Abstract: Electronic devices incorporating a heat dissipation feature include an enclosure, and at least one heat-generating component positioned within the enclosure. The heat dissipation feature is sufficiently coupled to the at least one heat-generating component to facilitate conductive heat transfer from the heat-generating component. The heat dissipation feature includes a plurality of protrusions exposed externally to the enclosure. A thermally insulating material may be disposed on at least a tip portion of at least some of the protrusions. The thermally insulating material is selected to provide a touch temperature that is below a predetermined threshold. In some instances, the thermally insulating material can provide such a touch temperature by selecting the material to include properties for thermal conductivity (k), density (?), and specific heat (Cp) such that the product of k*?*Cp results in a value less than a product of k*?*Cp for human skin.

Abstract: Electronic devices incorporating a heat dissipation feature include an enclosure, and at least one heat-generating component positioned within the enclosure. The heat dissipation feature is sufficiently coupled to the at least one heat-generating component to facilitate conductive heat transfer from the heat-generating component. The heat dissipation feature includes a plurality of protrusions exposed externally to the enclosure. A thermally insulating material may be disposed on at least a tip portion of at least some of the protrusions. The thermally insulating material is selected to provide a touch temperature that is below a predetermined threshold. In some instances, the thermally insulating material can provide such a touch temperature by selecting the material to include properties for thermal conductivity (k), density (?), and specific heat (Cp) such that the product of k*?*Cp results in a value less than a product of k*?*Cp for human skin.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically varying traffic channel sectorization within a spread spectrum communication system is disclosed herein. In a preferred implementation the system is operative to convey information to at least one specified user in a spread spectrum communication system and includes multiple antennas, each having an associated coverage area, and each coupled to an antenna driver. The antenna drivers each include a delay element and an input summation node. A switching transmission network is disposed to selectively transmit via antennas. Selective transmission of signals results in variation in size of a given user sector. In another aspect, the system may be configured to selectively receive, and coherently combine, signals from different coverage areas.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically varying traffic channel sectorization within a spread spectrum communication system is disclosed herein. In a preferred implementation, the system is operative to convey information to at least one specified user in a spread spectrum communication system and includes a first network for generating, at a predetermined chip rate, a first pseudorandom noise (PN) signal of a first predetermined PN code. The first PN signal is then combined with a first information signal in order to provide a resultant first modulation signal. The system further includes a second network for providing a second modulation signal by delaying the first modulation signal by a predetermined delay inversely related to the PN chip rate. A switching transmission network is disposed to selectively transmit the first and second modulation signals respectively to first and second coverage areas.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically varying traffic channel sectorization within a spread spectrum communication system is disclosed herein. In a preferred implementation the system is operative to convey information to at least one specified user in a spread spectrum communication system and includes multiple antennas, each having an associated coverage area, and each coupled to an antenna driver. The antenna drivers each include a delay element and an input summation node. A switching transmission network is disposed to selectively transmit via antennas. Selective transmission of signals results in variation in size of a given user sector. In another aspect, the system may be configured to selectively receive, and coherently combine, signals from different coverage areas.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for gain control of individual narrowband channels using a wideband power measurement. The present invention comprises a transmit power tracking loop which controls the power of the transmitted signal by controlling the gain applied to the signal. The function of the transmit power tracking loop is to measure power, accept commands for power adjustment, and adjust the power. Gain control is performed by producing an error signal using the comparison of measurements of a total of estimated powers of each narrowband signal and a measurement of the modulated wideband signal. In addition, open loop control is performed by accepting open loop commands generated by an algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for gain control of individual narrowband channels using a wideband power measurement. The present invention comprises a transmit power tracking loop which controls the power of the transmitted signal by controlling the gain applied to the signal. The function of the transmit power tracking loop is to measure power, accept commands for power adjustment, and adjust the power. Gain control is performed by producing an error signal using the comparison of measurements of a total of estimated powers of each narrowband signal and a measurement of the modulated wideband signal. In addition, open loop control is performed by accepting open loop commands generated by an algorithm.

Abstract: A seating unit for a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, that has a movable portion including a back rest, a seat pan and a leg rest, and a fixed portion having front and rear legs. The movable portion is movable between a fully reclined position and an upright position. A recess is disposed below the back rest and seat pan in the upright position, the recess constituting a foot-well for a person using another seat therebehind. Front and rear cross-members can be fixedly secured respectively to the lower ends of the front and rear legs, and are fixed to seat tracks provided in the vehicle. In one embodiment, the fixed portion includes two spaced rear legs that are positioned on opposing sides of the recess, and the rear cross-member can be fixedly secured to the lower ends of both of the rear legs.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for gain control of individual narrowband channels using a wideband power measurement. The present invention comprises a transmit power tracking loop which controls the power of the transmitted signal by controlling the gain applied to the signal. The function of the transmit power tracking loop is to measure power, accept commands for power adjustment, and adjust the power. Gain control is performed by producing an error signal using the comparison of measurements of a total of estimated powers of each narrowband signal and a measurement of the modulated wideband signal In addition, open loop control is performed by accepting open loop commands generated by an algorithm.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting and combining satellite communication signals from multiple antennas. The system includes at least two signal paths, each coupled to a separate antenna, and a combiner for combining signals from the two paths for processing by a signal processor. At least one of the two paths includes a signal delay unit. The signal processor can distinguish a signal received from a source on one of the antennas from that signal received from the source on the other antenna based on a signal delay produced by the signal delay unit. Each signal path includes a variable attenuator for selectively coupling each signal path to the signal processor. The signal processor determines the quality of the signals received along the signal paths, and provides data regarding signal quality to a control processor, which manipulates the attenuators to couple the signal path having the highest quality signal to the signal processor.

