Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an electrically modifiable optical fiber grating device is made by providing a fiber including a grating and forming a plurality of electrically conductive elements along the grating. In response to an electrical signal, the conductive elements modify the grating. In a preferred embodiment, a fiber grating is provided with a plurality of heating elements spaced to selectively heat different portions of the grating. This chirps the spacing between elements of the grating and thereby increases the bandwidth of the device.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable (10) having a tube assembly (20) therein. Tube assembly (20) includes an optical fiber group (22) in a tube (21). Optical fiber group (22) comprises a medial optical fiber subgroup (23) and lateral optical fiber subgroups (24a,24b;25a,25b;26a,26b) adjacent thereto. Subgroups (24a,24b;25a,25b;26a,26b) define a step-like profile for maximizing optical fiber packing density of tube assembly (20) and/or defining a high fiber count cable (10). In an exemplary embodiment, fiber optic cable (10) can include strength assemblies (30) on opposing sides of tube assembly (20) for defining a preferential bend plane in fiber optic cable (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic filter that includes a central core, a ring core concentric with the central core, an inner cladding region of refractive index ni between the central and ring cores, and a cladding layer of refractive index n, surrounding the ring core. The maximum refractive index n, of the central core and the maximum refractive index n2 of the ring core are greater than nc and ni. The propagation constants of one core mode and one ring mode are different at wavelengths except for at least one wavelength &lgr;0 whereby power transfers between the two cores at &lgr;0. At least a portion of the fiber optic filter fiber is wound around a reel to subject it to a continuous curvature, the radius of which determines the amplitude of the attenuation. Such fibers are useful in fiber amplifiers in which the central core contains active dopant ions.

Abstract: A tray for splicing optical ribbon fibers capable of storing and organizing ribbon fibers splices and excess length, improving accommodation density for the optical ribbon fiber by using new splice arrangement plate structure, including a tray main body having a plurality of supporting portions protruded on an outer side thereof; a plurality of inlet portions for providing inlet paths for protection tubes, each of the inlet portions being formed on the outer side; a pair of stacking bars having through holes rotatably supported by one of the supporting portions to stack another tray main body; a plurality of splice arrangement plates for organizing optical ribbon fibers, each of the splice arrangement plates being disposed on the main body; a number of organizing portions for fixing the optical ribbon fibers and arranging excess lengths of the optical ribbon fibers, each of said splice arrangement plates comprising a plurality of the organizing portions; and a plurality of covers for covering the splice arran

Abstract: A cable exit trough is mountable to a lateral trough section either during initial assembly of the cable routing system, or at a later date. The exit trough includes a bracket portion mountable to the top edge of one of the sides of the lateral trough section. Two lead-ins are provided to lead the cable in an upward direction from the lateral trough section to the exit trough. The exit trough includes an exit trough portion extending from the bracket portion upwardly away from the lateral trough section. The exit trough portion includes a convexly curved bottom trough surface, and two convexly curved upstanding sides. The exit trough portion and the lead-ins define a cable pathway from the lateral trough section to an exit point of the exit trough portion which can either lead downwardly relative to the lateral trough section, or horizontally.

Abstract: A digital video signal of one frame is recorded as diagonal tracks on a magnetic tape by four recording heads. One frame is recorded as six segments (twelve tracks). Adjacent tracks is reverse azimuths. In each track of even segments, an auxiliary data sync block is recorded at the last position of a video sector v1. In each track of odd segments, an auxiliary data sync block is recorded at the beginning position of a video sector v1. Since an auxiliary data sync block is recorded at spaced positions on a tape, it can be prevented that an auxiliary data cannot be read at all on a tape scrached in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A video editing scheme for enabling a video editing operation on the coded video data efficiently. In a system in which the coded video data are decoded and displayed on a video display device, events including scene changes are detected from the coded video data, and icons are produced from the coded video data in correspondence to the detected events. On the other hand, playback possible positions from which the coded video data can be playbacked smoothly are determined, and an index information including an information on the produced icons and the determined playback possible positions is managed. Then, a plurality of icons are displayed on a single display, and a user is allowed to specify a desired icon among the displayed icons on the single display.

