Abstract: A low-current transceiver, powered by two small low-voltage batteries, for use in wireless headset/phoneset applications, such as hands-free headsets used with cellular telephones. Re-use of current from at least one circuit to provide power to at least one other power-consuming element of the transceiver, along with interrupt-driven control of the current made available to transmit and receive circuits, enables extended battery life (e.g., 120 hours). The headset/phoneset circuits incorporate a technique that draws an extremely low supply current from two low-voltage batteries while providing clear two-way communication over a range of about 3 meters.

Abstract: Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

Abstract: Golf balls and a system for finding golf balls and methods for making golf balls and methods for using such balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased in the shell and a tag which is disposed within the core material and which has at least one perforation. The tag includes a diode and an antenna which are coupled together. Another exemplary golf ball includes a shell and a core material which is encased within the shell and a tag which is within the core material and which includes an electrical element which is coupled to an antenna; the tag is detectable over a range of at least 20 feet from a handheld device, and the golf ball has high durability and substantially complies with the golf ball specifications of the United States Golf Association.

Abstract: Golf ball locators and components of such locators and methods of operating such locators and processing signals within such locators. In one aspect of the inventions described herein, an exemplary method of initializing a golf ball locator includes receiving received RF signals while also transmitting signals used to locate balls and determining a parameter representative of received signal strength of the received RF signals and setting a threshold to determine when subsequent received signals are to cause an indication of golf ball detection. In another aspect of this disclosure, the golf ball locator is a handheld unit having a volume of less than about 150 inches cubed and includes a transmitter, a transmit antenna, a receiver, a receive antenna and a processor coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver, and the handheld unit achieves a signal isolation, between a second harmonic of a transmitted signal from the transmitter and the receiver's received signal, of greater than about 130 to 160 dB.

Abstract: Golf balls and methods and systems for manufacturing golf balls. In one exemplary embodiment, a portion of a golf ball comprises a core material having a void, a semiconductor component disposed at least partially in the void, and a filler material in the void and surrounding the semiconductor component, the filler material being placed in the void in a liquid state and occupying a first volume in the liquid state and the filler material transforming into a solid state which occupies substantially the first volume. Methods for manufacturing golf balls and fixtures and apparatuses for manufacturing golf balls are also described.

Abstract: A bricklaying tool includes a mortar guide member having a slot for reception of mortar when the tool is placed on a course of bricks when building a wall. The mortar guide member has a brick engagement panel. An upstanding mortar retaining flange is provided having a rear edge of the panel. A spirit level is mounted on the flange. The slot is open ended with a stiffening strut mounted across the open end which also forms a handle.

Abstract: Golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls and methods for making such golf balls. In the case of one exemplary golf ball, the ball includes a shell, a core material and a tag having a diode which is coupled to an antenna which has at least a portion formed from an elastic conductive material, such as an elastic conductive ink. The core material may include a void for receiving at least part of the diode. Other golf balls are described and methods for making balls are also described.

Abstract: Antenna systems for golf balls which can be found with a system for finding golf balls. In the case of one exemplary antenna system, a golf ball includes a first tag which includes a first antenna patterned as a first radial transmission line and a second tag which includes a second antenna patterned as a second radial transmission line wherein the first radial transmission line is arranged substantially orthogonal relative to the second radial transmission line. Other exemplary antenna systems are described.

Abstract: A bricklaying tool includes a mortar guide member having a slot for reception of mortar when the tool is placed on a course of bricks when building a wall. The mortar guide member has a brick engagement panel. An upstanding mortar retaining flange is provided having a rear edge of the panel. A spirit level is mounted on the flange. The slot is open ended with a stiffening strut mounted across the open end which also forms a handle.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises an antenna member mounted to the circuit board. The antenna member includes a first surface, second surface and a third surface. The third surface adjoins the first and second surfaces. The first, second and third surfaces define a cavity within which is disposed dielectric material. At least one conductive connector comprising first and second ends is in communication with the antenna member first surface. An amplifier is in communication with each conductive connector second end.

Abstract: A GPS receiver includes a slot antenna having first and second surfaces. The second surface includes a semi-circular portion. The first and second surfaces define a slot within which is disposed dielectric material. The slot antenna is optimized for receiving GPS signals when in proximity to a human body. The relatively compact size of the slot antenna allows for the incorporation of the antenna into a small device that can be worn on or carried in close proximity to the body of a user. This type of antenna is not as sensitive to gain variations when in the proximity of a human body because the design has a wider aperture and thus operates better near the body. Further, this type of antenna is virtually omni-directional, i.e., it is not problematically sensitive to the location of the GPS signal source. Moreover, the design is such that the antenna arrangement can be oriented within a device in a way that maximizes the number of GPS satellites tracked.

Abstract: An antenna assembly (10) for subsurface utility metering equipment includes a disk-shaped radiating element (50) which is connected through a wire (51) having a self-inductance to a capacitor C and then to a ground plane (41) and a connector (31) for a coaxial cable (30) to provide an LC circuit for impedance matching of the antenna assembly (10) to a transmitter.