Abstract: A general-purpose data terminal (242), such as a personal computer, portable computer, notebook computer, personal intelligent communicator, portable wireless terminal and the like employs a radio frequency (RF) modem (408) and is programmed to function as a two-way acknowledge back pager. The general purpose data terminal (242) maintains a table listing (600) of caller identification information and presents this information to the device user upon receipt of a page (300) from an identifiable caller. The device user may respond to the page by selecting one of a plurality of user definable responses to be transmitted back to the caller. If no response is selected the caller will receive a message informing them of the paged party's unavailability.

Abstract: A combination switch for performing various functions comprises a fixed substrate having an output contact assembly which has a common output contact and other output contacts which are electrically insulated from the common output contact. The switch also comprises a movable substrate having a switch contact assembly which has a common contact and other contacts which are electrically connected to the common contact. A switch lever is for moving the movable substrate with respect to the fixed substrate to shift the switch contact assembly relative to the output contact assembly, thereby selectively connecting the common output contact to the output contacts through the switch contact assembly to supply from the output contact assembly a pattern signal indicative of one of different conductive patterns. A processor judges, in response to the pattern signal, to which function the conductive pattern corresponds and producing an operational signal for performing the indicated function.

Abstract: An ion removing device includes an ion inducing electrode provided in a vacuum container in a deflection portion of an electron accumulating ring along an inner peripheral wall of the vacuum container, an ion removing electrode provided in the vacuum container near each of ports of the defection portion of the electron accumulating ring, and a power source for applying a voltage to both the ion inducing electrode and the ion removing electrodes. An ion removing method includes the steps of inducing ions trapped by a potential generated by an electron beam to ports of a deflection portion of an electron accumulating ring by forming an electric field in a vacuum container in the deflection portion, and removing the ions which have been inducted to the ports of the defection portion.

Abstract: Providing a field emitter with an asymmetrical emitter structure having a very sharp tip in close proximity to its gate. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an asymmetrical emitter and a gate. The emitter having a tip and a side is coupled to a substrate. The gate is connected to a step in the substrate. The step has a top surface and a side wall that is substantially parallel to the side of the emitter. The tip of the emitter is in close proximity to the gate. The emitter is at an emitter potential, and the gate is at a gate potential such that with the two potentials at appropriate values, electrons are emitted from the emitter. In one embodiment, the gate is separated from the emitter by an oxide layer, and the emitter is etched anisotropically to form its tip and its asymmetrical structure.

Abstract: An RF tag (10) includes an RF receiver (16) and an RF transmitter (18). A power source (12) provides power to the receiver and transmitter. The power source includes a plurality of energy converters (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32). Each energy converter is responsive to a predetermined form of incident energy for converting its respective predetermined form of incident energy to electrical current. At least two of the energy converters are responsive to respective different predetermined forms of incident energy for providing electrical current. A storage capacitor (54) stores the electrical current provided by the energy converters and is coupled to the RF receiver and RF transmitter. A plurality of RF tags (10, 110, 140, 160) utilizing the power source 12 are also described.

Abstract: A remote control unit for a television or video tape recorder has a minimal number of keys to simplify use of the control unit. The unit is shaped having a rounded bottom and is weighted toward that bottom, so that the remote control unit will stand upright even if momentarily tipped over. The remote control unit includes a programmable read-only memory, so that it can control various units such as a television, video tape recorder, compact audio disc player, and the like. The rounded bottom is attached to the main body of the remote control unit in a rotary fashion so that the bottom may be rotated to select different functions, such as the television or video tape recorder to be controlled.

Abstract: An electric lamp assembly comprises a sealed light-transmissive lamp envelope enclosing an interior; a lamp capsule having at least one end located within the interior for generating light upon application of electrical energy, said capsule having a central axis and a press seal formed in said end; two lead-in wires sealed in said envelope; a light-transmissive shroud surrounding said capsule; and a frame within the interior for supporting said capsule and shroud, the frame being mechanically mounted within the interior at one end thereof by an isolation bridge connected between the frame and one of the lead-in wires. The isolation bridge comprises an electrically insulating member of a suitable ceramic having electrically conductive end caps thereon. The end caps contain leads one of which is welded to a stem lead and the other of which is welded to a lower portion of the frame. The assembly eases automation of the lamp.

Abstract: A touch panel device comprises a resistance material on which a potential gradient is formed extended along an X axis, a contact electrode to be pushed to contact with the resistance material, a potential supplying unit for selectively supplying to the contact electrode via a resistance via at least two kinds of potentials one by one, a potential detecting unit for detecting the potential at the contact electrode, and a pushed position detecting unit for detecting a X coordinate of the pushed position based on the potential detected by the potential detecting unit when the potentials are supplied thereto by the potential supplying unit.

Abstract: A mechanical key and lock set with a rotating cylinder includes an electronic interlock which is responsive to the insertion of a mated key in the cylinder and proper rotation of the cylinder. A sensor is placed in communication with the cylinder and senses proper rotation of the cylinder to generate an activation signal. Systems controlled by the lock cannot be enabled without the generation of the activation signal. Fail safe blocking circuitry is placed in communication with the activation signal generator and in the event the actuation signal is attempted to be read in an unauthorized manner without properly rotating the cylinder, the blocking circuitry is functional to preclude reading.

Abstract: A remote control system including a hand held remote control unit with an alphanumeric information display, for controlling and communicating with a first controlled device, such as a digital music tuner connected to a community antenna television (CATV) cable, and for controlling a selected one of a plurality of second controlled devices, such as CATV set-top units, VCRs, or television sets. A first, high speed, error free display information communications protocol is utilized for transmitting program content or other information from a device, such as the CATV-connected music tuner, to the remote control unit for display. A second or control communications protocol is utilized by the remote control unit for controlling the first controlled device and a selected one of the second controlled devices. The CATV cable-connected music tuner utilizes the 44.

