Abstract: A metal M is chosen from the group formed by yttrium, aluminum and lanthanum, and a watery solution of a complex of M and an organic chelating agent is added to a suspension of luminescent material, which causes a layer of M2O3 to be deposited on the luminescent material, which is them separated, dried and fired.

Abstract: A resonant converter includes an inverter for generating an AC voltage which is fed to a resonant arrangement with a capacitor and a transformer. The circuit provides two types of secondary units, each having a secondary winding of the transformer and at least one rectifier element. Secondary units of the first and second type are then distinguished by opposite orientation. At least two output voltages are delivered on the output, a first output voltage of which being supplied as a direct output of a first-type secondary unit and a second output voltage as a “stack output” of a first-type secondary unit and a second-type secondary unit. The two output voltages can be regulated separately and independently of each other with a regulating device by suitably choosing frequency and duty cycle of a pulse width modulated voltage generated by the inverter driven by the regulating device.

Abstract: A radio transmitter for multi-standard mobile communication systems has two stages of frequency up-conversion, the first being a digital process generating a variable IF and the second being an analogue conversion using a fixed frequency local oscillator, which alleviates the need for RF filtering after the final stage of power amplification. The IF frequency band is symmetrical about zero frequency and thus includes negative frequencies.

Abstract: The quality of a communications channel carrying data packets is determined by establishing if a packet is received correctly or incorrectly. Check means provides a signal to a microprocessor for each correct reception event and each incorrect reception event. A value, held in a two byte counter is indicative of the quality of the communications channel. For each correct reception event the value of the counter is decreased by an extent dependent on the value already held in the counter. For each incorrect reception the value of the counter is increased by an extent dependent on the value already held in the counter. When the stored counter value exceeds a preset threshold value indicating poor channel quality, a comparator produces an output signal to initiate a handover operation to another communications channel.

Abstract: A data transmission system comprises a first (12) and two or more second (13, 14, 15) beacon devices interconnected (11) as a cluster capable of wireless message transmission, and at least one mobile device (10) capable of receiving such message transmissions. The first beacon (12) is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages (INQ) according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth. The mobile device (10) detects such inquiry messages and replies with an identifier for itself. The link (A) from the first beacon device is then re-established between a selected one (14) of the second beacon devices. When a handover trigger event occurs, paging and page response messages are used to select a further second beacon device (13) and transfer the communications link (C) thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and system for storing the personal information or profile of a user/customer on the remote instead of a digital television receiver/set top box. The information that is stored is personal information, such as name, address, etc., as well as commerce-related information, such as a credit card number. This information is then used to personalize the use of some electronic device and allow for faster, portable, more effective and more convenient e-commerce.

Abstract: In a communication network, a first terminal is arranged for communication with a second terminal via a packet switched network. The first terminal is connected via a first gateway to the packet switched network, and the second terminal is connected via a second gateway to the packet switched network. If the second gateway is connected via a dial up connection over a public telephone network, the second gateway (24) may not be connected to the packet switched network resulting in a failure when the second terminal attempts to contact the second terminal via the packet switched network. To avoid this situation, the first gateway is arranged for dialing the second gateway directly via the public telephone network and requesting that the second gateway connect to the packet switched network. After the second gateway connects to the packet switched network, the first terminal can connect the second terminal via the packet switched network.

Abstract: A transmission system having a channel subjected to fading uses an iterative block detection method which includes a multiplication step for multiplying the received blocks via a filter matrix whose elements are written as ρ j * E ⁢   ⁢ ( ρ j 2 ) + N 0 where &rgr;j*, j=1, . . . , n are the conjugate values of the coefficients &rgr;j of the channel, n is the size of the block, E(&rgr;j2) is the expectation &rgr;j2, and No is the variance of the Gaussian noise.

Abstract: An antenna diversity arrangement (200) comprises a plurality of antennas (204a, 204b) capable of forming a plurality of antenna beams. The amplitude and phase relationships between the signals driving each of the antennas (204a, 204b) are first determined for an arrangement where each antenna is replaced by a point source. The results of this analysis are then transformed by reference to the characteristics of the real antenna arrangement (200) to determine appropriate driving signals. The resultant antenna diversity arrangements (200) can have antennas (204a, 204b) located arbitrarily close to one another with near-zero correlation between any pair of the antenna beams, thereby providing a compact and effective arrangement.

Abstract: A power mixer architecture for a transmitter chip is disclosed. The power mixer architecture is a mixing stage including one or more upper trees, and one or more lower trees. Each lower tree is selectively activated to receive current biasing signals, and current intermediate frequency signals. Upon receipt, the activated lower tree activates a corresponding upper tree to receive one or more amplified current intermediate frequency signals from the lower tree. In conjunction with a reception of voltage local oscillating signals, the upper tree provides voltage radio frequency signals. The gain of the lower tree is designed to be constant over any variance in a temperature, supply voltage or processing performance of the transmitter chip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recommending items of interest to a user, such as television program recommendations, before a viewing history or purchase history of the user is available. A third party viewing or purchase history is processed to generate stereotype profiles that reflect the typical patterns of items selected by representative viewers. A user can select the most relevant stereotype(s) from the generated stereotype profiles and thereby initialize his or her profile with the items that are closest to his or her own interests. A clustering routine partitions the third party viewing or purchase history (the data set) into clusters using a k-means clustering algorithm, such that points (e.g., television programs) in one cluster are closer to the mean of that cluster than any other cluster.

