Abstract: A Solid State Integrated Circuit Layout is generated by specifying an intended functionality assortment and translating the functionality assortment into various circuitry representations. The circuitry representations are converted into circuit items of an overall circuit, whilst configuring both first interfaces between interacting circuit items within the overall circuit and also second interfaces between further such circuit items and an external world in accordance with predetermined interface specifications. In particular, for a situation wherein various such circuit items represent respective analog and/or steppable values to be specified on the basis of a circuit item in question, the parameter is assigned exclusively to a single such circuit item as a building block. The building block in question gets assigned a sufficient amount of in-design resizability and/or on-chip movability in accordance with a prespecified redefinability value range for the parameter in question.

Abstract: A video surveillance system is integrated with an RFID tracking system. The calibration of the RFID tracking system is enhanced by using information provided by the video surveillance system. Optionally, the calibration of the video surveillance system may be enhanced by using information provided by the RFID tracking system. Calibration of the RFID tracking system is facilitated by placing RFID tags at visually apparent locations in a surveillance area and using the location information determined from the video surveillance system to determine appropriate correction factors for use in subsequent RFID location determinations. Dynamic performance is also calibrated by placing RFID tags on visually apparent moving targets and using the location information determined from the video surveillance system to determine the parameters used to qualify subsequent RFID location estimates of moving targets.

Abstract: Communications from autonomous spread-spectrum transmitters are received by dynamically searching the communications band for messages having the same communications parameters, including the use of the same spreading code, but having potentially different code-phases. A receiver that is independent of the transmitters samples the communications band at each code-phase of the spreading code. When a message element is detected at a particular code-phase, the message element is appended to a queue associated with this code-phase. Message elements detected at other code-phases are appended to queues associated with the corresponding code-phases. Gaps between message elements at each code-phase define the beginning and end of each message. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the processing of the samples occurs at a frequency above the baseband of the encoded message. An FFT processor provides a magnitude and phase associated with each detected message.

Abstract: Receiver comprising a resonance amplifier for selectively amplifying a modulated carrier signal being coupled to signal demodulator for narrow band demodulation. The resonance amplifier comprising a cascade of first and second transconductance amplifiers (TC1, TC2) being included in a loop, outputs thereof being coupled via first and second parallel RC filters (R1C1; R2C2) to inputs of the second and first transconductance amplifiers (TC1, TC2), respectively, the loop also includes a signal inverter (INV) for signal inversion.

Abstract: Controllable oscillator circuit comprising a regenerative loop which incorporates a cascade circuit of first and second sections each having a controllable gain and a phase shift which is 90° at the oscillation frequency, the first and second sections comprising first and second transconductance amplifiers, respectively, outputs of which are coupled to third and fourth transconductance amplifiers, which are positively fed back from the output to the input, and via first and second capacitors to inputs of the second and first gain controlled amplifiers, said first and second capacitors being coupled in parallel to first and second load resistors, respectively, a tuning control current being supplied to control inputs of the first and second transconductance amplifiers, the output of at least one of the first and second transconductance amplifiers being coupled to an amplitude detection arrangement providing a gain control current for an automatic gain control to control inputs of the third and fourth transcond

Abstract: A spring-based deployment system deploys a mass at a limited velocity. Using techniques common to the art of timepieces, the motion of a gear, like the rotation of a clock's second hand, is controlled to occur at a substantially constant rate. In a preferred embodiment, an escapement is used to limit the amount of motion per unit time, thereby limiting the velocity. During the period of motion, a high-force can be applied to overcome friction and other adverse affects. Because the amount of motion is limited by the escapement, the amount of kinetic energy produced by this high-force is limited, and thus the shock effects introduced when the deployed mass is stopped at its deployed state are limited. An optimized design can by achieved via an appropriate tradeoff between total deployment time and controlled deployment rate.

