Abstract: A scalable overflow clamp for controlling the level of allowable digital signal overflow in a gain scaler/summer having an initial full-scale range and a feedback path for establishing a feedback gain. The clamp includes a range scaler for determining the feedback gain and generating a modified full-scale range relative to the feedback gain. The modified full-scale range defines a substantially constant overflow capability relative to the feedback gain. An overflow detector senses the overflow conditions and a selector responsive to the overflow detector utilizes the modified full-scale range when overflow conditions are sensed.

Abstract: A network interface unit is disclosed having two layers of equipment and a hinged arrangement that allows the layers of the equipment to be swung out away from each other to facilitate maintenance and to decrease wiring density, while at the same time also providing side expansion capabilities of the network interface unit.

Abstract: A method is described for the selection and assignment of keyboard access mnemonics and accelerator key combinations as part of the application software development process. After determining application functions and categories that require assignment, mnemonics and accelerators are assigned using pre-established recommendations, assignment rules and/or user assignment. If the assignments are made automatically, each function is first evaluated on the basis of usage likelihood and then prioritized before assignment begins in order to maximize the number and quality of successful assignments. In the alternative, assignments can be made on a function-by-function basis.

Abstract: A system and method for using a window mechanism to control transmission of a multicast in a computer network to curb congestion. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a packet monitor that tracks, for each receiver of the multicast, unacknowledged packets transmitted to each receiver and (2) a multicast manager, associated with the packet monitor, that controls transmission of further packets of the multicast to prevent the unacknowledged packets transmitted to any of each receiver from exceeding a maximum number associated with each receiver.

Abstract: A system for delivering a security code to a cellular telephone. The cellular telephone holds a key X. The cellular telephone requests that an Authorization Center, AC, assign a security code to the cellular telephone. The AC selects a security code, and encrypts it, such that key X is effective to de-crypt the code, yet the AC does not know key X.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using a combined MLLR and MCE approach to estimating the time-varying polynomial Gaussian mean functions in the trended HMM has advantageous results. This integrated approach is referred to as the minimum classification error linear regression (MCELR), which has been developed and implemented in speaker adaptation experiments using a large body of utterances from different types of speakers. Experimental results show that the adaptation of linear regression on time-varying mean parameters is always better when fewer than three adaptation tokens are used.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer is formed that overcomes the polarization dependence of conventional DWDM routers and is also significantly smaller than prior art routers. A reflective router is formed that utilizes one-half of a star coupler, with a reflective surface formed along the planar face of the coupler so as to form a "folded" arrangement. First and second waveguide arrays are coupled to opposing quadrants of the folded coupler, with the reflective surface providing the coupling therebetween. A quarter wave plate (or Faraday rotator) and reflective surface are disposed at the output of the second waveguide array and are used to provide a TE/TM mode conversion to the optical signals exiting the second array (thereby canceling out any polarization-dependent effects). The reflective surface beyond the quarter wave plate re-directs the optical signal back through the second waveguide array. The signal will then again reflect through the folded coupler and exit the multiplexer through the first waveguide array.

Abstract: Applicants have determined that much of the nonuniformity in solution doped preforms is due to nonuniformity of the soot layer caused by the high temperature necessary for complete reaction, and that MCVD fabrication using reaction temperature lowering gases such as nitrous oxide (N.sub.2 O) can produce more uniform soot layers. The conventional oxygen/reactant gas mixture presents a very small temperature window in which a uniform silica soot layer can be deposited without sintering. If the temperature in oxygen is too low, SiCl.sub.4 will not react completely and silicon oxychlorides will form. This degrades the soot layer and makes it unusable. If the temperature is too high the soot layer begins to sinter, decreasing the surface area and porosity. Adding a reaction temperature lowering gas lowers the reaction temperature and enables deposition of soot on the tube wall at a temperature substantially lower than the sintering temperature.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus is contained in a heat dissipative external enclosure 2. The enclosure contains at least one unit contained in a thermally conductive internal housing 4,6 providing RF isolation and mounted on a wall 7 of the enclosure in thermal contact therewith. A wall 11 of the unit has a first recess 14 receiving the evaporator 13 of a heat pipe 12. The heat pipe is clamped between the external enclosure and the internal housing. The condenser 22 of the heat pipe is lower than the evaporator and is received by a recess 24 in the wall 7. The evaporator is clamped in the recess by a clamp member e.g. another unit 6.Because the heat pipe is clamped at its ends, it does not need to be an interference fit in either recess and may thus easily be removed. The inner housing can maintain RF isolation.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for setting up a telecommunications call, wherein more than one candidate terminating station is alerted, and a connection is established from a calling station to the first of the candidate terminating stations which answer an alert. In one preferred embodiment, an executive processor complex assigns ports and processes in a call processing complex. An incoming process is assigned for the port which receives the call, and the plurality of outgoing processes are assigned to ports for accessing candidate terminating stations. The incoming port process has a list of the outgoing terminating port processes for the incoming call, and each outgoing process stores the identity of the incoming process. When an outgoing process receives an answer indication, it communicates directly with the incoming process, bypassing any communications with the executive processor complex.

