Abstract: The conductive layers corresponding to a patch antenna are formed on a single substrate, as by printing a conductive ink. The substrate is in the form of an elongated, non-conductive, flexible sheet with the consecutive antenna layers printed thereon side-by-side. The layers of the antenna can then be brought into superposed alignment by appropriate folding of the sheet. The non-conductive rectangles can be maintained in spaced alignment to the cut-outs by placing a porous non-conductive block of spacing material therebetween. In a preferred embodiment the assembled structure has the various layers bonded together.

Abstract: An optical transmitter for generating any one of N carrier signals for use in an M-channel WDM system (M≧N), each channel operating at a different carrier wavelength &lgr;s (s=1, 2 . . . M), includes an optical source for generating the carrier signals at any one of multiplicity of N wavelengths &lgr;i (i=1, 2 . . . N), where (1≦N≦M). A first controller selects a particular one of the wavelengths &lgr;i at which the source operates. An optical modulator receives the carrier signal corresponding to the selected wavelength &lgr;i and impresses information on the received signal. The modulator has a characteristic electronic bandgap and a wavelength &lgr;g corresponding thereto. At a given temperature, &lgr;g is offset from each &lgr;i by an amount &Dgr;&lgr;i. For each wavelength &lgr;i there is a predetermined value of &Dgr;&lgr;i which delivers preferred (e.g., optimum) transmission performance.

Abstract: A Global Positioning Satellite (“GPS”)-based restraint system includes a GPS receiver/transmitter for receiving GPS timing signals, a mapping algorithm, a comparator, and a base station receiver. The receiver/transmitter includes a microprocessor for calculating and storing a waypoint. The mapping algorithm calculates a mapped programmed confinement area from a plurality of waypoints obtained along the perimeter of the physical confinement area, and the comparator provides an output comparing the present position of the receiver/transmitter with the programmed confinement area. The comparator output is transmitted as an output signal by the receiver/transmitter to the base station receiver and the position of the subject is monitored while the receiver/transmitter is attached to the subject. The restraint system also includes deterrent means for administering a deterrent to the subject that can be used either in lieu of or with the base station receiver.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes common hardware and software routines already present in most digital telephone devices, e.g., a DTMF detector; to download data over a telephone line to a digital telephone device. Each symbol of a numeric system, e.g., a hexadecimal system, used to represent the data is associated with a DTMF tone pair. The DTMF tone pair is downloaded from a data source such as a manufacturer of the digital telephone device, to the digital telephone device using a telephone line. Other tones may be used to provide control signals between the data source and the digital telephone device. Thus, using common and inexpensive routines in a typical digital telephone device, the expense of a modem or other conventional data communication device is not necessary to receive data.

Abstract: An enhancement to the use of a tbox function for CMEA encryption. Offsets are generated for application of the tbox function to a message, using secret values and previously encrypted message octets. The offsets are used to permute the message for application of the tbox function. For the first message of a call, the previously encrypted message octets are replaced by an initialization value. In a system employing a single iteration of CMEA encryption, first and second offsets are generated. In a system employing two iterations of CMEA encryption, first, second, third and fourth offsets are generated, with the first and second offsets being used in the first iteration of CMEA encryption and the third and fourth offsets being used in the second iteration of CMEA encryption.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking objects used in connection with athletic activities or sporting events, especially, balls, pucks, and the like. The method includes the steps of differencing present and previous frames of a video image including the, for example, ball to obtain motion regions, converting the motion regions to HSV color space, extracting the region corresponding to the ball based on empirical color data about the ball, obtaining a motion vector based on the motion of the ball region from a previous frame to the current frame, and updating the ball trajectory based on the newest motion vector obtained. The method also preferably includes a step of identifying completed trajectories based on preset constraints. The method is preferably expanded on by using at least one pair of cameras to provide a three-dimensional trajectory, and sometimes preferable expanded on by using a plurality of cameras, especially a plurality of pairs of cameras.

Abstract: A 2nd order digital filter requiring only one sigma delta modulator is created by implementing (1) a 2nd order feedforward term created by the cascade of two 1st order elements; (2) a 2nd order feedback term created by the cascade of two 1st order elements; and (3) another 2nd order feedback term created by the cascade of two more 1st order elements to eliminate the need for another sigma delta modulator to provide a 2nd order filter. Thus, for the mere ‘cost’ of additional feedback loops, which are small in comparison with the size and complexity of another sigma delta modulator, a second sigma delta modulator is not necessary to implement a 2nd order digital filter in accordance with the principles with the present invention.

Abstract: In a battery pack made up of battery cells encased within a housing made up of a stronger outer housing portion and a weaker inner housing portion, the battery cells are secured to the stronger outer housing portion. Advantageously, the relative motion between the battery cells and the stronger of the housing portions that results when prior art battery packs are dropped, and which causes catastrophic failure of the prior art battery packs, is prevented. The battery cells may be secured to the stronger outer housing portion, for example, by gluing the battery cells to the stronger housing portion, attaching the battery cells to the stronger housing portion by using double-sided sticky tape, molding features into the stronger housing portion that immobilize the battery cells adjacent to the stronger housing portion, or providing screw holes through the stronger housing portion so that screws may engage the battery cell or an appendage thereto.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional glyph for visually presenting data relating to a project comprises a plurality of component objects representing different data items, each component object having a color-coded attribute relating to the data item presented and having an attribute for encoding data item changes over time. A system for generating each glyph includes a device for representing various data items extracted from a database as display objects, and a device for arranging the display objects as a visually recognizable glyph for presenting the data items simultaneously on a graphics display, the objects of the glyph being color coded to define a type of data and having attributes for presenting changes of the data item over time. The system is interactive enabling manipulation of the glyph on the display for visualizing a developmental state of a data item at a prior point in time.

