Abstract: A parking guidance and management system. The system provides graphical information regarding the relative availability of parking spaces within a parking garage or other large facility. The system relies on a pair of sensors in each space which combine to provide highly reliable information regarding whether spaces in the facility are occupied or not. The information is gathered by a series of aisle controllers, which communicate with a central computer. The information is displayed at strategically located displays along the way to available spaces. The displays contain advertising messages adjacent to the information about space availability. The information obtained from the sensors at each parking space may be used to provide information to the manager of the facility regarding space utilization. Information regarding the occupancy status of each space may also be used as a check on receipts of parking fees and to identify abandoned vehicles.

Abstract: A system for identifying the location of a fire extinguisher includes a fire detector with a wireless transmitter. When the detector goes into alarm, it not only emits a local audible alarm, it also transmits wirelessly a signal receivable by a fire extinguisher locating unit. This unit includes a receiver and circuitry for detecting the received alarm indicating signal. It also includes audible output circuitry, for example, speech synthesis circuitry, and optionally, an optical indicator. Upon detection at the unit of the alarm indicating signal, the speech synthesizing circuitry can be activated to indicate verbally the location of the extinguisher. Simultaneously, if desired, the illuminatable output device, such as a light bulb or light emitting diode, can be energized to provide a visual indication of extinguisher location.

Abstract: A machine for automated generation of movement of chimes with a base, an power source in the base electromagnetically connected to a post, chimes disposed about the post for receiving electromagnetic energy, a control circuit for generating intermittent electric power to said source for creating magnetic forces on said chimes. The chimes may also be moved by electric power, water movement, wind generated by the power source or ionic wind movement.

Abstract: A school bus has a stop sign hinged on an electrical actuator assembly that is attached to the side of the bus. The actuator assembly includes an electric motor that pivots the hinged stop sign from a stored position adjacent the bus to an operative position extending outwardly of the bus in perpendicular fashion and back to the stored position and an electrical control unit that includes Hall effect sensors for controlling the electric motor. These and other components are protected in an outer sealed housing that has a removable cover to facilitate installation and repair. Installation and repair is further enhanced by a removable inner housing sub-assembly that carries the electric motor and the electric control unit and that provides additional protection for these two components. The school bus also has a crossing arm hinged on an identical electrical actuator assembly, that is attached to the front bumper of the bus near the passenger doors.

Abstract: A portable device that helps a person control food consumption by slowing the eating process to a pace that provides time for the human brain to signal (through hormones such as Sulfated Cholecystokinin) a “sensation of fullness” before overeating or “binge eating” can occur, to normalize mealtime social behavior by encouraging relaxation and conversation when eating with others, and to control medical conditions including Bulimia and Anorexia. The apparatus includes red and green lights (22, 20), a circuit (46) that controls energization of the lights, and a pushbutton switch (42) that operates a portion of a circuit. When the push button (44) is depressed, the circuit energizes the red light (22) for a predetermined wait period such as 20 seconds (which can be varied), to indicate that the person should not eat. Then, the circuit energizes the green light (20), to indicate that the person can take one or two bites of food at his/her convenience.

Abstract: A smoke detector monitors one or more internal conditions, such as battery output voltage in detectors that include batteries. Both audible and visible indicators are energized to indicate the presence of the monitored condition or conditions. A switch or a wireless sensor on the detector can be actuated to temporarily suppress the audible indicator provided the battery exhibits an output voltage in a predetermined range, less than that of normal operation.

Abstract: An identification arrangement for an order fulfillment system includes an identification input associated with each location in an order fulfillment system at which items are handled, such as by removal or placement, for filling an order. Each item storage location includes a switch that is actuated by a user after items have been handled, such as by removing the items for placement into an order receptacle, as in a conventional pick-to-light order fulfillment system. The identification input includes a unique signal emitter carried by the user, such as an infrared transmitter which emits a signal having a unique frequency corresponding to the identity of the user. The signal is received by a signal receiver located adjacent the switch, and which is interconnected with a central controller that stores information on the signals used as identification for each user. The user can remove items from any location in the order fulfillment area to fill any order.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light indicator, comprising an indicator element (2) illuminable by a light source (1). The indicator element is manufactured from a substantially transparent material provided with an informative indicator pattern. The indicator element (2) is designed as a waveguide panel, wherein light beams propagate with total reflection and get outcoupled therefrom with a diffractive outcoupling system (2u), such as a grating structure or the like, which is configured as an indcator pattern, for producing an indicator pattern (2a) activable in the indicator element (2) by the action of light, such that divergent recesses and/or grooves of various sizes and/or shape constitute divergent local gratings of various sizes and/or shapes, such as multi-shaped and/or binary pixels and/or units, the filling factor, shape, profile and/or size thereof being optimized in such a way that the difraction efficiency is a function of place.

Abstract: A baby monitor system with a parent unit communicable with a baby unit having a soothing unit is provided. In an embodiment for the baby monitor system of the present invention, the baby unit is responsive to receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted from the parent unit and the parent unit is responsive to receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted from the baby unit. In an embodiment for a method of the present invention, a method for monitoring a baby is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal representative of an audible sound at a baby unit from a parent unit, receiving a signal representative of an audible sound at a parent unit from a baby unit, and actuating a soothing unit included in the baby unit.

Abstract: A network enables remote users to communicate with, and to control a variety of devices whose only electrical connection is to a power line network. In hybrid networks, communications between different network domains is only available if proper message mapping is done. Message mapping leads to the determination of correct frame conversion based on the specifications of protocols identifying different networks. This invention comprises a method that does bi-directional conversion between application level information entered into the remote access device by the user and related physical layer power line communications frames.

