Abstract: A system and associated method that combines microwave detection (radiometry) with microwave heating (hyperthermia) for the treatment of cancer with a microwave radiometric detector is operable during a receive mode of operation to establish signal path characteristics and a microwave transmitter is operable during a transmit mode of operation to carry out the hyperthermia treatment. There is provided an antenna array of a plurality antennae disposed over the tumor site. These antennae are coupled to separate signal channels. During the receive mode of operation the separate channel signals are combined for coupling to the microwave radiometric detector to enable adjustment of the phase of the separate antenna signals so as to maximize the signal detected at the microwave radiometric detector. Thereafter, during the transmit mode of operation the microwave transmitter couples signals to the signal channels to provide beam focusing of the microwave energy on to the tumor site.

Abstract: A system for companding digital audio signal samples processes the digital audio signal samples to correct errors induced by the compression and expansion processes. These errors are calculated prior to compressing the samples. Such errors are calculated in accordance with a predetermined compression process and a predetermined expansion process; and the digital audio signal samples are corrected in accordance with such calculations prior to compression. The compression process includes providing a 3-bit gain word for a block of 70 samples. The gain word is computed in accordance with the position of the most significant "1" bit in the sample(s) having the peak magnitude. Each individual sample is processed in accordance with the block gain word to compress the sample by reducing the number of magnitude bits.

Abstract: A system in a subscriber television network for enabling descrambling of a received scrambled signal on a prepaid basis and/or an impulse-purchase basis. A received mask signal uniquely related to the scrambled signal is compared with a received authorization signal indicating whether the subscriber is authorized to receive the scrambled signal on a prepaid basis and a prepaid signal for enabling descrambling is provided when the compared signals match. A not-prepaid signal is provided when they do not match. A received cost signal indicating the charge for descrambling the scrambled signal and a received credit signal indicating the subscriber's endlessly accumulated credit are processed with reference to a stored record of the subscriber's prior accumulated charges to determine whether the subscriber has sufficient available credit to pay for descrambling of the scrambled signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cancerous tumor detection employing a plurality of microwave antennae supported in an array conforming substantially in size to the breast that is being screened. In one embodiment of the invention a single array is used and another embodiment for larger breasts a pair of arrays are used. A microwave radiometer is used for detecting temperature readings corresponding respectively to the breast temperature at sites underlying the receiving antennae. Also, in accordance with the invention compression is employed so as to reduce tissue thickness enabling far more rapid reading of antenna sites.

Abstract: A two-terminal field effect transistor device which is capable of operation as an oscillator including a field effect transistor connected in a two-terminal manner. The transistor has the usual drain source and gate electrodes and oscillating instability is provided by means of an inductance means of value so as to provide this circuit instability to enable circuit oscillations. The two-terminal arrangement is enabled by means of essentially interconnecting the gate and drain electrodes by way of said inductance means.

Abstract: An automated system for reconditioning electrical terminals of an electrical work piece, such as a leadless chip carrier. The system includes a carrousel which stops upon rotating each 360/n degrees (wherein "n" is an integer greater than three), dwells, and then resumes rotation. "n" work piece holding assemblies are respectively uniformly disposed on the carrousel and include vacuum tips extending over the periphery of the carrousel for holding work pieces over work stations positioned adjacent and around the periphery of the carrousel beneath the positions occupied by the vacuum tips when the carrousel stops and dwells. A first work piece feed mechanism is located at a sequentially first work station for feeding a work piece to the vacuum tip positioned over the first work station when the carrousel is dwelling. A flux bath is located at a sequentially second work station for bathing a work piece held by the vacuum tip positioned over the second work station when the carrousel is dwelling.

Abstract: A method of making a microwave semiconductor component and concurrently forming therewith a mounting membrane adapted for positioning the semiconductor component in an RF transmission medium such as a waveguide. Substantially concurrently with the deposition of a metallic film in connection with forming a semiconductor elements, there is deposited a metallic membrane on the base silicon substrate and outside of the circuit element. The outer periphery of the base substrate is removed to expose the membrane. The metallic membrane is preferably of gold.

Abstract: In a system for scrambling an audio signal for transmission with a video signal having non-video information intervals, an analog audio signal is converted into a scrambled compressed digital audio signal; individual bits from the scrambled compressed digital audio signal are combined to provide 2-bit digital words; each digital word is converted into an 8-bit digital PAM data signal having a binary value bearing a predetermined relationship to the binary value of the converted 2-bit digital word; the 8-bit digital PAM data signal is converted into a 4-level PAM analog signal; and the PAM analog signals are inserted into the non-video information intervals of the video signal for transmission. A descrambling system descrambles the 4-level PAM analog signals by a complementary scheme.

Abstract: A method of making a multiplicity of microwave integrated circuits is disclosed wherein a thin glass substrate is etched to contain both via holes and large area holes which receive discrete active devices therein. An electrically and thermally conductive carrier is adhered to one surface of the glass substrate with the electrical interconnections and circuit components formed on the opposing surface of the glass substrate. The method enables a multiplicity of microwave circuits to be made and tested by batch processing techniques prior to division into individual circuits.