Abstract: A wireless, dynamically reconfigurable link layered communications network and method are disclosed. A destination transceiver such as, a central transceiver, has a unique, permanent identification with a predetermined numerical link layer level n. A plurality of remote transceivers each having a unique, permanent identification and a variable, stored numerical link layer x where x>n and x and n are integers and x-n-1 represents the number of remote transceivers through which a communication must pass to reach the destination transceiver. The variable, stored numerical link layer level of each remote transceiver is dependent upon the dynamic condition of the network at the time of message transmission from or through the particular remote transceiver.

Abstract: A selective call messaging peripheral (100) capable of receiving at least one message and communicating it to an electronic information processing device (200) comprises a microcontroller (105) including a processor (106) for executing a microcode program that controls operation of the peripheral and a receiver (103) that operates to receive and demodulate an information signal to provide a recovered information signal including an address signal and the message. A correlator (109) compares the recovered address signal with a predetermined address and generates an address detection indicating selection of the peripheral.

Abstract: In a radio paging receiver having individual and common paging numbers and including a memory (20) which comprises a first part (20a) for memorizing individual messages, such as a directory number to be dialled by a user of the receiver, received by the use of the individual paging number and a second part (20b) for memorizing common messages, such as an exchange rate, received by the use of the common paging number, a first selecting section (41, 43) produces a first selection signal and a second selecting section (42, 43), a second selection signal. When supplied with the first selection signal, an accessing section (25, 26) reads the individual messages for supply to an LCD driver (22). The second selection signal is used in likewise accessing the second part. Accordingly, it is possible to read the individual and the common messages out of the first and the second memory parts as desired by using the first and the second selecting sections.

Abstract: A master/slave communication and control system includes a master controller and a plurality of slave subsystems, the master controller connected with the slave subsystems through first and second independent serial data buses, one of the data buses providing a working data bus, the other data bus providing a standby data bus. The master controller generates a A/B select signal applied to each of the slave subsystems to select which of the A or B data buses the slave .subsystems will use to communicate with the master controller. Each of those slave subsystems generates an independent request for communication signal, carried on an input request line to the master controller. A plurality of kill signals are generated by the master controller and applied over independent kill lines to each of the slave subsystems, whereby the master controller may send the kill signal to any one of the slave subsystems.

Abstract: A microprocessor-based door control unit includes a programmable, non-volatile-memory for storing door operating parameter values. A separate programming unit, arranged for connection to the door control unit, includes a second microprocessor, a keyboard and a display. The parameter values stored in the non-volatile memory can be read by the programming unit, and new values can be stored in the non-volatile memory using the programming unit.

Abstract: A pick-up tube of a camera device is optically coupled to an image intensifier tube. An exposure control circuit is provided which monitors the charge supplied to the phosphor screen of an image intensifier device and, thus, to the photodetector of the pickup tube, and which varies the exposure time in accordance with the level of scene illumination and the charge storage capability of the photodetector. The exposure control system also adjusts the gain of the image intensifier in accordance with the scene illumination prior to readout of the photodetector in order to optimize the signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: In an electronic arrangement for initiating an action by means or a key element which includes a coded machine readable data memory and a data processing unit for initiating the desired action which includes a reading head for reading the data stored in the key element data memory, the key element data memory is a single contact storage module and also the reading head includes only single contact sensors through which, when contacted by a key element, data are exchanged in series-bit fashion through a single data transmission line, with the key element under the control of the data processing unit.

Abstract: An electronic lock is provided with a timer capability to delay the operability of the lock for a preset period of time following the proper and correct entry of a combination into the lock. This delay prevents the lock from opening until both the time has expired and an access code entered following the time delay. If the access code entered after the time delay is incorrect, a further time delay or penalty delay will prevent the operator from an immediate attempt to enter a second access code. If a second access code is entered after the penalty delay and also is incorrect, the entire lock operation resets and the operation of the lock must begin with the re-entry of the correct combination. The entry of a combination to operate the lock which is offset by a predetermined value from the authorized combination will indicate by alarm at a remote monitoring center that the lock is being opened and may be opened under duress to the operator.

Abstract: An electronic device having electronic circuitry powered by a battery and having an interface for interactively coupling the electronic device to a host device, for switching the power source by which power is supplied to the electronic circuitry, and by determining (410) an interface status as being coupled to or detached from the host device. In response to determining (410) that the interface is coupled to the host device, the electronic circuit is coupled (415) to the interface such that power is supplied to the electronic circuitry from the host device. In response to determining (410) that the interface is detached from the host device, the electronic circuit is coupled (420) to the battery.

Abstract: A single-ended halogen incandescent projector lamp having a reflector mount fixed to the lamp frame remote from a bi-planar filament array. The lamp has a lamp envelope with a pinch seal at one end and a fused tip portion at the other. The lamp frame has a pair of frame conductors extending longitudinally in the lamp vessel, a pair of transverse quartz bridges between which the filament array is supported, and a frame center support extending into the fused tip portion from the bridge closest to the fused tip portion. The reflector mount is a single length of wire having a center portion coiled about and slidable along the frame center support, and a pair of legs extending therefrom to which the reflector is secured. The coiled portion is welded to the top center support to hold the reflector in position. Damage to the filament during lamp assembly is avoided since the reflector mount is fixed to the top center support instead of the frame conductors.