Optical fiber cable systems are being developed in many countries for subscriber loops as the infrastructure to realize B-ISDN (Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network). The present systems are DLC (Digital Loop Carrier) systems which provide leased lines, POTS (Plain Old Telephone Services), and N-ISDN (Narrowband ISDN) services. Before FTTH (Fiber To The Home) networks can be implemented, their construction cost must be lowered to the level of the current metallic network. The FTTH network must also be easy to operate and maintain. In this paper, we describe optical fiber cables, splicing, and testing technologies used in the NTT cable networks, and introduce the technologies being developed to construct FTTH networks.

We study the most appropriate network architecture for constructing FTTH (Fiber To The Home) networks. We conclude that the Single Star network is the most advantageous for supporting the various services required by subscribers who use broadband signal such as B-ISDN (Broadband-Integrated Services Digital Network). We also study high fiber count cable and low-loss connector which are needed for this network and clarify their requirements. We also show the cable structure, connector structure and connection loss reduction method, which satisfy these requirements. We describe a 4,000-fiber cable with a new structure, a 1,000-fiber one-touch connector, a 40-fiber unit connector and TEC-fiber (Thermally-diffused Expanded Core fiber) which reduces connection loss.

Fiber-optic subscriber loops are beginning to be constructed worldwide as an infrastructure for the 21st century. Making the most of the superior transmission capabilities of optical fiber cable, high-speed and broadband services such as so-called Broadband-ISDN (B-ISDN) services are expected to be achieved. We review current trends in fiber-optic systems and discuss how fiber-optic subscriber loops should be implemented from the points of view of services and technology. First, prospective services offered over fiber-optic subscriber loops and resulting requirements for such loops are presented. Various kinds of services produced through fiber-optic subscriber loops will further develop the information-oriented society and have a major influence not only on the industrial world but on family life as well. Next, basic concepts of totally fiber-optic subscriber loops and proposals for shifting from the existing metallic cable network to totally fiber-optic subscriber loops are discussed. In this regard, we must consider the advantages of optical fiber cables and improve upon the disadvantages of the existing metallic cable network. In particular, a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) system or a Passive Double Star (PDS) have been proposed to shift from the existing metallic cable network to totally fiber-optic subscriber loops effectively and economically. Finally, line configuration topology and latest fiber-optic technologies such as high-count cable, construction techniques and operation systems for use in achieving totally fiber optic subscriber loops are shown. We believe a single star configuration is the most appropriate for totally fiber-optic subscriber loops.

Extended form of interpolatory approximation is presented for tne n-dimensional (n-D) signals whose generalized spectrums have weighted norms smaller than a given positive number. The presented approximation has the minimum measure of approximation error among all the linear and the nonlinear approximations using the same generalized sample values.

Logarithmic number systems (LNS) provide a very fast computational method. Their exceptional speed has been demonstrated in signal processing and then in computer graphics. But the precision problem of LNS in computer graphics has not been fully examined. In this paper analysis is made for the problem of LNS in picture generation, in particular for circle drawing. Theoretical error analysis is made for the circle drawing. That is, some expressions are developed for the relative error variances. Then they are examined by simulation experiments. Some comparisons are also done with floating point arithmetic with equivalent word length and dynamic range. The results show that the theory and the experiments agree reasonably well and that the logarithmic arithmetic is superior to or at least comparable to the corresponding floating point arithmetic with equivalent word length and dynamic range. Those results are also verified by visual inspections of actually drawn circles. It also shows that the conversion error (from integer to LNS), which is inherent in computer graphics with LNS, does not make too much influence on the total computational error for circle drawing. But it shows that the square-rooting makes the larger influence.

This paper describes a method of evaluating operations effort for fiber optic subscriber loops, such as the Central Terminal/Remote Terminal (CT/RT) system, which can economically provide a variety of telecommunication services. Four system configurations with different operation procedures are evaluated by simulation. By evaluating the operating costs associated with service provisioning, it is shown that automatic distributing frames are cost effective in subscriber loops with CT/RT systems. Moreover, the most economical operation strategies for installing and extending subscriber boards are discussed in terms of facility and operations cost.

In this paper, we propose a multi-purpose proof system which enables a user remembering only one piece of secret data to perform various proof protocols. These proofs include identity proof, membership proof without disclosing identity, and combined identity and membership proof. When a user participates in a group, he will obtain a secret witness from the group administrator. Many secret witnesses can be combined into one piece of secret data. But the size of the secret data is independent of the number of the groups in which the user participates. Our system satisfies other desirable properties which were not attained by the previously proposed systems.

