Abstract: A controller including a processor configured to obtain a message from a task performing agent of a group of task performing agents allocated to a plurality of tasks, wherein the message comprises information about one or more assessments of the task performing agent, wherein the one or more assessments are based on a sensing process performed by one or more sensors of the task performing agent, wherein the task performing agent is an autonomous machine or a human agent equipped with sensors; and allocate a task of the plurality of tasks to the task performing agent, based on the information and based on whether the task performing agent is an autonomous machine or a human agent.

Abstract: An electrochemical detector includes: a solution chamber and a substance selection structure separating the chamber into individual compartments, wherein the solution chamber is arranged to retain and separate solutions in each of the individual compartments; and a pair of electrodes each connecting the respective individual compartment, wherein the pair of electrodes is arranged to form a conductive path across the electrodes when in contact with the solutions retained in the solution chamber. The substance selection structure is arranged to interact with a target substance in the solution so as to alter an electrical characteristic of the conductive path defined by the pair of electrodes, the solution retained in the individual compartments in the solution chamber and the substance selection structure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for predictively preparing restore packages may include (1) monitoring a computing system for evidence of potential data failures within the computing system, (2) detecting evidence that indicates a potential data failure within the computing system while monitoring the computing system, (3) predicting a scope of the potential data failure based at least in part on the evidence that indicates the potential data failure, and then (4) preparing a restore package configured to restore at least a portion of data implicated by the predicted scope of the potential data failure prior to detecting a request to initiate a restore operation in connection with the potential data failure. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding feedback signal is provided. The method includes: encoding feedback signals of three carriers to output a bit sequence; and transmitting the bit sequence on a High Speed-Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH). The encoding the feedback signals of the three carriers may specifically include: mapping the feedback signals of the three carriers into a codeword, in which the codeword can be selected from a codebook, and codewords in the codebook satisfy a particular code distance relationship. The method for jointly encoding feedback signals of three carriers in a Ternary Cell (TC) mode is provided. Feedback signals are transmitted over a single code channel. Therefore, power overhead is reduced, and system performance is improved.

Abstract: A receiver in an impulse wireless communication. The receiver (300) includes a pulse-pair correlator (304) that receives a signal (316) and divides it into two signals for paths. One of the signals is input to signal multiplier (312) while another signal is delayed by a delay unit (310). The signal multiplier (312) multiplies the received signal (316) by a delayed signal (318). An integrator (314) integrates an output signal (322) over a designated period of time. An adding module (306) sums an output signal (324) from the integrator (314). An acquiring module (308) compares an summing-up output (326) from the adding module (306) with a predetermined threshold value to detect the existence of a transmitting-standard preamble.

Abstract: A signal modulation device and a signal amplifier cooperative therewith. The signal modulation device includes a local oscillation signal source, a baseband signal source, a first NMOS transistor, and a second NMOS transistor, wherein the first and second NMOS transistors are coupled with the baseband signal source and form a circuit architecture of a Gilbert-cell based differential pair to be directly switched by a differential baseband signal, and a high-frequency signal from the local oscillation signal source is controlled by the baseband signal so as to generate an amplitude-modulation high-frequency signal at an output end. The single-stage signal power amplifier amplifies the amplitude-modulation signal from the preceding circuit so as to increase the magnitude of signals transmitted and simplify the preceding digital/analog signal conversion circuit in a conventional amplitude-modulation circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide arrays of electrical circuits having one or more chirped elements or components for providing output signals to corresponding arrays of electro-optic devices. Certain embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of modulator driver circuits, each of the plurality of driver circuits configured to be substantially identical to each other and provide a corresponding one of a plurality of modulator drive signals to a respective one of a plurality of electro-optic modulators, each of the plurality of modulator driver circuits being chirped to provide a desired output to the corresponding electro-optic modulator for enhanced operation.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device has a modulator module that provides a modulation signal comprising one frequency keyed on and off, or alternating between two or more different frequencies or phases that are selected based upon a modulator signal. The one or more frequencies or phases may be selected from a plurality of frequency sources. Switching the one frequency on or off, or between the at least two different frequencies or phases may be synchronized with one or both of the two or more different frequencies or phases so that “glitches” or spurs are not introduced into the modulation signal. The integrated circuit device may also comprise a processor, memory, digital logic and input-output. Frequency sources may be internal to the digital device or external. The modulator signal may comprise serial data generated from the digital logic and/or processor of the digital device.

Abstract: A variable resistance device is disclosed, which comprises a first variable resistance circuit and analog switches, a second variable resistance circuit including series-connected first and second resistors, one terminal of the first resistor connected to one terminal of the second resistor and the other terminal connected to one terminal of the first variable resistance circuit, a series-resistor circuit one terminal of which is connected to the other terminal of the second resistor, analog switches connected between the other terminal of the first resistor and nodes of respective resistors of the series-resistor circuit, an analog switch connected between the other terminal of the series-resistor circuit and a node of the first and second resistors, an analog switch connected between a node of the resistors of the series-resistor circuit and the node of the first and second resistors, and a short-circuiting analog switch connected between the first and second variable resistance circuits.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband (UWB) communications system combines the techniques of a transmitted reference (TR) and a multiple access scheme called delay hopping (DH). Combining these two techniques using UWB signaling results in a penalty in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over conventional pulse position modulation (PPM) techniques but avoids the synchronization difficulties associated with conventional approaches. The signaling pulse waveforms are designed to insure that their power spectral densities, after any frequency translation to the center of an operating band, are essentially spectrally disjoint with frequencies that must be protected. This TR technique is combined with the DH multiple access technique to create a UWB communications scheme that has a greater multiple access capacity than does the UWB TR technique by itself.

Abstract: Quadrature modulators include a quadrature splitter and a pair of Gilbert Multiplier Cells coupled to the quadrature splitter, each of which is biased in Class-B. The quiescent current bias in the Gilbert Multiplier Cells may be substantially zero. Each of the Gilbert Multiplier Cells may include a pair of cross-coupled, emitter-coupled transistor pairs transistor pairs and a driver circuit that is coupled to at least one of the emitter-coupled transistor pairs and that is biased in Class-B. The driver circuit may include at least one current mirror circuit that is coupled to at least one of the emitter-coupled transistor pairs. The driver circuit also may include at least one current source that selectively applies current to at least one of the emitter-coupled transistor pairs, more specifically by selectively applying current to the at least one current mirror circuit.

Abstract: A universal modem has a software-configurable modulator/demodulator which accommodates different modulation formats such as those associated with terrestrial, cable, phone line, satellite and wireless communications to be transmitted and received through a single device in which the modem has reconfigurable logic to accommodate the format of the signals being received or transmitted. In one embodiment, the system tracks channel noise and changes modulation format at both the transmit and receive sides of the system through the use of a controller that controls both sides.

Abstract: A new method of modulating and demodulating signals and circuitry therefor is disclosed. The modulation circuit defines a non-linear voltage current transfer function wherein at low voltage levels the current voltage transfer function is substantially linear and at higher voltages, the transfer function is substantially exponential. The modulation circuit can be designed of three parallel branches, a resistive branch, and two diodes in the remaining branches, the anode of one diode being coupled to the cathode of the other diode. Demodulation circuitry is also disclosed that includes a circuit for determining the instantaneous phase and amplitude and then processing circuitry to decode the modulation information based upon the sampled phase and amplitude data.