Abstract: This invention relates to a method of estimating a characteristic of a signal such as a time of arrival or a transmitter identity in particular in a cellular communication system. Most known techniques have limited performance as they rely on limited amounts of known data. The method of the invention comprise a first step (201) of receiving the signal at a subscriber unit. In a second step (203) the subscriber unit receives assistance data from the fixed network and in a third step (205) an expected signal is derived in response to this assistance data. For GSM the assistance data can be a frame number and a BSIC permitting an entire expected SCH burst to be derived. In a fourth (207) step the signal characteristic is determined by correlation of the received signal and the expected signal. The invention is particularly applicable to location determination in a GSM communication system.

Abstract: A method for determining a fading correction factor to be used for correcting a sample of a power delay profile of a received signal in a communication system, the fading correction factor associated with a fading channel characteristic through which the received signal propagates, includes estimating a number (N) of complex samples, obtaining fading channel autocorrelation sequence (R(n)) of the fading channel for a plurality (n) of complex samples, the number of the plurality (n) of complex samples corresponding to the number (N) of complex samples, and computing the fading correction factor based on the number (N) of complex samples, autocorrelation sequence (R(n)), and the number of the plurality (n) of complex samples.

Abstract: A linear power amplifier having one or more feedforward correction loops automatically reconfigures itself for single loop operation based on a power reduction condition. The power reduction condition may be a function of the input power of the linear power amplifier, a current draw of stages within the linear power amplifier, power consumption levels of feedforward error correction amplifiers, the time of day, or any other suitable condition. The linear power amplifier includes a main amplifier circuit (12) and at least a first feedforward error correction circuit (14). A control circuit (16) removes or reduces power from the power amplifier (26) in the main amplifier circuit (12) and reconfigures the feedforward error correction circuit (14) to serve as a temporary main amplifier circuit. This may be done, for example, at predetermined points where the linear power amplifier does not require the feedforward error correction circuit to obtain a desired level of linearity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to provide a pseudo random noise (PN) sequence having a particular code phase offset for use in a radio in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) radio system (100). In one embodiment, a first mask (320) is applied to shift a reference PN sequence to the assigned PN code phase (416). Upon reaching the end of the reference PN sequence, the initial state is reloaded (420) into the PN generator state register to reset the state value to its initial value, thereby producing a cyclical sequence. In a second embodiment, a first mask (622) and a second mask (624) are applied to the reference sequence produced by the PN generator state registers (620) to produce the appropriate portions of the output sequence.

Abstract: An antenna indexing and retaining mechanism (100) for coupling an antenna stem (117) to a transceiver (701) is provided. The mechanism (100) includes a plurality of plates disposed in a first plane (173) substantially perpendicular to an axis (174) of the antenna stem (117), a first plate (102) of the plurality of plates to engage a first antenna stem surface (144) of the antenna stem and a second plate (103) of the plurality of plates to engage a second antenna stem surface (145) of the antenna stem. The mechanism (100) also includes a release plate (106) having projections (124, 125) extending into the first plane (102), the projections (124, 125) causing the plurality of plates to be disengaged from the antenna stem (117) upon translation of the release plate (106).

Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling module (100) and a method for forming the cooling module (100). The cooling module (100) is effective in reducing the temperature of heat-generating components mounted on the cooling module (100). The cooling module (100) includes a housing (105), a pressure relief mechanism (200), and a shearing surface (201). The housing (105) includes a cooling material (121) disposed therein. The pressure relief mechanism (200) is disposed within the housing (105) and covers the opening (203) to provide a seal that seals the housing (105). The shearing surface (201) is effective to break the seal upon exceeding a predetermined pressure within the housing (105).

Abstract: The present invention provides a two-phase thermosyphon (100) that includes a sealed housing (105). The housing (105) includes a first outer surface, a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface, a first inner surface, and a second inner surface. The housing (105) is preferably formed of a first housing piece and a second housing piece that are attached in such a way as to form a sealed housing. A porous structural material (101) is disposed within the housing (105). A plurality of slots (103) are disposed within the porous structural material (101). The slots (103) preferably run substantially perpendicular to the general direction of vapor flow through the porous structural material (101) and provide increased heat dissipation in the two-phase thermosyphon (100).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling temperatures at a semiconductor circuit (22) by an array (32) of thermoelectric cooler cells (34) which are disposed proximate the semiconductor circuit (22). At least one thermoelectric cooler (38) is located at the individual thermoelectric cooler cells (34) for removing and adding heat from cell areas associated with the thermoelectric coolers. A memory device (50) is associated with the cooler cells (34) and stores operational settings for the cooler cells. A controller (28) is coupled with the thermoelectric cooler cells (34) to individually control the operational settings for the cooler cells in the array (32).

