Abstract: A directed dialogue portal system management scheme is disclosed, providing a manager application layer over portal system managed applications. The manager application layer may include a global grammar (e.g., the grammar of each managed application) and each managed application may inherit behaviors of the manager application. Responses to prompts received by a first managed application that are unrecognized or are directed to a second managed application are sent to the manager application. The manager application sends the response to the second application. The scheme is transparent to the user and, from the user's perspective, a user is able to directly access any application or services in a directed dialogue portal system from other locations in the system.

Abstract: A computer software product is used to create applications for enabling a dialogue between a human and a computer. The software product provides a programming tool that insulates software developers from time-consuming, technically-challenging programming tasks by enabling the developer to specify generalized instructions to a Dialogue Flow Interpreter, which invokes functions to implement a speech application, automatically populating a library with dialogue objects that are available to other applications. The speech applications created through the DFI may be implemented as COM (component object model) objects, and so the applications can be easily integrated into a variety of different platforms. In addition, “translator” object classes are provided to handle specific types of data, such as currency, numeric data, dates, times, string variables, etc. These translator object classes have utility either as part of the DFI library or as a sub-library separate from dialogue implementation.

Abstract: A computer software product is used to create applications for enabling a dialogue between a human and a computer. The software product provides a programming tool that insulates software developers from time-consuming, technically-challenging programming tasks by enabling the developer to specify generalized instructions to a Dialogue Flow Interpreter, which invokes functions to implement a speech application, automatically populating a library with dialogue objects that are available to other applications. The speech applications created through the DFI may be implemented as COM (component object model) objects, and so the applications can be easily integrated into a variety of different platforms. In addition, “translator” object classes are provided to handle specific types of data, such as currency, numeric data, dates, times, string variables, etc. These translator object classes have utility either as part of the DFI library or as a sub-library separate from dialogue implementation.

Abstract: A cross-coupled cascode voltage controlled oscillator including a variable-frequency tank circuit, first and second cascode-coupled active devices coupled to the tank circuit, and third and fourth cascode-coupled active devices coupled to the tank circuit, the first and second active devices being cross-coupled to the third and fourth active devices. The invention produces lower drain the gate voltages resulting in fewer device failures.

Abstract: A composite semiconductor structure includes islands of noncompound semiconductor materials formed on a noncompound substrate, and an optical testing structure. In one embodiment, a scan chain runs through the noncompound substrate (and possibly also through the islands) and terminates in the islands at optical interface elements, one of which is an optical emitter and the other of which is an optical detector. A test device inputs test signals to, and reads test signals from, the scan chain by interfacing optically with the optical interface elements. In another embodiment, an optical detector is formed in the silicon substrate and an optical emitter is formed in the compound semiconductor material. A leaky waveguide communicating with the emitter overlies the detector, and detection by the detector of light emitted by the emitter is an indication of the absence of an intended circuit element between the detector and the leaky side of the waveguide.

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of monocrystalline materials can be grown overlying monocrystalline substrates such as large silicon wafers by forming a compliant substrate for growing the monocrystalline layers. One way to achieve the formation of a compliant substrate includes first growing an accommodating buffer layer on a silicon wafer. The accommodating buffer layer is a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer dissipates strain and permits the growth of a high quality monocrystalline oxide accommodating buffer layer. The accommodating buffer layer is lattice matched to both the underlying silicon wafer and the overlying monocrystalline material layer. Any lattice mismatch between the accommodating buffer layer and the underlying silicon substrate is taken care of by the amorphous interface layer. A portion of the accommodating buffer layer may be used to form a dielectric for a dielectric resonance.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an oscillating reference signal at a reference frequency includes: (a) a light conveying element having a first end and a second end; the light conveying element conveying substantially all light received or reflected at one end to the other end; the light conveying element having a light transmission path intermediate the first end and the second end; the transmission path being related to the reference frequency; (b) a light transmitting element oriented to introduce light into the light conveying element at one end of the light conveying element; and (c) a light receiving element oriented to receive the transmitted light at one end of the light conveying element. The light conveying element, the light transmitting element and the light receiving element are implemented in a monolithic structure arranged on a single substrate.

