Abstract: An electronic toll collection system (ETCS) terminal may include a communication interface connected to a vehicle network of a vehicle, a card socket configured to accommodate insertion of a payment card, a card integrated circuit (IC) chip configured to store card information of an issued card, and a controller configured to activate, based on a user input received via the communication interface, at least one of the card IC chip or the card socket.

Abstract: A container for storing liquids includes an inner layer including a storage space for storing liquids; an outer layer; and multiple spacers fastened between the inner layer and the outer layer to form multiple compartments. The spacer includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is secured to an adhesive layer of the inner layer. The first surface has many cavities. The second surface is secured to the outer layer and having projections complimentarily secured to the cavities. A manufacturing method of the container is also provided. Therefore, it can solve the problem permeation and adhesive failure caused by leaking. It can generate an early alarm by detecting any leaking or permeation of the container.

Abstract: An electrical safety monitor is provided. The electrical safety monitor may include a housing having a face. The electrical safety monitor further includes a plurality of line inputs for hardwiring a plurality of electrical connections. The electrical safety monitor further includes a plurality of test points with each of the test points corresponding to one of the line inputs, each of the plurality of test points accessible at the face of the housing. The electrical safety monitor further includes a line monitoring circuit having a plurality of light indicators and configured to produce light if voltage exists between any two of the line inputs to thereby indicate presence of voltage to a user. The electrical safety monitor further includes illumination areas associated with each of the test points, wherein each of the illumination areas is provided light by one or more of the plurality of light indicators.

Abstract: The invention relates to mobile surveillance and, more particularly, to systems and methods for policing traffic violations, such as illegal cell phone use while driving. The surveillance system may include a mobile unit and an imaging device configured to monitor, detect, and record vehicles moving in the same direction or in an opposite direction of the mobile unit. The imaging device may capture license plate information and other data, such as characteristics corresponding to the driver of the vehicle. Advantageously, the surveillance system can record, analyze, detect, and communicate distracted driver violations effectively and efficiently.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to security systems for securing an item of merchandise from theft or unauthorized removal. For example, the security system may include a sensor configured to be coupled to the item of merchandise and a base configured to removably support the sensor and the item of merchandise thereon. The sensor has a generally L-shaped surface for being secured to a portion of the rear and bottom surfaces of the item of merchandise. The base includes a charging circuit for providing power to the sensor and/or the item of merchandise.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a warning vibration of a steering wheel includes, a reservoir disposed within the steering wheel and filled with a non-conductive fluid, a connection tube connected to the reservoir and configured to form a hydraulic line of the non-conductive fluid, an actuator disposed within the steering wheel, connected to the connection tube, and configured to vibrate according to inflow and outflow of the non-conductive fluid from the connection tube, a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed on opposite sides of the reservoir, a high voltage power supplier configured to supply a high voltage to be applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a vibration generation controller configured to selectively apply an output voltage of the high voltage power supplier to the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a partial power source including a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to generate, upon contact with a conducting medium, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a control device, and generate, using the first material and the second material, a current flow within the conducting medium, the current flow including information encoded based on a variable conductance between the first material and the second material.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for detecting a state transition for sensors of a monitoring system, and determining whether the state transition is abnormal such that further action is warranted. The determination may be based on a history of state transitions in the monitoring system, and may be based on whether the same state transition has previously occurred at a corresponding time in the history, whether the new state has previously occurred following the corresponding time in the history, and other factors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for unlocking a security tag that is connected to an article. The apparatus includes an unlocking device configured to provide an unlock signal or force to a security tag allowing for the security tag to be removed from the article. The apparatus further includes an unlocking surface disposed between the unlocking device and the security tag and an alignment feature configured to indicate a detachment zone that corresponds with a source of the unlock signal or force, wherein placing the tag in the detachment allows for the unlocking device to provide an unlock signal or force to the security device to allow the security tag to be removed from the article.

Abstract: A system (100) monitors a position stability of a person (105) located on a patient positioning device (104) within a medical setting monitored area (108) and includes a sensor unit (110) with optical sensors (112) real time outputting a sensor signal (114) sensor data indicating a sequence of three-dimensional views of the monitored area over a monitoring time. A processor unit (120) receives the sensor signal and determines, based on indicated three-dimensional views, a person's center of weight (121), a geometric reference value (123), and a geometric distance (D) between the center of weight and the geometric reference value and automatedly monitors the determined geometric distance in real time over a monitoring time and calculates a current position stability (127) as a function of the currently determined geometric distance and geometric distances determined within a past analysis time interval and outputs a position stability signal (129).

