Abstract: A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a control networks on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with the control network. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network may have user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network may also include a wide area network interface, allowing diagnostic information for the control network to be retrieved or parts to be ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the mobile conveyance control network.

Abstract: A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a control networks on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with the control network. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network may have user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network may also include a wide area network interface, allowing diagnostic information for the control network to be retrieved or parts to be ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the mobile conveyance control network.

Abstract: A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of one or more control networks located on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with a control network via a wireless interface. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network comprises one or more user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and, optionally, a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network further includes a wide area network interface, which allow either additional diagnostic information relating to the control network to be retrieved, or parts to be manually or automatically ordered from remote vendor sites.

Abstract: A control network comprises a plurality of network nodes arranged in a plurality of tiers, with first-tier nodes and lower tier nodes. A master control bus interconnects the first-tier nodes, which are also connected to a power source. Lower-tier buses interconnect groups of the lower tier nodes. The lower-tier buses include both data lines and a power source line derived from the power source, allowing the lower tier nodes to selectively distribute power to local loads. A first-tier node may be embodied as a hub controller configured to be connected to one or more of said lower-tier buses. The hub controller may comprise a plurality of internal hub nodes (including a hub master node and hub slave nodes) integrated within the same physical unit.

Abstract: A controllable electronic switch for, e.g., controlling power distribution comprises a deformable member such as a bimetal arm that can be deformed to break an electrical path. The deformable member may be anchored at one end and in controllable contact with an electrical conductor at the other end. A heating element, such as a coil, can be used to selectively heat the deformable member. The controllable electronic switch can alternatively comprise a deformable member that is terminated in a wedge-shaped member. When the deformable member bends in response to being heated, the wedge-shaped member forces apart a pair of contacts thus breaking an electrical path. The wedge-shaped member and/or associated structures may be configured as a cam mechanism with multiple latching positions.

Abstract: A low glare overhead lighting fixture for a transit vehicle comprises a lighting fixture base assembly for mounting one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs or fluorescent tubes), and a light permeable cover adapted to reduce glare. The light permeable cover may include a light guide embodied as a grid-like structure with holes or perforations for directing the light from the light source in a manner reducing light spread. The light guide may be disposed between a front and rear lens covers. The lighting fixture may also utilize a light permeable cover having an anti-glare surface element, such as a privacy filter screen or mesh which may be formed using microlouver technology. The lighting fixture base assembly may have separate compartments, each lined with a highly reflective coating, housing one or more deeply set LEDs.

Abstract: A wireless consumer transaction system and method includes wireless equipment coupled to a point-of-sale system, whereby consumers are enabled to set up and carry out point-of-sale transactions in an automated or semi-automated manner using a wireless device. Users entering within the coverage area of the wireless equipment are prompted to conduct a point-of-sale transaction. The point-of-sale system transmits menu options to the user's wireless device. The user selects from the options provided, and is given the ability to purchase the desired goods or services in an automated manner using the wireless device. The wireless equipment of the point-of-sale system is preferably coupled to a point-of-sale computer, which is in turn coupled to a remote processing center. An automated purchase transaction may be conducted by obtaining approval and/or automatically withdrawing funds from the remote processing center in response to user-initiated activity.

Abstract: A transit vehicle lighting system has a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures for providing interior illumination. A control network comprises a plurality of slave nodes for controlling the LED-based lighting fixtures, and a master node for controlling the slave nodes. The master node may be connected to the slave nodes by a combined power/communication bus in a daisy chain fashion. The slave node may include a power regulator and a controller for providing a target current command to the power regulator, and may adjust the target current based upon temperature measurements or a recorded age of the LEDs. An optical sensor may provide automatic dimming. A reduced number of LEDs may be used in an emergency mode. The lighting fixture may include a ceiling panel fixture and a riser panel attachable by way of a hinge mechanism.