Abstract: A radio communication system has a random access channel for the transmission of data (214) from a secondary station to a primary station. Such a channel is intended for use by secondary stations having data (214) to transmit to a primary station while not actually engaged in a call. Before the transmission of its data (214), a secondary station transmits a message (302) that provides information on the length of the data transmission (214), and may include format information relating to the data (214). This scheme is particularly effective when combined with a scheme signaling availability of random access channel resources, for example by use of an availability (AV) message (402). In this case, a primary station can signal future availability of resources that are currently in use.

Abstract: A screen driver for a liquid crystal display screen includes an internal animation circuit for displacing data on a screen. The animation circuit also process data, such as modifying data between a source address and a destination address of a RAM memory. The RAM memory contains a screen memory and a buffer memory. The internal animation circuit allows relief of an external central microprocessor of equipment having the liquid crystal display screen from corresponding processes. Further, the number of data exchanges between the microprocessor and the screen driver is reduced and thus the power consumption of the equipment caused by the screen animations is also reduced.

Abstract: A wireless terminal having antenna diversity comprises a transceiver coupled to a plurality of antenna feeds and a ground conductor (902), the antenna feeds being coupled directly to the ground conductor (902). In one embodiment the ground conductor is a conducting case (902). The coupling may be via parallel plate capacitors (504) formed by a respective plate (506) and a surface (908) of the case (902). The case (902) acts as an efficient, wideband radiator, eliminating the need for separate antennas. Slots (912) may be provided to increase the radiating bandwidth of the terminal and improve its diversity performance. Good diversity performance is obtained in a range of environments, whether the terminal is hand-held or free-standing.

Abstract: A bias circuit for a radio frequency linear power amplifier includes an input for selecting an operating mode varying in quiescent current of an output transistor. A sensor senses a current through the output transistor and a circuit biases the output transistor for maintaining linear performance in each of mode over a range of temperatures. A filter attenuates noise generated within the linear power amplifier. A tank circuit at the collector of a power radio frequency transistor, having an inductor capable of handling the collector current, resonating with a capacitor at the design frequency, permits a reduction in the required inductance and therefore higher levels of integration.

Abstract: A bias circuit for a radio frequency linear power amplifier includes an input for selecting an operating mode varying in quiescent current of an output transistor. A sensor senses a current through the output transistor and a circuit biases the output transistor for maintaining linear performance in each of mode over a range of temperatures. A filter attenuates noise generated within the linear power amplifier. A tank circuit at the collector of a power radio frequency transistor, having an inductor capable of handling the collector current, resonating with a capacitor at the design frequency, permits a reduction in the required inductance and therefore higher levels of integration.

Abstract: Transflective display device has an optical waveguide commonly known as a light guide. The guide includes areas having a chiral nematic structure which splits light coming in from aside into two light beams having a mutually opposite circular polarization. Polarization splitting is achieved at the interface of the areas having the chiral nematic structure.

Abstract: A universal programmable remote is programmed for being used with a specific apparatus. A sequence of test codes is sent to the apparatus until the apparatus responds. The test codes comprise tags that are sent along. The tags fall all within a same narrow frequency band. An STB that is eavesdropping on the transmission is receptive to that band. The STB identifies the last tag and enables a server to identify the complete set of codes for the apparatus based on the tag. Thereupon the set is downloaded and programmed in the remote.

Abstract: A layout of five stroke shapes for inputting Chinese characters in a device is disclosed. The layout is Cross-shaped with relative positions of the five strokes being helpful to users knowledgeable in Chinese writing. Further, the layout arrangement is accompanied with a lyric which helps users remember and memorize the locations of the five strokes on the keypad. The relative locations of the five strokes are: Pie at the left of the cross, Dian at the right, Heng at the top, Zhe at the bottom, and Shu at the center. The lyric describes the shapes of the strokes and the relative locations of the strokes in the Cross-shaped configuration. For example, the lyric may be “left slash, right gash, upper over, lower turn with one down in the middle.” The lyric may have a tune to become a song and may be burned in a ROM of a device, such as a mobile phone.

Abstract: A data transmission system comprises a large number of networked data beacons interconnected and grouped together in respective clusters. In the system, a first (12) and two or more second (13, 14, 15) beacon devices are interconnected (11) as a cluster capable of wireless message transmission, and at least one mobile device (10) capable of receiving such message transmissions. The first beacon (12) is arranged to broadcast a series of inquiry messages (INQ) according to a first communications protocol, such as Bluetooth, but with the addition of an identifier for the cluster (CL). The mobile device (10) detects such inquiry messages and replies with an identifier for itself, together with message reason data. The link (A) from the first beacon device is then re-established between a selected one (14) of the second beacon devices, with interaction between the mobile device (10) and selected second beacon device (14) being controlled at least partly by the message reason data.