To describe the state of visual communications in the U.S., two words come to mind: digital and anticipation. Although compressed, digital video has been used in teleconferencing systems for at least ten years, it is only recently that a broad consensus has developed among diverse industries anticipating business opportunities, value, or both in digital video. The drivers for this turning point are: advances in digital signal processing, continued improvement in the cost, complexity, and speed of VLSI, maturing international standards and their adoption by vendors and end users, and a seemingly insatiable consumer demand for greater diversity, accessibility, and control of communication systems.

According to the development of optical communication technologies, it is getting easier to handle new devices, such as optical fibers, semiconductor light sources, guided wave devices, and optical integrated circuits. These devices have recently given considerable impact on the optical sensing field. The optical sensing shares the optical devices and the concepts of signal processing or system configuration with the optical communication. In this paper, the advanced lightwave sensing technology is discussed, considering the relation to the advanced optical communication technology. Distributed fiber sensors and the application of coherence characteristics of semiconductor light sources are the topics to be mainly discussed. In the distributed fiber sensors, the fiber plays both a role of low-loss transmission line and a role of lengthwise deployed sensing element. According to the change of characteristics of light propagating in the fiber, distribution of various physical parameters can be measured, such as the fiber loss, temperature, and strain. Optical Time Domain Reflectometry is employed to determine the location. Another tendency in the lightwave sensing field is the use of coherence characteristics of various semiconductor light sources. Low coherent source provide a highly sensitive inertial rotation sensor, that is, interferometric fiber optic gyroscope. Another type of optical gyroscope, optical passive ring-resonator gyro, has been studied as an application of a high coherence source. Frequency tunability of the semiconductor laser, especially that of tunable DFB or DBR lasers, can provide new ways in signal processing in the sensors. Optical coherence function can be synthesized also by utilizing the tunability. In conjunction with the progress in optical communication, lightwave sensing fields are steadily increasing.

By close analogy of annealing for solids, we devise a new algorithm, called APS, for the time evolution of both the state and the synapses of the Hopfield's neural network. Through constrainedly random perturbation of the synapses of the network, the evolution of the state will ignore the tremendous number of small minima and reach a good minimum. The synapses resemble the microstructure of a network. This new algorithm anneals the microstructure of the network through a thermal controlled process. And the algorithm allows us to obtain a good minimum of the Hopfield's model efficiently. We show the potential of this approach for optimization problems by applying it to the will-known traveling salesman problem. The performance of this new algorithm has been supported by many computer simulations.

Recent progress in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) technology has created a need for small and wideband antennas that can be used to measure the quality of EMC measurement facilities and to measure electric field strength for immunity tests and human hazard studies. Antennas using fiber optics are being developed because this kind of antenna has the wideband property and can eliminate the influence of the coaxial cable. This paper first summarizes the development of fiber optic antennas for EMC measurement and the construction of practical fiber optic antennas. It then describes the recent progress that has been made in Japan. This progress includes the electromagnetic source and the electric field sensor using a spherical dipole antenna with O/E or E/O converters, and it includes a wideband electric field sensor using electro-optical crystals.

Anechoic chambers have been effectively used for microwave propagation, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and immunity testing. The electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problem has recently become serious and many of these chambers have been constructed. The results of a questionnaire survey sent to anechoic chamber manufacturers are described that a total of 450 anechoic chambers have been constructed in Japan since 1964. Twenty years ago the purpose of the chambers was microwave propagation research, but more than 50 each year have recently being built for EMC/EMI and immunity testing. Their size has gradually been reduced by the use of absorbing materials such as ferrite with dielectric materials. The lowest frequency of most chambers is 30MHz for the 3 m method of site attenuation.

Modeling and numerical simulation of crystal growth of Si film and heat transport in 3D structure were made for optimization of physical and geometrical parameters used during laser recrystallization. Based on simulations a new concept called micro-absorber was introduced for obtaining defect-free Si films.

Based on the semiclassical theory, we deduce the expressions of stimulated absorption, stimulated amplification and threshold by using density matrix equation in the Er3+-doped fibers. Meaningful results have been given and some phenomena occuring in experiments are explained theoretically.