Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating with a product label. A host computer transfers information to be communicated to one or more product labels to a radio frequency transmitter. The information is transmitted to a transceiver built into the product label. The information can be intended for each of a plurality of product labels, or for a particular one of the product labels. If the particular one of the labels is one which has not communicated recently with the host computer, the information can used to locate the particular label through the use of other product labels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information concerning products, using radio frequency transmissions. A host computer transfers information relating to a product to a radio frequency transmitter. The information is transmitted to a transceiver built into a label for the product, the label being located near a shelf of a gondola that is holding the product. The transmission from the transmitter to the transceiver may be made through one or more repeaters. A label transceiver for another product can act as a repeater, upon instruction from the host computer. When the intended label transceiver correctly receives the information concerning the product, it retransmits an acknowledgement back to the host computer along the same transmission path by which the information reached the transceiver. The transceiver stores the information relating to the product in the label. The transceiver and label are powered by a photovoltaic cell that transforms ambient light into electrical energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing spread spectrum communications. The apparatus starts with designated spread spectrum communications parameters, such as default transmitted power level, pseudo-noise (PN) sequence, PN sequence length, and frequency channel, having values which are chosen to ensure that spread spectrum communications can be carried out between a first station and a second station. The apparatus of the invention then changes the values of the spread spectrum communications parameters to the minimum values necessary to provide a given level of communications reliability. If the conditions facing the spread spectrum communication system change so that communications reliability falls below the given level, the apparatus resets the values of the spread spectrum communications parameters to the default levels and begins again to change their values to provide the given level of communications reliability.

Abstract: An overvoltage resistor formed in the substrate semiconductor material of an integrated circuit. The overvoltage resistor is formed from a resistive layer formed over a well of a semiconductor material having a conductivity type which is opposite to the conductivity type of the substrate material. The overvoltage resistor is not connected to the voltage supplies of the integrated circuit, thereby eliminating the virtual pn-diode which would otherwise be formed between the well and the substrate and allowing the overvoltage resistor to protect the integrated circuit from voltages outside the range of supply voltages.

Abstract: A method of specification of the routing of signal and planar power nets between terminals of a core module and pads in an array of pads surrounding the core module. The method identifies proximity terminals and cyclic constraints and then routes the signal nets and power nets in separate moat rings that are concentric with the core module. The proximity terminals and any pads involved in cyclic constraints are routed in respective proximity and cyclic moat rings, adjacent the core module and pad array, respectively. Finally, the resulting moat signal nets are promoted within the signal to the next most outwardly adjacent, unoccupied concentric tracks, and then sections of the proximity, signal, power, and cyclic rings are collapsed to the next most radially inward, unoccupied concentric tracks.