Abstract: An antenna mast adapter is provided capable of holding several different antennas in place that mounts onto a vertical antenna mast. A crossarm that runs perpendicular to the mast is a main member of the antenna mast adapter and provides at least two mounting plates to which individual antennas are mounted, either using mechanical mounting means or magnetic mounting means. The crossarm is generally designed to provide these mounting plates at the extreme ends of the crossarm, thereby providing an air gap between the antennas and the mast. The crossarm can be constructed from different shaped materials, and in one preferred embodiment, the crossarm includes openings to reduce the wind resistance of the crossarm. The antenna mast adapter provides mounting points for several different antennas, each of which is connected to an individual radio via a waveguide.

Abstract: An improved level indicating system is provided for use with excavating equipment based upon a family of laser light receivers. In a first embodiment, a laser receiver with a single “long” photocell is mounted directly on the dipperstick of an excavator in a position that is designed to intercept pulses of laser light being emitted by a rotating laser light transmitter, and an angle-sensing sensor is also mounted to the dipperstick. In a second embodiment, a laser receiver with two parallel “long” photocells is mounted directly on the dipperstick, in which the pair of photocells are of sufficient precision to determine the angle of the dipperstick. In a third embodiment, a laser receiver with two parallel photocells is mounted directly on the dipperstick on a “servo mast” that can be re-positioned along the length of the dipperstick. The movable photocells thus can be shorter in length than the “long” photocells used in the second embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining which touchable item depicted on a computer touchscreen to select for an imprecise touch, including the steps of identifying all potentially selected touchable items for the imprecise touch, calculating a probability of intended selection for each potentially selected touchable item, and selecting the potentially selected touchable item having the greatest calculated probability of intended selection. It will be seen that the identifying step includes determining which touchable items depicted on the computer touchscreen overlap with the imprecise touch. The probability calculating step is a function of a distance between a centerpoint of the imprecise touch and a centerpoint for each potentially selected touchable item and/or a function of an overlap area between the imprecise touch and each potentially selected touchable item.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of configuring a target area within a touchable item provided on a touchscreen, the target area for a touchable item being defined in accordance with an angle of approach employed by a user of the touchscreen to select the touchable item and a display location for the touchable item within the touchscreen. Configuration of the target area includes modeling a shape for the target area, determining a center point for the target area within the touchable item, and determining an orientation for the target area within the touchable item.

Abstract: A portable intelligent communications device is provided which includes a cellular telephone and a computer-controlled touch screen display. The touch screen display is a high-resolution graphics display which acts as a graphical user interface. The touch screen display is provided with an area that displays various informative meter icons that sequentially switches from one icon to the next. This is very desirable since the touch screen display is rather small in size, and there may not be enough space to simultaneously show the user all the information required by various meters. Standard meters include: battery power, signal strength, print status, status of messages, and the like. The switching or “rotating” meters are controlled by a user selectable timetable, and one of the meters can take a higher priority in situations where the value displayed by the meter has changed state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of formatting for display within a designated list window of a touchscreen, the list including a plurality of list members with a touchable element and text associated therewith. The method includes the following steps: setting a minimum required distance between the touchable elements of adjacent list members; setting an area for each touchable element of the list members, wherein the area has a vertical component and a horizontal component; positioning a first list member within the list window; and, spacing each subsequent list member vertically and horizontally from an immediately preceding list member such that the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements is maintained. The vertical spacing between adjacent touchable elements may be set, with the horizontal spacing between touchable elements being determined from the minimum required distance between adjacent touchable elements, the interline spacing, and the vertical component of the touchable elements.

Abstract: An incoming call alert system for use with a portable communication device is disclosed as including an accessory unit physically separate from the portable communication device for providing an alerting signal, a wireless link between the portable communication device and the accessory unit, and circuitry electrically connected to operating circuitry of the portable communication device for providing a message exclusively to the accessory unit over the wireless link when an incoming call is received by the portable communication device, the message causing the accessory unit to activate the alerting signal.

