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Patent US5493309 - Collison avoidance communication system and method - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsIn a collision avoidance communication system and method, equipped aircraft (12) and ground control stations (18) which represent nodes of an RF communication network (22). A radar system (16) determines locations of equipped aircraft (12) and unequipped aircraft (14) within an airspace (10). The ground...http://www.google.com/patents/US5493309?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5493309 - Collison avoidance communication system and methodAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS5493309 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/125,891Publication dateFeb 20, 1996Filing dateSep 24, 1993Priority dateSep 24, 1993Fee statusLapsedPublication number08125891, 125891, US 5493309 A, US 5493309A, US-A-5493309, US5493309 A, US5493309AInventorsJohn E. BjornholtOriginal AssigneeMotorola, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Referenced by (190), Classifications (18), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCollison avoidance communication system and method
US 5493309 AAbstract
1. In a system having a plurality of equipped and unequipped aircraft at various locations and having a control station, each aircraft of said equipped set of nearby aircraft including an aircraft station comprising a controller, an input device and video display for allowing an aircraft crew member to interact with said controller, a location determination system coupled to said controller and a radio for communicating over a common communication channel, said radio coupled to said controller, a method of managing information useful for safely operating said aircraft, said method comprising steps of:obtaining, at a first aircraft, first data describing locations of an equipped set of nearby aircraft, said first data being obtained from said equipped set of nearby aircraft; obtaining, at said first aircraft, second data describing locations of an unequipped set of nearby aircraft, said second data being obtained from said control station; and displaying, using different symbols for equipped and unequipped aircraft, said first and second location data on said video display at said first aircraft. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said displaying step comprises a step of graphically indicating a location for said first aircraft relative to said locations for said equipped and unequipped sets of aircraft.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said obtaining first data step comprises steps of:transmitting via said radio, from each aircraft in said equipped set of aircraft, a data communication, said data communications occurring over said common communication channel at diverse times; and receiving via said radio said data communications at said first aircraft. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said data communications transmitted from said equipped set of aircraft are first data communications, said method additionally comprising steps of:transmitting via said radio a second data communication from said first aircraft, said second data communication conveying data describing a location for said first aircraft, and said second data communication occurring over said common communication channel; and receiving said first and second data communications at said control station. 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 additionally comprising a step of selecting random points in time at which said data communications occur.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:said obtaining first data step comprises steps of: transmitting via said radio, from each aircraft in said equipped set of aircraft, a first data communication, said first data communications occurring over said common communication channel at diverse times, and receiving via said radio said first data communications at said first aircraft; and said obtaining second data step comprises steps of: transmitting, from said control station, a second data communication to convey said second data for one or more of said aircraft in said unequipped set of aircraft, said second data communication occurring over said common communication channel, and receiving via said radio said second data communication at said first aircraft. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 additionally comprising steps of:operating a radar system to obtain said second data; and communicating said second data from said radar system to said control station. 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first and second data communications convey information at a maximum data rate, said method additionally comprising steps of:spreading said first and second data communications over a frequency spectrum broader than said maximum data rate; and correlating signals received at said first aircraft using a predetermined spreading code to detect said first and second data communications. 10. A method as claimed in claim 7 additionally comprising a step of repeating said obtaining first data and obtaining second data steps to keep information conveyed in said first and second data communications current at said first aircraft.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising steps of:obtaining, at said first aircraft, control data from said control station, said control data including data identifying a voice communication radio channel used in association with said control station; and displaying said control data via said video display at said first aircraft. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising steps of:obtaining, at said first aircraft, control data from said control station, said control data including data describing weather conditions; and displaying, via said video display, said control data at said first aircraft. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising steps of:obtaining, at said first aircraft, control data from said control station, said control data including data describing locations of geographic features; and displaying, via said video display, said control data at said first aircraft. 14. A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising steps of:determining, at each aircraft in said equipped set of aircraft, a location for said each aircraft; determining a location for said first aircraft at said first aircraft; and transmitting via said radio, from said first aircraft, third data describing said location of said first aircraft. 15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said transmitting third data step comprises a step of transmitting control data from said first aircraft via said radio, said control data identifying a radio channel to which a voice communication radio in said first aircraft is tuned.
16. A system for managing information useful in safely operating a population of aircraft including an equipped set of aircraft and an unequipped set of aircraft, each aircraft of said equipped set of nearby aircraft including an aircraft station comprising a controller, an input device and video display for allowing an aircraft crew member to interact with said controller, a location determination system coupled to said controller and a radio for communication over a common communication channel, said radio coupled to said controller, said system comprising:a radar subsystem configured to determine locations for substantially all aircraft of said population of aircraft; and a control station in data communication with said radar subsystem, said control station being configured to transmit, over a common channel, data describing locations for said unequipped set of aircraft wherein each aircraft station is configured to determine a location for its aircraft, to transmit data describing locations for its aircraft, to detect location data transmitted from other aircraft stations and said control station, and to display, using different symbols for equipped and unequipped aircraft said location data determined by said control station and said aircraft station. 17. A system for managing information as claimed in claim 16 wherein:said control station is configured to transmit control data describing weather conditions over said common channel; and each aircraft station is configured to display said control data. 18. A system for managing information as claimed in claim 16 wherein:said control station is additionally configured to transmit control data identifying a radio channel being used for voice communications over said common channel; and each aircraft station is additionally configured to display said control data. 19. A system for managing information as claimed in claim 16 wherein:said control station is additionally configured to transmit, over said common channel, control data describing geographic features; and each aircraft station is additionally configured to display said control data. 20. A system for managing information as claimed in claim 16 wherein each aircraft station is configured to transmit said data describing locations for its aircraft in a stream of data communications, wherein each of said data communications is delayed from a previous one of said data communications by a randomized interval.
