Abstract: The invention relates to switches enabling the connection by an optical method of at least one of the circuits of a set of input circuits to at least one circuit of a set of output circuits. It consists in illuminating a photosensitive medium with parallel input beams coming from a set of input circuits. The input beams are then diffracted on strata inscribed on the medium to reach one of the circuits of a set of photoreceptor circuits. The strata are inscribed by interference of two inscribing beams of which the wavelength differs from that of the input beams; the wavelength of these input beams not lying within the range of spectral sensitivity of the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: There is disclosed a communications system in which digital information is conveyed over a line and each station on the line has a hybrid circuit. The invention includes an apparatus having means for cancelling an unwanted echo signal between receive and transmit channels at each station. An analog to digital converter in the receive channel has a control input to receive a timing signal. A subtractor circuit has a first input coupled to the output of the digital to analog converter through a filter and receives signals from a canceller sample and hold circuit having an input coupled to the transmission port. The adaptive echo simulator is a transversal filter which has varying coefficient capability and which coefficients are varied by means of multiplexers included in coefficient generators.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus, in a telecommunication system for transmission of digital information in duplex over a signal conductor pair for automatically adjusting a balance filter included in a hybrid coupler circuit with the aid of adaptive echo cancellation so that the local data transmitter does not disturb the local data reception, without utilizing any particular testing procedure in initiating the adaptive echo cancellation. A control signal (.epsilon..sub.k) is formed, with the help of which the correction unit (KB) is caused to generate signals for rapid updating of the balance filter (B) parameters, in spite of that knowledge is lacking in the initiation instant concerning the value of the signal transmitted from the remote end to the apparatus, and that no counteraction between level correction and filter adaption is obtained. The apparatus includes a quantizer (Q) in which a sampled, received signal (r.sub.k) is quantized, an estimated signal (a.sub.

Abstract: A circuit for adaptively equalizing a digital signal to compensate for distortion introduced by a transmission medium. The circuit includes a first feedback path for modifying the input signal which is to be equalized to an extent controlled by a control input signal. A second feedback path modifies the input signal to an extent which tends to overcompensate the signal for the transmission distortion. Further, means are provided to modify the signal so as to undercompensate it for the transmission distortion. Error detectors detect pseudo bit errors in the overcompensated and the undercompensated signal, and a control input signal is generated for the first feedback path, dependent on the difference between the errors detected in the overcompensated and undercompensated signal.

Abstract: A two way digital communication arrangement utilizes a CATV system to provide bidirectional data transport service between any two points within the CATV system. The headend receives an upstream message and selectively rebroadcasts such message on the downstream portion of the spectrum. System intelligence is thus distributed throughout the system as server and subscriber nodes can be located anywhere in the CATV network. In order to obtain access to the CATV communication resources, user equipment at each node must attach a frame verifier (FV) code to each respective message. The headend examines the FV and permits rebroadcast of messages only if the FV code indicates that the user is authorized.

Abstract: A device for transmitting measured values to a remote location characterized by the sensor device applying an output voltage control to an electro-optical modulator to create a light signal from a source of light received from an optical divider for conducting back to the remote location and the energy for the sensor device being supplied as light energy from a remote location to the optical divider whose other output beam is converted into electrical energy by a transducer associated with the sensor device.

Abstract: In a power line carrier telephone extension system for transmitting electrical signals between the telephone line and an extension telephone over the AC electric power line available at a telephone subscriber's premises, that includes a main station for processing signals between the subscriber's telephone line and power lines and two or more extension telephones of the system that plug into the power line, means that provides for two or more of the system telephones to communicate without going on the telephone line (Intercom), even while another system telephone is engaged in an outside telephone call and means are further provided for all telephones of the system to conference in Intercom.

Abstract: A duplex FM communication transceiver 10 is disclosed in which a modulated transmit carrier signal is utilized as the receiver first mixer (32) injection signal. The receiver portion of the transceiver comprises dual conversion circuitry, and the transmit information signal used for modulating the transmit carrier signal is phase and amplitude adjusted and then utilized to modulate the receiver second injection local oscillator 41 which provides the input injection signal to the receiver second mixer 36. The second mixer substantially cancels all of the transmit information signal and provides just received information signals to a demodulator 43 which provides audio signals to a speaker 46.

Abstract: A duplex FM communication transceiver 10 is disclosed in which a modulated transmit carrier signal is utilized as the receiver first mixer (32) injection signal. The receiver portion of the transceiver comprises dual conversion circuitry, and the transmit information signal used for modulating the transmit carrier signal is phase and amplitude adjusted and then utilized to modulate the receiver second injection local oscillator 41 which provides the input injection signal to the receiver second mixer 36. The second mixer substantially cancels all of the transmit information signal and provides just received information signals to a demodulator 43 which provides audio signals to a speaker 46.

Abstract: A transceiver provides data collision detection and avoidance in a contention-formatted, FDM communications network using FSK modulation. Locally-generated baseband data is compared to recovered baseband data received from the system bus. A failure to compare indicates that there has been a data collision. The wide disparities in amplitude between locally-generated FDM signals and signals received from the bus are accommodated by a signal splitter which provides greater attenuation of the local signal than the generally weaker bus signal, and by the use of logarithmic amplifiers which generate relatively constant output levels for a wide range of input signal amplitudes. Collision avoidance is provided by monitoring the bus signal demodulators for data activity, and by inhibiting the local transmitter when such activity is detected, subject to an override during transmission by the local station.