Abstract: A system for scrambling a video signal having a plurality of horizontal lines, each of which includes a video information portion and a non-video information portion. The scrambling system includes a memory; means for storing the video information portion of each video signal line in the memory; and means for forming scrambled horizontal lines by retrieving each of a plurality of said stored video information lines in a plurality of segments preceded by a non-video segment and separated by non-video segment(s). The retrieval means include means for varying the respective durations of the retrieved video information segments in individual scrambled horizontal lines in accordance with an encryption keystream; and means for varying the total duration of the non-video segments for individual scrambled horizontal lines in accordance with a predetermined timing pattern. A complementary descrambling system also is disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and associated method of fabrication in which the device includes a semiconductor substrate having a cavity therein extending in a frame pattern. An insulating layer such as one of silicon nitride is deposited in the cavity followed by the deposition of polysilicon to substantially fill the cavity and provide structural support. An epitaxy layer is formed over the surface of the substrate along with a second insulating layer having windows defined therein for enabling ohmic contact with the epitaxy layer and substrate, respectively. Metallization is deposited to form separate beam leads to provide ohmic contact at the epitaxy layer and substrate.

Abstract: A system for regenerating a standard-length color burst signal from a less-than-standard-length color burst information signal of a given frequency and phase. The system includes a phase-locked loop for generating a system clock signal from the color burst information signal, with the clock signal having a clock frequency related to and at least twice the given frequency of the color burst information signal. The phase information from the color burst information signa is sampled and stored in a RAM. The sampling is clocked by the system clock signal. A standard-length color burst signal is regenerated at the given frequency and in phase with the color burst information signal by retrieving the stored phase information and extrapolating the standard-length signal in accordance with the retrieved phase information. Such retrieval is clocked by the system signal.

Abstract: A non-invasive temperature monitoring apparatus used in association with a guided wave member that may be for the purpose of sterilization and that is adapted for microwave heating of a substance that is absorptive at microwave frequencies and that is held in some type of container or connector that is transparent at microwave frequencies. The apparatus comprises a length of waveguide. A coupling aperture is defined in the guided wave member. The length of waveguide is supported with one end thereof about the coupling aperture. A microwave radiometer detection circuit is also coupled from the length of waveguide for detecting on a continuing basis the temperature of the substance which is usually liquid being heated by the microwave energy.

Abstract: A system in a subscriber television network for enabling descrambling of a received scrambled signal on a prepaid basis and/or an impulse-purchase basis. A received mask signal uniquely related to the scrambled signal is compared with a received authorization signal indicating whether the subscriber is authorized to receive the scrambled signal on a prepaid basis and a prepaid signal for enabling descrambling is provided when the compared signals match. A not-prepaid signal is provided when they do not match. A received cost signal indicating the charge for descrambling the scrambled signal and a received credit signal indicating only the subscriber's accumulated credit are processed with reference to a stored record of the subscriber's prior accumulated charges to determine whether the subscriber has sufficient available credit to pay for descrambling of the scrambled signal.

Abstract: A linear predictive echo canceller is integrated with a RELP vocoder in a two-way communications network, in which a received digitized speech signal synthesized by the RELP vocoder from a residual signal received with linear prediction coefficients is echoed onto a transmit channel and combined with a transmitted digitized speech input signal that is to be analyzed by a RELP vocoder for transmission. The echo canceller cancels the echoed signal from the transmit channel by generating a foreground transmit signal by subtracting a foreground estimate of the echoed signal from the combined signal; and providing the foreground transmit signal on the transmit channel for ananlysis by the RELP vocoder.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of semiconductor components and in particular a process in which the components are fabricated with a controlled spacing of etched channels. The process is in particular utilized in fabricating a monolithic array of elements such as a pin diode array. The process of the present invention combines the use of an anisotropic silicon etching process for the desired device geometries with a means of defining all device surface topology by substantially a single photomask thus eliminating critical mask alignment. A second embodiment of the invention is also described employing fewer layers of deposition with a double photomask step.

Abstract: A coaxial connector having a pair of members, each of substantially the same construction, and each including means at an outer side thereof for receiving a first coax cable and means at an inner side thereof defining a section of waveguide. In each member there is a transition means that intercouples the coax cable and the section of waveguide. The pair of members are supported together by a support means and there is further provided alignment means for holding the sections of waveguide in alignment.

Abstract: A polarized receiving apparatus in which there is provided a first waveguide for transmitting polarized signals and a second waveguide secured to the first for receiving polarized signals at one end thereof. An antenna means is provided having integrally formed portions including a receiver probe portion disposed in the second waveguide and extending generally axially of the second waveguide for receiving one polarization of the incident signal, a launch probe portion concentric with the axis of the first waveguide and extending generally axially of the first waveguide for launching said signal therein, and a drive portion intermediate the receiver and launch probe portions with said drive portions including a first gear. A drive source is supported in a housing member which defines the first waveguide and this drive source comprises at least a second gear adapted to mesh with the first gear for driving the antenna means.

Abstract: A waveguide bandpass filter having multiple waveguide sections including alternating ridge waveguide sections and evanescent waveguide sections. The ridge waveguide sections define a resonant cavity and the evanescent waveguide sections reactively load the resonant cavity thus intercoupling the ridge waveguide sections so as to provide a low loss filter having high attenuation, not only at adjacent stop band frequencies, but also at harmonics of the pass band.

Abstract: A solderless connector for semi-rigid coaxial cable having an elongate annular outer conductor, a center conductor coaxial with said outer conductor and a dielectric material spacing the inner and outer conductors apart, the connector comprising a housing having an annular portion defining a bore adapted to encompass said outer conductor and a bushing defining a bore to engage the exterior of the annular portion to circumferentially compress said annular portion upon telescoping movement of said bushing over said annular portion, said housing bore having, integral therewith, means adapted to engage said outer conductor upon said circumferential compression to provide a mechanical and electrical interface between said housing and said outer conductor.