Abstract: A reporting database establishes linkages between patent applications so that first references reported in a first patent application are indicated as needing to be reported in a second patent application. In one scenario, a similar second linkage is also established between the second patent application and a third patent application. In such a case, there may be no linkage between the first patent application and the third patent application analogous to the first and second linkages. When it is detected in such a case that the first references have been reported in the second patent application, an indication that the first references need to be reported in the third patent application may prevented based on determining that the first references did not originate from the second patent application.

Abstract: Impedance of an unknown load is determined by applying a reference signal from a signal generator through a multi-position switch to the unknown load, a first known calibration impedance, and second known impedance, which can be an open circuit, while measuring the complex voltage developed across each load. The source impedance of the signal generator can be determined from the measurements of the known impedances, and then the unknown impedance can be calculated, using complex voltage divider relationships. The reference signal is applied at one or more frequencies of interest and is preferably a sine wave. Impedance is measured accurately at all frequencies and the limitations of prior art frequency dependant directional-coupler methods of impedance measurement are overcome. The impedance measurement device can be incorporated into a handheld device with a keypad and display.

Abstract: A photodiode receiver circuit having self-contained automatic gain control and which is temperature compensated over a wide operating range contains a resistor coupled in series between a bias power supply and one end of an avalanche photodiode. Self-generated AGC action results from the fact that the gain of an avalanche photodiode increases as the bias voltage applied across the diode increases. As the light intensity received by the diode increases, there is a corresponding increase in the current flow through the diode and the series-connected resistor. The consequential increase in IR drop across the resistor decreases the bias voltage across the diode, so that the gain of the diode is reduced. Through this action, the dynamic range of optical input of the photodiode will be increased for a fixed dynamic range of electrical output.Temperature compensation is achieved by coupling a temperature-sensitive voltage divider circuit between the bias voltage supply and the gain-controlling resistor.