Abstract: The present invention discloses a distributed power amplifier topology and device that efficiently and economically enhances the power output of an RF signal to be amplified. The power amplifier comprises a plurality of push-pull amplifiers interconnected in a novel circular geometry that preferably function as a first winding of an active transformer having signal inputs of adjacent amplification devices driven with an input signal of equal magnitude and opposite phase. The topology also discloses the use of a secondary winding that matches the geometry of primary winding and variations thereof that serve to efficiently combine the power of the individual power amplifiers. The novel architecture enables the design of low-cost, fully-integrated, high-power amplifiers in the RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave frequencies.

Abstract: Users access an on-line address service to register their name (which may be a pseudonym or other fictitious or imaginary identity) and a unique contact address that may be used directly or indirectly to address a message over another communication network to an associated listening device. Once a potential user has registered his on-line identity and contact information, other users accessing the address service can then designate one of the listed names, either by selecting the name from a display list of registered names (if all registered names are displayed) or by entering the designated name onto an appropriate form, whereupon the computer hosting the address service will broadcast a message addressed to the identified person's associated listening device. Once the message is received, the listening device notifies the associated user by causing the user's computer to initiate an appropriate visual and/or audio alert display concerning the contact attempt.

Abstract: A color processing system is provided that corrects color artifacts such as red eye typically formed in images from a camera flash. An image is captured or processed by inputting the image into the system. To correct red eye artifacts, a “redness” mask is computed by calculating the colorimetric distance, in an approximately perceptually linear color space, between a prototypical reference “red eye” color and each pixel of the image, or a selected portion thereof, containing the red eye. Each pixel of the redness mask is then reduced to one of two values by comparing the calculated colorimetric distance recorded by each mask pixel to a threshold value. Various filtering, morphological, and blob analysis techniques may be applied to the mask to eliminate noise, reduce errors, and facilitate a more natural look. The mask serves to identify pixels in the color image needing correction, and further serves to identify the amount of correction needed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new family of switching amplifier classes called “class E/F amplifiers.” These amplifiers are generally characterized by their use of the zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) phase correction technique to eliminate of the loss normally associated with the inherent capacitance of the switching device as utilized in class-E amplifiers, together with a load network for improved voltage and current wave-shaping by presenting class-F−1 impedances at selected overtones and class-E impedances at the remaining overtones. The present invention discloses a several topologies and specific circuit implementations for achieving such performance.

Abstract: A foldable support frame for supporting a cutting machine comprises two opposing pairs of leg frames each of which comprises a pair of first crossed legs and second crossed legs that are pivotally connected together. Where the first and second crossed legs cross, two stopper means are positioned for supporting each pair of the first and second crossed legs and limiting the inclination of each of the first and second crossed legs. Each first and second crossed leg comprises an upper slide rod and a support leg, and each slide rod can slide within a respective support leg to adjust the total length of each first and second crossed leg. Thus, the foldable support frame can be easily folded or retracted in for storage and transport and unfolded or extended for supporting the cutting machine or other similar machines.

Abstract: A system for use in transmitting digital data includes a modulation element that receives block of digital data and modulates each block using one of at least two modulation types, such as QPSK and k-QAM, where k is a power of 2. The system also includes an automatic power control element that applies a selected gain value to each of the blocks of data before transmission. The automatic power control element selects each of the gain values from a group of at least two predetermined gain values, each of which corresponds to one of the modulation types. In general, the modulation types have different associated average power levels, and the power control element selects the gain values to maintain substantially constant average transmission power level among all of the blocks of data.

Abstract: A system for screening telephone calls is provided. The system includes a ring detector that generates ring status data, such as a first data value when a ring signal is being received and a second data value when no ring signal has been received for a predetermined period of time. A message detector generates message status data, such as a first data value when an outgoing message end tone has been detected and a second data value when no outgoing message end tone has been detected for a predetermined period of time. A message screener is connected to the ring detector and the message detector and amplifies a message based on the ring status data and the message status data, such as when the ring status data and the message data indicate that an incoming message is being recorded.

Abstract: Channel loading statistics are collected to allow a wireless transceiver communicating on one channel to make an educated decision about whether to seek another channel when interference occurs. All of the available channels are monitored to determine whether any of the channels are idle, and data about the idle channels is accumulated. The transceiver can use the accumulated data to determine whether any of the channels are idle at any given time. The transceiver is allowed to seek another channel if the data indicates that the transceiver is likely to find an idle channel, e.g., if a Gaussian statistical analysis of the data indicates with a given level of confidence that more than a given number of channels will be idle.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely ascertaining movement or non-movement of an individual in order to determine a possible emergency condition. The system includes a plurality of base systems, a central monitoring system, and a plurality of client systems. Each base system is associated with a site to be monitored and includes at least one monitoring device for generating information in response to detected movement of an individual. The central monitoring system is remotely located from the base systems and is coupled thereto for receiving the generated information. The central monitoring system includes a database for storing and retrieving at least a portion of the generated information from each base system. Each client system is remotely located from the base systems and central monitoring system and is couplable to the central monitoring system for retrieving at least a portion of the stored information in the database.

Abstract: The present specification discloses highly efficient capacitor structures. One embodiment of the present invention is referred to herein as a vertical parallel plate (VPP) structure. In accordance with this embodiment, a capacitor structure having a plurality of vertical plates. The vertical plates are substantially parallel to each other, and each vertical plate has multiple conducting strips. These conducting strips are substantially parallel to each other and are connected to each other by one or more vias. The vertical plates are alternately connected to each other, creating a first portion of the vertical plates and a second portion of the vertical plates, such that the first portion of the vertical plates forms a first terminal of the capacitor structure, and the second portion of the vertical plates forms a second terminal of the capacitor structure. Either slotted vias or individual vias can be used to connect the conducting strips.

