Abstract: A multimedia call centre is formed by providing agent group handlers and generic queue handlers, which communicate over a LAN. The generic features of the queue handlers are an input, and a ranked set of outputs, each having a store for a designer-defined destination address. In this way, media input queue handlers can be commanded to route directly to an agent group handler, via a primary output, or to a following queue handler in dependence upon a selection parameter of a call record, e.g. a user dialled digit in response to a menu announcement from an IVR apparatus, and in this case the menu digits will have a corresponding ranking so that the ranked outputs can be used directly for routing to the appropriate next handler. The designer can specify destinations for secondary and other outputs, which could be overflow agent group handlers, further queue handlers, or, in the case of a second stage queue handler, the network input of the first stage queue handler.

Abstract: An electron multiplier includes a plate having a plurality of interconnected particles, e.g., fibers, having electron-emissive surfaces. The particles may include a neutron-sensitive and/or neutron reactive material, such as 6Li, 10B, 155Gd, 157Gd,—and/or hydrogenous compounds, in excess of their natural abundance. The particles may include an X-ray sensitive and/or X-ray reactive material, such as Pb.

Abstract: A concentric tape applicator has a support shaft that defines an axis and includes a structure for supporting a tape pad for rotation with the support shaft about the axis. Guide rollers are mounted on the support shaft for rotation concentrically about the axis for guiding tape from the tape pad for application to an elongated member advancing along the axis relative to the support shaft. A drive is directly coupled to the guide elements. A differential clutch is provided that has an input shaft directly coupled to the drive and an output shaft coupled to the support shaft for applying braking forces to the pad. A feedback circuit is provided for sensing the speed of rotation of the pad and applying a feedback signal to the clutch for regulating the excitation of the clutch to maintain a substantial uniform tension on the tape dispensed from the pad so potentially independently of the amount of tape remaining on the pad.

Abstract: A feed forward power amplifier system and method identify active channels across a frequency band to suppress unwanted intermodulation distortion (IMD) products in a communications signal such as a single- or multi-carrier communications signal. A scanning receiver identifies at least one active channel in a frequency band, and identifies at least one portion of the frequency band likely to include IMD products based upon the identified active channel(s). Based upon the identified portion of the frequency band, IMD products are suppressed from the communications signal, e.g., by controlling the magnitude and/or phase of a suppression signal mixed with the communications signal.

Abstract: An amplifier system containing a polynomial predistorer and a polynominal predistorter configured for use with an RF power amplifier, the polynomial predistorter having a polynomial generator configured to receive an RF input signal and generate a predistortion function based thereon, and a combiner circuit also configured to receive the RF input signal and coupled to the polynomial generator and configured to combine the RF input signal with the predistortion function to form a predistorted input signal, the predistorted input signal operable to improve the adjacent channel power and/or the error vector magnitude performance of the RF power amplifier.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cable manufacture, a cage strander rotates about a line axis at a chosen rotational speed. Bobbins supported by the strander dispense round conductors downstream of the cage strander. A forming apparatus downstream of the strander receives the conductors and forms them into many complementary segmented preshaped wires each having the desired cross-sectional profile in a final compact conductor. The conductors are positioned in a way that substantially corresponds to the orientations among wires in the final conductor. A first drive rotates the forming apparatus about the line axis substantially at the rotational speed of the strander. A second drive drives the forming apparatus. The drives are synchronized so that the conductors close about the core and cause the sides of adjacent wires to abut against each other to produce both the desired lay and a cable substantially without interstices between the wires forming the twisted conductor.

Abstract: A concentric tape applicator has a support shaft that defines an axis and includes a structure for supporting a tape pad for rotation with the support shaft about the axis. Guide rollers are mounted on the support shaft for rotation concentrically about the axis for guiding tape from the tape pad for application to an elongated member advancing along the axis relative to the support shaft. A drive is directly coupled to the guide elements. A differential clutch is provided that has an input shaft directly coupled to the drive and an output shaft coupled to the support shaft for applying braking forces to the pad. A feedback circuit is provided for sensing the speed of rotation of the pad and applying a feedback signal to the clutch for regulating the excitation of the clutch to maintain a substantial uniform tension on the tape dispensed from the pad so potentially independently of the amount of tape remaining on the pad.

