Abstract: An optical subsystem arrangement enables the electrical conductive or non-conductive bonding of an optical device to ferrules containing an optical fiber or to the optical fiber itself. In one embodiment, one or more contacts deposited on an end-face of the ferrule is bonded to one or more contacts on the optical component. Another embodiment is an opto/electrical connector for interconnecting an optical fiber through an optoelectronic component to one or more electrical facilities. Another arrangement enables the interconnecting of a plurality of optical devices to a plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: SRAM cells are manufactured with balanced, high-resistance load resistances by having substantially all of dielectric layer directly over the polysilicon load resistor covered by a metal layer. The metal layer protects the polysilicon during subsequent processing which can adversely alter its characteristics.

Abstract: Near-field optical apparatus according to the invention contains a novel semiconductor laser photon source. The source is capable of providing substantially higher photon flux than prior art near field sources, potentially facilitating read-out rates in the megahertz range in exemplary near-field data storage and retrieval apparatus. The novel source comprises a non-uniform laser emission face, with the emission face configured such that at least 50% of the total radiation emission is from a small (first) region of the emission face, of width less than .lambda..sub.s /2, where .lambda..sub.s is the emission wavelength of the laser. In an exemplary embodiment, a multilayer coating is provided on the emission face, such that radiation emission from the face is relatively low. A recess is formed in the coating such that substantial radiation emission from the recess occurs. The recess constitutes the first region.

Abstract: A generalized leaky bucket mechanism allowing multiple burst sizes and drain rates. The generalized leaky bucket includes multiple token pool sizes and drain rates, wherein the leaky bucket gradually steps up to larger token pool sizes and steps down as soon as user bursts utilize the increased number of tokens. This allows bursts of various sizes with frequencies which decrease with the burst size. Control of when to step up to higher burst sizes is accomplished through simple trigger conditions which operate to selectively increment the token pool count of the leaky bucket at these times.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier for use with a clamped-mode power converter uses in one embodiment a hybrid rectifier with a MOSFET rectifying device active in one first cyclic interval of the conduction/nonconduction sequence of the power switch and a second rectifying device embodied in one illustrative embodiment as a low voltage bipolar diode rectifying device active during an alternative interval to the first conduction/nonconduction interval. The gate drive to the MOSFET device is continuous at a constant level for substantially all of the second interval which enhances efficiency of the rectifier. The bipolar rectifier device may also be embodied as a MOSFET device. The subject rectifier may be used in both forward- and flyback-type power converters.

Abstract: An optical coupler is disclosed which utilizes a pair of polarization selective filters to multiplex a message signal (of perhaps random polarization) with a pair of polarized pump signals onto a common signal path. The filters may be disposed within optical elements (e.g., cubes) which may be physically joined together to form a bulk optic device. An optical isolator may then be directly attached to the output of the bulk polarization independent optical coupler. The positioning of the pump signal inputs with respect to the filters provides either a co-propagating scheme or counter-propagating scheme.

Abstract: A portion of a surface of a sample body is arranged to receive an incident optical beam having an optical intensity I.sub.0. On an opposing surface of the sample body is located an optical detector which senses the intensity I of the resulting optical radiation emerging from the opposing surface of the sample body. In order to measure the thickness t of the sample body, a thickness gauge is located either at another portion of the surface of the sample body or on the optical detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying more than one font on a limited dot matrix display device are disclosed. In addition to displaying characters in a standard font based on using all pixels in a five by seven pixel matrix, a custom font set based on a reduced size pixel matrix is used for character display. A maximum of four columns and six rows of pixels, i.e., a four by six matrix, are used for the custom font out of the five columns and seven rows of pixels which are available. In further embodiments of the invention, the pixels which are not used to create a character may be used to add a background characteristic. Thus a reverse video font or underlining font may be created. In an additional embodiment, a box can be placed around a word by using the underline font in conjunction with placing a vertical line immediately before the first character and immediately after the last character of a word to be placed in a box.

Abstract: A microphone selection process is made relatively constant in terms of processing requirements through use of combination values which provide a measure of the quality of the speech signal received in each one of a plurality of microphones. Such combination values are derived in a manner which provides an indication of which one of the plurality of microphones, that provide area coverage for a conference room, for example, best receives the speech signal. In operation, the microphone selection process selects the microphone which best receives the speech signal by comparing a signal energy value received in each one of the microphones to that received in each of the other microphones. More specifically, pairs of microphones are examined, to determine the direction of origin for the speech, by seeking a microphone pair where the speech is strong in the microphone directed toward the source of speech, and weak in an associated microphone directed away from the source of speech.

Abstract: Apparatus for modelling or simulating the dynamics of interacting rigid bodies. In the apparatus, the rigid bodies are represented as convex polyhedra. Contacts between the bodies are modelled as contacts between a face and a vertex or between edges. All other types of contact are reduced to these types. The beginning or end of a contact is determined by means of linear interpolation. The dynamics of the contacts are modelled as contacts between massless rigid surface elements which are connected by massless viscous layers to the objects. The viscous layer connecting a surface element to its object permits the surface element to move either perpendicular to or tangent to the plane of contact. The properties of the viscous layers determine the dynamics of the contacts. In the implementation, the properties are described by means of two systems of springs and dampers, one permitting motion in the perpendicular direction and the other motion in the tangential direction.

