Abstract: An integrated circuit is presented in which optical signal propagation replaces or supplements conventional electrical signal propagation. Optical lasers, waveguides, beam splitters, and photodetectors are fabricated on top of or below conventional electrical semiconductor circuits to propagate data, clock, and control signals. Such optical signal propagation is generally more rapid than electrical signal propagation, and can free conventional electrical semiconductor circuit area by eliminating at least some conventional data busses and global clock and control wiring. Furthermore, optical clock signal propagation substantially eliminates clock skewing problems and reduces power consumption by significantly eliminating clock signal re-buffering.

Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit is provided that has a monocrystalline substrate such as silicon and a compound semiconductor layer such as gallium arsenide or indium phosphide. An optical communications port may be formed on the hybrid integrated circuit. Electrical equipment may be provided that includes electrical components. At least a given one of the components may be a hybrid integrated circuit. Data used for the operation of one of the given integrated circuit may be provided to the given integrated circuit through the optical communications port on that integrated circuit. The data may be loaded rapidly in real time due to the wide bandwidth of the optical communications port.

Abstract: An identifier which scans the retina of an eye, senses the magnitude of reflections and transmits signals representative of the magnitudes to a remote location which stores the signals and compares them to previously stored magnitude signals for purposes of identifying the eye and, hence, the owner of the eye. The equipment can alternatively be used to produce a direct written image on the retina. Combining the two provides a secure communication system.

Abstract: Surface acoustic wave devices (160) as well as other electronic devices, can be mounted into the sides of ceramic blocks (150) that comprise a ceramic block filter device. The surface acoustic wave device as mounted in the filter block does not require or displace volume that would be required to mount the surface acoustic wave devices in their own housings.

Abstract: A communication system (10) has at least one communication resource controller (28) for allocating a limited number of communication resources among a plurality of communication units. The communication resource controller monitors the communication resources and maintains a data library of the level and duration of any interference of the communication resources. The communication units (20 and 22) are constructed and arranged to communicate information on any of the communication resources. Any one of the plurality of communication units can initiate access to a communication resource by transmitting a request therefor. In response to a proper request, the communication resource controller (28) assigns a communication resource the communication units in accordance with the data retrieved from the interference data library.

Abstract: A radio transceiver includes a read only memory (ROM) for storing an origination code and a random access memory (RAM) for storing a destination code. The destination code may be manually entered into the RAM via a keypad or it may be entered remotely from another transceiver. In signalling between two transceivers, the destination code is transmitted followed by the origination code indicating the transmission's origin. In this manner coded squelch communications may take place between two parties without the necessity of reverting to carrier squelch operation while obtaining enhanced user privacy and flexibility.

Abstract: A radio frequency transceiver is provided in which the crystal resonator and monolithic crystal filter devices therein all operate at or near the operating frequency of the transceiver, and which employs a single piezoelectric element to achieve the functions of receiver signal filtering, transmitter signal filtering, receiver local oscillator signal generation, and transmitter local oscillator signal generation. To achieve these functions, a crystal resonator and a monolithic crystal filter are situated on the same substrate of piezoelectric material. The crystal resonator portion of the piezoelectric device is employed to control the frequency at which a local oscillator generates radio frequency energy. Such crystal controlled local oscillator is shared by a receiver mixer circuit and a transmitter mixer circuit. Switching circuitry is employed to switch the crystal filter portion of the piezoelectric device from the receiver signal path to the transmitter signal path.

Abstract: A crystal mounting arrangement is provided which achieves central mounting of the crystal on a substrate while not producing frequency changes in the crystal resulting from substantial differential expansion type stress generated over changes in temperature.

Abstract: A method of captivating a substrate within a holder for photolithographic processing is shown. A substrate is placed within the aperture of a holder and is sandwiched into place by laminating it with layers of dry film photopolymer resist. Portions of the photopolymer resist are polymerized. Unpolymerized portions are washed away leaving retaining tabs of polymerized resist which hold the substrate within the holder for an etching or plating process.