Abstract: In some examples, a system controls a set of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components in order to regulate one or more parameters of a building. The system includes an HVAC controller device including a dial and a touch screen display. Additionally, the system includes an external server configured to communicate with the HVAC controller via a communication link. The external server is configured to receive data which indicates a set of information from one or more devices. Additionally, the external server is configured to generate, based on the set of information and a set of screen templates stored in a memory of the external server, a screen for display by the touch screen display without updating firmware of the HVAC controller device, and output, to the HVAC controller device, the screen for display by the touch screen display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activating monitoring of a security system by a central monitoring station are provided. In particular, such systems and methods can include validating a first communication path between a sensor of the security system and a control panel of the security system to allow the security system to be initially set up to operate without monitoring by the central monitoring station and separately validating a second communication path between the control panel and the central monitoring station in response to the control panel or a cloud server receiving an API call from the central monitoring station to enable such monitoring at a later time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activating monitoring of a security system by a central monitoring station are provided. In particular, such systems and methods can include validating a first communication path between a sensor of the security system and a control panel of the security system to allow the security system to be initially set up to operate without monitoring by the central monitoring station and separately validating a second communication path between the control panel and the central monitoring station in response to the control panel or a cloud server receiving an API call from the central monitoring station to enable such monitoring at a later time.

Abstract: A bone stimulator system contains an implantable electrical implant, such as an electrode having a receiver, that communicates with an external pulse generator generating electromagnetic stimulation signals to aid in a bone's healing process. The electrical implant is implanted at or near a target area, such as a broken bone or a fusion site. The bone stimulator system may also contain an external programmer used by the patient in order to select certain therapy parameters for pulse generator to deliver to the electrical implant.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for wireless communications and/or data transfer through a sea-vessel hull by means of electric and/or magnetic coupling between first and second transducers located on opposing sides of the hull. Transmit and receive transducers located on opposing sides of the hull are clamped around cables which penetrate the hull and which are fed through pressure hull glands in the hull. The inductive transducers couple electric and/or magnetic signals through the sea vessel hull via paths through the pressure hull glands or via paths through the cables. The system for wireless communication and/or data transfer of the present invention is capable of operation through an electrically conductive sea vessel hull which would ordinarily present a physical barrier against the transmission of such signals. The system can be deployed on an ad ad-hoc basis and is capable of providing high data rate and high bandwidth communications and/or data transfer through the sea vessel hull.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact weakly coupled directional coupler combined with an integrated impedance transformation and matching circuit where the impedance transformation and matching circuit facilitates the fabrication of a highly miniaturized directional coupler with optimum electrical performance where the physical dimensions of the coupled transmission lines fall inside the constraints of the fabrication process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a precision alignment system operable to provide alignment of a first and second apparatus. The precision alignment system makes use of inductive coupling between loop antennas in the first and second apparatus. The mechanism for alignment is the detection of a null in the signal induced in the loop antennas of the second apparatus arising from an input signal fed to a loop antenna of the first apparatus. The precision alignment system can be incorporated in a system for the wireless transfer of electrical power or may be incorporated in a system for the transfer of data. The precision alignment system of the present invention is particularly suited to applications where optical or other means for alignment of two apparatus are unreliable. In particular, the alignment system disclosed is suitable for operation underwater.

Abstract: The present invention provides an underwater navigation system which can determine the bearing and the range of a remotely located beacon from a navigation station. The remotely located beacon transmits a pair of signals each having a different propagation velocity. Typically, the pair of signals are an acoustic signal and an electromagnetic signal. The range of the beacon to the navigation station is determined by a time differential in the detection of the two signals at the navigation station. The time differential is alternately a variation in phase between the two signals, or a time difference between the reception of a timing event encoded in synchronization on the pair of signals. In one form, the navigation station is a mobile unit which navigates to the remotely located beacon, and in another form the navigation station has a fixed position, and the remotely located beacon is mobile.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact weakly coupled directional coupler combined with an integrated impedance transformation and matching circuit where the impedance transformation and matching circuit facilitates the fabrication of a highly miniaturized directional coupler with optimum electrical performance where the physical dimensions of the coupled transmission lines fall inside the constraints of the fabrication process.

Abstract: A two-tier wideband antenna comprising a chip of a dielectric material with an upper radiating structure and a lower radiating structure, the dielectric chip being mounted on an insulating carrier substrate which includes a feed-line to connect the antenna to a transceiver device. The lower radiating structure comprises two side elements which have a large aspect ratio so as to reduce the frequency of the lower band edge of the frequency response of the antenna when compared with the frequency response of a monopole patch antenna fabricated on a similar dielectric chip. The antenna of the present invention is suitable for operation over an ultra wideband, e.g. a frequency range extending from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz.

Abstract: An RF electronic component for mounting on a substrate includes a housing; and at least one electronic device having an input and/or output incorporated in the housing. At least one input/output terminal connects to a connection pad on the substrate; and an electrical transition provides an electrical connection between the input/output terminal and an input/output of an electronic device incorporated in the electronic component. The electrical transition comprises a side termination at least partially located on an outer surface of the housing; and an array of conductive through holes formed inside the housing at an offset from the side termination. The array is arranged so that the axes of the through holes are substantially mutually parallel and coplanar, and the array of through holes is connected to form a ground plane at the offset from the side termination.