Abstract: A method for detecting the transmission sub-rate of a data packet whose symbols are punctured prior to transmission as with an IS-95 transmission with a 13 kbps speech encoder. Sub-rates are detected by first regrouping the received symbols so as to exclude those symbols for which one or more of its repetitions were punctured. The regrouped symbols are then examined for consecutive identical soft decision symbols, i.e., the repetitive pattern used by the transmitter to mask the sub-rate, with statistical methods used to account for the effects of noise and power bit insertion. The repetitive pattern is then matched to the appropriate sub-rate.

Abstract: An in-process method for testing an active plate of a flat panel display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), is disclosed. An infrared thermal analyzer, including an infrared (IR) camera and an image analyzer, is preferably utilized for recording and analyzing heating response characteristics of the active plate upon application of an appropriate electric signal. An active plate is tested during the fabrication process using IR thermography techniques to evaluate the IR emission of the active plate when an electric voltage uniformly powers the array of pixels in the active plate. The testing technique of the present invention exhibits minimal invasiveness, as only the shorting bars of the active plate are electrically assessed. The heating response characteristics of the active plate are preferably not evaluated until the active plate reaches a stable operating temperature.

Abstract: Hardware-software co-synthesis is the process of partitioning an embedded system specification into hardware and software modules to meet performance, power, and cost goals. Embedded systems are generally specified in terms of a set of acyclic task graphs. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a co-synthesis algorithm, called COSYN, starts with periodic task graphs with real-time constraints and produces a low-cost heterogeneous distributed embedded system architecture meeting these constraints. The algorithm has the following features: 1) it allows the use of multiple types of processing elements (PEs) and inter-PE communication links, where the links can take various forms (point-to-point, bus, local area network, etc.

Abstract: An article comprising a molded circuit for providing a path for electrical current is disclosed. The molded circuit is formed of a first material layer and a second material layer. The first material layer is an electrically insulating material. The second material layer is an electrically conductive material. In an alternate embodiment, the second material layer is surrounded between two layers of the first material layer. The molded circuit can be formed using multi-material injection molding such as co-injection molding or two-shot injection molding. A printed circuit board can comprise the molded circuit.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a server system computes a feasible stretch value for use in scheduling job requests. A stretch value provides an indication of the delay experienced by each job to complete, when the server processes many jobs concurrently. For a set of job requests, a processing time is calculated for each job request based on, for example, the characteristics of the job and the server system. Thereafter, an estimated stretch value for the set is selected. The server system computes a deadline for each job to be the arrival time of the job request plus the product of the processing time and the estimated stretch value. Thereafter, each job request is scheduled, based on an "earliest deadline first" arrangement, wherein the job request that has the earliest deadline is scheduled first, the job request having the next earliest deadline is scheduled second, etc.The selected stretch value is deemed feasible if each pending job in the set can be completed prior to its deadline.

Abstract: A selectable compatibility electrical connector plug has a substantially hollow housing member and a plurality of contact members extending from a cable connection end to a connector end. A circuit member having circuit components thereon is affixed within the housing with the circuit components being spaced from the contact members or leads. In open embodiment, actuator members contact the leads and project above the exterior surface of the housing. When the plug is inserted into a low performance jack, the actuator members force the leads against the circuit components to produce crosstalk and transmission loss characteristics of a low performance plug. When the plug is removed from the jack, the resilience of the leads forces the actuators up into a neutral position. The actuators may be buttons, toggles, or, in one embodiment, bowed portions of the leads which project above the surface of the housing.

Abstract: A tool for implementing a non-destructive separation of electrical components from one another. The tool has a handle part and a pair of legs extending from the handle part with a certain spacing between distal ends of the legs. The leg end spacing corresponds to a distance between a pair of holes in one electrical component, e.g., holes in mounting flanges of an electrical device whose terminals are soldered on a wire board, or holes in a wire board that is joined to another wire board via mating pin connectors soldered on the boards. The leg ends are constructed to engage the one component once the leg ends are inserted in corresponding holes in the one component, and the handle part is arranged to be manipulated to separate the first component from the second component when the leg ends engage the one component.

Abstract: The present multi-function packing insert functions as a packing insert for the shipment of components or subassemblies from a vendor to a manufacturer, as a tray and holding fixture during processing of the components or subassemblies on the manufacturer's assembly line, and as the packing inserts for shipping the final assembled product from the manufacturer to the customer. This multi-function packing insert thereby reduces the overall cost of packing materials and reduces material handling and floor space requirements throughout the manufacturing process, since the packing materials received from the vendor(s) are used for that purpose. The coordination of packing insert design between the component and subassembly vendors and the manufacturer enables the manufacturer to reuse the received packing inserts to assemble, package and ship the final assembled product.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit having an operating voltage adaptable buffer, capable of operating in different voltage signaling environments, which includes a control circuit that provides a clamping function to the signaling path under prescribed operating conditions and which also reliably biases the p-type transistor substrate voltage of the buffer to the most positive voltage seen by the buffer under all operating conditions occurring on the signaling path, thereby protecting the p-type transistors.

Abstract: A device for changing the power levels of signals transmitted by an optical fiber, along with signal modulation and wavelength routing, comprises a length of optical fiber in which for a predetermined section of the length of the fiber, the fiber core is surrounded by a cladding having one or more variable refractive index (VRI) regions disposed therein in close proximity to the core. A grating region is disposed along the length of the fiber overlapping the VRI region. The VRI regions have an index of refraction lower than that of the core to change the effective index of the guided light and thereby define a tunable grating.