Abstract: A wireless communication network system apparatus which provides for isochronous data transfer between node devices of the network, which provides at least one master node device which manages the data transmission between the other node devices of the network, which avoids or reduces interference from other wireless products and which resolves random errors associated with wireless technology including multipath fading. The system provides a communication protocol which shares the wireless transport medium between the node devices of the network, and which provides each node device on the network a designated transmit time slot for data communication.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus structured to transmit a plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through an electric power medium is provided. One embodiment of the method comprises an ultra-wideband transmitter structured to transmit the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses through the electric power medium and an ultra-wideband receiver structured to receive the plurality of ultra-wideband pulses from the electric power medium. Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a power supply that provides ultra-wideband communications to devices that obtain power from the power supply. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A wireless communication network system apparatus which provides for isochronous data transfer between node devices of the network, which provides at least one master node device which manages the data transmission between the other node devices of the network, which avoids or reduces interference from other wireless products and which resolves random errors associated with wireless technology including multipath fading. The system provides a communication protocol which shares the wireless transport medium between the node devices of the network, and which provides each node device on the network a designated transmit time slot for data communication.

Abstract: A apparatus and method are provided which assist the use of electronic documents in both a word processor (17) and Braille environment (16). The apparatus and methods facilitate conversion of electronic documents between various formats for subsequent use on word processor equipment (15) and Braille equipment (10) as required. The translation utilizes a temporary file (90, 91) in an intermediary format which retains formatting information relating the manner in which the document should be rendered in each environment (16,17). The transfer of electronic documents is transparent to the user in a manner that it appears only one document is being worked with.

Abstract: A receiver for ultra-wideband communications is provided. One feature of the receiver architecture is that includes only a single correlator. The receiver may be used in wireless and wire communication mediums. The single correlator may be used to update a locally generated signal based on an incoming signal and detect data. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing thermo-mechanical damage to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention use materials with superior thermo-mechanical properties, in particular, the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE), melting temperature, tensile strength and fracture toughness. The thermo-mechanical energy absorber materials are incorporated in, or replace, components of the ESD device that are susceptible to thermo-mechanical stress and cracking due to localized heating and thermal expansion.

Abstract: Improved inductive apparatus having controlled core saturation which provides a desired inductance characteristic with low cost of manufacturing. In one embodiment, a pot core having a variable geometry gap is provided. The variable geometry gap allows for a “stepped” inductance profile with high inductance at low dc currents, and a lower inductance at higher dc currents, corresponding for example to the on-hook and off-hook states of a Caller ID function in a typical telecommunications line. In other embodiments, single- and multi-spool drum core devices are disclosed which use a controlled saturation element to allow for selectively controlled saturation of the core. Exemplary signal conditioning circuits (e.g., dynamically controlled low-capacitance DSL filters) using the aforementioned inductive devices are disclosed, as well as cost-efficient methods of manufacturing the inductive devices.

Abstract: An improved system and associated components for providing reliable power supply and interconnectivity for digital subscriber line (DSL) applications at sites remote from the central office (CO). The system comprises a line power unit in communication with a subscriber-installable gateway module, the latter incorporating a power extraction circuit adapted to extract power from the Telco line. Home phone network (HPN), homeplug, and wireless modules are also provided within the gateway to permit connectivity between other electronic components within the subscriber's site. Subscriber-installable adapter modules which extract power and perform line interface functions for the various jacks throughout the site are also disclosed. Methods for installing and operating the aforementioned components are also described.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing the transmission suitability of a channel in a multi access scheme. In general, information relating to noise associated with a channel is obtained. A potential effect of the noise on a transmission quality of the channel is then estimated based on the obtained information. Next, a rating is assigned to the channel based on the estimated potential effect. Based on the assigned rating, the channel is classified into a grade of service class. Information relating to the channel and its associated rating and grade of service class is then stored in a database.

Abstract: A package for one or more solid state devices in a single module that allows for operation at high voltage, high current, or both high voltage and high current. Low thermal resistance between the solid state devices and an exterior of the package and matched coefficient of thermal expansion between the solid state devices and the materials used in packaging enables high power operation. The solid state devices are soldered between two layers of ceramic with metal traces that interconnect the devices and external contacts. This approach provides a simple method for assembling and encapsulating high power solid state devices.

