Abstract: Spectral broadening over a large range using PM is achieved by a lightwave source without the need for a large phase modulation index and without expending a large amount of modulator RF drive power. In this lightwave source, a laser output signal is externally phase modulated by one or more modulation signals. The phase modulation employs one or more frequency drive signals (i.e., the modulation signals) each of whose amplitude is judiciously selected to produce an output spectrum having substantially equal spectral components over a predetermined range of frequencies. The predetermined frequency range is centered about the source frequency for the laser and resembles a comb. Each frequency drive signal is also selected to have a frequency (or frequency spacing from other drive signals) so that adjacent spectral components in the output spectrum of the modulated signal are produced with a frequency spacing which exceeds the SBS interaction bandwidth at the transmission wavelength of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit and method for utilizing FLASH devices as nonvolatile storage elements. Information is modified by adding a new block of data at another location in the memory rather than writing over the outdated information. An address pointer locates the latest information for each data file.

Abstract: The present invention provides enclosures for protecting equipment, particularly electrical equipment, from electromagnetic interference. The enclosure includes at least two EMI-shielding portions which, when assembled, at least partially enclose a piece of equipment to be shielded. The first EMI-shielding portion of the enclosure is provided with a first interlocking element. The first interlocking element is integrally formed with the first EMI-shielding portion. A second EMI-shielding portion of the enclosure includes a second integrally-formed interlocking element. The first and second interlocking elements connect the first and second EMI-shielding portions of the enclosure such that electromagnetic energy is not transferred through the connected first and second interlocking elements at a substantially greater rate than through the remaining portions of the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided that improves the dynamic range of an optical transimpedance receiver. The receiver includes a photodetector, a transimpedance front end amplifier and a non-liner feedback. The non-linear feedback means consists of a Schottky diode and shunting the transimpedance resistor with a parasitic capacitor. A lead compensation network is further included in the feedback circuitry to provide stability to the non-linear circuit by advancing the phase shifting of the transimpedance front end by 45 degrees. By stabilizing the frequency off the circuit, the dynamic range is increased from 26.6 dB to 40 dB.

Abstract: Sol-gel processing of a silica glass body is facilitated by rapid drying. The body, having been heated to a temperature of about 200.degree. C. in a hermetically sealed vessel, is vented while reducing temperature. Termination of drying coincides with reduction to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Encoder/decoder buffer overflow and underflow encountered when employing actually variable or effectively variable bit-rate channels for communicating encoded video images and corresponding audio signals are overcome by adjusting the parameters of a video encoder in response to a representation of cell delay variation, i.e., jitter, determined at a remote decoder.

Abstract: An apparatus records and accesses information received over a phone network. The apparatus is part of a system that has a premises phone connected to the phone network via a first communication channel. The apparatus includes a premises recording unit which records information, phone messages and prompts received from the network along the first communication channel. The premises recording unit interfaces with the video display for displaying stored information, telephone messages and prompts. The premises recording unit is responsive to control signals received from a premises phone along a second communication control channel extending between the premises phone and premises recording unit. A switch in the system allows the premises phone to communicate with the network along the first communication channel and also controls the premises recording unit through signal generation by the premises phone through the second communication control channel to the premises recording unit.

Abstract: In a battery handle two bands of webbed material are each arranged and threaded to independently engage a plurality of slots at opposing ends of a support housing in which a battery is enclosed. Each end includes six slots arranged in pairs of slots. The longitudinal/major axis of the two uppermost slots are at an angle to the horizontal and the major axis of the remaining four slob are substantially horizontal. In another aspect, the band of webbed material is threaded through two or more slots and the ends are joined together. Another technique loops the ends and expands the loop with a mechanical insert to lock it to the support housing.Many variations of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art which do not depart form the spirit and scope of the invention.

Abstract: A deinterleaver for reordering elements of an interleaved digital data sequence (data packet) to obtain an original digital data sequence. The deinterleaver is used in a mobile station operating in a mobile communication system. The interleaved digital data sequence is previously generated by interleaving elements of an original digital data sequence such that digital data elements located in successive positions of the original digital data sequence are located in positions separated by one or more intervening digital data elements in the interleaved digital data sequence.

Abstract: In a ring oscillator, a delay unit includes an input stage having a first and a second input port and a first and a second differential output port. At least two delay units are coupled together so as to form the ring oscillator. The delay unit further includes a first capacitor coupled to the first differential output port of each one of the delay units and a second capacitor is coupled to the second differential output port of the delay unit. A switching accelerator is coupled to the first and second capacitors so as to reduce the time it takes to switch between charged and discharged states for the capacitors.

