Abstract: A convenient source of charging power for portable communication devices is an integral power node of a computer data bus, such as a USB (universal serial bus) port. Unfortunately, USB ports have limited power capacity, making them generally incompatible with battery charge controllers (BCCs) which are designed to receive a steady, high capacity input. The invention provides a battery charging circuit which adjusts to the parameters of an external power supply such as a USB port by adding a regulating circuit to a standard BCC design. This regulating circuit maximizes the current drawn by the BCC, while keeping the voltage to the BCC above a preset minimum (the low voltage shut off level for the BCC). If the voltage to the BCC begins to drop, the regulating circuit reduces the current drawn, so the voltage rises and stays within the operating range of the BCC.

Abstract: A shock absorbing roller thumb wheel is disclosed. The shock absorbing thumb wheel includes a central hub that can be secured to an electro-mechanical switch, a rim encircling the central hub, and force dispersion spokes extending from the central hub and connected to the rim. The configuration of the force dispersion spokes and the resilient material of the force dispersion spokes and the rim allow for radial and lateral deflection of the rim in response to an applied impact force. The impact force is thereby at least partially absorbed by the radial and lateral deflection of the rim and spokes, such that less impact force is transferred to connections between the electro-mechanical switch and any assembly to which the switch is attached. Hence, the probability of connection failures is reduced, and the lifetime of a device that uses the thumb wheel can be extended.

Abstract: SAW devices such as interdigital transducers (IDTs) have been widely used in RADAR applications and as filters. An IDT produces a SAW when excited by a single electrical pulse and can be fabricated to embody a code, which code provides for a passive autocorrelation of a SAW input to the IDT and thereby lends itself to further application as a signal generator in a communication device. However, internal dimensions of IDTs are inversely proportional to operating frequency, such that high frequency IDTs present significant manufacturing difficulties. Fabrication of IDTs for high frequency applications is simplified by exploiting a harmonic frequency SAW generated by IDTs. An IDT may therefore be designed according to fundamental frequency internal dimension criteria but can operate at a multiple of the fundamental frequency, thereby providing much higher frequency operation than conventional SAW systems.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing data records between multiple databases is provided. Each database includes data records that are modified to include at least one pair of synchronization parameters. In a two-database system including a first database and a second database, each data record is modified to include synchronization parameters for both the first and second databases. When an update is made to a data record at one of the databases, an update message is transmitted to the other database including both synchronization parameters from the database where the update is made, along with the updated data record. An efficient master-slave configuration between the databases then enables either database to resolve conflicts without further communications.

Abstract: A dual mode antenna system for a wireless transceiver is provided, and includes a retractable antenna element having a first, retracted position and a second, extended position. The antenna element operates as a first type of antenna in the first position and a second type of antenna in the second position. In the first position, the retractable antenna element is connected to a loading structure to form a low-profile antenna, and in the second position, the antenna element forms a monopole antenna.

Abstract: A method and system of matching a bit rate to a transmit bit rate used to transmit data on a data link are disclosed. A bit pattern in data received on the data link is detected using a bit rate. Where the detected bit pattern comprises one of a plurality of expected bit patterns, the bit rate is adjusted to an adjusted bit rate based on the detected bit pattern. In one embodiment, the adjusted bit rate is used for communications on the data link when a confirmation bit pattern is received within a predetermined time after the data is received.

Abstract: A method and system for accurately reporting battery capacity is disclosed herein. The disclosed method and system prevent the reporting of discontinuous capacity values resulting from starting or stopping recharge cycles. The disclosed method and system prevent over or under reporting of battery capacity due to the transition between charge and discharge curves in a battery model.

Abstract: An antenna and a wireless mobile communication device incorporating the antenna are provided. The antenna includes a first conductor section electrically coupled to first feeding point, a second conductor section electrically coupled to a second feeding point, and a near-field radiation control structure adapted to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the antenna. Near-field radiation control structures include a parasitic element positioned adjacent the first conductor section and configure to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the first conductor section, and a diffuser in the second conductor section configured to diffuse near-field radiation generated by the second conductor section into a plurality of directions.

