Abstract: A system and method of performing re-synchronization for a Digital Video Broadcasting over Handheld (DVB-H) receiver comprises performing a time division multiplexing (TDM) data burst transmission sequence on bits of data received by the DVB-H receiver; performing a data bit re-synchronization sequence on the DVB-H receiver; and reducing a re-acquisition time at every stage of the data bit re-synchronization sequence, wherein the reducing process results in a reduction in the time to perform the re-synchronization for the DVB-H receiver, wherein the reduction in the time to perform the re-synchronization for the DVB-H receiver is greater than one-half of the time required to perform the re-synchronization for the DVB-H receiver absent the reducing of the re-acquisition time at every stage of the data bit re-synchronization sequence.

Abstract: ICI canceling in an OFDM system includes taking a FFT of a wireless electrical signal to produce an OFDM signal; estimating a DC component of a frequency-selective channel in the OFDM system; obtaining an initial estimate of data symbols associated with data bits of the OFDM signal; correcting the data bits with a Viterbi decoder; encoding the corrected data bits to acquire corrected data symbols; re-estimating the DC component of the frequency-selective channel using the corrected data symbols; filtering the corrected data symbols and sub-carrier of the frequency-selective channel; calculating a first order differential function of the frequency-selective channel based on successive ones of the corrected data symbols; removing an ICI component from the calculated first order differential function; and re-estimating the data symbols as a function of the removed ICI component. The filtering occurs using a low pass filter comprising a bank of eight filters.

Abstract: A method and system for coherent detection in which an OFDM symbol is multiplied by the complex conjugate of the previous OFDM symbol, which is obtained by one OFDM symbol delay and a complex conjugation circuit. This soft decision is passed through a QPSK slicer to obtain a hard decision. The soft decision is then divided by the hard decisions. The channel phase change between the two OFDM symbols is then obtained. For the first OFDM symbol, the channel is computed. A channel estimate for each ODFM symbol is computed from corresponding channel estimates and channel phase difference estimates. The channel phase difference between each two OFDM symbols is computed. The channel phase difference is passed through an exponent operation and multiplied by the soft decision to obtain a refined soft decision that is then passed through another QPSK slicer to obtain the final hard decision.

Abstract: A system, method, and electrical circuit comprises a LNA signal line path comprising a LNA and a first signal mixer operatively connected to the LNA. The circuit further comprises an attenuator signal line path comprising an attenuator and a second signal mixer operatively connected to the attenuator; a radio frequency (RF) power detector operatively connected to an output of each of the LNA and the attenuator, wherein the RF power detector is adapted to vary a front end power gain of the electrical circuit; and logic circuitry operatively connected to the RF power detector, wherein the logic circuitry is adapted to (i) select transmission of a signal through only one of the LNA signal line path or the attenuator signal line path, and (ii) output the selected signal.

Abstract: A method of creating a visual program guide for use on a TDM mobile TV receiver comprises receiving a RF signal associated with a TV channel; demodulating all of the received RF signals associated with the TV channels; decoding all of the demodulated received RF signals corresponding to all the TV channels simultaneously; and creating the visual program guide as a consolidated view of each of the decoded TV channels, wherein the simultaneous decoding of the demodulated received RF signals significantly reduces a power consumption level and a memory utilization level in the receiver.

Abstract: A polyaxial occipital plate assembly and method comprises a longitudinal member; a polyaxial connector head; a socket portion adapted to retain the connector head; a flexible clip operatively connected to the socket portion and adapted to receive the longitudinal member; an occipital plate comprising clips operatively connected to the connector head; and a locking mechanism operatively connected to the connector head and the clips, wherein engagement of the locking mechanism to the connector head causes the clips to lock into the connector head and outwardly expand the connector head thereby causing the flexible clip to squeeze against the longitudinal member. The plate comprises a pair of opposed legs comprising the clips attached to ends of the legs; a body portion operatively connected to the pair of opposed legs, wherein the body portion is positioned at any of an obtuse and an acute angle relative to the pair of opposed legs.

