Motorola Corporation

Other

General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.

Robert Henry Bickley

David Moon Yee

Philip John Zucarelli

Theodore Woolley Keller

Michael Newton Pickett

Taul Eric Aragaki

Christopher D Broughton

Jeff Scott Osman

Leland Lem Moy

Randall K Derr

Ray O Waddoups

Thad J Genrich

Charles Herbert Brenner

Christopher Kent Moyer

James E Olivenbaum

Jeffrey S Osman

Theodore Wolley Keller

Kenneth W Larson

Isaac N Durboraw, Iii

John E Bjornholt

Robert J Skalka

Neal R Anderson

Michael F Durkin

James Harvey Fleming

Eric Trelewicz

Allen L Duddles

Richard A Bory

John T Knudsen

Albert Henry Hunt

Michael J Dewey

Charles A Bucher

Steven A Murray

Robin D Culver

John R Rezek

Roy W Sikorski

Ronald C Jost

Ronald C Briggs

A voltage-controlled oscillator in which a tunable resonator () having a first port () and a second port () is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tunable resonator is a series resonating circuit having low driving and load impedances. A power gain element () is coupled to the first port and the second port, and an output port () is coupled to the power gain element and the second port. The first impedance at the first and second ports is less than approximately ten ohms. The voltage-controlled oscillator is capable of generating a signal at the output port of greater than approximately half a watt.

Voltage-controlled oscillator having tunable resonator and power gain element

A pre-payment energy metering system uses two-way smart card communications. Secure power line carrier communications are provided at the consumer locations communication between a customer terminal and the utility meter. Two-way secure communication of data is provided through the use of a smart card or memory card which conveys data from the utility service provider to the customer's terminal and also conveys information from the customer's terminal back to the utility. The pre-payment power system of the present invention allows consumers to pay for electricity prior to consumption through the use of the smart card which is loaded with funds at a fully automatic point-of-sale (POS) terminal or at the utility service providers staffed customer service center. Back office software interfaces between the POS terminals and customer service centers, and utility service providers customer information systems.

Prepayment energy metering system with two-way smart card communications

An animal-actuated feeder ( ) has a treadle ( ) to be tread upon by an animal ( ) desirous of obtaining food, a food compartment ( ), a cover ( ) with closed and open positions ( ) denying and granting access to the compartment ( ), and linkage ( ) to open the cover ( ) when the animal ( ) treads upon the treadle ( ). A damper ( ) is coupled to the cover ( ) and dampens transit between open and closed positions ( ). A dish ( ) having a mating lid ( ) coupled to the cover ( ) promotes the retention of the food in a palatable condition. A plurality of moat assemblies ( ) serve as legs for the feeder ( ) and inhibit crawling arthropods from gaining access to the food. A control unit ( ) and latch ( ) control the opening of the cover ( ) in response to a tag unit ( ) worn by the animal ( ) treading upon the treadle ( ).

Animal-actuated feeder

Utility consumption data is provided over power line carrier links to local nodes and routed through a network of local nodes over peer-to-peer line-of-sight RF links to a utility service provider. Backhauler nodes combine the utility consumption data from the local nodes within a coverage region for routing to the utility service provider. Consumer nodes include sensing elements for measuring the utility consumption data, and switching elements for connecting or disconnecting the utility from a consumer location. Messages are sent through the network requesting the utility consumption data and for activating the switching elements.

Data transfer system and method for communicating utility consumption data over power line carriers

Voice call group functionality is provided in a satellite based air traffic control system to allow air traffic controllers and pilots of one or more aircraft to establish and maintain voice communication over a group call. A pilot of an aircraft may maintain voice communication with the same air traffic controller the entire duration of the flight over the entire globe. Voice communication between the pilot of an aircraft may be handed off from one air traffic controller to another by switching voice call groups. The voice call group functionality allows an air traffic controller to communicate simultaneously with pilots of different aircraft, and also allows pilots of different aircraft to communicate with each other.

Voice call group function for a satellite based air traffic control system

A satellite based broadcast data communications service for a satellite communications system is presented which allows a data information service provider (40) to send large blocks of data information to mobile subscriber units (50). A satellite gateway (30) is coupled to a service provider (40) via a ground link (42) and to a satellite communications network (10) via a gateway link (36). A mobile subscriber unit (50) is coupled to the satellite communications network (10) via both a message link (56) and a high-speed high-bandwidth downlink (58). The mobile subscriber unit sends a data request for requested data information to service provider (40) via message link (56), satellite communications network (10), gateway link (36), gateway (30), and ground link (42). Service provider (40) responds by retrieving and sending the requested data information to the requesting subscriber unit (50) via ground link (42), gateway (30), gateway link (36), satellite communications network (10), and high-speed high-bandwidth downlink (58). Service provider (40) sends a set of standard data information to the satellite communications network (10) to be broadcast over the high-speed high-bandwidth downlinks (58). Each subscriber unit 50 receives the broadcast standard data information, preferably only those portions for which the subscriber unit (50) has access authorization. The satellite based broadcast data communications service provides for data requests, data delivery, data access control, delivery priority, and billing for use of the system.

