Abstract: A system and method for increasing the reliability of data matches between data stored in a database and newly provided data. The system relies on the prescreening of newly provided data patterns to insure that any newly provided data pattern is not ambiguous with existing data patterns. A threshold level is calculated for each newly provided data pattern and the invention determines which stored data pattern is closest to, or most likely to be confused with, the newly provided data pattern. The invention temporarily prohibits the new data pattern from being added to the database if it is likely to be confused with a stored data pattern. A user can then choose either to change the new data pattern to a different pattern or to allow the potentially confusing new data pattern to be added to the database. The calculated threshold levels can be set for both individual users and groups of users. The data patterns can consist of speech, images, graphs or other data.

Abstract: A method for tracking, in a roaming receiver, RF channels in a multi-area system where each area has a unique RF channel and each unique RF channel has a unique address for each user. A plurality of telephone area codes are stored into a memory of the receiver with each of the telephone area codes corresponding to a different RF channel within the multi-area system. An address from the RF channel which is unique to the receiver for that specific RF channel is received by the receiver, each address corresponding to one of the stored telephone area codes. A telephone area code corresponding to the address is then retrieved from the receiver memory, and the telephone area code is displayed in a receiver display to allow a user to quickly recognize which area of the multi-area system the receiver is located within.

Abstract: A low profile antenna system comprises a frame having front and side surfaces for enclosing a printed circuit board supporting a receiver, the front surface of the frame including a first conductive plate, an isolated portion thereof, which couples to the printed circuit board and forms a first portion of a loop antenna. A conductor is coupled to the printed circuit board and forms a second portion of the loop antenna. A second conductive plate is coupled to the frame and forms a rear surface of the frame to completely enclose the printed circuit board. The second conductive plate is capacitively coupled to the conductor thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the loop antenna.

Abstract: A radio receiver receives information on a radio carrier and switches portions of the receiver (12, 14, 18) OFF and ON at a rate greater than the bandwidth of the information, thereby reducing the power consumed by the radio receiver. A signal quality detector (42) determines the amount of distortion introduced by the switching and controls a duty cycle modulator (44) in order to maximize the OFF time while maintaining adequate signal quality. If receiving a data transmission, a synchronizer (46) may be used to synchronize the switching to the bit timing. A transmission gate (24) and capacitor (26) holds the input of filter (32) constant while portions of the receiver are OFF or generating transients due to being switched ON.

Abstract: A radio receiver (100) having a receiver section (103) receives and processes an information signal to provide received information having an error factor that varies at least with respect to operational parameters of the receiver section (103). In the radio receiver (100), a method is embodied for adaptively controlling the operational parameters of the receiver section (103) to optimize the error factor of the received information. The method (400, 400', 400") comprises operating in a first receiver mode in response to a predetermined mode select parameter, correlating a first signal recovered from the received information to at least a portion of a first code word to establish a first error criteria, and operating in the first receiver mode while the first error criteria does not exceed a predetermined error criteria.

Abstract: A wristworn receiving device suitable for being worn about a wrist comprises a receiver (404) for receiving radio frequency signals on a particular operating frequency, a housing (142) for enclosing the receiver (404), a first wristband section (102) including a first wristband loop antenna portion (118) and a movable clasp member (122), and a second wristband section (104) including a second wristband loop antenna portion (134) terminated in a fixed clasp member (140). The first (118) and second (134) wristband loop antenna portions are partially resonated at the operating frequency. The second wristband loop antenna portion (134) is coupled to the first wristband loop antenna portion (118) and is positioned by the movable clasp member (122) at first (204) and second (202 or 206) positions along the first wristband loop antenna portion (118) so as to form a resonant loop antenna which remains substantially tuned to the operating frequency at the first (204) and second (202 or 206 ) positions.

Abstract: A printed circuit (pc) board (105) having at least two layers, wherein proper assembly and alignment of the at least two layers may be visually verified, comprises a first layer (410) having a first printed circuit pattern (305) formed thereon, the first printed circuit pattern (305) including a first identifier (115) formed along at least one edge (405) of the first layer (410). The pc board (105) further comprises a second layer (420) having a second printed circuit pattern (305) formed thereon, the second printed circuit pattern (305) including a second identifier (120) formed along at least one edge (405) of the second layer (420), the second identifier (120) being visibly aligned with the first identifier (115) in a predetermined alignment to indicate that the first layer (410) and the second layer (420) are correctly laminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing extended battery saving operation in a conventional selective call signaling protocol, such as the POCSAG signaling protocol includes the transmission of an ordered batch identifier code word in the first frame following a preamble transmission. Upon detection of the ordered batch identifier code word, those selective call receivers capable of extended battery saving operation would supply power to the receiver only during those batches assigned to the receiver group to which the selective call receiver belongs, such as for every second or fourth batch transmission. The method for providing extended battery saving capability is transparent to conventional selective call receivers operating within the system.

