Abstract: An electromagnetic detection system comprises a transmitter-receiver apparatus coupled to at least one antenna element to form an electromagnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone defined at least in part by physical means. A plurality of responders is capable of generating a detectable signal under the influence of an interrogation field. According to the invention, at least one antenna element is a suitably formed structural element forming part of the physical means.

Abstract: A paging system which provides both individual and information services includes a transmitter for transmitting page call address and data periodically in batches, and a population of battery saver paging receivers for receiving the transmitted call information. Each transmission batch comprises a synchronization code followed by a predetermined plurality of sequential frames. Each subscribing receiver searches for its individual service address in a first designated frame of each batch of a transmission period, and in addition, searches for its information service address in a second designated frame of a designated batch of a transmission period. Individual and information service data messages are obtained from frames subsequent the frame at which their respective address is found.

Abstract: A multi-commander includes a first memory for storing a plurality of remote control signals having different signal formats, a circuit for receiving a remote control signal from another remote commander, a rewritable second memory, a remote control signal transmitting circuit for transmitting a remote control signal derived from the first memory, and a mode switch for selectively switching between the setting mode and the remote control mode. When the mode switch is in the setting mode, the signal format of the remote control signal derived from the other remote commander and received by the remote control signal receiving circuit is identified and the signal format of the remote control signal from the other remote commander is read out of the first memory and is then written in the second memory.

Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft device is disclosed which includes an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) which stores a modifiable code which must be matched by an input code in order to start the vehicle. The ignition key includes a resistor pellet, engaged by contact in the ignition lock assembly, which is measured to provide the input code. To avoid problems associated with intermittent contact engagement with the resistor pellet, circuitry is provided to control the resistor measurement cycle.

Abstract: A system for establishing a code and controlling operation of equipment. This system includes a first transmitter including a random code generator and a memory for storing the randomly generated code, as well as a transmitter for providing a radio frequency signal carrying that code. The system furthermore includes a transceiver including a receiver for the siganl generated by the first transmitter and a memory for storing the code carried by that signal. The transceiver includes a second transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying the code. This system also includes a remote receiver unit for connection to the equipment to be controlled. This remote receiver unit has a receiver for the radio frequency signal transmitted by either the first transmitter or the transceiver and a memory for storing that random code carried by the signal.

Abstract: A main station has a first timer device and each of a plurality of peripheral stations connected to the main station, through a communication line, has a second timer device. Data is transmitted between each of the plurality of peripheral stations and the main station, with every unit period of communication and the order of the communication therebetween being predetermined. In the unit period of communication mentioned above, an initializing data signal is transmitted from the main station to each of the peripheral stations and a data signal is transmitted between the main station and each peripheral station every individual communication period of each of the peripheral stations.

Abstract: A switch for controllng a porch light for providing an emergency signal, the switch being formed of a body of non-conducting material having a flasher and toggle pivotally supported to the switch body, the toggle being positionable in an OFF position whereby no continuity is provided through the switch, in an ON position wherein continuity is provided, and a FLASHER position wherein continuity is provided through the flasher, the switch being connectable in series between a voltage source and a light so that in the first position the light is ON, in the second position the light is OFF and in the third position the light is connected to the voltage source through the flasher.

Abstract: A pulse train relay for relaying pulses of duration not exceeding a maximum value (141), the relay being characterized by the fact that it comprises a receiver (1) having an input (2) suitable for picking up the pulses of a train, and an output (3) suitable for delivering a signal as a function of each picked-up pulse, a transmitter (4) having a transmission-feeding first input (5), a transmission-controlling second input (6), and a transmission output (7), a first circuit (8) for connecting the output of the receiver to the transmission-feeding input of the transmitter, and a second circuit (9) suitable for delivering a control pulse (143) starting on reception of a pulse by the receiver and continuing for a duration (144) which is not less than the maximum duration of the pulses in the train, the second circuit connecting the output of the receiver to the transmission-controlling input of the transmitter.

Abstract: In a satellite business communication system comprising a plurality of aperture terminals, a supervising station is coupled to the aperture terminals through a public communication network to centralize a monitoring operation of each aperture terminal. Each of the aperture terminals has a terminal directory number and a terminal indentification address while the supervising station has a primary directory number. A monitoring item is transmitting from the superivising station to a selected aperture terminal along with the terminal identification address of the selected aperture terminal and the primary directory number after a transmission path is formed by the terminal directory number through the public communcation network. A result of monitor in the selected aperture terminal is sent as a response signal back to the supervising station through a return path formed by the use of the primary directory number.

Abstract: A device for switching data channel signal lines of each of a number of data channels through modules having interconnection switching matrices, to a further device adapted to monitor the signal lines, including a module decoder for selective activation of each module, and series connections between the respective module decoders wherein a decoder may activate a module as a function of its series-connected position relative to other decoders.

