Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering text including tone marks and integral diacritics, such as Vietnamese, uses a compact keypad (110). The compact keypad has letters in alphabetical sequence, including letters with integral diacritics (142, 143, 146, 148) in the same order as they arrive in the Vietnamese alphabet series. The five tone marks (154,155,157,158,159) are positioned on five separate keys (124, 125, 127, 128, 129) of the compact keypad (110). The apparatus has an associated method (300) where a processor determines if a previous keypress represents a neutral vowel (350) and modifies the neutral vowel with a tone mark 360 if a current keypress has an associated tone mark.

Abstract: A numeric keypad (100) for entering ideographic characters is provided. The numeric keypad (100) comprises a first set of input keys (102) corresponding to numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and a second set of input keys (104) corresponding to numeral 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. Each of the first set of input keys (102) has a predefined single character stroke, which complies with the GB18031 standard. The second set of input keys (104) is assigned a first particular sequence of the predefined single character strokes and a second particular sequence of the predefined single character strokes different from the first particular sequence of the predefined single character strokes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to system and method for determining a fluid level. The system comprises a sensing rod assembly comprised of releasably connectable rod segments. Each rod segment carries a processor and a plurality of inductors. Each inductor generates a position signal responsive to a float signal. A float assembly comprises a housing containing a circuit having an integrally formed coil periodically energizable by a processor to emit the float signal. A control assembly receives the generated position signals and determines the fluid level. The method comprises providing releasably connectable rod segments with inductors that generate a position signal responsive to a float signal, determining a sensing rod assembly length, forming the sensing rod assembly, disposing it within a container, providing a float assembly periodically actuated to generate a float signal, generating position signals responsive to the float signal and analyzing those signals to determine the fluid level.

Abstract: An intermediate code and electronic device therefore uses a method for character entry that has the steps of entering a first character code into a memory buffer (320, 360, 390), entering an intermediate code into the memory buffer (310, 350, 380), entering a second character code into the memory buffer (332, 378), changing the intermediate code to one or more character codes (333, 336, 365, 375, 393, 396), and using a display engine to display one or more characters represented by the first character code, the one or more character codes, and the second character code. These intermediate codes are useful for reduced keypads where certain characters, such as ligatures, are difficult to access from the keypad.

Abstract: A self-powered apparatus includes a solar power cell, a battery, and a load. The load may include one or more load functions performed using power provided by one or both of the solar power cell and the battery. The inclusion of a battery permits the solar power cell to be sized much smaller than if the solar power cell was the only supply of power. A programmable controller selectively regulates power provided to one or more load functions and also selectively regulates whether one or both of the power cell and battery supplies the power. Switching circuitry, controlled by the programmable controller, selectively couples one or both of the battery and the solar cell to supply energy for powering the load. In a preferred example embodiment, the controller couples the battery and/or solar cell to charge a super capacitor, which then is selectively controlled to power the load.

Abstract: A self-powered apparatus includes a solar power cell, a battery, and a load. The load may include one or more load functions performed using power provided by one or both of the solar power cell and the battery. The inclusion of a battery permits the solar power cell to be sized much smaller than if the solar power cell was the only supply of power. A programmable controller selectively regulates power provided to one or more load functions and also selectively regulates whether one or both of the power cell and battery supplies the power. Switching circuitry, controlled by the programmable controller, selectively couples one or both of the battery and the solar cell to supply energy for powering the load. In a preferred example embodiment, the controller couples the battery and/or solar cell to charge a super capacitor, which then is selectively controlled to power the load.