Abstract:
A selective call two-way communication system having a plurality of selective call transceiver units (170) using an inbound channel overlay on an outbound selective call system, the selective call transceiver units comprising a receiver (173) for receiving a message having an address directed to and decodable by the receiver wherein the address (58) points to a vector (60), a decoder (174) for decoding a pointer within the vector that points to a control information portion (66) within an outbound message portion (67) and for decoding another control information portion (64) for controlling inbound transmissions within an outbound message portion, and a transmitter (172) for transmitting information in accordance with the control information portions. The system further comprises a controller (114) for receiving, formatting and encoding messages having an address wherein the address points to a vector(s) which contains pointer(s) to control information portion(s) within an outbound message portion.
Abstract:
In a hybrid matrix amplifier array (100), a configurable digital transform matrix (116) is initialized with a matrix of transform coefficients. A plurality of digital input signals (M1-M4) are received at inputs of the configurable digital transform matrix (116). The plurality of digital input signals are transformed to produce a plurality of transform digital signals (A1-A4) using the matrix of transform coefficients. The plurality of transform digital signals are converted to a plurality of transformed analoged signals (206) to produce a plurality of transformed analog signals. The transformed analog signals are amplified (104, 208) to produce amplified transformed signals. Finally, the amplified transformed signals are inverse transformed (102, 210) to produce output signals that correspond to a respective digital input signal (M1-M4). Upon sensing a failure in an amplifier array (104, 126) a controller (128) recalls matrix transform coefficients from a memory (130) and write and reconfigures the digital transform matrix (116) to minimize the effects of the amplifier failure at the hybrid matrix amplifier outputs (132).
Abstract:
An apparatus (170) for reading data from a network navigation device (10) which includes a data reader (174) and a transmitter (176). The data reader (174) reads machine-readable data (16), including a navigation instruction associated with a resource in an electronic network (20), from the network navigation device (10). The transmitter (176) transmits a first signal associated with the machine-readable data (16) to a peripheral (172) of a network access apparatus (22). The peripheral (172) includes a receiver (190) which receives the first signal, and a processor (192) operatively associated with the receiver (190) to direct at least one instruction to at least one of the network access apparatus (22) and the electronic network (20).
Abstract:
A memory (218) of a subscriber unit (122) is written (302) with a subscriber unit identification code (226) and an activation data package (228) including an activation home index (230), and at least one of a corresponding service provider name (232), service provider identification number (234), service provider operating frequency (236), and service provider contact information (238). The subscriber unit is programmed (304) to convey, to at least one of the user and the service provider, the subscriber unit identification code and selected portions of the activation data package and to make operational the activation home index, when the subscriber unit is in a service zone operated for the service provider and the service has not yet been activated.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for routing signals through a system (10) which has multiple destination nodes (12, 14) assigns one or more unique carrier frequencies to each destination node (12, 14). When a signal is received (502) by a transceiver (12), the transceiver (12) evaluates (504) the carrier frequency of the signal, and determines (506) to which destination node (12, 14) that carrier frequency is assigned. The determination (506) is made using a table (200) which associates carrier frequencies to destination nodes (12, 14). The table (200) is created (304) and uptdated by a control facility (20) which distributes (306) the table (200) to the transceivers (12). Once the transceiver (12) determines (506) the destination node (12, 14), the transceiver (12) can route the signal toward that destination node (12, 14).
Abstract:
A battery saving interval utilized for communicating with a portable subscriber unit (122) in a radio communication system is dynamically adjusted. An occurrence of a predetermined triggering event associated with the portable subscriber unit is observed (504), and the battery saving interval utilized for communicating with the portable subscriber unit is adjusted (506) in response to the predetermined triggering event, while battery saving intervals of other portable subscriber units in the system are left unchanged.
Abstract:
A communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for mitigating distortion effects and enhancing signal usability determinations in a receiver (102). The receiver receives a discrete information signal that includes a stream of information symbols. Each information symbol (124) of the stream includes two components: a desired component and an undesired component that includes interference and distortion. The receiver determines an estimate (126) of the desired component of an information symbol and an estimates (130) of the undesired component of the information symbol based on the information symbol itself and its desired component estimate. The undesired component estimate is then scaled by a scaling factor (132) that is derived based on the desired component estimate. An enhanced determination of signal usability (136) for the received symbol is finally determined based on the scaled undesired component estimate (134). In this manner, the enhanced signal usability determination approaches being a function of interference only, substantially exclusive of distortion.
Abstract:
A protection method (10) and protection circuit (500) for protecting an inverter (300) in an electronic preheat ballast (100) for powering fluorescent lamps (900). The protection circuit (500) comprises a frequency shift circuit (600), a latch circuit (700), a current source network (520), a current sensing circuit (510), and a DC supply capacitance (502). The protection method (10) includes the steps of: (a) providing a filament preheat period by initially setting the inverter drive frequency at a first frequency; (b) shifting the drive frequency to a second frequency for igniting and operating the lamps; (c) changing the drive frequency back to the first frequency in response to a lamp fault; and (d) providing, upon correction of the lamp fault, a filament preheat period prior to attempting to ignite and operate the lamps.
Abstract:
A taut armature reciprocating impulse transducer (100) includes an electromagnetic driver (24, 26) which effects an alternating electromagnetic field in response to an input signal; an armature (12), including an upper planar suspension member (14) having a radial axis (50) therethrough and a lower planar suspension member (16) having a radial axis (52) therethrough coupled to the electromagnetic driver (24, 26), the radial axis (50) is oriented substantially perpendicular to the radial axis (52); and a magnetic motional mass (18) which is suspended between the upper and lower planar suspension members (14, 16), and which is coupled to the alternating electromagnetic field for alternately moving the magnetic motional mass (18) in response thereto. Movement of the magnetic motional mass (18) is transformed through the upper and lower planar suspension members (14, 16) and the electromagnetic driver (24, 26) into motional energy.
Abstract:
A geosynchronous, multi-beam phased array satellite system (20) transmits to and receives from the earth radio frequency signals. The satellite system (20) has transmit (28) and receive phased arrays (29), beamformers (26 and 27), switch matrices (24 and 25), a switch controller (23) and a communications payload (22). The beam coverage of the phased array satellite system (20) is reconfigurable while the satellite (20) is its geosynchronous orbit. The geosynchronous multi-beam phased-array satellite system (20) provides a more cost effective and weight effective way of providing communications for geosynchronous satellite applications.