Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes an automatic gain control apparatus for a spread-spectrum receiver, including a received signal strength indicator, an analog amplifier in signal communication with the received signal strength indicator, an analog-to-digital converter in signal communication with the analog amplifier, a digital automatic gain control loop in signal communication with the analog-to-digital converter, and a digital-to-analog converter in signal communication with the digital automatic gain control loop for providing a signal indicative of a digital gain to the analog amplifier; where the corresponding method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes receiving an analog signal, measuring the strength of the received analog signal, deriving a first analog gain in correspondence with the measured strength, applying the derived first analog gain to an analog amplifier, deriving a second analog gain from a pilot

Abstract: An apparatus and method for synchronizing the reception of a spread-spectrum signal include a synchronization apparatus having a code-matched filter, a running average unit in signal communication with the code-matched filter, a peak detector in signal communication with the running average unit, and a synchronizer in signal communication with the peak detector for providing an index of a peak; where the corresponding method includes receiving a spread-spectrum signal having a period comprising a plurality of indexable samples, maintaining a mean array comprising a running mean value for each indexable sample over a variable number of periods, detecting a peak value of the maintained mean array, calculating an average value of the maintained mean array, computing a peak-to-average ratio in accordance with the detected peak value and the calculated average value, comparing the peak-to-average ratio against a time-varying threshold, and synchronizing the received signal when the peak-to-average ratio exceeds th

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes an automatic gain control apparatus for a spread-spectrum receiver, including a received signal strength indicator, an analog amplifier in signal communication with the received signal strength indicator, an analog-to-digital converter in signal communication with the analog amplifier, a digital automatic gain control loop in signal communication with the analog-to-digital converter, and a digital-to-analog converter in signal communication with the digital automatic gain control loop for providing a signal indicative of a digital gain to the analog amplifier; where the corresponding method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes receiving an analog signal, measuring the strength of the received analog signal, deriving a first analog gain in correspondence with the measured strength, applying the derived first analog gain to an analog amplifier, deriving a second analog gain from a pilot

Abstract: A refueling nozzle 100 comprising a housing 102 which is of a “dry breaks” construction. The rear end of the nozzle housing 102 includes a rear chamber 104 in which a piston 106 is housed for axial reciprocation. The refueling nozzle 100 is provided with a spring 118 which operatively cooperates with the piston head 106 so as to urge the valve into the “on” position wherein the refueling nozzle 100 is open. An end cap 109 is fitted to the rear end of the nozzle housing 102 wherein the rear chamber is enclosed. The end cap 109 includes a plurality of spaced apart and coaxial annular grooves such as 122 each being adapted to removably receive a locking element in the form of a C-clip 124 which bears against the flange of a spring retaining element 120 so as to compress the spring 118 against the piston head 106 at the required force. Thus, a user can adjust the biasing force in the spring 118.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a refuelling nozzle 100 comprising a housing 102 which is of a “dry breaks” construction. The rear end of the nozzle housing 102 includes a rear chamber 104 in which a piston 106 is housed for axial reciprocation. The refuelling nozzle 100 is provided with a spring 118 which operatively cooperates with the piston head 106 so as to urge the valve into the “on” position wherein the refuelling nozzle 100 is open. An end cap 109 is fitted to the rear end of the nozzle housing 102 wherein the rear chamber is enclosed. The spring 118 is generally elongate and at one end bears against the piston head 106 whilst an opposite end is retained by a spring retaining element 120. The end cap 109 includes a plurality of spaced apart and coaxial annular grooves such as 122 each being adapted to removably receive a locking element in the form of a C-clip 124 which bears against the flange of the spring.