Abstract: A reduction of the overall power loss in a resonance circuit is achieved by having excitation occur within excitation periods (Tex) of resonation periods (Tfre), during which the resonance circuit is in a free running resonance mode, the excitation periods being smaller than the resonation periods, to define an excitation duty cycle (Tex/Tcar) relative to the period of a carrier signal (Tcar) of less than 0.5. Preferably the resonance frequency (fres) of the resonance circuit is higher than the carrier frequency (fcar) of the modulated high frequency carrier signal over a resonance frequency detuning rate (dfres), defined by the frequency deviation of the resonance frequency from the carrier frequency relative to the carrier frequency (fres/fear-1), substantially at most corresponding to half the excitation duty cycle.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that allows the use of low-cost, low-power remote terminal units that communicate substantially asynchronously and independently to a base station. To minimize cost and complexity, the remote terminal units are configured similarly, including the use of substantially identical transmission schemes, such as a common Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) code. To minimize collisions among transmissions, the communication system is designed to use a high-gain antenna with a limited field of view, to limit the number of cotemporaneous, or overlapping transmissions that are received at the base station. To cover a wide area, the limited field of view is swept across the area of coverage. To overcome potential losses caused by collisions, the remote terminal units are configured to repeat transmissions; to minimize repeated collisions, the repeat interval and/or duration is randomized.

Abstract: A simulation system and method that combines the advantages of both analytical modeling and discrete-event simulation is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, traffic on the network is modeled as a combination of background-traffic and explicit-traffic. The background-traffic is primarily processed in an analytical form, except in the “time-vicinity” of an explicit-event. Explicit-events are processed using discrete-event simulation, and the modeled effects are dependent upon the background-traffic. At each occasion that the background-traffic may affect the explicit-traffic, the background-traffic is particularized into events that are modeled at the lower detail level of the explicit-traffic.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring absolute spread in capacitors implemented in planary technology. A charge pump supplying a charge current to an internal capacitor (Cint) is used, the voltage across the internal capacitor (Cint) being coupled through a comparator for comparing the voltage with first and second threshold levels. A bistable multivibrator reverses the direction of the charge current, to charge the internal capacitor (Cint) when the voltage decreases below the second threshold level, and to decharge the internal capacitor (Cint) when the voltage increases above the first threshold level. The charge current is determined by a reference voltage that is provided across an external resistor (Rext), the first and second threshold levels defining a voltage range being proportional to the reference voltage. An output signal of the bistable multivibrator is coupled to frequency measuring means to compare the repetition frequency thereof with a reference frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for fetching network objects from a server, such as used in conjunction with an internetworking environment. A web server maintains information regarding which web pages are most likely to be requested by users, and pre-downloads those web pages to associated web clients in advance of actual requests being made by the user. This allows the user to receive the web page prior to actual request, and thus reduces time the user waits for delivery of the web page. The web server maintains statistical information responsive to requests for information made by users, to estimate which links between web pages are most likely to be followed. The web server provides this information to web clients as hints for pages for web clients to pre-download. The web server also maintains rules regarding web pages most desirable to present to users, to provide the greatest value for the web site.

Abstract: The rotation of a rotary switch is limited by stop ribs in a knob that facilitates the rotation of the rotary switch. The stop ribs can be configured to limit the rotational stress that is applied to the rotary switch, or to limit the states of the switch that are realizable by a particular knob. Using keyed detachable knobs, different keys can be configured to provide different ranges of rotation of the rotary switch, thereby enabling different switching authorizations, based on the particular knob that is used.

Abstract: An orbit-transfer vehicle provides the navigation, propulsion, and control systems required to transport a payload satellite from a geosynchronous-transfer orbit (GTO) to a predetermined low-earth orbit (LEO). Upon entering low-earth orbit, the payload satellite is deployed from the orbit-transfer vehicle. To reduce the cost and complexity of the payload satellite, the orbit-transfer vehicle is configured to provide common functional services, such as communications and power regulation, to the payload satellite during the transport, and/or after deployment. To reduce the fuel requirements for this deployment via the orbit-transfer vehicle, a preferred embodiment includes aerobraking to bring the satellite into a low-earth orbit.

Abstract: The excess space and weight capacity that is typical of a launch of large satellites to high-energy orbits, such as a geosynchronous orbit, is used to deploy small satellites at a substantially lower-energy orbit, such as a low-earth orbit. An orbit-transfer vehicle provides the navigation, propulsion, and control systems required to transport a payload satellite from a geosynchronous-transfer orbit (GTO) to a predetermined low-earth orbit (LEO). Depending upon the particular configuration, upon achieving the low-earth orbit, the orbit transfer vehicle either releases the payload satellite, or remains attached to the payload satellite to provide support services, such as power, communications, and navigation, to the payload satellite. To reduce the fuel requirements for this deployment via the orbit-transfer vehicle, the orbit-transfer vehicle employs aerobraking to bring the satellite into a low-earth orbit.