Abstract: Improved error rate performance of data transmissions systems using both coded and uncoded modulation in the presence of more-than-mild intersymbol interference is achieved in the receiver using M-path joint decision feedback equalizer/decoder in conjunction with a finer partition of the constellation than was used in the transmitter and a refined receiver trellis diagram based on that finer partition.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptive signal processing for an antenna array reduces the requisite computations for executing an adaptive algorithm that combines or digitally filters baseband receive signals. The system receives uplink electromagnetic signals from a phased array and uplink electromagnetic signals from a diversity array during the reception of a desired electromagnetic signal transmitted by a desired mobile station. The uplink signals are converted into baseband signals for digital signal processing. The baseband signals are observable as a series of successive time slots. The system determines uplink coarse combining weights associated with the uplink baseband signals of the phased array and downlink coarse combining weights associated with the downlink baseband signals of the phased array. The baseband uplink signals are summed into as few as one resultant baseband signal during or after application of the coarse combining weights to the baseband uplink signals.

Abstract: Call blockages can now be identified down to the line and group of lines that caused the call blockage. No more long statistical studies followed by guessing in order to alleviate blockages. This method and apparatus operating in concert with recently added load balancing processes report specifically what caused each call blockage at what time. With such specific information, each line or group of lines that needs to be moved or added to a new line terminating equipment are quickly identified and accomplished, thereby keeping service to the average customers at acceptable levels. The amount of specificity represents a breakthrough in call line and traffic management.

Abstract: The specification describes techniques for applying solder bumps to IC chips. The solder bump sites are first provided with under bump metallization (UBM) for solder bump interconnections to the Al bonding sites on the IC chip. The substrate, i.e. the capping layer of the IC chip, is coated with photoresist and patterned to expose the UBM and a peripheral portion of the capping layer around the UBM. The solder paste is then applied and reflowed to form the solder bump. Since the photoresist hardens and becomes difficult to remove after the reflow step, a sacrificial buffer layer is interposed between the photoresist and the capping layer to facilitate removal of the photoresist without attacking the IC chip surface.

Abstract: A wireless telephone with record and playback capability is disclosed. The telephone has an operation module, which transmits near-end signals and receives far-end signals, and a record module which writes transmission packets formed from the near-end signals in a first location of a memory and reception packets formed from the far-end signals in a second location of the memory. A playback module reads the transmission packets and the reception packets from the memory, and decodes the transmission packets into transmission speech samples and the reception packets into reception speech samples using transmission and reception decoders, respectively. Further, the playback module has a mixer to mix the transmission speech samples with the reception speech samples to form mixed speech signals for playback on a speaker.

Abstract: A ground lug insulator assembly having a base member that mounts to a ground lug stud projecting from a splice closure. The base member is cup-shaped and houses a wire connector therein which is connected to the ground lug. A cup-shaped cap member is adapted to mate with the base member and to latch thereto after both are filled with B-sealant gel.

Abstract: Calling party identification announcement service (CPIAS) provides an announcement of the caller's name to a called party, so that the called party may accept of reject a call. This invention relates to arrangements for providing CPIAS using centralized announcement synthesis apparatus, under the control of a data base (in accordance with the principles of intelligent networks), within the basic call processing arrangements of the public switched telephone network, without requiring users of the services to have two telephone numbers. Billing entries for the use of the announcement service are made under the control of the terminating switch so that these entries can be readily combined with other billing entries for the called party in order to generate a bill for that party.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for selectively distributing a parameter with a selected feature from one mobile switch center to another mobile switch center. A master control file is provided and downloaded to the one mobile switch center with instructions identifying parameters to be excluded from transmission. The instructions are implemented via a filter file program.

Abstract: A method for uniformly doping a semiconductor surface including non-planar regions. A doped coating material, such as in-situ doped polysilicon or doped glass, is deposited or spread over an etched silicon substrate or wafer. Heat is applied at high temperatures to drive n or p type dopants from the doped coating material into nearby regions of the substrate. In this manner angled or recessed regions of a substrate, such as vertical or angled junction sidewalls in v-groove or trench structures, are uniformly doped.

Abstract: Fuzzy logic controller for a queue manager that services a plurality of queues in an iterative fashion, each queue containing an indeterminate number of elements, the manager iteratively servicing each of the plurality of queues in accordance with a dequeuing quantity parameter, Q. The controller comprises a device for determining an amount of queues having remaining elements after each servicing iteration and outputting the amount; a device for comparing the difference between a system output representing an amount of queues having remaining elements in a current iteration with a previous output representing an amount of queues having remaining elements in a predecessor iteration, the output difference indicating a first dequeuing trend; and, a device for adjusting the dequeuing quantity parameter Q based on the dequeuing trend, the adjusting device capable of driving the system output toward a predetermined setpoint quantity after each servicing iteration.

Abstract: A method for quality and reliability assurance testing a lot of fabricated ICs comprising the steps of testing the differential Iddq of a sample of ICs at a plurality of different voltages, burning-in a sample of ICs, and then testing the functionality of the sample of ICs. The method of the present invention enables the reliability of an entire lot of ICs to be tested by determining an effective screening voltage for differential Iddq testing of the ICs, thereby eliminating the need both to burn-in and conduct post burn-in testing of all future lots of the ICs. The method of the present invention also enables fabrication facilities and workers to be engaged in other tasks rather than testing of ICs.