Abstract: A first plurality of stages each support a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of N optical input fibers. A second plurality of stages each support a ferrule surrounding an end portion of a corresponding one of M optical output fibers. Mechanical mechanisms translate the stages along a plurality of orthogonal X and Y axes to align a facet of a selected one of the N input optical fibers with a facet of a selected one of the M output optical fibers. The stages of the input optical fibers, the output optical fibers, or both, have mechanical mechanisms for moving the ferrules along Z axes perpendicular to the X and Y axes into and out of alignment holes of a central panel to physically mate the facets of the coupled fibers.

Abstract: An improved optical switch allows for the testing, calibration and monitoring of optical switch points in an optical switching matrix. A test column and a test row of additional switch elements and optical paths enable the improved optical switch to provide testing, calibration and monitoring of each optical switch point in the optical switch matrix using a test input source and a test output receiver. The improved optical switch may also be used to test for the presence of light at any input and to inject a test signal into the matrix in order to test for the presence and quality of light at any output.

Abstract: A switching device includes a substrate, a first waveguide segment, a second waveguide segment, a heating device, a liquid, and a pressure controlling mechanism. The substrate is coupled to the first waveguide segment and the second waveguide segment, and the substrate includes a chamber that separates the first waveguide segment from the second waveguide segment. The liquid is disposed in the chamber and is responsive to the heating device. The pressure controlling mechanism controls a pressure in the chamber such that inadvertent bubbles are prevented from forming between the first waveguide segment and the second waveguide segment.

Abstract: A fault tolerant optical switch allows fault tolerance and redundant operation in an optical switching matrix. A plurality of redundant switch elements and waveguides and an optical reflector enable the fault tolerant optical switch to provide a spare optical path around a failed switch element. The redundant path may be established and maintained until the failed switch element can be replaced at which time the redundant path may again be available to provide a spare optical path in case of another switch element failure.

Abstract: A method for enlarging or shrinking stored digital video images is described herein. A user supplied resizing factor which is not arbitrarily limited is used to calculate a scaling factor, which is used repetitively to indicate which of the original pixels is retained in the final image and when new pixels of video information must be generated. This same scaling factor indicates the effective color distance between the retained pixels' color information and the color information which must be generated for the new pixel. The systems uses only unsigned additions and divisions by two, which greatly increase its speed over known scaling methods.

Abstract: A print controller with simplified video data storage operation. A single microprocessor provides a controller with a start address and a start command. The controller monitors a stream of digitized video data as it fills a two part serial register in a video random access memory ("VRAM"). As each successive part of the serial register is filled, the controller writes the contents of the filled part of the serial register to the VRAM. Upon receipt of a signal indicating the end of the image, digitized video data remaining in the register is written to the VRAM. Images are effectively streamed in, as opposed to the line by line storage of images used in known print controllers.

Abstract: The braking of an a.c. motor is accomplished by sequence controlled outputs of a shift register circuit which sequentially disconnects the main a.c. electrical excitation from the a.c. motor, connects a full wave rectifier circuit to the a.c. motor and then applies the a.c. electrical excitation to the full wave rectifier circuit resulting in a braking current being supplied to the a.c. motor.

Abstract: A document entering a document transport system is assigned an address identification corresponding to a storage location in a shunt command storage member and the shunt command information at the designated location is addressed as the document approaches a document shunt location to determine if the document is to be shunted or permitted to continue in the transport.

Abstract: A line scanning camera generates signal information indicative of marks on a scanned document and a selectable memory containing several document formats cause the signal information from the scanned document corresponding to the selected format to be transmitted for evaluation.

Abstract: The movement of a document through a transport system is simulated electronically and compared to the actual movement of the document to detect a document feed jam.

Abstract: In a line scan camera system employed to extract information from marks or characters on a document, a memory circuit is used to store the average white and black video output from the camera so that a given white-to-black transition can be compared to adaptive white and black references to compensate for variations in document background light intensity and vignetting associated with the lens of the line scan camera system.