Abstract: A method for generating a sample print of a document in a printing system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for a sample print of the document, incrementing a number of job prints of the document, printing the sample print of the document, and routing the sample print of the document to a sample print tray.

Abstract: A docking station that accepts a portable computing device is disclosed. The docking station comprises a first surface that supports a bottom surface of the portable computing device. The first surface includes a means for restricting the movement of the portable computing device. The docking station additionally includes a body or a trunk that interfaces the portable computing device with an external device. The docking station additionally includes a hinge which joins the first surface to the body or trunk, in which the hinge permits the portable computing device to be rotated between a horizontal and a vertical orientation as well as various acute angles.

Abstract: A port replicator includes a substantially horizontal surface configured to accept the underside of a portable computing unit. The port replicator also includes a first connector, located on the horizontal surface, facing in an upward direction, and being positioned to couple with a connector located on the underside of the portable computing unit. The port replicator also includes a main body that is attached to the horizontal surface, wherein a portion of the horizontal surface is either recessed into the main body or otherwise brought towards the main body when not in use.

Abstract: A device includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure. A first edge of the second enclosure is coupled to an edge of the first enclosure. The device also includes an antenna, located within the second enclosure, wherein the antenna is coupled to a linkage that cooperates with the first enclosure to extend the antenna when an edge opposite the first edge of the second enclosure is rotated about the edge of said first enclosure.

Abstract: A power-coupling pad (FIG. 1, 160 or 170) is located on a lateral edge portion of an electronics module (100). Each power-coupling pad (160, 170) is mated with a power supply clip (FIG. 2, 240, 250) which is included within a side of a card guide that supports and retains the electronics module (100). The power supply clip (240, 250) can incorporate a spring which provides constant and affirmative contact with the power-coupling pad (160, 170) through a low resistance path. The power-coupling pad (160, 170) and power supply clip (240, 250) can be constructed using any suitable conductive material such as gold, nickel, lead, chromium and palladium.

Abstract: A conductive element (FIG. 1, 220) incorporates a wide end portion (230) which is subdivided into a set of low impedance coupling paths (235) separated by one of the planar grooves (250). Each of the low impedance coupling paths (235) is suitable for coupling to a corresponding solid-state amplifier device (210). Power from each solid-state amplifier device (210) is combined at a narrow end portion (240) and conveyed to a transmission line (260). The high frequency low loss power combiner requires minimal integrated circuit chip area and can be designed and fabricated using existing microstrip analysis and design tools. Additionally, the substantially fully metallic structure provides additional excess heat dissipation through increased surface area over that of the Wilkenson power combiner. Further, due the broad conductive path formed by the conductive element, resistive losses are also minimized, thus increasing overall device efficiency.

Abstract: This abstract is being provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.72 of the Rules of Practice in Patent and Trademark Cases (37 CFR). The applicant intends that this abstract be used only to aid in determining the general nature of the technical disclosure. The applicant does not intend that this abstract be looked to in order to aid or assist in the determination of the scope of any claim. An electronic module (FIG. 1, 100) includes an upper portion (135) and lower portion (130) of a connector (110) which allows the electronics module to attach to both a second, identical electronics module (200) as well as to motherboard (10). Signals which are intended to terminate on the electronic module (100) are routed directly to the appropriate component (120) on the module.

Abstract: An electronics module (FIG. 1, 30) requires two distinct voltage inputs (V1, V2) and can be damaged when the difference between the two voltages exceeds a maximum value during power up. Additionally the electronics module (30) can be damaged during a power down transition when the difference between the two voltages exceeds a maximum negative value. A voltage ratio control circuit (FIG. 8) which includes at least one diode (D1), a capacitor (C1) whose value is proportional to the product of the value of the second voltage source (V2) and the value of the sum of any decoupling capacitances (C2) divided by the difference between the two input voltages is used to reduce the difference between the two voltages. This prevents damage to the electronic module (FIG. 1, 30) during power up and power down transitions caused by excessive voltage differences in the two voltage inputs (V1 and V2).

Abstract: A multicast message is transmitted from an originating subscriber unit (110, FIG. 1) through a network of satellite communications nodes (120, 130, and 140) to a plurality of receiving subscriber units (150, 160, and 170). Each message is distributed through the network of satellite communications nodes (120, 130, and 140) and replicated at the node nearest to the receiving subscriber unit. Receiving subscriber units (150, 160, and 170) are mapped into geographic cells which allows a single multicast transmission to be transmitted from the satellite communications node to those subscriber units within the same geographic cell. Multicast groups and membership rules are established by the originating subscriber unit (110) through a service provider (180). A multicast session manager (185) manages the multicast session.