Abstract: When a picture print is generated by editing a picture image recorded on a film, the print in accordance with a customer's requirements is generated by simple operations and at a low cost. Low resolution image data of a picture image read from a film are recorded in a recording medium, in addition to software for image editing, and provided to a customer so that the customer can carry out editing operations on the picture using a personal computer or the like. When a print is ordered, editing instruction information generated by recording the operations the customer has carried out for the editing is received from the customer via the recording medium. Based on the editing instruction information, a scanner reads a film in high resolution and a printer outputs a print after automatic editing on the image data.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording an information signal forming slant tracks (Ti) on a magnetic record carrier (16), and for recording a control (CTL) signal forming a longitudinal CTL track (50). At least one write head (10) located on a rotatable head drum (14) writes the information signal on the record carrier to produce the slant tracks, while a CTL write head (34) writes the CTL signal at a specific frequency on the record carrier. In a first recording mode, a portion of the information signal is recorded by the write head (10) to produce a track during each revolution of the head drum on the record carrier, the frequency of the CTL signal being such that an edge in the CTL signal is written in the CTL track for each of the tracks, and the record carrier (16) being transported with a predetermined first speed, and the head drum (14) being rotated with a predetermined rotational velocity.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing MPEG data through which any MPEG decoder, without containing special functionality, can decode and display a slow motion picture. Specifically, to do so, the apparatus when, operating in a normal play mode, provides picture data included in original MPEG data, but when operating in a slow motion mode, provides not only the picture data, included in the original MPEG data, but also dummy data for repeatedly displaying the picture data several times in accordance with a slow motion speed.

Abstract: A tape indexing arrangement for video recorders records the index on the tape using standard broadcast teletext codes. When a tape is inserted, the contents list it contains is written onto an index RAM in the recorder (200). When a new program is recorded, a program identification is generated from PDC or EPG data (202). At a suitable later time, the contents of the index RAM are recorded on the tape (204).

Abstract: A programmable audio/video encoder capable of receiving an encoding algorithm from an external digital information source. In one embodiment, the system accepts recordable DVD disks having a read-only sector for storing customized video encoding algorithms and programs the programmable video encoder with the customized video encoding algorithms prior to encoding and recording a video signal on the disk. By designing the video encoding algorithms to optimize one or more of a number of desirable attributes, the DVD media vendors can then create “classes” of recordable DVD disks, i.e. high capacity, high quality, high speed, high image detail, high color resolution, variable frame rate, etc. One programmable video encoder for this embodiment would include an instruction memory for storing the customized video algorithms, a video buffer for buffering the video signal, and a CPU which encodes the video signal according to the customized video algorithms.

Abstract: A data recording method is provided in which video data and plural channels of language data are divided into packets as units, and the video data and the plural channels of language data are recorded on a record medium along with the control information containing a flag designating a reproducing channel of the language data matched to a reproducing pattern of the video data. Thus it becomes possible to record video data and plural channels of language data on a record medium so that a reproducing channel for the language data matched to the reproducing pattern of the video data will be selected and the plural channels of language data matched to the reproducing pattern and the video data will be reproduced by a reproducing system.

Abstract: A digital image recording and/or reproducing apparatus using a plurality of compression methods may include, in a recording section, (a) data compression circuitry, including a plurality of compression circuits which have different compression methods, for changing a compression rate for input digital image data by changing a combination of the plurality of compression circuits compressing the digital input image data and (b) circuitry for recording (1) the digital image data compressed by the data compressing circuit and (2) data representing the compression rate of the digital image data compressed by the data compressing circuit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to easily search data from a recording medium on which different types of data items are recorded. A storing apparatus is disclosed, that comprises a signal processing unit for acquiring first type data and second type data and processing them, a serial number assigning unit for sequentially assigning a serial number to the first type data and the second type data processed by the signal processing unit in the acquired order regardless of the first type data or the second type data, and a storing unit for storing the first type data and the second type data corresponding to the serial number.

Abstract: A continuous flow heater has an elastic, flexible or rigid pipe (10) which is movably mounted and a heat source (6). When a liquid flowing through the pipe is heated in the pipe interior (1), undesired scale tends to be deposited on the interior of the pipe walls. To prevent or remove this deposit, the pipe (10) is moved and/or deformed by an internal overpressure or by application of external forces, causing the deposits to be detached from the pipe inner walls and carried away by the fluid flow. The overall pipe (10) can have an inner pipe (2), inner insulating layers (3-5), a filament (6) and external insulating layers (7-9).

