Abstract: A packaged integrated circuit includes an integrated circuit substrate and a cap bonded to a surface of the integrated circuit substrate. The cap has a recess therein that is at least partially lined with at least one segment of an inductor. This inductor may be electrically coupled to an electrical component within the integrated circuit substrate. In some embodiments, the inductor is patterned to extend along a sidewall and interior top surface of the recess, which extends opposite the integrated circuit substrate. The inductor may include a plurality of arcuate-shaped segments and may be patterned to be symmetric about a center-tapped portion thereof. The cap may also include a magnetic material therein that increases an effective inductance of the inductor relative to an otherwise equivalent cap and inductor combination that is devoid of the magnetic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information concerning products, using radio frequency transmissions. A host computer transfers information relating to a product to a radio frequency transmitter. The information is transmitted to a transceiver built into a label for the product, the label being located near a shelf of a gondola that is holding the product. The transmission from the transmitter to the transceiver may be made through one or more repeaters. A label transceiver for another product can act as a repeater, upon instruction from the host computer. When the intended label transceiver correctly receives the information concerning the product, it retransmits an acknowledgement back to the host computer along the same transmission path by which the information reached the transceiver. The transceiver stores the information relating to the product in the label. The transceiver and label are powered by a photovoltaic cell that transforms ambient light into electrical energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing spread spectrum communications. The apparatus starts with designated spread spectrum communications parameters, such as default transmitted power level, pseudo-noise (PN) sequence, PN sequence length, and frequency channel, having values which are chosen to ensure that spread spectrum communications can be carried out between a first station and a second station. The apparatus of the invention then changes the values of the spread spectrum communications parameters to the minimum values necessary to provide a given level of communications reliability. If the conditions facing the spread spectrum communication system change so that communications reliability falls below the given level, the apparatus resets the values of the spread spectrum communications parameters to the default levels and begins again to change their values to provide the given level of communications reliability.