Abstract: A wireless infrared peripheral interface for a communication device having a cellular radio transceiver includes a peripheral interface. The peripheral interface includes at least one infrared signal source and at least one infrared detector. The signal source and detector are coupled with dispersing optics. An interface circuit is coupled to the infrared signal source and detector. A processor is coupled to the interface circuit, wherein the processor controls the interface circuit to process data signals that are conveyed through the infrared source and detector so as to communicate with a peripheral device that is proximate to the communication device. The dispersing optics reduces the dependency of optical alignment between the infrared data ports of the peripheral device and communication device.

Abstract: A communication device (10) with a dual-sided liquid crystal display (12) located with a housing (14) having two viewports (18,22). The display (12) includes a liquid crystal panel (50) with an associated driver circuit (52). The panel (50) has a first side (60) for viewing a top portion (62) of the display (12) from the first viewport (18) and a second side (64) for viewing a bottom portion (66) of the display (12) from the second viewport (22). A top reflective layer (68) is disposed on the top portion (62) of the panel (50) on the second side (64) of the panel (50). A bottom reflective layer (70) is disposed on the bottom portion (66) of the panel (50) on the first side (60) of the panel (50). A processor (82) is coupled to the driver circuit (52), wherein the processor (82) directs the display (12) through the driver circuit (52) to provide user interface information for operating the communication device (10).

Abstract: A method of personal location monitoring in a wireless communication system operating on a local area network. The method includes initializing a master communication device and a slave monitor device on the local area network. A next step transmitting a signal on the local area network by the slave monitor device. A next step includes the communication device receiving the signal on the local area network and measuring the signal strength which is compared to a threshold. A next step includes triggering an alarm in the communication device when the signal strength falls below the threshold, indicating that the monitor device is straying from the proximity of the local area network.

Abstract: A method (1400) of enabling automatic frequency control (AFC) concurrent with time alignment of information in a communication device includes a first step (1402) of providing a data stream to an AFC. A second step (1404) includes applying multiple frequency offsets to the data stream. The offsets are separated from each other by about ±2&pgr;/2m radians with m being the number of bits per symbol in the modulation system. A third step (1406) includes correlating each frequency offset signal with a predetermined symbol sequence until correlation is found. A fourth step (1408) includes coupling the correct data stream of the branch with the found correlation to an AFC logic circuit indicating AFC lock. A fifth step (1410) includes simultaneously supplying the correct data stream to the communication device along with the fourth step (1408) such that time alignment can take place concurrently with AFC in the communication device.

Abstract: A method for updating a timing offset for stored events scheduled in an event generator in a radio communication system including at least one base station and a mobile device includes a first step of measuring a change in a previously stored timing offset between a reference clock in the mobile device and a channel clock transmitted by the at least one base station. A second step includes adding the timing change to the previously stored timing offset in the timing offset register. A third step includes updating the timing offset in the event generator without interrupting execution of the stored events, such that synchronization is reacquired between the mobile unit and the base station. As a result, timing offset updating occurs without stopping or resetting the event generator.

Abstract: A communication device operable in multiple frequency bands includes a branching antenna adapted to operate in at least two frequency bands. The antenna includes a first conductive element having a connection at one end for driving the antenna. The first conductive element is resonant at a first frequency. On the first conductive element, a feed point is located away from either end of the first conductive element, and particularly the driving connection point. A second conductive element is coupled to the feed point such that the second conductive element in conjunction with the portion of the first conductive element between the drive connection and the feed point is resonant at a second frequency. This allows for a more compact and versatile multi-band antenna.

Abstract: A spread spectrum communications system where power control mitigates received signal fluctuations. An implementation is described for forward power control wherein received data is checked for errors. Where an error is detected energy levels of the power control bits and traffic bits are determined. The energy level of the power control bits is compared against a first predetermined threshold wherein if the energy level of the power control bits is less than the first predetermined threshold an increased in forward power is requested. Otherwise, the energy level of the traffic bits are compared against a second predetermined threshold wherein if the energy level of the traffic bits is less than the second predetermined threshold a decrease in forward power is requested. Otherwise an increase is requested.

Abstract: An optical laser numeric keypad (100) provides a digital signal indicative of which of a plurality of key locations is selected. The optical laser numeric keypad (100) comprises a plurality of optical sensors (132 and 134) each configured to respond to a change in a received light quantity and to provide an electrical signal in response to a selection of a key at a key location. The received light quantity of at least one of the plurality of optical sensors (132 and 134) is changeable by selection of a key location.

Abstract: A self-contained wireless camera (10) and a wireless camera system (25) having such a device and a base station (20). Video processing (e.g. video compression) circuitry (200, 210) of the camera device receives video signals from a camera (130) and provides processed video signals. These are transmitted over a shared radio channel. A radio receiver (101) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals from the base station or another camera device. Images from the camera or the base station are displayed in a selected manner on a display or monitor (140). The base station device (20) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals, stores them and retransmits them. A command signal is received by the radio receiver to modify operation in such a manner as to control bandwidth usage. Wireless camera devices can adjust their operation to accommodate other wireless camera devices.

