Abstract: A portable phone has an internal battery and an external battery pack is releasably attachable to the phone. A control unit in the phone controls connection of the respective batteries to a phone power input, depending on the detection of the external battery voltage. Whenever an external battery is present with a voltage above a predetermined minimum value, the external battery will be connected to the phone power input to provide power to operate the phone, so that the internal battery lifetime is extended. When the external battery voltage falls below the minimum value, or the external battery is removed, the unit automatically switches to internal battery power, so that the external battery can be changed without interrupting power supply to the phone, if the phone is on or during a call.

Abstract: A novel and improved method and apparatus for a fast-slewing pseudorandom noise sequence generator is described. One or more loadable PN generators are controlled by a DSP or microprocessor in conjunction with a free-running counter which maintains a reference offset count. The PN generator will typically be part of a finger or searcher. The DSP or microprocessor may assist in other finger or searcher functions as well as the slew function, and can control one or more fingers and/or searchers. Each PN generator is comprised of a loadable linear feedback shift register (LFSR) or its equivalent, a loadable counter for maintaining an index of the state of that particular PN generator, and a slew control device capable of receiving a slew command and controlling the LFSR and index counter to enact an advance or a retard of a certain offset distance.

Abstract: A ground connector and standoff apparatus or spring member for mounting between two circuit boards is of conductive material and has opposing substantially flat, parallel first and second legs and a spring link connecting the legs. In an uncompressed condition of the spring member, the legs are spaced apart a predetermined distance greater than the spacing between the two circuit boards when connected together. The first leg is connected to one of the circuit boards and the second leg bears against an opposing portion of the other circuit board to provide a ground connection when the boards are connected together, compressing the spring member. A limiter or spacer on the spring member limits compression beyond a predetermined point at which the height of the spring member is equal to a predetermined standoff between the boards.

Abstract: A wireless receiver receiving multipath Wash-code symbols determines which of fingers 402, 410 have locked on a signal. Measurements of the correlation energies between the received signal and all possible symbols are stored in energy storage units 404, 412. The actual signals are combined in combiner 408. A maximum determiner 416 determines the most likely combined symbol, and an index for this symbol is fed back to the energy storage units. Lock detectors 406, 414 use the measurement for this fed-back symbol to determine whether the finger has locked onto a path. This determination is used to decide whether the next signal detected by that finger should be applied to the combiner.

Abstract: A test equipment interface circuit capable of acting as an interface between a wireless transceiver and a piece of test equipment for both high frequency band signals and low frequency band signals without the use of active or mechanical switches.

Abstract: A portable phone has an internal battery and an external battery pack that is releasably attachable to the phone. A control unit in the phone controls connection of the respective batteries to a phone power input, depending on the detection of the external battery voltage. Whenever an external battery is present with a voltage above a predetermined minimum value, the external battery will be connected to the phone power input to provide power to operate the phone, so that the internal battery lifetime is extended. When the external battery voltage falls below the minimum value, or the external battery is removed, the unit automatically switches to internal battery power, so that the external battery can be changed without interrupting power supply to the phone, if the phone is on or during a call. An improved multi-phase software controlled battery-charging method and apparatus is used to charge the internal and external battery packs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a communication system in accordance with the geographic region in which the subscriber station is located. Upon successful acquisition, the subscriber station examines the received system identification information to determine its geographical region. The subscriber station then determines whether the acquired system is the most desirable system for use in the geographical region. If it is the most desirable system for use in the geographical region, the subscriber station provides service using the acquired system. If it is not the most desirable system for use in the geographical region, the subscriber station attempts to acquire a more desirable system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a pilot signal on a second frequency while monitoring a first frequency having an assigned paging slot and a plurality of non-assigned paging slots. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the assigned paging slot of the first frequency and scanning for the pilot signal on the second frequency during at least one of the non-assigned paging slots of the first frequency. If the pilot signal is detected while scanning the second frequency, the pilot signal is processed normally. The method also includes entering a sleep mode for a remainder of the non-assigned paging slots. In a preferred embodiment, scanning for the pilot signal on the second frequency occurs in a non-assigned paging slot immediately following the assigned paging slot. In an alternate embodiment, scanning for the pilot signal occurs in a non-assigned paging slot immediately preceding the assigned paging slot.