Abstract: In a ratio paging system of the type having digital data modulated onto radio signals transmitted from a radio station to receiving units at remote sites, a test system. The test system includes a transmitter test module coupled to a radio transmitter at the station and a test bed module located at the remote site. The transmitter test module includes a microprocessor for generating digital test data, and a modulator coupled to the microprocessor for modulating the test data onto a radio signal and for injecting the radio signal into the station transmitter. The test bed includes a receiver for receiving the modulated radio signal, a demodulator for demodulating the received radio signal to recover the digital test data, and a computer for processing the recovered digital test data to generate paging test information. The mobile test bed also includes means for determining the latitude and longitude of a site to generate digital location data which is used to generate test information.

Abstract: A crossbar switch is constructed in monolithic integrated circuit form together with respective memory cells controlling each of the component crosspoint switches in the crossbar switch. The memory cells permit control signals for the crosspoint switches to be supplied serially to the monolithic integrated circuit and thus permit those control signals to be supplied in coded form as orthogonal cross addressing for the memory cells. This reduces the number of bits which must be provided in parallel to the integrated circuit for controlling the crosspoint switches. In preferred embodiments of the crossbar switch, provision is made for operation as a corner-turn array for rotating bit matrices and for faster operation as a barrel shifter.

Abstract: A broadband switching array for equalizing the delay experienced by input signals as they propagate through their respective swtiching hpaths, and for providing output signals having uniform logical polarities. A cascaded set of delay means is connected to each of the input ports of the array in accordance with the amount of additional delay that is needed to accomplish equalization. Likewise, a cascaded set of inverter means is connected to each ouput port so that each switching path performs a common number of inversion operations, thereby allowing the output signals to have the same logical polarity.

Abstract: For efficiently handling data transactions between various system units (CPUs, I/O units and main memory units) in a multi-processor system, the system units are linked via a plurality of expandable crossbar modules, each providing a set of interconnections or well-defined mappings between the sets of input and output nodes, with each output being defined in terms of only one input. In addition to the nodes provided at the input and output sections, each crossbar module is also provided with discrete input and output expansion portions through which the module may be linked to other identically configured crossbar modules when additional nodes are to be integrated into the system. The expansion ports allow serial linking of crossbar modules so as to establish a connection between source and destination nodes which are spread across different crossbar modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronic financial transaction processing systems used by customers of certain credit or electronic banking card-issuing institutions. The present invention involves two levels of secure interaction between the customer and the card-issuing institution. The first level of interaction involves the enrollment of a customer in the institution's electronic financial transaction processing system. The customer either selects or is issued a personal identification number and a card encoded with a personal key. The personal key and peronal identification number are used to generate a PIN transmission number and personal vertification number, which is stored in bank records. The second level of interaction involves the authorization of a customer's use of the electronic financial transaction processing system for executing an electronic transaction.

Abstract: A selective call system is provided in which string searching or text matching operations are performed on data from data generating devices such as condition sensors in a security system. When a predetermined string is identified, an address of a selective call receiver such as a pager is generated and that receiver is called. The invention is applicable to other applications where data is generated which includes predetermined character strings.

Abstract: A battery saving apparatus for supplying power to a selective call communication receiver for enabling the detection of a synchronization codeword in data received in a predetermined signaling format comprises circuits for supplying power to the receiver, and for detecting valid data received during a first portion of the first predetermined time interval. Power is maintained to the receiver for the remainder of the first predetermined time interval when valid data is detected in the first portion. A synchronization codeword detector is included for detecting a synchronization codeword. When valid data is subsequently detected following a second portion of the first predetermined time interval and the synchronization codeword is not detected in the first predetermined time interval, power is maintained to the receiver for a second predetermined time interval to further enable detection of the synchronization codeword.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inputting a voice through a microphone mounted at a position facing a speaking person. An image of a speaking person is generated and used to detect the position of a mouth of the speaker. The microphone is then moved in accordance with position of the mouth.

Abstract: A selective call control center is provided for transmission of calls to selective call receivers, such as paging receivers. In a first aspect, priorities are assigned to call sources and to call receivers and the order of transmission of calls is determined by the control center as a function of the priorities of the source and the receiver for each call. In a second aspect, at least one call receiver is provided having at least two addresses and the address to be selected from the at least two addresses for calling that receiver is determined dependent on the priority of the source of the call.

Abstract: A transmitter for a radio control system capable of highly facilitating the changing-over operation and constantly exhibiting desired control characteristics. The transmitter includes a plurality of main control elements which are controllable in directions relative to each other about a neutral point and control basic operation of a controlled unit, an auxiliary control element for selecting control characteristics of the main control elements, a first changeover element for changing over mechanically neutral of the main control elements, and a second changeover element operated when specific control characteristics of the main control elements are selected by the auxiliary control element, resulting in setting an electrically neutral point of an actuation section depending on the mechanically neutral point of the main control elements. The operation of the first changeover element causes the second changeover element to be changed over in association therewith.