Abstract: A radio communication device provides extended burst tone detection for a demodulated I and Q input signal. The device includes a first burst detector coupled with the input signal and provides a first detection signal when a FCB tone is detected. A frequency shifter is coupled with the input signal and frequency translates the input signal by a predetermined amount. A second burst detector is coupled with the translated input signal and provides a second detection signal when a FCB tone is detected. A combiner is coupled with the first and second detection signals and indicates FCB tone detection when either of the first and second detection signals indicate FCB tone detection.

Abstract: A method for allowing a radiotelephone to scan for alternate radiotelephone systems, where each cellular radiotelephone system is within a corresponding geographic area and each cell has a base station providing paging and voice communication, includes a first step of registering the radiotelephone on a radiotelephone system. A next step includes establishing whether alternate technology scanning has been enabled for the radiotelephone. If alternate technology scanning is disabled, the radiotelephone receives paging messages from the base station and acknowledges the paging messages addressed to the radiotelephone. If alternate technology scanning is enabled, the radiotelephone scans for an alternate technology while the base station repeats any paging messages addressed to the radiotelephone and ignores a lack of acknowledgement from the radiotelephone for paging messages addressed to the radiotelephone.

Abstract: A method for multi-user detection in a CDMA communication system using a finite-impulse-response matrix filter includes a first step of inputting a received sequence of multi-user data from a channel of the communication system. A next step includes truncating a block convolution matrix representing an infinite-impulse-response matrix filter so as to provide a finite-impulse-response matrix filter equalizer by using a system matrix with smaller number of columns than the frame length. A next step includes operating on the received sequence of multi-user data with the finite-impulse-response filter so as to provide an estimate of user data for any particular user.

Abstract: A method for performing timing synchronization between digital input data and a system clock in a communication device includes providing a system clock rate that is higher than a data clock rate and sampling the input data at intervals in the system clock periods within the data clock period. The method includes adjusting the timing between the digital input data and the system clock by either shortening the number of system clock periods and sampling intervals, or lengthening the number of system clock periods and sampling the input data at normal intervals and providing data insertion to fill one of the extra system clock periods, such that more data samples are provided in the data clock period.

Abstract: A shapeable communication device is provided. The communication device comprises a communication module and a shapeable material. A system incorporating the device and methods for using the device are also provided.

Abstract: A current-mode filter with a transfer function having complex zeros includes a voltage differentiator having first and second bipolar transistors with respective first and second inputs and outputs and being coupled in an emitter follower configuration. A floating capacitor is coupled between the first and second outputs of the voltage differentiator. The floating capacitor forms a finite zero in the transfer function of the filter. At least one current mirror, isolated from the floating capacitor, is coupled to the voltage differentiator so as to substantially cancel any signal non-linearities introduced by the emitter follower configuration.

Abstract: An improved antenna system to channel counterpoise currents for an unbalanced antenna such as a helical monopole. A first conductor, or ground resonator, is coupled to a ground connection near the antenna and is located distally from a user to reduce electromagnetic exposure. The first conductor presents a low impedance path at an operating frequency of the antenna such that RF currents are attracted onto the first conductor. A second conductor, such as a printed circuit board or user interface circuitry, is also coupled to the ground connection of the first conductor. The second conductor presents a high impedance path at the operating frequency of the antenna such that RF currents are diverted away from the second conductor which is held closer to a user than the first conductor.

Abstract: A method of transferring data between a first electrical component (16) and a second electrical component (18), which are both coupled to a common oscillator (62) that oscillates at a first frequency, the first electrical component (16) generating a first bit stream having a second frequency that is a fraction of the first frequency and having a first number of bits, generating an indicator signal having a third frequency that is a fraction of the first frequency and that is indicative of a type of data represented by the first bit stream, and coupling the first bit stream and the indicator signal to the second electrical component. The second electrical component (18) sampling the first bit stream and the indicator signal at a fourth frequency that is substantially identical to the second frequency, thereby recovering the first bit stream generated by the first electrical component (16) and determining the type of data contained in the first bit stream.

Abstract: A method 100 for improved decoding of received convolutionally coded input data uses data scaling to provide near ideal turbo decoding. The method includes a first step of loading 102 a portion of the input data into a buffer. A next step includes calculating 104 a mean of the data in the portion of the input data. A next step includes computing 106 a root-mean-square value of the portion of the input data using the mean from the calculating step. A next step includes deriving 108 a scaling factor from the root-mean-square value of the computing step, and a next step includes scaling 110 the portion of input data by the scaling factor of the deriving step.