Abstract: Various embodiments of a splash guard for a container, such as an above-ground swimming pool, are disclosed. The pool can have a base, a side wall, and a horizontal support member, and at least a portion of the side wall can be positioned between the base and horizontal support member. The splash guard can comprise a pocket extending along the side wall. The pocket can comprise an outer pocket wall and an inner pocket wall. The outer and inner pocket walls can extend upwardly from the side wall, with the inner pocket wall positioned between the outer pocket wall and the pool interior. The pocket can receive the horizontal support member through an aperture in the outer pocket wall. Positioned between the outer pocket wall and the pool interior, the inner pocket wall can reduce an amount of media exiting the pool through the aperture in the outer wall.

Abstract: Envelope tracking (ET) methods and systems for controlling the delivery of power to radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs). An exemplary ET system includes an RFPA and a wide bandwidth capable and power efficient envelope modulator that includes a first power supplying apparatus and a second power supplying apparatus. The first power supplying apparatus includes a switch-mode converter and a regulator. The first mode converter is operable to dynamically step down a fixed power supply voltage according to amplitude variations in an envelope signal received by the regulator, and use the resulting dynamic power supply signal to power the regulator. The second power supplying apparatus is connected in parallel with the first power supplying apparatus. Depending on a power of an output signal to be generated at an output of the power amplifier, power is supplied to the power amplifier from either or both of the first and second power supplying apparatuses.

Abstract: A multiple-mode modulator is configured similarly to a direct conversion quadrature modulator with an infusion of an amplitude modulation signal path from a large signal polar modulator to improve the power amplifier efficiency. The multiple-mode modulator also includes a radio frequency signal path. The multiple-mode modulator is configured to receive a baseband signal, convert the baseband signal to a radio frequency (RF) signal, and to process the RF signal according to either a polar mode or a quadrature mode, depending on a time-varying input voltage of the RF signal. When the power amplifier operates in the linear region, the RF signal is processed according to the quadrature mode. When the power amplifier operates in the compressed region, the RF signal is processed according to the polar mode. The multiple-mode modulator can be configured according to a small signal polar architecture or a large signal polar architecture, having either an open-loop or closed-loop configuration.

Abstract: A method of determining a gain nonlinearity receives a phase difference and generates an output frequency based on the received phase difference. The method reconstructs a waveform by using the output frequency. The method preprocesses the phase difference to generate a comparison waveform. The method compares the reconstructed waveform to the comparison waveform and determines a gain nonlinearity based on the comparison between the reconstructed and comparison waveforms. A modulation system includes a voltage controlled oscillator for receiving an input signal based on a phase difference and generating an output frequency. The system further includes a waveform reconstructor and a comparator. The waveform reconstructor is coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator, and is for reconstructing a waveform based on the output frequency. The comparator is coupled to the waveform reconstructor, and is for comparing the output of the waveform reconstructor with the input signal.

Abstract: The signal-to-noise ratio for a digital conversion circuit is improved by taking a source signal and generating N signals that are each phase-shifted relative to each other, thereby generating N phase-shifted signals. Each of the N signals has a frequency that is a fraction of a frequency of the source signal. The source signal is input to a dividing circuit to generate the N signals. The source signal is generated by a signal source, such as an oscillator. Each of the N signals is hard-limited and processed through a detection circuit. The detection circuit can be a frequency detection circuit configured to determine the frequency of the source signal and to output a corresponding digital word, or a phase detection circuit configured to determine a phase of the source signal and to output a corresponding digital word.

Abstract: A portable swimming pool includes a base having a perimeter; a side wall erected upright, the side wall including a top and a bottom, and the bottom of the side wall coupled to the perimeter of the base; and a floatation device coupled to the top of the side wall, the floatation device adapted to cause the side wall to remain approximately perpendicular relative the base in a generally vertical orientation.

Abstract: A power amplifier of a polar transmitter having separate amplitude and phase paths is configured so that its output power is controlled by power control circuitry disposed in both the amplitude and phase paths of the transmitter. Coarse power control is provided by coarse power control circuitry configured in the phase path. Fine power control is performed by digital power control circuitry configured in the amplitude path. The combined coarse power control circuitry in the phase path and digital power control circuitry in the amplitude path allows the output power of the power amplifier to be controlled at the accuracy and resolution required by wireless communications standards such as, for example, the W-CDMA standard.

Abstract: A decorative light system includes a frame assembly, a background assembly, and a light assembly. The frame assembly includes a frame, which is the skeletal framework of the light system. The background assembly includes a reflective surface and a support member; the reflective surface provides a reflective decorative background and the support member supports reflective surface, if need be, and the light assembly. The light assembly includes a plurality of bulb assemblies and attendant wiring, each bulb assembly having a light source and a socket. Each bulb assembly is inserted through a slit/aperture in the background assembly, and is positioned approximately parallel to the reflective surface of the background assembly providing a flat profile.

Abstract: A modulation system includes an amplitude modulation path and a phase modulation path coupled to the amplitude modulation path. One of the amplitude modulation path and the phase modulation path receive a reduced current such that the reduced current reduces power consumption by the system. Preferably, the amplitude modulation path receives the reduced current. The amplitude modulation path has a first set of components and a second set of components. The first set of components consumes less power by using slower operation. The second set of components consumes less power by effectively not operating, or being turned off.

