Abstract: A system facilitates visual monitoring of a dangerous location. The system includes a stationary camera device (110) and at least one mobile display device (120) corresponding to at least one vehicle. The camera device (110) captures a video image of the dangerous location and transmits video signals representative of the captured video image. The display device (120) receives the video signals from the camera device (110) when the corresponding vehicle is in proximity to the camera device (110) and presents the video signals as a video image of the dangerous location to a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for determining the alertness of a driver of a vehicle by monitoring the driver's seated posture. A pressure sensor array disposed in or on the seat produces output signals that indicate the pattern of pressure exerted by the driver's body at a plurality of points distributed over the seat surface. A microprocessor-based alertness evaluation module receives pressure pattern data from the sensor array and uses neural network processing techniques to determine a probable driver alertness level based upon changes in the pattern of pressure. The sensor array may also be used to supply data to an occupant restraint system control module. Using the sensor for two purposes avoids the additional cost of providing a dedicated alertness sensor is avoided.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system for assisting a driving lane change includes an object detection unit for detecting objects in a laterally adjacent rearward side space area of the vehicle. An analysis unit receives signals from the object detection unit and determines whether an object is situated in a dead angle section (blind spot) of the monitored rearward side space, or whether any such object in a section of the monitored rearward side space which is rearward beyond a dead angle section is moving forward at a higher speed than the system vehicle. If so, and if, in addition, it detects at the same time a lane change request pertaining to the corresponding side area, it activates a warning indicating unit for emitting a warning signal. According to the invention, a position detection device is provided which determines path data of the obstacle vehicle and the road geometry data, as well as the position of the system vehicle on the road.

Abstract: In a broadcasting type information providing system, a moving body 10 includes a bidirectional communication unit 13 which performs communication with an information providing center 21, an information processing unit 11 which communicates request information necessary for a user via the bidirectional communication unit 13 to the information providing center 21 as well as presents answer information with respect to the request information to the user and a broadcast receiving unit 14 which receives the answer information broadcasted from a broadcasting station 22, and the information providing center 21 generates the answer information with respect to the request information being transmitted from the moving body 10 as well as selects a broadcasting station 22 of which service area covers the position of the moving body 10 depending on the position of the moving body 10 detected either at the side of the moving body 10 or at the side of the information providing center 21 and causes the selected broadcasting

Abstract: Travel trailer and motor home users must periodically use various facilities for filling motor fuel tanks and water storage tanks of their vehicles, as well as dumping their waste water and sewerage receptacles. Typically the fill or discharge receptacles for these different tanks are located at different locations along the length of the vehicle, making it difficult to align the vehicle with the different service facilities. The present invention comprises a device whereby a driver can accurately line up fill and discharge receptacles with the corresponding service at a service station or dump station without the aid of a second person or the need for leaving the vehicle.

Abstract: A warning light device attachable to, or as a permanent part of, a front door of an automatic dishwasher or oven, the front door being openable to a generally horizontal very low position above the floor. In one embodiment, the device includes a housing attachable to a surface of the front door. A warning light mounted on the housing receives electric power from a miniature storage battery mounted within the housing. An angle-sensitive switch mounted in the housing is operably interconnected between the warning light and the storage battery. The switch is open and the warning light off when the front door is closed, while the switch is closed and the warning light on when the front door is open. The warning light, when on, is sufficiently visible to warn or alert a person nearby the dishwasher that the front door is open and to be avoided. This invention may also be embodied in such appliances at time of manufacture.

Abstract: A patch cord tracing system and method for tracing patch cords in a telecommunications patching system. The system includes a plurality of tracing interface modules that attach to the patch panels in a telecommunications closet. On the patch panels in a telecommunications closet are located a plurality of connector ports that receive the terminated ends of patch cords. The tracing interface modules mount to the patch panels and provide a sensor, an LED and a tracing button to each of the connector ports. The sensor detects whenever a patch cord is connected to, or removed from, a connector port. Accordingly, by connecting a computer controller to the various sensors, the computer controller can monitor and log all changes to the patch cord interconnections in an automated fashion.

Abstract: A laser intrusion system for detecting motion in a swimming pool for detecting a person entering a swimming pool. The laser intrusion system for detecting motion in a swimming pool includes a swimming pool. The swimming pool has a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall has a top edge. A motion detection apparatus is mounted in the peripheral wall of the pool such that emitted light travels over water in the pool. The motion detection apparatus is operationally coupled to a power source and an alarm device. The alarm device is adapted to produce a sound.

Abstract: A system for tracking a plurality of recreational items for sliding on snow-covered surfaces of a hill. The system comprises, for each item in the plurality of recreational items, an associated integral ID storing device for storing an associated item ID, the associated item ID being electronically readable from the associated integral ID storing device. The system also comprises an interrogator for reading the associated item ID stored on the associated integral ID storing device for each item in the plurality of recreational items.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the illumination of two diode indicator lights with a single control line. The apparatus includes a circuit adapted to selectively provide one of high, low and medium voltage levels on a control output line responsive to combinations of high and low DATA and ENABLE signals. A first indicator is provided having a first diode with an anode and a cathode, the cathode being operatively connected to ground. A second indicator is provided having a second diode with an anode and a cathode, the cathode being operatively connected to a source of medium level voltage. A current limiting resistor is provided having a first end operatively connected to the anode of each of the first and second diodes, the opposite end thereof being connected to the control output line. Moreover, a pull-up resistor is provided having one end connected to the control output line and an opposite end connected to the medium level voltage source.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided with: an image taking device (19a, 19b) for taking an image on a side of a movable body and outputting an image signal corresponding to the taken image; a movement vector detecting device (18, 24) for detecting a movement vector for each area of the image taken by the image taking device, on the basis of the image signal while the movable body is moving; and a distance calculating device (18, 25) for judging a spatial changing rate of a magnitude of the detected movement vector and calculating the distance to a road edge on the basis of the spatial changing rate.