21. A system for managing information as claimed in claim 16 wherein:each aircraft station includes a spread spectrum radio for transmitting said data describing locations for its aircraft and for detecting said location data transmitted from other aircraft stations and said control station; and said control station includes a spread spectrum radio for transmitting said data describing locations of said unequipped set of aircraft. 22. A system for managing information as claimed in claim 16 wherein:said control station is further configured to detect said location data transmitted from a portion of said aircraft stations; each aircraft station includes an aircraft radio and said control station includes a control radio; and said aircraft and control radios are mutually configured so that communications between aircraft radios may be detected within a first range and so that communications between an aircraft and said control radio may be detected within a second range, said second range being greater than said first range. 23. A method for managing information useful in safely operating a population of aircraft which includes an equipped set of aircraft and an unequipped set of aircraft, each aircraft of said equipped set of nearby aircraft including an aircraft station comprising a controller, an input device and video display for allowing and aircraft crew member to interact with said controller, a location determination system coupled to said controller and a radio for communicating over a common communication channel, said radio coupled to said controller, said method comprising steps of:operating a radar system to determine locations for substantially all aircraft of said population of aircraft; transmitting, from a control station and in response to said operating step, data describing locations for said unequipped set of aircraft; and at each aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft: identifying a location for said equipped aircraft, transmitting data describing said location determined in said identifying step, detecting location data transmitted from other aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft and from said control station, and displaying, using different symbols for equipped and unequipped aircraft said location data from said detecting step. 24. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein said control station is a location data source and each of said aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft are location data sources and wherein data describing locations are transmitted from each location data source as a stream of data communications, wherein each of said data communications is delayed from a previous one of said data communications transmitted at the same location data source by a randomized interval.
25. A method as claimed in claim 23 additionally comprising steps of:transmitting control data describing weather conditions from said control station; and at each aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft: detecting said control data, and displaying said control data. 26. A method as claimed in claim 23 additionally comprising steps of:transmitting control data identifying a radio channel being used for voice communications from said control station; and at each aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft: detecting said control data, and displaying said control data. 27. A method as claimed in claim 23 additionally comprising steps of:transmitting control data describing geographic features from said control station; and at each aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft: detecting said control data, and displaying said control data. 28. A method as claimed in claim 23 additionally comprising a step of detecting, at said control station, location data transmitted by said aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft.
29. A method as claimed in claim 23 additionally comprising steps of:at each aircraft from said equipped set of aircraft, transmitting control data identifying a voice channel being used at said aircraft; and detecting said control data at said control station. Description
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Inc.Weather information network including graphical displayWO2002036427A3 *Oct 29, 2001May 13, 2004Honeywell Int IncWeather information network including graphical displayWO2003009255A1 *Jul 22, 2002Jan 30, 2003Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems LlcSurveillance and collision avoidance system and methodWO2005062859A3 *Dec 20, 2004Nov 2, 2006Aspx LlcA system and process for providing improved aircraft operational safetyWO2008115294A2 *Nov 16, 2007Sep 25, 2008Lockheed Martin CorporationManaging an air-ground communications network with air traffic control informationWO2008115294A3 *Nov 16, 2007Dec 4, 2008Lockheed CorpManaging an air-ground communications network with air traffic control information* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification342/455, 701/301International ClassificationG01S13/76, G01S13/86, G01S13/74, G01S13/93, G01S7/00, G01S13/91Cooperative ClassificationG01S13/91, G01S13/9303, G01S7/003, G01S13/86, G01S13/74, G01S13/767European ClassificationG01S13/91, G01S7/00R, G01S13/86, G01S13/93ALegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 24, 1993ASAssignmentOwner name: MOTOROLA, INC., ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BJORNHOLT, JOHN EDWARD;REEL/FRAME:006736/0836Effective date: 19930917Jun 7, 1999FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 8, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: GENERAL DYNAMICS DECISION SYSTEMS, INC., ARIZONAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MOTOROLA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:012435/0219Effective date: 20010928Sep 10, 2003REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 20, 2004LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesApr 20, 2004FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20040220RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services

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Clear [dmmd] by inazumaniac on deviantART
PNG 1620 × 1941
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Submitted onDecember 10, 2013Image Size5.1 MBResolution1620×1941 Link
StatsViews193Favourites69 (who?)
× Clear [dmmd]by inazumaniacFan Art / Traditional Art / Drawings / Games©2013-2014 inazumaniac
Belated birthday gift for !!I had no idea whom to draw for her, so Clear will have to do!I've not played dmmd myself but I plan to one day.My tablet also broke down so don't mind the sudden traditional art
Omg he looks totally epic i love it omg! *o* just so cute and awesome i love the coloring just amazing omgggg it's super awesome <3333 Super duper nicely done! Reply inazumaniac
Student thanks man!! I really appreciate it!
Anytimeeeee <333
SO LATE BUT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I STILL LOEV IT I OCULTNDT tell it was tra D OMGfg KISSIES THIS THE ART
Student YUNNNUNUNU I'M JUST GLAD YOU LIKE IT OK>>HAPPY NEW YEAR!! HAVE A GOOD ONE
LATE REPLY BUT HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!!!!! im just weeps so beautiful Reply shinjuco
Hobbyist General Artist Sorry for your tablet, I hope you'll be able to repair it.This drawing is very lovely, I love the hair shading. What is he holding in his hands btw?
