Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a multiple battery system and auxiliary battery attachment system. The invention provides a battery housing having a common positive terminal and a common negative terminal coupled to an electrical system. A main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output is also provided, together with an auxiliary battery having an auxiliary positive output and an auxiliary negative output. A switching device is provided with at least two operating positions. The two operating positions selectively engage the main battery and the auxiliary battery. In the first operating position of the at least two operating positions the common positive terminal is coupled to the main positive output and the auxiliary positive output, a one-way charging circuit preceding the auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (100) employs a method and apparatus for automatically initiating a communication with a target device. The communication device includes, inter alia, a user interface (115), an acoustic transducer (113), and an acoustic receptor (109). The user interface receives an identification of the target device (e.g., a telephone number) from a user while the communication device is configured in a first physical or mechanical configuration of at least two user-selectable configurations. Responsive to detecting a reconfiguration of the communication device from the first configuration (e.g., closed) into a second configuration (e.g., open), the communication device automatically initiates the communication with the target device, thereby eliminating the need for manual call initiation after the communication device is properly positioned for in-call use.

Abstract: A loss prevention system (e.g., 200) employs a method and apparatus for reducing the likelihood of losing a portable electronic device (100, 201) that has been inadvertently removed from its retaining device (e.g., 203, 300, 400). The loss prevention system includes the electronic device and its retaining device. The electronic device includes a proximity detector (103) that operates to detect the absence or removal of the device from the retaining device. The electronic device further includes a lost device detection circuit (102) that determines whether the removal was intentional and, if unintentional, alerts the user of the removal. By so alerting the user, the loss prevention system provides rapid feedback to the user after the user's electronic device has inadvertently fallen out of its retaining device, thereby enabling the user to quickly retrieve the device before it gets damaged or taken by someone else.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new and unique designs that improve and enhance the section properties of load bearing structural members, which have particular, but not exclusive, application in connection with aluminum extrusions for use in screened pool, patio and porch enclosures. The invention utilizes one or more reinforcing inserts or slats which attach to a structural member such as a hollow extruded beam to increase the effective wall thickness of the beam in the area where the slat is applied.

Abstract: A method of producing and using a solution, and the solution itself, for extending the shelf life of fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables after they are harvested which includes the steps of extracting juice from the flowers, flowering plant parts, fruits or vegetables, filtering the juice, disintegrating the parts from which the juice is extracted, extracting an enzyme or enzymes from the parts using a solvent without the denaturing the enzymes, removing the parts and mixing the remaining ingredients with the extracted juice.

Abstract: A process for preparing a consumable beverage containing a natural dairy beverage additive in the form of agglomerated natural milk powder. The powder is combined with other ingredients, either prior to being placed in the vending machine or upon demand within the vending machine, for the subsequent creation of a consumable beverage which includes the natural dairy beverage additive.

Abstract: A system controller (106) is for transferring a low bit rate digital voice message. The system controller generates from an analog voice signal representing the voice message a set of speech model parameters, and generates a first derived set of speech model parameters from a first subset of the set of speech model parameters, the first derived set encoding the voice signal at a second voice quality and second vocoder rate that are less, respectively, than a first voice quality and vocoder rate. The system controller transmits (3610) the low bit rate-digital voice message comprising the first derived set of speech model parameters to a communication receiver (114). The communication receiver requests (3640) an incremental message when the quality of the voice message is unsatisfactory. The system controller generates and transmits (3555, 3650) an incremental message-and the communication receiver uses (3660) the incremental message to generate a higher quality voice message.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved electrical power strip which will automatically energize and de-energize one or more devices which are plugged into the strip, upon receiving an electrical signal from the primary device, without the need for manual actuation of a switch on the electrical strip or an under monitor system by the user. This system senses the primary status of the power supply through a low voltage power tap connector which is plugged in any appropriate socket of the primary device (which may be a personal computer). The output signal triggers a synchronous transfer switch or relay which enables power to secondary devices (which may be a monitor, printer, scanner, sub woofer, modem, etc.), permitting them to be synchronously turned on or off depending on the computer system status (ON or OFF).

Abstract: The invention is a small, portable illumination device which is used to illuminate reading material or other material. The device contains a clip which a user can employ to attach the device to a book or other reading material. The clip holds the illuminating device in place relative to the material. The device uses either battery or alternating current as power and can be switched from one to the other by insertion or removal of a male plug of a 120V AC/DC adapter into or from a jack in the device. The device can be turned on or shut off when a user switches the ON-OFF switch. In addition, there is a countdown timer which the user can set to a desired number of minutes. Once the countdown timer starts, the device will illuminate the material for the number of minutes to which the user set the countdown timer. When the countdown timer reaches zero, the device shuts off automatically. A buzzer sounds when the countdown timer reaches two minutes.