Abstract: To provide a movable body detecting/notifying system that is capable of determining and reporting whether another movable body exists behind an obstruction or at a position that can be verified by the sense of sight. A movable body detecting/notifying system allows a detecting movable body to detect and report a detected movable body by using electromagnetic wave communication. The detected movable body transmits a large-wavelength electromagnetic wave easily diffractable by an obstruction as well as a small-wavelength electromagnetic wave not easily diffractable by an obstruction at the same time. The detecting movable body generates a notice for reception of only the large-wavelength electromagnetic wave without the small-wavelength electromagnetic wave or a notice for reception of both the large-wavelength and small-wavelength electromagnetic waves different from the notice for reception of only the large-wavelength electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for operating a braking system in motor vehicles including both a service brake and a parking brake in which an acoustic signal is given when the vehicle is held in the stopped condition exclusively by the service brake for a predetermined period of time, and further providing for integration of driver actions to prevent dangerous situations.

Abstract: A method for increasing the interrogation range of an RF Tag in a radio communication system using RF Tags with two reflecting antenna elements. The second reflecting antenna element is predeterminately positioned, and preferably aligned, with respect to the first reflecting antenna element in the direction of expected incident RF radiation and is spaced from the first reflecting antenna element at a predetermined fixed distance. The first and second reflecting antenna elements are alternately pulsed on and off such that while the first reflecting antenna element is in a signal reflecting operating state, the second reflecting antenna element is in a substantially non-reflecting state and vice versa. The alternate pulsing and predetermined fixed spacing between the first and second elements generates a known phase difference between the reflected signals of the first and second reflecting antenna elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a battery-free circuit device for RF identifying tag. It is advantageous that the electric potential across the antenna coil induced by the change of the alternating magnetic field of the radio wave signals is independent of the modulational switching of the RF identifying tag during the positive half cycles when the antenna is receiving the radio wave signals from the card reader, and that the efficiency of the voltage-charging rectifier circuit remains constant when the data are delivered into the card reader. Furthermore, in this invention, the modulational amplitude of the signals is larger than that in the prior art, thus the propagating distance is longer and it shows better accuracy and reliability in data reading.

Abstract: A power supply unit is adapted for use with a pressure-sensing device that is mounted on a wheel rim inside an airtight chamber confined by the wheel rim and a pneumatic tire. The power supply unit includes a valve housing, an air valve member, and a battery housing. The valve housing is mounted on the wheel rim with an inner end portion thereof extending into the airtight chamber and with an outer end portion thereof extending outwardly of the wheel rim. The valve housing is provided with a housing conductor for electrical connection with the pressure-sensing device. The air valve member is mounted in the valve housing, and includes a spring-loaded valve stem with a conductive stem body that is connected electrically to the pressure-sensing device, and that is electrically insulated from the housing conductor. The battery housing is mounted on the outer end portion of the valve housing and receives a battery cell therein.

Abstract: A wake turbulence warning and caution system and method for a protected aircraft tracks and stores a trajectory of a wake trailing behind a nearby aircraft and adjusts the wake position for the effect of local wind velocity, and then calculates a distance and time to closure between the protected aircraft and the wake. A caution is annunciated aurally and/or on a navigation map display and/or on a primary flight display if the distance or time to closure is less than a first predetermined threshold, and a warning is annunciated if the distance or time to closure is less than a second predetermined threshold. The wake trajectory is calculated based on range, bearing, and altitude information about the nearby aircraft supplied by a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) aboard the protected aircraft, and based on inertial position and attitude of the protected aircraft supplied by an inertial reference system (IRS).

Abstract: A low tire pressure warning system includes a tire pressure sensor constructed to be mounted within each of the tires on the wheels of a vehicle. Each tire pressure sensor includes a pressure switch coupled to a transmitter and a battery, with the pressure switch being constructed to connect the battery to the transmitter so as to activate the transmitter when pressure within the tire drops below a low value. A receiver is constructed to be mounted within the vehicle in communication with the transmitters and a low tire pressure warning indicator is coupled to the receiver so as to be activated when the receiver receives a signal from any one of the transmitters.

Abstract: An alarm or monitoring system for a computer network in which network devices are able to be “locked” onto the network, in which condition an alarm is raised if the device is removed. This occurs even when the device is switched off, as the monitoring of the presence of the device is performed by the network. Alternatively, the device may be “unlocked” from the network, in which condition no alarm is raised even if the device is removed. Control of whether a particular network device is subject to the alarm system is therefore in the hands of the user of the device and this is particularly useful for items such as lap-top computers which may quite legitimately be regularly connected to and disconnected from the network.

Abstract: A toy that activates an indicator while an end user consumes an edible substance. The toy includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are connected to the indicator. An electrical path is created between the first and second electrodes while the end user is consuming the consumable substance to close an electrical circuit with the indicator. The closed circuit activates the indicator.