Student It's supposed to be a gas mask, but the lines got mingled when I added the texture, so it doesn't really look like one anymore :'-)

type: global

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Witness the birth of a whale calf | Road Travel Africa
One thought on “Witness the birth of a whale calf”
Chandra Kirana Luxury Villas on April 5, 2013 at 1:59 am said:

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Top 10 Hotels Closest to Passion Playhouse, Kufstein | Expedia
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Passion Playhouse is located in an area of Erl that travellers like for its skiing. When you want to settle in and find a place to stay, take a look at some of the hotels and other accommodation options that Expedia offers in the area.
Staying near Passion Playhouse
Choose from these hotels and other accommodation options, all within a mile of Passion Playhouse:
Gasthaus-Hotel beim Dresch: This 3-star hotel features free breakfast, a restaurant and free WiFi.
Hotel Gasthof Metzgerei Keindl: This 3-star hotel features free breakfast, a restaurant and free WiFi.
Landhaus Kaiserblick: Amenities in this 3.5-star holiday home include a kitchen, free WiFi and a balcony.
Things to see and do near Passion Playhouse
After you've visited Passion Playhouse, you can discover everything there is to see and do within a couple miles of the area.
Sights like Siegfried and the Dragon, St. Georg Church and Maria Himmelfahrt Church are must-sees while exploring the area. You might spend a leisurely day outdoors at Flintsbach Waterfall and Hecht Lake. Create some family memories at Hocheck Bergbahnen, Raritaten Zoo and Hallo Du Amusement Park while you're exploring the area around Passion Playhouse.
Falkenstein Ruins and Kloster St. Peter am Madron are both worth a visit while you're out exploring. Spend some time checking out Volkstheater, which is 4.5 mi from Passion Playhouse, or make a stop by Pfarrkirche St. Martin, located 4.8 mi away.
Hotels Near Passion Playhouse, Kufstein
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Cozy rooms, good breakfast…Cozy rooms, good breakfastWW…
We loved the hotel. For us, the room was a bit stuffy. We had to sleep with the window open, even though it was winter. Other than that, we found it to be very nice and comfortable.…We loved the hotel. For us, the room was a bit stuffy. We had to sleep with the window open, even though it was winter. Other than that, we found it to be very nice and comfortable.WW…
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Stayed one night, summertime, on our European roadtrip. A bit kitchy local Alp artwork, fun though. Good local German food. A bit dated but clean and comfortable room, good bed. A charging spot for our electric car.…Stayed one night, summertime, on our European roadtrip. A bit kitchy local Alp artwork, fun though. Good local German food. A bit dated but clean and comfortable room, good bed. A charging spot for our electric car.WW…
A verified traveller stayed at Sporthotel Wilder Kaiser
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No One Likes to Vacuum | The Red Tunic
← Merkel: Don't get rid of skilled workers, Brown: Raise the taxes on the highest paid
Back to the future – a lesson from the past →
Posted on November 24, 2008	by Bolshy
That may not be literally true, but you know what I mean. Vacuums are loud, noisy things that create order out of chaos, that clean up what is dirty, that bring peace (at least peace of mind) where there was none before. President-elect Obama is stepping in to vacuum the mess left by President Bush, even while the latter is still in office. And the world is reacting with untold speed.
This entry was posted in Blah!, Comment, Personal philosophy, Politics, Technology and tagged President Bush, President-elect Obama, transition, vacuum. Bookmark the permalink.


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UST KUT TO LAKE BAIKAL | Sherri Jo's Because I Can World Tour
After Ust Kut, we had quite a ride to get to Zhingalovo where Walter had planned to meet up with some guys he had been talking to on the internet. The road was ridiculously rocky – big large pointy boulders. I bet we passed 10 cars on this track with fresh broken wheels and axles. And I think when I pass them it’s amazing my bike isn’t breaking because it is taking such a beating.. and then I think my body is actually taking on a lot of this, no wonder everything hurts. My hands especially, they still loose blood with the jarring of the grips into my palms, it is sheer pain – ALL DAY LONG.. this must be my day to whinge. Sorry, that’ll happen from time to time!
Bittersweet… I am so ready to get off these difficult roads, however I know if I hadn’t travelled them I would not have been able to experience Magadan region and Yakutia region at all.. these are places very few foreigners go, and that is hard to find in this day and age. I know it will most likely be the highlight of my world tour.. but I, nor my body, will miss those bad roads much.. 😉
Well that’s your little tour around the famous Lake Baikal.
Special thanks to Walter for all the amazing fantastic photos he took today and every day we were traveling.. It is a real privilege to not only ride and learn from him, but also to have so many photos that I would never have gotten on my own. He is a superhuman on a motorcycle and a great photographer. Thank you my friend – enjoy Mongolia and the freedom to ride as fast and far as you want!
This entry was posted on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 12:13 pm	and posted in Adventure Motorcycling, Baikal, BMW X-Challenge, Garmin GPS Zumo, KTM 690 Enduro, Lake Baikal, Mongolia, Rukka, Russia, Sherri Jo Wilkins, Siberia, Touratech Australia, Travel, Walter Colebatch.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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One response to “UST KUT TO LAKE BAIKAL”
What a great adventure. Love the photos! The sunset and you on Lake Baikal especially! Hope your hands improve soon … maybe different gloves? Sorry to hear you are hurting.Best wishes. Stay safe. Have fun.


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Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators (Nov. 10) | University of Kansas GK-12 Program
← Fun with Scalpels (Oct. 10 & 11)
Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators (Nov. 10)
Posted on December 5, 2011	by Sarah Schmidt
Due to parent-teacher conferences, an illness, and a unit test, it’s been several weeks since I’ve seen the Landon students. Today we got back into the swing of things and I gave my problem based lesson. They were on Friday schedule (instead of block), so I did the lesson with all of the classes. My theme was macroinvertebrates as bioindicators and I started by having the students discuss the terms macroinvertebrate and bioindicator. They did a good job of breaking down the words to make the definitions and we moved on to classifying the macroinvertebrates by pollution sensitivity. I put up three posters with pictures of macroinvertebrates to illustrate three different levels of pollution tolerance. These posters consisted of enlarged black and white pictures of macroinvertebrates. I didn’t want to overwhelm the students with all of the options, so I cut down each category to about five organisms.