Abstract: A two-tier wideband antenna comprising a chip of a dielectric material with an upper radiating structure and a lower radiating structure, the dielectric chip being mounted on an insulating carrier substrate which includes a feed-line to connect the antenna to a transceiver device. The lower radiating structure comprises two side elements which have a large aspect ratio so as to reduce the frequency of the lower band edge of the frequency response of the antenna when compared with the frequency response of a monopole patch antenna fabricated on a similar dielectric chip. The antenna of the present invention is suitable for operation over an ultra wideband, e.g. a frequency range extending from 3.1 to 10.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing an indication that a vehicle has exceeded a safe driving speed. The speed and position of an obstacle are combined with a driver reaction time to arrive at a safe maximum speed. The driver reaction time is predicted based not only on generic values as in known systems, but also on at least one scaling factor which can be, for example, a scaling factor which penalises increased driving duration, or driver age, or experience, or weather conditions.

Abstract: A balun including a single-ended port, a differential port and first and second sets of coupled transmission line sections. Each set has three coupled transmission line sections. The signal carrying terminal of the single-ended port is connected to an inner end of a third coupled transmission line sections in one of the sets, and the terminals of the differential port are connected to a respective outer end of a respective first transmission line. The balun is fabricated in a multi-layer insulating substrate with the single-ended port located on an upper surface of the substrate and the differential port located on a lower surface of the substrate. The balun is suitable for connection to a chip antenna mounted on a common carrier substrate.

Abstract: A miniaturised half-wave balun comprises a single-ended I/O port comprising a first signal carrying terminal for connection to a source impedance and a differential I/O port comprising second and third signal carrying terminals for connection to a load impedance. First and second transmission line sections of equal length and characteristic impedance are connected together at a common end and at opposite ends to the second and third terminals. The first signal carrying terminal is coupled to the first transmission line section. The combined length of the first and second transmission line sections is substantially less than one half of the wavelength of an RF signal at the operating frequency. First and second loading shunt capacitors are connected to respective first and second transmission line sections. A shunt capacitive element is connected at the common end of the transmission line sections.

Abstract: A balun including a single-ended port, a differential port and first and second sets of coupled transmission line sections. Each set has three coupled transmission line sections. The signal carrying terminal of the single-ended port is connected to an inner end of a third coupled transmission line sections in one of the sets, and the terminals of the differential port are connected to a respective outer end of a respective first transmission line. The balun is fabricated in a multi-layer insulating substrate with the single-ended port located on an upper surface of the substrate and the differential port located on a lower surface of the substrate. The balun is suitable for connection to a chip antenna mounted on a common carrier substrate.

Abstract: A compact RF differential circuit has a first differential I/O port comprising a first pair of signal carrying terminals which is connected to a source termination and a second differential I/O port comprising a second pair of signal carrying terminals which is connected to a load termination. The common mode impedance measured at either the first or second differential I/O port is zero. The differential mode impedance measured at the first differential I/O port is equal to the differential mode impedance of the source termination, and the differential mode impedance measured at the second differential I/O port of the circuit is equal to the differential mode impedance of the load termination.

Abstract: A dual mode antenna switch module (ASM) comprises a UMTS TX port; a UMTS RX port; and a UMTS duplexer, comprising a common port, a TX port coupled to the UMTS TX port and an RX port coupled to the UMTS RX port. The ASM further comprises an antenna port; at least one GSM TX port; and at least one GSM RX port. A multi-port switch has respective ports coupled to the antenna port, the at least one GSM TX port, the at least one GSM RX port, and the common port of said UMTS duplexer. The common port of said duplexer has a reflection co-efficient at said connected multi-port switch port with a magnitude in the range 0.8 to 1.0 and with a phase, ?, where ?210°??n×360??150° where N is an integer.

Abstract: An SPNT switch has at least two operating states and comprises N circuit branches. Each circuit branch comprises a first input/output port connected to a second input/output port via a series active device, and a phase shifting component connected in series with a shunt active device. When the shunt active device is in an on state, the reflection co-efficient due to a path to ground from the series active device via the phase shifting component and the shunt active device is +1. At least one DC terminal controls the state of the active devices, whereby in one of the operating states of the switch, both active devices are in the on state simultaneously, and in another of the operating states, both active devices are in an off state simultaneously.

Abstract: A miniaturised half-wave balun comprises a single-ended I/O port comprising a first signal carrying terminal for connection to a source impedance and a differential I/O port comprising second and third signal carrying terminals for connection to a load impedance. First and second transmission line sections of equal length and characteristic impedance are connected together at a common end and at opposite ends to the second and third terminals. The first signal carrying terminal is coupled to the first transmission line section. The combined length of the first and second transmission line sections is substantially less than one half of the wavelength of an RF signal at the operating frequency. First and second loading shunt capacitors are connected to respective first and second transmission line sections. A shunt capacitive element is connected at the common end of the transmission line sections.