Input/output buffer incorporating filter for powerline communications line
Granted: October 21, 2003
Patent Number:
6636117
An improvement in a buffer for driving a signal onto a power line is described. The buffer includes a second order filter. With the improvement, the collector-to-emitter potential of an emitter follower is maintained constant to substantially reduce the distortion associated with base-collector capacitance.
Energy conserving refrigerant flow processor
Granted: July 29, 2003
Patent Number:
6598422
A refrigerant flow processor has a vessel with an inlet for receiving recirculating refrigerant from a motor driven compressor and a condenser and having an outlet for returning the refrigerant to an evaporator through an expansion valve. The vessel is configured to establish a vortexing motion of liquefied refrigerant as it travels from the inlet to the outlet. A helical flow guiding component at the vessel outlet causes a highly turbulent flow within the conduit which connects the…
Adaptive reference pattern for spread spectrum detection claims
Granted: July 29, 2003
Patent Number:
6600775
A receiver for detecting spread spectrum binary data particularly on a power line in the presence of channel distortion. In one embodiment a standard pattern ideally suited for minimal distortion in the channel is used in conjunction with an alternate pattern which is developed to better detect carrier and data in the presence of certain channel distortion. The receiver switches between the standard and alternate pattern to provide improved detection. In another embodiment an adaptive…
Internet based home communications system
Granted: June 17, 2003
Patent Number:
6580950
An Internet based home communications system for allowing a homeowner to monitor and control various features of their home from a distant location via a global computer network. The inventive system comprises a plurality of control devices positioned within a home, a control unit in communication with the plurality of control devices wherein the control unit is connected to a global computer network (i.e. Internet), and a data center having server computers connected to the global…
Electrical transformer for use with twisted pair
Granted: January 14, 2003
Patent Number:
6507260
A toroidal transformer for a communications application where a first winding is wound on the core. A separator comprising a pair of annular-shaped cups then encloses the core and first winding. A second winding is wound on the outer surface of the separator. The separator, fabricated from a low K material, provides substantial reduction in the capacitance between the first and second winding.
Task scheduling in an event driven environment
Granted: December 10, 2002
Patent Number:
6493739
An improved programming interface which provides for event scheduling, improved variable declarations allowing for configuration of declaration parameters, and improved handling of I/O objects. In modern day computing devices and especially in networks of such devices it is important to provide for event scheduling; known computing devices allow for event scheduling based on the occurrence of a predefined event. However, such a system present shortfalls in that flexibility is not…
Adaptive reference pattern for spread spectrum detection
Granted: October 29, 2002
Patent Number:
6473450
A receiver for detecting spread spectrum binary data particularly on a power line in the presence of channel distortion. In one embodiment a standard pattern ideally suited for minimal distortion in the channel is used in conjunction with an alternate pattern which is developed to better detect carrier and data in the presence of certain channel distortion. The receiver switches between the standard and alternate pattern to provide improved detection. In another embodiment an adaptive…
Method and apparatus for defining and generating local oscillator signals for down converter
Granted: August 27, 2002
Patent Number:
6442381
A method and apparatus for defining and generating a digital waveform such as used for the local oscillator for a down converter in a receiver is disclosed. The method and apparatus is particularly useful where the digital waveform is not an integer submultiple of a reference signal. A plurality of different digital waveforms meeting the timing criteria but having different combinations of segments needed to meet the timing criteria are generated. Each of the digital waveforms so…
Transmission and detection of data in a dual channel transceiver
Granted: July 2, 2002
Patent Number:
6414968
A dual channel transceiver which operates at two different frequencies and which may be used in a network using older transceivers operating at a single frequency is disclosed. A pilot tone is transmitted by the transceiver when it is using the second channel to cause the older transfers to remain synchronized and thereby prevent them from transmitting data which would otherwise interfere with the data on the second channel. The relative magnitude of the signals on both channels is…
Method and apparatus for treating a logical programming expression as an event in an event-driven computer environment
Granted: March 5, 2002
Patent Number:
6353861
