Abstract: A substantially transparent housing (202) for an electronic device (100) is capable of enclosing at least one component (502, 504). The enclosed at least one component (502, 504) can be visible from the outside of the housing (202). The housing (202) includes an outer surface (701) and an inner surface (702). A portion of the inner surface (703) is textured to provide a translucent surface. A portion of the outer surface (704) overlaps the textured portion of the inner surface (703). The overlapping portion of the outer surface (704) has opaque marks (602). The opaque marks (602) provide information visible from the outside of the housing (202). A method is also provided for applying the opaque marks (602) to the housing (202).

Abstract: An electronic device (100) comprises a first substrate (102) having a first circuit pattern disposed thereon which is selectively processed to provide pretinned connection pads (108, 116, 124, 132, 140) for connection to at least one electronic component (142) and a second circuit pattern disposed on a second substrate (104). The second circuit pattern disposed on the second substrate (104) is selectively processed to further provide pretinned connection pads (110, 118, 126) for connection to the first circuit pattern, and the second substrate (104) further has relief provided within a portion thereof to position the at least one electronic component (142) with respect to the pretinned connection pads (108, 116, 124, 132, 140) on the first circuit pattern.

Abstract: A radio receiver (110) for receiving messages from a plurality of sources includes a message database (252) for storing the messages and sources from which the messages originate and a processing unit (220) for determining whether each source has a status of anchored or unanchored. The processing unit (220) further flags last received messages from anchored sources to indicate that the last received messages are anchored messages which are to be deleted only after deletion of unanchored messages which are not flagged as anchored messages.

Abstract: A light wedge (300) formed from light conducting material comprises a first surface (308) for receiving light rays from a light emitting source (515), the first surface (308) having a first axial length, and a second surface (310) substantially opposite the first surface (308) and having a second axial length. The light wedge (300) additionally comprises two side surfaces (315, 320) further bounding the light conducting material between the first surface (308) and the second surface (310) and a plurality of sidewalls (325, 330, 333) positioned about an axis substantially parallel to a line of symmetry between the two side surfaces (315, 320), the plurality of sidewalls (325, 330, 333) forming a cavity within the light conducting material, wherein the plurality of sidewalls (325, 330, 333) receives and distributes a first portion of the light rays through the light conducting material.

Abstract: A selective call communication system (100) includes a scanner (14) for retrieving information from a source document. (26) The source document (26) has the information being located relative to at least three markers (50-54). The scanner (14) further includes an encoder (34) for encoding and compressing the information; and a modem (36), coupled to the encoder (34), for transferring the information and the at least three markers (50-54) to a selective call terminal (28). The selective call terminal (28) includes a receiver (202) for receiving the information and the at least three markers (50-54); and a processor (20) for processing the information and the at least three markers (50-54). The processor (20) further includes a marker locator (204) for searching for the at least three markers (50-54); and a determinator (216), coupled to said marker locator (204), for determining a location of the information.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (10) includes a display (22) for presenting received information signals. The display (22) is pivotally attached to the selective call receiver's housing (24) so that the display [means] (22) may be pivoted outwardly from the housing to facilitate viewing the display [means].

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliably delivering messages (200) from a central terminal (102) to a communication receiver (130) in a communication system (100), such as an electronic mail system. The central terminal (102) transmits messages (1300) to the communication receiver (130) and the communication receiver (130) receives transmitted messages (1300) over a first communication medium (122). The communication receiver (130) reconciles messages that it failed to receive over the first communication medium (122) with the central terminal (102) over a second communication medium (152). The reconciliation process between the communication receiver (130) and the central terminal (102) utilizes cyclic redundancy codes (CRCs) transmitted with the messages (1300) to identify the messages (1300) being reconciled.

Abstract: A radio receiver (100) for receiving a radio frequency signal includes a receiver (110) for generating from the received signal a data signal having alternating first and second edges and a clock (135) for generating a clock signal having a clock period. Adjustment circuitry (400, 145) adjusts the clock period only on the first edges of the data signal when it is determined that adjustments of the clock period on the second edges would contradict adjustments of the clock period on the first edges. Conversely, the adjustment circuitry (400, 145) adjusts the clock period on both the first and the second edges of the data signal when it is determined that the adjustments of the clock period on the second edges would not contradict the adjustments of the clock period on the first edges.

