Abstract: A pre-connectorized loose tube cable protects the optical fibers as the fibers are being routed from the end of an outer sheath to the fiber distribution shelf. The pre-connectorized loose tube cable has a plurality of flexible tubes which are connected to a respective plurality of buffer tubes. The flexible tubes are securely attached to the ends of the buffer tubes and to the pre-connectorized loose tube cable by a capping epoxy and by heat shrinks. The flexible tube has a wall thickness which is greater than the minimum bend radius for the fibers. With such a wall thickness, the fibers are not bent past their minimum bend radius, and thus do not break, even if the flexible tube is bent up to an angle of one hundred eighty degrees.

Abstract: A rake receiver for use in direct-sequence code-division multiple-access communication systems employs a novel channel estimator capable of resolving multipath components spaced closer than a chip interval of the direct-sequence signature sequence. The estimator utilizes a constrained iterative deconvolution technique which employs projection onto convex sets (POCS). In a matched filter rake receiver embodiment, the delay T.sub.SC between two taps of a delay line is smaller than the duration T.sub.C of a chip of pseudo-random sequence. A rake receiver constructed in this manner is capable of detecting signals that have propagated through multipath channels and that have path components spaced closer than one chip of the signal sequence (i.e. closer than the inverse of the signal bandwidth).

Abstract: Verifying that a correct program is being received and displayed on a television set of a consumer. In addition, video quality is checked to assure that transmission has not degraded the video quality. When the consumer requests a program by transmission of a message via a controller in a set top box to a system computer controlling a cable television system, the system computer sends the necessary commands to cause the requested program to be communicated to the consumer site and also transmits to the controller in the set top box a start time of the requested program and information defining the initial video content of that program. At the start time, the controller verifies that the initial video content is being received and that the consumer has the set top box correctly tuned. The controller uses a frame grabber circuit at the consumer site to grab the initial portion of the program and then to analyze the stored portion with respect to the initial video content.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a communications protocol which facilitates the exchange of interface information between a host processor and a terminal, such as a workstation, smart phone, portable computer, etc., by associating an object that is to be displayed on the terminal display with a particular identifier, and by associating input information entered in response to a user manipulating a displayed object with the associated object identifier, rather than the location of the displayed object. Accordingly, a host processor may specify relative rather than specific attributes for an object that is to be displayed on a terminal display, thereby leaving it up to the terminal to display an object in accord with its own capabilities.

Abstract: Feedback control of a process to reduce process variations is advantageously accomplished by the combination of a signal processor (26) and an artificial neural network (27). The signal processor (26) first determines which of a plurality of process outputs has the greatest deviation from a corresponding desired value for that output. Having determined which of the process outputs has the greatest deviation from its corresponding desired value, the process controller (25) then adjusts the output having the greatest deviation to yield an estimated process output vector T.sub.m.sup.n supplied to the artificial neural network (27) trained to represent an inverse model of the process. In response to the estimated process output vector T.sub.m.sup.n, the artificial neural network (27) generates a process control vector c.sub.n that controls the process in accordance with the first order variation between the actual process output and a desired value therefor to reduce process variations.

Abstract: A method for twisting a pair of moving strands uses a winder assembly 510, which is mounted on a first shaft 140 and rotates around a cylindrical drum 110. Twisted wire is wrapped in adjacent convolutions around an exterior surface of the cylindrical drum, which is mounted on a second shaft 150. The exterior surface is energized to advance the convolutions from its input end to its output end; and an unwinder assembly 520 is mounted on a third shaft 160 at the output end of the drum. The shafts are coaxial with each other and each is capable of independent rotational movement. The volume of strand material stored on the drum may be varied by changing the relative rotational speeds and directions of the different shafts. A twist in one direction is imparted onto the strand pair when the number of convolutions stored on the drum is increased; and a twist in the opposite direction is imparted onto the strand pair when the number of convolutions stored on the drum is decreased.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connecting (IDC) terminal that allows wires to be parked in a retaining region thereof prior to being terminated within and IDC portion of the terminal. The retaining region of the terminal is generally a rounded longitudinal slot having a width which is slightly less than the outermost diameter of a conductor to be inserted into the terminal. The terminal which is designed with large fiat spring contacts located about a central slot, includes an IDC portion, which cuts into the insulation of the wire to establish contact. A slight gap in a top portion of the retaining region pulls apart and allows for insertion of a wire into the slot of the retaining region. The spring contacts of the terminal pull together and the gap is narrowed once the wire enters the retaining region, thus, preventing the wire from escaping through the gap. The spring contacts then close on the wire where it remains parked until such time as the wire is terminated within the IDC portion of the terminal.

Abstract: A fault recovery system and method that deterministically reconstructs the instruction stream of a multiple execution stage ("pipelined") processor. A log ("queue") is provided for each critical data item to record the instructions, operations and effects as processing proceeds. Also, rather than merely freezing the execution of a specific stage upon occurrence of a fault, all stages are stopped so that each stage does not overwrite log information that is needed to reconstruct the instruction flow immediately preceding the invocation of any fault recovery operation. The fault recovery operation may then serially reconstruct the instruction flow, advantageously starting with the instruction where the fault occurred, working to reconstruct from that instruction to the last instruction that was executing before the fault recovery operation began.

Abstract: A data converter for converting a signal either from analog form to digital form or from digital form to analog form includes a storage register. The storage register receives and temporarily stores digital data samples. The digital data samples are transferable out of the storage register in the same sequence in which they were received. A digital signal processor coupled to the storage register is interruptible to transferred digital data samples either to or from the storage register. In this manner, the digital signal processor transfers multiple digital data samples either to or from the storage register during each interrupt rather than transferring a single data sample per interrupt, thereby reducing the number of interrupts necessary to transfer a given number of digital data samples.