An improved programming interface which provides for event scheduling, improved variable declarations allowing for configuration of declaration parameters, and improved handling of I/O objects. In modern day computing devices and especially in networks of such devices it is important to provide for event scheduling; known computing devices allow for event scheduling based on the occurrence of a predefined event. However, such a system present shortfalls in that flexibility is not…
Adaptive reference pattern for spread spectrum detection
Granted: October 9, 2001
Patent Number:
6301290
A receiver for detecting spread spectrum binary data particularly on a power line in the presence of channel distortion. In one embodiment a standard pattern ideally suited for minimal distortion in the channel is used in conjunction with an alternate pattern which is developed to better detect carrier and data in the presence of certain channel distortion. The receiver switches between the standard and alternate pattern to provide improved detection. In another embodiment an adaptive…
Error correcting using signal anomaly as a hint
Granted: September 25, 2001
Patent Number:
6295625
A “hint” signal is developed which points to suspected erroneous bits in received data by examining anomalies in the signal. More particularly, a delta phase pointer which quantifies one of the anomalies is used. The realigning of an IQ pointer provides an additional anomaly which is prioritized along with the delta phase pointer. The particular error correcting code used for the power line application provides seven check bits for a data byte and permits the correction of up…
Method for enhancing the performance of a network
Granted: January 30, 2001
Patent Number:
6182130
An improved apparatus and method for communicating information in a networked system wherein network variables are employed to accomplish such communication. Network variables allow for standardized communication of data between nodes in a network. A first node may be programmed, for example, to sense certain information and to report the information as a network variable X. A second node may be programmed to receive the variable X and to control devices based on the current value of the…
Adaptive reference pattern for spread spectrum detection claims
Granted: August 22, 2000
Patent Number:
6108368
A receiver for detecting spread spectrum binary data particularly on a power line in the presence of channel distortion. In one embodiment a standard pattern ideally suited for minimal distortion in the channel is used in conjunction with an alternate pattern which is developed to better detect carrier and data in the presence of certain channel distortion. The receiver switches between the standard and alternate pattern to provide improved detection. In another embodiment an adaptive…
Adjustable retainer for eyeglasses
Granted: July 25, 2000
Patent Number:
6092897
An adjustable retainer for eyeglasses that have a pair of temple bars. The retainer includes two cords of preferably the same length, one of which is attached to the right temple bar and the other of which is attached to the left temple bar. In one embodiment, the cords are attached by inserting a loop in the end of the cord partially through a hole in the end of the temple bar, and then passing the tail end of the cord through the loop and pulling the cord to tighten the loop around the…
Switched leg power supply
Granted: March 28, 2000
Patent Number:
6043635
A power supply for operating from a switched leg of an AC power line is described. A switch provides current during the beginning of each AC half cycle to an inductor and charges a capacitor. When the switch is open, the inductor continues to charge the capacitor. During the time that the inductor is coupled to that AC line, the switched leg is open. For instance, the signal used to close the switch also prevents a triac in the switched leg from conducting.
Electrical housing with module
Granted: September 14, 1999
Patent Number:
D413863
Module for controlling current to a load including sensing of the position of a switch
Granted: August 24, 1999
Patent Number:
5942814
A module for interconnecting an AC power line to a load such as a lamp, which includes a first switch. The module detects the state of the first switch and then provides power to the load when the switch is closed. Sequentially opening and closing the first switch can be used as a command to dim the lamp. The module may also include a transceiver which communicates the state of the switch to the other modules thereby allowing a plurality of devices to be controlled by the first switch.
Adaptive reference pattern for spread spectrum detection claims
Granted: August 10, 1999
Patent Number:
5937003
A receiver for detecting spread spectrum binary data particularly on a power line in the presence of channel distortion. In one embodiment a standard pattern ideally suited for minimal distortion in the channel is used in conjunction with an alternate pattern which is developed to better detect carrier and data in the presence of certain channel distortion. The receiver switches between the standard and alternate pattern to provide improved detection. In another embodiment an adaptive…
Electrical housing
Granted: February 9, 1999
Patent Number:
D405421