Abstract: Anomaly notification system that notifies of an anomaly of cared person in room includes sensor, sound collecting unit, first determination unit that determines whether a volume of the collected sound is more than or equal to a reference volume, second determination unit that determines whether a target sound is a predetermined activity sound generated by an activity of cared person, and third determination unit that determines whether an anomaly occurs in cared person, based on the activity amounts, which are measured before and after the target sound is collected, and notification unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for an integrated sensor network are described. In one embodiment, sensor data may be accessed from a plurality of motion sensors and a bed sensor deployed in a living unit for a first time period. An activity pattern for the first time period may be identified based on at least a portion of sensor data associated with the first time period. The activity pattern may represent a physical and cognitive health condition of a person residing in the living unit. Additional sensor data may be accessed from the motion sensors and the bed sensor deployed for a second time period. A determination of whether a deviation of the activity pattern of the first time period has occurred for the second time period may be performed. An alert may be generated based on a determination that the derivation has occurred. In some embodiments, user feedback is captured on the significance of the alerts, and the alert method is customized based on this feedback. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: An incontinence detection system monitors an area for moisture events and wirelessly transmits moisture-related information to one or more notification devices. The system has a pad that includes a substrate and one or more sensors supported by the substrate. The sensor(s) emit wireless signals indicative of the moisture-related information. A sensor event communication system forwards the sensor signals to another device, such as a notification device. Portions of the system are included in a patient support apparatus, such as a bed.

Abstract: A multi-sensor edge computing system can have at least a sensor assembly connected to an edge computing device and a downstream host. The sensor assembly may have a first sensor and a second sensor with the respective sensors being different. The edge computing device can be configured to identify a false reading of the first sensor in response to data captured by the second sensor.

Abstract: A sign-monitoring system includes at least one electronic sign and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The electronic sign includes a pixel array, the pixel array including a plurality of pixels. The electronic sign further includes an embedded controller coupled to the at least one electronic sign. The embedded controller develops diagnostic information for the at least one electronic sign, the diagnostic information including information related to a number of malfunctioning pixels in the plurality of pixels. The controller is communicably coupled to the embedded controller and receives at least a portion of the diagnostic information from the embedded controller. In addition, the controller assesses the at least a portion of the diagnostic information to develop health information. The assessment involves evaluating the information related to the number of malfunctioning pixels.

Abstract: A locking and unlocking system includes a portable terminal and a server. The portable terminal includes a first reception unit configured to receive authentication information used for locking and unlocking of a vehicle or a facility from the server, and a first transmission unit configured to transmit a signal requesting the locking or the unlocking to a device provided in the vehicle or the facility. The signal includes the authentication information. The server includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire schedule information including a date when the vehicle or the facility is reserved and first identification information of a user, from another server configured to perform schedule management, and a second transmission unit configured to transmit the authentication information to the portable terminal of the user, based on the schedule information.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting smoke including establishing a baseline measurement for each of at least three overlapping sensing volumes; comparing a measured reading within each of the at least three sensing volumes and the baseline measurements to determine whether the measured reading is within a sensing threshold, and annunciating a warning signal if the difference is outside the sensing threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for monitoring chromatographic fluid flows, such as the flow to and/or from one or more reservoirs used in chromatographic operations, for instance. In many embodiments, the chromatographic operations may include one or more of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), Ultra Performance Convergence Chromatography (UPC2), and the like. Several embodiments are particularly directed to a chromatographic fluid flow device (CFFD) for monitoring a change in density of a chromatographic fluid in a tube, such as by detecting the presence or absence of gas in the tube with an ultrasonic bubble detector. In various embodiments, the chromatographic fluid may include a solvent, a sample, or waste associated with a chromatographic operation.

Abstract: An approach is provided for using aerial drones for road and traffic monitoring. The approach, for example, involves navigating an aerial drone to a physical marker located on a road link. The approach also involves initiating a capture of sensor data of the physical marker by a sensor of the aerial drone. The approach further involves adjusting a position, an altitude, or a combination thereof of the aerial drone to a reference position, a reference altitude, or a combination thereof over the physical marker based on the sensor data. The approach further involves initiating a capture of one or more images of the road link by the aerial drone at the reference position, the reference altitude, or a combination thereof. By way of example, the captured images can be processed for road and traffic monitoring and/or other similar applications.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the usage of devices with embedded RFID tags including connecting a device to an energy source and reading data from a memory device incorporated in the device. The data may include a unique identifier (UID), a usage value, an activation value, a reprocessing value, and/or a sterilization indicator. The usage value is incremented when the device is connected to the energy source and the activation value is incremented when the device is activated permitting energy to flow from the energy source to the device. Usage of the device is prevented if the UID is on a list of prohibited UIDs, the usage value is not lower than a usage limitation value, the reprocessing value equals a reprocessing limitation value, the activation value equals an activation limitation value, and/or the sterilization indicator does not indicate that the device has been sterilized since its previous usage.