Abstract: An exhaust gas heat recovery system for an internal combustion engine has a pump for conveying an operating fluid, an evaporator for converting the operating fluid from the liquid state to the gaseous state, and a condenser for liquefaction of the operating fluid, and having an expansion engine through which the gaseous operating fluid can flow. A sensor is arranged on the expansion engine with which a function of the expansion engine can be monitored. An exhaust system may have such an exhaust gas heat recovery system, and a method for the diagnosis of such an exhaust heat recovery system.

Abstract: A system for identifying an electronic device connected to a communication network that has XCP enabled. The system includes, in one example, a communication network, a plurality of electronic devices, and a testing device. The testing device includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to send a XCP connect message via the communication network. When a first response is received in response to the first XCP connect message, the electronic processor determines that one or more of the plurality of electronic devices have XCP enabled. For each electronic device included in the plurality of electronic devices, the electronic processor is configured to send a reset command to the electronic device, resend the XCP connect message to the plurality of electronic devices, and, when a second response is not received in response to the resent XCP connect message, determine that the electronic device has XCP enabled.

Abstract: A control panel for a fire alarm control system is described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include a memory and a processor to execute instructions stored in the memory to receive a fault signal from a thermographic detector device, wherein the fault signal corresponds to a fault associated with the thermographic detector device, wherein the fault signal is associated with at least one of a field of view fault, an operating parameter fault, an internal fault, and a transmission fault, and provide a notification of the fault using the fault signal.

Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving occupancy data, identifying characteristics of the occupancy data, determining an occupant's location relative to the premises at a predetermined time, and generating a notification based at least in part on the determining.

Abstract: A system includes at least one sensor and an equipment health monitoring (EHM) unit. The at least one sensor is configured to measure one or more characteristics of an asset, where the asset includes a piece of equipment. The EHM unit includes at least one sensor interface configured to receive at least one input signal associated with the asset from the sensor(s). The EHM unit also includes at least one processing unit operable to be pre-configured to identify a specified fault in the asset using the input signals and an asset-specific model that includes a combination of standard subsystem models. The EHM unit further includes at least one output interface configured to provide an indicator identifying the fault. The standard subsystem models could include standardized fault models configured to identify faults for standard assets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling an air conditioner and method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a system for controlling an air conditioner and method for controlling the same which can make real time control for maintaining system reliability, can make real time control of air conditioners while minimizing a network load to minimize a load on a server, and can prevent transmission and reception delay of a data.

Abstract: A vibration protection and condition monitoring system with true digital signal processing based design, with very limited analog based general signal conditioning and integrated specific sensor conditioning and sensor power supply options. In addition to the support for common Eddy Current Probe Systems (employing an external Driver), the device also supports direct connection of the Eddy Current Probe to the module, due to an built-in driver and linearization functionality. The system is a distributed system where the vibration protection and at least a part of the condition monitoring is in an intrinsically safe (IS) distributed unit located on or at the rotating machinery, even in hazardous areas.

Abstract: An RF tag system includes a first reader/writer unit and a second reader/writer unit. A first reader/writer control unit is configured to control the first reader/writer unit to read a first data from a first RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the first reader/writer unit. A second reader/writer control unit is configured to control the second reader/writer unit to read a second data from a second RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the second reader/writer unit. A monitoring section is configured to issue a selection instruction and to monitor the first reader/writer unit through the first reader/writer control unit, and the second reader/writer unit through the second reader/writer control unit. A switching section is configured to select one of the first reader/writer control unit and the second reader/writer control unit in response to the selection instruction from the monitoring section.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems to disconnect utility service based on seismic activity. One aspect comprises a method. One embodiment of a method of disconnecting a utility service based on seismic activity comprises receiving, from a measurement device, an output signal. A level of seismic activity can be determined based on the output signal. If the determined level of seismic activity meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold level of seismic activity, then a disconnect signal is sent to disconnect a utility service from a facility.

Abstract: A network communication system (2) for two-way communication comprises: —at least one group of network devices (11); —at least one command device (20) capable of issuing at least one command signal (SC); 5—coordinating means (40) provided with a network definition memory (41) and with a device status memory (42). A network device, in response to receiving a command signal (SC), sends an acknowledgement signal (SA) to the command device. The coordinating means, in response to receiving a command signal for a 10 network device, watches for the corresponding acknowledgement signal from that network device and, in case of that network device failing to timely send the acknowledgement signal, amends in said device status memory (42) the status information (M(i)) relating to said network device. The coordinating means automatically removes a potentially defective 15 network device from the network definition memory (41) on entry of a network amendment mode.

Abstract: When an electronic control unit receives a rewriting request of vehicle identification information, the electronic control unit writes state information indicating a rewriting state in a memory and rewrites the vehicle identification information into new vehicle identification information. The electronic control unit sends an erasing order to a peripheral electronic unit for erasing failure information stored in the peripheral electronic unit and determines whether the peripheral electronic control unit sends an erasing completion signal indicating that the erasing of the failure information is completed. The electronic control unit erases the state information indicating the rewriting state when the rewriting of the vehicle identification information is completed and the peripheral electronic control unit sends the erasing completion signal.

