Abstract: A paging apparatus with a time information generating circuit comprises a combination switch having multiple switch positions in different operation directions, so that a time setting mode is set when a predetermined first operation is performed by the combination switch, and a paging mode is set other operations are performed. When a predetermined second operation is performed with the time setting mode set, time information measured by the time information generating circuit is replaced with time information input by the second operation. Even in the time setting mode, it is checked if a call is made to the apparatus. When there is such a call, a user is informed of this event without ignoring the occurrence of the call.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring a pulse width of a remote control signal comprises a receiver for receiving a remote control signal exhibiting at least one pulse; an amplifier for shaping and amplifying the received remote control signal to produce a corresponding output signal; a counter having an output which changes from first to second logic states in response to reception of a falling edge of a first pulse of the output signal and simultaneously making a first count of clock pulses that is cleared at the falling edge of each pulse of the output signal; and a microprocessor. When the value of the first count reaches a first predetermined value equivalent to an output signal pulse period and a selected delay, the output changes back to the first logic state. The selected delay is set longer than the period of each pulse so that the first count does not reach the first predetermined value before arrival of another pulse within a waveform of the output signal.

Abstract: In a paging receiver having a plurality of receiver modes, an announcing arrangement is controlled at a particular time instant determined at a specific time instant which is previous to the particular time instant. The paging receiver is provided with a switch which is switchable to a plurality of conditions of selecting the receiver modes one at a time. A control part inspects the switch to produce a condition signal representative of one of the conditions to which the switch is switched. Responsive to the condition signal, the control part controls the announcing arrangement at the particular time instant.

Abstract: Pulses are produced in accordance with physical quantity changes in order to express the amount of change by count of the pulses produced. The changes are input to a convertor which converts them to corresponding electrical output values which are made available to a sample and hold circuit and to a first input of a comparator. An output value accepted from the convertor is held, as a held value, in the sample and hold circuit and provided therefrom to a second input of the comparator. The comparator produces an output pulse, so as ultimately to provide a trigger pulse and to be counted, only when the first input of the comparator differs from the second input thereof by a preset reference amount. At each trigger pulse, the sample and hold circuit accepts the next available electrical output value from the convertor as the value to be hold and provided to the comparator.

Abstract: The position encoder system requires no keyboard surface area and includes a retractable and extendable handle that is stored inside the computer when not in use. The handle is extended for use near the computer keyboard. The movement of the handle is sensed by a high resolution sensing system that consumes relatively little power.

Abstract: Several unique features of a key switch housing and plunger are disclosed which may be employed to provide a keyboard having improved noise and feel characteristics. A system of key plunger up-stops is used to reduce the noise produced by key return while preventing removal of the plunger from the chimney of the switch housing. The system comprises a pair of relatively weak and resilient up-stops which have a relatively small contact area which act to restrict upward movement of the keycap/plunger combination during normal operation and a pair of relatively strong and rigid up-stops which do not contact the switch housing during normal keyboard use, but which prevent the pull-out of the key switch plunger from the chimney of the key switch housing. An additional feature disclosed is a unique key switch housing and plunger design which minimizes key wobble while providing smooth key action.

Abstract: The handle is arranged to be expanded from a compact, collapsed configuration, into an expanded configuration for comfortable manipulation by the user. Upon completion of the use of the handle, the handle is collapsed to the compact configuration for stowage in the computer.

Abstract: Information representing the state of switches carried on a pointing device handle is carried to an associated computer via a capacitive coupling technique.

Abstract: A switching array as described for connecting ones of a plurality of data sources to ones of a plurality of data sinks. The array includes source data busses which transmit from a connected source, data words, a connection mask and a connection designator. The connection mask has bit positions that map to individual data sinks. A multiplexer/control circuit module is associated with each individual data sink for controlling the interconnection of the data sink to a source data bus. Each multiplexer/control circuit module is connected to each source data bus and is responsive to an active state connection mask bit and a connection designator on a first source data bus, to establish a connection between an associated sink and the first source data bus. This configuration enables the multiplexer/control circuit module to establish a connection without reference to any other multiplexer/control circuit.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for monitoring the consumption of utilities in business premises. The premises are divided into notional zones, each including a utility load and a meter to record consumption within the zone. The zones are combined into notional groups. A central analysis computer is provided for receiving consumption data from the zones of a group to calculate total utility consumption within the group, and to conduct further analysis on the consumption data. The computer also supplies control data to the zones for controlling utility consumption. A single loss monitoring device records the total losses which occur between a point and the utility loads in the zones. The loss monitoring device transfers this information to the computer. Alternatively, a separate loss monitoring apparatus is supplied for each column of zones for determining the losses which occur in any single column of zones.

Abstract: Control systems including control circuitry and optional communications systems for operating a sliding power-operated member of an automotive vehicle. A powered sliding door in an automotive vehicle, such as a van, moves along a predetermined path of travel between a closed position and a fully open position relative to the body of the vehicle. Such a sliding door may be provided with one or more electrically-operated actuators for performing functions associated with the door, such as power opening and closing the door, power unlatching the door, power locking and unlocking the door, and power clamping and unclamping the door in a soft or low-momentum manner. The invention is directed toward improved control systems and circuitry for operating such power-sliding door systems. One such control system employs a wireless communications link between the door and body, which is preferably implemented using radio frequency communication signals containing digitally encoded control signals.

