Abstract: A coherent imaging system includes a transmitter and a receive beamformer which are programmed with transmit and receive time delays, respectively, that take into account time-of-flight errors caused by an intervening mammography compression plate between the biological tissue being imaged and a phased array of ultrasonic transducer elements. A simple ray-tracing method is utilized to adjust the transmit and receive time delays according to compression plate thickness and speed of ultrasound propagation to mitigate spherical aberration due to the compression plate.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for processing electromyogram (EMG) input signals from an abdominal surface to detect uterine contractions. The system comprises a sensor configured to detect a uterine EMG signal and generate an EMG input signal. The system further includes a signal processor coupled to the sensor and configured to generate an EMG prediction error signal. The signal processor performs signal-processing operations on the EMG input signal to generate the EMG prediction error signal, where the EMG prediction error signal corresponds to the magnitude of at least one contraction event and the periodicity of multiple contraction events.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining at least one property of a cooktop is provided. The cooktop includes a cooktop surface and a vessel selectively positioned on the cooktop surface. The apparatus comprises an ultrasound transducer contacting the cooktop surface. The ultrasound transducer includes an ultrasound transmitter that contacts the cooktop surface and provides an ultrasound waveform to the cooktop surface creating an excitation in the cooktop surface. The ultrasonic transducer also includes an ultrasound receiver contacting the cooktop surface. The ultrasound receiver receives a resultant ultrasound waveform in response to the excitation and produces a receiver output signal in response to the resultant ultrasound waveform. A processor is connected to the ultrasound transducer. The processor receives the receiver output signal and produces a processor output signal corresponding to the at least one property of the cooktop.

Abstract: A dual transceiver enhanced bridge is provided for wirelessly radio frequency (RF) broadcasting messages received on a telephone network. The dual transceiver enhanced bridge includes a telephone subscriber loop (TSL) modem connected to the telephone network. The TSL modem is connected to a memory unit. The dual transceiver enhanced bridge also comprises an RF modem connected to the memory unit. A controller is connected to the TSL modem, the RF modem, and the memory unit to control transmission of messages from the connected devices.

Abstract: A dual transceiver enhanced bridge is provided for wirelessly radio frequency (RF) broadcasting messages received on a power line communication system. The dual transceiver enhanced bridge includes a power line carrier (PLC) modem connected to the power line by a connecting plug. The PLC modem is connected to a memory unit. The dual transceiver enhanced bridge also comprises an RF modem connected to the memory unit. A controller is connected to the PLC modem, the RF modem, and the memory unit to control transmission of messages from the connected devices.

Abstract: A system and method involve tracking the location of objects within an area of interest using transmitted-reference ultra-wideband (TR-UWB) signals. The system includes at least three base stations communicating with a central processor, at least one mobile device and at least one fixed beacon transmitter of known location. The mobile device is equipped with a transmitter for transmitting a TR-UWB signal to a base station, which then determines a location of the mobile device based on time difference of arrival information between the beacon transmitters and mobile devices measured at all the base stations. Preferably, the area of interest includes a plurality of mobile devices each transmitting a delay-hopped TR-UWB signal according to a code-division multiple access scheme. The mobile devices may be attached to a patient and/or a medical asset within the hospital for tracking purposes.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) communications system combines the techniques of a transmitted reference (TR) and a multiple access scheme called delay hopping (DH). Combining these two techniques using UWB signaling using a continuous noise transmitted waveform avoids the synchronization difficulties associated with conventional approaches. This TR technique is combined with the DH multiple access technique to create a UWB communications scheme that has a greater multiple access capacity than does the UWB TR technique by itself.

Abstract: A communication system includes a transmitter configured to pulse shape a GHM signal to confine the frequency spectrum of the GHM signal within a predefined frequency range. A receiver is also included that receives the transmitted GHM signal. The receiver includes a processor for maximizing the GHM signal to noise ratio and minimizing the bit error rate. The GHM signals are also synchronized to establish a relative time for correct interpretation of bit positions.