Abstract: A multi-regional message delivery system (100) delivers messages from a central hub (108) to a number of message transmission regions (102,104,106) for transmission of the messages therein. The central hub 108) receives messages, encodes the messages, and transmits the encoded messages in a number of message data pipes (304) in a message delivery signal (302). A satellite (122) receives the transmitted message delivery signal (302) and then transmits the message delivery signal (302) to a number of regional stations (130,132,134) located in the message transmission regions. The regional stations receive the transmitted message delivery signal (302), select at least one of the data pipes (304) in the message delivery signal (302), and transmit the encoded messages within the message transmission regions.

Abstract: A method for tracking a received signal comprises the steps of setting (635) a counter (130) to a first value indicative of a first signal voltage, determining a center threshold of the received signal, and determining a number of center transitions of the received signal within a predetermined time period. The method further comprises the step of automatically decrementing (685, 695) the counter (130) to a second value indicative of a second signal voltage in response to expiration of a predetermined amount of time, wherein the second value differs from the first value by a predetermined amount determined by the number of center transitions of the received signal within the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A battery saving apparatus selectively supplies power to the receiver functions of a battery powered communication receiver at predetermined time intervals prior to the reception of coded message signal. The selective supplying of power to the receiver functions enables the reception of the coded message signal with the receiver functions being powered prior to and only as long as is required for the receiver functions to stabilize and to enable reception of a coded message signal. The predetermined time intervals for the receiver functions are programmed into a code plug to provide the capability to change the turn-on times when required.

Abstract: A data communication receiver (100) for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal includes receiving circuitry (410) for receiving the RF signal and recovering a selective call message therefrom and for generating an activation signal in response to recovery of the selective call message. The data communication receiver (100) further includes a transducer/switch component (300) coupled to the receiving circuitry (410) comprising a transducer (230) having leads (305, 310) formed thereon for providing the activation signal to drive the transducer (230), wherein a first of the leads (310) has contiguously formed therefrom a switch element (105) for selectively contacting the receiving circuitry (410).

Abstract: A cooperative paging system (10) and radio telephone system (15) combine to provide conventional delivery of short paging messages to a combination pager/radio telephone (40) via a first communication path, while a radio telephone link operating at a higher data rate is used to deliver large data messages to the pager/radio telephone (40). The radio telephone link is formed by a transceiver section (205) of the pager/radio telephone (40) coupling to a radio telephone base station (50,52) and calling up a paging terminal (32) of the paging system (10). The paging terminal (32) retrieves the large data messages from a temporary message memory (42) to deliver to the pager/radio telephone (40).

Abstract: A light diffuser (100) for illuminating a display (304) comprises a rectangular light distributor (108) which is coupled to a light director (208) located along an edge normal to a major axis (110) of the light distributor (108). The light director (208) directs light received from a lamp (14) into the light distributor (108). The light distributor (108) has a polished, planar top surface (210) and a bottom surface (112) comprising a predetermined serration pattern oriented normal to the major axis (110) of the rectangular light distributor (108). The predetermined serration pattern comprises a plurality of grooves (116, 118, 120) having a predetermined pitch gradient corresponding thereto. The plurality of grooves (116, 118, 120) further have roughened surfaces for diffusing light impinging thereon toward the polished, planar top surface (210) of the light distributor (108).

Abstract: A portable paging system communicates a paging message including a first portion having at least a selective call address (406) and a first activation code (407), and a second portion having a first segment (409) of an audio portion, to a selective call receiver (300). In the portable paging system, an input device (104) prompts an originator to request an extension of the second portion of the paging message, the extension including at least a second segment (410) of the audio portion. Upon receiving an affirmative talk time extension request from the originator, and if extending the second portion of the paging message does not exceed a predetermined number of extension requests or a predetermined total broadcast time allocated for the second portion of the paging message, a paging terminal controller (210) extends the second portion of the paging message.

Abstract: A selective call communication system (100) includes an encoder (508) for encoding and compressing the data to form compressed data, and a controller (22) for transferring the compressed data to a selective call terminal (28). The selective call terminal (28) includes a receiver (302) for receiving the compressed data. A region detector (308) for recovering the compressed data within a predefined information region (42) and a processor (20) for processing the compressed data. The processor (20) includes an identifier (310) for identifying white spaces in the compressed data and an eliminator (312) for eliminating the white spaces being identified. A transmitter (30) for transmitting the compressed data being processed to at least one selective call receiver (40).