Abstract: A two-part sensor includes a power source/signal receiver and a signal generator which are physically spaced and disconnected from one another. The power source/signal receiver is encased within transparent encapsulating material and includes an annular solenoid core with an aperture, a coil around the core and a photodiode mounted in the aperture. The photodiode detects a modulated light beam received from the signal generator and produces an output information signal. The solenoid coil produces a fluctuating magnetic field when connected to a power supply. The signal generator is encased within transparent encapsulating material and includes an annular relay coil with an aperture, a coil around the core, a transducer circuit and an LED mounted within the aperture. The relay coil provides a signal generator supply potential when positioned within the magnetic field produced by the power source/signal receiver. The supply potential powers the transducer circuit and the LED.

Abstract: In a radio communication apparatus having an individual call number for use in receiving a call signal and a message signal representing a message and following the call signal, the apparatus being capable of operating in one of a standby mode wherein the apparatus is waiting to receive a call signal that is coincident with the individual call number and a message received mode wherein the apparatus has received a call signal that is coincident with the individual call number, a push button switch (11 or 12) is provided for setting an operation mode of a display unit (24), and a control unit (32) is provided to control the display unit to make the display unit carry out a display operation of the received message.

Abstract: By rectifying, comparing and X-OR gating two signals (A,B) from a transmitting device (G) that are to be sinusoidal and have a corresponding rotational frequency, of the same amplitude, and ideally offset from one another electrically by 90.degree., a binary signal (RD) is generated that is indicative of whether a disturbance of the two signals (A,B) exists. A processing device (VE) determines if errors exist with respect to the amplitude, the offset or the phase relationship of the signals (A,B) by monitoring the mark-to-space ratio of the binary signal (RD) for its adherence to a ratio of 1:1, and generates a signal indicative of a disturbance when an error is determined to exist. Additionally, by dividing the binary signal (RD) via a 1:8 convertor (U) and monitoring that signal, the processing device can determine if a change in the rotational frequency of the two signals (A,B) of the transmitting device occurs.

Abstract: A communication network, such as an audiovisual system, on an automobile has a master unit and a plurality of slave units which are connected to a common communication bus. When the communication network starts operating, connection confirmation request information is transmitted from the slave units to the master unit. The master unit awaits connection confirmation request information from at least one of the slave units for a predetermined period of time after the communication network starts operating. Thereafter, the predetermined period of time is extended if the reception of connection confirmation request information from all the slave units that were connected when the connection network stopped operating in a preceding cycle is not completed. If reception acknowledgement information from the master unit is not detected for a predetermined period of time, then the slave units automatically enter a low power consumption mode.

Abstract: A microprocesser-based controller for an appliance such as a microwave oven is able to control a number of different models having different cooking characteristics. The user-operable keypanel is unique to each model, and a scanned matrix keyboard on the keypanel is encoded in a manner consistent with conventional scanned matrix keyboard techniques to identify to the controller the particular model. A scanned matrix keyboard includes a set of drive lines and a set of sense lines intersecting the drive lines. In one embodiment disclosed herein, one or more sense lines are added that are uniquely connected to the existing drive lines depending on the particular model being encoded. The added sense lines are read to determine the model. In another embodiment, one or more drive lines are added, similarly connected to existing sense lines depending on the particular model being encoded.

Abstract: A contactless inductive data transmission system provides bidirectional signal transfer between a sending-and-receiving station and one or more batteryless transponders. A high-frequency signal from the sending-and-receiving station is pulse width modulated for data transmission to a transponder and provides a system clock, which is extracted in both the sending-and-receiving station and in the transponder for synchronization, and provides the electrical power for operation of the transponder. The pulse width modulated signal is demodulated in the transponder for triggering a response wherein a modulating signal is applied by load modulation to the pulse width modulated high-frequency signal to form an information-carrying load modulated high-frequency signal, which is demodulated in the sending-and-receiving station.

Abstract: Apparatus identifying an instrumentality such as a person's hand or an article of merchandise, wherein the instrumentality carries a tag incorporating a transponder generating and transmitting a radio frequency identification signal in response to a radio frequency transmitted inquiry, a nest comprising an identifying station and incorporating a proximity sensor sensing the presence of the instrumentality at the identifying station and producing an indication of the presence or absence of the instrumentality, the identifying station comprising a radio frequency sensor portion generating a radio frequency transmitted inquiry transmitted to the transponder in response to sensing the presence of the instrumentality and receiving the radio frequency identification signal from the transponder, the proximity sensor terminating generation of the radio frequency transmitted inquiry when a clear and reliable output indication identifying the tag has been produced, and the proximity sensor also preventing, after produc

Abstract: A dual mode electronic identification system using a tag which has a RF receiver and transmitter contained therein. In the first mode the tag responds to an interrogation signal by transmitting identification data to the interrogator. In the second mode the tag periodically transmits an identification beacon signal to a directional sensing antenna which uses the signal to compute the position of the tag. The power supply for the tag operates from an internal battery or from power received from a portal signal via a tag receiving antenna. The battery can be automatically turned off when the tag is in the portal area and the unit can be shifted into the battery operated beacon mode when the tag is removed from the portal area.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (200) is capable of receiving messages and storing the messages for subsequent retrieval by a user. The selective call receiver (200) assigns a status designation (706) and a chronological order (704) to each stored message, and further prioritizes the messages in a sequential order being prioritized first by a priority of the status designation (706) assigned to the messages and then further prioritized therewithin according to the chronological order (704) assigned to the messages. The selective call receiver (200) then presents the messages to the user in the sequential order for the messages.