Satellite based high bandwidth data broadcast

A data message routing and delivery system for an air traffic control system includes a communications network with one or more ground processing nodes, one or more satellite processing nodes, and one or more avionics processing nodes each configured to send and receive data packets to and from others network processing nodes in the communications network. One or more transmission prioritizing controllers are provided to determine the locations of each of network processing node, and to control access to communication channels and routing of data messages in order of priority between the network processing nodes. An application executing on one network processing node is send to an application executing on another network processing node under the control of the transmission prioritizing controllers. The transmission prioritizing controllers determine the priority ranking of each data packet and cause each data packet to be routed over a communication channel according to its priority ranking from one network node to another until it reaches its destination.

Avionics satellite based data message routing and delivery system

A local traffic signal controller (3) is interfaced to a satellite subscriber unit (10) to provide for centralized control of the traffic signals (1) controlled by the local controller (3). A central controller (7) provides central control and can download program control information to local controller (3). Dial-up access to local controller (3) is provided to central controller (7) with the subscriber unit (10). The resultant communication path may be utilized to provide for accessing information from the local traffic signal controller (3). Such information may include indications of lamp failures, traffic pattern information and other status or traffic related information.

Satellite supported traffic signal controller

A direct conversion receiver (DCR)(10) comprises amplitude modulated interference (AMI) nulling circuitry (32) for achieving enhanced cancellation of AMI. The AMI nulling circuitry (32) includes a first signal processor (42) and a second signal processor (44) for processing first and second differential output signals, respectively, from a mixer (24a). The first signal processor (42) includes an adjustable transfer function that is controlled by a controller (50). The controller (50) adjusts the transfer function of the first signal processor (42) to equalize the magnitudes of AMI components in the first and second differential output signals. The first and second differential output signals are then combined in a manner which cancels the equalized AMI components.

Method and apparatus for reducing amplitude modulated interference in a

An autonomous interrogatable information and position device combines the functionality of a satellite communications device capable of sending and receiving voice and digital data messages, a geo-location device capable of self-determining its positional location; an input/output port configured to allow attachment of the device to external local site sensors or equipment in order to obtain external local site sensor data or control the equipment, and a control processor capable of monitoring and responding to positional location information, input sensor data, and incoming voice and digital data messages.

Autonomous interrogatable information and position device

A satellite-based air traffic control system utilizes global-coverage satellite communications network to provide voice and data communication between an air traffic control center and one or more aircraft worldwide. Each aircraft is provided with an airborne navigation location reporting system device which has the capability of determining positional information of the aircraft and to transmit and receive voice and data messages to and from the ATC center via the satellite communications network.

Satellite based commercial and military intercity and intercontinental

A battery powered electronic system (50, FIG. 1) is controlled by a movement sensor (20) which senses the acceleration of the electronic system (50). The output of the movement sensor (20) is filtered by an event duration filter (FIG. 2, 120, 121) which determines if the output is of sufficient duration and acceleration to trigger a change in the operation of the electronic system (50). If the acceleration meets the triggering criteria, the electronic system (50) can be made to change an on/off state, an operating mode, or to effect an incremental change in the electronic system (50) such as adjusting the volume or channel setting. Additional movement sensors (20) oriented in different axes can be used to trigger a change in the operation of the electronic system (50) according to a plurality of different directions of acceleration.

Method and apparatus for control of an electronic system using

A survival radio of the type useable in search and rescue operations and carried by the party to be rescued is described. The survival radio includes a GPS receiver, a transceiver and a microcontroller. The microcontroller responds to interrogation messages containing a predetermined identification code for the survival radio to cause a transceiver to transmit a geographic location of the survival radio as derived from GPS signals.

GPS based search and rescue transceiver

In a GPS receiver, power is conserved by powering down P-code circuitry during and utilizing C/A code circuits during times when interfering signals, such as spoofing signals, are not detected. When spoofing is detected, the P-code circuitry is powered up so that the GPS receiver can continue to operate in the presence of spoofing.

Spoofer detection power management for GPS receivers

A secure, portable position locating radio has a geolocation receiver providing local position and timing information from geolocation means (e.g. GPS satellites) and a local transceiver for sending local position information to a communication system (e.g., an airborne or orbiting transceiver). A crypto unit is provided between the receiver and local transceiver for encrypting the local position information prior to transmission. A data processor coupled to the local transceiver, receiver and crypto unit controls operation of the device, including storing local position information and separating signals broadcast by the communication system into those intended or not intended for the device. An external interface and display and a real-time clock (e.g., slaved to the GPS receiver) are also coupled to the data processor. Encryption keys and message abbreviation codes are conveniently loaded into the device from a demountable accessory unit at the interface, and stored therein.

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Paradise Valley, AZ, United States of America

Robert Henry Bickley