Abstract: A duplex radio communication system includes an Interrogator which generates a first modulated signal by modulating a first information signal onto a radio carrier signal. The Interrogator transmits the first modulated signal to at least one remote Tag of the system. The remote Tag receives and processes the first modulated signal received at its Antenna. A Backscatter Modulator uses a second information signal to modulate the reflection of the first modulated signal from the Antenna, the reflected signal being a second modulated signal. The Interrogator receives and demodulates the second modulated signal to obtain the second information signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for executing handovers in a cellular network, based upon channel quality measurements. For AMPS service, the method involves the monitoring of a supervisory audio tone (SAT) signal which is superimposed on the voice signal that is transmitted between base stations and mobile terminals traveling within a cellular network, and handovers are executed in dependence upon noise power measurements associated therewith. For TDMA service, the method involves the monitoring of a raw data signal associated with digital transmissions, and handovers are executed in dependence upon noise power measurements associated therewith.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed wherein a single set of consumer items may be purchased by debiting any of a plurality of accounts stored on a smart card. According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a point-of-sale terminal includes a terminal processor, an item identification device, a terminal memory, and a smart card reader. The item identification device may include a conventional UPC bar code reader adapted to read UPC bar codes on consumer items. A cost table and a plurality of item tables are electronically stored in terminal memory. The cost table associates each item identifier (UPC bar code) with a corresponding cost. Each item table contains a list of item identifiers, and may optionally associate specific item identifiers with corresponding accounts. Each item table is uniquely identified using an item table identifier. The terminal memory, item identification device, and smart card reader are all coupled to the terminal processor.

Abstract: A pneumatic clamping device which is driven by a single cylinder, but which operates with two degrees of motion so that it is completely out of the way after an assembly operation is complete. A housing which defines an aperture through which a shaft passes to connect to the cylinder. The shaft has two diameters along its length, the smaller of which is nearer the piston. This permits the shaft to point away from a vertical axis when it contacts the inner diameter of the aperture in the housing which provides a sliding fit to the larger diameter of the shaft. The shaft which supports a perpendicular clamp, one end of which will apply the clamping force to the workpiece. The other end of the clamp is connected to a guide which is approximately parallel to the shaft. A pin restrains the motion of the guide as the piston moves from the clamped to the unclamped position. Further movement of the piston impresses a second degree of motion upon the clamp, namely, a rotation about the pin and away from the work area.

Abstract: A DC voltage polarity switching circuit includes four switches connected in a bridge configuration. Switches in opposing legs are paired with each other and turned on and off in alternate phases to deliver a low frequency alternating signal having a trapezoidal waveform to a co-axial cable load. Circuitry is included to control the slew rate when the output signal transitions from one polarity to the other. Also, turn on of a switch in one phase is delayed during turn off of a switch in the end of the interval of presently conducting switches in one phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for making field emission devices by which one can pre-deposit and bond the diamond particles or islands on a flexible metal foil at a desirably high temperature (e.g., near 900.degree. C. or higher), and then subsequently attach the high-quality- emitter-coated conductor foil onto the glass substrate. In addition to maximizing the field emitter properties, these methods provide high-speed, low-cost manufacturing. Since the field emitters can be pre-deposited on the metal foil in the form of long continuous sheet wound as a roll, the cathode assembly can be made by a high-speed, automated bonding process without having to subject each of the emitter-coated glass substrates to plasma heat treatment in a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A radio communication system includes an Interrogator for generating and transmitting a first modulated signal by modulating a first information signal onto a radio carrier signal, the first information signal indicating in which of multiple response modes a receiving Tag should respond. One or more Tags of the system receive the first modulated signal and decode it to obtain the first information signal. A Backscatter Modulator modulates the reflection of the first modulated signal using a second information signal whose content, data rate, or modulation is determined by said first information signal, thereby forming a second modulated signal. The Interrogator receives and demodulates the second modulated signal to obtain the indicated second information signal.

Abstract: In a noisy environment, e.g., a car traveling down the road with the radio playing, a user who prefers that his pager provide him with an audible alert in response to an actuation of the pager may not be able to hear such an audible alert supplied by the pager. To overcome this difficulty, a pager that is set to an audible alert mode is arranged to change its alerting for a particular actuation of the pager from audible to tactile only when the ambient sound level of the environment in which the pager is located is greater than a predetermined threshold level. For each actuation of the pager that the ambient sound level in the environment in which the pager is located is less than the predetermined threshold level, the pager alerts audibly. Optionally, if the pager also determines that it is no longer being worn on the person of a user, the pager alerts audibly regardless of whether the ambient sound level is greater than the predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: A self-calibrating high speed D/A converter is provided with a calibration circuit for providing a fixed calibration current and a fixed calibration voltage during calibration mode, and a biasing circuit for biasing the calibration circuit with a first reference voltage and biasing the MSB and LSB array cells with a second reference voltage. By keeping the biasing voltage constant at the array cells during both calibrating and operating modes, such as 12 bits, the D/A converter effectively operates at high resolution, and at high operating speed.

Abstract: A micromechanical optical modulator, and methods for operating the modulator are disclosed. The modulator has a membrane supported over a region of a substrate. At least two electrodes, and preferably more, are disposed on the membrane. Each electrode is in electrical contact with a controlled voltage source through a shift register for sequentially applying a voltage to the electrodes. An optical window for receiving an optical signal is defined between two adjacent electrodes. In operation, a voltage pulse is applied to the substrate and each of the electrodes. As the voltage is applied, an electrostatic force is generated, drawing the membrane towards the substrate and thereby generating a mechanical pulse in the membrane beneath each electrode. The pulses are propagated through the membrane to the optical window.