The disclosure relates to battery powered hand-held data entry terminals (310) wherein a peripheral module may contain an automatically operating full image reader (313) and a wireless communication unit (312). The reader reads at least one full line of indicia and may comprise a laser bar code scanner or a flash type image reader. Preferably the reader has uniform resolution in orthogonal directions in the field of view so that an area image can be read at any arbitrary angular orientation and re-oriented as a stored digital image to a normalized orientation before decoding. The user interface (11, 12) may lie in a first longitudinally extended layer and the peripheral module (313) may lie in a second longitudinally extended adjoining layer. In normal reading disposition of the automatic reader (313), the user interface (11, 12) may be close to its normal orientation for user interaction therewith.

Hand-held data capture system with interchangeable modules

An inventive rearview mirror assembly (10) is disclosed in which a microwave antenna (54) is mounted so as to receive transmissions from one or more satellites through the front windshield (20) of the vehicle (25). The microwave antenna may be tuned to receive satellite transmissions from a position identification system constellation of satellites, such as GPS or GLONASS. Additionally, the microwave antenna may be tuned to alternatively or additionally receive transmissions from at least one communications satellite, such as a CD radio satellite. In addition to the inventive rearview mirror assembly, an inventive electrical control system is disclosed that may be used as a navigation system, an electrochromic rearview mirror control system, a head lamp control system, a vehicle compass system, a vehicle data recorder system, and/or a vehicle odometer verification system. In each of the above systems, new parameters are made available by the microwave antenna to perform control operations not previously performed.

Rearview mirror with integrated microwave receiver

A method and a system for calibrating the reception and transmission of an antenna array for use in a cellular communication system is disclosed. The calibration of the reception of the antenna array is performed by injecting a single calibration signal into each of a number of receiving antenna sections, in parallel. The signals are collected after having passed receiving components that might have distorted the phase and amplitude. Correction factors are generated and applied to received signals. The calibration of the transmission of the antenna array is performed in a similar way. A single calibration signal is generated and injected into each of a number of transmitting antenna sections, one at a time. The signals are collected, one at a time, after having passed transmitting components that might have distorted the phase and amplitude. Correction factors are generated and applied to signals that are to be transmitted.

Antenna array calibration

Systems and methods for employing switched phase shifters and a feed network to provide a low cost multiple beam antenna system for wireless communications. The present systems and methods may also facilitate multi-band communications and employ multi-diversity. The present systems and methods allow communication systems to achieve enhanced performance for communication or other services such as location tracking. The present systems and methods may employ switched phase shifters, multiple diversity antennas and/or a feed network having a multi-layer construction to provide an antenna system with low losses, low external component count and/or which is thin and compact.

Low cost multi-beam, multi-band and multi-diversity antenna systems and methods for wireless communications

A base station includes first and second antenna arrays for receiving first and second rotational polarizations, and a polarization diversity receiver connected to the first and second antenna arrays for processing respective first and second receive signals from a mobile station to generate an enhanced quality output receive signal based upon polarization diversity reception. Polarization isolation between the transmit and receive antenna elements may also provided by having a first plurality of transmit antenna elements for the second polarization mounted on a substrate carrying the first receive antenna elements. The second antenna array includes a second plurality of antenna elements of second polarization on a substrate carrying the second receive antenna elements. To achieve polarization diversity gain at the mobile station, the base station preferably further includes an alternating polarization transmitter for alternately transmitting signals at respective alternating first and second rotational polarizations. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Polarization diversity phased array cellular base station and associated methods

In mobile communications, it is required that the beam direction is maintained to track the desired direction as the mobile is moving. For such a purpose, the mobile includes an angular rate sensor mounted therein which detects the state of turn in the mobile and to control the beam direction of the antenna in accordance with the state of turn as well as the strength of radiowave received by a receiver in the mobile. Antenna elements (114) are in the form of microstrip antenna and are arranged in plane on the same dielectric substrate (113 or 112). Feeding and drive circuit layers (122, 124) for controlling the transmission and reception at the antenna elements are stacked into a single layered unit. This enables the antenna system to be formed into a low-profile structure. The dielectric substrate of the microstrip antenna element is formed by stacking a plurality of dielectric substrates (112, 113) different in dielectric constant from one another. It is thus intended that the band width of the antenna is increased and that the mutual coupling between the antenna elements is reduced to prevent the gain of the antenna from being lowered. Furthermore, the position of feed points in the antenna element are rotated against each adjacent antenna element. This can improve the axial ratio in the array antenna over a wide band width.

Kazuo Nagakute-Shataku Sato

Papers

Mobile antenna system.