Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to electrical connector assemblies, and more particularly to plastic electrical connectors that employ metal plated plastic contacts. According to an aspect of the invention, an electrical connector is provided comprising a plastic shell having an open cavity that defines an internal surface, and an electrical connector contact that comprises a metal coated area of the internal surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for a subscriber device (106) to signal changing from a first network to a second network including receiving via a transceiver (120) at the subscriber device (106) a time value from another network and generating from a clock (124) at the subscriber device (106) a current time value and then using a controller (126) deriving a delta time value between the time value and the current time value. The controller (126) signals the user when the delta time value between the time value and the current time value changes.

Abstract: A multi-part reactive device preferably includes a substrate with a first conductive area and a second conductive area. A first conductive element with a first terminal is connected to the first conductive area. The first conductive element has a second terminal connected to the second conductive area. A current loop is formed extending from the first conductive area, through the first terminal, through the second terminal, to the second conductive area. A magnetically-effective core member is captivated by the first conductive element to the substrate between the first conductive area and the second conductive area and encircles the current loop. The first conductive area, the first conductive element, the magnetically-effective core member, and the second conductive area form a first magnetic circuit. Additional magnetic circuits can be formed by adding additional conductive patterns and additional conductive elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling mobile access to a wireless communication system. A base station (145) in a communication cell (165) monitors a plurality of mobile access parameters. The base station (145) generates control information based on the plurality of mobile access parameters. The base station (145) provides mobile stations (185, 190) within the communication cell (165) with the control information to control access to the communication system by mobile stations (185, 190) based on the mobile access overload class of the mobile stations (185, 190) and the type of mobile access attempted by the mobile stations (185, 190).

Abstract: A system and method for controlling echo using zero echo path, ringing, and off-hook detection. When conditions for zero echo path are detected, the present embodiment bypasses echo cancellation by replacing the output signal with the input to the echo canceller. In addition, the present embodiment also provides ringing and off-hook detection which additionally evaluate when the output signal should be replaced by the input to the echo canceller. The system and method provides additional detection and control benefits to echo cancellers and can be implemented in echo cancellation systems without substantial change to the existing echo canceller.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the interior temperature within a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the system, the system responds to increases in exterior temperature by reducing the interior temperature of the vehicle passenger compartment. The system preferably includes a temperature sensor within the passenger compartment and a microprocessor programmed to respond to signals from the temperature sensor. The microprocessor operates to roll down windows and/or engage a fan or air conditioning unit until a desired and comfortable temperature is achieved within the passenger compartment. The user can pre-program the system with settings that are stored in a memory or use factory default settings. A moisture sensor can also be coupled to the microprocessor to respond to rainy conditions. In one alternate embodiment, a two-way paging and cellular network module is included to contact the vehicle operator when the system is engaged.

Abstract: A regulating circuit for a transformer is provided. The circuit includes at least a primary stage in association with a primary coil of a transformer and a secondary stage in association with a secondary coil of the transformer. Switching means are circuited to control current through the primary stage and a comparing means is provided in communication with the switching means. The comparing means compares voltage in the secondary stage with a desired value, and operates to open and close the switching means in accordance with this determination to result in a desired output voltage. Alternatively, the comparing means compares the voltage at the secondary stage with the voltage input to the primary stage. The comparing means operates to open the switching means when the voltage of the primary stage exceeds the input voltage. A method is also disclosed that includes the steps of determining a voltage at the primary stage circuit, determining a voltage at the secondary input, and comparing the voltages.

Abstract: A communication device (101) includes multiple antennas (201-203), multiple receivers (222-224), and a processor (225). The communication device receives a first radio frequency (RF) signal via a first antenna (201) of the multiple antennas and a second RF signal via a second antenna (202) of the multiple antennas. The communication device determines a signal metric for the first RF signal and a signal metric for the second RF signal, compares the determined signal metrics to produce a signal metric comparison, and generates an error signal based on the signal metric comparison. The error signal may be remotely monitored for prompt corrective action.

Abstract: A multiple element sensor for sensing pressure, the sensor has a substrate 201 with a diaphragm portion 203. Multiple sensing elements 205, 207, 209, 211 are each disposed on the diaphragm portion 203 of the substrate 201. These sensing elements 205, 207, 209, 211 each have output terminals 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238 providing signals 371, 373, 375, 377 indicative of the pressure. A combining circuit 217 has input terminals 337, 339, 341, 343 each coupled to the output terminals 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238 of each of the sensing elements 205, 207, 209, 211 respectively. The combining circuit 217 has a combined output terminal 219 for providing an output signal 345 dependent on the plurality of signals 371, 373, 375, 377. By fabricating this structure different pressure sensor ranges can be selected depending on how many of the sensing elements 205, 207, 209, 211 are selected by the combining circuit 217.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of interleaving information units in order to provide improved error control. A communication device codes the information units, subdivides the coded information units into multiple subsets, reorders each of the multiple subsets, and interlaces the multiple reordered subsets to produce a set of interleaved coded information units. By reordering and interlacing the subsets, the impact of burst errors is diminished and the coded information units are formatted to take advantage of the different levels of error protection provided to the various bits underlying a symbol assigned by a symbol mapper.

