Abstract: A method for measuring a time delay between a controller (302) and a plurality of base sites (306) in a simulcast system (300). The method begins with the controller (302) transmitting a synchronization signal to a selected base site (306A) and to a delay measurement device (316). Upon receipt of the synchronization signal by the selected base site (306A), the selected base site (306A) transmits a signal to the delay measurement device (316). The delay measurement device (316) determines the time between the receptions of the synchronization signal transmitted by the controller and the signal transmitted by selected base site (306A). The delay measurement device (316) transmits the delay time determined between the receptions of the synchronization signal transmitted by the controller and the signal transmitted by the selected base sites (306A) to the controller (302) which programs the base sites (306) to delay transmissions of the RF signals in response to the measured delay time.

Abstract: A wrist watch pager (100) powered by a rechargeable battery (234) comprises an antenna having first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) for receiving paging signals when the first and second portions (102A and 102B) are coupled together to form a loop antenna. The first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) receive a charging voltage from a battery charger (120) directly coupled to the first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) when the first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) are uncoupled thereby disabling the loop antenna. A receiver (204) coupled to the loop antenna presents an alert in response to the paging signals. A device (230) coupled between the loop antenna and the receiver (204) blocks the charging voltage from the receiver (204). Another device (232) coupled between the loop antenna antenna and the rechargeable battery (234) blocks the received paging signal from the battery charger (120).

Abstract: A selective call receiver (100) includes a receiver for receiving a message and a housing (104) for enclosing a receiver (102). A substantially semicircular arcuate recess (106) shaped in a portion of the housing receives a first substantially semicircular arcuate contact (108) that has a substantially arcuate outer surface which provides a non-movable mechanical coupling with the substantially semicircular arcuate recess (106). The first substantially semicircular arcuate contact (108) has a substantially arcuate inner surface, and a second substantially arcuate contact (114) terminates an end of a wrist band antenna (112') which has an outer contact surface for coupling with the substantially arcuate inner surface of the first substantially semicircular arcuate contact (108) thereby forming a movable electrical coupling therebetween.

Abstract: An electronic device (FIG. 1) includes a sensor (17) for determining when the electronic device (FIG. 1) is being worn by a user and when the elecronic device (FIG. 1) is not being worn by the user. A first altering device (21) provides a first alert and a second altering device (22) provides a second alert. An alert selection device (16) which is coupled to the sensor (17) alternatively activates the first alerting device (21) when the electronic device (FIG. 1) is being worn by the user and the second alerting device (22) when the electronic device (FIG. 1) is not being worn by the user.

Abstract: An antenna system for a communication receiver comprising a first circuit portion located on a first circuit substrate, and a second circuit portion located on a second circuit substrate comprises an antenna which is located on the first circuit substrate and at least one circuit element of the second circuit portion being positioned in proximity to the antenna to effect interaction with the antenna. A loss cancellation element comprises a conductive sheet metal element and an insulating material enclosing the conductive sheet metal element. The loss cancellation element is affixed with an adhesive to the second circuit substrate and interposed between the antenna and the interacting circuit element to reduce the interaction between the antenna and the circuit element.

Abstract: A communication receiver (12) comprises a receiver (54) for receiving selective call signals including messages and further for receiving a receiver operating instruction, a control (82) for controlling a receiver function, a memory (67) for storing the received receiver operating instruction describing the operation of the receiver function being controlled, a retrieval circuit (58) for recalling the stored receiver operating instruction, and a display (84) for presenting the received messages, and further for presenting the recalled operating instruction. The memory (67) can also store information enabling the controllable receiver function, and both the enabling information and the receiver operating instruction can be reprogrammed to reconfigure the operation of the communication receiver.

Abstract: A receiver (100) capable of synchronizing to a received signal (302) samples the received signals (302) at a plurality of sample points, and stores all occurrences of zero-crossings corresponding to the plurality of sample points. A processor (212) synchronizes the receiver (100) to the received signal (302) in response to the number of zero-crossings.

Abstract: A multiple transmitter wide area communication system comprises a central station having a plurality of acknowledge back receivers, each receiving acknowledge back responses on one of a plurality of acknowledge back channels, and a plurality of transmitters each transmitting on an individual channel. The system further comprises a plurality of remote stations each having an acknowledge back receiver which is capable of selectably receiving acknowledge back responses on each of the individual channels, and a transmitter which is capable of selectably transmitting on each of the individual channels. Each central station transmitter substantially simultaneously transmits at a high data bit rate on each individual channel the addresses for acknowledge back pagers for which messages are intended, and further transmits at a high data bit rate the associated messages intended only for those acknowledge back pagers which responded with an acknowledge back response.

Abstract: A circuit assembly device (200) comprises a cylinder (202) containing a piston (204) coupled to an end-effector for facilitating an assembly of a circuit carrying substrate. The piston (204) defines a first chamber (212) and a second chamber (214) in the cylinder (202) for maintaining substantially the same pressure such that a difference in areas of the first and second chambers (212, 214) establishes a compliant force on the end-effector.