Abstract: A base station of the cellular telephone forward link power control system transmits frames initially at a high default transmit power level, then decreases the power level incrementally until either a frame erasure is detected, triggering an immediate sharp increase in transmission power, or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed, after which the base station performs a fast downward move in the transmit power level. The fast downward move constitutes a sharp reduction in the transmit power level. In one example, the fast downward move is performed if one hundred consecutive frames are successfully transmitted without a frame erasure. By providing the fast downward move in transmit power, the power transmitted is decreased on the average. In particular, the fast downward move allows the amount of transmit power to be reduced significantly in circumstances where slow incremental decreases in power would result in excess power being employed. Method and apparatus embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Noise is removed from the digitized output of a sensor, subject to undesired resonance, even when the resonant frequency is unknown or drifts, with sufficiently low phase delay for the sensor to be used in closed-loop control. A very narrow notch filter which removes the resonance-induced noise is recursive (IIR) and therefore has a low phase delay. However, the apparatus which determines the center frequency of the notch filter is non-recursive, and therefore stable. It includes a tunable FIR filter which tracks the same resonance that we wish the IIR filter to remove. Tuning the FIR filter to minimize the output of the FIR filter therefore tunes the notch frequency to align with the resonant frequency. The tuning parameter which adaptively produces this result is suitably scaled and biased, and is applied to the IIR filter.

Abstract: APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE PROCESSOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT include a host computer 10, a control processor 12, and a bus 16 between them and one or more nodes 14. Each node 14 includes a master processor 22 and one or more slave processors 24, all of the processors 22, 24 sharing a memory 26. Multiple processor application software may be developed using the host computer 10 and control processor 12 by concurrently monitoring every processor 22, 24 of every node 14. Each master processor 22 is monitored directly through a master transmit/receive buffer 20 between it and the bus 16, and each slave processor 24 of each node 14 is monitored indirectly through a slave transmit/receive buffer 38 in the node's shared memory 26, the buffer 38 extending between that slave processor 24 and that node's master processor 22.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a mobile station within a cellular telephone system having a plurality of base stations. A signal is transmitted at a low power level from the mobile station. The strength of the signal is then temporarily increased from the low power level to an increased power level, and the signal is temporarily transmitted from the mobile station at this increased power level. While the signal is being temporarily transmitted from the mobile station at the increased power level, the signal is used to make at least a first positional measurement. The position of the mobile station is determined in accordance with the first positional measurement.

Abstract: A novel and improved method and apparatus for high rate CDMA wireless communication is described. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a set of individually gain adjusted subscriber channels are formed via the use of a set of orthogonal subchannel codes having a small number of PN spreading chips per orthogonal waveform period. Data to be transmitted via one of the transmit channels is low code rate error correction encoded and sequence repeated before being modulated with one of the subchannel codes, gain adjusted, and summed with data modulated using the other subchannel codes. The resulting summed data is modulated using a user long code and a pseudorandom spreading code (PN code) and upconverted for transmission. The use of the short orthogonal codes provides interference suppression while still allowing extensive error correction coding and repetition for time diversity to overcome the Raleigh fading commonly experienced in terrestrial wireless systems.

Abstract: A novel and improved method and apparatus for high rate CDMA wireless communication is described. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a set of individually gain adjusted subscriber channels are formed via the use of a set of orthogonal subchannel codes having a small number of PN spreading chips per orthogonal waveform period. Data to be transmitted via one of the transmit channels is low code rate error correction encoded and sequence repeated before being modulated with one of the subchannel codes, gain adjusted, and summed with data modulated using the other subchannel codes. The resulting summed data is modulated using a user long code and a pseudorandom spreading code (PN code) and upconverted for transmission. The use of the short orthogonal codes provides interference suppression while still allowing extensive error correction coding and repetition for time diversity to overcome the Raleigh fading commonly experienced in terrestrial wireless systems.

