Abstract: An antenna sharing system and method. In the illustrative embodiment, the inventive system includes a first matching network coupled to a first circuit; a second matching network coupled to a second circuit; and a switch having a first throw coupled to the first network, a second throw coupled to the second network, and a pole coupled to the antenna. In the specific implementation, the first circuit is a cellular subsystem and the second circuit is a Global Positioning System subsystem. The system further includes a controller for selectively actuating the switch whereby the first network is coupled to the antenna in a first operational mode and the second network is coupled to the antenna in a second operational mode. In the illustrative implementation, the first network provides an impedance match to the switch and the antenna with respect to the first circuit. The second network provides an impedance match to the switch and the antenna with respect to the second circuit.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling registration activity, transmission of a registration message from a node 100 is disabled upon a determination that an identity token is not present within a predetermined area of a memory 130. In an alternative implementation, registration activity is initiated by node 100 upon committing provisioning information, which task may include storing an identity token into predetermined area 130.

Abstract: A microprocessor system having an interrupt controller is provided for use in a mobile communications device. Peripheral processing units generate interrupt requests for sending to the microprocessor. The microprocessor has components for responding to interrupt requests by interrupting current processing and performing an interrupt service routine associated with the interrupt request. The interrupt controller receives interrupt requests directed to the microprocessor from the peripheral processing units and for prioritizes the interrupt requests on behalf of the microprocessor. By providing an interrupt controller for prioritizing interrupt requests on behalf of the microprocessor, the microprocessor therefore need not devote significant internal resources to prioritizing the interrupt request signals.

Abstract: A balanced power amplifier circuit arrangement comprises a driver amplifier stage (22) adapted to receive and amplify a signal. The amplified signal is input to a first coupler (26). The first coupler (26) produces an in-phase signal and an out-of-phase quadrature signal. A first power amplifier (38) receives and amplifies the in-phase signal. A second power amplifier (40) receives and amplifies the out-of-phase signal. A first switch (28) alternately connects an isolated port of the first coupler to ground (32) or a bypass path (36). A second coupler (42) receives and combines the amplified in-phase signal and the amplified out-of-phase signal to produce a combined signal. A second switch (30) alternately connects an isolated port of the second coupler (42) to either ground (34) or the bypass path (36). When the power amplifiers (38, 40) are powered down, the first coupler (26) splits the RF-signal into an in-phase signal and an out-of-phase signal.

Abstract: A wideband Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) uses a resonant circuit tunable over a wide range of resonant frequencies. The resonant circuit includes voltage variable elements such that the resonant frequency, and thus the frequency of oscillation, may be electronically tuned. The voltage variable elements are arranged such that multiple control voltages determine the resonant frequency. A first control voltage is applied to a first set of tuning elements and operates as a coarse control of the resonant frequency. A second control voltage is applied to a second set of tuning elements and operates as a fine control of the resonant frequency. Using multiple control voltages on multiple elements allows for a wideband VCO while maintaining a low VCO gain.

Abstract: A radio receiver has a low noise amplifier. The low noise amplifier is enabled. If a predicted level of interference is expected to produce an acceptable bit error rate or other signal error measurement, the low noise amplifier is set to a “low” linearity level. If the predicted level of interference is not expected to be acceptable, the low noise amplifier is adjusted to a “high” level of linearity. The level of linearity required is determined by checking one or more prediction criteria: the mobile station's current operating mode, the strength of a received signal, the strength of a signal transmitted by the mobile station, the current level of interference, an acceptable level of interference, and whether the low noise amplifier is enabled or bypassed. Each of the prediction criteria may not be weighted equally. The determination is repeated as the prediction criteria change.

Abstract: A method and communication system for assigning the plurality of fingers to demodulation paths in a path list which insures that at least one finger will be assigned to a demodulation path supporting a supplemental channel, if one exists. The method involves determining whether any of the fingers is demodulating a supplemental channel (112). When no fingers are demodulating supplemental channels, the it is determined whether the sector containing the path under consideration supports supplemental channels (114). If the sector containing the path under consideration supports supplemental channels, then the method determines the strength of the signal path relative to the weakest finger (116).

