Abstract: A pump source for a fiber Raman amplifier used in a WDM optical communication system is formed to generate an RF-modulated pump signal (as opposed to the prior art CW signals). The modulation frequency and index of the RF-modulated pump signal are controlled to impart a sufficient degree of “randomness” to the presence of the pump signal at each wavelength, thus minimizing cross talk between the signals and improving the transfer of power from the pump signal to the plurality of optical input signals.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the performance of each pump source in a fiber Raman amplifier arrangement utilizes a set of unique “signature” signals, each signature signal impressed on a different pump input signal. At the receiver, the signature signals are extracted from the received, amplified signal. If a particular signature signal is missing at the receiver, this is indicative of failure of its associated pump source at the transmitter. If a particular signature signal is noticeable weaker than other received signature signals (as evidenced by, for example a low SNR or high BER), this is indicative of a power loss in its associated pump source. Since each signature signal is chosen to be unique, the identity of each pump source can be easily ascertained. In one embodiment, a low data rate signal is impressed on an RF signal used to modulate the pump prior to be applied to the transmission fiber.

Abstract: The present invention is a transmitter device and related system and method for use in high speed optical transmission systems. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, light from a laser diode output is split into two branches of orthogonal polarization (Eox, and Eoy) of substantially equal power. Polarization selectors coupled thereto are operable to select a specific polarization to be output to a corresponding external optical polarization modulator. A first polarization modulator, receives light from the polarization selector, for example, Eox, and modulates URZ data from a URZ coder thereon. A second polarization modulator receives light from the second polarization selector, for example, Eoy, and modulates delayed data (URZd) representative of the URZ data from the URZ coder thereon. The URZ data and the delayed URZd data may be combined at the transmitter, fiber channel or receiver for transmission over a single optical medium, for example, a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: In a communication system, channel operating parameter carrier frequencies are located in the vicinity of data nulls in a data spectrum. The operating parameter carriers are summed with the data signal. At the receiver, the operating parameter carrier frequencies are recovered by demodulation techniques, and the operating parameters are recovered and processed.

Abstract: A camera may be disposed near a license plate receiving portion of a vehicle and samples of image data obtained by the camera are stored in a storage unit. The storing of image samples only begins when the vehicle comes close to another vehicle or object, or when the brakes are forcefully activated. The rate at which the samples are stored may be varied as a function of the distance between the vehicle and another object, such as or example, a vehicle. The storing of image samples ends when the storage unit is full after the occurrence of an accident has been detected by a detector such as an impact detector, a hard-braking detector, an airbag inflation detector, a proximity detector or a sound detector. The stored image data, along with other saved data may be accessed by a person such as a police officer or insurance agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission device and related system for use in high speed optical transmission systems. By changing the optical/electrical delay in one or more arms of a receiver, dispersion effects can be compensated for without using costly, high dispersion optical fiber and optical amplifiers or other like techniques to control dispersion.

Abstract: An invention for use in electrical or optical communications for generating UNRZ data from URZ data is disclosed. The method of the invention transmits URZ data at the transmitter and receives UNRZ data at the receiver. The invention takes advantage of transmitting URZ data and eliminates the drawbacks of receiving URZ data. The invention also takes advantage of receiving UNRZ data and eliminates the drawbacks of transmitting UNRZ data. The net bandwidth requirement of a communications system implemented according to the method of the invention, with URZ and URZd data transmitted via a transmission medium and converted to UNRZ coding at a receiver location, is the same as that of a system that transmits and receives UNRZ data.

Abstract: The present invention is a transmitter device and related system and method for use in high speed optical transmission systems. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, light from a laser diode power output is split into two branches of substantially equal power. At least a first optical modulator, for example a phase modulator, receives light from the first branch and modulates URZ data from a URZ coder thereon. The modulator, which may also be second optical modulator receives light from the laser diode on the second branch and modulates delayed data (URZd) representative of the URZ data from the URZ coder thereon. The net delay at the receiver in the delayed URZd data is preferably T/2, where T is a pulse period of URZ data. The first and second sets of data originating from the first and second branches of the transmitter, respectively, are uniquely added together at the transmitter, fiber or receiver in order to realize UNRZ data.

Abstract: A system for automatically locating a personal electronic object is described. The system comprises: a communicator; a location sensor; and a security controller. The security controller activates the location sensor to determine a location of the personal electronic object. When security of the system is compromised and access to a computer network or a wireless network is available, the location is transmitted through the communicator.