After discussing what it meant if an organism was in a particular category, I told them that they were going to figure out how to use some macroinvertebrates they “collected” to determine something about water quality in that stream. Each table got a big piece of paper to record their thought process and they were handed a stack of macroinvertebrates to use as their sample. Their sample macroinvertebrates consisted of black and white line drawings that were enlarged to roughly the size of a playing card. Each group was given the same set . It was quite interesting to watch the groups work. Some groups just sat and stared and their piles for a few minutes, while other groups immediately began sorting them into categories (some started with species and others with pollution tolerance). The next step hem all they had done a great job with their reasoning and went on to explain the process of weighting samples. We then calculated the water quality and decided as a class it was good. I told them that citizen science teams did this very same thing across the nation. Teams collect macroinvertebrates, sort them, count them, and calculate the water quality index. I then asked them if they thought they could do the same thing. Every single class said no! I pointed out that they had just done all of those steps, and most of them changed their minds and said, “Oh! Yes, we could do that!” I did have one class that left unconvinced, though.
Overall, the activity went well. The students were engaged the whole time and it was fantastic to see the different ways they approached the activity. The wide variety of approaches was fascinating and a few students surprised me with their approach. A few groups did get a little grumpy because they didn’t have specific instructions, but Mr. Macha and I worked on asking them a few leading questions to get them moving along. We also reminded them that there was not a right or wrong answer, or even any set way to get to an answer. Instead, we simply wanted them to think about the problem and to come up with some sort of reasonable group answer. As I said before, most of the groups did quite well and worked steadily throughout the class period, so I consider this a successful lesson.
I am a PhD candidate in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology department at the University of Kansas. I study prairie rivers and I am especially interested in algal communities and using lipids to explore food webs.
View all posts by Sarah Schmidt →


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Patent US6775635 - System and method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA system and method are provided for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network. The method includes accepting a digital input signal; amplifying the input signal (Vin); comparing the amplified signal to dc thresholds; measuring output errors; and, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the...http://www.google.com/patents/US6775635?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6775635 - System and method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital networkAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6775635 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/217,209Publication dateAug 10, 2004Filing dateAug 12, 2002Priority dateAug 12, 2002Fee statusPaidPublication number10217209, 217209, US 6775635 B1, US 6775635B1, US-B1-6775635, US6775635 B1, US6775635B1InventorsBruce Harrison Coy, Hongming An, Shyang Kye KongOriginal AssigneeApplied Microcircuits CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (1), Referenced by (1), Classifications (12), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystem and method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital networkUS 6775635 B1Abstract A system and method are provided for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network. The method includes accepting a digital input signal; amplifying the input signal (Vin); comparing the amplified signal to dc thresholds; measuring output errors; and, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the thresholds. More specifically, accepting a digital input signal includes accepting an input signal having an amplitude. Comparing the amplified signal to dc thresholds includes comparing the amplified signal to a low threshold and a high threshold. Measuring errors includes measuring a predetermined error condition in response to the high threshold and the low threshold. Then, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the thresholds includes calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the input signal amplitude.
We claim: 1. A method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network, the method comprising:
accepting a digital input signal (Vin) having an amplitude; amplifying the input signal; comparing the amplified signal to a low threshold; comparing the amplified signal to a high threshold; measuring a predetermined error condition in response to the high threshold and the low threshold; and calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high and low thresholds and the input signal amplitude as follows: G=(Vth2−Vth1)Vin. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
measuring the input signal amplitude; and wherein calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high and low thresholds and the input signal amplitude includes calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the measured input signal amplitude. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein accepting a digital input signal includes accepting an input signal with a data pattern; and,
wherein measuring digital output signal errors includes comparing the output of the high and low threshold comparisons to the data pattern. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein measuring digital output signal errors includes measuring a loss-of-lock condition.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein measuring digital output signal errors includes measuring a particular bit error rate (BER).
6. The method of claim 5 wherein measuring digital output signal errors includes measuring a BER selected from the group including 10−3, 10−6, 10−9, and 10−12.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein accepting a digital input signal includes accepting an input signal with a pseudorandom data pattern.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein accepting a digital input signal includes accepting an input signal with a data rate of greater than 10 gigabits per second (Gbs).
9. The method of claim 7 wherein accepting a digital input signal includes accepting an input signal with an amplitude in the range between 5 millivolts (mV) and 1.5 volts, peak to peak.