Abstract: The device (10) includes a semiconductor die (12) positioned to receive a fluid cooling medium (45) and a power input lead (25) attached to the semiconductor die. The power input lead having a characteristic such that at a first temperature a first current flows between the semiconductor die and the power input lead and at a second temperature a second current flows between the semiconductor die and the power input lead.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for positioning GSM mobile stations. Positioning information for a Mobile Station (102) is requested by a Base Station Subsystem (117) from Location Determination Equipment (113). The Location Determination Equipment (113) return signal measurements relating to the Mobile Station (102) to the Base Station Subsystem (117). The Base Station Subsystem (117) requests a location calculation from a Mobile Positioning Register (111). The Mobile Positioning Register (111) computes the position of the mobile station (102) based at least in part upon the signal measurements. The position of the Mobile Station (102) is then returned to the Base Station Subsystem (117).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (200) that includes a heat-generating component (202) and a heat-dissipating apparatus (120). The heat-generating component (202) is mounted on a substrate (204). The heat-dissipating apparatus (120) includes a housing piece (100) that includes a sealed chamber (102) and a phase change material (106) disposed within the sealed chamber (102). The heat-dissipating apparatus (120) is thermally coupled to the heat-generating component (202) and provides for heat dissipation by an endothermic process of changing phase from solid to liquid, thereby lowering the operating temperature of the heat-generating component (202).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly combines a latch (34) and electrical contacts (60a-60f) into an integral connector assembly. The latch (34) is partially surrounded by a stacked connector (36). The latch (34) lathes with a housing (22) and the stacked connector (36) includes a connector contact housing (40) that includes a plurality of stacked contacts (60a-60f) to provide an electrical connection between a first (60) and second (64) electrical circuit. In one embodiment, the connector contact housing (40) is in a “U” shape and partially surrounds at least a portion of the latch (34). The stacked connector (36) engages with a receptacle well (38) having a plurality of corresponding stacked receptacle contacts (62a-62f). The plurality of stacked contacts (60a-60f) is positioned in a manner to provide balanced contact loading along at least one axis (100) of the stacked connector (36). As such, in one embodiment, the stacked contacts (60a-60f) are arranged in an opposing manner.

Abstract: An antenna detent and latching mechanism for use in a radiotelephone to provide a robust connection of an antenna to the radiotelephone. When the mechanism and antenna are coupled, the antenna can be rotated from a stored position to one of two deployed positions.

Abstract: A method for system acquisition for a subscriber unit (112) in a satellite communication system (100) maximizes life of a battery (320) of a battery-powered subscriber unit. A receiver (304) of the subscriber unit is energized only when ring bursts are expected from satellites in the system, serving to minimize consumption of battery power. During just two scans, the subscriber unit acquires enough information to enable it to identify the best beam for monitoring for a ring alert and to predict the nearby beams most likely to carry a ring alert targeted for the subscriber unit. From the received information, the subscriber unit can also perform necessary processes such as passive geolocation. The subscriber unit then enters a low-power standby mode, energizing the receiver only long enough to detect the best beam to scan for a ring alert targeted for the subscriber unit.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) maintains a Pilot Set in a digital communication system that utilizes Code Division Multiple Access. The apparatus comprises a logic and control circuit (113) for providing instructions to a searcher receiver (109). The searcher receiver, in response to the instructions, sequentially scans active pilots, then candidate pilots, and then pre-candidate pilots. The scan of the pre-candidate pilots continues until all but a predetermined number of pre-candidate pilots have been promoted or demoted. Then the searcher receiver alternately scans the predetermined number of pre-candidate pilots and the neighbor pilots. The searcher receiver terminates alternate scans of the predetermined number of pre-candidate pilots and the neighbor pilots when a one of the neighbor pilots is promoted, and resumes the scan of the pre-candidate pilots.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sharing a SIM card between two masters. The invention may be embodied in so-called multi-mode radiotelephones that use SIM cards to store and access information. The multi-mode radiotelephone includes at least two master components and a single SIM card. The method and apparatus synchronizes and coordinates communications from either master component directly to the SIM card, thereby allowing a single SIM card to directly service two master components.