Abstract: A transmitter has a signal generator, an amplifier, a detection circuit, a comparison circuit, a loop filter, and an adjustable clock. The signal generator produces a signal. The signal is produced with a first frequency characteristic and contains frequency-related information. The detection circuit detects the first frequency-related characteristic and generates an associated signal in response. A comparison circuit compares the signal from the detection circuit and another signal. It outputs a signal associated with the difference between the two. A loop filter receives the output of the comparison circuit and generates a signal to the signal generator in. The loop filter is clocked at a second frequency by a signal from a clock circuit. The clock circuit can compare the first frequency and the second frequency, and can change the second frequency based upon a relationship between the two frequencies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the effects of digital-to-analog converter (DAC) images and transmission spurious effects in a receive frequency band of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. A transceiver apparatus includes a transmitter portion having a DAC, a receiver portion configured to receive RF signals in a receive frequency band, and a variable rate clock generator. The variable rate clock generator is used to provide an oversampling clock for the DAC. The rate of the oversampling clock is adjustable and is selected so that an upconverted version of a DAC image created by the DAC is steered away from frequencies within the receive frequency band. A notch-effect low-pass filter (NELPF) may also, or alternatively, be used in the transceiver to reduce transmission spurious effects in the receive frequency band.

Abstract: A method of determining a gain nonlinearity receives a phase difference and generates an output frequency based on the received phase difference. The method reconstructs a waveform by using the output frequency. The method preprocesses the phase difference to generate a comparison waveform. The method compares the reconstructed waveform to the comparison waveform and determines a gain nonlinearity based on the comparison between the reconstructed and comparison waveforms. A modulation system includes a voltage controlled oscillator for receiving an input signal based on a phase difference and generating an output frequency. The system further includes a waveform reconstructor and a comparator. The waveform reconstructor is coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator, and is for reconstructing a waveform based on the output frequency. The comparator is coupled to the waveform reconstructor, and is for comparing the output of the waveform reconstructor with the input signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing pulses provided by a pulse-shaping filter implemented in hardware. Pulses are optimized and generated by the pulse-shaping filter that are of finite length and meet one or more signal quality criteria, e.g., error vector magnitude (EVM) and/or adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR). According to one exemplary embodiment, a first finite length constraint is identified and a second out-of-band power criterion is identified. An error function is defined which measures the distortion of the generated signal relative to a reference pulse modeled after an ‘ideal’ pulse. The error function is minimized to determine optimized pulses, which when used to pulse-shape a communications signal, do not substantially increase in-channel distortion of said communications signal. To avoid the generation of excessive out-of-channel power, minimization is performed subject to a predetermined maximum allowable out-of-channel power condition.

Abstract: A decorative light system includes a frame assembly, a background assembly, and a light assembly. The frame assembly includes a frame, which is the skeletal framework of the light system. The background assembly includes a reflective surface and a support member; the reflective surface provides a reflective decorative background and the support member supports reflective surface, if need be, and the light assembly. The light assembly includes a plurality of bulb assemblies and attendant wiring, each bulb assembly having a light source and a socket. Each bulb assembly is inserted through a slit/aperture in the background assembly, and is positioned approximately parallel to the reflective surface of the background assembly providing a flat profile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conditioning low-magnitude events in electrical signals. According to an exemplary method, a low-magnitude event occurring in a signal trajectory of a received electrical signal is analyzed. The low-magnitude event is defined by a data point on a signal trajectory having a magnitude that is less than a predetermined signal magnitude minimum. A correction impulse having a correction magnitude and a correction phase is generated based on the magnitude and phase of data points on the signal trajectory that occur prior to and after the occurrence of the low magnitude event. The correction impulse is combined with the original electrical signal in the temporal vicinity of the low-magnitude event, thereby generating a corrected electrical signal having a more controlled bandwidth.

Abstract: The present invention is a lamp system for use in a light string system comprising a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass activating system is adapted to move the bypass mechanism between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention is a lamp system for use in a light string system comprising a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass activating system is adapted to move the bypass mechanism between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A camera comprises a multitap imager, separate digitizing channels for each imager tap, adjustments for channel gain and black level, a pattern generator, and a channel balancer. The channel balancer compares adjacent pixels and sums the differences in levels over many frames. Any accumulated difference is used as a feedback signal to drive the summing to a minimum. If the imager is temporarily hooded, the feedback is used to balance black levels between the channels. If the imager is operating, the feedback is used to dynamically adjust the channel gain of one channel to match the other. A pattern generator is used once during calibration to generate a test pattern in the digitizing channels that makes it obvious to a framegrabber how exactly to restitching the various lanes or zones of the whole image frame back together.

Abstract: A dead wire housing assembly for use in a light string system, wherein the dead wire housing assembly is positioned adjacent to a socket of a lamp system of the light string system. The light string system includes a plurality of lamp systems connected in series, wherein each lamp system has a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly includes a light source, and a base in communication with the light source. The socket assembly includes a socket adapted to receive the base of the light assembly. The dead wire housing assembly is positioned adjacent to the socket assembly, on at least two lamp systems of the light string system. The dead wire housing assembly is adapted to house a termination of the dead wire.

Abstract: A device for transmitting information in a communications signal is envisioned. The information is modulated, at least in part, with a first angle-related characteristic. The device has a digital conversion circuit operable to convert information to be broadcast into a digital form. A constellation mapper is coupled to the digital conversion circuit, and is operable to convert the digital information into information associated with a constellation. A trajectory generation circuit generates samples denoting a trajectory within the constellation for the information. A transition analysis circuit determines a change in value of an angle-related characteristic in a transition between two samples, and a threshold detection circuit detects whether the change in value fails to meet a particular threshold. An angle-related characteristic distribution circuit can then distribute a portion of the change in value associated with the transition to at least one other transition.