Abstract: This application relates to a building energy analysis and management system for measurement and verification of building performance. The system can analyze, optimize, manage, maintain, trouble shoot, and/or modify building systems, such as HVAC systems, in connection with the building energy usage. Measurements may be gathered for one or more HVAC units coupled to pressure independent valves, and sent to one or more Surge Panels that pass data to remote analysis servers, which can receive other system or external data. The analysis servers compare measurements to predicted values and can standardize the predicted values to account for external conditions. The comparison can result in difference values used to generate probable causes and optimization recommendations. The system outputs reports or other data display using a graphical user interface that can be adjusted for an anticipated user.

Abstract: A virtual mailbox is established for a first user based on a virtual mailbox definition specified by the first user. A message directed to the first user is received from a first device associated with a second user. A location within a real-world environment of the first user corresponding to the virtual mailbox is identified. A marker associated with the virtual mailbox is detected within the real-world environment of the first user. Based on detecting the marker, the second device presents the message overlaid on the real-world environment at the location corresponding to the virtual mailbox.

Abstract: A shingle coating asphalt composition is provided that is produced from a paving grade asphalt. The asphalt composition comprises a paving-grade asphalt that has been modified with one or more polymer additives; and a secondary additive comprising one or more of a viscosity reducing agent, a wax, a salt of a fatty acid ester, and an amide of a fatty acid. The shingle coating asphalt coating composition is used to make a shingle. The shingle includes a substrate, the asphalt, and roofing granules.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the switching behavior of a field effect transistor (FET) or other power switch in a power supply or converter. The circuit includes an adaptive feedback loop which controls the switching operation of the FET through application of a gate drive signal to the device. The circuit is designed to turn the switching device on or off at the optimum time to reduce the stress and power losses associated with the switching action. The circuit includes a capacitor connected to the FET switch drain to sense the falling voltage across the switch. The adaptive gate drive circuit holds the FET switch off until the drain voltage sensed by the capacitor stops decreasing. At this time, the FET switch voltage is either zero (zero-voltage switching) or has reached the minimum value of its resonant ring (low-voltage switching).

Abstract: A semiconductor packaging structure comprising a hybrid IC package having at least one IC chip mounted therein is disclosed. The semiconductor packaging structure includes a DC-DC switching power supply mounted within the hybrid IC package that is electrically coupled to at least one of the IC chips by conductive paths formed in said hybrid IC package for supplying at least one specified voltage to the at least one IC chip. Power is supplied to the DC-DC switching power supply from a remote power source.

Abstract: In a power converter whose power is supplied by an input power source, a circuit is disclosed for efficiently clamping the peak reset voltage across a primary switch of the power converter and for recycling the energy stored in the clamp during the OFF period of the switch back to the input power source via a second converter through the operation of a plurality of switching transistors in the second converter. The reset energy of the power transformer in the power converter can also be coupled to an auxiliary power circuit via a winding of a transformer in the second converter. The second converter can thus provide auxiliary or stand-by power to maintain the operation of critical system circuits, when the power converter is turned off, e.g., to conserve power, such as in the sleep mode of a portable PC.

Abstract: A transmitter diversity assembly and an associated method for a radio transmitter. When coupled to a radio transmitter to form a portion thereof, signal diversity is created to overcome multi-path fading. A plurality of antennas are freely selectable to be coupled to receive bursts of a communication signal, modulated to be transmitted on any of selected carriers. By altering the carriers upon which the bursts of the communication signal are transmitted and the spatially-separated antennas used to transduce the bursts of the communication signal, both transmission space diversity and frequency diversity is created. Polarization diversity is further provided by utilization of dual-polarized antennas.

Abstract: A transmitter diversity assembly and an associated method for a radio transmitter. When coupled to a radio transmitter to form a portion thereof, signal diversity is created to overcome multi-path fading. A plurality of antennas are freely selectable to be coupled to receive bursts of a communication signal, modulated to be transmitted on any of selected carriers. By altering the carriers upon which the bursts of the communication signal are transmitted and the spatially-separated antennas used to transduce the bursts of the communication signal, both transmission space diversity and frequency diversity is created.

Abstract: A transformer with a plurality of secondary windings with substantially similar coupling to the primary winding is used to facilitate synchronous rectification of the output by a rectifier attached to each secondary winding, reducing power losses compared to conventional power supplies with a single secondary winding coupled to a single rectifier. In a preferred embodiment, the transformer comprises at least two primary windings, with each primary winding coupled to at least two secondary windings.

Abstract: A transmitter diversity assembly and an associated method for a radio transmitter. When coupled to a radio transmitter to form a portion thereof, signal diversity is created to overcome multi-path fading. A plurality of antennas are freely selectable to be coupled to receive bursts of a communication signal, modulated to be transmitted on any of selected carriers. By altering the carriers upon which the bursts of the communication signal are transmitted and the spatially-separated antennas used to transduce the bursts of the communication signal, both transmission space diversity and frequency diversity is created.

Abstract: To minimize the amplitude and spectrum of side bands, beats and harmonics created by changing a transmitter power level between bursts in a GSM TDMA cellular radio communications system, the present invention does not comply with the GSM recommendations by avoiding ramping down to zero power level between time slots. Rather, the transmitter power is ramped between the power value of a previous burst and that of a subsequent burst. In this way, the magnitude or slope of the ramp is minimized and the full time between bursts is available to make power adjustments. A number of embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for establishing connections between one node and a plurality of other nodes sharing transmission resources is disclosed. A small subset of the total channels available is switched through (preconfigured) from the common node to each of the plurality of remote nodes, without any specific use for these channels being apparent, i.e., the preconfigured channels are idle. All remaining channels being retained as unswitched reserves which are as yet uncommitted. These preconfigured channels act as a buffer stock of transmission resources, which decouples the need to be able to use a connection rapidly from the time taken to configure that connection.

Abstract: A mounting structure for providing DC power to an IC package is disclosed. The mounting structure comprises a socket for receiving an IC package, having one or more IC chips, and a power supply for supplying at least one specified DC voltage to the IC package. The power supply is coupled to the IC package by conductive paths formed in the socket.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating reception and transmission of signals in a communication system, such as a cellular communication system. An antenna having an antenna pattern adaptively responsive to propagation characteristics extending between communication stations of the communication system. The antenna pattern of the antenna is selected responsive to the propagation characteristics. When the propagation characteristics are indicative of a channel exhibiting only insignificant multipath components, the antenna pattern is selected to be highly directional, and when the propagation characteristics are indicative of a channel exhibiting significant multipath components, the antenna pattern is altered to become less directional.

Abstract: A method for allocating timeslots to mobile stations in a cell in a cellular communication system is disclosed. First, the distance each mobile station is from a base station in the cell is determined. Then each mobile station is assigned a timeslot based upon the distance each mobile station is from the base station, wherein the timeslots within a contiguous group of timeslots are assigned to the mobile stations in the order of the mobile stations increasing distance from the base station and at least one timeslot at the back of the contiguous group is not assigned so as to allow bursts from the mobile stations to slide into the next timeslot.