Abstract: A selective call receiver includes a vibrator (206) for generating alerts. The vibrator (206) includes a housing (402), a flexible member (2) within the housing (402) and coupled thereto, and a moving member (404) coupled to the flexible member (2) for movement about an equilibrium position, the moving member (404) including a permanent magnet (410). An actuator includes an electromagnet (412) for causing the permanent magnet (410) and the moving member (404) to move at a first frequency for generating an audible alert and at a second frequency for generating a sub-audible or tactile alert. The movement at the second frequency is substantially transferred to the housing (402) for generating the sub-audible or tactile alert.

Abstract: A leadless electrical resistor (40), comprising a parallelepiped dielectric body (42), or chip, having a resistive film element (44) on one face. A pair of conductive terminations (46) are connected to opposite ends of the resistive element in order to form a chip resistor. A second resistive film element (54) is formed on the opposing face of the dielectric body in a direction perpendicular to the first resistor. A second pair of conductive terminations (56) are connected to opposite ends of the second resistive element (54) in order to form a second resistor on the back side of the chip. The terminations of the second resistor are on adjacent sides of the chip body compared to the terminations of the first resistor, thus forming a chip resistor (40) having two resistive elements (44 and 54) with terminations (46 and 56) on the four vertical walls of the chip.

Abstract: An adaptive battery saving controller for a battery powered communication receiver utilizes a signal quality detector for detecting strong signal and weak signal conditions. During strong signal conditions, the adaptive battery saving controller is capable of suspending the supply of power to the receiver during the reception of message code words not intended for the communication receiver. The adaptive battery saving controller is also capable of suspending the supply of power to the receiver following the detection of a hard address error. During weak signal conditions, the adaptive battery saving controller reverts to conventional battery saving techniques.

Abstract: A battery charging controller which can be integrated within a battery powered device having a rechargeable battery includes a circuit for monitoring the energy consumption of the device from the battery, and for accumulating a measure of the energy consumed since the battery was previously charged. Energy consumption is determined based on the number of device functions being active during predetermined sampling time intervals. When the battery powered device is coupled to an external charging source, the charging of the battery, including the charging rate, is controlled by the energy monitoring circuit within the battery powered device. Rapid charging, slow charging, and discharging of the battery before charging are all readily controlled using an external charging source which requires no circuits for monitoring the battery charging process.

Abstract: Two or more crystal filter blanks are mounted together in such a manner so as to minimize the printed circuit board surface area occupied by their aggregate footprint and to minimize the vibratory and oscillatory interference among the cyrstal filters. Mounting devices are coupled to a first nonvibratory node and a second nonvibratory node of the crystal blanks to minimize vibrational and oscillatory interference between the crystal filters. Insulating material is disposed between the crystal blanks for electrically insulating and physically separating the crystal blanks from each other to additionally minimize electrical and vibrational interference between the crystal blanks.

Abstract: An antenna for a low profile portable communications receiver is described. The antenna comprises a conductor formed into a single turn loop having a first set of parallel opposed sides one quarter wavelength or less in length at the operating frequency and a second set of parallel opposed sides, substantially shorter than the first set of sides. The loop terminates in connection tabs symmetrically about the midpoint of one of the first set of sides for connection to a receiver. A dielectric core is interposed within the loop, substantially filling the loop. With the core within the loop, the loop also functions as a halfwave electric dipole thereby providing an antenna responsive to both the magnetic and electric fields of an electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A housing for an alerting system within a selective call radio receiver exhibits substantial space saving characteristics by incorporating both a low profile vibrator motor for silent alerting and a tone generator for audio alerting. The housing comprises a rigid material defining first and second chambers adjacent and separated by a common wall of the housing, the first chamber containing the low profile vibrating motor, the second chamber containing the tone generator, the housing defining a first port therein for omitting an audio tone from the second chamber and at least one other port therein for providing power to the low profile vibrating motor and the tone generator.