Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to provide increased signaling in a communications system. A repeater system is operable to receive and store operating characteristic data from a communications unit, the repeater transmitting at least some of the stored operating characteristic data during a detected break in transmission.

Abstract: A voice-activated circuit such as a VOX circuit (100) includes a quadratic detector (108). Quadratic detector (108) uses a sum of weighted instantaneous autocorrelation with multiple lags and where the instantaneous autocorrelation is the product of the signal or a time-advanced version of the signal multiplied by a time delayed version of itself. In one embodiment of the invention a quantized delayed signal is used where changing the sign of the signal without using real multiplication forms the quantized delayed signal. By avoiding the use of multipliers, the complexity and therefore the cost of the VOX circuit (100) is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a metal shield on a printed circuit board (10) include a layer of dielectric material (23) one or more printed circuits (21) on the layer of dielectric material (23), a layer of metal (27) on the layer of dielectric material (23), a metal-clad trench or opening surrounding the printed circuit (44) and electrically connected to the layer of metal(27), a solder pad (24) on the layer of dielectric material (23), a microvia (25) through the solder pad (24) and the layer of dielectric material (23), and electrical components (11) soldered to the solder pads (24) and to the printed circuit (21).

Abstract: An integrated sigma-delta radio frequency (RF) receiver subsystem (200) and method utilizes a multi-mode sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (215) for providing a single and multi-bit output. A programmable decimation network (221) for reducing the frequency of the in-phase and quadrature bit stream and a programmable formatting network (223) are also used for organizing the in-phase and quadrature components from the decimation network (221) for subsequent signal processing. The invention offers a highly integrated digital/analog RF receiver back-end which incorporates integrated filtering and a smart gain control that is compatible for use with other receiver systems and offering superior performance characteristics. Dynamic programmable interference mitigation is provided which facilitates power reduction and use in multi-tier products.

Abstract: A method of sending (321) a service utilization message in a communication system (100) includes the steps of forming (303 through 317) a service utilization message and sending (321) the service utilization message via a service port (109). The service utilization message includes a header, a service controller packet, and a service manager packet. The header includes a block source field (201), a block destination field (203), a block length field (205), and a block command type field (207). The service controller packet includes a block opcode field (209) and a controller packet (211). The service manager packet includes a manager packet (213) and a block sequence number field (215). The service utilization messages assist with call billing and call logging for communication systems (100). A service utilization linking message is similarly formed (503 through 517) and sent (521).

Abstract: A display-based terminal (101) employs a method and apparatus for dynamically grouping (719, 723, 819, 823) communication units in a communication system. The terminal displays a map (703, 803) to the terminal user that indicates locations of communication units in at least a portion of the communication system. The terminal receives (705, 805) an indication of a geographic area on the map. After the area has been indicated and the talkgroup identified, the terminal automatically groups (719, 723, 819, 823) communication units that are in or have entered the selected area into the identified talkgroup. If a regrouped unit exits the selected area, the terminal automatically removes the exiting unit from the talkgroup. The terminal user may further input criteria to limit which units entering and leaving the indicated area are actually grouped or ungrouped.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A method of interactively viewing the Earth including the steps of: selecting satellite viewpointd of a region of the Earth; reading prestored imaged of the region of the Earth from the satellite viewpointd; displaying the prestored imaged; selecting prestored wide-angle images of the region from a lower-altitude viewpoint in comparison to the satellite viewpoint; selecting and displaying portions of the prestored wide-angle images; reading and displaying prestored textual data associated with the region of the Earth; and selecting and displaying prestored terrestrial images of the region of the Earth from a terrestrial viewpoint.

Abstract: An electronic device such as a mobile telephone and including a main body (10) having a display panel (16); a cover (12) pivotally attached to the main body. The cover is moveable between a first position where the cover (12) overlies the display panel (16), and a second position to allow access to the display panel (16) by a user. An aperture (28) is created in the cover (12) in which is located a second display panel (30).

Abstract: Dispersive surface antenna structures (300, 700) provide improved selectivity and increased control over bandwidth. Antenna structures (300, 700) include a wraparound piece of conductive material located perpendicular to a ground plane (304, 704). Ground posts (302, 702) extend up from the ground base (304) and capacitively couple to a front conductive surface (301, 701) of the antennas (300, 700). First and second conductive back surfaces (305, 306), (705, 706) are capacitively coupled across a gap (307, 707) along the back of the antennas (300, 700). The size, width, and location of the gap (307, 707) along with the ground posts (302, 702) provide increased control over antenna performance.

Abstract: An interconnect system for use with interposers or chip carriers provides highly efficient area utilization by attaching very small chip components (50) such as resistors or capacitors to the solder pads (30) on the underside of a carrier substrate (10) such that only one end (55) of the chip component is attached to the solder pad, while the other end (56) is suspended free in space. When the interposer or chip carrier is soldered to a main printed circuit board, the free end of the chip component is soldered to a corresponding pad on the printed circuit board. The vertically mounted chip components provide an electrical function, such as decoupling, and also provide an electrical interconnection between the interposer and the printed circuit board. The interposer has electrical vias that pass vertically through the substrate from the solder pads to a conductive circuitry pattern on the top side, which also contains an integrated circuit die or an array of larger discrete chip components.