Abstract: A method is provided for storing information related to a photographic film unit that includes a local data memory such as magnetic media or an electronic memory unit. In the method, a logical memory unit and the film unit are associated. The logical memory unit is physically remote from the film unit. Exposure-independent information for the film unit is written to the logical memory unit. Exposure-dependent information is written to the local data memory.

Abstract: A camera housing comprises an exterior longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise; a single opening through the exterior longitudinal edge that interrupts the exterior longitudinal edge to create a gap in the exterior longitudinal edge; and an insert having a longitudinal edge that is curved widthwise the same as the exterior longitudinal edge and configured to fit in the opening to align the longitudinal edge of the insert with the exterior longitudinal edge in order that the longitudinal edge of the insert is positioned within the gap to appear to be a continuation of the exterior longitudinal edge, and including a viewfinder window with an exterior flat face that is inclined into the longitudinal edge of the insert to at least partially interrupt the longitudinal edge of the insert in order to prevent the occurrence of image distortion when looking though the viewfinder window in the vicinity of the longitudinal edge of the insert.

Abstract: A camera includes an exposure counter wheel that has a series of exposure count indicia and is incrementally rotated in a count direction to successively view the exposure count indicia, and an anti-backup pawl that engages with the exposure counter wheel to prevent rotation of the exposure counter wheel in a reverse direction which is the opposite of the count direction. The anti-backup pawl is a combination single-piece unit having a stationary rigid transparent portion fixed in place above the exposure counter wheel to permit the exposure count indicia to be successively seen through the transparent portion when the exposure counter wheel is incrementally rotated in the count direction, and having a resilient flexible pawl portion positioned in engagement with the exposure counter wheel to prevent rotation of the exposure counter wheel in the reverse direction but to allow rotation of the exposure count wheel in the count direction.

Abstract: A panoramic camera has a camera housing rotatable about an axis of rotation that defines a viewpoint which points along a radial optical path that object rays traverse as the camera is rotated about its axis; a lens assembly having an optical path and a front nodal point mounted for rotation with the camera housing with the optical path of the lens offset from the radial optical path; a specular assembly including an object specular member along the radial optical path mounted for rotation with the housing that cooperates with the lens assembly for gathering object rays that traverse the radial optical path and for deviating them along the optical path of the lens assembly in such a way that the front nodal point of the lens subassembly virtually appears to lie on the axis of rotation thereby eliminating image smearing; and has different ambient light responsive controller embodiments operative either to continuously vary or to preset exposure, or to base exposure on a control sinewave whose phase is obtained

Abstract: An instant photo film pack to be loaded in a pack holder is constituted by a box-shaped pack case which contains stacked self-developing photo film units of a peel-apart type. The pack case has an exposure opening formed in an upper wall thereof and a passage opening formed with a front wall thereof. A pressure plate is disposed in the pack case, and provided with a pair of lateral walls so as to separate an inside of the pack case into upper and lower chambers. Each of the photo film units includes a photosensitive sheet contained in the upper chamber. An image receiving sheet is contained in the lower chamber. A withdrawing sheet has an edge connected with the photosensitive sheet. A developing solution pod is disposed on the withdrawing sheet, for containing developing solution. A mask sheet has an edge connected with the withdrawing sheet. A mask opening is formed in the mask sheet.

Abstract: A camera capable of print format selection includes a connecting unit for responding to at least one of a unit for forming information for focus adjustment on the basis of one of distance measurement information of a plurality of portions in a scene and defocus information, and a unit for different print formats, thereby affecting an operation related to at least the other unit, or includes a connecting unit for responding to at least one of a unit for a predetermined distance range and a unit for different print formats, thereby affecting an operation related to at least the other unit.

Abstract: In a rangefinder apparatus, a luminous flux is projected from an infrared emitting diode (IRED) toward an object at a distance to be measured and the reflected light of the projected luminous flux is detected by a position sensitive detector (PSD). The signal output from the PSD is arithmetically processed by signal processing circuits and an arithmetic circuit and output as a distance signal. An integrating circuit integrates the distance signal output from the arithmetic circuit as an integration result and a reference voltage, compares the two integration results, and outputs a comparison result signal corresponding to the comparison. According to the signal output from the integrating circuit, a CPU measures the time required for the second integration and detects the distance to the objected according to the time measured.

