Abstract: A process and system (100) for purifying water includes a pair of electrodes (52) with a gap (58) between the electrodes (52). The electrodes (52) are connected to a power supply (116) that places a voltage across the two electrodes (52). Raw water (51) is then passed through the electrodes (52) which captures a plurality of ionic species (224) resulting in purified water (64). A system (100) that takes advantage of this process has a container (102) that holds the pair of electrodes (52) or filter (102). A controller (120) connected to a current sensor (118) monitors the current across the electrodes (52) and adjusts a valve (108) based on the current. If the current is above a first threshold the water flow is decreased and if the current flow is below a second threshold the water flow is increased.

Abstract: A broadcast for interactive viewing by a plurality of viewers is provided by contemporaneously capturing a plurality of wide-angle image sequences from a plurality of viewpoints. The viewpoints are selected from the group consisting of a space viewpoint, a terrestrial viewpoint, and an undersea viewpoint. The wide-angle image sequences are broadcasted to the viewers. Each of the viewers receives at least one of the wide-angle image sequences, and selects a portion of the at least one of the wide-angle image sequences. A perspective corrected view of the portion is displayed for view by the viewer. Optionally, prestored textual data and a perspective corrected view of a prestored image may also be displayed.

Abstract: A converter, which may be used for implementing either logarithmic or inverse-logarithmic functions, includes a memory, a multiplier, and an adder. The memory stores a plurality of parameters which are derived using a least squares method to estimate a logarithmic or inverse-logarithmic function over a domain of input values.

Abstract: A plurality of sensors sense a plurality of parameters including flow rate of a slurry being filtered sensed along a filtration medium and differential pressure across the medium which characterize the operation of a cross-flow filtration system having a moving, continuous filter medium. The plurality of sensors produce a plurality of signals representative of the plurality of parameters. A processor processes the plurality of signals to provide at least one control signal. The at least one control signal is applied to the filtration system to control at least one parameter thereof. As a result, a desired operating condition or a desired performance criterion is automatically maintained during operation of the filtration system.

Abstract: An auto-scaling controller and a method for use therefor is provided. The control inputs and the control coefficients are multiplied by scaling values. The scaling values are then tuned using a descent-based optimization method in order to optimize system performance.

Abstract: An error corrected amplifier circuit (100) for use in a radio frequency system is provided. The error corrected amplifier circuit (100) includes a first pilot modulation stage (101) and a second pilot modulation stage (103). The first pilot modulation stage (101) creates a first amplified signal (129) having an error component and a first error signal (134) indicative of the error component. The second pilot modulation stage (103) receives the first amplified signal (129) and the error signal (134) and generates an error reduced amplified signal (158).

Abstract: A method and receiver for demodulating a DS/CDMA signal increases a receiver's (60) sensitivity and as a result the system capacity of a DS/CDMA cellular communications system. A Reduced State Sequence Estimator (RSSE) (68) finds a path (210) with the highest energy. An efficient method and apparatus for determining the path energies (212) selects a new path (210) to differ from a previous path (210) by a single reduced state (200). A difference (306) between an I and Q magnitude of the new and omitted reduced state (200) is computed (304). This difference is added to the previous path's total I (308) and Q magnitude, to compute the new path's I and Q magnitude. These I and Q magnitudes are used to compute a path energy (322) and the highest path's energy (326) is used to select the best path for decoding (70).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for understanding information relating to communication system performance, including the dynamic nature of the system is provided. Elements of the system are represented (102, 110) as various shapes (30, 32, 40) defined by an number of different parameters on a display device (24). The shapes are characterized by a number of defining parameters and these defining parameters have an association with performance characteristics or performance parameters of the system element. As performance parameter data changes with time, e.g., during system operation, the defining parameters are altered such that the shape representing the system element is modified (106, 114). In this manner a large number of system elements and associated performance characteristics and the time varying nature thereof can be readily displayed to aid the system operator.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for decoding a communicated radio frequency signal containing a sequence of phase values. The method includes the steps of amplitude limiting the communicated signal and maximum likelihood decoding the amplitude limited signal.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) utilizes a shift register (107) to select which of multiple synthesizers (115, 117) is to receive programming information. This allows multiple synthesizers (115, 117) to be programmed based on input from a single programing line group (102). The number of devices that can be programmed is limited by the number of parallel outputs available from the shift register (107).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for shielding electronic circuit boards (14, 15) including a compartment assembly (16) having a wall (18) defining first (22) and second compartments (24), an electrical connection layer (26) having a first ground layer (44) in electrical contact with the wall (18) of the compartment assembly (16), and a cover (28) connected to the electrical connection layer (26). The wall (18) has a first surface (20) and a second surface (25) substantially perpendicular to the first surface (20). The electrical connection layer (26) has a non-ceramic insulating layer (46) connected to the ground layer (44) and a conductive layer (40) connected to the non-ceramic insulating layer (46).

