Abstract: A controllable heating pad, having a heating conductor embedded in the heating pad, a sensing conductor embedded in the heating pad, a resistive material providing a distributed electrical path between the heating conductor and the sensing conductor, a first current sensor to sense a current in the heating conductor and a second current sensor to sense a current in the sensing conductor. A method of controlling a temperature of a heating pad, including the steps of: warming the heating pad to at least a first predetermined temperature by use of an adjustable on/off signal to the controllable switch, measuring currents through an NTC material or a combination of a PTC material and an NTC material; and maintaining a temperature of the heating pad to within a predetermined temperature range by use of the adjustable on/off signal to the controllable switch.

Abstract: A UV sterilization chamber is provided to a humidifier having a water reservoir, a humidifying element and a pathway for directing water provided by the water reservoir to the humidifying element of the humidifier. The pathway is provided in a humidifier base, over which a humidifier enclosure is removably placed. The UV sterilization chamber includes a serpentine portion of the pathway and a UV radiation source positioned for illuminating the portion of the pathway with UV light. Upwardly-directed projections in the base border a perimeter of the pathway; and a downwardly-directed projection of the UV radiation source extends between the upwardly-directed projections when the enclosure is mated with the base, thereby locating the UV radiation source over the portion of the pathway. A switch disables the UV radiation source when the enclosure is removed from the base.

Abstract: An air purifier has an air blower and a rotating brush, the brush having long flexible bristles made of a material that is capable of developing negative triboelectric charge. During a portion of the rotation cycle, the bristles move across a surface that can accumulate a positive charge. This causes the bristle to charge negatively. Air impurities are attracted to the negatively charged bristles and are discharged into a collecting bin.

Abstract: A humidifier has a housing that holds humidifying equipment and an image projector. The image projector is set on the top portion of the housing and includes a light source, a removable projector cover and a projector lens. Light from the light source shines through the projector lens and projector cover to project an image onto a surface of the room, such a ceiling. The humidifying equipment may be conventional in nature, including for example a fan, a water tank, a water reservoir, a filter, a filter tray or combinations thereof. The image projector may also include a rotating mechanism that causes the projected image or images to rotate. The light source may also provide different colors of light. One or more optical characteristics of the projected image, such as image size, shape, color and brightness can be changed by changing the projector lens, projector cover or both.

Abstract: A dehumidifier has a main body and a water collection container that is removably and fluidly coupled to the main body. The main body includes a dehumidifier device to dehumidify air surrounding or fed into the dehumidifier. The water collection container couples to the main body to receive water output by the dehumidifier device. The main body and the water collection container are configured so that the water collection container is disposed closer to a top of the dehumidifier than to a bottom of the dehumidifier. The water collection container preferably has a handle in which the handle is closer to the top of the dehumidifier than to the bottom of the dehumidifier.

Abstract: An infrared sensor with an electrically heatable sensor housing. The housing including a heating device in the form of a strip conductor-like electric heating track, which is controlled by a control device, and applied onto a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate comprises an electrically insulated ceramic material providing adequate thermal conductivity and preferably forming the bottom of the sensor housing, and carrying at least one infrared sensor element, e.g., a thermopile sensor. The ceramic substrate having electric strip conductors serving as a contact surface for a corresponding (not-shown) housing cover and through-hole contacts serving as electrical connections between the top side and the bottom side of the ceramic substrate. The electric heating tracks and strip conductors in a preferred embodiment comprise thick-film tracks. The infrared sensor being suitable for a measuring tip of an intra-auricular infrared thermometer.

Abstract: A non-contact infrared (IR) thermometer for measuring temperature from the surface of an object includes an IR radiation sensor attached to a heating element and a thermal shield having an interior surface positioned within the sensor's field of view that has a high emissivity. An electronic circuit controlling the heating element maintains the temperatures of the sensor and shield substantially close to an anticipated surface temperature of the object. The IR radiation sensor is further thermally coupled to a reference temperature sensor. An optical system positioned in front of the shield focuses thermal radiation from the object on the surface of the sensor, while the shield prevents stray radiation from reaching the sensor. Signals from the IR and reference sensors are used to calculate the object's surface temperature.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and a device for determining the blood pressure, in which a pressure sensor is applied to an individual's limb to detect the blood pressure prevailing in said limb. According to the present invention, the orientation of the limb is detected by means of an orientation sensing unit, and the detected blood pressure is corrected in an evaluating unit in response to the limb's detected orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blood pressure manometer comprising a housing, a cuff connected to the housing, a cuff storage element in which a section of the cuff can be retracted to adjust the width of the cuff, and a cuff tightener which pulls the cuff section into the cuff storage element with a pre-determined tractive force. The cuff tightener comprises a pre-tensioned spring drive and a detachable withdrawal blocking element which prevents the cuff from withdrawing counter to the spring drive. The spring drive causes the cuff to automatically tighten with a pre-determined force, ensuring reproducible measuring results. The cuff storage element and the cuff tightener can be integrated into or engaged in a locking manner with the housing. An automatic switch-on mechanism switches the appliance on as soon as the cuff storage element is locked to the housing when the cuff is positioned on the limb.

Abstract: A method and a device for the non-invasive determination of blood flow and associated parameters in arteries, in particular the arterial waveform and the blood pressure. According to said method, a sensor having at least one deformable contact portion is placed on a tissue surface, essentially over an artery, and the contact portion is subjected to a temporally variable and defined external force, F(t). The deformation of the contact portion by the blood flow inside the artery in response to said force F(t) is measured.