Abstract: A fast attack Automatic Gain Control (AGC) loop (100) having the capability to selectably shape one or more decaying current sources (242, 260) contained within an off-channel feedback loop and an on-channel feedback loop of the AGC loop by sequentially and selectively switching out weighted transistors (Tr0, Tr1, Tr2, . . . , Tr10) of a plurality of weighted current mirrors (313, 379, 453, 519) at predetermined intervals (t0, t1, t2, . . . , t10).

Abstract: A communication device provides for a hardware configurable module interface port by using a programmable logic device (108). The programmable logic device (108) is reconfigured using software stored in memory (106). The reconfiguration of programmable logic device (108) depends on the type of module (110) that is attached to the communication device. Since data translation is not required to be performed by each of the different types of modules that can be attached to the communication device, the time to develop a module is shortened and support circuitry requirements to perform data translation is reduced.

Abstract: A loop filter (4) having an adapt input (26), a normal input (24) and an output (23) is disclosed. Each of the inputs (24, 26) is connectable to mutually exclusively operable current sources to operate the loop filter (4) in an adapt and a normal mode respectively for controlling a voltage controlled oscillator (14) connectable to the output. The loop filter (4) includes a circuit (27) which when operated in the normal mode is connected between the normal input (24) and the output (23) to introduce a pole (P3) to a normal mode frequency response (32) of the loop filter (4). When switched to operate in the adapt mode the first circuit (27) becomes connected in series between the output (23) and a signal ground to introduce a zero to an adapt mode frequency response of the loop filter (4).

Abstract: A receiver includes a main loop (222) having a main VCO (210) and a secondary loop (224) having a secondary VCO (216). The receiver momentarily phase locks an incoming RF signal (228), and then samples and stores a correction voltage (240) being applied to the main VCO (210). The main loop (222) is then put into a non-phase locked mode of operation and the stored correction voltage is applied through a receive automatic tuning circuit (218) to the main VCO (210) for the duration of the incoming RF signal (228). This effectively calibrates the LO frequency (230) of the receiver to the incoming RF signal frequency (228).

Abstract: A method of reconfiguring a production line for fabricating printed circuit board assemblies to achieve maximum efficiency and maximum flexibility is disclosed. The production line has one or more placement stations (16, 18, 20), a reflow oven (22), a conveyor (24) and a controller (30). The controller communicates with the various components (placement stations, reflow oven, conveyor) of the production line to transfer information related to the state of assembly of some of the printed circuit board assemblies (15, 17, 19) that are being processed. The controller also communicates information related to the status of the various other stations. The operational functionality of one or more of the placement stations, the reflow oven, or the conveyor is altered in response to the communication by the controller. Other remaining modules continue operation unaltered during this step of dynamic reconfiguration.

Abstract: A trunked wireless communication system (200) includes communication sites (220, 230, 240, 250), communication signal voters (214, 215), and a signal switch (216) intercoupled between the communication signal voters (214, 215) and the communication sites (220, 230, 240, 250). Each of the communication sites (220, 230, 240,250) has selective trunked access to a signal voter (214, 215), thus providing flexibility in the operation of the wireless communication system (200). In a particular operation mode, the wireless communication system (200) can selectively route signals between the voters (214, 215) and communication sites (220, 230, 240, 250) to promote efficient reuse of communication resources.

Abstract: A layout for a ball grid array (BGA) device (500) includes a set of solder ball pads (512) and a set of interconnection vias (510). Each one of said the set of interconnection vias (510) is coupled to a corresponding one of the solder ball pads (512). The interconnection vias (510) are laid out such that they provide for increased room for both vertical and horizontal traces (602, 702 and 802). With the BGA device (500) divided by an X-axis and a Y-axis to form four quadrants, two other axes V and W, are established rotated 45 degrees from the X and Y axes respectively. The solder pads (512) and interconnection vias (510) are on laid out on lines along or parallel to the V and W axes. The interconnection vias (510) in the four quadrants are located closer to the edge margins of the BGA device (500) than their corresponding solder ball pads (512).

Abstract: A modulated signal, having a varying magnitude signal envelope, is conditioned, such as to facilitate amplification (500). Minimum values are determined values for portions of the signal envelope (520, 530), and a window expansion function applied to scale each portion of the signal envelope having a minimum value below a particular threshold, such that each scaled portion has a new minimum value of at least the particular threshold (535, 540, 550, 555).

Abstract: An integrated sigma-delta radio frequency (RF) receiver subsystem (200) and method utilizes a multi-mode sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (215) for providing a single and multi-bit output. A programmable decimation network (221) for reducing the frequency of the in-phase and quadrature bit stream and a programmable formatting network (223) are also used for organizing the in-phase and quadrature components from the decimation network (221) for subsequent signal processing. The invention offers a highly integrated digital/analog RF receiver back-end which incorporates integrated filtering and a smart gain control that is compatible for use with other receiver systems and offering superior performance characteristics.

Abstract: An auto-adapt circuit (200) for altering radio receiver parameters due to demodulator transients and preventing the loss of received information. The auto-adapt circuit includes a detector circuit (215) connected to the output of a receiver demodulator (203) and a switch (219) controlled by the detector circuit (215). The detector circuit (215) detects a transient voltage at an upper threshold limit or at a lower threshold limit such that a transient at an output of the receiver demodulator will actuate the at least one switch for varying demodulator coupling parameters of the radio receiver.