Abstract: A photographic device includes a film cassette that has a shell having a film space and a module slot external to the film space. The filmstrip coiled within said film space. A memory module is loosely retained in the module slot. The photographic device has a terminal block that orients and holds the memory module when the film cassette is loaded.

Abstract: An apparatus using a film cartridge having an IC memory unit. The IC memory unit is arranged beneath a side of a cartridge shell of the film cartridge, and a positioning hole is formed on the side of the cartridge shell. In order to read/write information from/to the IC memory unit, an arm of a contact unit is rotated towards the cartridge shell, so that a positioning pin provided at the arm end engages the positioning hole to position the cartridge shell, and contact pins provided at the arm end are brought into contact with terminals of the IC memory unit.

Abstract: In tandem copy, an external controller assigns a minimum print copy number to a slave image forming apparatus from a total print copy number. The external controller assigns a remainder print copy number, which is obtained by subtracting the minimum print copy number assigned to the slave image forming apparatus from the total print copy number, to a master image forming apparatus, and instructs starting of printing out. When detecting that printing of all assigned copy number is completed in the slave and a new interrupt print job (other job print request) has come in, the external controller starts a new print job in the slave. When detecting that the interrupt printing in the slave is completed, the external controller suspends printing in the master and inquires of the master about a non-output copy number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a voltage information storing unit in which data of transfer voltages in correspondence to predetermined discontinuous temperatures and humidity are stored. In the case that measured temperature and humidity of an atmosphere out of the apparatus do not coincide with discontinuous temperature and humidity stored in the voltage information storing unit, a proper transfer voltage is applied to a medium transfer roller by interpolating data of the stored transfer voltage so as to calculate the transfer voltage and applying the transfer voltage to the medium transfer roller.

Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a transfer-current control circuit that may reduce the smaller number of current control circuits and wires than the conventional while maintaining the controllable number of currents. The present invention divides the transfer output circuit into main and auxiliary controller modules. The main controller module has a configuration similar to the conventional transfer output circuit. The auxiliary controller module provides the same number of current control circuits as the number of input signal lines. The main controller module is connected to the auxiliary controller module in a wired-OR manner. A method of controlling the transfer-current control circuit based on first and second parameters forms part of the invention.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is of the type causing a toner image transferred by primary transfer to again move via a primary image transfer region before secondary transfer. The apparatus includes an image carrier for carrying the toner image to be transferred by the primary transfer. An intermediate image transfer body transfers the toner image transferred thereto by the primary transfer to a recording medium by secondary transfer. The intermediate image transfer body forms the primary image transfer region in contact with the image carrier. A charge depositing device applies a bias to the primary image transfer region to thereby form an electric field for the primary transfer. When the intermediate image transfer body again conveys the toner image via the primary image transfer region while running idle, an electric field forming device forms an electric field weaker than an electric field assigned to the primary transfer in the primary image transfer region.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus is provided with a timer for starting a shutdown procedure at a time programmable by an operator. If the external power supply is switched off thereafter, as is the case if the apparatus is connected to an external timer, the apparatus will be switched off in a state suitable for the purpose, so that no data is lost and a hard disk present in the apparatus will not be damaged. A message is generated relating to the time still available until switch-off time. A print job is inhibited depending on the time still available.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of image forming units along a transportation path of a recording sheet transported by a revolving transport belt, each image forming unit including an image holding component. The image forming apparatus is further provided with a transport belt moving unit for moving the transport belt between a first state and a second state by changing a form of a revolution of the transport belt, the first state being where the transport belt does not touch at least one of the image holding components and the second state being where the transport belt touches the image holding components not touched in the first state.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an image forming unit which has an image carrier for holding an image, operates in a first image forming mode to form an image for a single page on the image carrier and in a second image forming mode to form images for a plurality of pages on the image carrier, and performs image formation in one of the first image forming mode and the second image forming mode. The printing apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving printing data from an external device, a unit for analyzing the printing data to obtain image data and image forming condition information in units of page, and a control unit for selecting one of the first image forming mode and the second image forming mode depending on the image forming condition information, thereby rendering the image formation to be performed in the selected mode. A control method for the printing apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for the printing apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller having chamfered ends and formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller. Also a first sealing member is disposed on the side ends faces of the developing roller and supply roller so as to prevent leakage to the outside portion of the case. Further, a second sealing member in the form of a film is pressed against a lower surface of the developing roller in order to prevent leakage of toner, wherein a quantity &dgr; of displacement of the sealing member due to its abutment against the developing roller satisfies 0.1 mm<&dgr;<0.8 mm, and the thickness t of the second sealing member satisfies 50 &mgr;m<t<500 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A belt drive used in image forming apparatuses which minimizes the transverse movement of the belt across the length of a roller and prevents the riding up of the belt onto the roller. The belt drive device has a belt equipped with elastic guide members mounted on each edge or on the back surface of the belt near each edge. The belt is suspended over two or more rollers and driven by the drive belt. At least one of the rollers is a drive roller having a rotating member mounted between the elastic guide member and the roller end area such that the rotating members rotate independently of the roller.