Abstract: A projection screen comprising; a substrate having a generally flat forward surface; a diffusion layer formed of a plurality of generally equally spaced apart concave features forming micro lenses; a layer of reflective material deposited on a rearward facing surface of the diffusion layer; the diffusion layer laminated to the forward facing surface of the substrate so that the layer of reflective material is sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: An electronic device (103, 200) employs a method and apparatus for selectively audibly alerting a user as to the status of the device's DC power source (119). The device receives input from the user indicating a time period during which the audible low power alert is not to be emanated from the device. After receiving such input, the device determines whether a low power condition exists during the time period and deactivates the audible low power alert if such a condition is met. Alternatively or additionally, after receiving the time period input from the user, the device may determine the likelihood of a low power condition occurring during the time period and activate the audible alert prior to commencement of the time period if such a condition is likely to occur, thereby providing the user advance notice of the potential for such a condition.

Abstract: A communication system (10) provides content to communication devices (12) over one or more wireless channels that support packet data communication under a specified radio packet data transmission protocol, such as GPRS. The communication system (10) receives proximity and functionality information from the communication devices (12). Based on the proximity and functionality level information, the communication system (10) determines an optimum data rate and optimum content format for communicating the content with the communication devices (12). Using the optimum data rate and content format, the content is transmitted to the communication devices (12) over a wireless channel, thereby optimizing the air time and providing the best user experience regardless of communication device capability or position.

Abstract: A method for making calls from communication devices that operate within a plurality of wireless communication networks. A call number associated with a call from a communication device is received which communicates with an active network. Based on the received call number, a calling code requirement is selected for dialing the call from the communication device. The calling code requirement is then transmitted to the communication device. The call number or the call number in combination with at least one selected calling code is dialed at the communication device based on the transmitted calling code requirement.

Abstract: A self-draining, valve for fluid flow control. Upon removal of fluid supply pressure from the valve, the valve automatically reverts to a partially open state allowing fluid in the valve to drain. The disclosed valve is particularly useful in applications where draining of fluids with bio-matter or other contaminants is desired after removal of supply pressure in order to reduce contamination buildup and/or permit thorough cleaning.

Abstract: A digital signal processor for processing data including voice messaging data that may have both voiced and unvoiced speech components utilizes computer routines stored in a memory used by the digital signal processor. The computer routines programmed provide for control of at least a portion of a selective call receiver; receiving and decoding data received at the selective call receiver; comparing the addresses received at the selective call receiver with addresses stored in a memory location coupled to the digital signal processor; controlling voicing including both voiced and unvoiced speech components; and generating a pitch wave using an inverse discrete Fourier Transform and resample the pitch wave to provide a time domain voiced speech component.

Abstract: The wireless communication system (100) uses a method of improving diversity gain by utilizing a first network (10) operating with a first protocol and at least a second network (20) formed from a plurality of cooperative wireless devices (22, 24, 26, 28, and 29) operating with a second protocol and at least the,first protocol. The method includes the step (302) of receiving a signal using the first protocol at one or more of the plurality of cooperative wireless devices intended for a targeted member of the plurality of cooperative wireless devices and the step (308) of processing the signal cooperatively among the plurality of cooperative wireless devices in order to increase diversity gain of the signal to the targeted member.

Abstract: A sailboat sail and method of manufacture thereof, the sail material being chosen from a group of materials which lay substantially flat at all points when laid against a planar surface but which stretch under wind loading when attached to a sailboat to assume the conventional airfoil shape desirable of a sail. The sail has informational content such as advertising (eg: product photographs and logos) or other messages printed on or otherwise imparted thereto. One method of providing such a sail includes the steps of providing a flat sheet of stretchable material having physical properties capable of withstanding conventional wind load-induced forces in near-shore sailing conditions, printing on one or both sides of the sheet information content to be displayed while the sail is mounted upon a sailboat, and cutting the sheet into the shape of a sail. The steps of printing and cutting may be transposed.

Abstract: A method for re-establishing communication between a base station (102) that transmits on a forward channel, and a subscriber unit (108) that has temporarily lost the forward channel, uses the concept of a re-registration interval. The base station (102) transmits, to subscriber units (106, 108) in its area, a signal indicating the duration of a re-registration interval. A subscriber unit that has temporarily lost the forward channel determines whether the duration of such loss exceeds the re-registration interval. If the interval is exceeded, the subscriber unit sends a re-registration signal to the base station on a reverse channel. A selective call transceiver (400) is programmed to operate as a subscriber unit that uses the re-registration interval.

Abstract: A technique is used in a data terminal (110, 160) that encodes and decodes a data packet that is transmitted in a link of a frequency hopping system. During encoding, an information portion of the data packet is determined for transmission, a transmit redundancy check code is generated over the information portion and an identifier using a predetermined redundancy check code generator, and the data packet is generated to include the transmit redundancy check code and the information portion, but exclude the identifier. During decoding, the information portion and a received redundancy check code of the received data packet are determined, a calculated redundancy check code is generated over the information portion and the identifier, using the predetermined redundancy check code generator, and the information portion is rejected when the received redundancy check code does not match the calculated redundancy check code.