Abstract: An organic electroluminescent display device includes a plurality of pixels (10) including a substrate (12) upon which is disposed on a plurality of different light influencing elements, (14) (16) (18). Deposited atop each light influencing element is an organic electroluminescent display element (22) which is adapted to emit light of a preselected wavelength. A layer of an insulating, planarizing material (20) may optionally be disposed between the light influencing elements and the OED. Each of the light influencing elements is adapted to generate a different effect in response to light of a preselected incident thereon. In this way, it is possible to achieve a red, green, blue organic electroluminescent display assembly using a single organic electroluminescent display device.

Abstract: A method for charging a battery or battery pack (206) provides a scheme for terminating a rapid charging regime only after both a temperature and voltage threshold are exceeded. This allows a battery to continue to receive a rapid charge even when battery temperatures are rising rapidly due to external (non-charge related) conditions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip (100) includes an integrated circuit die (105) having first and second opposing surfaces (110, 115). A first integrated circuit (205) is formed on the first surface (110), and has a first plurality of terminals (200) coupled thereto for connection to first circuitry external to the integrated circuit chip (100), wherein the first plurality of terminals (200) is formed on the first surface (110). A second integrated circuit (300) is formed on the second surface (115), is electrically isolated from the first integrated circuit (205), and has a second plurality of terminals (305) coupled thereto for connection to second circuitry external to the integrated circuit chip (100). The second plurality of terminals (305) is formed on the first surface (110) and is coupled to the second integrated circuit (300) via plated holes formed through the integrated circuit die (105).

Abstract: A lithium ion battery is provided with an overvoltage switch (12) and an overvoltage control circuit (14). The overvoltage control circuit causes the overvoltage switch to open, thus disconnecting the battery from a charger, upon the battery voltage reaching a first predetermined level when charged by a charger not designed to charge a lithium ion battery. However, when the battery is connected to an appropriately designed charger, the battery receives an input signal through an input terminal (24) which causes the overvoltage control circuit to open the overvoltage switch at a higher second predetermined level, should the appropriately designed charger fail to enter voltage regulation when the battery voltage reaches the first predetermined level.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided with first (10) and second (11) electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte (15) disposed therebetween. The solid polymer electrolyte is preferably fabricated by providing a linear powdered polymeric precursor material which is thereafter heated to temperatures sufficient to drive off moisture and in the presence of an electrolyte active species. The electrolyte active species is preferably an acidic electrolyte active species which has the effect of protonating the powdered polymeric precursor material. Electrochemical cells fabricated using these devices demonstrate performance characteristics far better than those available in the prior art.

Abstract: A contact carrier (10) for a first electrical device comprises a contact body (11) having a top (12), bottom (14), and four sides (16). A protrusion (18) extends from the top (12). First and second pivot protrusions or depressions (22, 23) are located on opposing sides (20, 21) of the contact body (11), and allow the contact body (11) to rotate about the axis (24) of the contact body (11) when the protrusion (18) is engaged by a second electrical device. At least one electrical contact (26) is disposed on a first side (27) of the contact body (11). A flexible circuit board (28) interconnects the electrical contact(s) (26) with the first electrical device and may act to bias the contact body (11) such that the electrical contacts (26) are concealed until protrusion (18) is engaged.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode of an electrochemical cell. The amorphous carbon is fabricated in a one heating step process from multi-functional organic monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon material for use as an electrode, such as the anode (30) of an electrochemical cell (10). The carbon is fabricated in a heating process from a plurality multifunctional organic monomers selected from first and second groups of monomers. Electrodes so fabricated may be incorporated into electrochemical cells (10) as the anode (20) thereof.

Abstract: A method by which a data communication receiver may recognize a specific channel comprises the steps of receiving (1605) a data stream on a first channel for a first amount of time to determine (1680) whether network identification information is included in the data stream received on the first channel, wherein the network identification information comprises at least one address assigned to represent a network. If the network identification information is not included in the data stream received on the first channel within the first amount of time, reception is switched (1614) to receive (1605) a data stream on a second channel. The method further comprises the step of receiving (1605) the data stream on the second channel for a second amount of time to determine (1680) whether the network identification information is included in the data stream received on the second channel.

Abstract: A meter reading system (10) for reading meter status information from meters (150) includes a meter reading device (15) for transmitting messages at a first data rate, i.e., a higher data rate, and at a second data rate, i.e., a lower data rate. Externally powered meter interface units (14) receive at least the messages transmitted at the higher data rate, and battery powered meter interface units (12) only receive the messages transmitted at the lower data rate.