Abstract: A revolver developing apparatus including a developing device configured to rotate, including, a developing unit configured to apply a developer to the image bearing member in order to develop the latent image, and a developer storing unit provided at an end of the developing unit, and configured to supply the developer to the developing unit, wherein the developing device rotates such that the developer in the developer storing unit is conveyed longitudinally into the developing unit.

Abstract: In image forming, the ratio of foreign substances mixed in the recycled toner which is removed from the photoreceptor drum surface by means of the cleaning device is computed as one of the characteristics of the recycled toner, based on the paper size, the image area and the transfer efficiency. If the recycled toner has a high ratio of foreign substances mixed therein and is determined to have a low quality, collection of the recycled toner into the developing unit is temporarily interrupted and a fixed amount of toner is conveyed from the developing unit to the cleaning device so as to improve the quality of the recycled toner. In this way, recycled toner of a low quality is prohibited from being used for subsequent image forming operations so as to prevent degradation of the image quality.

Abstract: A double-side printing apparatus for printing on double surfaces of a recording medium is constructed to prevent both an adverse influence on an image forming unit from a fixing unit and an offset of a toner image on the recording medium. The double-side printing apparatus includes a first image forming unit for forming the toner image on one surface of the recording medium, a second image forming unit, provided downstream of the first image forming unit, for forming a toner image on the other surface of the recording medium, a first fixing unit for fixing the toner image on one surface of the recording medium by a light, a second fixing unit, provided downstream of the first fixing unit, for fixing the toner image on the other surface of the recording medium, and a preventing member, provided between the first fixing unit and the second image forming unit, for preventing the light from the first fixing unit from reaching a photo sensitive body of the second image forming unit.

Abstract: A roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer cleans a circumferential surface of a roller where a film is formed due to contact with a photoreceptor medium. The apparatus includes an abrasion member installed to be in contact with the roller for abrading the film using friction. Thus, contamination of the roller can be prevented.

Abstract: A mechanical puppet show apparatus provides a base unit supporting on its upper surface (stage) one or more mechanical puppets. The puppets are interconnected with a circuit for motion actuation in accordance with a stage play that is programmed into a memory device and controlled by a digital control unit. Manual, remote control and verbal signals may be received for interactive action of the puppets with the audience. A method for use of materials downloaded by packet data transfer from the Internet may be employed in programming.

Abstract: Circuitry in central and remote transceivers is disclosed to monitor wireless telephone signal levels and control the settings of gain control circuitry in a plurality of remote transceivers that carry telephony signals between wireless telephones and the central transceiver via a broadband distribution network so that the central transceiver receives telephony signals from all remote transceivers within a given range of signal amplitude.

Abstract: A practicable universal replacement C band/Ku band communications satellite designed for orbiting the Earth in a storage orbit and a method for its use as a replacement for a failed satellite are disclosed. The universal replacement satellite can be controlled by an external control system (e.g., a ground station) and is reconfigurable by remote command (e.g., from a ground station). The satellite is designed to make several fast moves during its design life from its storage slot to the geostationary slot to which it needs to move when it is to act as a replacement for a failed satellite. The ability to make fast moves helps minimize down time. After its then-current mission of sparing a particular failed satellite has been completed, the communications payload can be turned off and the satellite can be moved back to its storage slot to await its next replacement mission.

Abstract: A method of identifying and transmitting predetermined calling party information as part of a messaging signal is provided for use in a communications network having a messaging processor serving at least one messaging device. At least one database is provided in communication with the messaging processor. The database includes a list of calling party telephone numbers and corresponding calling party names. A message request signal is received at the messaging processor and includes a data field including a message generated by a calling party. The message is parsed to extract possible calling party telephone numbers which are thereafter compared to a stored list of calling party telephone numbers to identify the name of the calling party. A messaging signal is then generated for receipt by the messaging device. The messaging signal includes a data field for identifying the calling party name.