Abstract: A system and method for performing stepped automatic gain control (AGC) for orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) applications comprises a radio frequency (RF) tuner and an OFDM demodulator operatively connected to the RF tuner, the OFDM demodulator comprising logic circuitry adapted to (i) detect OFDM symbols from a stream of data; (ii) detect boundaries of the OFDM symbols; (iii) detect a cyclic prefix duration of data values associated with the OFDM symbols; and (iv) provide a feedback to the RF tuner of the information pertaining to the boundaries of the OFDM symbols and the cyclic prefix duration.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method comprises a container adapted to house contents therein and a sensor device attached to the container, wherein the sensor device comprises at least one sensor that collects past and present data of the container, wherein the data comprises container content identification data, container geographic location data, container motion data, evidence of container tampering data, and biometric data of individuals handling the container; and a processor operatively connected to the at least one sensor and adapted to communicate the data to any of a user and a remote storage device. The processor is adapted to communicate the data into a language of choice of the user. The sensor device comprises an identification code, wherein the processor is adapted to regulate types of services the container is eligible to receive based on the identification code.

Abstract: A internal antenna with rotatable mounting bracket assembly is mounted on an edge of a flat panel television and has a mounting bracket, a clamp and a rotatable antenna seat. The mounting bracket is mounted on the edge of a flat panel television and has a mounting disk, a front jaw and a clamp socket. The clamp attaches to and holds the mounting bracket on the edge of a flat panel television and has an arm assembly and a rear jaw. The arm assembly is mounted slidably in the clamp socket and has a resilient element. The resilient element holds the clamp in the clamp socket. The rear jaw is formed on and protrudes down from the arm assembly. The rotatable antenna seat is mounted rotatably on the mounting bracket and has an antenna bracket. The antenna bracket clips the antenna and is formed on the disk.

Abstract: Digital autonomous AGC for a DVB-H receiver comprises detecting a plurality of RF signals entering a LNA in the DVB-H receiver; detecting a RF transmitter blocker signal occurring at the LNA; and differentiating between a desired RF signal and an undesired RF transmitter blocker signal by varying a differential gain of current through the LNA. A RF servo loop is used for detecting the RF transmitter blocker signal. Logic circuitry of the RF servo loop is integrated with a baseband AGC loop to step control the differential gain of current through the LNA. A RF wideband detector is used for detecting the plurality of RF signals entering the LNA; and sending a voltage output corresponding to voltage levels of the RF signals to a plurality of comparators, wherein each of the plurality of comparators are set at a different programmable voltage threshold level compared with one another.

Abstract: A safety type quick connector has a body, a socket base, a moving base, a pushing assembly, an outer sleeve, multiple springs, multiple first balls and second balls. The socket base is connected to the tubular body and has an inserting end, a connecting end, multiple ball slots and ball bores. The moving base is movably mounted in the socket chamber and has a closed end, an open end, a sealing flange, multiple ball holes and at least one vent. The sealing flange is formed around the closed end and abuts against and closes the connecting end of the socket base. The pushing assembly is movably mounted in the moving base. Accordingly, the moving base can be kept stationary when a plug is inserted into the connector and pushes the pushing assembly to move, and this can keep air from leaking.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for computationally efficient estimation of the scale factors of one or more frequency bands in an encoder. These scale factors are dependant on a plurality of variables. One of the variables is approximated according to embodiments of the invention. This reduces the complexity of the estimation of scale factors, especially in digital signal processors.

