing to immediately answer a call, perform monitoring activities, provide selective answering of incoming calls, and perform control functions. For providing selective answering, telephone sets utilizing the invention monitor the incoming data message to determine if an identification code of the telephone set is contained within that message. If the identification code of the telephone set is within the message, the telephone allows ringing at that set. If the identification code of the telephone is not in the data message, the telephone counts the number of ringing cycles, and, once this count becomes greater than a predetermined number, the telephone set allows ringing at the set. For performing monitoring activities, a remote utility meter reader is responsive to it's identification code in a data message to immediately answer the incoming call from a public utility company computer before ringing starts.

Abstract: A telephone handset having a volume actuator. The telephone handset includes a casing and a band formed from a resilient material. The band includes a molded portion that forms the volume actuator. The band encircles the telephone handset and is undermolded to the casing such that it is permanently affixed thereto. Thus, the volume actuator becomes an integral part of the telephone handset. A recess is defined between the band and the casing. An electric switch is disposed in this recess. Force transmitted to the volume actuator is transferred through the resilient material of the band and actuates the electrical switch in the recess. This force may cause the switch to either raise or lower the volume of the telephone handset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for offering wireless telecommunication service. A switch such as an automatic Private Branch Exchange (PBX), equipped to communicate with Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) stations sends ISDN signaling messages to and receives ISDN signaling messages from a protocol converter. The protocol converter, which also communicates with a wireless cell site, converts messages between the ISDN protocol and a protocol for communicating with the wireless cell site. The cell site sets up wireless connections to a mobile station, essentially in its prior art mode, and the PBX sets up connections to the cell site essentially in its prior art ISDN station control mode. The PBX is connected to a class 5 (central office) telecommunications switching system for establishing connections between the public switched telephone network and the PBX, or between outlets of the PBX for a call between wireless stations.

Abstract: Monitoring of optical amplifiers is accomplished, in accordance with the invention, by an apparatus and method for detecting a power level of a tone modulated upon a signal input to the amplifier, detecting an output power level of the amplifier, and comparing the power level of the tone to the output power level of the amplifier to determine an indication of the performance of the amplifier. In illustrative embodiments of the invention, each of the individual channels within a multiplexed optical signal are modulated with a specific low-frequency tone. The modulating is performed at the transmission site of the optical signal, and the specific tone frequencies are chosen to be lower than the low-frequency cut-off of any other information encoded upon the optical signal. The channel power of each channel is determined after each stage of optical amplification in the network by measuring the power of its respective unique low-frequency tone using a low-cost monitor.

Abstract: A static dissipative shoe which is provided utilizes a polymer material embedded therein, so that the handling, shipping and storage of integrated circuits are protected from electrostatic discharge. A conductive plug in communication with the outsole and static interceptor fabricated from a non volatile material having a conductivity of less that about 10.sup.5 ohms and which is located in the toe region of the outsole, provides a conductive path to the static interceptor layer. The footwear includes a toe and heel region, a conductive layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the conductive layer arranged proximate the upper surface of the outsole and upper surface of the conductive plugs for providing a continuous path from the outside of the footwear to the static interceptor means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the state of an attribute of a product during the manufacturing process. The invention employs an intelligent system trained in the relationship between the signatures of the manufacturing process and the product attribute as a function of time. In one embodiment the intelligent system comprises two intelligent systems: the first, trained in the relationship between the signatures of the manufacturing process and one or more signatures of the state of the attribute as a function of time; and the second, trained in the relationship between the product-state signatures as a function of time and the product attribute as a function of time. The disclosed apparatus can be an integral part of the manufacturing machinery allowing the process to continue until the exact moment when the desired state is achieved.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered how to make continuous films of single-phase crystalline .beta.-C.sub.3 N.sub.4 using microwave plasma chemical vapor transport. The films are hard, translucent nanocrystalline films useful for protecting a substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for use in a video transmission network that regulates the timing of both the video signal and the audio signal regardless of the transport mechanism used to deliver the digitized audio and video signals from the source to a set top box, comprising replacing a program clock reference when it is present in ones of the audio and video transport packets with a new time derived from a high reliability source. A constant value is then derived from the new PCR value to be added to a program time stamp and a decode time stamp, if present, and the buffer size is increased merely by the amount of the constant times the bit rate of delivery of the packets.

Abstract: An object (12) may be cleaned by CO.sub.2 reduced ESD by directing a first water mist (23) at a surface (14) of the object while imparting a relative motion between the object board and the mist to form a film of water on the object surface. As the relative motion is imparted between the board and the first mist (23), a second water mist (32) is injected into a stream (30) of solid CO.sub.2 particles (27) directed at the object surface downstream of the first mist. Water droplets in the second mist in the second mist combine with the CO.sub.2 particles to create carbonic acid that disassociates into charged ions that increase the conductivity of the water film, allowing for increased charge dissipation, thus reducing the incidence of ESD.