Abstract: Control of the self-testing of a plurality of elements (12.sub.1 -12.sub.m), each having a Built-In, Self-Test (BIST) capability, and arranged in one or more groups (14.sub.1 -14.sub.n), is carried out by a network (16) of one or more standard BIST resource interface controllers (SBRICs 18.sub.1 -18.sub.n). Each SBRIC in the network controls the self-testing of the elements in a separate one of the groups in sequence by broadcasting a test command to the elements in parallel which, in response, generate test signatures stored by the SBRIC. The SBRICs in the network are coupled in series in daisy chain fashion to enable the test signatures stored by the SBRICs to be concatenated for easy retrieval by shifting out the test signatures therefrom, using a technique such as boundary scan.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying faults within electrical power cables is provided. The apparatus allows a user to detect faults in cables regardless of the cable environment's noise content. Circuitry may be included for filtering the received test signal based on an understanding of a generic urban noise environment. The apparatus can provide the user with the size and direction of the test signal at a particular testing location.

Abstract: The disclosed unipolar quantum cascade (QC) laser comprises a multiplicity of essentially identical active regions, with adjacent active regions separated by a superlattice carrier injection/relaxation region. A given active region contains a single quantum well with at least two electron states. Lasing is obtained without global intersubband population inversion. Instead, there is believed to exist local population inversion in a small region of k-space near k=0, corresponding to electron energies approximately within an optical phonon energy (.about.35 meV) from the bottom of the lower subband. A novel design feature that can be used to improve the thermal characteristics of substantially any QC laser is also disclosed.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes at least one programmable function unit (PFU) which comprises input lines, output lines, and a look-up table (LUT) for generating various functions in response to a configuration bit stream. A first function is an adder/subtracter in which the first input line provides an add/subtract control signal to a multiplexer coupled to a full-adder. The multiplexer determines whether a data bit or its complement is coupled to the full-adder. A second function is an AND gate coupled to the full-adder in which the first input line provides a data bit to the AND gate. The second function provides a basic cell for a parallel multiplier. Furthermore, the first input line may be used as a control line or a data line for a general logic function, depending on the PFU function.

Abstract: A transporter vehicle comprises two lifting devices which carry respective jacks and which can be joined at their ends by cross bars to form a rectangular dolly with a central opening therein. The lifting devices each have front and rear wheels so that the dolly can be rolled on floor surfaces. In practice, the two are placed on opposite sides of a load seated on a floor in the opening between those devices, the jacks are placed under the load, the cross bars are assembled with the side frames, the load is jacked up on its opposite sides to be above the floor and the load may then be transported. The jacks may include linkages which cause the load to be lifted wholly vertically while not undergoing any horizontal translational movement.

Abstract: STM traffic, e.g. voice and video telephony (VT), as well as packet mode (e.g. ATM) traffic, e.g. broadcast digital video, interactive television, and data, are transmitted via a multiple access broadband fiber/coaxial cable network. Customer premises equipment (CPE) at stations, and a bandwidth controller, which may be at a head end or central office, with which all stations communicate, work together to adapt to the changing demands of the traffic mix, and efficiently allocate bandwidth to a variety of bursty and isochronous traffic sources. The bandwidth allocation defines two types of time slots, STM and ATM, and divides each frame into two corresponding STM and ATM regions. The boundary between the regions can be changed dynamically. A contention access signaling channel is provided in the STM region, for call control and set-up requests.

Abstract: A system for composing multimedia signals from various source signals, such as still-frame video signals, full motion video signals and audio signals includes a plurality of composing units, each of which is capable of composing a multimedia signal from selected source signals. One of such composing units is assigned for each multimedia signal to be composed. Each composing unit accepts parameters specifying various properties for each element of the multimedia signal, such as size, position and precedence for each video element and gain for each audio element. The composing units can include decompressors for decompressing source signals furnished in compressed form and a compressor to compress the multimedia signal to be transmitted to a user. The source signals can be received from a packet network and the resulting multimedia signals transmitted to the respective users via the same packet network.

Abstract: Testing of the operation of a radio in a base station of a wireless communication network may be achieved without removing the radio from service and without utilizing a separate test radio. Data concerning call processing activities are collected during wireless communications. A failure condition on an overhead or traffic channel of a radio is identified by suitably accessing the collected data, processing the data and then comparing the results to expected values.

Abstract: We have made the surprising discovery that small amounts of Ag below 1% by weight are effective in making Bi--Sn alloys less strain-rate sensitive without deleteriously affecting the melting character of the alloy. A Pb-free solder composition comprising at least 40% by weight Bi, between 40% and 60% Sn, and between 0.05 and 1% Ag is effective to increase the total elongation of the solder by at least 20% under the same processing conditions. Moreover the solder is free of undesirable Ag-containing phases with a melting point in excess of the 183.degree. C. melting point of the Pb--Sn binary eutectic alloy. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises 54.75% Bi, 45% Sn, and 0.25 % Ag.

