Abstract: Improved electrical testing of N-port beamforming devices is provided. For testing, an N:1 electrical network is connected to the N ports of the device under test to provide a single test port. This mode of testing can be used to determine parameters of interest (e.g., far field radiation patterns etc.) of the device under test more rapidly than with antenna range testing or with characterization of each port of the device under test. The N:1 electrical network can be passive or active. The N:1 electrical network can be integrated in a probe head to provide probe array testing of beamforming devices. Alternatively, the N:1 electrical network can be integrated with the device under test to provide onboard testing capability.

Abstract: A wafer test probe for testing integrated circuitry on a die is disclosed. The wafer test probe includes a membrane core. The wafer test probe also includes circuitry within the membrane core. The circuitry within the membrane core includes at least one portion of an inductor. The wafer test probe further includes a probe tip.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for selectively providing an alert to a user of a tracked asset in an asset recovery system. The method includes activating a tracking device on the tracked asset to generate a report, evaluating the report and a condition based on a home location assigned to the tracking device for generating an alert, creating the alert based on the evaluation of the condition and the report, and sending the alert to the user.

Abstract: A wafer test probe for testing integrated circuitry on a die is disclosed. The wafer test probe includes a membrane core. The wafer test probe also includes circuitry within the membrane core. The circuitry within the membrane core includes at least one portion of an inductor. The wafer test probe further includes a probe tip.

Abstract: In a membrane probing apparatus, the impedance of the interface between coaxial cables connected to the test instrumentation and the membrane supported co-planar waveguide that conductively connects to the probe's contacts is optimized by eliminating a ground plane in the interface board.

Abstract: A tracking system and method provide updated location and status information of a vending machine even after the vending machine is moved from its installed location. This allows law enforcement to use the updated location information to locate and recover the vending machine and the assets contained therein during a theft or in other security breach situations. A method also provides for automatically assigning the vending machine to an installation location using the location and status information from the vending machine.

Abstract: In a membrane probing apparatus, the impedance of the interface between coaxial cables connected to the test instrumentation and the membrane supported co-planar waveguide that conductively connects to the probe's contacts is optimized by eliminating a ground plane in the interface board.

Abstract: A flexible security device for tracking and location. The device comprises a flexible housing having a hollow medial region. A location tracking assembly is contained, at least in part, within the hollow region. The location tracking assembly comprises a plurality of modules, including a wireless communications antenna module, a wireless communications electronics module, a global positioning system antenna module, a global positioning system electronics module, and a power module. A plurality of interconnects are configured among the plurality of modules, with one or more of the interconnects having sufficient flexibility to permit relative movement of at least one module relative to an adjacent interconnected module.

Abstract: The tolerance of Short-Open-Load (SOL) and Short-Open-Load-Reflect (SOLR) VNA calibration for variability in probe position is improved by using load and short calibration structures having impedance elements with a length at least two times the probe contact pitch and a width at least two times the sum of the combined pitches of the probe contacts.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for selectively providing an alert to a user of a tracked asset in an asset recovery system. The method includes activating a tracking device on the tracked asset to generate a report, evaluating the report and a condition based on a home location assigned to the tracking device for generating an alert, creating the alert based on the evaluation of the condition and the report, and sending the alert to the user.

Abstract: A flexible security device for tracking and location. The device comprises a flexible housing having a hollow medial region. A location tracking assembly is contained, at least in part, within the hollow region. The location tracking assembly comprises a plurality of modules, including a wireless communications antenna module, a wireless communications electronics module, a global positioning system antenna module, a global positioning system electronics module, and a power module. A plurality of interconnects are configured among the plurality of modules, with one or more of the interconnects having sufficient flexibility to permit relative movement of at least one module relative to an adjacent interconnected module.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement for a GPS signal processing device having a circuit board is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises an antenna member mounted to the circuit board. The antenna member includes a first surface, second surface and a third surface. The third surface adjoins the first and second surfaces. The first, second and third surfaces define a cavity within which is disposed dielectric material. At least one conductive connector comprising first and second ends is in communication with the antenna member first surface. An amplifier is in communication with each conductive connector second end.

Abstract: A method of determining the distance traveled during an event by a mobile GPS receiver. The event comprises epochs. The method comprises receiving pseudorange data comprised of one of pseudorange differences or range rates. Each pseudorange difference, in turn, comprises a difference between a first pseudorange and a second pseudorange. The first pseudorange comprises the pseudorange between the receiver and a GPS satellite at a first epoch. The second pseudorange comprises the pseudorange between the receiver and the GPS satellite at a second epoch. The range rates comprise a range rate measurement taken by the receiver of the GPS satellite from the first epoch to the second epoch. Line-of-sight data comprised of at least one normalized vector between the receiver and the GPS satellite is then determined. Based on the pseudorange and line-of-sight data, incremental distance data is then determined. A sum over the event of the incremental distance data is then determined.

Abstract: A GPS receiver includes a slot antenna having first and second surfaces. The second surface includes a semi-circular portion. The first and second surfaces define a slot within which is disposed dielectric material. The slot antenna is optimized for receiving GPS signals when in proximity to a human body. The relatively compact size of the slot antenna allows for the incorporation of the antenna into a small device that can be worn on or carried in close proximity to the body of a user. This type of antenna is not as sensitive to gain variations when in the proximity of a human body because the design has a wider aperture and thus operates better near the body. Further, this type of antenna is virtually omni-directional, i.e., it is not problematically sensitive to the location of the GPS signal source. Moreover, the design is such that the antenna arrangement can be oriented within a device in a way that maximizes the number of GPS satellites tracked.

Abstract: A method of using altitude information to arrive at a more accurate GPS position. A 3D GPS position is used as an initial estimate. The latitude and longitude of the initial estimate are used to retrieve an altitude from a database. This altitude is used to calculate a 2D GPS position. The 2D GPS position is then used to retrieve another altitude from the database, and the calculate-retrieve process is continued until the calculation converges.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for corresponding data associated with primary correction of at least one first measurement of a GPS satellite characteristic to a second measurement of the GPS satellite characteristic taken at a mobile receiver. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a first processor is coupled to at least one wide-area GPS corrections receiver and at least one local-area GPS corrections receiver. The wide-area and local-area receivers operate to determine the first measurement and secondary data associated with correction of the determined first measurement. In operation, an estimate of the location of the mobile receiver is determined by the first processor. The availability to the mobile receiver of the secondary correction data from the wide-area and local-area GPS corrections receivers is determined, preferably based on the location estimate. From the secondary correction data, primary data representing the primary correction is determined by the first processor.

Abstract: A food bar having a high protein, flavored outer shell and an inner filling, the outer shell comprising protein supplemented marshmallow, and the inner filling comprising an intermediate moisture food product.