Abstract: A continuous time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (CT ??ADC) including an integrator, which includes an operational amplifier having at least one input terminal that receives an input signal, a feedback mechanism operatively connected to the operational amplifier, at least one capacitor coupled to the operational amplifier and the feedback mechanism, a reset switch coupled to the at least one capacitor, the operational amplifier, and the feedback mechanism, and a single directional voltage-to-current converter coupled to the input terminal. The single directional voltage-to-current converter translates a differential signal voltage only to a differential signal current. The reset switch resets the feedback mechanism. The single directional voltage-to-current converter behaves a one-directional resistor. The integrator prevents current generation when there is a non-linear disturbance at the input terminal of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A fully differential amplifier that amplifies and filters a signal band of a communications channel, the signal band including a desired signal and at least one blocker signal of an adjacent communications channel, the fully differential amplifier includes a fully differential operational amplifier (op-amp) with a common mode feedback, the fully differential operational amplifier amplifying the desired signal, a variable input resistance connected to an input of the fully differential op-amp, and an asymmetric floating frequency dependent negative resistance (AFFDNR) filter connected to the fully differential op-amp between the input and an output of the fully differential op-amp. A plurality of inputs of the fully differential op-amp may be virtually grounded to reduce swings in a voltage. The AFFDNR filter filters the at least one blocker signal and includes a plurality of resistors that implement a high order filtering of the at least one blocker signal.

Abstract: A cam coupling rod reducer and method of operation comprises an inner tube comprising a first end having a hole and a second end having a plurality of prongs extending therefrom. The rod reducer further includes a lever cam connected to the first end, wherein the lever cam comprises a base and a pair of semicircular arms extending from the base, wherein each of the arms comprise a hole configured to align with the hole of the first end of the inner tube. The rod reducer also includes an outer extension tube connected to the inner tube, wherein the outer extension tube comprises positional markings on the body of the outer extension tube; a top end having a concave opening; and a bottom end comprising an opening configured to permit the prongs of the inner tube to extend therethrough; and a pair of pegs extending from the bottom end.

Abstract: A DVB-H bit-interleave coded modulation/demodulation system and method includes a convolutional encoder; an interleaver operatively connected to the convolutional encoder; a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) mapper operatively connected to the interleaver; a channel component operatively connected to the QAM mapper; a QAM demapper operatively connected to the channel component; a de-interleaver operatively connected to the QAM demapper; and a Viterbi decoder operatively connected to the de-interleaver. Preferably, the interleaver comprises a bit-wise interleaver and a symbol-wise interleaver operatively connected to the bit-wise interleaver. Preferably, the de-interleaver comprises a bit-wise de-interleaver; and a symbol-wise de-interleaver operatively connected to the bit-wise de-interleaver. The de-interleaver may be adapted to decode a soft decision metric for any of a QPSK, 16QAM, and 64QAM modulation.

Abstract: A low noise, low power differential two-stage amplifier includes a first stage comprising a pair of electrical devices that sense an input signal difference across the pair of electrical devices; and a control feedback loop operatively connected to the first stage, wherein the first stage in combination with the control loop feedback is adapted to place an exact copy of the signal across a first pair of resistive components, wherein the first pair of resistive components are adapted to generate a differential signal current, wherein the control feedback loop is adapted to ensure that the differential signal current goes a second pair of resistive components to generate a voltage output. Preferably, the first and second pair of resistive components are in ratio to produce the exact copy of the signal with some gain at an output of the first stage.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter and method of improving the efficiency of a DC-DC converter at low load current levels using pulse skipping modulation (PSM) with controllable burst duration NTclk, where Tclk is the clock cycle interval. As the average load current increases, the time between bursts decreases so that average inductor current matches the load current. The burst duration is kept around NTclk by controlling the duty cycle of the output switches. The higher the load current, the higher is the duty cycle of the output switches. No current sensing is needed. The optimum burst duration for best efficiency curve is a function of the load capacitor.

Abstract: A noise shaping and voltage gain filtering third order electrical circuit and method comprises at least one pair of input resistors; a Frequency Dependent Negative Resistance (FDNR) filter positioned in between the at least one pair of input resistors; a feedback resistor; and an amplifier operatively connected to the feedback resistor and the at least one pair of input resistors, wherein as an electrical signal is introduced to the electrical circuit, the FDNR filter is adapted to filter signal blockers out of the electrical signal prior to the electrical signal reaching the amplifier for signal amplification, wherein the FDNR filter does not contribute noise to a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the electrical signal, and wherein a transfer function of the FDNR filter is substantially elliptical in shape.