Abstract: A multi-tier, master-slave control network has a matrix architecture for facilitating monitoring, command and control of the mid- and lower-tiers of the control network. A supervisory network is connected to a hierarchical master-slave control network, and includes a set of supervisory nodes connected to various different buses of the main hierarchical master-slave control network. In one embodiment, the supervisory network comprises a multi-master data bus, and each of the supervisory nodes can control and communicate across the supervisory data bus in a manner similar to a local area networks such as an Ethernet. In another embodiment, the supervisory network is a master-slave network, with a supervisory master node controlling a set of supervisory slave nodes, each of which connects to one of the lower-tier buses. The matrix architecture created by the addition of the supervisory network allows convenient monitoring of the lower-tier buses by the first-tier master node.

Abstract: A system for monitoring, controlling, and locating portable computerized devices performing remote diagnostic analysis of control networks. The portable, wireless equipment includes computerized display device connected to a wireless intermediary device for allowing a wireless connection to be made to a control network. The computerized diagnostic device may be embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a graphical screen display, on which may be displayed the network nodes and connections of the control network presented against a backdrop of a transit vehicle or other facility shown in three-dimensional, rotatable images. The wireless equipment may allow the operator to force individual system components to output states, and provide for real time monitoring. The portable, wireless equipment is programmed with information pertaining to the connections and locations of the components in the control network, thereby simplifying diagnosis or testing by the operator.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A system for monitoring, controlling, and locating portable computerized devices performing remote diagnostic analysis of control networks. The portable, wireless equipment includes computerized display device connected to a wireless intermediary device for allowing a wireless connection to be made to a control network. The computerized diagnostic device may be embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a graphical screen display, on which may be displayed the network nodes and connections of the control network presented against a backdrop of a transit vehicle or other facility shown in three-dimensional, rotatable images. The wireless equipment may allow the operator to force individual system components to output states, and provide for real time monitoring. The portable, wireless equipment is programmed with information pertaining to the connections and locations of the components in the control network, thereby simplifying diagnosis or testing by the operator.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A network node includes a housing in which the electronics of the network node are contained, the housing having an external port to which a plug-in module can be physically attached. The plug-in module contains a readable memory which, when the plug-in module is attached, allows electronic interconnection between the electronics of the network node and the readable memory. The readable memory stores a unique node identifier which becomes associated with the node, and can also store functional program code for the particular node. Thus, a node can be easily and rapidly replaced or reprogrammed, without the need for specialized equipment to download the node identifier or functional program code, and without the possibility of erroneous manual entry of the node identifier. In operation, the node reads in its node identifier from the appropriate address of the readable memory, and thereafter sends and receives communications in accordance with the node identifier it has read out from the plug-in module.

Abstract: A control network comprises multiple master nodes and multiple slave nodes, connected together in a loop configuration by at least one fiber optic cable. The master nodes share concurrent control over the network nodes by time multiplexing or other techniques. The control network may include two fiber optic rings which carry the same data simultaneously in opposite directions around the loop. A polling scheme may be used by the master nodes such that only one node transmits at a given time in both directions around the loop. The receiving node(s) propagate the transmissions and select between the transmissions based on time, error rate, or other factors. A hierarchical control network may be constructed with upper tier and lower tier fiber optic rings. Multiple master nodes may be used at any level of the ring, and some or all of the rings may include two fiber optics for bidirectional, redundant communication within the network.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring, diagnosing and/or testing a control network using portable, wireless equipment includes computerized display device connected to a wireless intermediary device for allowing a wireless connection to be made to a control network. The computerized diagnostic device may be embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a graphical screen display, on which may be displayed the network nodes and connections of the control network presented against a backdrop of a transit vehicle or other facility shown in three-dimensional, rotatable images. The wireless equipment may allow the operator to force individual system components to output states, and provide for real time monitoring. The portable, wireless equipment is programmed with information pertaining to the connections and locations of the components in the control network, thereby simplifying diagnosis or testing by the operator.