Abstract: A configuration for a SONET transport node comprises a pair of transparent mux/demuxs provided at two sites and connected over a high rate span. The T-Muxs provide continuity of all tribs and maintain a lower bit rate linear or ring system through the higher bit rate span. The lower bit rate linear or ring system operates as if it were directly connected without the higher bit rate midsection. For the forward direction of the traffic, the T-Mux comprises a multi-channel receiver for receiving the trib signals and providing for each trib signal a trib SPE and a trib OH. The trib SPEs are multiplexed into a supercarrier SPE and the trib OHs signals are processed to generate a supercarrier OH. A supercarrier transmitter maps the supercarrier SPE and the supercarrier OH into a supercarrier signal and transmits same over the high rate span. Reverse operations are effected for the reverse direction of traffic.

Abstract: A method of transferring payload, control and messaging data in a communications system, in a serial data stream at a pre-set bit rate per second is disclosed. The method comprises, transferring a chosen integer number of frames of serial data per second. Each frame comprises a number of timeslots of data. Each timeslot comprises a predetermined number of first bits comprising payload related data or messaging bits and a calculated number of second bits comprising control bits. The calculated number is calculated so that the sum of the predetermined number and the calculated number multiplied by the number of timeslots and the chosen integer number equals the number of bits transferred in one second at the pre-set bit rate. Preferably, bits from the second bits at fixed intervals within the serial data stream comprise a out-of-band communications channel with the stream. Preferably, the pre-set bit rate is synchronized to the clock of a host communications system.

Abstract: A channel waveguide structure which can be incorporated into VLSI (very large scale integration) integrated circuits uses a SiGe (silicon germanium) alloy core and Si (silicon) top and bottom cladding layers. The core may consist of only a SiGe alloy layer or it may be formed as a superlattice containing Si layers alternating with SiGe alloy layers. LOCOS (locally oxidized silicon) regions are formed on the top cladding layer at spaced locations thereby defining lateral boundaries of channels in the core.

Abstract: A switch module for time switching telecommunications data includes an input circuit for selecting data samples from a time slot in an input frame of data samples. The selected data samples are arranged into groups of uniform size, each group consisting of at least two data samples. The groups of selected data samples are stored in an orderly manner, in each of as many storage entities as there are data samples in each group. Thereafter in accordance with a predefined sequence peculiar to each of the storage entities, the data samples are simultaneously read out, group by group. An output circuit selects data samples into a selected group of data samples from among each of the readouts of each of the storage entities and transmits each selected group into an output frame of data samples. Hence a sequence of the data samples appears switched in the output frame with respect to the sequence of the data samples as they were stored from the input frame.

Abstract: Complementary Modulation-Doped Field-Effect Transistors (CMODFETs) using a heterostructure based on Silicon and Germanium alloys are described. The design of the Si/Si.sub.1-x Ge.sub.x -based CMODFET is also presented and shown to enable both n-channel or p-channel transport between source and drain implantation regions of the carriers with mobilities enhanced by 1) low ionized dopant scattering phenomena and 2) discretization of the free carrier energy due to quantum confinement.

Abstract: A component comprises a coil for the supply by induction of the component and for the inductive bidirectional transfer with the station of a signal representative of data. Means for processing said signal are supplied by the coil and are produced in integrated technology on the substrate of the component. The turns of the coil are produced in flat integrated technology by metallization on the surface of the component. The integral coil occupies at least 50% of the total surface of the component.

Abstract: A cable tie (10) includes a tie portion (12) and a head portion (14). The tie portion (12) is inserted through a slot (16) of the head portion (14). The slot (16) allows for insertion of the tie portion (12) and prevents de-insertion of the tie portion (12). After insertion, an excess length 22 of the tie portion (12) is trimmed away leaving a remaining edge (24). The head portion (14) includes a safety guard (18) attached by a flexible hinge (20) that snaps onto the head portion (14) to enclose the remaining edge (24).

Abstract: Apparatus for the exchange of information by electromagnetic coupling between a passive portable object and a station comprising: first electromagnetic coupling means for the transmission of data between the portable object and the station, and second electromagnetic coupling means independent of the first means for the transfer of energy and a clock signal to the portable object. A filtering circuit is provided on the station side, which behaves as an inductance at the frequency associated with the data transmission and as a high value impedance at the frequency associated with the energy transfer.

Abstract: A method of avoiding phase discontinuities between adjacent sections of a long Bragg grating written section-by-section in an optical fibre uses masks with alignment parts additional to their writing parts. Each alignment part is a replica of a portion of the writing part of the adjacent mask. The writing of the Bragg grating produces an associated absorption grating and so, for light directed in series through the alignment part of the mask and the already-written previous section of the grating, transmission is at a maximum when the mask is moved into exact registry. Fine adjustment of mask position is made to find this condition before writing with this mask is commenced.

Abstract: A wavelength tunable laser emission component includes on the same substrate an active emission section and a Bragg section that includes a waveguide in which is formed a plurality of individual Bragg gratings corresponding to particular Bragg wavelengths. The waveguide has an electro-absorbent structure, the subsections of the Bragg section each being voltage-controlled. The laser emission wavelength is tuned to one or other of the Bragg wavelengths of these subsections according to control voltages applied thereto.

Abstract: An upper case 1 and a lower case 2 are fixed by no screw, so that assemblage workability is improved. An electric appliance can be divided into plastic upper case 1, metal-plate-made lower case 2, and logic package 9 having print substrates. As a result, the electric appliance is easy to waste.