Abstract: A receiver for ultra-wideband communications is provided. One feature of the receiver architecture is that includes only a single correlator. The receiver may be used in wireless and wire communication mediums. The single correlator may be used to update a locally generated signal based on an incoming signal and detect data. Another embodiment receiver may be used in a multi-path environment. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The present invention describes a network communication system which includes a first slave transceiver configured to communicate a plurality of TDMA data packets at different data rates to a second slave transceiver. The second slave transceiver is also configured to communicate a plurality of TDMA data packets at different data rates to the first slave transceiver. A master transceiver manages data communications between the first slave transceiver and the second slave transceiver. Each transceiver includes a data modulation unit, a transmitter, an antenna, and a receiver. The data modulation unit is configured to generate a plurality of signals having variable pulse repetition frequencies and different modulation techniques. The transmitter is coupled to the data modulation unit and the transmitter is configured to generate a pulse stream according to the data modulation unit.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method of applying a stippling stitch design to an area defining an asymmetrical polygon in a coordinate planar display format, involving: defining a pathway, which may be based on a fractal design, within a geometrically symmetrical boundary, the pathway comprising a single non-intersecting line; conforming the pathway to an asymmetrical polygon area substantially disposed within the geometrically symmetrical boundary; deriving a plurality of coordinate points representative of the pathway; and passing the points to a data storage medium in a pre-determined embroidery data format.

Abstract: An advanced modular plug connector assembly incorporating a substrate disposed in the rear portion of the connector housing, the substrate adapted to receive one or more electronic components such as choke coils, transformers, or other signal conditioning elements or magnetics. In one embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a single port pair with a single substrate disposed in the rear portion of the housing. In another embodiment, the assembly comprises a multi-port “row-and-column” housing with multiple substrates (one per port) received within the rear of the housing, each substrate having signal conditioning electronics which condition the input signal received from the corresponding modular plug before egress from the connector assembly. In yet another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises an indicator assembly having a plurality of optically transmissive conduits, the assembly being disposed largely outside the external noise shield of the connector and removable therefrom.

Abstract: A transmitter system is provided. In one embodiment, the transmitter system includes a data modulation unit, which generates a stream of data that is synchronized with a master clock. The transmitter system additionally includes a transmitter that transmits the stream of synchronized data by way of an attached antenna. In another embodiment the transmitter system includes a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer that includes a clock synchronization device, a frequency divider, a slot allocation unit, and a multiplexer/demultiplexer. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A system and a method for encoding and decoding ultra-wideband information are provided. An ultra-wideband transmission is encoded by positioning bipolar pulse pairs. The bipolar pulse pairs assist in detecting errors in the ultra-wideband transmission, before the entire transmission has been received. The transmission is analyzed for errors and an error rate is calculated. The calculated error rate is compared to one or more predefined acceptable error rate levels to determine whether the calculated error rate of the transmission is within at least one of the predefined acceptable error rate levels.

Abstract: A reliable Medium Access Control layer protocol and method employing centralized management of communication in a Time Division Multiple Access network architecture. The Medium Access Control layer protocol implements Quality of Service guaranties to the layers of the Open Systems Interconnection reference model above the Medium Access Control layer by providing guaranteed bandwidth links within the bandwidth range specified by those layers. The Medium Access Control layer protocol further provides variable data slot requisition, variable data slot allocation, dynamic data slot reallocation, and data slot deallocation.

Abstract: A system and method for mapping radio-frequency (RF) noise, and estimating channel quality in a multi-channel ultra-wideband communication system is provided. One method includes placing a plurality of time bins within a plurality of time frames and assigning a plurality of UWB communication channels comprising selected time bins. RF noise amplitude data is then sampled from selected time bins. The sampled RF noise amplitude data from the time bins is then averaged, thereby obtaining an average RF noise amplitude in each of the plurality of channels. The RF noise amplitude indicates the amount of RF noise present in a channel. The channels may then be ranked based on the characteristics of the RF noise.

Abstract: A package for one or more solid state devices in a single module that allows for operation at high voltage, high current, or both high voltage and high current. Low thermal resistance between the solid state devices and an exterior of the package and matched coefficient of thermal expansion between the solid state devices and the materials used in packaging enables high power operation. The solid state devices are soldered between two layers of ceramic with metal traces that interconnect the devices and external contacts. This approach provides a simple method for assembling and encapsulating high power solid state devices.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a scanner or imager that employs a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitters that emit a multiplicity of UWB pulses, which are received by a plurality of receivers. An object or person positioned between the UWB transmitters and receivers can be scanned and subsequently imaged in extreme detail, due to the broad spectral content of the UWB pulses. The UWB scanner can be constructed as a stationary or portable device.