Abstract: A Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device comprising: a rotor, comprising a first plurality of rotor teeth and a second plurality of rotor teeth, formed in at least two layers of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein each rotor tooth belonging to the first plurality of rotor teeth is formed in a first layer and each rotor tooth of the second plurality of rotor teeth is formed in a second layer; and a stator comprising a first plurality of stator teeth and a second plurality of stator teeth, formed in at least two layers of SOI substrate, wherein each stator tooth belonging to the first plurality of stator teeth is formed in a first layer, and each stator tooth of the second plurality of stator teeth is formed in a second layer.

Abstract: A method for monitoring movement of at least one moving mirror in a MEMS device comprising one or more moving mirrors, and wherein the monitoring is based upon capacitance changes over time in the MEMS device. The method comprises the steps of: if the at least one moving mirror is an in-plain mirror, then: a. providing DC voltage to the MEMS device in addition to a driving voltage required for the movement of that at least one moving mirror; b. measuring current proportional to capacitance changes associated with the movement of the at least one moving mirror; and c. monitoring the movement of the at least one moving mirror based on the measured current. If the at least one moving mirror is a staggered mirror, then: d. measuring a current associated with the movement of the at least one moving mirror; e. identifying a plurality of ripples associated with capacitance changes in the MEMS device over time, in the measured current; and f.

Abstract: An intensity of radiation emitted from at least two laser diodes of a projecting apparatus is optimized by providing an offset distance between at least two focal points of the at least two laser diodes and providing a maximum value for radiation intensity emitted by each of the laser diodes, irrespective of simultaneous transmission by one of the laser diodes with another of the laser diodes. The intensity of the radiation emitted from each of the at least two laser diodes is adjusted such that an aggregated value of the radiation intensity emitted by all of the laser diodes within a predefined period of time may exceed a threshold value allowed for the maximum permissible exposure to radiation.

Abstract: A Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device comprising: a rotor, comprising a first plurality of rotor teeth and a second plurality of rotor teeth, formed in at least two layers of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, wherein each rotor tooth belonging to the first plurality of rotor teeth is formed in a first layer and each rotor tooth of the second plurality of rotor teeth is formed in a second layer; and a stator comprising a first plurality of stator teeth and a second plurality of stator teeth, formed in at least two layers of SOI substrate, wherein each stator tooth belonging to the first plurality of stator teeth is formed in a first layer, and each stator tooth of the second plurality of stator teeth is formed in a second layer.

Abstract: An optical device is provided for projecting a light beam. The device comprises a first planar reflector movable about a first axis is disposed in a path of a focused light beam for deflecting the incident light beam; a concave reflective surface fixed in position located in the path of the deflected light beam, has a circular shape extending along at least one of its axis and is spaced apart from the planar reflector by a distance which is approximately equal to the radius of that circular shape; and a second planar reflector moveable about a second axis located in a plane substantially vertical to a plane comprising the first axis and wherein the second planar reflector is positioned in the path of the light reflected by the concave reflective surface such that the light beam is projected onto a target plane with a substantially flat field of focus.

Abstract: An optical device is provided for projecting a light beam. The device comprises a first planar reflector movable about a first axis is disposed in a path of a focused light beam for deflecting the incident light beam; a concave reflective surface fixed in position located in the path of the deflected light beam, has a circular shape extending along at least one of its axis and is spaced apart from the planar reflector by a distance which is approximately equal to the radius of that circular shape; and a second planar reflector moveable about a second axis located in a plane substantially vertical to a plane comprising the first axis and wherein the second planar reflector is positioned in the path of the light reflected by the concave reflective surface such that the light beam is projected onto a target plane with a substantially flat field of focus.

Abstract: A method for monitoring movement of at least one moving mirror in a MEMS device comprising one or more moving mirrors, and wherein the monitoring is based upon capacitance changes over time in the MEMS device. The method comprises the steps of: if the at least one moving mirror is an in-plain mirror, then: a. providing DC voltage to the MEMS device in addition to a driving voltage required for the movement of that at least one moving mirror; b. measuring current proportional to capacitance changes associated with the movement of the at least one moving mirror; and c. monitoring the movement of the at least one moving mirror based on the measured current. If the at least one moving mirror is a staggered mirror, then: d. measuring a current associated with the movement of the at least one moving mirror; e. identifying a plurality of ripples associated with capacitance changes in the MEMS device over time, in the measured current; and f.

