Abstract: An irrigation control system is described for optimizing water used for growing crops. The irrigation control system uses a moisture sensor to measure soil moisture by measuring directly the relative phase velocities of different modes of propagation along a metallic structure mounted to a dielectric substrate. The average phase velocity is a function of the water content of the soil. The water content measurement is then transmitted to a central controller which then, through a set of heuristic algorithms, regulates the water distributed to the soil in a spatial and temporal manner.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic device comprises an oscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal, and a timing circuit configured to generate a count value based on the oscillator signal, to compare the count value with a first compare value, to determine a first expiry event upon the count value matching the first compare value, and to generate a first wakeup signal in response to the first expiry event. The electronic device also comprises a battery pass circuit configured to receive the first wakeup signal, and to couple a power source to a main device in response to the first wakeup signal to power on the main device. The electronic device further comprises a state sequencing circuit configured to store a state of the main device, and an interface circuit configured to communicate the stored state to the main device.

Abstract: An electronic sensor patch includes a capacitive sensor configured to detect when the electronic sensor patch is applied to a patient. A processor may be powered down for a predetermined time interval in response to determining that the electronic patch is not in close proximity to a body. The electronic sensor patch may be activated in response to determining that the electronic patch is in close proximity to the body. The capacitance sensor may be used to determine whether the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body by measuring capacitance of the capacitance sensor, comparing the measured capacitance to a threshold, and determining that the electronic sensor patch is in close proximity to a body in response to the measured capacitance of the capacitance sensor being more than the threshold.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system that uses serial, writable, nonvolatile memory (serial memory) in a portable radio telephone. According to an object of the present invention, the serial memory may be integral to a cell phone or attached to a cell phone via an add-on card or the like. According to another object, the serial memory may be embedded in a cell phone accessory or attached to an accessory via an add-on card or the like. In both objects, once the portable radio telephone is powered on, data stored in serial memory is transferred into onboard random access memory (RAM), which in turn is utilized by the CPU and/or other cell phone systems. Serial memory includes, but is not limited to, NAND-type flash memory, as well as, flash and EEPROM memories that utilize the following interface architectures: the mircowire bus, the I2C bus, the SPI bus and/or the MPS bus. Among other things, serial memory may store the operating system, applications, and radio calibration parameters.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for actively evaluating and adjusting device energy consumption in a personal area network (PAN). The method comprises: polling devices in the PAN to determine respective energy metrics; and, establishing network communications between devices using the energy metrics. More specifically, a master device establishes network communications rules between the devices as a result of the polling activity. The master device identifies energy metrics including the battery charge status for devices powered by battery and device link energy metrics associated with network link communication operations, determines the priority of operation for the devices, and optimizes device battery life in response to the energy metrics and the priority of operation for the devices.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communications includes a wireless communications device. The wireless communications device includes a microstrip, line or trace that has been structured to electrically connect to electrical circuitry and electrical components of the wireless communications device and has been adapted to transmit and to receive wirelessly a short-range wireless communications signal. The microstrip, line or trace is formed from branches of conducting material. One or more of the branches may include a specific absorption rate element, such as a specific absorption rate bracket.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for actively evaluating and adjusting device energy consumption in a personal area network (PAN). The method comprises: polling devices in the PAN to determine respective energy metrics; and, establishing network communications between devices using the energy metrics. More specifically, a master device establishes network communications rules between the devices as a result of the polling activity. The master device identifies energy metrics including the battery charge status for devices powered by battery and device link energy metrics associated with network link communication operations, determines the priority of operation for the devices, and optimizes device battery life in response to the energy metrics and the priority of operation for the devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system that uses serial, writable, nonvolatile memory (serial memory) in a portable radio telephone. According to an object of the present invention, the serial memory may be integral to a cell phone or attached to a cell phone via an add-on card or the like. According to another object, the serial memory may be embedded in a cell phone accessory or attached to an accessory via an add-on card or the like. In both objects, once the portable radio telephone is powered on, data stored in serial memory is transferred into onboard random access memory (RAM), which in turn is utilized by the CPU and/or other cell phone systems. Serial memory includes, but is not limited to, NAND-type flash memory, as well as, flash and EEPROM memories that utilize the following interface architectures: the mircowire bus, the I2C bus, the SPI bus and/or the MPS bus. Among other things, serial memory may store the operating system, applications, and radio calibration parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communications includes a wireless communications device. The wireless communications device includes a microstrip, line or trace that has been structured to electrically connect to electrical circuitry and electrical components of the wireless communications device and has been adapted to transmit and to receive wirelessly a short-range wireless communications signal. The microstrip, line or trace is formed from branches of conducting material. One or more of the branches may include a specific absorption rate element, such as a specific absorption rate bracket.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communications includes a wireless communications device. The wireless communications device includes a microstrip that has been structured to provide power to electrical circuitry and electrical components of the wireless communications device and has been adapted to transmit and to receive wirelessly a short-range wireless communications signal.