Abstract: A radio-frequency surgical implement detection system detects surgical implements in a surgical wound during and at the completion of a surgical procedure. Surgical implements, including surgical sponges or laparotomy pads, gauze pads and metallic surgical instruments, are individually attached to a non battery-powered, encapsulated radio-frequency marker. The marker comprises an integrated chip having a burnt-in memory code, which is broadcast through an antenna using a modulated carrier frequency. The code is received by an interrogating antenna of a detector. The interrogating antenna provides a power pulse, which is received by the antenna of the radio-frequency marker. The power pulse charges a capacitor, which proves power for the read function, carrier frequency modulation function and broadcast function of the integrated chip, permitting each marker-containing implement to be specifically identified.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include detecting an activated electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag in an interrogation zone, and reading at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in response to the detecting of the activated EAS tag in the interrogation zone to investigate a cause of the EAS tag in said interrogation zone. A method according to another embodiment may include detecting a condition representative of an activated RFID tag in a controlled area, and taking corrective action to prevent removal of the activated RFID tag from the controlled area.

Abstract: The invention relates to packaging, e.g. an envelope or a parcel, that can be checked for tampering, which packaging includes a hermetically sealed body, the body being formed by folding a sheet of material that has been cut to a predefined shape. In order to track the object packaged in the packaging and in order to check the packaging for tampering, the tampering further includes an electronic component that can be interrogated remotely and that is formed by data storage means connected to an antenna. The antenna is formed by an antenna circuit which extends at least over the entire periphery of the inside surface of the sheet of material. Thus, any fraudulent opening of the packaging can be detected by the antenna circuit breaking, thereby making any transmission with the component of the packaging impossible.

Abstract: A system employing a telematics unit and a telematics call center. The telematics unit includes a first module and a first set of at least one pre-scripted text message, and the telematics call center includes a second module and a second set of at least one pre-scripted text message. The modules operate to selectively establish a communication between telematics unit and telematics call center involving at least one of the first set of at least one pre-scripted text message and the second set of at least one pre-scripted text message.

Abstract: The present invention comprises systems and methods for addressing exceptions (i.e., alarms) associated with a guard tour according to a predefined hierarchy. The exception is generated automatically based on data associated with the guard tour, as typically collected by an ETTS. The present invention receives tour data, and based upon predefined customer preferences and current conditions, generates a procedure to be followed to optimally resolve the exception. An exemplary exception is one based on the time interval between checkpoints. If, for example, the time interval is outside of a predetermined range, then an exception may be generated.

Abstract: The present invention comprises systems and methods for addressing exceptions (i.e., alarms) associated with a guard tour according to a predefined hierarchy. The exception is generated automatically based on data associated with the guard tour, as typicdally collected by an ETTS. The present invention receives tour data, and based upon predefined customer preferences and current conditions, generates a procedure to be followed to optimally resolve the exception, typically based on to various parameters, including customer, exception type, day, date, and time of day. In response to an exception, a contact list is generated, the contact list being associated with one or more of the parameters. Based on the nature of the exception, the present invention has the ability to prevent an operator from clearing the exception until it has been resolved in a predefined manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for monitoring, detecting, tracking and identifying explosive materials. The system and method involves tracking and monitoring the explosive material during every part of the chain of custody.

Abstract: A motion sensing system device and method which utilize dispersed ultrasonic radiation is disclosed. The system preferably comprises a low profile sensor unit configured to couple to a ceiling position. The sensor unit comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver and a pair of acoustic reflectors positioned in a transmitting path of the ultrasonic transmitter and a receiving path of the ultrasonic receiver for generating and detecting the ultrasonic radiation in a broadcast field. The acoustic reflectors preferably comprise cones, conical cross-sections and/or combinations thereof which are integral with the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver and/or are coupled to a housing structure for positioning the acoustic reflectors in the transmitting and/or receiving paths. The sensor unit also preferably comprises a circuit for driving the transmitter and for detecting motion by detecting changes in the receiver signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention a rugged Ethernet switch includes a housing and a passive cooling system associated with the housing and being devoid of fans as operable to cool the Ethernet switch. Ethernet switch also includes software operable to perform at least one of the functions selected from the group consisting of multiple spanning, rapid spanning, cluster management and IGMP snooping and querying. According to another embodiment, a rugged Ethernet switch includes a housing having a plurality of perforations formed therein for cooling the Ethernet switch. The switch also includes a passive cooling system be devoid of fans and that is operable to cool the Ethernet switch. A temperature sensor is operable to measure a temperature of the Ethernet switch is included as is an alarm software responsive to the temperature sensor and operable to initiate an alarm when a measured temperature of the Ethernet switch exceeds a particular limit.

Abstract: A surveillance detector comprising a light emitter and a light guide which is optically connected to the light emitter, which light guide includes reflectors mounted therein, a special feature being the fact that the light guide is capable of converting the light from the light emitter at least in part into a light beam to be built up in the space to be kept under surveillance, and in that the light guide is capable of guiding light from the light beam that is reflected by an object in the space to be kept under surveillance to a light receiver of the detector, which is optically coupled to the light guide.

