Abstract: A tag assembly for a faucet that includes a housing, a cover and an electronic article surveillance tag. The housing has a base plate with a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter, an internal wall defining a first section and a second section on the bottom side and an outer perimetrical side wall. The first section has an opening in the base plate defined by an inner perimetrical side wall. One or more flexible members extend into the opening from the inner perimetrical side wall. The second section has a compartment for an electronic article surveillance tag enclosed by the cover and bounded by the internal wall and the outer perimetrical side wall. The threaded pipe on a faucet is inserted in the opening of the tag assembly housing and the flexible members engage the threads to secure the tag assembly.

Abstract: A system is provided for creating and/or collecting, storing and providing access to data from an electric power device which contains a cooling or operating liquid. A sensing device is mounted on the electric power device. The sensing device includes a microprocessor/microcontroller, a memory, a display panel, an input panel, and a tag read/write apparatus. A sampling container for holding a liquid sample to be taken from the electric power device has a container tag mounted thereon. The tag read/write apparatus uses a wireless communication link, when a sample has been taken, to transmit (i) administrative data denoting the electric power device, and (ii) diagnosis data denoting the sample taken to the container tag. The diagnosis data can be input directly using the input panel of the sensing device when a sample has been taken.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to an environment sensor for identifying a source of danger external to the vehicle and detecting at least one first direction in which the source of danger lies when viewed from the vehicle, and a loudspeaker arrangement which can be triggered, when a source of danger has been identified, to generate a warning signal which for a listener in a passenger cell of the vehicle appears to come from the first direction. The environment sensor is furthermore equipped to trigger the loudspeaker arrangement to produce a second signal following the warning signal, which for the listener appears to come from a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A sensor unit, in particular a sensor unit in or on a vehicle, for capacitively ascertaining the distance between the sensor device and an object, having an electrode for forming a capacitive system with the object and an apparatus for creating a signal proportional to the capacitance of the capacitive system. The sensor unit has a reference electrode for forming a capacitive reference system with the object, an additional apparatus for creating a reference signal proportional to the capacitance of the capacitive reference system, and an analyzer device for ascertaining the distance by forming a ratio of the signal and the reference signal, the reference electrodes having an electrode shape, which is different from the electrode shape of the electrode.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) hybrid packet radio is provided having full duplex operability. The RFID packet radio includes an antenna and a radio that receives and transmits a packet radio signal and a RFID signal. A processor is provided in communication with the radio to perform signal detection and demodulation with respect to the RFID signal. A transmit path is provided to transport the packet radio signal and the RFID signal from the radio to the antenna. The RFID packet radio includes a first receive path for transporting a received packet radio signal from the antenna to the radio and a second receive path, different from the first receive path, to transport a received RFID signal from the antenna to the processor. The first receive path and the second receive path enable simultaneous transmission and reception of RFID signals.

Abstract: A remotely controllable receptacle system is disclosed. The remotely controllable receptacle system includes a remote control device for emitting a first request signal and a searching signal, and a plurality of receptacle devices for emitting a first reply signal according to the first request signal. The remote control device determines whether the first reply signal is received and the receptacle device emitting the first reply signal is classified as the vicinity receptacle device and the receptacle device not emitting the first reply signal is classified as the missing receptacle device. The vicinity receptacle device is configured to emit a second request signal according to the searching signal and determine whether the missing receptacle device emits a second reply signal according to the second request signal before a mutual communication between the remote control device and the missing receptacle device via the vicinity receptacle device is established.

Abstract: A method for driving a matrix of elements responding to the absolute value of the activation voltage avoiding crosstalk, the matrix (4) composed of elements (3) arranged in M rows and N columns with a first (2) and second (2?) electrodes to apply the activation voltage. When elements (E3C,E6C,E8C) located on a common activation column (CC) and on activation rows (R3,R6,R8) are to be excited, the method including applying a row activation voltage (V3) to the first electrode (2) of the elements (3) located on activation rows (R3,R6,R8); applying a column activation voltage (V0) to the second electrode (2?) of the elements (3) located on common activation column (C); applying a common row voltage (V1) to the first electrode (2) of the elements (3) located on all the rows of the matrix (4) except for the activation rows (R3,R6,R8); applying a common column voltage (V2) to the second electrode (2?) of the elements (3) located on all the columns of the matrix (4) except for the common activation column (C).

Abstract: An advanced transitional cup (ATC) for training developing children and developmentally-challenged individuals to drink from a cup. The ATC includes a lid with a small fluid aperture and an electric air valve. A microcontroller located in the base of the ATC converts a user-defined “flow rate” into a PWM voltage signal that successively opens and closes the air valve. A higher flow rate results in a PWM signal that opens the air valve for longer spans of time and closes the air valve for shorter spans of time as compared to a lower flow rate, thereby allowing more air to enter the ATC and fluid to be expressed from the fluid aperture more readily. A touch sensor on the sidewall of the ATC prevents the air valve from being opened, and thus fluid from exiting the fluid aperture, unless a drinker is touching the touch sensor, thereby preventing accidental spills.

Abstract: A remotely controllable receptacle system is disclosed. The remotely controllable receptacle system includes a remote control device for emitting a first request signal and a searching signal, and a plurality of receptacle devices for emitting a first reply signal according to the first request signal. The remote control device determines whether the first reply signal is received and the receptacle device emitting the first reply signal is classified as the vicinity receptacle device and the receptacle device not emitting the first reply signal is classified as the missing receptacle device. The vicinity receptacle device is configured to emit a second request signal according to the searching signal and determine whether the missing receptacle device emits a second reply signal according to the second request signal before a mutual communication between the remote control device and the missing receptacle device via the vicinity receptacle device is established.