Abstract: In a communications network, a network user communicates using a remote unit with another user via at least one base station. The communications network has a first base station having a first coverage area and a second base station having a second coverage area. In the situation where communication is not established between the second base station and the remote unit, in order to provide communication between the remote unit and the first base station when the remote unit is in the first coverage and simultaneously in the second coverage area, the first base station produces a first active communication signal at intended for the remote unit. The first base station transmits the first active communication signal from a first antenna.

Abstract: In a communication system capable of variable rate transmission, multi-level scheduling improves utilization of the reverse link and decreases the transmission delay in data communication. Multi-level scheduling comprises base station level scheduling, selector level (system level) scheduling, and network level scheduling. Network level scheduling is performed for base station in soft handoff with base stations which are controlled by different selector scheduler. Selector level scheduling is performed for remote stations in soft handoff with base stations which are controlled by the same selector scheduler. And base station level scheduling is performed for remote stations not in soft handoff. Base station level scheduled is performed using residual capacity after higher level scheduling have been performed. Each scheduling level can have different scheduling interval.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing radio frequency interference arising in connection with pulsed transmission over time division multiplexed communication channels. In a first embodiment, a subscriber station is nominally assigned all of the slots of each frame of a first transmit channel. By transmitting RF energy substantially continuously, the subscriber station reduces interference arising from pulsed transmission. In a second embodiment, a subscriber station is nominally assigned one or more slots of each frame of a primary channel for conventional transmission of useful information, and is also instructed to continuously transmit RF energy over an auxiliary channel at times other than during the assigned primary channel slots. In this way, interference generated in the vicinity of the subscriber station is reduced due to the substantially continuous transmission of RF energy by the subscriber station.

Abstract: A novel and improved method and apparatus for generating a constant data rate channel supporting signaling data transmission in an adjustable rate wireless communication system is described. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the rate at which the channel operates may be adjusted based on the particular use and environmental conditions such that the appropriate data rate up to a maximum capability can be achieved. User data is then placed into frames based on the selected rate. When available, signaling data is added into each frames in a predetermined amount. The resulting frame is encoded, repeated and punctured based on the selected rate and whether signaling data has been introduced, and transmitted via RF signals to the receive system. Upon reception, the frame is processed in accordance with having only user data and with having signaling data. That is, the frame is processed both as if it had signaling data and as if no signaling data were present.

Abstract: An estimate of amplitude of a sinusoidal signal is computed from a value of the signal by computing the value of a quadrature-phase signal and computing the amplitude based on the value of the signal and the value of the quadrature-phase signal. The quadrature-phase signal is computed, for example, by a Hilbert transform. The amplitude is approximated as the sum of the magnitude of one value and an even polynomial of the other value when the magnitude of the other value is relatively small. The amplitude is computed precisely by an iterative application of the approximation. In an automatic gain control, for example, the desired value is substituted for the actual amplitude in the iterative formula, to compute an error estimate that always has the same sign as the actual error. Therefore, the automatic gain control converges to set the amplitude of the sinusoidal signal to the desired value.

Abstract: Micromachining a microelectromechanical structure requires one or more heavily doped silicon layers. Intricately patterned structures are created in a heavily doped surface layer on a relatively undoped substrate. The substrate is subsequently dissolved in a selective etch. The doping prevents the patterned structures from dissolving. In this invention, a doped layer is grown epitaxially onto the first substrate rather than by diffusing a dopant into the substrate. This produces additional planarity, thickness control, and dopant profile control. The structure may then be placed into a larger device, such as an infrared sensor, an accelerometer, or an angular rate sensor.