Abstract: A pressure activated remote microphone is provided within a communication system (100). A face mask (102) incorporates a remote microphone (118) and one or more pressure sensor(s) (122). When a user puts on the mask (102), the remote microphone (118) is enabled in response to the pressure sensed by the pressure sensors (122). When the mask (102) is removed, the remote microphone (118) is disabled in response to the change in pressure sensed by the pressure sensor(s) (122).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bandwidth brokering in a communication system (100) defines groups (212) and a bandwidth allocation for each group at a given base station (202). Each group has a guaranteed bandwidth (116). Each group may exceed its guaranteed bandwidth (118) by using additional bandwidth if there other groups are not using their full guaranteed bandwidth (408) or if there is community bandwidth available. A group's bandwidth usage may be pre-empted (412) when its bandwidth usage exceeds its guaranteed bandwidth and other groups require additional bandwidth within their guaranteed bandwidth.

Abstract: A push-button assembly for a handheld radio (100) is provided which permits off-axis actuation by a gloved user amongst a crowded radio control environment. The push-button (108) includes first and second guide posts (202, 204) of different length, one guide post also serving as a switch actuator. An alignment guide (206) receives the two guide posts (202, 204). The alignment guide (206) with the first and second guide posts (202, 204) are coupled within a recessed portion (216) of a housing (102) to provide tactile feedback, even during gloved usage. The alignment guide (206) may further provide a light guide (110) which can operate as a third guide post for the radio (100).

Abstract: A wireless communication unit (200) comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving an RF signal and providing the received RF signal to an off-channel signal detector (218) and a quadrature down conversion mixer circuit comprising at least one dynamic matching mixer stage (226, 228, 250, 252). The off-channel signal detector (218) is arranged to detect whether an off-channel signal level of the received RF signal exceeds a threshold and, in response to determining that the received off-channel RF signal exceeds the threshold, the off-channel signal detector (218) deactivates the at least one dynamic matching mixer stage. Also described is a semiconductor that comprises a receiver, and a method of operation therefor.

Abstract: An on-chip self testing digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is provided. The functionality of the DAC is measured using a combination of integral non-linearity (INL) and differential non-linearity (DNL). Parts may pass or be rejected based on the testing. When a DAC passes the testing, the process continues to the next DAC or quits if all the DACs have been tested.

Abstract: A rotary knob assembly (100) includes a fixed raised boss (110) having a boss cavity (107) and a knob (102) optionally having a rotary switch stem (104) therein. The knob can include a portion that axially resides within the boss cavity such that impacts to the knob transfers to the fixed raised boss. The knob can further include a rigid core member (106) and an outer over-molded portion (108) over-molded on to the rigid core member. The fixed raised boss can include an outer circumference (118) and an inner circumference (116). The inner circumference of the boss and a portion of the rigid core member and the outer circumference of the boss and the outer mover-molded portion form a knob-boss interface (117) that sustains impacts to the rotary knob assembly while isolating a rotary switch (112) from impacts.

Abstract: A method (20,200) and apparatus (10) for detecting and identifying spectrum opportunities, including the steps of communicating a location of at least one node (12) to at least one base station (14) (24), transmitting a list of at least one channel from the at least one base station (14) to the at least one node (12) (26), and sensing the at least one channel from the list by the at least one node (12) (34). The method (20,200) also includes the steps of determining if the at least one channel is in use, and if the at least one channel is in use, determining the user of the at least one channel that is in use (38).

Abstract: A system (100) and method (300) of feedback transmitter power control can include a transmitter temperature detector such as a thermistor based temperature detector (118), a detector for detecting forward and reflected transmitter power (113 and 115), and a voltage controlled attenuator (120) placed in a radio frequency power control feedback path for modifying transmitter power based on a detected transmitter temperature and a detected forward and reflected transmitter power. The system can further include a logarithmic amplifier controller (122) in the feedback path coupled to the voltage controlled attenuator as well as a power amplifier (112) coupled to the voltage controlled attenuator. The system can operate in both analog and time division multiple access modes. The system can be active in real time throughout a push-to-talk session.