Abstract: A versatile device is obtained with a PDA that includes means for cordless connecting to specialized accessories. The PDA can operate in its conventional mode, or it can be enhanced by interconnecting it with some or all of its accessories. In one embodiment, the PDA is combined with a cellular telephone that is adapted to physically mate with the PDA and form thereby a single integrated apparatus. In another embodiment, the PDA is combined with a landline telephone that is adapted to mate with the PDA and form thereby another single integrated apparatus. In a still another embodiment, the PDA (whether or not mated with a telecommunication device) is combined with a keyboard to form a laptop computer.

Abstract: A method for reducing the inherent polarization shift caused by birefringence between the TE and TM modes of an optical signal propagating in an optical grating which has a plurality of waveguides includes the step of: irradiating the waveguides of the optical grating for different periods of time to induce a compensating polarization shift that substantially reduces the inherent polarization shift. If desired, a compensating polarization shift may be induced which not only reduces but also substantially eliminates the inherent polarization shift.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for controlling the communication of multimedia electronic signals representing audio, video, and/or data. These techniques operate in conjunction with a system including a network, a multimedia server (MMS) connected to the network, and a plurality of endpoint devices connected to the network. The network is comprised of communications links and switches adapted for selectively connecting and disconnecting the communications links. The endpoint devices are adapted for converting multimedia electronic signals into audio, video, and/or data. The MMS is equipped to control the network such that multimedia signals may be exchanged among a plurality of endpoint devices, thereby providing a multimedia conference.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for making enhanced field emitters by coating particulate substrates with low voltage emissive material such as defect-rich diamond. These methods permit the advantageous, low-cost combination of low voltage emission with sharp-featured geometry.

Abstract: A model of a finite state machine suited for implementation in a microcomputer includes logical specifications stored in memory which determine whether a change of outputs should be effected in response to predetermined combinations of input parameters and whether a change of state should be effected based on stored logical conditions of input parameters. Additional control of the flow of the steps of the finite state machine are under the control of the designer wherein a designer controlled variable permits a selection following a state transition as to whether or not an immediate test or input parameters will be made to determine whether additional actions are required or whether a return to a determination of state transition is to be made.

Abstract: Each mobile unit in a cellular communications system accumulates at least one mobility or communications traffic (teletraffic) statistic representative of "typical" operation of the mobile unit within the cellular communications system. The mobile units process or collect the statistics and then transmit the aggregate statistics to a microcell or macrocell base station at time of origination of a call to or from the mobile, request for a handoff of a call by the mobile unit or the registration process. Included within the characteristics which can be monitored in accordance with the present invention are the following: cell sojourn time; area sojourn time; call holding times; call throughput; number of previous handoffs in an ongoing call; time periods between two consecutive failed handoffs for the mobile unit; and, the ratio of calls originating from a mobile unit to the number of calls terminating to a mobile unit.

Abstract: A battery charging system controls and modifies the output voltage of the charging rectifier in response to differing temperature ranges of the battery. At a low range of temperatures starting at a low temperature (e.g. within a range of 0 to 25.degree. C. to about 53.degree. C.) the rectifier voltage decreases as the temperature increases to prevent charging current from rising as the battery temperature increases. This change is performed in accord with a linear graphical slope relating the change of charging voltage to temperature. A suitable charging voltage decrease rate may be 3 mV/.degree. C./cell with a range of 1.5 mV/.degree. C./cell to 5 mV/.degree. C./cell being acceptable. Reduction of the charging voltage within this range reduces the aging effect of high temperature operation of the battery. The charging voltage applied to the battery is held at a constant value over a subsequent range of temperatures (e.g. 53.degree. C. to 75.degree. C.

Abstract: A circuit for cutting off power to selected components in a network which requires that backup power be supplied to other components. A monitoring signal is generated and combined with the power coupled to the components. A signal detector in the selected components determines the absence of the monitoring signal which is indicative of a commercial power outage. The signal detector then activates a cutoff mechanism which cuts off a portion of the component from the backup power without obstructing the flow of power and of the monitoring signal to the output of the component so power may be used by other downstream components.

Abstract: A polarization compensated waveguide grating router is formed by reducing the thickness of the cladding material deposited over segments of waveguide cores to be on the order of the height of the vertical extension of the optical field of the waveguide. The resulting "air-patch" segments increase the birefringence in the patch segments of the waveguides. By using an air-patch length which is inversely proportional to the length of each waveguide, the correct phase relationship can be maintained between the different waveguides to produce an InP-based router which is polarization independent.

Abstract: Multilayer circuit devices include a plurality of metallized patterns thereon, said patterns being separated by a polymeric dielectric film. The various metallized patterns are interconnected by means of microvias through the polymeric film or films. Each of the metallizations is a composite including in succession from the substrate or from the polymeric film, a layer of titanium (Ti), a layer of titanium and palladium alloy (Ti/Pd), a layer of copper (Cu), and a layer of titanium and palladium alloy (Ti/Pd). The Ti-Ti/Pd-Cu-Ti/Pd composite is hereinafter referred to as TCT. The adhesion between the polymeric film and the top Ti/Pd layer is better than that between the polymer and gold (Au) and comparable to that between the polymer and an adhesion promoted Au layer. Use of the TCT metallization also results in additional cost reduction due to the elimination of Ni and Au layers on top of the Cu layer.