Abstract: A vehicle environmental compliance system includes: an onboard diagnostic (“OBD”) tool configured to obtain OBD data from a vehicle's onboard diagnostics; an application for storage on a mobile computing device in communication with the OBD tool, the application configured to process the OBD data to form processed OBD data; a compliance center or server for receiving the process the OBD data from the application, the compliance center or server configured to further process the processed OBD data to form further processed OBD data; and wherein one of the processed OBD data or the further processed OBD data includes a result of OBD data subjected to a compliance evaluation routine, and wherein the system maintains a triggering algorithm that determines when the compliance evaluation routine is performed.

Abstract: A workflow evaluation system includes (i) a camera located at a facility, the camera positioned to record video data of multiple instances of a procedure involving an action performed on a workpiece, the action involving a physical movement; (ii) a database storing at least one workflow rule concerning the procedure, at least one of the workflow rules involving the physical movement of the action performed on the workpiece; and (iii) a procedure monitoring processor communicatively coupled to the database and configured to access the at least one workflow rule involving the physical movement of the action performed on the workpiece, compare corresponding physical movement information obtained from the video data of one of the multiple instances of the procedure to the accessed at least one workflow rule, and send a non-satisfy message if the compared corresponding physical movement information does not satisfy the accessed at least one workflow rule.

Abstract: An evaporative gas analysis system and method for detecting and measuring levels of hydrocarbons emitted from gasoline motor vehicles while stationary with the engine off includes a monochromatic source for producing and transmitting a beam of visible radiation through a portion of hydrocarbon gas surrounding the motor vehicle thereby causing the gas surrounding the vehicle to emit chromatic radiation based on the gas present. A receiver is positioned to receive the emitted chromatic radiation. The receiver including a plurality of chromatic sensors, each generating an electrical signal indicative of transmission of hydrocarbon gas surrounding the vehicle. A control is responsive to the chromatic sensors for computing the relative concentration of hydrocarbon gas surrounding the vehicle from the electrical signals.

Abstract: A vehicle emission compliance or operational diagnostic data retrieval system and method for use with a vehicle equipped with an onboard diagnostic system, according to an aspect of the invention, includes a remote data collection system that is adapted to read and store vehicle emission data from the onboard diagnostic system and is programmed to determine whether the remote data collection system has a connection with a central server and to transmitting the read vehicle emission data with the remote data collection system if it is determined that the remote data collection system has a connection with the central server. The remote data collection system is further adapted to hold the read vehicle emission data at the remote data collection system if it is determined that the remote data collection system does not have a connection with the central server.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a chemical using SERS includes shifting the absorption wavelength signature of the precursor chemical toward a higher wavelength. SERS is performed on the wavelength shifted chemical in order to determine the concentration of the precursor chemical.

Abstract: A method of verifying regulatory compliance of a vehicle having a vehicle diagnostic system includes providing a vehicle unit having an adapter that is configured to connect with a vehicle diagnostic port of the vehicle diagnostic system. The vehicle unit further includes a vehicle wireless transceiver and a memory. The adapter is connected with the vehicle diagnostic port and receives vehicle data including exhaust emission parameters. The vehicle data is stored in the memory. A communication network is provided for two-way wireless communication with the vehicle unit. The communication network is made up of a plurality of geographically dispersed wireless communication transceivers.

Abstract: A method to monitor a vehicle inspection workflow, includes (i) identifying an inspector in a vehicle inspection area, (ii) determining an inspection procedure being performed by the inspector, the inspection procedure being at least a portion of a vehicle inspection, (iii) determining a workflow rule that corresponds to the inspection procedure, the workflow rule including at least one workflow limit, (iv) generating workflow data by monitoring the inspector within the inspection area, the workflow data being determined from recorded video data, (v) determining whether the inspector violated the workflow rule by comparing the workflow data to the at least one workflow limit of the workflow rule, and (vi) indicating that the inspector did not adequately perform the inspection procedure if it is determined that the inspector violated the workflow rule.

Abstract: A medicine dispenser and method of reminding a user to take medicine includes providing a device having a housing defining a plurality of compartment openings, each adapted to hold at least one medicine item and a plurality of covers. Each of the covers selectively closes one of the compartment openings to restrain access to the content of that compartment and provide access to the content of the respective compartment when opened. The device further includes a safety latch having first and second positions, wherein the safety latch inhibits opening of any of the covers when in its first position and allows opening of any of the covers when in its second position. When a user is reminded to take a medication, the position of the safety latch is monitored for an indication that the safety latch is moved from its first position to its second position. The user continues to receive the reminder until such indication is given.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system and method of communicating data from a vehicle, such as for inspecting or diagnosing a vehicle, includes providing a plurality of vehicle units each including a vehicle wireless communication transceiver and a memory. Data, such as vehicle data from a vehicle diagnostic system, is stored in the memory. A communication system is provided for two-way wireless communication with the vehicle units. The communication system is made up of one or more mobile wireless communication transceivers. Vehicle data is communicated from the memory to one of the mobile wireless communication transceivers that is in the vicinity of that vehicle unit. The transporting of the mobile wireless communication transceiver increases interaction between the communication system and the vehicle units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting abnormal behaviour in a vehicle (8) with an engine having engine control module includes providing a database (20), and a vehicle analyzer (12) having a communication device (16) and an interface (14) that links the communication device (16) to a vehicle (8). Engine parameters that are retrieved through the interface (14) during driving experience are uploaded to the database (20) using the communication device (16). The database (20) analyzes the engine parameters from multiple driving experiences to establish historical data and determine normal operation of particular retrieved engine parameters based on the historical data. A vehicle (8) can be diagnosed by comparing its retrieved engine parameters with the database (20).

Abstract: A vehicle inspection, diagnosing and maintenance system and method of inspecting, diagnosing and maintaining a vehicle includes providing a vehicle unit and a communications network. The vehicle unit receives vehicle data, such as exhaust emission data, and includes a wireless communication transceiver and a control for controlling the wireless communication transceiver. The control includes memory for storing vehicle data from the vehicle diagnostic system. A communication network provides wireless communication with the vehicle unit. The communication network is made up of a plurality of geographically dispersed generally stationary wireless communication transceivers. The vehicle unit communicates the exhaust emission data in its memory to a stationary transceiver in the vicinity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring vehicle exhaust emission includes sampling vehicle exhaust and a dilute mixture of vehicle exhaust and ambient air. A first analyzer measures concentrations of gas components of undiluted vehicle exhaust. A second analyzer measures concentration of at least one exhaust gas component present in the dilute mixture gas component. The at least one dilute mixture gas component is a particular exhaust gas component measured by the first analyzer which is also present in ambient air in substantial quantity. Flow rate of the dilute mixture, the concentration of the at least one dilute mixture gas component and undiluted gas concentration are analyzed by a microprocessor to produce mass emissions of the vehicle exhaust gas components.

Abstract: The combination of ambient air, exhaust and premeasured calibration gases is used according to this invention in the analysis of either low or high pollutant concentration gases measured by a single range analyzer. By using ambient air as a diluent and employing its concentration values to generate the Reference Dilution Ratio, DR.sub.ref, iterative calculations are made to find the Raw Sample Concentration value, C.sub.raw. The gas diluting/mixing system includes pressure balanced infeed plumbing legs. Each of the legs feeds to respective flow restrictors and a common, downstream mixing "T" fitting. One leg is interconnected to the high concentration emission gas output from the sampling system and high concentration calibration gas. The other leg is interconnected to the diluent gas source, ambient air.