Abstract: A selective call receiver (200) includes a receiver (204) which receives paging signals, the paging signals have a preamble (102), a synchronization codeword (104), and at least an address information (108, 110). A synchronization obtaining circuit (206), coupled to the receiver (204), obtains synchronization to the paging signal. The synchronization obtaining circuit (206) has a preamble detector (404) which detects preamble (102), a synchronization codeword detector (406), responsive to the preamble being detected, detects the synchronization codeword (104), and address decoder (408), responsive to the synchronization codeword being detected, decodes the address information (108, 110). A synchronization maintaining circuit (224, 408) maintains synchronization to the paging signals during the address decoding, and a baud rate detector (224) detects valid and invalid baud rates during address decoding.

Abstract: A selective call receiver receives a selective call signal (400) comprising a preamble signal (410). The selective call receiver comprises receiver circuitry (102) for receiving and demodulating the selective call signal (400). A preamble detector (105) is coupled to the receiver circuitry (102) for detecting the preamble signal (410), and a battery saver circuit (126) selectively activates and deactivates the receiver circuitry (102) in response to a signal from a processor (114). The processor (114) provides the signal to the battery saver circuit (126) to deactivate and activate the receiver circuitry (102) during reception of the preamble signal (410) in response to and subsequent to the preamble detector (105) detecting a portion of the preamble signal (410).

Abstract: A non-contact pager programming system includes a controller (30) which is responsive to command and data signals to generate first signals (34) including command and data words to govern a transmitting circuit (36) to transmit over the air a programming signal (46) digitally modulated in accordance with a reception protocol. The programming system may also include a receiving circuit (42) which is governed by at least one second signal (40) generated by the controller to receive over-the-air signals (52) generated by the pager being programmed in response to the programming signal.

Abstract: An electrical device has a display and a battery which has a varying electrical condition. The display typically displays information to be read by the user of the device. In response to a low battery detection, the information being displayed may be interrupted with information indicating the battery is low. The timing of the interruption increases as the battery nears depletion thereby giving user an indication of the remaining battery capacity. The variation in timing includes either increasing the duty cycle of the periodic interruption, decreasing the period of the interruption, or both. The electrical device may include a wrist watch paging receiver with a message display and a clock with time of day and date functions.

Abstract: A selective call receiver with memory is described for use in a system providing user initiated alteration of the content of the memory using reconfiguration information transmitted from an external source. The receiver comprises a circuit for generating a user activated programming authorization signal, a receiver for receiving the transmitted reconfiguration information, and a circuit for altering the content of the memory in response to the received reconfiguration information only in the presence of the user activated programming authorization signal.