Abstract: A system for switching radio frequency signals from an input side (5, FIG. 1 ) to an output side (6) can be used to combine multiple input signals to form a single output and to distribute a single input signal to form multiple outputs. Gain correction amplifiers (20, 25) are employed to adjust the overall gain of a particular column and row of the switch matrix which minimizes the effect of variations in the gain of the amplified switching elements (30) which perform the switching function. Resistive matching units (70, FIG. 2) provide coupling to and from the amplified switching elements (30) without substantially changing the characteristic impedance of the input and output paths.

Abstract: A cooling fan (FIG. 1, 100) generates an air current, which includes a substantial swirl component, along a first direction (10). When the air current reaches the first plate (120), which is predominantly perpendicular to the direction of the airflow, a portion of the air current is routed toward a second direction (20) which is perpendicular to the first direction (10) thereby providing airflow to electronic equipment along the second direction (20). A second portion of the air current is routed towards a direction to the opposite of second direction (20) by way of a second plate (150) which lies along the second direction (20) and is tilted in an upward direction. Additionally, the second plate (150) includes narrow and wide end portions (152 and 154, respectively) which serves to direct a portion of the air current opposite that of the second direction (20).

Abstract: A planar array antenna for use with an earth-based subscriber unit generates receive or transmit communications beams through the use of digital beamforming networks (210, 211) which provide beam steering in a first dimension. In another dimension, the communications beams are synthesized by way of a waveguide structure (300, FIG. 3) which is repeated for each row of the antenna array. The waveguide outputs are weighted due to the positioning of coupling slots (350) or coupling probes (450) which transfer carrier signals to and from each waveguide. The slots or coupling probes from the waveguides are coupled to a group of barium strontium titanate (BST) (360, FIG. 3) or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switch (460, FIG. 4) phase shift elements which are under the control of a control network (221, 222, FIG. 2). The resulting signals are radiated by the antenna elements of the planar antenna array (310, FIG. 3) to form a communications beam.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a communication link, wherein the system includes a communications unit (60, FIG. 3) having a vocoder (62) for providing user-specific voice data in the form of a unique set of speech characteristic model parameters for each authorized user. The method (200, FIG. 8) includes the steps of providing user-specific voice data via a connection training method (FIGS. 5, 6, or 7), collecting a sample of speech characteristics from a user desiring to access the communication unit (206, FIG. 8), comparing the sample with the user-specific voice data (212), granting the user access to the communication unit to establish a communication link with another communication unit if the sample is comparable with the user-specific voice data (215), and denying the user access to the communication unit if the sample is incomparable with the user-specific voice data (220).

Abstract: A hybrid geostationary and low earth orbit (LEO) ground station antenna provides a geostationary receive antenna (30) which generates a narrow receive antenna beam for use with geostationary satellites. The ground station antenna can be either manually positioned so that the normal boresight of the antenna is directed toward the geostationary satellite serving the subscriber, or may be positioned using a cradle (170) which provides motion in the pitch, roll, and yaw axes. The ground station antenna also includes a LEO receive antenna (40) and a LEO transmit antenna (50) which receive which communicate with LEO satellites by way of wider beam, lower gain antenna beams. The geostationary receive antenna (30) is used in conjunction with the LEO satellites and during operations which involve communication with both types of satellites.

Abstract: A mechanical scanning and digital beamforming antenna (20, FIG. 2) uses a receive and transmit digital beamforming network (FIG. 3, 410, 320) to provide communications beam scanning in a first plane. In a second plane, a reflective surface (FIG. 2, 240) is used to focus and scan the communications beam. Through proper orientation of the reflective surface (240), a communications satellite (FIG. 1, 10) can be tracked by way of electronic scanning by way of the transmit or receive digital beamforming network (FIG. 3, 320, 410). Thus, the complexity of the digital beamforming network is reduced as is the wear on the mechanical components of the antenna. The mechanical scanning and digital beamforming antenna (20, FIG. 20) makes use of a second digital beamforming network (FIG. 3, 415, 325) and reflective surface (FIG. 3, 250) to ensure that two communications satellites can be simultaneously tracked.