Abstract: A feedforward nonlinearity cancellation scheme is used to improve the linearity of a low noise amplifier (LNA). An LNA incorporates a main amplifier and an auxiliary amplifier couple to receive the same input. The outputs of the main amplifier and the auxiliary amplifier are also coupled. The auxiliary amplifier may be implemented as a very low power auxiliary amplifier having a very low linearity. The output of the auxiliary amplifier contains third-order intermodulation (IM3) products that are of similar amplitude, but opposite phase, to the IM3 products generated by the main amplifier. With the outputs of the main amplifier and the auxiliary amplifier coupled, their respective IM3 products are summed together and effectively cancel each other out. As a result, the output of the LNA contains substantially no IM3 products, and the linearity of the LNA is substantially improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting electronic component orientation along with x-ray verification of connection integrity is presented. An exemplary method comprises providing an electronic component 100 for surface mount integration and providing an x-ray visible orientation indicator 300, 402, 500, 600 for the electronic component 100 such that proper orientation of the electronic component 100 is verifiable by x-ray inspection after performing surface mount integration of the electronic component. The x-ray inspection also makes connection integrity of the electronic component 100 verifiable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of adjusting a search window size by a remote unit in a slotted mode wireless communication system. In a slotted mode communication system, the remote unit is in an “active state” during its assigned slot. While in the active state the controller in a remote unit passes selected sets of search parameters to a search engine. The search engine performs searches on base stations using the selected sets of search parameters. One search parameter, the search window size, is adjusted in response to a measured signal strength of a first base station signal. The adjusted search window size is used by the remote unit when searching other base stations.

Abstract: A battery (102) powers a wireless telephone's power amplifier (106) through a Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) (104). The SMPS has a capacity lower than the maximum power requirements of the amplifier. When a controller (116) senses that an amplifier power-requirement threshold has been exceeded, it closes a switch (114) parallel to the SMPS, allowing power to flow from the battery to the amplifier without passing through the SMPS. This architecture allows the use of a smaller SMPS, and eliminates SMPS-generated noise to the amplifier when the amplifier is least able to tolerate such noise, namely, under high power conditions.

Abstract: A method for maintaining IPCP address negotiations in a wireless communication network is presented. The method includes a communication device receiving a message requesting an IP address, such as a Config-Request message, from a terminal device, which is coupled to the communication device. The communication device then generates a message requesting an IP address, such as a Config-Request message, and forwards it to a peer (IWF) within the network. The communication device then determines whether it has received an assigned IP address from the IWF in response to the IP address request message. In response to determining that the communication device has not received the assigned IP address from the IWF, the communication device transmits a message with an arbitrary IP address, such as a Configure-Nak message, to the terminal device. The arbitrary IP address contained within the message will be rejected by the communication device, upon receipt of future Configure-Requests containing the arbitrary address.

Abstract: A system determines if a primary paging channel should be received based on an examination of a quick paging channel. A first QPCH symbol is examined (102) and the normalized pilot energy is determined (104). If the normalized pilot energy is above a first threshold (106), the symbol is demodulated and the QPCH-symbol-to-pilot-energy ratio is determined (110) and compared against another threshold (114). If the normalized pilot energy is below the first threshold, the system proceeds to the second QPCH symbol immediately. Based on the two comparisons, a second QPCH signal is examined (108) or the system sleeps (116). If the second signal is examined, and if its normalized pilot energy is high enough, it also is demodulated and the ratio of the sum-of-the-combined-QPCH-symbols to the sum-of-the-combined-pilot-energies is determined (122). If this ratio exceeds a threshold (124), the primary paging channel is processed (120); otherwise the system sleeps (116).