Abstract: A portable phone unit for use in satellite communication systems has a vertically correcting antenna module pivotally secured to the handset for free rotation about a pivot axis. The module contains a mechanism, such as a gravitational counterweight for urging the module to pivot into a predetermined vertical orientation regardless of the handset orientation. An antenna projects from the module in a direction which is vertically upright when the module is in its predetermined vertical orientation. A mast mounted antenna module can also be used to take advantage of dissimilar antenna segment weights for multiple frequency antennas. As the handset is moved into an angular orientation, the module pivots under the weight of the counterweight, or a portion of the antenna itself, until the antenna is oriented vertically.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the strength of a shared resource signal transmitted by the satellite transponder in a satellite communications system. The satellite communications system includes a gateway for transmitting communications signals including a shared resource signal, a satellite transponder for relaying the signals to at least one subscriber unit (for example, a phone), and at least one subscriber unit for receiving the signals. The method includes the steps of receiving the shared resource signal, at each subscriber unit, via the satellite transponder; measuring, at each subscriber unit, a signal strength for the received shared resource signal; sending the signal strengths to the gateway; and adjusting the power of the shared resource signal transmitted by the satellite transponder based on the signal strengths.

Abstract: A dual-band octafilar helix antenna operational at two frequencies, while maintaining a relatively small package size. The dual-band octafilar antenna is manufactured by disposing radiators and a feed network onto a flexible substrate and forming the substrate into a cylindrical shape to obtain the helical configuration. The dual-band octafilar helix antenna includes four active radiators which are matched to a first frequency and disposed on a radiator portion of the flexible substrate. Four additional radiators, which may be either passive or active radiators, are matched to a second frequency, are also disposed on the radiator portion of the substrate and interleaved with the active radiators. At least one feed network is provided on a feed portion of the substrate that provides 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree., and 270.degree. signals to active radiators.

Abstract: A quadrifilar antenna is comprised of four radiators which, in the preferred embodiment, are etched onto a radiator portion of a microstrip substrate. The microstrip substrate is formed into a cylindrical shape such that the radiators are helically wound. Also etched onto the microstrip substrate is a feed network that provides 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. signals to the antenna radiators. The feed network utilizes a combination of one or more branch line couplers and one or more power dividers to accept an input signal from a transmitter and to provide therefrom the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. signals needed to drive the antenna. For receive operations, the feed network utilizes these same components to receive the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. signals from the antenna radiators and to provide a single output signal to a communications receiver.

Abstract: A 180.degree. power divider accepts an input signal and splits it into two output signals that are equal in amplitude and differ in phase by 180.degree.. In a first region, an unbalanced input signal travels along a trace on a circuit surface of a substrate. On the opposite surface is a ground plane. In a second region, the ground plane tapers to a width that is substantially equal to the width of the signal trace. As a result, opposite the signal trace is a return signal trace of substantially the same width. In this region, the signal is a balanced signal, and for the current flowing in the signal trace, there is an equal but opposite current flowing in the return signal trace on the opposite side. In a third region, the return signal trace is brought to the circuit surface of the substrate and a second ground plane is provided on the opposite surface. This second ground plane is floating with respect to the first ground plane. The return signal differs in phase from the other signal by 180.degree..

Abstract: A coaxial-waveguide assemblage is disclosed herein of the invention includes a first coaxial transmission line having a first inner and a first outer conductor. The inventive assemblage further includes a waveguide electromagnetically coupled to the first coaxial transmission line, where an inner surface of the waveguide bounds a signal propagation space. The waveguide is also electromagnetically coupled to a second coaxial transmission having a second inner and a second outer conductor. The inner conductor of the second coaxial transmission line is disposed to rotate about a first vertical axis, thereby enabling the second coaxial transmission line to be connected to a rotating antenna. In a particular implementation the coaxial-waveguide assemblage is disposed within a rotary joint operative to couple electromagnetic energy between first and second signal ports.

Abstract: A system is provided for connecting multiple elevator (700-703) speaker/microphone pairs (114a-114d) to a remote terminal (750) via a standard telephone channel (50). The system comprises generating means (116) for generating an in-use signal from within one of the elevators indicating the use of the speaker/microphone pair in the elevator. The system also includes a dialing means (100a-100d) responsive to the generating means for dialing a number associated with the remote terminal on the standard telephone channel so as to contact the remote terminal. The system further includes first isolating means (200a-200d) for isolating all remaining speaker/microphone pairs from the standard telephone channel, and first connecting means (200a-200d) for connecting the in-use speaker/microphone pair to the standard telephone channel so as to connect the in-use speaker/microphone pair to the remote terminal.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for eliminating used steam and condensate from a frankfurter peeler is provided having a jacket utilizing a source of vacuum for receiving exhaust steam and condensate from an extension of a perforate frankfurter conditioning chamber and for discharging said exhaust steam and moisture having been used for conditioning a frankfurter for removal of its cellulosic casing prior to packaging.