Abstract: Apparatus and methods for scalable receivers are provided herein. In certain implementations, a scalable receiver system includes at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that receives coded analog outputs from two or more receiver front ends. The receiver front ends system can process and code analog signals received from antennas using track and hold circuitry and various other circuitry such as filters and mixers.

Abstract: A fractional-N frequency synthesizer having an exact output frequency and phase includes a phase locked loop including a phase detector responsive to a reference signal and a fractional divider. The phase locked loop has an output signal whose frequency is a fractional multiple of the input reference signal. The synthesizer also includes a modulator having a modulus for providing an output to the fractional divider, in which the modulus multiplied by the ratio of the frequency of the output signal to the frequency of the reference signal is a non-integer number.

Abstract: A method for reducing spurious for a clock distribution system, the method including a) providing a system controller, b) providing clock distribution system, c) inputting characteristics of the clock distribution system in advance of operation thereof, d) calculating an expected level of the integer boundary spurious as a function of a fractional offset value, e) selecting an integer boundary solution based on the fractional offset value being within a preferred predetermined region, and f) programming the master clock subsystem and the one or more fractional synthesizers with the integer boundary solution, and g) repeating steps d) through f) as needed.

Abstract: A visual inspection, mapping and orientation method and system (500) for golf balls (20) is disclosed. The visual inspection and mapping equipment locates unique features on the surface of the golf bail (20) and then uses the features to orient the golf ball (20) in a particular manner in preparation for providing one or more indicia (32) on the golf ball (20). The present invention eliminates the need to manually inspect and orient golf balls (20) so that the indicia (32) can be provided in the same location on each of a multitude of golf balls (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for removing molded golf balls from a golf ball mold without the use of ejector pins includes a frame, a device for moving the frame relative to the golf ball mold, and at least one gripper mechanism on the frame. The gripping mechanism includes a plurality of radially spaced gripping fingers with longitudinal axes parallel to the central axis of the gripping mechanism. The gripping fingers are initially spaced away from the central axis while the frame is positioned to align the central axis of the gripping mechanism with a central axis of the golf ball. The gripping fingers are then displaced toward the central axis to clamp onto, and partially deform, the golf ball. The frame is subsequently moved away from the mold, and the gripping fingers are displaced away from the central axis to release the golf ball which then returns to its original configuration.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An inflatable sport ball, such as a basketball, a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball or a playground ball, is provided with a self-contained inflation mechanism, or multiple self-contained inflation mechanisms, for inflating or adding pressure to the ball. The mechanism is a pump which is positioned and retained inside of the ball and which is operable from outside of the ball to pump ambient air into the ball. The pump is a dual action pump allowing air to be added to the ball on both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke.

Abstract: An amplifier for high gain, narrowband signal amplification is disclosed. An embodiment is an amplifier including a first means capable of oscillating and a second means for controlling the operating state of the first means between oscillation and close to oscillation. By operating close to oscillator high gain, narrowband signal amplification occurs. By operating between oscillation and close to oscillation, rather than between startup and close to oscillation, the amplifier is always narrowband. Accordingly, an advantage of the invention is operation with minimum affect from interfering.

Abstract: An automatic slug feeding device for delivering slugs to a compression mold for molding golf ball cores is characterized by synchronized rotary transfer, slug conveyance, gripping mechanism transfer and a tray conveyor for transferring slugs from an extruder to a mold loading robotic arm, and subsequently to a mold press. The rotary transfer device receives slugs from the extruder and the slug conveyor linearly conveys individual slugs from the transfer device. The gripping mechanism simultaneously removes a plurality of slugs from the conveyor and deposits them in an array of receptacles in a molding trays which are shuttled to an unload position, where the mold loading robotic arm transfers slugs into a mold press. Storage of extruded slugs prior to compression molding is thus eliminated, cycle time is reduced, core quality is improved, and operator safety is maximized.

Abstract: An automatic slug feeding device for delivering slugs to a compression mold for molding golf ball cores is characterized by synchronized rotary transfer, slug conveyance, gripping mechanism transfer and a tray conveyor for transferring slugs from an extruder to a mold loading robotic arm, and subsequently to a mold press. The rotary transfer device receives slugs from the extruder and the slug conveyor linearly conveys individual slugs from the transfer device. The gripping mechanism simultaneously removes a plurality of slugs from the conveyor and deposits them in an array of receptacles in a molding trays which are shuttled to an unload position, where the mold loading robotic arm transfers slugs into a mold press. Storage of extruded slugs prior to compression molding is thus eliminated, cycle time is reduced, core quality is improved, and operator safety is maximized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming golf ball cores with a generally spherical nucleus at its center is characterized by the use of a transfer plate which insures that the nucleus is centered within the core. The core is formed in upper and lower mold plates which contain upper and lower hemispherical cavities, respectively, which are adapted to mate to define a spherical cavity for the core. The transfer plate is arranged between the mold plates and includes a support for the nucleus to position the nucleus in the center of a pair of upper and lower slugs of core material which are molded in the upper and lower hemispherical cavities. When the mold plates are initially brought together with the transfer plate arranged therebetween and with the slugs arranged on opposite sides of the transfer plate, the slugs are partially molded in the hemispherical cavities with the nucleus being pressed into one of the slugs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming golf ball cores with a generally spherical nucleus at its center is characterized by the use of a transfer plate which insures that the nucleus is centered within the core. The core is formed in upper and lower mold plates which contain upper and lower hemispherical cavities, respectively, which are adapted to mate to define a spherical cavity for the core. The transfer plate is arranged between the mold plates and includes a support for the nucleus to position the nucleus in the center of a pair of upper and lower slugs of core material which are molded in the upper and lower hemispherical cavities. When the mold plates are initially brought together with the transfer plate arranged therebetween and with the slugs arranged on opposite sides of the transfer plate, the slugs are partially molded in the hemispherical cavities with the nucleus being pressed into one of the slugs.

Abstract: An integrated directory services system is provided for synchronizing records in a central directory server with records in a telephony system.

Abstract: A One Bit Digital Quadrature Vector Modulator (DQVM) and a method of generating single sideband output signals are useful for a wide range of radio frequency, signal processing and wireless applications. The DQVM simplifies the necessary digital multiplication by using noise shaped one bit versions of both the baseband IB and QB signals to be modulated and the ILO and QLO modulating signals. The one bit DQVM enables a much faster digital implementation of the digital quadrature vector modulation function than can be achieved with conventional multi-bit digital techniques. In addition the single sideband upconversion of the DQVM achieves high suppression of the unwanted sideband by applying an offset to one of the low speed input samples. Digital vector modulators are an improvement over conventional analog vector modulators as they are not subject to the amplitude and phase matching problems inherent in analog vector modulators.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to obtain a high Q, narrowband active filter with high gain suitable for an integrated circuit implementation. The high Q is achieved via active feedback with an amplitude control loop. The frequency control of the active filter is achieved by means of a frequency locked loop. Both control loops compare the thermal noise of the active filter itself to voltage and frequency references to achieve the stable operating point. Control loops are normally slow relative to the transmitted data, hence avoiding the data altering the operating point of the filter.