Abstract: A multiple-surface antenna, and a method of receiving signals using an antenna, are disclosed. The multi-surface antenna includes a multi-surface dielectric substrate and a conductive trace formed on at least two surfaces of the dielectric substrate. The conductive trace is formed in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern may be a crossing pattern, or a series of symmetric shapes. The multi-surface dielectric substrate, having the trace formed thereon, may then be integrated entirely within a telephone handset. The method includes providing a multi-surface dielectric substrate, printing on at least two surfaces of the dielectric substrate a conductive trace formed into a periodic pattern, receiving at least one signal at the conductive trace, passing the received signal through at least a portion of the conductive trace, and feeding the received signal from the conductive trace to a coupled receiver. The coupled receiver may be a cellular or cordless telephone handset.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for causing a subscriber station (100) to attempt to acquire one of a plurality of systems. The subscriber station (100) first detects an event that triggers use of a system acquisition schedule. The system acquisition schedule, which can be time based or sequence based, defines when to attempt to acquire a desired system. The subscriber station (100) attempts to acquire the desired system in accordance with the system acquisition schedule. The subscriber station (100) performs other functions when the system acquisition schedule does not indicate an attempt should be made to acquire the desired system. Such other functions can include attempting to acquire other systems when the system acquisition schedule does not indicate an attempt should be made to acquire the desired system.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for reducing the average power consumption in a remote unit in a wireless communication system. When a remote unit in a slotted mode communication system receives a general paging massage, it deinterleaves and decodes the raw data samples. Prior to parsing, it compares the decoded data samples with samples stored in a memory. Based on this comparison, the remote unit determines whether or not the message is empty. If the message is empty, the remote unit transitions to an inactive state. By comparing before parsing, the remote unit is able to conserve power by entering the inactive state sooner. If no samples are stored in the memory, instead of comparing, the remote unit parses the message and executes any instructions. If, upon parsing, the remote unit determines the message to be empty, at least a portion of the message is stored in the memory.

Abstract: A telephone has several lists of phone numbers. Each phone number within a list has a number of digits which is not less than a predetermined minimum number, and not more than a predetermined maximum number. The maximum number is the “size” of the list. When a digit is entered, the phone compares (1B) the number of digits entered to the lists, and selects (1C) the list of the smallest size which is greater than or equal to the number of digits entered. That list is searched (1D) and the results displayed (1E) when the search is complete. If another digit is entered during the search (1F), the comparing (1B) and list selecting (1C) steps are repeated.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (100) includes a display (120) having a backlight (124). A backlight controller (126) selectively enables the backlight (124) to minimize power consumption and conserve energy in a battery (132). In one embodiment, a receiver (110) receives a time-of-day message from a remote location to set a timer (122) with the current time-of-day. The current time-of-day is compared with a predetermined time-of-day and the backlight controller (126) enables and disables the backlight (124) at predetermined times-of-day. The wireless communication device (100) may also include a GPS receiver (128), to determine the location of the device. The backlight controller (126) can determine the sunrise or sunset times for the specific location. The GPS data may be used in combination with the time-of-day message. A photosensor (130) can detect ambient light levels and generate an electrical signal corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A programmable IF bandwidth is achieved in either a transmitter or receiver using fixed bandwidth filters. A minimum of two IF frequencies are used. A fixed bandwidth filter that is equal to or greater than the desired IF bandwidth is used at each IF. The Local Oscillators (LO's) are tuned to frequency convert the desired signal to a frequency that is offset towards one bandedge of the fixed IF filters. A first mixer and LO relocates the desired signal to one end of a first fixed IF filter. A second mixer and LO relocates the filtered signal to the opposite end of a second IF filter. The desired bandwidth is obtained as the sum of the frequency offset of the desired signal from the nearest bandedge of the first IF filter and the frequency offset of the desired signal from the opposite bandedge of the second IF filter.

Abstract: A technique for activating an active-mode high frequency clock following a sleep period for use within a mobile station wherein selected components of the mobile station operate using a low power, low frequency sleep-mode clock during the sleep period and the faster high frequency active-mode clock during non-sleep periods. In one embodiment, the technique is implemented by a device having a wake-up estimation unit for estimating a wake up time using the sleep-mode clock and a frequency drift compensation unit for compensating for any error in the estimated wake up time caused by frequency drift in the sleep-mode clock. An off-set time compensation unit is also provided for compensating for a lack of precision in the low frequency sleep-mode clock resulting in a possible error in the estimated wake up time. The lack of precision can result in an initial timing off-set error at the beginning of the sleep period and an final timing off-set error at the end of the sleep period.