10. A method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network, the method comprising:
accepting a digital input signal with an amplitude (Vin); amplifying the input signal; comparing the amplified signal to a low threshold (Vth1); comparing the amplified signal to a high threshold (Vth2); measuring a predetermined error condition in response to the high and low thresholds; and, calculating the amplifier gain as follows G=(Vth2−Vth1)/Vin. 11. A system for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network, the system comprising:
an amplifier having an input to receive a digital input signal (Vin) and an output to supply an amplified signal; a comparator having an input to accept the amplified signal, an input to accept a dc threshold level (Vth), and an output to supply an output signal; a bit error rate (BER) tester having an input to accept the output signal and an output to supply an error rate; and, a gain calculator having an input to receive the threshold level, and input to receive the error rate, and an output to supply an amplifier gain measurement. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the comparator receives a low threshold (Vth1);
wherein the BER tester measures a first error condition in response to the low threshold; wherein the comparator receives a high threshold (Vth2); wherein the BER tester measures the first error condition in response to the high threshold; and, wherein the gain calculator calculates the amplifier gain in response to the low and high thresholds. 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the gain calculator has an input to accept an input signal amplitude measurement; and,
wherein the gain calculator calculates the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the input signal amplitude. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein gain calculator calculates the amplifier gain as follows:
G=(Vth2−Vth1)Vin. 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the BER tester has an input to accept the input signal, the BER tester measuring the error rate in response to comparing the input signal to the output signal.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the BER tester measures a loss-of-lock first error condition.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the BER tester measures a particular bit error rate (BER) first error condition.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the BER tester measures a BER selected from the group including 10−3, 10−6, 10−9, and 10−12.
19. The system of claim 15 wherein the amplifier accepts an input signal with a pseudorandom data pattern.
20. The system of claim 15 wherein the amplifier accepts an input signal with a data rate greater than 10 gigabits per second (Gbs).
21. The system of claim 15 wherein the amplifier receives an input signal amplitude in the range between 5 millivolts (mV) and 1.5 volts, peak to peak.
This invention generally relates to system gain measurement techniques and, more particularly, to a system and method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network receiver front-end.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional digital receiver front-end (prior art). The digital receiver is designed to receive a wide dynamic range input signal. Even if the format of the signal is digital, the wide dynamic range of the input signal gives it characteristics of an analog signal. The purpose of the amplifier is to supply an amplified output signal to an interfacing comparator. If the amplifier gain is too small, the signal may be too small to properly trigger the comparator. Too much gain may result in an amplified signal becoming saturated or distorted, so that it will also be unable to properly trigger the comparator. Either way, improper amplification can result in a bit of information being misinterpreted.
Due to fabrication process tolerances, the exact gain of the amplifier can vary. Therefore, the amplifier gain is monitored. If the signal strength is small, the amplifier gain is increased to optimize the drive level to the interfacing comparator. If the input signal strength is too large, the amplifier gain is minimized to provide the optimal drive to the comparator. However, this approach requires that an integrated circuit (IC) pin be dedicated to monitoring the amplifier output. As the size of ICs decreases, and their functionality increases, it becomes difficult to justify the dedication of a pin to any particular purpose.
Alternately, the receiver front-end may include an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit (not shown). However, AGC circuitry is complicated and can be difficult to calibrate. In other aspects (not shown), the amplifier gain is not monitored, but set assuming a predetermined gain and input signal amplitude. The simplicity of this approach is offset by the degradation of network performance in situations where the actual gain differs from the assumed gain.
It would be advantageous if the gain of a digital receiver front-end amplifier could be determined without having to directly monitor the amplifier output via a dedicated IC pin.
It would be advantageous if the gain of a digital receiver front-end amplifier could be optimized by analyzing the output of the interfacing comparator circuit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system and method for determining the gain of a digital receiver front-end amplifier, without having to dedicate an IC pin for directly monitoring the amplifier output. The present invention simplifies the design of a digital receiver network, without degrading receiver sensitivity.
Accordingly, a method is provided for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network. The method comprises: accepting a digital input signal (Vin); amplifying the input signal; comparing the amplified signal to dc thresholds; measuring output errors; and, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the thresholds.
More specifically, accepting a digital input signal includes accepting an input signal having a predetermined (or measured) amplitude. Comparing the amplified signal to dc thresholds includes comparing the amplified signal to a low threshold and a high threshold. Measuring errors includes measuring a predetermined error condition in response to the high threshold and the low threshold. Then, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the thresholds includes calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the input signal amplitude.
Additional details of the above-described method, and a system for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network are provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional digital receiver front-end (prior art).
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the present invention system for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary signal diagram of the comparator input signals.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the present invention method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the present invention system for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network. The system 200 comprises an amplifier 202 having an input on line 204 to receive a digital input signal (Vin) and an output on line 206 to supply an amplified signal. Note that although only a single amplifier is shown for simplicity, the present invention system is applicable for use in the measurement of a plurality of amplifiers, or cascaded amplifiers. A comparator 208 has an input on line 206 to accept the amplified signal, an input on line 210 to accept a dc threshold level (Vth), and an output on line 212 to supply an output signal. For example, the comparator supplies a digital high in response to the amplified output signal exceeding the threshold level, and a digital low in response to the amplified signal being less than the threshold level. Typically, the amplifier 202 and comparator 208 are part of a digital receiver 213.
A bit error rate (BER) tester 214 has an input on line 212 to accept the output signal and an output on line 216 to supply an error rate. A gain calculator 218 has an input on line 210 to receive the threshold level, and input on line 216 to receive the error rate, and an output on line 220 to supply an amplifier gain measurement.
