Abstract: A voltage boosting circuit which derives an output voltage than is substantially twice the magnitude of a supply voltage applied thereto. The voltage boosting circuit consists of complementary acting boost circuits each having a pair of switches (42A, 52A; 42B, 52B) connected between an input of the voltage boosting circuit, at which is applied the supply voltage, and an output at which the output voltage is produced. Boost capacitors (48A, 48B) are connected between the respective switches of the complementary boost circuits and the switches of the these circuits are opened and closed out of phase with respect to each other in response to clocking signals being applied thereto such that a boosted output voltage is produced during each half cycle of the clocking signals.

Abstract: A technique and method that efficiently and simultaneously transfers both voice and data information over a single communications link (11). The technique and method utilizes a multi-rate vocoder (12) for providing voice information at a plurality of different rates. Accordingly, the vocoder may be dynamically adjusted during transfer of information to meet channel bandwidth requirements. The technique and method also utilizes a bit-control protocol for inserting voice information within a stream of data information by the use of inserting flags having predetermined bitstreams. Accordingly, voice information is dynamically inserted into an existing bitstream of data information such that voice information is transferred only upon demand and when needed. This prevents the transfer of useless information, such as voice information when a speaker is silent and, thus, allows for very efficient utilization of system bandwidth.

Abstract: A quadrant detector circuit (400) has a comparator (442) having a pair of inputs (438, 440). A first (438) of the pair of inputs (438, 440) is coupled to an in-phase signal (434) and a second (440) of the pair of inputs (438, 440) is coupled to a quadrature phase signal (436). A sample counter (448) has a reset (446) coupled to an output (444) of the comparator (442). A controllable switch (456) has a selection input (454) coupled to an output (452) of the sample counter (448). The controllable switch (456) is capable of switching between a local oscillator signal (458) and an inverse local oscillator signal (460).

Abstract: Working assets (26) are equipped with ID tags (56) that respond to interrogations from interrogators (50). Each interrogated tag (56) sends response codes that identify the tag (56) and working asset (26), can describe an amount of use experienced by the working asset (26), and can describe unused capacity available for holding a consumable commodity, such as fuel. Interrogators (50) are positioned at normally closed portals (40, 42, 62, 64) of staging areas (22, 24). A database (94) contains information concerning working assets (26), users (28) to whom working assets (26) have been assigned, and caretakers (38) who may be authorized to transport various working assets (26). The caretakers (38) also have ID tags (58). A portal (40, 42, 62, 64) temporarily opens or remains closed in response to the interrogation that takes place at the portal (40, 42, 62, 64) and data stored in the database (94).