Abstract: Modern digital integrated circuits are commonly synchronized in their workings by clock circuits. The clock frequency for a circuit must take into account the propagation delay of signals within the critical path of the circuit. If the clock time is not adequate to allow propagation of signals through the critical path, improper circuit operation may result. The propagation delay is not a constant from circuit to circuit, and even in a single circuit may change due to temperature, power supply voltage and the like. Commonly, this variation is handled by assuming a worse case propagation delay of the critical path, and then designing the clock frequency and minimum power supply voltage of the circuit so that the circuit will function under worst case conditions.

Abstract: A system for wireless communications is provided. The system includes a hand-held wireless communications device, such as a cell phone. An antenna is connected to the cell phone. The antenna radiates radio waves over an area of less than 360 degrees of arc, such as in a cardioid or hemisphere. The antenna is oriented such that hemisphere is in the direction away from a head of a user of the cell phone.

Abstract: A satellite signal acquisition and measurement apparatus and process has the capability of quickly acquiring multiple satellite signals and performing measurements based on the acquired signal (such as time and range measurements) with a high level of computational efficiency. A sample comparison process is carried out, wherein a sample length of a satellite's signal is received and compared with all possible sample lengths of each satellite's code. However, instead of comparing the satellite signal sample length with each possible sample length at each possible frequency, a modified sample comparison approach is carried out. That is, after at least one satellite has been acquired, the frequency of the next satellite signal to be acquired is assumed to be within a limited range of frequencies determined from statistical probabilities based on the frequency of the previous signal acquisition(s).