Abstract: A communication system includes a transmitter configured to pulse shape a GHM signal to confine the frequency spectrum of the GHM signal within a predefined frequency range. A receiver is also included that receives the transmitted GHM signal. The receiver includes a processor for maximizing the GHM signal to noise ratio and minimizing the bit error rate. The GHM signals are also synchronized to establish a relative time for correct interpretation of bit positions.

Abstract: Received echo data are transferred from an ultrasound probe to the signal processing circuitry of an ultrasound imaging system by use of a reduced number of multiple coaxial cables. The system operates by frequency division multiplexing of the analog output signals produced by multiple individual array elements in the probe onto a single coaxial cable, which connects the probe to the central host computer or console for conventional signal processing and imaging.

Abstract: An integrated tracking, telemetry and local area networking system is provided. A communications system comprises a broadband subsystem comprising at least one UWB node including a first UWB transceiver and at least one application node linked to the UWB node by a broadband link. The system further comprises a wireless subsystem comprising at least one remote communicator, the remote communicator including a second UWB transceiver. The first and second UWB transceivers are configured to communicate with each other via an UWB communications link.

Abstract: A coherent imaging system includes a transmitter and a receive beamformer which are programmed with transmit and receive time delays, respectively, that take into account time-of-flight errors caused by an intervening mammography compression plate between the biological tissue being imaged and a phased array of ultrasonic transducer elements. A simple ray-tracing method is utilized to adjust the transmit and receive time delays according to compression plate thickness and speed of ultrasound propagation to mitigate spherical aberration due to the compression plate.

Abstract: A system for short range communications includes a transmitter capable of transmitting a colored noise-like preamble. A receiver receives the colored noise-like preamble and the receiver includes an antenna with an antenna pattern. A direction of the antenna is controllable by the receiver. A signal processor is connected to and responsive to the receiver. The signal processor detects and estimates the strength of the colored noise-like preamble.

Abstract: A method and system for using the main diagonal elements of the Cholesky factor of the spatial covariance matrix to estimate the number of jammers present, by evaluating the AIC (or other) test function using the Cholesky diagonal elements in place of covariance eigenvalues. The Cholesky factor is often available as a by-product of adaptive beamforming.

Abstract: A system and a method for switching antenna fields without waiting until data packets containing errors are detected. This is accomplished by monitoring the signal power for each antenna field immediately after receipt of data packets via the currently active antenna field and then switching to another antenna field having greater signal power. A communications channel is provided which has a capacity greater than that required by the data to be transmitted. This extra capacity is used to introduce time periods when no data is being transmitted. During these time periods, known bit patterns are transmitted, and the signal power during receipt of each of these blank packets is estimated for each antenna field. The receiver then switches to the most appropriate antenna field based on highest signal power (e.g., based on a weighted average for the N-th most recent sample periods) and continues to receive the transmitted data without interruption.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining at least one property of a cooktop is provided. The cooktop includes a cooktop surface and a vessel selectively positioned on the cooktop surface. The apparatus comprises an ultrasound transducer contacting the cooktop surface. The ultrasound transducer includes an ultrasound transmitter that contacts the cooktop surface and provides an ultrasound waveform to the cooktop surface creating an excitation in the cooktop surface. The ultrasonic transducer also includes an ultrasound receiver contacting the cooktop surface. The ultrasound receiver receives a resultant ultrasound waveform in response to the excitation and produces a receiver output signal in response to the resultant ultrasound waveform. A processor is connected to the ultrasound transducer. The processor receives the receiver output signal and produces a processor output signal corresponding to the at least one property of the cooktop.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) communications system combines the techniques of a transmitted reference (TR) and a multiple access scheme called delay hopping (DH). Combining these two techniques using UWB signaling results in a penalty in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over conventional pulse position modulation (PPM) techniques but avoids the synchronization difficulties associated with conventional approaches. The signaling pulse waveforms are designed to insure that their power spectral densities, after any frequency translation to the center of an operating band, are essentially spectrally disjoint with frequencies that must be protected. This TR technique is combined with the DH multiple access technique to create a UWB communications scheme that has a greater multiple access capacity than does the UWB TR technique by itself.

Abstract: The invention provides a transmitter and a signal for communicating information via a power line. The signal comprises a superset and the superset comprises a plurality of tone sets.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.