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of monocrystalline materials can be grown overlying monocrystalline substrates such as large silicon wafers by forming a compliant substrate for growing the monocrystalline layers. One way to achieve the formation of a compliant substrate includes first growing an accommodating buffer layer on a silicon wafer. The accommodating buffer layer is a layer of monocrystalline oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. A substrate so formed can be used to implement an optically switched device, such as a mixer, that utilizes optical source and optical detector components.

Abstract: High quality epitaxial layers of monocrystalline materials can be grown overlying monocrystalline substrates such as large silicon wafers by forming a compliant substrate for growing the monocrystalline layers. One way to achieve the formation of a compliant substrate includes first growing an accommodating buffer layer on a silicon wafer. The accommodating buffer layer includes a layer of conductive metallic oxide spaced apart from the silicon wafer by an amorphous interface layer of silicon oxide. The amorphous interface layer dissipates strain and permits the growth of a high quality monocrystalline oxide accommodating buffer layer. The accommodating buffer layer is lattice matched to both the underlying silicon wafer and the overlying monocrystalline material layer. A diode is formed on the overlying monocrystalline material layer, which is a gallium arsenide layer. Optionally, the accommodating buffer layer may include a non-conductive oxide layer on the conductive metallic oxide layer.

Abstract: A CMOS implemented output buffer (10) provides ECL level output signals. The output buffer (10) is implemented in two stages. The first stage (36) includes an inverter having a resistor (39) in series with a P-channel transistor (38) and an N-channel transistor (40) and provides the initial buffering. The resistor (39) in the first inverter stage (36) is used to reduce a cross-over current in the second drive stage (42). The second stage (42) provides additional drive capability and includes an integral level converter. The integral level converter is implemented as a P-channel transistor (44) connected in series with the P-channel and N-channel output driver transistors (53 and 55). The P-channel transistor (44) provides the level shifting function to ECL levels for the second stage. The bias level of the P-channel transistor (44) determines the output logic swing.

Abstract: A method for lining a blast furnace or other metallurgical vessel in stages uses a plurality of porous consumable forms and a pumpable casting composition. A form member, including a rigid support frame and a porous consumable form mounted thereto, is installed in a lower portion of the vessel being lined, and is spaced from the vessel wall. Casting composition is then pumped into the space between the consumable form and the vessel wall, and is permitted to harden. Then, another form member is positioned above the first, and casting composition is pumped into the space between the second form member and the vessel wall. This process is repeated, using stacked form members, until the refractory lining is completely installed.

Abstract: A method is provided for installing a refractory lining in a metallurgical vessel having a main opening which is much smaller than the diameter of the vessel. The method is especially useful in a vessel having a circular or otherwise curved cross-section. A form or mold is assembled inside the vessel, leaving a space between the form and the outer shell of the vessel. The form is supported on both sides, to maintain the distance between the form and the outer shell, and to prevent collapse or implosion of the form. Then, a pumpable casting composition having a smooth and easy flow is injected between the form and the shell, and allowed to harden. The use of the pumpable composition significantly shortens the time required to form the liner.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an open top, walled member for containing a molten metal, including the steps of forming an inner wall of a mold with a metal sheet and an inner lining covering the sheet, wherein the inner wall defines an inside surface of the walled member and transferring a casting compound between an outer wall of the mold and the inner lining of the inner wall to form the walled member. The metal sheet and inner lining are then removed to allow one to apply heat to dry the casting compound. In the case where the metal sheet includes a plurality of openings, one may also retain the inner wall during the heating step. The heat to dry the casting compound is applied to the inner lining to a sufficient temperature to melt the inner lining and uncover said openings of the metal sheet. The metal sheet is removed when the casting compound is dried.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting digital information (111) from an asynchronous data stream (101) is achieved by providing a data stream (101) that is clocked at a data stream clock rate (210). A sampled data stream (103) is produced by sampling the asynchronous data stream at a first clock rate (105), which is independent of the data stream clock rate (210). Using the sampled data stream (103), a recovered clock (107) is generated. The recovered clock (107) is then used to extract the digital information (111) from the sampled data stream (103).