Abstract: Diversity path signals, each comprising time division multiplexed symbols in a time slot including known symbols, are combined with respective weights to reduce co-channel interference. Initial weights are determined, using a window on the known symbols, to optimize signal to interference plus noise ratio. These weights are used to determine symbols adjacent to the window, and the window is changed to include determined symbols and the weights redetermined. This process is repeated with the window being moved progressively, preferably with successive positions overlapping, throughout the time slot. The initially known symbols can comprise synchronization symbols and/or CDVCC (coded digital verification color code) symbols. Desirably, both can be used with respective windows being moved in opposite directions through symbols between them to provide two results for each such symbol, the better one of which is selected in dependence upon a monitoring of possibly averaged errors for the symbols.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting two optical-fiber ribbons, each of which involves at least one optical fiber, is disclosed. The connector assembly includes a pair of connectors each of which is provided with a contact portion protruding from a leading end thereof and a plurality of through-holes into each of which the optical fiber is fitted, an alignment member provided with a central hole and a case having two pair of clamping members. The connectors are connected through the alignment member in such a way that the contact portions are, from both outsides to inside, fitted into the central hole to come in a face-to-face contact with each other. The connectors and the alignment member are inserted in the case and the opposite clamping members urge the connectors toward each other, thereby securely holding the connectors connected in position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically generating a speech recognition vocabulary for a speech recognition system from a listing that contains a number of entries, each entry containing a multi-word identification data that distinguishes that entry from other entries in the list. The method comprises the steps of creating for each entry in the listing a plurality of orthographies in the speech recognition vocabulary that are formed by combining selected words from the entry. The words combination is effected by applying a heuristics model that mimics the way users formulate requests to the automated directory assistance system. The method is particularly useful for generating speech recognition vocabularies for automated directory assistance systems.

Abstract: A telephone terminal having handsfree functionality is provided with an audio system which controls echo return loss while permitting virtual full-duplex operation. The system, which has a variolosser in both the transmit and receive path and an acoustic echo canceller, also has a complementary variolosser which introduces additional echo return loss only when required and as a function of the state of the system.

Abstract: A telephone ringing signal generator includes a DC converter for producing high positive and negative voltages that define peak amplitudes of the ringing signal, which is produced by low pass filtering a generally trapezoidal waveform having these peak amplitudes. The generally trapezoidal waveform is produced by a level-shifting integrator at a frequency determined by a low voltage square wave supplied to the integrator. The integrator comprises a capacitor coupled between a virtual ground point and an output of the integrator and arranged to be charged with two opposite polarities in response to opposite transitions of the square wave, and a resistor via which the square wave is supplied to the virtual ground point. Buffers are provided for buffering the trapezoidal waveform supplied to, and the ringing signal produced by, the low pass filter.

Abstract: Electronic package with an electronic component mounted upon a PCB or ceramic substrate by first level interconnects and housing second level interconnects on the other side of the PCB. The component is protected by an EMI shield which is grounded to a ground plane of the PCB. Especially significant when there are a plurality of components protected by the shield and when at least one of the components is an integrated circuit component (I.C.C.). The package is thus prebuilt with the EMI shield and without a separate package required for each I.C.C., and is robust in construction for shipping. The shield and ground plane provide a Faraday cage which is especially complete when the shield extends around edges of the PCB and onto its other side. The package is ready for connection to a motherboard by use of the second level interconnects and process steps to place EMI shields individually onto mother boards are avoided.

Abstract: A one-touch dial apparatus and method for registering dialing numbers in a telephone system includes a memory module divided into a plurality of memory blocks, each memory block having a number of memory locations, wherein each of the memory blocks is arranged for each of the corresponding telephones. When an intercom number for a subject telephone is generated from a source telephone, a memory block corresponding to the subject telephone having the intercom number is selected and each of the memory locations in the selected memory block is addressed sequentially. And then, a memory button is assigned to an addressed memory location and a dialing number is registered into the addressed memory location assigned to the memory button.

Abstract: A power factor and crest factor correction circuit for a power distribution network of the type comprising a low power source for supplying a plurality of ports with an ac signal is disclosed. Each port comprises a rectifier bridge, a bulk storage capacitor and a power converter connected across the rectifier bridge, The power factor and crest factor correction circuit comprises an inductor, series connected between the rectifier bridge and the bulk capacitor, for reducing the current peaks in a rectified signal received from the rectifier bridge. The correction circuit also comprises diode means connected in parallel across the inductor for discharging the bulk capacitor whenever the voltage across the bulk capacitor exceeds the voltage of the rectified signal. As a result, a higher power factor is obtained for the dc signal applied to the power converter, and also the current peaks in the dc signal are substantially reduced.

Abstract: A distributed database management (DDBMS) system for switching applications that combines rapid feature deployment with high real-time performance. The system architecture encompasses a new software boundary between application and database, yet provides the benefits of open standard interfaces and distributed transaction control. To accomplish this dichotomy, an object-oriented schema is used to arrange the DDBMS as an intelligent service provider, separating services from physical location and implementation. A software containment approach is utilized to optimize interfaces based on grouping of data so as to permit application-specific routines to be "plugged-into" the database. The DDBMS is arranged to address extendibility and real-time performance needs of capabilities such as ISDN and IN is switching offices and network nodes.