Abstract: An access communication system is provided which comprises at least one aggregation device comprising at least one automated switching matrix for connecting a plurality of communication devices with a plurality of subscribers. When a new subscriber is to be connected through the at least one aggregation device, the at least one automated switching matrix is operative to enable the provisioning of a required service to the new subscriber either by using one of these communication devices or by communicating with a communication device installed at a different location and operative to enable the provisioning of the service required by the new subscriber. By a preferred embodiment the at least one aggregation device and automated switching matrix and the plurality of communication devices are managed by a single managing entity.

Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a twisted pair conductor to a modem device selected from among a first plurality of modem devices. At least one criterion for selecting that modem device is that the selected modem should allow the reduction of cross-talk interferences that would otherwise be induced upon traffic conveyed along the twisted pair conductor by the transmission and/or reception of traffic conveyed along other twisted pair conductors that are connected to other modem devices, and/or to traffic conveyed along other twisted pair conductors connected to other modem devices, by the transmission and/or reception of traffic conveyed along that twisted pair conductor.

Abstract: Dividing a multiplexed optical signal transmitted along a first transmission path into two portions and diverting one of the two portions to a second transmission path and forwarding the other portion of the multiplexed optical signal along that first transmission path, while the energy of the diverted portion comprises the entire spectrum of the multiplexed optical signal. Preferably, the diverted first portion is further divided into at least two parts, each comprising a wavelength range substantially different than the others, and at least one of the two parts is forwarded towards an optical receiver.

Abstract: A method of transmitting packets from a transmitter to a receiver. The method includes providing a first packet including a header, transmitting a leading part of the first packet on a link from the transmitter to the receiver, the leading part not including a header separate from the header of the entire packet, and transmitting a second packet on the link after the leading part of the first packet was transmitted and before a remaining part of the first packet was transmitted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving optical signals. The apparatus comprises at least one CW laser, at least one optical transmitter and at least one polarization independent heterodyne optical receiver. A first portion of the output of the CW laser is used for providing a local oscillator light source for the heterodyne receiver and a second portion of the output of the CW laser is used as a light source for the transmitter.

Abstract: In a telecommunication network, a method for managing varying traffic load by establishing an instantaneous demand for bandwidth at a pre-defined location of the telecommunication network. The total number of bits required is compared with a number of bits available for use in that pre-defined location, and a bit rate adjusting mechanism is applied to each one of the algorithms associated with an active channels when required. The bit adjusting mechanism is based on pre-defined functions that describe the number of bits that will be allocated for each active algorithm under varying loads of the network. Thus, the bit adjusting mechanism allow the adjustment of the number of bits for each one the network channels, obeying to the constrain that the total number of bits allocated to all channels shall not exceed the total number of bits available.

Abstract: Transmission of coded signals of different types in a system comprising a plurality of operative telecommunication stations is described. The system allows transmission of different type of signals in their coded form towards a receiving end of the transmission path and ensures that the signals are decoded into their decompressed digital form only in the last operative decoder along the transmission path. Signal classification messages are transmitted along the transmission path and allow operating the system in an environment of various types of signals.

Abstract: A method of demodulation is provided for demodulating a signal in which different data symbols are represented by different frequencies, such as a modem. A set of undelayed and a set of delayed sample values are provided and a frequency transform calculation is performed on the difference between the first N undelayed values and the last N delayed values. An early/late synchronization decision is taken dependent on the difference value.

Abstract: A telecommunication system for interconnecting a plurality of telephone communication trunks to a transmission network, the system including transmission apparatus at a first end of the transmission network including apparatus for detecting facsimile signals on the plurality of telephone communication trunks, apparatus for demodulating the facsimile signals, apparatus for transmitting along the transmission network, in demodulated form, the facsimile signal output from the apparatus for demodulating, and receiving apparatus at a second end of the transmission network including apparatus for modulating the facsimile signals received along the transmission network.

Abstract: A telecommunication system for interconnecting a plurality of telephone communication trunks to a transmission network, the system including transmission apparatus at a first end of the transmission network including apparatus for detecting facsimile signals on the plurality of telephone communication trunks, apparatus for demodulating the facsimile signals, apparatus for transmitting along the transmission network, in demodulated form, the facsimile signal output from the apparatus for demodulating, and receiving apparatus at a second end of the transmission network including apparatus for modulating the facsimile signals received along the transmission network.