Abstract: A wireless communications system is arranged to provide data communications services, including error recovery, between at least one wireless end-user device and at least one one base station. The wireless end user device(s) receives(s) from the base station(s) unsolicited messages indicative of the status of data packets received by the base station(s). The wireless end-user device(s) transmit acknowledgement and request for retransmission messages only upon request, or when all the packets within a block of such packets have been received.

Abstract: An electronic device (12, 13) is substantially enclosed by a fluid encapsulant (17). The fluid encapsulant consists essentially of a silicone resin and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of platinum and tin. The silicone resin is selected from the group consisting of polydimethlysiloxane, polymethylphenylsiloxane, polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane, and mixtures thereof. Such silicone resins comprise molecules terminating in vinyl components and hydride components. The molar ratio of vinyl components to hydride components is maintained within the range of five to twenty. As will be explained more fully later, this ratio of vinyl components to hydride components assures that the resin will remain substantially a liquid even after cure, due to limited cross-linking or polymerization during the cure. The electronic device is contained within a container (16) having a sealed cover (18) for containing the liquid encapsulant during the operation of the electronic device.

Abstract: In a communication system, a network has nodes each connected in a star relationship to a number of end units that include a device for assuming one of an idle, active, or on-line state and for requesting the node to which it is connected to change it from the idle to the active and the active to the on-line state, and for releasing the on-line state on the basis of data at the end unit. The nodes for change the state of an end unit from the idle to the active and from the active to the on-line mode on the basis of available communication time. According to an embodiment of the invention, the nodes change the states to the on line state on the basis of policy preferences for the type of traffic, and specifically to grant priority to stream traffic over batch traffic.

Abstract: A system for analyzing and estimating average transit delay and high percentiles of delay in a packet network. The system utilizes detailed packet switch measurements that are normally stored in a network database for maintenance and engineering purposes. The system randomly selects source and destination points and samples the stored maintenance measurements for network circuit elements located between the randomly selected source and destination points. These sampled measurements are transmitted to the system processor via electronic mail and the system generates a single server queuing model to determine average and variance of delay for each component. A network-of-queues model is then constructed to determine the end-to-end average delay and end-to-end variance of delay. An Erlang probability distribution is then fit to these end-to-end values to provide statistics of packet transit delay in the packet network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to energize an optoelectric component, such as a semiconductor laser chip, exciting a lasing gap to emit light from the front facet of the chip. The laser is positioned on a transparent tool element having a conductive portion thereon. The conductive portion is preferably a metallized ITO surface transparent to visible light. This allows the laser to be energized while simultaneously looking through the tool element to image a feature on the laser. The lasing gap is then located with a high degree of precision with respect to this feature. This precise location information is used to position and bond the laser chip with respect to an optical transmission line with precise alignment.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an improved CDMA receiver for receiving spread-spectrum-modulated signals is provided. In the improved receiver, a multicarrier signal processor is positioned. The multicarrier signal processor includes a controller for analyzing an incoming multicarrier signal. At least one signal modifier communicates with the controller, such that the controller directs signal modifier to attenuate at least one carrier signal which is not spread-spectrum-modulated. More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus for attenuating carrier signals in a multicarrier signal which includes at least one spread-spectrum-modulated signal and other carrier signals. The apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving a multicarrier signal which includes at least one spread-spectrum-modulated signal and other carrier signals.

Abstract: Transmitting and receiving method and apparatus especially suited to multi-user communication systems such as cellular systems, in which multi-path transmission encounters time-variable fading characteristics in the channel. Pre-coding message stream of symbols by convolution with predetermined signature sequences for respective users enables separation of respective user messages and combats effects of variable fading.

Abstract: An Asynchronous Transfer(ATM) network comprising a plurality of ATM switches may be arranged so that it receives calls from Synchronous Transfer Mode (STM) switches that employ out-of-band signaling such that the ATM switches communicate telephone call signaling information between each other and the STM switches via an out-of-band signaling network associated with the ATM network and interface with out-of-band networks associated with the STM switches.

Abstract: This invention provides a synchronous, power down oscillating device that provides only uniform pulses having no glitches at its output. The circuit is able to provide a synchronous output for two low power stand-by modes of a battery powered device. The circuit includes an oscillator that sends an oscillator signal to a synchronizing chain of D flip-flops. Input to the flip-flops is provided through an OR gate. The output of the flip-flops is logically ORed with the oscillator signal. The resultant output from the circuit is always a synchronized signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically and dynamically determining a list of frequently called telephone numbers for abbreviated dialing or speed dialing. The method and apparatus maintain a list of each telephone number dialed, either manually or by abbreviated dialing, over a period of time. This list is periodically updated to remove infrequently used telephone numbers. The list is also sorted such that the most frequently used telephone numbers will be displayed as a top set or page thereof. The apparatus includes a telephone set which has multiple display areas where one set or page of telephone numbers available for abbreviated dialing is displayed. Each display area is associated with and adjacent to a respective switch. A paging switch which causes the display of one or more subsequent sets or pages of the abbreviated dialing list may also be included.