Abstract: A receiver (200) includes an automatic frequency controller that determines the frequency of a receiver signal, and a calculates a frequency error from the received signal. The frequency error is used to calculate a correction factor (316) that is used to adjust the frequency of an oscillator (308) in response to the determined error.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) pager is provided for use in a paging system including a central station which transmits a group of message signals to a group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back data on different frequency sub-bands, a different frequency sub-band being allocated to each of the pagers in the group. To accurately control the ack-back transmit frequency, the pager receives and down-converts the F.sub.RX signal thus producing a down-converted F.sub.C signal, the frequency of which is measured and stored. The pager selects which sub-band of a plurality of frequency sub-bands within a predetermined range of frequencies is to be used for transmission of the ack-back signal. The pager determines a frequency offset F.sub.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) paging system is provided which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to an group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back signals using different respective pseudorandom codes, a different pseudorandom code being dynamically allocated to each of the pagers in the group.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) paging system is provided which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to a group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back data on different frequency sub-bands, a different frequency sub-band being allocated to each of the pagers in the group.

Abstract: An balun/antenna apparatus is provided which is capable of being fabricated on a printed circuit board substrate by automated equipment. The balun-antenna includes a microstrip groundplane conductor which is split into two balanced ground arms at one end. The split groundplane conductor operates as both a balun and as a radiating conductor. A unique microstrip excitation structure is situated above the split ground elements on the opposed surface of the substrate to excite the antenna with radio frequency energy.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) pager is provided for receiving paging signals from a central paging station. The central paging station transmits a group of message signals to a group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back data on different frequency sub-bands, a different frequency sub-band being dynamically allocated to each of the pagers in the group. Each ack-back pager determines whether the paging signals received thereby exhibits a signal level less than a predetermined threshold level. If the paging signals received by a particular ack-back pager exhibit a signal level less than such predetermined threshold level, then the pager transmits back to the central station at a first output power level.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) pager is provide for use in a paging system which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to a group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back data on different frequency sub-bands, a different frequency sub-band being allocated to each of the pagers in the group. The invention provides apparatus for controlling the frequency of the selected sub-band with very high accuracy.

Abstract: An balun-antenna arrangement is provided which is capable of being fabricated on a printed circuit board by automated equipment. The balun-antenna includes a microstrip transmission line which is coupled to one end of a split microstrip transmission line having opposed ends. An antenna which is symmetric about its feedpoint is coupled to the remaining end of the split microstrip transmission line.

Abstract: This antenna includes a helically formed wire coil having a lower end that is positioned in a connector a solid dielectric material is injection molded into the coil and connector to precisely maintain the coil dimensions and support the coil. An outer cover is injection molded over the coil and dielectric material.

Abstract: An improved portable battery powered electrical device is disclosed which includes a battery pack having normally inactivated battery terminals so that inadvertent short circuiting thereof will not produce an undesirable high amplitude short current thereacross. A normally open switch interrupts the current path in the battery pack which is actuated to energize such battery terminals only when the battery pack is fully interconnected and mated to the associated portable housing. Fuse means are included to prevent the use of unauthorized battery packs without the foregoing safeguard provisions.

Abstract: A high gain vertically polarized antenna section includes a hollow conductive central cylinder which is used to encase feed lines and power dividers used for feeding the antenna section. The cylinder is surrounded by an array of symmetrically disposed vertical radiating elements arranged in a plurality of symmetrical columns. A plurality of ring transmission lines or shorted quarter-wave stubs are utilized to distribute electrical energy to each of the vertical radiators in a manner such that the instantenous current flow is in the same direction in all of the vertical radiating elements. Any horizontal currents in the ring transmission lines or shorted quarter-wave is substantially cancelled by out-of-phase horizontal currents.

Abstract: A low profile antenna is provided which includes a counterpoise above which are situated three parallel oriented L-shaped elements. Each of the elements includes leg and foot portions. One common end of the leg portions of the elements are electrically coupled together and to an antenna trimming stub. The remaining end of the middle element constitutes the feedpoint of the antenna together with the remaining ends of the other two elements. The dimensions of the counterpoise top surface are selected to be substantially less than one wavelength at the desired operating frequency of the antenna. In this manner, the antenna generates or is responsive to radio frequency waves exhibiting two polarizations.

Abstract: A coaxial dipole antenna includes a first radiator which is approximately one quarter wavelength long. A second radiator exhibits length less than one quarter wave length and is coupled to the feed port by a reactive element which has an electrical reactance which is insufficient to increase the electrical length of the second radiator to one quarter of the wavelength. The length of a dipole antenna is substantially shortened while an effective aperture of one half wavelength is maintained by causing a portion of the transceiver housing to radiate in phase with the antenna.

Abstract: An antenna is provided which exhibits a relatively small size and is capable of resonating at two different frequencies. The antenna includes two helically wound elements which resonate at a first resonant frequency. A conductive member extends through and beyond one of the two helical elements to cause the antenna to resonate at a second resonant frequency.

Abstract: A dual mode antenna for a miniature radio transceiver includes a low profile loop antenna structure while mounted on a body and a high efficiency dipole antenna while held in the hand.

Abstract: A device for reducing the backlobe radiation from small aperture antennas is shown to comprise a thin hemispherical radome having both radio frequency energy absorbing and reflecting materials attached thereto. The absoring material dissipates a portion of the edge currents existing on the antenna aperture, while the reflecting material intercepts a portion of the energy radiated from the antenna and reflects that portion back to the edge of the antenna to produce destructive interference with the edge currents.