Abstract: A communication system is described which comprises a paging terminal for paging message delivery to a paging receiver and a cellular switch for call delivery to a personal communication transceiver. Utilized within the system are portable communication devices combining the personal communication transceiver and the paging receiver. The system is capable of reliably delivering a paging message to the paging receiver by first detecting when a call is in progress with the personal communication transceiver portion of the portable communication device for which a paging message to the paging receiver is intended, and then by inhibiting the transmission of the paging message to the paging receiver during the call to the personal communication transceiver. The paging message is then delivered to the paging receiver upon termination of the cell to the personal communication transceiver.

Abstract: A paging receiver is provided which digitizes and stores received analog voice messages. The stored voice message may be retrieved by using a first switch for a normal playback mode, or by using a second switch for a fast forward and fast reverse playback mode. The fast forward and fast reverse playback modes are achieved by sequentially retrieving every N(th) message bit stored in memory.

Abstract: An adaptive battery saving controller for a battery powered communication receiver utilizes a signal quality detector for detecting strong signal and weak signal conditions. During strong signal conditions, the adaptive battery saving controller is capable of suspending the supply of power to the receiver during the reception of message code words not intended for the communication receiver. The adaptive battery saving controller is also capable of suspending the supply of power to the receiver following the detection of a hard address error. During weak signal conditions, the adaptive battery saving controller reverts to conventional battery saving techniques.

Abstract: A paging terminal for transmitting address and variable length message signals to a plurality of remotely located acknowledge back and non-acknowledge back pagers, each having a unique address, includes an input for accepting variable length messages to be sent to a group of M pagers within the plurality of pagers, wherein M is an integer number. A controller orders the acknowledge back pager addresses for transmisison prior to the transmission of addresses for the non-acknowledge back pagers. A transmitter sequentially transmits the ordered addresses corresponding to the group of M pagers as an address batch during a first time period, and sequentially transmits the variable length messages for the group of pagers in a message batch including end of message markers delimiting an associated variable length message during a second time period subsequent to the first time period.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the integrity of an antenna which is located within a wristband and which is coupled to a wrist worn communication device having a receiver, and an antenna sensing circuit which generates an antenna sensing signal. The antenna sensing circuit monitors the antenna sensing signal and derives an antenna integrity indication signal which indicates the integrity of the antenna. An indicating circuit is responsive to the antenna integrity indication signal and provides a sensible indication of the integrity of the antenna, such as a message indicating the antenna is open.

Abstract: An automated component placement device (100) includes an automated robotic transporter (108) that transports a component (106) into an illuminated area (104) on a translucent compliant surface (102) upon which components (104) are placed in a three dimensional orientation such that a silhouette of the components, leads, coplanar or non-coplanar are created on the translucent compliant surface (102) when the translucent compliant surface (102) is flexed. The position of silhouette of the component (106) is used to determine the orientation of the component held by the robotic transporter (108) to facilitate the placement of the component (106).

Abstract: A wrist band loop antenna for a device having a receiver which is intended to be worn on a wearer's wrist comprises a pair of wrist band loop segments which are coupled to the receiver for forming first and second electrical portions of the wrist band loop antenna. A conductive clasp couples to the first and second wrist band loop segments to provide adjustment of the length of the wrist band and provides electrical coupling between first and second wrist band loop segments to form the wrist band loop antenna. An insulator is provided to insulate the conductive clasp from the wearer's wrist which is coupled to the lower surface of the clasp.

Abstract: A multiple transmitter message transmission system provides for the distribution of message packets from a central transmitter station to a plurality of remote transmitter stations on a common channel on which the messages are delivered to a plurality of paging receivers operating within the system. The messages are delivered by simulcast transmissions from the central transmitter station and the plurality of remote transmitter stations. The system is capable of functioning with a variety of signaling protocols, and reduces the number of channels required for message distribution and delivery to a single common channel.

Abstract: An adaptive lock time controller for a phase locked loop having dividers for generating first and second loop timing signals, a phase detector, a voltage controlled oscillator, and a charging circuit for generating at least a first control signal for converging the output frequency to one or more predetermined frequency channels and a second control signal for maintaining the output frequency substantially constant, comprises a synchronization generator, a phase lock detector, and a control signal selector. The synchronization generator is responsive to the phase detector for synchronizing the phase lock detector. The phase lock detector detects phase locked and unlocked conditions by generating a count representative of the phase difference between the first and second loop timing signals. When the count generated exceeds a predetermined count, a phase locked condition exists, otherwise the loop is unlocked.

Abstract: A reactance buffer maintains a substantially constant reasonant frequency for an adjustable size loop antenna having first and second antenna segments. Each segment has first and second ends, the first ends being coupled to a receiver, and the second ends providing loop size adjustment. The reactance buffer comprises a reactance buffer input coupled to the second end of the first antenna segment. A plurality of taps are linearly disposed along a longitudinal axis of the first wristband section, and has a predetermined length between the outermost taps corresponding to the loop antenna size adjustment required. The taps provide selectable reactance buffer outputs for coupling to the second end of the second antenna segment. A plurality of reactance elements are arranged non-serially and couple the reactance buffer input to each of the plurality of taps and provide a substantially constant reactance measured between the reactance buffer input and each of the plurality of taps.