Abstract: An apparatus provides for automatically generating symbolic models and developing a system level hardware simulator. The system to be simulated is subdivided into a plurality of system layers which are associated with symbolic model symbols. The specification of a symbolic model symbol represents a functionality of a system layer, a subset of the system hierarchy. Each symbolic model symbol reads from its allocated memory, gathers input from associated symbolic model symbols, updates its register contents and broadcasts updates to associated symbolic model symbols, as per its specification, completing a cycle of simulation when a complete chain of associated symbolic model symbols is updated. A displayed symbolic model can be interacted with to modify the model by altering the interconnections of the displayed symbolic model causing corresponding modification of the connections of other interconnected symbolic model symbols and their associated input/output memories.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for receiving, processing, and storing real-time data from various types of input, including but not limited to information from a vehicle's micro-processing systems, a driver information card, a vehicle information card, and physical attributes of the driver/owner. The system generally includes a processor mounted or otherwise installed in a vehicle which is capable of receiving data from the vehicle's various mechanical and electrical/electronic system, micro-processing systems, information cards, and physical inputs. The data can be used to grant a driver authorization to operate the vehicle and can be transmitted to third parties having an interest in the data such a system can accumulate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for receiving, processing, and storing real-time data from various types of input, including but not limited to information from a vehicle's micro-processing systems, a driver information card, a vehicle information card, and physical attributes of the driver/owner. The system generally includes a processor mounted or otherwise installed in a vehicle which is capable of receiving data from the vehicle's various mechanical and electrical/electronic system, micro-processing systems, information cards, and physical inputs. The data can be used to grant a driver authorization to operate the vehicle and can be transmitted to third parties having an interest in the data such a system can accumulate.

Abstract: A system and method are described for modulating phase and polarization aspects of an optical carrier signal with URZ and URZd coded representations of source data, where the source data itself is transmitted via an optical transmission system using UNRZ coding. At a receiver, the URZ and URZd signals are summed to provide a UNRZ equivalent encoding of the source data. That UNRZ-equivalent encoded signal is then combined with the received UNRZ signal to produce a composite UNRZ encoded representation of the transmitted source data. In carrying out the method of the invention, noise attributable to random fluctuations in phase and polarization of the optical carrier signal is reduced and the composite UNRZ coded signal obtained at the receiver provides a more reliable indicia of the encoded transmitted data.

Abstract: A system and method have been described for operating on URZ and URZd coded representations of source data, as transmitted via an optical transmission system and received at a receiving location in an optical communications system, to substantially remove the effect of interference from unwanted optical and signal energy in the transmission path. After applying a subtraction operation and complementary mono-shot pulse generators to the resultant difference waveform, regenerated URZ and URZd coded representations of the source data are obtained which are substantially free of the effects of such unwanted optical and signal energy in the transmission path. The URZ and URZd coded data are then combined in an addition operation to produce a UNRZ coded representation of the source data.

Abstract: The present invention is a simple method of error detection and correction that is easy to implement in data transmission. The invention presents a self-correcting error coding method that advantageously eliminates bandwidth and power penalty. In addition, feedback error control and data retransmission are not required for implementing the method of the invention. System and transmission channel resources are conserved as a result.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of automatic delay compensation for use in data transmission, particularly in optical communication systems. The invention presents an inter-coding, real-time automated delay compensation method that minimizes the effects of polarization and inter-symbol interference without expensive dispersion compensation fiber in each data transmission channel. The invention is a simple-to-use, cost effective, single-wavelength method of delayed signal alignment with coarse and fine tuning that while conserving half of the power used to transmit wavelength information in conventional WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for receiving, processing, and storing real-time data from various types of input, including but not limited to information from a vehicle's micro-processing systems, a driver information card, a vehicle information card, and physical attributes of the driver/owner. In addition, the collected data is then transmitted to various entities via a Highway Information System which may include networked sensors to receive the collected data and processors to process the data. The processors may be capable of downloading the collected data to a data storage unit whereby various entities can access the data. In the alternative, the processors may also be capable of automatically transmitting the collected data directly to the various entities via wireless transmission.

Abstract: A system for enforcing highway speed limits comprising an antenna and one or more sensors positioned on a vehicle, the antenna capable of receiving data indicative of a speed limit for a roadway, the one or more sensors capable of gathering data indicative of a driving pattern of the vehicle, and a processing unit in communication with the antenna and the one or more sensors, the processing unit receiving the speed limit data from the antenna and the driving pattern data from the sensors, analyzing the speed limit data and the driving pattern data to asses whether a predetermined action should be initiated and initiating a predetermined action in response to the assessment.

Abstract: A system for preventing or reducing vehicle accidents comprising one or more sensors positioned on a vehicle sensing a condition or conditions indicative of a drivers ability to effectively control the vehicle; a processing unit in communication with the sensors, the processing unit receiving data from the sensors, analyzing the data to determine an appropriate response and initiating the response.