Abstract: A bit compression multiplexer (FIG. 2) for a pair of time division multiplexed digital bit streams each one of which includes a plurality of PCM encoded signals deposited in separate and distinct channels of a repetitive frame and signaling bits multiplexed therewith. The PCM encoded signals of successive frames are normally bit compressed (23) into n-bit signals, but periodically the encoded signals of a frame are bit compressed into n-1 bit signals. The bit compressed signals of the pair of bit streams are time division multiplexed (24) with each other, with the multiplexed compressed signals occupying separate and distinct channels of a repetitive frame. The signaling bits are extracted (21) from the pair of digital bit streams and are inserted (24) into predetermined n-1 bit channels of the last-recited repetitive frame. The signaling bits that are placed in a given channel are related to the encoded message signal of that channel.

Abstract: A digital timing unit for timing a data processing system or units thereof, wherein the output signals of a shift register are applied to a plurality of EXCLUSIVE OR gates (G.sub.1) . . . (G.sub.n). The shift register is activated from a known state so that an electric transition signal is shifted through the register cells. A timing cycle is thus defined which is utilized to set the register in a second known state. Feedback and control logic are provided for activating the register independently of its state and keeping it in the state occurring at the end of a timing cycle until a new start signal is received. Shifting of the register is caused by timing pulses generated by an oscillator (1). The timing signals generated by the timing unit and present on the output terminals of the EXCLUSIVE OR may be modified, as to the length, by changing the oscillator period and/or the connection between the EXCLUSIVE OR inputs and the outputs of the shift register.

Abstract: Each of two terminals transmits a bit stream to a two-wire line in the form of a unipolar pulsed signal, the terminals transmitting pulses of opposite polarity with the bits synchronized, so that the line acts as a distributed exclusive-or gate. In each terminal, pulses on the bus are detected and a consequent received bit stream is exclusively-ored with the bit stream transmitted by this terminal to recover the bit stream transmitted by the other terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable transceiver and a remote terminal station each using at least two antennas with different polarization transmission capabilities for an adaptive retransmission technique. In the present adaptive retransmission technique, the terminal station transmits the same preamble signal in at least two time slots of a frame period of a time division sequence using the antenna receiving the strongest signal from the transceiver in the immediately prior frame period followed by a binary message signal using the same antenna. The transceiver receives each of the preamble transmissions from the terminal station via a separate one of differently oriented antennas and determines which antenna received the strongest signal. The message signal from the terminal station is then received via the antenna of the transceiver having received the strongest signal and also sends its response message signal on that antenna during a separate time slot of a frame period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a time-division radio transmission technique which uses a modified full-duplex arrangement where two channels are assigned to each two-way link. Simultaneous two-way transmission includes sequential digital symbol bursts between two remote transceivers which alternate between a first and a second channel centered on a first and a second radio frequency, respectively, with each transceiver using a different one of the channels at any instant of time.

Abstract: An antenna duplexer is made compact by a use of a SAW filter, and yet it eliminates the possibility that the SAW filter might be burned, and it avoids additional circuits, e.g., an impedance compensation circuit. The antenna duplexer comprises a local oscillation filter. A reception filter is coupled to the local oscillation filter. The coupled side is partly constituted by a SAW filter. A transmission filter is coupled to the reception filter and an antenna is coupled between the reception filter and the transmission filter.

Abstract: A pair of transducer units and a transmission line extend the operational range of an infrared remote control device that normally operates electrical or electromechanical apparatus such as a television channel selector. One transducer converts electrical signals into an infrared radiation pattern and is located adjacent the apparatus. The other transducer is located at any desired remote location linked by wire to the first transducer, and converts into electrical signals the infrared radiation pattern produced by the infrared remote control device. The first transducer includes an emitter in the form of an infrared light emitting diode, and the second transducer includes a sensor in the form of a photo diode. In certain applications, the transducers utilize the existing television cable.

Abstract: A transmitter for fiber optics communication having a solid state light source device biased to emit light and a solid state optical amplifier device positioned adjacent the source device to receive the emitted light and amplify it. A modulation current is provided to one of the devices so as to cause a corresponding modulation of the output light from the optical amplifier, for transmission of the information contained in the modulation. The invention is advantageous for multiple state digital encoding. In addition, it can generate a multiplexed output, which facilitates demultiplexing of the information transmitted.

Abstract: A programming-on-demand cable system is provided which allows any one of a plurality of individual users to request anyone of a plurality of video programs they wish to view from a library of programs, and permits the requested program to be available for viewing on a conventional television set at the user's location following a request initiated by the user. Each program is preprogrammed in a memory device selectable by a host computer at a central data station in response to an address signal transmitted from the user. The host computer in conjunction with other electronics transmits the video program at a high non-real-time rate over a fiber optic line network to a data receiving station at the user's location. The data receiving station then converts the received optical data back to electrical data and stores it for subsequent real-time transmission to the user's television set.

Abstract: A communications system having a data highway made up of two optical communications channels forming a ring to interconnect stations whose signals are interfaced with the ring by an optical-electrical repeater. The repeaters include an optical detector and an optical transmitter for each channel. These are coupled so that they normally function as repeaters except when the repeater is associated with a station which is transmitting. Means are provided for preventing that repeater from repeating and further means are provided for receiving the transmitted signal at the transmitting station after it has gone around the ring for checking the condition of the ring.