In operation, the comparator 208 receives a low threshold (Vth1) on line 210 and the BER tester 214 measures a first error condition in response to the low threshold. Then, the comparator 208 receives a high threshold (Vth2) on line 210 and the BER tester 214 measures the first error condition in response to the high threshold. The gain calculator 218 calculates the amplifier gain in response to the low and high thresholds.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary signal diagram of the comparator input signals. The threshold is initially lowered until a predetermined (first) error condition is obtained, as measured by the BER tester. This threshold level is defined as Vth1. Then, the threshold is increased until the same error condition is obtained. This threshold level is defined as Vth2. The gain calculator also has an input (see FIG. 2) to accept the input signal amplitude measurement. The gain calculator 218 calculates the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the input signal amplitude. As shown in FIG. 2, an assumption is made that the gain calculator performs the input signal amplitude measurement. However, in other aspects of the invention (not shown), additional external circuitry is used to measure the input signal amplitude on line 204 and that measurement is supplied to the gain calculator 218 on an independent line. Note that the threshold determination process may be reversed with the same results, with the high threshold (Vth2) being determined before the low threshold (Vth1)
The gain calculator 218 calculates the amplifier gain as follows:
G=(Vth2−Vth1)Vin. In some aspects of the system, the BER tester 214 has an input on line 204 to accept the input signal. Typically, the input signal follows a pseudorandom data pattern. Then, the BER tester 214 measures the error rate in response to comparing the input signal to the output signal. However, the invention is applicable to any type of information or test pattern. Alternately but not shown, there is no connection of the input signal to the BER tester 214, but the BER tester analyzes a known or predetermined pattern of input signal data against the output signal on line 212. For example, a pattern of alternating ones and zeros can be used.
In some aspects, the BER tester 214 measures a loss-of-lock condition as the first error condition. That is, Vth1 and Vth2 are found in response to the receiver entering a loss-of-lock condition. A loss-of-lock condition occurs in asynchronous communications when the data clock cannot be derived from the incoming data. Alternately, the BER tester 214 measures a particular bit error rate (BER) first error condition. For example, the BER tester can measure a BER such as 10−3 (1�10−3), 10−6, 10−9, or 10−12. However, the present invention system is not limited to any particular first error condition or BER.
The present invention system 200 is of particular interest for amplifier input signals with a data rate greater than 10 gigabits per second (Gbs). Likewise, the amplifier input signal amplitude is typically in the range between 5 millivolts (mV) and 1.5 V, peak to peak. However, the present invention system is not limited to any particular frequencies or signal strengths.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the present invention method for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network. It should be understood that some of these steps may be skipped, performed in parallel, or performed without the requirement of maintaining a strict order of sequence.
The method starts at Step 400. Step 402 accepts a digital input signal (Vin). Step 404 amplifies the input signal. Step 406 compares the amplified signal to dc thresholds. Step 408 measures output errors. Step 410 calculates the amplifier gain in response to the thresholds.
In some aspects of the method, comparing the amplified signal to dc thresholds in Step 406 includes substeps. Step 406 a compares the amplified signal to a low threshold. Step 406 b compares the amplified signal to a high threshold. Then, measuring errors in Step 408 includes measuring a predetermined error condition in response to the high threshold and the low threshold. Further, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the thresholds in Step 410 includes calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high and low thresholds.
In other aspects, accepting a digital input signal in Step 402 includes accepting an input signal having a predetermined amplitude. Then, calculating the amplifier gain in Step 410 includes calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the (predetermined) input signal amplitude. Alternately, the input signal strength is not predetermined. Instead, the method includes the additional step of measuring (not shown). Then, calculating the amplifier gain in Step 410 includes calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the (measured) input signal amplitude.
More specifically in some aspects, calculating the amplifier gain in response to the high threshold, the low threshold, and the input signal amplitude in Step 410 includes calculating the gain as follows:
G=(Vth2−Vth1)/Vin. In other aspects of the method, accepting a digital input signal in Step 402 includes accepting an input signal with a data pattern. Then, measuring output errors in Step 408 includes comparing the output of the high and low threshold comparisons to the data pattern. In one instance, Step 408 measures a loss-of-lock condition. Alternately, Step 408 measures a particular bit error rate (BER), such as 10−3, 10−6, 10−9, or 10−12.
In some aspects, accepting a digital input signal in Step 402 includes accepting an input signal with a pseudorandom data pattern. In other aspects, an input signal with a data rate of greater than 10 gigabits per second (Gbs) is accepted. In yet other aspects, Step 402 accepts an input signal with an amplitude in the range between 5 mV and 1.5 V, peak to peak.
A system and method have been provided for measuring amplifier gain in a digital network. An example has been provided has to how the present invention can be applied to a specific problem. However, the invention is not limited to merely the recited example. Other variations and embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6617905 *Oct 29, 2002Sep 9, 2003Applied Microcircuits CorporationSystem and method for threshold bias offset voltage cancellation in a comparator* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20120076246 *Dec 1, 2011Mar 29, 2012Panasonic CorporationAutomatic gain control device and electronic device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification702/107International ClassificationG01R31/319, H04B17/00, G01R31/317, G06F19/00, G01R35/00Cooperative ClassificationG01R31/3171, H04B17/004, G01R31/319European ClassificationG01R31/319, G01R31/317J3, H04B17/00BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 23, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Nov 21, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED, CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:021876/0013Effective date: 20080715Owner name: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED,CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASEUPDATED:20100329;REEL/FRAME:21876/13Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASEUPDATED:20100518;REEL/FRAME:21876/13Feb 18, 2008REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedFeb 11, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Aug 12, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: APPLIED MICROCIRCUITS CORPORATION (AMCC), CALIFORNFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:COY, BRUCE;AN, HONGMING;KONG, SHYANG;REEL/FRAME:013183/0729Effective date: 20020809Owner name: APPLIED MICROCIRCUITS CORPORATION (AMCC) 6290 SEQUFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:COY, BRUCE /AR;REEL/FRAME:013183/0729RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google


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The Muslim World: A Quarterly Review of History, Culture, Religions & the Christian Mission in Islamdom (April 1952, Volume 42, Number 2) by Kenneth Cragg, Edwin E. Calverley: Hartford Seminary Foundation - Wonder Book
Home Kenneth Cragg, Edwin E. Calverley The Muslim World: A Quarterly Review of History, Culture, ...