Abstract: An antenna system for a portable transceiver device comprises an antenna structure for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The antenna structure includes multiple feeding ports having a common structure fully coupling multiple antennas together. This antenna structure is made of a conductor that can be surface mounted over a nonplanar surface. When the conductor is mounted on a nonplanar surface, the antenna structure extends in three dimensional space around the portable communications device.

Abstract: A system and method of pushing user-selected data items from a host system to a user's mobile data communication device upon detecting the occurrence of one or more user-defined event triggers is provided. The user may then move (or file) the data items to a particular folder within a folder hierarchy stored in the mobile data communication device, or may execute some other system operation on the data item. Software operating at the mobile device and the host system then synchronizes the folder hierarchy of the mobile device with a folder hierarchy of the host system, and any actions executed on the data items at the mobile device are then automatically replicated on the same data items stored at the host system, thus eliminating the need for the user to manually replicate actions at the host system that have been executed at the mobile data communication device.

Abstract: An impedance matching low noise amplifier (“LNA”) having a bypass switch includes an amplification circuit, a bypass switching network and a match adjustment circuit. The amplification circuit has an amplifier input and an amplifier output, and is configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal at the amplifier input and apply a gain to generate an amplified RF output signal at the amplifier output. The bypass switching network is coupled to a low-gain control signal and is also coupled between the amplifier input and the amplifier output. The bypass switching network is configured to couple the amplifier input to the amplifier output when the low-gain control signal is enabled in order to feed the RF input signal through to the RF output signal. The match adjustment circuit is coupled to the low-gain control signal and the RF input signal, and is configured to couple the RF input signal to an impedance when the low-gain control signal is enabled.

Abstract: A system and method for pushing information from a host system to a mobile data communication device upon sensing a triggering event is disclosed. A redirector program operating at the host system enables a user to continuously redirect certain user-selected data items from the host system to the user's mobile data communication device upon detecting that one or more user-defined triggering events has occurred. The redirector program operates in connection with event-generating applications and repackaging systems at the host system to configure and detect a particular user-defined event, and then to repackage the user-selected data items in an electronic wrapper prior to pushing the data items to the mobile device.

Abstract: A clock circuit comprises an analog clock element, a digital clock element, and a controller. The analog clock element is configured to generate an oscillating output. The digital clock element is configured to generate a digital clock output. The controller is configured to switch between the analog clock element and the digital clock element. The oscillating output and the digital clock output have substantially equivalent frequencies.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a natural language user interface includes a plurality of software applications, a means for entering text, and a natural language search engine. The natural language search engine is configured to receive an abbreviated textual command from the text entering means, match the abbreviated textual command with a desired application command, and launch one of the software applications by executing the desired application command.

Abstract: An electrical adaptor apparatus is provided for use with an electrical device. The apparatus includes a case defining a socket. The socket has a plurality of first electrical contacts. The apparatus also includes a plurality of adaptor plugs. Each adaptor plug has a plurality of recessed second electrical contacts configured to communicate with a corresponding one of the first electrical contacts. Each adaptor plug is configured to mate with the socket. Each adaptor plug is further configured to mate with a style of electrical wall socket. The apparatus further includes a locking mechanism operative to lock the adaptor plug into the socket. The apparatus includes a detent button that is operative to release the locking mechanism, thereby to release the adaptor plug from the socket.

Abstract: A multiple-element antenna is provided that includes a monopole portion and a dipole portion. The monopole portion has a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section. The middle section defines a recess between the top and bottom sections, and the bottom section includes a monopole feeding port configured to couple the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in a mobile communication device. The dipole portion has at least one dipole feeding port configured to couple the dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna to communications circuitry in the mobile communications device. The dipole portion of the multiple-element antenna is positioned within the recess defined by the monopole portion of the multiple-element antenna in order to electromagnetically couple the monopole portion with the dipole portion.

Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) and DC estimation and correction technique for wireless communication devices is provided. An AGC signal, which controls a gain applied to a received signal by a gain stage to generate a scaled signal, is assigned one of a relatively small number of values in accordance with the amplitude of the scaled signal. An estimate of a DC offset in the scaled signal corresponding to each value of the AGC signal is stored in a memory. A DC estimation arrangement then reads the stored estimate associated with the particular value of the AGC signal from the memory and generates a current DC estimate based thereon. The current estimate is then used to correct the scaled signal for DC offset and to update the stored estimate.