Abstract: An adjustable form used for forming or repairing a refractory lining includes an adjustable frame constructed from a plurality of intersecting beams, at least some of which are adjustable, and a form connected to the adjustable frame. The frame can be adjusted in at least one direction and, preferably, in more than one direction. By properly adjusting the frame, the adjustable form can be used to form a refractory lining in different metal containment devices varying in dimensions, and can also be used to repair existing refractory linings. The adjustable form is inserted into a metal containment device at a distance from the floor and walls of the metal containment device, and refractory material is poured into the space between the adjustable form and the metal containment device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retrieving and sending the bootstrap loader and the DOS code from disk storage on a file server in a network to a workstation in the network during the boot process of the workstation where there are one or more file servers in the network and where the file servers may be different types of computer systems including mainframe computers.

Abstract: A sigma-delta modulator (50, 100) attenuates a frequency domain characteristic of a feedback signal to a first stage (60) of the modulator (50, 100) near f.sub.s /2, where f.sub.s is the modulator's (50, 100) clock frequency. The modulator (50, 100) thus virtually eliminates in-band tones which are characteristic of known sigma-delta modulators, without complex dithering schemes. In one embodiment, the sigma-delta modulator (50, 100) includes a two-tap finite impulse response (FIR) filter (80) within a feedback loop of the modulator (50, 100). The two-tap FIR filter (80) smoothes transitions at an output of a second stage (70) to provide the feedback signal to the first stage (60). This architecture is useful for either a digital-to-analog sigma-delta modulator (50) or an analog-to-digital sigma-delta modulator (100).

Abstract: A flexible data interface (21, 22) for a digital-to-analog converter (25, 26) includes a mute circuit (46, 70, 71 ) to mute and de-mute input data in 6 dB steps over a time period such as one-quarter of a second. The mute circuit includes a counter (46) to provide mute signals, a decoder (70) to decode the mute signals, and a shift matrix (71) to shift the data from zero to the maximum number of bits in response to the decoded signals. The interface (21, 22) includes a programmable shift register (43) to allow different data word lengths, such as 20-, 18-, or 16-bit, to be presented to the digital-to-analog converter (25, 26). The interface (21, 22) also includes a multiplexer (47) to allow left- and right-channel data to be received either time-multiplexed on a single pin, or on two separate pins.

Abstract: A phase locked loop (20) includes a standby control circuit (30) and recovers from standby with minimum lock time. A reference counter (21), a loop counter portion (22, 23) and a phase detector (24) are disabled in response to an activation of a standby signal. Both the reference counter (21) and the loop counter portion (22, 23) are enabled in response to a deactivation of the standby signal. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) (26) output signal is decoupled from an input of the loop counter portion (22, 23) in response to an activation of a loop counter output signal. The VCO output signal is next recoupled to the input of the loop counter portion (22, 23) in response to an activation of a reference counter output signal. Finally, the phase detector (24) is enabled. In one embodiment, the loop counter portion (22, 23) includes a prescaler (22) which does not have a separate reset input, and a separate loop counter (23).

Abstract: A sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (40) receives oversampled input data representative of an analog signal. The data may be optionally interpolated to a higher rate in a interpolator (41). A noise-shaping sigma-delta modulator (42) is connected to the output of the interpolator (41). The output of the modulator (42) is provided to a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (43). The FIR filter (43) has a frequency response characteristic which reduces the shaped noise and aliased components. This noise has a tendency to intermodulate back into the DAC's passband. The FIR filter (43) uses a series of flip-flops (81, 82, 83) functioning as delay elements with well-controlled timing edges. The outputs of the flip-flops (81, 82, 83) control current sources (91, 92, 93) weighted according to corresponding filter coefficients. The outputs of the current sources (91, 92, 93) are then summed in a summing device such as an amplifier (101).