Abstract: A receiver capable of receiving a plurality of signals, wherein more of the signals are received at a peak time than at an off peak time, comprises the method of a first step for determining if the signals are being received by searching in a first search mode and a second step for determining if the signals are not being received by searching in a second search mode. Selection circuitry activates the first step during the peak time and activates the second step during the off peak time. The first and second search modes comprise searching for the signal and searching for noise, respectively.

Abstract: An electrical device has a display and a battery which has a varying electrical condition. The display typically displays information to be read by the user of the device. In response to a low battery detection, the information being displayed may be interrupted with information indicating the battery is low. The timing of the interruption increases as the battery nears depletion thereby giving user an indication of the remaining battery capacity. The variation in timing includes either increasing the duty cycle of the periodic interruption, decreasing the period of the interruption, or both. The electrical device may include a wrist watch paging receiver with a message display and a clock with time of day and date functions.

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 paging system has a signal for transmitting a variable amount of messages to paging receivers. The signal has a synchronization signal, an address field, an information and a boundary signal indicative of the boundary between the address field and the information field. Each message has addresses which are included within the address field and may have message information which is included in the information field. The information field includes two portions, a first portion having a plurality of packets for holding a predetermined amount of information and a second portion for holding a variable amount of information. If the information associated with a messasge is less than the predetermined amount, the message information is stored in the first portion of the information field.

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 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: A global communications system is described having terrestrial transmitters for transmitting coded message signals in each of a plurality of geographic areas. The global communication system further includes at least one satellite transmitter for transmitting the coded messages signals in each of a plurality of global geographic areas. The coded message signals transmissions include channel identification codewords identifying the terrestrial channels and the satellite channel. The terretrial channel is selected for operation when the channel identification codeword received matches a first predetermined channel identification codeword. The satellite channel is selected for operation when the channel identification codeword does not match the first predetermined channel identification codeword. When the satellite channel is selected the terrestrial channel is periodically reselected to enable decoding the channel identification codeword received on the terrestrial channel.

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.

Abstract: A built in test circuit within a frequency synthesizer for use in selective call radio receivers provides a selectable one of a plurality of internal signals as a test signal for diagnosing the frequency synthesizer's output in real time.

Abstract: An acknowledge-back pager receives an address signal positioned within a group of address signals. Following reception of the address signal, first and second acknowledge signals are transmitted as determined at least in part by the received address signal's position in the group of address signals, such that, the first and second acknowledge signals are not simultaneously transmitted.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining if a received binary word corresponds to the true or complement version of a stored binary word includes means for serially multiplexing the bits of each binary word to the inputs of an exclusive OR gate. The exclusive-OR gate generates a logical high signal each time a mismatch occurs. These signals are applied directly to an error counter and, after inversion, to a match counter. The contents of the error counter and match counter are compared to a stored threshold number. A first signal is generated if the contents of the error counter exceeds the threshold. A second signal is generated if the contents of the match counter exceeds the threshold. Upon the occurrence of both signals, the serial comparison process is terminated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a satellite signalling system, such as a satellite paging system, having signal coverage over a very wide area. The satellite signalling system comprises a satellite to which is coupled an antenna for providing a signal beam having a variable beam area. The satellite can control the position of the antenna such that the signal beam can be directed in a predetermined sequence to a plurality of locations on earth. The antenna is arranged to vary the signal beam's area in dependence on the location to which the signal beam is directed. The signal beam comprises a data signal having a data rate which can be varied by the antenna in dependence on the beam area.

Abstract: A battery powered receiver including a adaptive signal decoder is disclosed which is capable of processing detected encoded signals in accordance with a plurality of decoding schemes. The decoder has an equivalent microcomputer implementation. Energy conservation means operating independently of the detected signals acts to conserve the energy of the battery.

Abstract: An individual desiring to operate a pager via voice commands sends a message to a repository of voice recognition codebooks requesting access to a particular codebook. The repository device(s) respond by transmitting the codebook of that individual to at least one pager, which stores the codebook therein. In a second embodiment, each individual operating a pager by voice commands is provided with a codebook module, which contains suitable memory storage having at least that operator's codebook stored therein. By inserting the codebook module (or card) into the pager, that pager becomes at least partially controllable by the voice commands of that operator. The codebook module may be easily removed to permit the communication device to be rapidly reprogrammed by inserting the codebook of another operator.

Abstract: A battery charging controller which can be integrated within a battery powered device having a rechargeable battery includes a circuit for monitoring the energy consumption of the device from the battery, and for accumulating a measure of the energy consumed since the battery was previously charged. Energy consumption is determined based on the number of device functions being active during predetermined sampling time intervals. When the battery powered device is coupled to an external charging source, the charging of the battery, including the charging rate, is controlled by the energy monitoring circuit within the battery powered device. Rapid charging, slow charging, and discharging of the battery before charging are all readily controlled using an external charging source which requires no circuits for monitoring the battery charging process.

Abstract: A differential voltage comparator circuit comprises a differential pair (802 and 804) electrically coupled to a biasing network (806) and a loading network (808). The differential pair circuit comprises a first (802) and a second (804) controllable electron valves arranged in a differential pair configuration. The first and second electron valve drains (811 and 810) are electrically coupled to the loading network (808). The first and second electron valve sources (822 and 824) are electrically coupled to the biasing network (806). The first and second electron valve control gates (834 and 836) are electrically coupled to respective first and second input voltage potentials (V1 and V2). Lastly, the first and second electron valve bodies (812 and 814) are electrically coupled to respective first and second body effect voltage potentials (VB1 and VB2) that are not the same voltage potential.