Abstract: The application discloses a method and apparatus for dynamic spectrum allocation to a secondary communication system seeking to operate within the spectrum of a regulated primary communication system. The method includes clustering a plurality of secondary devices based on an operating frequency utilized by each of the secondary devices. The method then includes assigning sensing opportunities to the plurality of clustered secondary devices. The method then includes, receiving sensing information from each of the clustered secondary devices. The sensing information indicates at least one of an occupied channel frequency and an unoccupied channel frequency in the spectrum. The method further includes determining at least one spectrum opportunity, in the spectrum, that is unoccupied by each of a plurality of primary devices based on the received sensing information, and allocating the at least one spectrum opportunity to at least one of the secondary devices.

Abstract: A radio communication device (100) for use in a public safety vehicle is provided with a user interface that combines tactile landmarks in the form of global tactile landmarks and local tactile landmarks along with affordances to orient a user's hand and fingers in conjunction with a sequential task flow interface) for mission critical tasks. Communication device (100) comprises a housing (102) having mission critical controls (116) comprising a pursuit dial (122) mounted on a circular platform (206) with siren controls (124) and light controls (126) grouped on either side of the platform. The mission critical controls (116) are laid out in a manner that provides a sequential user flow across escalating urgency. Ridges (208, 210), chamfered edges (402, 404) and edge reliefs (502) provide further affordances so that a user can intuitively position hand and fingers to locate various controls without having to visually focus on the communication device, thus allowing the user to focus on the current mission.

Abstract: A user wearable accessory provides push-to-tall (PTT), microphone and adjustable electrical cord length features in a single device. First and second adjustable electrical cords couple a portable communication device to an earpiece. The accessory is formed of front and back housing portions coupled together to provide a spooling feature therebetween. The spooling feature accommodates the two electrical cords such that a user is able to wrap each cord to provide an overall desired length. Users of different heights can adjust the cord length as desired thereby minimizing tangling of the cords.

Abstract: A mobile communication system (100) includes a plurality of mobile stations (104, 105), a serving base station (101) and, associated with the base station, a channel selector (220, 309) for selecting and allocating downlink wireless traffic communication channels, the selector being operable: (i) to obtain an estimate of a ready time when a downlink wireless traffic signal including traffic data received from a source remote to the base station to be sent to at least one of the served mobile stations will be ready for sending; and (ii) to select and allocate for sending the downlink traffic signal a downlink traffic channel which is the first downlink traffic channel available following the ready time.

Abstract: A group of nodes used for sensing in a cooperative sensing communication system (100) are selected from nodes (104-112) associated with a base station (102) operating in secondary communication mode. The group has a spatial diversity gain, as determined by a cooperative sensing index (306) that initially meets a minimum threshold. To optimize the spatial diversity gain, nodes not in the initial set are individually added to the set (408), and the index is recomputed (608). The additional node having the highest effect on spatial diversity is added to the group (614). To maintain group size, each of the original nodes is individually removed from the group (706) and the index is recomputed (708) with each initial node removed to determine which of the initial nodes provided the smallest spatial gain contribution, and is removed from the group (714).

Abstract: A combination of subscriber clustering and link interleaving provides a cognitive radio system (CR) 100 with opportunities to sense an incumbent system's spectrum on secondary basis. The CR system (100) uses clustering to identify out-of-band channels. The CR system (100) uses link interleaving during a second mode of operation to sense and detect any incumbent (120) on in-band channels. A list of out-band channels are sensed by clusters (0, 1, 2, 3) sequentially to generate a ranked list of potential channels for future use by the CR system. These out-of-band channels can be used opportunistically in case of in-band incumbent detection.

Abstract: A battery interface assembly for a communication device (100), such as a portable radio, is provided to ensure a reliable interconnection between battery contacts (230) and radio contacts (108). Communication device (100) includes a casting (110) having a cavity (112) with two apertures formed therein (114, 228). The two apertures (114, 228) open into the cavity (112) to provide a point of contact for mating radio contacts (108) to the battery contacts (230). The battery contacts (230) are wiping contacts which mate with the radio contacts (108) as the battery is slid into the casting (110). A compression seal (126) is provided to the radio contacts (108) while a radial seal (120) is provided about the battery contacts (230) to ensure reliable electrical and physical connection under a variety of environments.