Abstract: An apparatus and method is related to a wireless system with an antenna that is automatically tuned to a desired frequency. The antenna is coupled to an adjustable tuning circuit to form a tuned antenna circuit that has a resonant frequency. The adjustable tuning circuit may be adjusted by activating a sweep generator that varies a tuning element over a broad frequency range. The sweep of the sweep generator is terminated after the proper frequency is found. Alternatively, the adjustable tuning circuit may be adjusted using an array of switched capacitors using a successive approximation method. The tuned antenna circuit may be employed to receive and/or transmit information. The resonant frequency is dynamically shifted in response to a data signal such that the antenna transmits FSK encoded signals.

Abstract: Described is a communication system including mobile communication devices. In the described system, the mobile devices may be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are specially configured to receive data in a “broadcast” mode and transmit and/or receive data in a “localcast” mode. The localcast mode includes the ability to transmit and receive data in a peer-to-peer fashion, allowing mobile devices to communicate directly with each other. The ability to combine two of these communication modes in a small, integrated and hence inexpensive and low-power package provides many advantages over existing personal communication device solutions.

Abstract: Described is a communication system including mobile communication devices. In the described system, the mobile devices may be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are specially configured to receive data in a “broadcast” mode and transmit and/or receive data in a “localcast” mode. The localcast mode includes the ability to transmit and receive data in a peer-to-peer fashion, allowing mobile devices to communicate directly with each other. The ability to combine two of these communication modes in a small, integrated and hence inexpensive and low-power package provides many advantages over existing personal communication device solutions.

Abstract: Described is a communication system including mobile communication devices. In the described system, the mobile devices may be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are specially configured to receive data in a “broadcast” mode and transmit and/or receive data in a “localcast” mode. The localcast mode includes the ability to transmit and receive data in a peer-to-peer fashion, allowing mobile devices to communicate directly with each other. The ability to combine two of these communication modes in a small, integrated and hence inexpensive and low-power package provides many advantages over existing personal communication device solutions.

Abstract: Described is a communication system including mobile communication devices. In the described system, the mobile devices may be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are specially configured to receive data in a “broadcast” mode and transmit and/or receive data in a “localcast” mode. The localcast mode includes the ability to transmit and receive data in a peer-to-peer fashion, allowing mobile devices to communicate directly with each other. The ability to combine two of these communication modes in a small, integrated and hence inexpensive and low-power package provides many advantages over existing personal communication device solutions.

Abstract: Described is a communication system including mobile communication devices. In the described system, the mobile devices may be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are specially configured to receive data in a “broadcast” mode and transmit and/or receive data in a “localcast” mode. The localcast mode includes the ability to transmit and receive data in a peer-to-peer fashion, allowing mobile devices to communicate directly with each other. The ability to combine two of these communication modes in a small, integrated and hence inexpensive and low-power package provides many advantages over existing personal communication device solutions.

Abstract: An optical battery recharger for recharging batteries of an electrical or electronic appliance. The recharger includes an internal unit built integrally within the appliance. The internal unit has one or more photovoltaic receptors connected to a battery charging circuit for converting optical power to electrical power to recharge the batteries. The recharger also has an external unit which has a solid-state light source connected to and powered by an electrical power source, a lens for focusing the light emitted from the light source, possibly through an aperture, onto the photovoltaic receptors, and a receptacle for aligning the photovoltaic receptor to the light source of said external unit when the recharger is used to recharge the batteries.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a RAM data memory that generates predictable noise/interference components that are coherent with each write cycle and essentially independent of the data content of the RAM data memory. The RAM data memory is comprised of a plurality of cells, each representing a data bit, which are selectively addressable as memory bytes formed of multiple bits. Each cell is formed of two sets of cross-coupled transistors. By causing each set of cross-coupled transistors to be set to a common voltage level at the beginning of a write cycle before setting one set of transistors to a low level and the one set of transistors to be set to a high level (thus representing a desired data bit value), the associated noise/interference components of the power drain are data independent. Furthermore, the data-independent noise occurs at frequencies at or above the write cycle rate.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for providing a synchronization pattern in a communication system. The method includes generating a synchronization pattern with good randomness properties; packing a signal for transmission with m headers, each header consisting of the synchronization pattern 1/m symbol-time shifted from the previous header; and transmitting the signal. A further method provides for the sampling the transmitted signal with m headers of symbol-time shifted synchronization patterns; and determining symbol timing offset by computing and reordering correlation peaks from the synchronization patterns. A system includes a transmitting system, a receiving system, and a data channel. The transmitted signal includes m headers with 1/m symbol-time shifted synchronization patterns.. The receiving system undersamples the transmitted signal with m synchronization patterns to simulate an oversampled synchronization pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is related to a wireless system with an antenna that is automatically tuned to a desired frequency. The antenna is coupled to an adjustable tuning circuit to form a tuned antenna circuit that has a resonant frequency. The adjustable tuning circuit may be adjusted by activating a sweep generator that varies a tuning element over a broad frequency range. The sweep of the sweep generator is terminated after the proper frequency is found. Alternatively, the adjustable tuning circuit may be adjusted using an array of switched capacitors using a successive approximation method. The tuned antenna circuit may be employed to receive and/or transmit information. The resonant frequency is dynamically shifted in response to a data signal such that the antenna transmits FSK encoded signals.

