Abstract: A device which locates a container from a group of containers utilizing an electronic tag, the electronic tag is capable of being positioned in close proximity to one of the containers. The electronic tag includes at least one long range transceiver portion and at least one short range transceiver portion. Each long range transceiver portion is capable of communicating with either a short range transceiver portion associated with another electronic tag, or an interrogator unit. Each short range transceiver portion is capable of communicating with a long range transceiver portion of another electronic tag. The device assists in locating a container, relative to other containers, when the containers are stored in a stacked or nested configuration. A global positioning system (GPS) can be utilized to locate the position of the containers on the Earth's surface.

Abstract: A device which is useful in locating lost articles including a GPS translator, located in close proximity of said lost article. The GPS translator is capable of translating a frequency transmitted from a GPS transmitter to a GPS receiver, the GPS receiver is capable of receiving a first signal directly from the GPS transmitter, and a second signal transmitted from the GPS transmitter, through said GPS translator, to the GPS receiver. Since the translator typically uses considerable energy during continual usage, there is a power management portion included which actuates the translator only during those times that a coded signal is transmitted to the translator, which is typically transmitted by the user who is attempting to located the lost article.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer has the configuration of a phase locked loop (PLL) having a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) generating an output signal, a phase detector for outputting a control signal to the VCO, and circuitry coupled to an output port the VCO for offsetting the frequency of a sample of the output signal. The synthesizer includes a sampling mixer operative with a source of reference signal and interconnecting the offset circuitry with the phase detector. The sampling mixer mixes the offset sample with the reference signal to output a comb frequency spectrum of signals differing in frequency from each other by multiples of the reference frequency. A filter selects a signal outputted by the sampling mixer at one of the comb frequencies for application to the phase detector. The phase detector is operative with a source of input signal having an input signal frequency for phase locking with the signal selected by the filter.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer having a comb frequency generator, comb line selection filter, and phase locked loop for filtering out spurious signal components and for offsetting the synthesizer output frequency from the frequency of a signal which is output by the comb line selection filter. A reference signal source generates a reference signal having a reference frequency and outputs the reference signal to the comb frequency generator. The comb frequency generator outputs a plurality of comb spectrum signals having frequencies which are respective integer multiples of the reference frequency. An input mixer connected to the comb frequency generator and to a coarse tuning signal source translates the frequencies of the comb spectrum signals to place one selected signal of the comb spectrum signals within a pass band of the comb line selection filter, which outputs the selected signal to the phase locked loop.