Abstract: A personal device is provided. The personal device includes an identification verification system that receives first identification data from a physical identification device, such as by inserting a driver's license into a card reader that is adapted to receive a driver's license. Second identification data such as a PIN number is also received. Payment authorization data or other suitable data is generated if the driver's license corresponds to the PIN. A payment selection system or other suitable system receives the payment authorization data and displays one or more payment accounts for selection by a user. Where a payment selection system is used, the payment selection system transmits payment account data to a point-of-sale system.

Abstract: A table game system is provided. The table game system includes a position system that generates position data, such as the positions of one or more players and the value of cards, dice, roulette wheels, or other game table positions. A wager system generates wager data, such as the wager placed by each player at each position. A payout system receives the position data and the wager data and generates payout data, such as by using the position data to determine the outcome of the table game and the wager data to determine the payout data based on the outcome of the table game.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic camera which processes the exposure of light by means of an imaging surface comprising a plurality of active pixel sensor circuits. Each pixel sensor circuit produces a small current inversely proportional to the amount of light that has fallen on a photodiode within the pixel sensor circuit. The individual currents produced by the active pixel sensor circuits are aggregated onto one or more current collection busses and operatively channeled to an operational amplifier assigned to a given bus. If a single operational amplifier is used, its output voltage is compared to a preset voltage level. When the voltage level decays to a preset level, a control signal is signaled.

Abstract: A system for receiving a transmitted signal is provided. The system includes a first receiver that can receive the transmitted signal and decode the transmitted signal according to a first demodulation format, such as a CDMA or PCS format. A second receiver, such as an FM demodulator, is connected to the first receiver at a suitable location, such as after initial signal amplification and processing has been completed. The second receiver can decode the transmitted signal according to a second demodulation format, such as AMPS.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a concurrent multi-band amplifiers and to a monolithic, concurrent multi-band low noise amplifier (LNA). The inventive LNA includes a three-terminal active device, such as a transistor with a characteristic transconductance, gm, disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The active device has a control input terminal, an output terminal, and a current source terminal. The amplifier also includes an input impedance matching network system, Zin, and an output load network. Zin simultaneously and independently matches the frequency-dependent input impedance of the three-terminal active device to a predetermined characteristic impedance at two or more discrete frequency bands. The output load network simultaneously provides a voltage gain, Av, to an input signal at the amplifier input at each of the two or more discrete frequency bands.

Abstract: An interrupt driven interface coupling a programmable media access controller (MAC) and a process controller. The interrupt driven interface is operable within a cable modem system. The specification by which the cable modem operates to transfer data between the programmable media access controller (MAC) and the control processor is loaded into a memory location within the system, and the physical system is operable to provide for backward compatibility, in that, the addition of new messages and the deletion of old messages within the specification is performed via software upgrade. The necessity of a re-design and re-fabrication of the programmable media access controller (MAC) and the control processor, and the interface between them is completely obviated by the present invention.

Abstract: A signal processor that contains a programmable logic circuitry that is re-configurable in response to various parameters including, but not limited to, characteristics of a plurality of input data that is provided to the signal processor. The signal processor contains, among other things, a programmable logic configuration circuitry that provides a logic configuration to the programmable logic circuitry. In certain embodiments of the invention, the signal processor employs a wide word width to program the programmable logic circuitry, the wide word width is operable to configure an entirety of the programmable logic circuitry. The programmable logic configuration circuitry further contains a default configuration circuitry and an adaptive configuration circuitry. The default configuration circuitry contains a default logic configuration for the programmable logic circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention envisions the use of a coherent signal to make up for lost or delayed samples to a modem. The modem contains a coherent phase buffer containing samples of at least a cycle of a coherent signal corresponding to an outgoing signal. When, for any reason, the samples for the outgoing signal are lost or delayed, the modem adaptively patches the outgoing signal with samples from the coherent phase buffer. The modem tracks the outgoing signal, and synchronizes a pointer into the coherent phase buffer outgoing signal. Thus, when the outgoing signal samples are delayed or lost, the modem may replace the invalid samples from the samples of the outgoing data signal with a patch of an appropriate sample or samples from the coherent phase buffer. As such, disruptions of the modem session associated with an incoherent signal during modem communications are avoided.

Abstract: A test system having a shielded enclosure and common air interface for testing the transmit and receive functionality of wireless communication devices such as mobile phones. A test system according to the present invention provides improved fault coverage by permitting robust testing of the entire signal path of a wireless device, including the antenna structure. In one embodiment of the invention, an RF-shielded enclosure having a test chamber is provided. The structure of the shielded enclosure blocks ambient RF energy from entering the test chamber and interfering with testing operations. The shielded enclosure may be lined with an RF absorbing material to improve test repeatability. A novel test antenna structure is disposed in the test chamber for wirelessly communicating test signals to a device under test.

Abstract: A system for conditioning a plurality of semiconductor leads of a semiconductor device is provided. The system includes an array of comb blades, where each comb blade terminates at a notch that allows the semiconductor leads to be moved laterally through the notch. A controller connected to the comb blades, such as through an intervening motor and comb blade support, causes the comb blades to move relative to the semiconductor device, such as by holding the semiconductor device stationary, so as to perform lateral and vertical conditioning of the semiconductor leads.