Abstract: Described is a system and method related to the synchronization of a communication stream between two devices. A broadcast signal is a segmented information signal that includes a distributed synchronization pattern and a distributed frame index. Each segment of the segmented information signal further includes a header portion and a payload portion. The header portion of the segmented information signal includes a portion of the distributed synchronization pattern and a portion of the distributed frame index. The method includes generating the distributed synchronization pattern and the distributed frame index, distributing the synchronization pattern and frame index throughout the signal, and transmitting the signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is related to wireless communication devices with a reduced-noise recording receiver. The recording receiver receives a transmitted signal, converts the received signal to a digital base-band signal and stores the digitized base-band signal in a buffer for subsequent processing. The stored digital signals are subsequently processed to recover the transmitted data signal. The overall signal integrity in the receiver is improved by performing signal processing after reception is complete. The IF processing section of the receiver includes a frequency band translation section. The frequency band translation section translates the frequency band of the IF signal into a non-harmonically related frequency band. Since the IF signal is in an unrelated frequency band, data can be recovered from the-transmission signal with improved signal-to-noise characteristics.

Abstract: Described is a communication system including mobile communication devices. In the described system, the mobile devices many be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are especially configured to receive data a “broadcast” mode and transmit and/or receive data in a “localcast” mode. The cast mode includes the ability to transmit and receive data in a peer-to-peer fashion, mobile devices to communicate directly with each other. The ability to combine allow communication modes in a small, integrated and hence inexpensive and low-two package provides many advantages over existing personal communication device power solution.

Abstract: A communication protocol that is configured to extend the battery life of devices that monitor and/or affect body parameters and is particularly useful in a system comprised of a system control unit (SCU) and one or more implanted devices. Each such implanted device is configured to be monitored and/or controlled by the SCU via a wireless communication channel. The time between battery rechargings is determined by the battery capacity and the device's power consumption. Accordingly, the present invention reduces their average power consumption by reducing the usage duty cycle of their power consuming transmit and receive modes used to communicate with the SCU. By dedicating addressable time slots to each of the implantable devices in the system and limiting their use of receive and transmit modes to time periods proximate to these time slots, the average power consumption is accordingly reduced.

Abstract: An acoustic device for continuously or intermittently determining the composition of gas mixtures. The acoustic device has an acoustic resonator with input and output transducers arranged to minimize the effect of external conditions. The device normally operates as a feedback oscillator with the oscillation frequency determined by the gas-filled resonator's natural frequency, providing a speed of sound measurement. The device is configured as two open ended parallel side by side adjacent one half wavelength tubes, each with sending and receiving transducers inserted through a tube wall at the midpoint of that tube. This forms a symmetric quarter wave resonator from each tube. The two sending transducers are operated out of phase, as are the two receiving transducers. The causes cancellation of external sounds, and of their influence on measurements. A small pressure relieved cap is preferably placed over the external surface of each transducer.

Abstract: A continuous-flow oxygen valve for oxygen rebreathers employs the use of reversible rotary motors to control continuously variable valves in order to provide more constant gas flow to oxygen rebreathers. The motor is connected by gears to a valve which can be adjusted over the appropriate control range necessary to maintain the optimum gas balance. Once the valve is adjusted, the amount of gas flowing through it remains constant until a subsequent adjustment is performed. The gas levels are measured by sensors and conditioning circuitry. Once the appropriate gas flow is computed by the unit control elements, the controller will cause continuous or pulsed current to flow through the valve motor until the flow is set at the appropriate level. Current will then cease to flow. When conditions cause the balance of the gasses to vary from the optimum level, the controller will again make an adjustment in the valve position.

Abstract: An antenna tuning system and method are disclosed for use with a tunable receiver coupled to an external antenna, where the receiver has a local oscillator whose frequency is a function of the frequency to which the receiver is tuned. The tuning system includes circuitry for receiving the radio frequency emissions from the local oscillator, and for determining the frequency of those emissions. From the local oscillator frequency, the frequency to which the receiver is tuned is determined, and the antenna is tuned to match that frequency.

Abstract: An improved auto-equalizer technique is disclosed for use in two-way communications systems having terminals which are connected by a communications link having distortion characteristics which are substantially identical for signals traveling in either direction. The technique includes a master modem which is always first to transmit in the system, and one or more remote modems. Each remote modem includes an adaptive filter in the receiver section of the modem which adaptively sets its filter characteristics to be the inverse of the line distortion characteristics. Each remote modem also includes a slave filter in the transmitter section which is also set have filter characteristics which are substantially the same as that of the adaptive filter. The slave filter acts to pre-distort the signals transmitted from the remote modem so that they arrive at the master modem substantially undistorted.

Abstract: A multichannel FM subcarrier broadcast system is disclosed which enables the transmission of multiple independent signals by generating independent sidebands of suppressed carriers in the subcarrier band of an FM transmitting station. Transmitting and receiving apparatus is disclosed which employs phase shift networks to minimize interchannel distortion, thus allowing close spacing of adjacent sidebands.

Abstract: A pedometer is disclosed which calculates the distance a user walks, jogs or runs by electronically measuring the length of each stride taken by the user. Stride length is measured using ultrasonic waves. The pedometer comprises an ultrasonic generator module which is strapped to one leg of the user. An ultrasonic detector module is strapped to the other leg of the user. The generator module emits pulses of ultrasonic energy which are detected by the detector module. A processor and display module in the form of a wristwatch is also provided. The processor module is used to calculate stride length based on the speed of sound and the time delay between pulses emitted and detected by the leg-mounted modules. The pedometer is capable of displaying on a digital display the distance traveled, time per unit distance, elapsed time and time of day. The pedometer is also programmed to compensate for a variety of measurement errors.