Abstract: A device (e.g., a bar code scanner) includes a communication arrangement and a housing enclosing the communication arrangement. The housing may be composed of an electrically conductive material and has an opening formed therein. In addition, the device includes a cover mounted over the opening in the housing. The cover includes an electrically conductive contact member mounted thereto. The contact member contacts a portion of the housing adjacent to the opening and is electrically coupled to the communication arrangement so that a perimeter of the opening in the housing acts as a part of an antenna to receive and/or transmit signals for the communication arrangement.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a housing (10) for a battery (16) and a control module (18). The housing has an air inlet (20, 20′) and an air outlet (22). The air outlet (22) is adapted to be connected with the intake system of an engine of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A unitary body of optical material and associated methods for reading indicia such as bar codes is provided. The unitary body can focus light from a light source into a beam, redirect light reflected from a target to a photodetector, and provide mechanical support for a light source, printed circuit board, or other indicia reader components. In comparison to conventional apparatus, the unitary body requires a reduced number of components and is therefore easier and less expensive to manufacture and assemble. The unitary design increases reliability and performance consistency while decreasing sensitivity to thermal and mechanical loading. Moreover, the unitary body reduces the overall tolerance budget of a reader and therefore facilitates mass production of optical apparatus and readers. The unitary body and associated methods may be implemented in a compact reader with the aforementioned advantages in the form of a pen, or can be integrated into an antenna of a wireless device, such as a cell phone or a PDA.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of cable is disclosed. The elements of this core include a cage strander arranged for rotation about a line axis at a selected rotational speed. Bobbins are supported by the cage strander and arranged for dispensing round conductors downstream of the cage strander. A forming apparatus is arranged downstream of the cage strander for receiving the conductors and forming them into a plurality of complementary segmented pre-shaped wires each having a desired cross-sectional profiled configuration in a final compact conductor and each defining at least lateral surfaces. The formed conductors are positioned and oriented in relation to each other to substantially correspond to the positions and orientations between such wires in the final twisted compact conductor. A first drive means rotates the forming apparatus about the line axis substantially at the speed of the rotation of the cage strander. A second drive drives the forming apparatus.

Abstract: A radio frequency transmitter supported by a finger-mounted reader transmits decoded digital data signals to a remote host computer by a low power, wireless, communications protocol. A beeper worn by a user generates a sound indicative of the receipt of the data signals by the host computer.

Abstract: A device (e.g., a bar code scanner) includes a communication arrangement and a housing enclosing the communication arrangement. The housing may be composed of an electrically conductive material and has an opening formed therein. In addition, the device includes a cover mounted over the opening in the housing. The cover includes an electrically conductive contact member mounted thereto. The contact member contacts a portion of the housing adjacent to the opening and is electrically coupled to the communication arrangement so that a perimeter of the opening in the housing acts as a part of an antenna to receive and/or transmit signals for the communication arrangement.

Abstract: A unitary body of optical material and associated methods for reading indicia such as bar codes is provided. The unitary body can focus light from a light source into a beam, redirect light reflected from a target to a photodetector, and provide mechanical support for a light source, printed circuit board, or other indicia reader components. In comparison to conventional apparatus, the unitary body requires a reduced number of components and is therefore easier and less expensive to manufacture and assemble. The unitary design increases reliability and performance consistency while decreasing sensitivity to thermal and mechanical loading. Moreover, the unitary body reduces the overall tolerance budget of a reader and therefore facilitates mass production of optical apparatus and readers. The unitary body and associated methods may be implemented in a compact reader with the aforementioned advantages in the form of a pen, or can be integrated into an antenna of a wireless device, such as a cell phone or a PDA.

Abstract: A combination 37-wire unilay stranded conductor includes a 19-wire stable unilay construction includes two layers of wires on a core wire, each having a diameter D, to define a hexagon that circumscribes the 19 nineteen wires. A corner wire is positioned at each corner of the hexagon, the corner wires being formed to provide bearing surfaces facing radially outwardly and defining a circle having a diameter of approximately 4.7 D. A third layer of wires includes a smaller diameter wire having a diameter of approximately 0.8 D contacting each bearing surface, and pairs of two wires each having diameters D are positioned between the smaller wires and are nested in a recess formed by two wires in a preceding underlying layer to define a substantially circular outer cable configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacturing helically wound insulated conductors with filament fillers includes first and second payoff stations for paying off a plurality of insulated conductors and elongate filaments of filler materials. These cable components are guided from the payoff stations to a closing die, and are arranged in positions suitable for twisting into a cable by a double twist machine to form a cable of twisted insulated components forming radially outwardly facing helical interstices each of which is substantially filled with another one of the filaments of filler material. Differential or incremental lengths of filler material are metered upstream of the double twist machine to compensate for the differences in the radial distances of the insulated conductors and filaments of filler material on the center or cable of the axis.