The Muslim World: A Quarterly Review of History, Culture, Religions & the Christian Mission in Islamdom (April 1952, Volume 42, Number 2)
. April 1952, Volume 42, Number 2. Bookseller Inventory # S22H-00681
Title: The Muslim World: A Quarterly Review of ...

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60 Lorillard Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY - Public Record | Trulia
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I am interested in 60 Lorillard Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.
60 Lorillard Rd
in Tuxedo Park Buy
11 Cobblestone Farm Ct
100 Laurel Rd
for 60 Lorillard Rd
> 60 Lorillard Rd
This is a Single-Family Home located at 60 Lorillard Road, Tuxedo Park, NY. 60 Lorillard Rd has 3 beds, 3 ½ baths, and approximately 2,772 square feet. The property has a lot size of 2.1 acres and was built in 1986. The average list price for similar homes for sale is $1,417,490. 60 Lorillard Rd is in the 10987 ZIP code in Tuxedo Park, NY. The average list price for ZIP code 10987 is $1,208,022.
Tax Rate Code Area: 335003
See 2 schools assigned to this home. George Grant Mason Elementary School, George F Baker High School
Ask a question about Tuxedo Park, NY
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text:
The Elementary Math Maniac: Multiply Like an Egyptian
Posted by TheElementary MathManiac at 9:09 PM
Karen Greenberg March 29, 2014 at 9:48 AM
This looks like a fun book. There were others by the same author on Amazon that looked equally amazing!
TheElementary MathManiac March 29, 2014 at 3:23 PM
I have seen Why Pi? I think he wrote it as a follow up to Go figure! but I do not yet own it. I am sure that will change soon!

value: Blogger is an American online content management system (CMS) which enables multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. Pyra Labs developed it before being acquired by Google in 2003.


text:
Kathie Bracy's Blog: April 22, 2012
In the ORTA Spring Quarterly 2012, an article by President, Dave Gynn, entitled “Use Your Teacher Voice”, Dave states in his last sentence: “We must continue to speak in a loud, clear voice for all retired teachers”. Dave, it has been years since any ORTA official has spoken in a loud and clear voice at any STRS meeting to protest their cuts for retired teachers. Our STRS HC/Rx fund was cut by the STRS from the 4% of the Employer Contribution down to 1% into the fund. One percent is now not enough to sustain our HC/Rx. ORTA officials were silent then, and are still silent now. The ORTA Executive Director, Ann Hanning was silent at the STRS April 19 meeting, as well.
The OEA active teachers have been reportedly bombarding the legislature with requests in their interests but it seems just a few of us retired educators are contacting legislators. Perhaps if Dave and Ann, as our primary leaders, would set a loud and clear example, more members would follow their example.
Past ORTA presidents have informed me that they had been talking to legislators all across the state. If our present ORTA officials are doing this, please ORTA let the membership know specifics of these meetings so that we can extend proper accolades.
By the way, Ann’s article “ALPHABET SOUP” was good except that there was no mention of our STRS Scenario 8 COLA cut. Also there was no loud or clear voice of hers at the STRS meeting, either. That’s a fact!
Compliments of KBB..................................................
John Curry: Ann...we, at CORE, are working to protect the least among our ranks.....
John Curry to Ann Hanning [Executive Director of ORTA]
....I am asking your organization to do the same. Stand up for these retirees with small pensions as the Ohio Highway Patrol Retirement System has already done (in this letter from retired Col. Rice) and that CORE has been pushing for better than one year now.
Here is a statement of ORTA's "mission" as taken from your website. Note that it says "[ORTA] advocates and promotes the improvement of pensions." The protection of the 3% COLA for pensions for those most needy STRS retirees among us needs protecting....are you and your organization up to the task?
"ORTA's Mission: The Ohio Retired Teachers Association is the voice of Ohio's retired public educators. ORTA advocates and promotes the improvement of pensions, benefits and services available to Ohio's active and retired public educators. The association represents and takes action on behalf of our constituents to STRS Ohio, the Ohio Legislature and other agencies dealing with retirement issues."
CORE members and supporters: Some thoughts from CORE president Dave Parshall
By now you have had a chance to review the plan passed last week by the STRS known as Scenario "8", and its financial impact on all of us. Some additional information may help us all deal with the changes. First, since 2009 I have been telling CORE members and others who would listen that if all that happened to our pensions was a 1% reduction in our COLA, we would be lucky. There was and is a severe financial crisis at STRS. If deep corrective measures are not enacted then by 2040 or 2050, STRS would not be able to pay pensions. Due to politics, the first plan sent over to the Legislature via the ORSC [Ohio Retirement Study Council] was never enacted, which made our financial problem even deeper.
All five state pension systems have been given a final opportunity to resubmit their plans for reform. The Senate wants this done by early summer. Yes, I know this is another in a series such deadlines STRS has been asked to meet since 2009. This will likely be the last one. The staff at STRS came up with ten different scenarios. Scenario "8" was the most fair to all stakeholders of the STRS membership, both actives and retirees. I personally supported this plan, but only if an adjustment could be made for older, 30 year teachers with low pension at or below $30,000. I, Marie Fetters, and Dennis Leone made impassioned pleas last Thursday during Public Speaks at STRS. There was little support for this change to the plan, and it passed unanimously "as is" by the board and now is on its way to the legislature.
Our two retiree board members, Mr. Stein and Mr. McGreevy, made comments before the vote pointing out the hardships to older retirees. Dennis Leone during his address to the board pointed out that if the "board was made up of all retirees then the vote would be different". However, this is not the current reality. Maybe someday there could be at least an even split on the board. Now that Scenario "8" is the plan, more information may help you come to grips with cuts to our COLA.