Abstract: In a wireless selective call receiver, a receiving unit receives a specific message to which a specific attribute is allocated. A determining section determines whether or not the storage unit is full, and designates one of the messages to be deleted based on the specific attribute, when it is determined that the storage unit is full. A message storing section stores the specific message in the storage unit, when it is determined that the storage unit is not full, and deletes the designated message to store the specific message in the storage unit, when it is determined that the storage unit is full.

Abstract: A method of providing low energy consumption ultrafast lock time in a mobile communication system normally operating at slower lock times and requiring occasional ultrafast lock times when switching from the transmit mode to the receive mode and/or from the receive mode to the transmit mode. There are provided a normally operating PLL and a normally disabled DDS. Responsive to a requirement for the ultrafast lock time, the DDS is enabled and substituted for the PLL. Subsequently, responsive to removal of the requirement for the ultrafast lock time, the PLL is substituted for the DDS and the DDS is disabled. When the transmit and/or receive mode requires a frequency above the capability of the DDS, a mixer is added for mixing the output of the DDS with a signal having stable reference frequency to obtain a frequency equal to the sum of frequencies of the DDS output and the stable reference signal.

Abstract: A telephone including a boom which is pivotally connected to the telephone body. The boom is connected to the telephone body such that it may be pivoted from a retracted position to an extended position. In the retracted position, the telephone has a small size such that the telephone may be placed in a user's pocket. In one embodiment, the sides of the telephone body are tapered from the top of the telephone to the bottom of the telephone. A microphone is located near one end of the boom. The boom is aligned such that, when the boom is moved into the extended position, the boom angles inward such that the microphone is located near the center line of the telephone. This allows a user to more easily speak into the microphone and allows for both right and left handed users to easily use the telephone.

Abstract: The present invention includes backscatter communication systems, interrogators, methods of communicating in a backscatter system, and backscatter communication methods. According to one aspect of the present invention, a backscatter communication system includes an interrogator including a transmitter configured to output a forward link communication and a receiver configured to receive a return link communication having a carrier signal, the receiver being configured to reduce the amplitude of the carrier signal of the return link communication; and a communication device configured to modulate the carrier signal to communicate the return link communication responsive to reception of the forward link communication.

Abstract: A frequency scanning radio receiver programming system includes a frequency scanning radio receiver that scans and receives transmissions on discrete radio frequencies. The frequency scanning radio receiver is automatically programmable to monitor frequencies in a geographical area where the receiver is located. A host system including data bases of frequency allocation and geographical information assembles and sends frequency data to the frequency scanning radio receiver to program the receiver to monitor local radio frequency transmissions. The frequency data also includes identification of the transmitting parties and the frequency scanning radio receiver displays identification information to a listener.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications station for use in a multiple network environment is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications station includes a radio receiver capable of operating in a plurality of different frequency bands used by different networks. The mobile telecommunications station further includes a network preference data storage for storing data which identifies a level of priority for each network. At least one of the networks is a preferred network, and a search controller determines the search frequency at which each network is searched in accordance with the preference data.

Abstract: A homodyne receiver according to the present invention includes a signal input and first and second mixers coupled to the signal input. A local oscillator provides a reference signal at the frequency of modulation of the input signal. The reference signal output by the local oscillator is passed through a switchable phase change element, the output of which is coupled directly to the first mixer and indirectly to the second mixer through a second phase change element. The switchable phase change element changes the phase of an input signal by a predetermined phase based on the state of a control input, such that the output of the phase change element in one state is &pgr; radians out of phase with the output of the phase change element in the other state. The second phase change element changes the phase of an input signal by &pgr;/2 radians. The outputs of the mixers are coupled to a pair of switchable inverters and low pass filters.

Abstract: Carrier squelch decisions are made by performing the steps of receiving an input signal (D), free of DC offset, having desired and undesired signal components, extracting the desired signal components (M) from the input signal, weighting a function of the input signal (D) by a function of the desired signal (M) to produce a weighted signal (W), determining a characteristic of the weighted signal (W), and performing carrier squelch when the characteristic exceeds a threshold.