Abstract: A transceiver (125) for receiving messages and transmitting acknowledgments includes a receiver (365) for receiving a message and time information indicative of a first time slot, a display (400) coupled to the receiver (365) for presenting the message, and a monitor element (430) coupled to the display (400) for determining, at occurrence of the first time slot, whether the message has been presented. A transmitter (380) coupled to the monitor element (430) and the receiver (365) transmits, in response to occurrence of the first time slot, a message acknowledgment when the message has not been presented. When the message has been previously presented, a read acknowledgment, rather than the message acknowledgment, is transmitted to indicate both message reception and message presentation.

Abstract: A symbol detector (110) includes an analog-to-digital converter (115) for converting signal voltages to digital values and peak and valley counters (310, 315) for tracking the digital values to determine peak and valley values associated with high and low voltages of the signal. The symbol detector (110) further includes calculation circuitry (356) for calculating upper, lower, and center thresholds based on the peak and valley values and a decoder (125) for generating data symbols in accordance with the upper, lower, and center thresholds.

Abstract: A communication system (100) for providing messages to a pager (140) includes a first sub-system (105) having a home terminal (125) for normally transmitting the messages to the pager (140) in a first geographic region. The communication system (100) also includes a second sub-system (115) having a local terminal (135) for transmitting the messages to the pager (140) when the pager (140) has roamed into a second geographic region. The local terminal (135) of the second sub-system (115) includes a data port (505) for receiving a message for transmission to the pager (140), a controller (510) for determining that the pager is roaming, and a requester (580) for automatically transmitting a request for a subscriber record associated with the pager (140) from the first sub-system (105) in response to determining that the pager (140) is roaming.

Abstract: A communications system (100) for transmission of a plurality of messages over a communications channel includes a terminal (105) for selectively transmitting each of the plurality of message, and data communication receivers (110) for receiving first and second messages about the same event. The first and second messages are compared in order to determine the status change of the event, and an alert priority is issued indicating that the event is at a critical stage, based on such comparison.

Abstract: A communication system (100) for providing duplicate messages includes a plurality of receivers for receiving a radio signal, the plurality of receivers including time diversity (110) and non-time diversity receivers (115). A message transmission device (105) within the communication system (100) transmits the radio signal. The radio signal includes a first frame of data, which includes first portions in which first information for reception by at least one time diversity receiver (110) is queued and second portions which are remaining after queuing of the first information. The second portions are queued with second information for reception by at least one non-time diversity receiver (115). The first portions are of a non-predetermined size that varies according to the amount of the first information.

Abstract: A communication system (500) for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals includes a base station (505) for transmitting an RF signal including at least compressed data and a plurality of correction factors, wherein the compressed data includes two-dimensional transformed image data which has been compressed by the base station (505) utilizing a plurality of orthogonal functions. The communication system (500) further includes a data communication receiver (510) coupled to the base station (505) for receiving the RF signal and for generating one-dimensional transformed image data therefrom by performing a one-dimensional transformation of the two-dimensional transformed image data utilizing the plurality of orthogonal functions. The data communication receiver (510) includes a controller (1025) for adding the plurality of correction factors to the one-dimensional transformed image data to generate a plurality of column signals which drive an active-addressed, rms-responding display (100).

Abstract: A data communication receiver (605) receives and stores a set of image data and displays images associated therewith on a display (600') having rows divided into first and second segments (705, 710). The data communication receiver (605) comprises a database (635) for storing a set of orthonormal functions and row drivers (650) coupled to the database (635) for driving the first segment (705) of the display (600') with first voltages associated with a first subset of orthonormal functions and driving the second segment (710) of the display (600') with second voltages associated with a remaining function included in the set of orthonormal functions during a first plurality of sequential time slots. The row drivers (650) also drive the first segment (705) with the second voltages associated with the remaining function and drive the second segment (710) with the first voltages associated with the first subset of orthonormal functions during a second plurality of sequential time slots.

Abstract: A hybrid analog-digital phase error detector (107) is utilized for detecting a phase error between first and second clock signals (132, 104). Digital and analog phase error detectors (108, 116) are connected to the first and second clock signals (132, 104), and are utilized for producing digital and analog phase error values (110, 118). The digital and analog controllers (112, 120) connected to the digital and analog phase error detectors (108, 116) execute digital and analog control algorithms based on the digital and analog phase error values (110, 118) to produce digital and analog control signals (114, 122). A summer (124) connected to the outputs of the digital and analog controllers (112, 120) combines the analog control signal (122) and the digital control signal (114) to produce a composite control signal (126) representing the phase error.

Abstract: A method for full duplex communication between master and slave devices (403, 422) coupled by a serial peripheral interface (420) includes the steps of the slave device (422) updating a status register (421) based upon an event, after which the slave device (422) transmits a communication request to the master device (403). When the master device (403) thereafter takes the slave-select line low to initiate communication, the slave device (422) automatically transmits the contents of the status register (421) over the master-in-slave-out line. At the same time, the master device (403) transmits an "empty" byte of information over the master-out-slave-in line.