Abstract: A locator system includes two main components, namely, (1) a beacon tag that is readily attached to a person or article, and (2) a transportable finder or receiver/processor for sensing the relative position of the tag and indicating changes in that relative position to a user. The method for locating a person or article preferably uses an audible feedback signal to the user for informing the user, when moving, whether the relative position of the beacon tag is getting closer to the finder or farther from the finder. The locator system includes at least one beacon tag comprising a transmitter programmed to transmit a unique coded pulse signal. The beacon tag is housed in a lightweight portable envelope or container and includes a battery, an antenna, a large programmed gate array and a frequency reference (e.g., a crystal oscillator).

Abstract: An economical, reliable, robust and easy to use multi-user voice communication system and method suitable for use in rapidly evolving tactical or hazardous situations continuously permits each user to hear every voice communication occurring among the other users, no matter when each user speaks, and no matter how many users try to speak at once. One may characterize this as a wearable party-line radio network, because it works like a wireless party-line telephone service in that all users continuously hear every speaker, even when speaking simultaneously. The system is transportable and operable without requiring any set-up procedure or installation of a central hub or router for controlling a varying number of users when moving. Each user carries a transceiver handset with one transmitter and two or more transceivers tuned to the other transmitters in a group.

Abstract: A transmission system or apparatus includes a transmitter or source of transmitted RF or microwave power which is selectively connectable via a transmitter connector to an antenna having an antenna feed via an antenna connector so that a variety of antennas with differing characteristics can be used with a given transmitter. Each antenna preferably has a marker or indicating element incorporated into the antenna feed. The marker or indicating element includes a physically measurable property or parameter corresponding to a physical characteristic of the attached antenna. In the preferred embodiment, the indicating element is a resistance connected in parallel with the antenna feed and having a selected resistance value (e.g., in ohms) which indicates the physical characteristic of gain for antenna. The transmission system also includes an indicating element sensor configured to sense or measure the marker or indicating element and generate a transmitter control signal in response to that measurement.

Abstract: A video surveillance system includes a video surveillance camera and a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) transmitter for efficiently and economically transmitting high resolution video signals from the video signal source in the license-free ISM bands (e.g., at 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.2 GHz) to a FHSS receiver adapted to receive and demodulate the FHSS signal and generate a complete, intact composite analog video signal directly therefrom. Complete and intact means that all of the composite analog video signal is transmitted and received, including the original line sync and frame sync signals, without requiring any further processing.

Abstract: A frequency hopping, spread spectrum transceiver for wireless data telemetry directly modulates data for transmission using minimum shift keying (MSK) modulation; the transceiver includes a transmit Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) to provide an input to a modulator. A programmable attenuator circuit is used between the source of transmit data, the micro processing unit (MPU), and the transmit phase locked loop (PLL) summing junction. The programmable attenuator provides a selectively attenuated data signal that is coupled to the PLL summing junction to generate a modulated data signal for transmission and dynamically adjusts the transmit data stream voltage level as required to achieve a fixed level in frequency deviation based on the present VCO operating frequency. A complete set of VCO characterization measurements is obtained beforehand.

Abstract: An economical, compact wireless data telemetry transceiver is adapted to establish and maintain communication links at 2.4 GHZ. The wireless transceiver includes RF and computer control components in a compact package approximately the size of a deck of cards and is adapted to be built into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products to support a wide range of wireless data telemetry applications. Each transceiver includes a shielded RF board or module with a frequency hopping transmitter and receiver, an antenna, and a digital control board or module. The transceiver functions as a half duplex, bi-directional communication device; transmit and receive functions are time interleaved in a non-overlapping fashion. The RF Board consists of a transmitter, receiver, frequency synthesizer and T/R Switch, each controlled by an external microprocessor to either transmit serial data or receive serial data.

Abstract: An economical, compact wireless data telemetry transceiver is adapted to establish and maintain communication links at 2.4 GHZ. The wireless transceiver includes RF and computer control components in a compact package approximately the size of a deck of cards and is adapted to be built into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products to support a wide range of wireless data telemetry applications. Each transceiver includes a shielded RF board or module with a frequency hopping transmitter and receiver, an antenna, and a digital control board or module. The transceiver functions as a half duplex, bi-directional communication device; transmit and receive functions are time interleaved in a non-overlapping fashion. The RF Board consists of a transmitter, receiver, frequency synthesizer and T/R Switch, each controlled by an external microprocessor to either transmit serial data or receive serial data. The T/R switch is preferably implemented using strip line on a separate daughter board on the RF board.

Abstract: A video surveillance system includes a video surveillance camera and a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) transmitter for efficiently and economically transmitting high resolution video signals from the video signal source in the license-free ISM bands (e.g., at 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5.2 GHz) to a FHSS receiver adapted to receive and demodulate the FHSS signal and generate a complete, intact composite analog video signal directly therefrom. Complete and intact means that all of the composite analog video signal is transmitted and received, including the original line sync and frame sync signals, without requiring any further processing.

Abstract: An economical, compact frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless data telemetry transceiver is adapted to establish and maintain communication links at 2.4 GHZ. The wireless transceiver includes RF and computer control components in a compact package approximately the size of a deck of cards and is adapted to be built into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products to support a wide range of wireless data telemetry applications. The transceiver includes an inexpensive VCO which is controlled by novel method including steps to characterize and adjust the frequency output of the crystal. As ambient temperature around a quartz crystal varies, the resonant frequency of the crystal varies, in different ways, depending on the method used to cut the crystal from a quartz blank. Employing a quartz crystal in an oscillator circuit to generate a reference frequency subjects the oscillator to the same frequency variations over temperature as the quartz crystal.

Abstract: An economical, compact frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless data telemetry transceiver is adapted to establish and maintain communication links at 2.4 GHz. The wireless transceiver includes RF and computer control components in a compact package approximately the size of a deck of cards and is adapted to be built into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products to support a wide range of wireless data telemetry applications. Each transceiver includes a shielded RF board or module with a frequency hopping transmitter and receiver, an antenna, and a digital control board or module. The transceiver functions as a half duplex, bi-directional communication device; transmit and receive functions are time interleaved in a non-overlapping fashion. The RF Board consists of a transmitter, receiver, frequency synthesizer and T/R Switch, each controlled by an external microprocessor to either transmit serial data or receive serial data.

Abstract: An antenna assembly is formed as a thin, unitary element with parallel leads laminated to an insulator. The unitary antenna element includes an integral attachment portion for connection to a printed circuit board. The antenna assembly is usable in electronic devices, such as a cordless telephone radio transceiver. A molded cover, which is directly attached to the electronic device rather than the antenna assembly, is provided to encase and protect the antenna.

Abstract: An improved proximal cable-less communications system using at least two receivers is described. The system is significantly improved by eliminating the sidetone which can occur in full duplex systems. Components are placed in the receivers, between the mixer components and the components which detect the information encoded in the signal at the intermediate frequency, which function to cancel out the detrimental affect of those signals containing information derived from the modulation of the local oscillator of the receiver device.