First you need to know that both Bob Stein and Jim McGreevy have been working behind the scenes since 2009 to come up with a plan to help protect our older retirees from the cuts. But there was no consensus of like support from fellow board members and or especially the members of Health Care Pension Advocates. OEA and the university representatives by sheer numbers control the HCPA and have the power to influence the board. ORTA, as we know, is a "go-along-to-get-along" organization and has never taken a stand on any issue truly affecting retirees. That is why CORE has been needed all these years. It was reported to HCPA via ORTA that retirees were fine with the changes to COLA and because few if any questions were asked at RTA presentations.
HCPA and the STRS board could have found a way to account for the older retirees, but lacked the will or support from their membership. It's easy for all of the stakeholders to look at the plan and concentrate on their own status. I had hoped that money could have been found to help the older retirees by tweaking some of the other aspects of the plan, like reducing the phasing in the change of the retirement age and years of service. However, it was reliably reported to me that it was the legislature that pressured for this perk for actives because actives have been ringing their phones off the wall. So this was off limits and I am sure OEA would have a hard sell with actives for a shorter phase in period.
We need to remember that actives are taking a hit also. They will be paying 14% of their salary into STRS over their remaining career and they will work until 60 or beyond to have 35 years of service. They will not have a COLA for 5 years after retirement, and then it will be a 2% COLA. Actives will never see a 3% COLA that we have had since our retirement. Also keep in mind that when the 88% rule was enacted, current retirees also got a boost that refigured our pension above the 2.2 factor that actives will now have. The FAS will be figured over 5 years instead of 3 as ours was. I see this as not that big a deal because most of them will have been at the top of the salary scale for many years before retirement.
How many times, after reading the headlines about how public education and teachers are under attack, have we all said "boy I am glad I am no longer in the classroom"? I know I have. The move to end public education and privatize it has teacher morale at an all time low. Many teachers are planning on leaving the profession as soon as the economy picks up. Just this week Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus announced that they will be cutting hundreds of teachers. Class sizes are growing making their jobs more difficult and teacher evaluation is becoming a nightmare. This will affect the STRS retirement fund and eventually our pension.
So, what do we do now? We as retirees need to go to our RTA meetings and ask the leadership why members' input about the plan was not requested via their website or maybe even a mailing to all members. They sure can mail us information about membership renewal.
Next we need to wait and see what happens to the plan once it gets to the Senate. CORE will keep you posted. Certainly, when it goes to the House, we will need to meet with members of the House. I still say that if all that happens to our pensions is the 1% COLA reduction, then we will be lucky. Keep in mind that we may have to reluctantly get behind Scenario "8" because there still are members of the legislature who have not given up on the Defined Contribution plan for future retirees which will really drain the pension fund. As of now we have preserved our Defined Benefit pensions.
One last thing: when you can, thank Bob Stein and Jim McGreevy for trying to fix the problem. CORE will be making plans for action as the new issues develop.
Teachers -- are you thinking of retiring soon? This is what you have to look forward to when you DO retire!
This is how much you will lose.
Chart based on $75,000 pension
From John Curry, April 22, 2012


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News Hump: Tim Tebow approached to be the next 'Bachelor'
Tim Tebow approached to be the next 'Bachelor'
Tim Tebow approached to be the next 'Bachelor', Tim Tebow the next ‘Bachelor’? We pick five women who should woo him, The NFL star has been approached about starring on his own season of the hit romance reality show. What kind of lady would score with Tim Tebow? "The Bachelor" host Chris Harrison revealed this week that he'd approached the 24-year-old NFL player about possibly starring on a season of the romantically themed ABC series.
"I think he'd be a great Bachelor," Harrison told Access Hollywood Live. "Don't you?"
Well, sorry, ladies, but Tebow himself took to Twitter today to deny his involvement in the show. But hey, it's fun to think about. Just imagine the women who could compete for Tebow's love! You know, besides Taylor Swift.
We carefully selected five female "celebrities" who fit the the tried-and-true bachelorette categories: the villain, the drama queen, the princess, the bunny boiler, and the bubble head. These five ladies would no doubt offer entertaining competition for Tebow's heart on "The Bachelor."
The Villain: Kat Von D
This tattooed babe has already cut her teeth on the reality show "LA Ink" and is currently on the prowl. The 29-year-old tat artist is known for sinking her claws into bad boys such as Sandra Bullock's ex, Jesse James, who she started dating right after it emerged he had cheated on Hollywood's sweetheart numerous times. They have now split. Step right up, Tebow!
The Drama Queen: Kate Gosselin
If Tebow wants some drama in his life, he has to look no further than Kate Gosselin. Not only does she have a massive brood, she has also shown a flair for the dramatic on the reality show "Kate Plus 8," not to mention her former show with ex Jon Gosselin, "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Oh, and she recently admitted she's still looking for her "one"!
The Princess: Kim Kardashian
OK, so her marriage history isn't so good, but the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star would add some glamour to the proceedings. This popular princess has an appetite for the good life and also has a history of seducing sports stars. Would Tebow fall for the 31-year-old beauty's charms?
The Bunny Boiler: Tila Tequila
Or perhaps Tebow is looking for the real-life version of "Fatal Attraction." Then he would do well to approach reality TV star Tila Tequila. The 30-year-old "A Shot at Love" star may have announced she was a lesbian, but she also has had equally passionate (and tumultuous) relationships with men (we're looking at you, Shawne Merriman).
The Bubble Head: Tara Reid
If our sports star is looking for a little light-hearted fun, Tara Reid may be his thing. As of late, the blond "American Pie" alum has been known more for her adventures with plastic surgery than her career. But her recent appearance on "Celebrity Big Brother" in the U.K. and tabloid-friendly romances prove the 36-year-old is still the life of the party.
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