Abstract: An apparatus (100), comprising multiple modular electrical devices (102, 104, 504) and an optical signal source (106), all coupled to an optical communication resource (108), and method for the interconnection of the multiple modular electrical devices (102, 104, 504) provides for a first modular electrical device (102) of the multiple modular electrical devices to locate a second modular electrical device (104) of the multiple modular electrical devices and to selectively address a communication among multiple modular electrical devices (102, 504).

Abstract: A generic structure of Hybrid ARQ using Turbo Codes is provided which requires the function of a) channel coding, b) redundancy selection, c) buffering and max-ratio diversity combining, d) channel decoding, e) error detection and f) sending back an acknowledgement to the transmitter. The functions (a) and (b) are performed at the transmitter while functions (c) to (f) are performed at the receiver. The initial code rate can be explicitly communicated to the receiver or blindly detected.

Abstract: A pump and motor unit 100 and method for pumping fluid is provided. The pump and motor unit 100 has a rotor element 102 which provides both pumping force and motor force. The rotor element 102 contains a fluid flow channels 200 which pump the fluid through the pump and motor 100 when rotated using centrifugal pump principles. The rotor element 102 further includes magnets 108, preferably permanent magnets, which generate a rotor magnetic field. First and second stator seconds 104 and 106 generate a stator magnetic field using coils 300-314. The rotor and stator magnetic fields interact and generate a torque which rotates the rotor element 102 using brushless DC motor principles.

Abstract: An antenna array portion of a communication device receives a desired signal and an interfering signal. The unweighted desired and interfering signals from a first antenna (302) are then combined in a summer (308) with weighted versions of the signals from a second antenna (304) to produce a received RF signal (312). The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received RF signal (312) is then estimated using a spectral analysis technique. This estimate, along with the complex weights applied to the signal from the second antenna, is then stored. Utilizing feedback and a methodology for searching through a range of sets of complex weights, the weights optimizing the SNR are determined and used to weight subsequent signals from the second antenna.

Abstract: An unsynchronized base site (104) transmits a time synchronization request to a communication unit (110). A time synchronization error, or a timing offset, for the unsynchronized base site (104) is then determined and transmitted back to the unsynchronized base site (104) to enable the unsynchronized base site to synchronize itself. The time synchronization error is determined for the unsynchronized base site (104) based on the time difference of arrival of the signals received by the communication unit (110) from the base site (104) and at least one synchronized base site (101), the location of the communication unit (110), the location of the base site (104), and the location of the at least one synchronized base site (101).

Abstract: A communication device (e.g., 103) includes a user interface (209), a receiver (203), a controller (205), and a transmitter (201). A user of the communication device uses the user interface to place the communication device in a busy operational mode in which the communication device is not involved in a voice communication, but is nevertheless unavailable to participate in a voice communication. While in the busy mode, the communication device receives a voice communication from a calling device (e.g., 104) and automatically responds with a data message indicating that the communication device is in the busy mode, thereby informing a user of the calling device of the busy status of the called device without disrupting the user of the called device.

Abstract: A radio frequency communication system includes a cell site (FIG. 1), the cell site including an on-line controller (100), an off-line controller (101) and one or more peripheral units (107, 108, 110, 112, 114) arranged to support the on-line controller. The cell site is arranged to switch from the on-line controller to the off-line controller based upon a failure of the on-line controller or a failure of any peripheral unit of the one or more peripheral units arranged to support the on-line controller.

Abstract: A communication device employs a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving information packets using multiple layers of error detection. A sending communication device constructs an information packet to include user information divided into multiple data blocks, a primary error detection code for each data block, and at least a portion of a secondary protection code. The secondary protection code provides error protection for the entire information packet. The secondary protection code is selected such that it can be incrementally determined by a receiving device as data blocks are received and accepted by the receiving device, regardless of order of reception of the data blocks. Since the secondary protection code is incrementally determined, processor utilization is better regulated and delays associated with sending acknowledgments are minimized.

Abstract: A packet data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for tracking data packets in the packet data communication system. A sending communication device (e.g., 101) transmits a data packet (130) to a receiving communication device (e.g., 105), wherein the data packet includes a respective packet sequence number (131). Responsive to the transmission, the sending device increases a transmit tracking number (V(S)) that is used to indicate the packet sequence number of the data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted. Upon receiving the data packet, the receiving device transmits an acknowledgment data packet (140) to the sending device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number (139). The receive tracking number indicates the packet sequence number of the data packet that the receiving device expects to receive next.

Abstract: At least one outbound channel quality metric (OCQM) is determined by a communication unit (220) based on a first number of samples per unit of time (301). When the at least one OCQM is favorable, subsequent OCQMs for that channel are determined based on a decreased number of samples per unit of time (305). When the at least one OCQM is unfavorable, subsequent OCQMs are determined based on an increased number of samples per unit of time (306). In an alternate embodiment, the number of samples per unit of time used to determine OCQMs is based on an apparent speed of the communication unit. In yet another embodiment, the number of sample per unit of time is based in part upon a difference between a serving site OCQM and a neighboring site OCQM. In this manner, current drain on a communication unit's battery is substantially reduced, thereby extending battery life.