Abstract: A temperature indicator is mounted within a wheel hub to generate a warning signal when a wheel end component overheats. The temperature indicator comprises a thermal battery that is activated only when the wheel end component exceed a predetermined temperature. Once activated the battery powers an RF transmitter to generate a wireless warning signal that is transmitted to a remote receiver to display a warning.

Abstract: A tire and suspension monitoring and warning system consisting of a set of multi-function sensors that monitor and warn of a failure mode. The system monitors and warns for tire imbalance, tire tread wear, and shock absorbers for a tire attached to a vehicle. The monitoring and warning system includes one axial, radial, and lateral acceleration measurement of the wheel to provide acceleration signal sample power. For tire imbalance, signal sample power in the second harmonic of the tire rotational frequency is compared to that of the first harmonic. For tire tread wear, average signal sample power within a second frequency range is compared to a previously stored baseline value. For shock absorber performance, a sum of all frequency components in a second predetermined frequency range is compared to a baseline value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating an object. In one embodiment, the occurrence of a plurality of transitions between a first light level and a second light level is detected. If a time period between at least some of the transitions is determined to be less than a predetermined value, an alert signal is emitted. In another embodiment, the alert signal is emitted if an ambient light level is detected to be below a predetermined threshold and the object is detected to not be in a predetermined axial orientation.

Abstract: Cameras take images of a predetermined area around a door. A distance measurement unit measures a distance from the cameras to each object in the taken images. Based on the measured distance, a floor detection unit detects a floor, and an object height/position detection unit detects a height and position of any object other than the floor. A door position detection unit and a door position identification unit 57 specify position of the door (i.e. open or closed) in the images taken by the cameras. A judgement unit judges presence or absence of an object which is neither the floor nor the door. If an object other than the floor and the door is observed in the images taken by the cameras, an output unit produces an object detection signal, so that the door is kept in an open state.

Abstract: A doze alerting device includes a casing, an earplug and an electronic operating circuit. The earplug is insertable into either the left or right ear of a user to locate the casing at a desired angular position. The circuit incorporates an audio generator for generating a doze-alert audio signal and a gravity switch for triggering the generator. The switch has first and second contacts closing to trigger the generator, with the second contact being movable under the influence of gravity along a path towards and away from the first contact. The path is fixed relative to the casing so that the switch provides a trigger signal when the casing moves from a first angular position corresponding to an upright position of the head when the user is looking straight ahead to a second angular position corresponding to a dipped position of the head when the user starts to doze.

Abstract: The present invention describes a maintenance support system that can be used to automatically isolate defective components in a complex electrical apparatus. The system includes programming instructions that activate individual components of the electrical operation in a non-operational sequence, while collecting performance data for each tested component. Performance data is provided by existing feedback devices in the apparatus as well as by additional sensors which are a part of the new system. All collected data and available background information are analyzed by programming instructions that consider, among other things, the probability of failure in certain components. The final outcome is a component replacement recommendation on a local or remote computer display that combines the performance data, history, probability and operational knowledge of the apparatus, thereby improving the performance of service personnel.

Abstract: A computer based method for activating a vehicular safety device for passenger protection is disclosed. The method uses a centrally located front-end acceleration sensor and a passenger compartment sensor. When a crash situation is sensed, current acceleration data is integrated to produce velocity values for both sensor locations. Actual displacement values for the front-end sensor are calculated as well as displacement values based on absolute values of acceleration of that sensor. The velocity and displacement values are selectively used in at least three vehicle crash mode analyses. Examples of such crash modes are full frontal-like modes, pole-like modes and angle-like modes. When appropriate threshold values are exceeded, device activation for one or more activation stages is initiated.

Abstract: A reusable security tag is provided which is reversibly operable in a first magnetic condition to trigger a detector when the tag is within communication range of the detector, and a second magnetic condition in which the detector is not triggered when the tag is within communication range of the detector. The tag includes an optical indicator which has a first optical characteristic when the tag is in the first magnetic condition, and a second optical characteristic when the tag is in the second magnetic condition.

Abstract: Waking/alerting people with a random offset time added to a pre-programmed wake-up/alert time, the improved method and apparatus disclosed in the present invention maximizes time confusion and uncertainty to provide an extra urgency to get up and/or get ready. In an embodiment, an alarm clock chooses a random time offset of D minutes without the user's knowledge. The alarm sounds D minutes before the preset wake-up time while displaying the current time plus D minutes. Thus, even though a user realizes that the alarm has sounded earlier than the preset time, he does not know exactly how many minutes earlier. Alternatively, the alarm could sound D minutes after the preset wake-up time. Again, the user does not know how much offset has been inserted by the clock. This uncertainty forces the user to assume the worst-case and get up quickly.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the behavior, behavior patterns and movements of patients with Alzheimer's, related dementia and a range of other diseases, disorders and injuries including childhood autism, attention deficit disorder (ADD), schizophrenia, severe clinical depression, brain injury, and conditions such as recovery from hip replacement surgery. The monitoring system comprises: a transmitter worn by the patient which emits an identification signal; a detector placed at a hazard or a at a location to be monitored, the detector capable of determining the distance of the patient from the detector and determining the occurrence of an incident when the distance falls below a predetermined threshold; a receiving unit for receiving the information transmitted by the detector; and database means for accumulating information received by the receiving unit.