Abstract: In a quantization noise reduction circuit (200), a feedback signal (W)is added to an input signal (X) to the quantization circuit to reduce quantization noise. The feedback signal is generated as a filtered difference between a sample of a N bit signal (X') and a time coincident sample of a M bit quantized signal, where M<N. The feedback signal is subtracted from the input signal (X) prior to quantization thereby introducing out of band noise into the input signal for reducing in band noise in the quantized signal (Y).

Abstract: A personal anatomy card includes a card member and a machine-readable storage medium integrated in the card member. Machine-readable data including compressed data representative of a three-dimensional model of a portion of the individual is stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The three-dimensional model is formed by tomographically creating a plurality of two-dimensional cross-sectional images of a portion of the individual, processing the plurality of two-dimensional cross-sectional images to form data representative of the three-dimensional model, and compressing the data to form the compressed data. Optionally, a three-dimensional data player is integrated in the card member. The three-dimensional data player includes a display device, a user interface, and a processor. The processor is operative to decode the compressed data in dependence upon navigation instructions received by the user interface to command the display device to display a selected portion of the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method (600) and apparatus (101) for conveying a communication signal between a communication unit (105) and a base site (101) that services a sectorized coverage area (103). The communication unit (105) transmits an uplink communication signal (113) to the base site (101). The base site (101) receives (603) the uplink communication signal (113) and determines (605) an approximate location of the communication unit (101) within a first portion (111) of a sector (108) of the sectorized coverage area (103). A downlink communication signal is then transmitted (609, 613) to the communication unit (105) based on the approximate location of the communication unit (105) using an antenna structure that produces a beamwidth (117) narrower than an angular width of the sector (108).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packet alignment in a simulcast system includes a communications controller (310) having a vocoder and an input/output (I/O) processor (313) controlling the vocoder (311), the I/O processor having a timing alignment control (315) and a packet counter (314) for inserting timing alignment tags in voice/data packets and adjusting packet numbering and timing based on alignment requests from a master radio communication unit. The communications controller is coupled to radio communication units (330, 340, 350), each having a packet buffer (331) and an alignment processor (332) which includes a packet number detector (333) for detecting the transmission timing tag and sending a request for a packet numbering adjustment to the communications controller and a timing alignment detector (334) for comparing a receive time of the first information packet and a predetermined preferential receive time and for sending a timing alignment request to the communications controller.

Abstract: A receiver receives at least one message containing a visual message. A display device, in communication with the receiver, displays the visual message of a selected one of the at least one message. A first housing houses the receiver and the display device to form a self-contained, viable receiver unit. A camera captures at least one image. A transmitter transmits a signal based upon the at least one image captured by the camera. A second housing houses the camera and the transmitter to from a self-contained, viable transmitter unit. The second housing is selectively attachable and detachable from the first housing. As a result, the transmitter unit may be selectively attached to the receiver unit and detached from the receiver unit.

Abstract: A method of conserving battery energy within two-way radios by periodically de-activating the radios for relatively short time periods. The transmission and reception of communication requests are synchronized to occur during concurrent periods of activation. Following receipt of a communication request, requestor and target remain continuously activated for only the duration of the transaction. Synchronization of radio activation and de-activation is maintained by a synchronization beacon transmitted by a base station or a transmitting portable radio.

Abstract: A multi-channel digital transceiver (400) receives uplink radio frequency signals and converts these signals to digital intermediate frequency signals. Digital signal processing, including a digital converter module (426), is employed to select digital intermediate frequency signals received at a plurality of antennas (412) and to convert these signals to baseband signals. The baseband signals are processed to recover a communication channel therefrom. Downlink baseband signals are also processed and digital signal processing within the digital converter module (426) up converters and modulates the downlink baseband signals to digital intermediate frequency signals. The digital intermediate frequency signals are converted to analog radio frequency signals, amplified and radiated from transmit antennas (420).

Abstract: Registration operates by sensing (106) the availability of a first communication system. A quality factor of a channel of the system is measured (111). A channel of the first system is selected if the quality factor of the channel exceeds a threshold (113). If selected, the subscriber attempts to register the call (114). If the registration fails, the availability of a second communication system is sensed (107). A quality factor of a channel of the second system is measured (111) and selected (113), if the quality factor exceeds a threshold. The subscriber will then attempt to register (114) with the second system. Reassignment operates by determining if the first system has reached a capacity limit (126). If it has, it determines if a channel on the second system is available (128). If available, a transfer of the call from the first to the second system will be attempted (132).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authentication between a subscriber unit and a communication unit is provided. The authentication process includes: maintaining an historic non-arbitrary value in the subscriber unit, generating an authentication message in the subscriber unit as a function of at least part of the historic non-arbitrary value, and transmitting the authentication message to the communication unit. In addition, the authentication process includes: receiving an authentication message at a communication unit, maintaining an historic non-arbitrary value in the communication unit, and determining, in the communication unit, through the use of the received authentication message and the maintained historic non-arbitrary value, whether a received service request is authentic.