Abstract: A fire pit includes an engine having at least one wall defining an inner chamber. At least one primary air aperture is defined through the inner chamber wall at a first, lower level, and at least one secondary air aperture is defined through the inner chamber wall at a second, upper level. A fuel grate is supported within the inner chamber at a level between the lower level and the upper level.

Abstract: A tire monitoring system including a monitoring module for mounting on a wheel. The monitoring module having a transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user, a pneumatic sensor receiver communicatively coupled with the transmitter, a temperature sensor communicatively coupled with the transmitter, and a vibration sensor communicatively coupled with the transmitter.

Abstract: Mobile ad hoc Network (MANET) includes a first node of a plurality of nodes which self-assigns a role as a part of a network-spanning backbone upon a determination by the first node that one or more criteria have been satisfied. The first node uses the network-spanning backbone to facilitate a first-tier control plane communication service within the MANET. The first node also communicates within the MANET using a second-tier control plane communication service separate from the first-tier control plane communication service. The second-tier control plane communication service is used by the first node when communicating exclusively with neighbor nodes that are a 1-hop distance from the first node.

Abstract: On-demand allocation of communication capacity in a Mobile ad hoc Network (MANET) involves initiating in a first node of the MANET, a request for network communication capacity. The request is initiated by wirelessly transmitting an access request in a first epoch, during an access request time slot of a TDMA waveform. The access request is directed to one-hop neighbor nodes with which the first node can communicate directly. The first node determines whether the access request has been granted based on one or more responses received from the one-hop neighbor nodes. These responses include an indication by each of the one-hop neighbor nodes regarding their availability to accommodate the access request. The first node subsequently uses network communication capacity granted to it for communicating data.

Abstract: Mobile ad hoc Network (MANET) includes a first node of a plurality of nodes which self-assigns a role as a part of a network-spanning backbone upon a determination by the first node that one or more criteria have been satisfied. The first node uses the network-spanning backbone to facilitate a first-tier control plane communication service within the MANET. The first node also communicates within the MANET using a second-tier control plane communication service separate from the first-tier control plane communication service. The second-tier control plane communication service is used by the first node when communicating exclusively with neighbor nodes that are a 1-hop distance from the first node.

Abstract: A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) includes a first MANET node having a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a first controller coupled thereto to generate RF transmissions. A second MANET node has a second RF transceiver configured to communicate with the first RF transceiver, and a second controller coupled to the second RF transceiver. The second controller is configured to cooperate with the second RF transceiver to receive the RF transmissions from the first MANET node, generate a normalized reception value based upon the received RF transmissions and send the normalized reception value to the first MANET node. The first controller is configured to control a transmit power level for a subsequent RF transmission based upon the normalized reception value from the second MANET node.

Abstract: On-demand allocation of communication capacity in a Mobile ad hoc Network (MANET) involves initiating in a first node of the MANET, a request for network communication capacity. The request is initiated by wirelessly transmitting an access request in a first epoch, during an access request time slot of a TDMA waveform. The access request is directed to one-hop neighbor nodes with which the first node can communicate directly. The first node determines whether the access request has been granted based on one or more responses received from the one-hop neighbor nodes. These responses include an indication by each of the one-hop neighbor nodes regarding their availability to accommodate the access request. The first node subsequently uses network communication capacity granted to it for communicating data.

Abstract: A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) includes a first MANET node having a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver and a first controller coupled thereto to generate RF transmissions. A second MANET node has a second RF transceiver configured to communicate with the first RF transceiver, and a second controller coupled to the second RF transceiver. The second controller is configured to cooperate with the second RF transceiver to receive the RF transmissions from the first MANET node, generate a normalized reception value based upon the received RF transmissions and send the normalized reception value to the first MANET node. The first controller is configured to control a transmit power level for a subsequent RF transmission based upon the normalized reception value from the second MANET node.

Abstract: A cellular telephone or any other handheld electronic device or computer or laptop equipped with a display and at least one key that can be a hard key, soft key, menu command, icon or voice activated command, where the key controls the display so that upon activation of that key, the display turns either partially or totally into a mirror while the device remains operational. A second key can optionally control the degree of fade between data display and mirror so that optionally data can appear superimposed either totally or partially on the mirror. The display can also contain a banner above or below the mirror (or anywhere) where caller ID, SMS messages or any other message can be displayed. Optionally, these messages can be overlaid on the display when a partial mirror (a mode where data and mirror functions merge together).

Abstract: A system is provided for the detection of items found in the operating room and/or more specifically left on or within the body cavity. Such items could include, but are not limited to, laparotomy sponges, disposables, operating room towels or surgical instruments. The items are conjoined with a form of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tag that may be either adhered or woven to the item or incorporated within the item during the manufacturing process. The system includes a multi-channel electromagnetic device, which may be a hand-held device, that when placed within proximity of the tagged item will sound an alarm. The device has a second electromagnetic mode of operation for the detection of metallic instruments. If the device is within the proximity of surgical metallic objects within the body cavity or waste bags the alarm will sound.

Abstract: A display device that can be mounted to a surface, such as a window, using static attraction. The display device has an illumination assembly circuit including a light source (such as an LED), a power supply (such as a battery) and a switch interposed therebetween. The illumination assembly is either attached to or enclosed within a mounting film, such as a flexible polymer that is electrostatically attracted to a surface. A preferred device has indicia printed on it to display, and with which the LEDs cooperate.

Abstract: A display device that can be mounted to a surface, such as a window, using static attraction. The display device has an illumination assembly circuit including a light source (such as an LED), a power supply (such as a battery) and a switch interposed therebetween. The illumination assembly is either attached to or enclosed within a mounting film, such as a flexible polymer that is electrostatically attracted to a surface. A preferred device has indicia printed on it to display, and with which the LEDs cooperate.