Abstract: A multichip module is assembled using flip-chip bonding technology, a stencil printable solder paste and standard surface mount equipment for interconnecting signaling input/output contact pads on devices within such a multichip module. The disclosed assembly process makes the heretofore difficult and expensive flip chip bonding technique achievable at low cost. The flip chip bonding technique is simplified by use of a solder paste which includes desirable reflow alignment, fluxing and printability characteristics. These desirable characteristics allow the assembly process to be further economically achieved by permitting the use of standard surface mount equipment in the process. High volume production of standard inexpensive modules are thus possible through this process while also achieving the advantage of high density interconnections afforded through the flip-chip bonding technology.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating serial data at very high actual and effective data rates with a high probability of detecting single and multiple bits errors, even burst errors. The method and apparatus generates at least three parity bits which are sent with each serial data word: an even parity bit taken over all the even bits (including bit 0), an odd parity bit taken over all of the odd parity bits, and a third to parity bit that is an even parity bit taken over every fourth data bit. These parity bits are generated and transmitted along with each data word. At the receiving end, the data portion of each received serial word is stored in a register. The parity bit portion of each received serial word is stored in another register within a parity bit checker. The parity bit checker generates three parity bits taken over the received data word in the same manner that the transmitted parity bits were generated.

Abstract: An apparatus and system records and accesses information from a telephone network. A premises recording unit has a housing which is connected to an outside information source via the first communication channel. A premises recording system is mounted within the housing and records information, telephone messages and prompts received along the first communication channel. The premises recording system includes an interface for connecting to a video display, a television set, for displaying stored information, messages and prompts. The premises recording system further includes a microprocessor and a memory for storing the information, telephone messages and prompts received along the first communication channel.

Abstract: A method of identifying untestable faults in a logic circuit. A lead in the circuit is selected and the circuit is analyzed to determine which faults would be untestable if the selected circuit lead were unable to assume a logic 0 and which faults would be untestable if the selected circuit lead were unable to assume a logic 1. Faults that would be untestable in both (hypothetical) cases are identified as untestable faults. Faults which would be untestable if the selected lead were unable to assume a given value may be determined based on an implication procedure. The implication procedure comprises the forward propagation of uncontrollability indicators and the backward propagation of unobservability indicators. An uncontrollability indicator for the given value is assigned to the selected circuit lead and propagated forward through the circuit according to a set of well-defined propagation rules.

Abstract: A system is arranged to a) monitor the flow of data communicated within a session between a mobile end-user device and a host via a connection which includes a wireless link established over a wireless network b) detect a disabled condition of the wireless link c) in response thereof, simulates a functioning mode of the session, and d) when the wireless link is restored, resume the session between the mobile end-user device and the host at the stage where the disabled condition occurred, as if a disconnect never occurred.

Abstract: A fully integrator RF attenuator performs gain control upon a received RF signal without the use of an off-silicon PIN diode. The attenuator includes a T-configuration pad in conjunction with a current source. A direct current signal biases a shunt element in the T-pad. Preferably, a voltage control signal which controls the direct current is generated as a negative feedback signal in proportion to the magnitude of the RF detected at the attenuator output.

Abstract: Failure to cancel echos at frequencies in which the frequency characteristics of sub-band filters in the X and Y analysis filter banks overlag in subband echo cancelers is overcome by employing an X-analysis filter bank in which the pass-band of the subband filters is wider than the pass-band of the corresponding subband filters in the Y-analysis filter bank. This insures that there is sufficient energy in the tap delay lines of the adaptive filters in the subband echo cancelers at all frequencies where echos are to be synthesized. More specifically, the keeping of sufficient energy in the tap delay lines of the adaptive filters in the subband echo cancelers avoids exciting eigenmodes associated with the small eigenvalues of the correlation matrix.

Abstract: The user interface in an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system is dynamically controlled, based upon the level of confidence in the results of the ASR process. In one embodiment, the system is arranged to distinguish error prone ASR interpretations from those likely to be correct, using a degree of confidence in the output of the ASR system determined as a function of the difference between the confidence in the "first choice" selected by the ASR system and the confidence in the "second choice" selected by the ASR system. In this embodiment, the user interface is arranged so that the explicit verification steps taken by the system as a result of uncertain information is different from the action taken when the confidence is high. In addition, different treatment can be provided based upon the "consequences" of misinterpretation as well as the historical performance of the system with respect to the specific user whose speech is being processed.

Abstract: An active optical device comprises a glass, waveguiding structure disposed on a substantially planar principal surface of a substrate. The structure includes a silica-based, erbium-doped active core. The active core has an absolute erbium concentration of at least about 0.5.times.10.sup.20 atoms per cubic centimeter, and a radiative lifetime of the erbium lasing level of at least about 5 milliseconds. The active core does not contain significant amounts of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals but does contain at least two modifier metals. Also disclosed is a method for forming an active optical device, including the step of depositing an erbium-doped active core by sputtering.

Abstract: A PCMCIA slot expander provides a fully functional PCMCIA slot having a 32 MB address space and at least one other resource to a computer or other device having at least one PCMCIA slot. In an illustrated embodiment, a PCMCIA slot is expanded to provide a fully functional PCMCIA slot having a 32 MB address space, an embedded substantially functional PCMCIA slot, first and second serial ports, a parallel port and diagnostic information and access to signals carried on the PCMCIA slot.