Abstract: Power supplies in flash memory devices are disclosed. A first section of a flash memory device includes non-volatile memory for storing data. A second section of the flash memory device includes at least first and second pumping circuits. The first pumping circuit receives a first voltage and produces, at an output of the first pumping circuit, a second voltage at a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level. The second pumping circuit has an input coupled to the first pumping circuit output for cooperatively employing the first pumping circuit to pump up from a voltage greater than the first voltage to produce a third voltage at a third voltage level that is higher than the second voltage level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network and to a method of operating a network. The network comprises a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data between stations via at least one selected intermediate station. The network further comprises a plurality of levels of stations including a first level comprising user and/or seed stations, a second level comprising auxiliary stations providing access to auxiliary networks, a third level comprising at least one location management station, and a fourth level comprising at least one authentication station. The method comprises transmitting, from or on behalf of a station on the first level requiring authentication, to an authentication station via one or more stations, an authentication request message. In response, the authentication station transmits authentication data via one or more stations to the station on the first level to authenticate the station on the first level.

Abstract: At least one substitute path is provided in place of a plurality of existing paths of a network to reallocate traffic carried by the plurality of existing paths. The total bandwidth needed to carry the traffic of the plurality of existing paths is determined. A proposed route is generated from the available links in the network. A portion of the bandwidth of a proposed route may be allocated to the needed bandwidth when the bandwidth of a proposed route is greater than or equal to the needed bandwidth. When the bandwidth of the proposed route is less than the needed bandwidth, at least one further route is generated, and the needed bandwidth is divided among the proposed route and the at least one further route such that a minimum number of further routes are generated.

Abstract: A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk.

Abstract: A method for traversing a multiplexed data packet stream including choosing a starting location in a multiplexed data packet stream; making a bi-directional search from the starting location to locate a nearest system stream object; and traversing the system stream as a doubly-linked list of objects. Traversing the system stream preferably includes traversing object links of the doubly-linked list of objects. The objects are further preferably cached with an LRU process. Multiple disjoint locations in the system stream can be accessed with a virtual linked list. The virtual linked list can be used to search forwardly; backwardly, or both forwardly and backwardly.

Abstract: Power supplies in flash memory devices are disclosed. A first section of a flash memory device includes non-volatile memory for storing data. A second section of the flash memory device includes at least first and second pumping circuits. The first pumping circuit receives a first voltage and produces, at an output of the first pumping circuit, a second voltage at a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level. The second pumping circuit has an input coupled to the first pumping circuit output for cooperatively employing the first pumping circuit to pump up from a voltage greater than the first voltage to produce a third voltage at a third voltage level that is higher than the second voltage level.

Abstract: A method of phase modulating optical radiation by the steps of phase modulating the optical radiation by using a modulator having an extinction ratio in order to provide a multilevel phase shift key signal, and applying to each optical pulse a phase-shift having an absolute value depending on the extinction ratio and a sign depending, for each of the optical pulses, on the respective optical phase value. An apparatus implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A laser using electrogenerated chemiluminescence wherein an organic dye lasing solution is made to flow through or over alternately charged electrodes to charge the dye molecules which are then hydrodynamically diffused to maximize the production of excited molecules, for stimulated emission.