Abstract: A transmitting controller is connected to a powerline and on command places a reference signal and a series of signal pulses in the powerline at a series of signal timing positions related to zero voltage crossing points so that the signals pulses are substantially in the powerline temporal quiet zone near zero crossing. The signal pulses are produced from a pair of capacitors and switches which are each sequentially charged a first polarity from the powerline and is discharged in the powerline at the opposite polarity so that the powerline voltage at the time of the pulse is additive to the pulse voltage. The receiving controller is connected to the powerline and has a filter circuit therein which filters away the powerline AC signal and noise to leave the reference and signal pulses. The signal pulses are compared to the position of starting reference pulses to determine in which signal timing position the pulses have occurred.

Abstract: An improved antenna structure for RFID tags uses a pair of bent dipole antennas having arms that extend substantially about an outer edge of an RFID substrate. The antennas can be adjusted to resonance at about a half-wavelength of an applied electromagnetic field in the conductive material of the antennas. The antennas can be shorted together using a shorting path, the position of which can be adjusted to adjust an input impedance of the antenna structure. A shorting stub can be used to couple the antenna structure to a supply voltage connection of an RFID device used for the tag. The overall length of the shorting stub can be adjusted to match the impedance of the antenna structure to the impedance of the RFID device. These antenna structures can be used with RFID devices such as CDIP devices and bumped die packages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector device and, more particularly, to a detector device comprising a self-diagnosis means for monitoring the correct performance or otherwise of the device. During testing, the device, which normally operates using the Doppler shift principle, is arranged to influence the phase and/or amplitude of the received signal in response to an applied test signal. The received signal may be a Doppler shifted version of a transmitted signal. Combining the phase and/or amplitude shifted version of the received signal and the signal from the local oscillator produces an IF signal that is indicative of the phase and/or amplitude shift. If the device is operating correctly, that signal should have a predetermined range of characteristics. If the self-diagnosis means determines that the produced signal falls outside of the predetermined range of characteristics, an alarm is raised to alert, for example, maintenance personnel to the problem.

Abstract: A device and method for monitoring whether a resident is away from home or inactive within the home. A sensor, which includes a transmitter, a processor, a timer, and a detector, watches for motion to occur within a home. Upon sensing motion, the sensor sends a first signal indicative of the motion if the timer is not currently running and waits for the motion to end. If the timer already is running, the timer is restarted at zero. Upon expiration of a predetermined timing period, the sensor transmits a second signal indicative of inactivity. By comparing the timing of the second signal and the predetermined timing period, with a third signal sent by an exterior door sensor, a determination can be made whether the resident has left the home or is inactive within the home.

Abstract: An alarm system sensor (10) monitoring movement of an object (D) and placing the system into alarm when the object moves more than a predetermined distance from a predetermined position. First and second reed switches (16, 18) are located in a predetermined orientation relative to each other and in tandem to the object. Bias magnets (24, 26) are used with the reed switches. A magnet (20) is movable with the object and produces a force simultaneously sensed by both reed switches. This force maintains both reed switches in a state keeping the alarm system in a non-alarm condition so long as the object substantially remains in its predetermined position. The object, when it moves, moves toward one of the reed switches and away from the other reed switch. Movement of the object more than the predetermined distance results in the force sensed by one of the reed switches increasing and the force sensed by the other reed switch decreasing.

Abstract: A covert activity monitoring apparatus and conditional response system having a response apparatus comprising a sensor interface and a wireless interface and one or more sensors having a predetermined conditional interrupt that can result in the response apparatus logging an activity for later download and/or transmitting an alarm condition to a remote monitoring system. In addition the remote monitoring system can initiate a locator sequence for the article incorporating the activity monitoring system.

Abstract: Disclosed is one method and one apparatus which teach improved techniques in equipping an RFID with security measure. Conventionally an RFID is employed basically to replace the usage of an infrared bar-code label thereby to supply electronic or digital signature and identification. In this sense, the traditional RFID technology is in lack of security and an RFID can be tampered with in an arbitrary manner not to cause an alert. This is no longer true if an RFID is endowed with security. In this invention an RFID, either an active or a passive device, has the ability to memorize its original spatial position so that if the position is changed without authority, an alarm signal is generated.

Abstract: A communications system in a first vehicle sends departing information indicating that the first vehicle is about to depart from a parking space along with the vehicle information of the first vehicle when a door is unlocked, a key is inserted, and an engine is started. When the sent departing information is received by a communications system in a different second vehicle that is searching a parking space, the sent vehicle information of the first vehicle is shown in a display device in the second vehicle. The vehicle information includes the number of the license plate, the vehicle kind, the vehicle color, and the vehicle class. The driver of the second vehicle can easily determine whether a nearby vehicle where an occupant is present is the first vehicle that sends the departing information.

Abstract: In a dump truck where a monitoring system prevents the raising of the cargo bed when the level of lateral tilt exceeds a safe limit, a keyed switch allows for presetting the maximum safe degree of tilt by simple left or right manipulation of the switch, and to switch the display from current level of left or right tilt to the value of the preset limit.

Abstract: Method and devices for disabling detection of a safety system activation condition. One embodiment of the invention provides a method that includes disregarding information from a first set of sensors when detection of a safety system activation condition is disabled; determining if information from a second set of sensors in available; when information from a second set of sensors is not available, generating a warning signal; when information from the second set of sensors is available, determining a value of the information from the second set of sensors; and when the value of the information from the second set of sensors indicates that a vehicle is in use, enabling detection of the safety system activation condition.