Abstract: A printed monopole antenna is disclosed including a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side, a monopole radiating element in the form of a conductive trace formed on one side of the printed circuit board, wherein the conductive trace has an electrical length in which primary resonance occurs within a first specified frequency band, and a parasitic element formed on the opposite side of the printed circuit board, wherein the parasitic element is designed to tune the conductive trace to a secondary resonance within a second specified frequency band. No direct electrical connection between the monopole radiating element and the parasitic element exists, but the coupling between such elements causes the secondary resonance of the radiating element to occur within the second frequency band.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically configuring settings for a software application in a portable intelligent communications device, where the software application settings are dependent on certain geographical location information. The method includes the steps of determining a current geographical location for the portable intelligent communications device or setting a default location therefor, determining a geographical location for a party with whom the portable intelligent communications device is currently having an active voice conversation or with whom the portable intelligent communications device most recently had an active voice conversation, and integrating the geographical location information determined to automatically configure the settings of the software application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically handling initiation of a call by a portable intelligent communications device to a designated recipient, including the steps of determining local time for the designated recipient and determining from the local time whether to permit initiation of the call to the designated recipient. The method also includes the steps of storing time zone information for the designated recipient and calculating from the designated recipient time zone information the local time. Additionally, the method will include the steps of storing at least one phone number for the designated recipient, storing a time range during which said designated recipient may be called at each phone number, and comparing the local time of the designated recipient to the stored time range.

Abstract: A lift rotor assembly for a compound aircraft having a fuselage, including at least one circular disk structure with a plurality of bladelets spaced peripherally thereabout, a drive shaft coupled to a power source at a first end for rotating the drive shaft at low torque, a hub coupled to each circular disk structure and being located concentrically about the drive shaft, a gear drive coupled to a second end of the drive shaft opposite the first drive shaft end, and a first gear coupled to the gear drive and the hub for the circular disk structure located adjacent to the gear drive, wherein the first gear is operated at high torque to rotate one of the circular disk structures. The lift rotor assembly also includes a gear reduction apparatus associated with the gear drive in order to operate the first gear at high torque, as well as a constant velocity joint connecting an upper portion and a lower portion of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for highlighting holidays in a calendar software application of a portable intelligent communications device or in a separate computer, including the steps of specifying a geographical location, determining holidays for the geographical location, depicting a calendar on a display screen of such portable intelligent communications device or computer, and depicting holidays in a fashion different from other days on the calendar. The geographical location information is specified by the current location of the portable intelligent communications device or via a graphical user interface. The holiday information is obtained from a database housed in the portable intelligent communications device or via an Internet address connected through communications circuitry of the portable intelligent communications device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually monitoring the status of a phone call initiated by a portable intelligent communications device including the steps of displaying a graphical image on a display screen of the portable intelligent communications device and depicting on the graphical image a current status of the phone call. The graphical image is a geographical map and the method further includes the steps of depicting a current location of the portable intelligent communications device on the graphical image, depicting the destination location of the phone call on the graphical image, and depicting progressive connection of the phone call to a destination location on the graphical image.

Abstract: A dispatch console for a radio system is disclosed, where the radio system includes an audio switching tower which routes audio communications between a switching device and audio input/output devices at the dispatch console. The dispatch console includes a personal computer for communicating command messages to the audio switching tower, the personal computer storing information on numerous audio communications initiated and terminated in the radio system. The dispatch console further includes a device connected to the personal computer permitting an operator of said display console to interface therewith and a display screen segmented into a plurality of windows.

Abstract: An illuminated pet leash is provided which includes an elongated strap having at least one side, a first end adapted for connection to a collar, and a second end forming a handle. A relatively flat and flexible light source is provided along one side of the strap for illuminating the leash. The light source is operated by a power source attached to the strap. The light source may be either permanently or releasably attached to the strap. In another embodiment, the elongated leash strap has first and second sides, and two light sources extend along both sides. In yet another embodiment, the elongated strap is round in cross-section, and the light source spirals around the circumference of the strap for the extent of the leash. In another embodiment, the illuminated pet leash includes an elongated strap having at least one side, and first and second ends. One end of the strap is attached to a handle having a grip portion and a housing portion with first and second sides.

Abstract: An improved liquid rotor device is provided having a cylindrically-shaped hub, which is supported by a horizontal shaft, and having several curved blades which are attached to the outer portions of the rotating hub. The horizontal shaft preferably rotates with the hub so that it can mechanically drive a device such as an electrical generator. The multiple blades mounted to the exterior surface of the hub are curved such that the longitudinal axis of each blade is parallel to the axis of rotation (i.e., the horizontal shaft). Each blade is arcuate in shape and preferably comprises a portion of the cylindrical wall of a hollow cylinder. In one embodiment of the, the rotating hub and blades sub-assembly is surrounded by a hollow cylindrical housing that is entirely submerged in a liquid, such as water. The surrounding hollow cylindrical housing has an inlet to receive the liquid into the area of the rotating blades and an outlet through which the liquid is discharged.