Abstract: The present invention allows an alarm monitoring to use satellite broadband services as a data link for communication between an alarms system and a monitoring station, middleware provider, individual user, or other alarm monitor. Standard alarm system protocols are modified to make the communication protocol compatible with the features of satellite broadband. These modifications compensate for the time delay in data transmission inherent in satellite communications, as well as other limitations of satellite communications. In particular, the “handshake” tone, instead of “1400 hz for 100 ms, silence for 100 ms, 2300 hz for 100 ms”, is changed to “DTMF ‘A’ for at least 100 milliseconds”. In a preferred embodiment the receiver transmits the DTMF A tone for 250 milliseconds. In addition, the delay for “wait for the Acknowledge tone” is extended from 1.25 seconds, to 5 seconds. The “acknowledge” tone, instead of “1400 hz for 400 ms”, is changed to “DTMF ‘D’ for at least 100 milliseconds”.

Abstract: A vibration protection and condition monitoring system with true digital signal processing based design, with very limited analog based general signal conditioning and integrated specific sensor conditioning and sensor power supply options. In addition to the support for common Eddy Current Probe Systems (employing an external Driver), the device also supports direct connection of the Eddy Current Probe to the module, due to an built-in driver and linearization functionality. The system is a distributed system where the vibration protection and at least a part of the condition monitoring is in an intrinsically safe (IS) distributed unit located on or at the rotating machinery, even in hazardous areas.

Abstract: A resistive radio frequency (RF) signal power limiter is for connection between an antenna and a receiver circuit in an RF receiver system. The receiver circuit may include a low noise amplifier (LNA). The resistive RF signal power limiter may include at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor connected in series, and at least one negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor connected in shunt between the at least one PTC thermistor and a reference voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device, comprising a first, microprocessor-controlled control unit and a second control unit, for multichannel controlling of a safety-related unit. The first microprocessor-controlled control unit has a signal generation unit for generating a first monitoring signal that indicates the current operating state of the first control unit. In addition, a switching unit drivable by the first and second control unit that can turn on the safety-related unit or run it into a secured state is provided. The second control unit has a monoflop that, in response to the monitoring signal, drives the switching unit in such a manner that the safety-related unit can be driven into a safe state in case of faulty operation of the first control unit. A device is associated with the first control unit for generating an enable signal for the second control unit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided which facilitate the resolution of recording conflicts of a digital video recorder (DVR). A DVR identifies a recording conflict between a first recording timer associated with a first television program and a second recording timer associated with a second television program. A communication is initiated to a communication device associated with a user of the digital video recorder to inform the user of the recording conflict. Responsive to the communication, the user provides information to the DVR via the communication device requesting to resolve the recording conflict. The DVR utilizes the provided information to modify one or more of the conflicted recording timers to resolve the conflict.

Abstract: An RF tag system includes a first reader/writer unit and a second reader/writer unit. A first reader/writer control unit is configured to control the first reader/writer unit to read a first data from a first RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the first reader/writer unit. A second reader/writer control unit is configured to control the second reader/writer unit to read a second data from a second RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the second reader/writer unit. A monitoring section is configured to issue a selection instruction and to monitor the first reader/writer unit through the first reader/writer control unit, and the second reader/writer unit through the second reader/writer control unit. A switching section is configured to select one of the first reader/writer control unit and the second reader/writer control unit in response to the selection instruction from the monitoring section.

Abstract: A method for wear-minimized operation of a component of an installation and a corresponding installation are disclosed. A sensor for state identification is associated with the component and transmits a sensor signal to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit checks the sensor signal to ascertain whether a wear-promoting operating state is present, and in the event of the presence of such an operating state the component is driven such that a change in the operating state in favor of an operating state with less wear takes place. If, for example, a component is operated at its resonant frequency, it is ensured that the component is operated at a slightly different rotation speed, at which far less severe oscillations occur.

Abstract: A movable barrier that is at least partially counterbalanced by a spring is moved from a first position to a second position while substantially simultaneously monitoring at least one characteristic associated with moving the movable barrier to provide at least one monitored characteristic. The at least one monitored characteristic is compared to a predetermined criterion. When the at least one monitored characteristic does not meet the predetermined criterion, an alarm condition is set to indicate a failure of the spring.

Abstract: A method for switching between operating modes of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of control units, in particular a switchover between full-engine operation and half-engine operation, the control units being able to exchange data via a data link. The method includes a step in which it is checked whether an operating mode switchover should occur and that, if an operating mode switchover should occur, the data link between the control units is tested and/or the operating state of the control units is balanced.

Abstract: The invention achieves secure data transmission in a communications system (1) employed to control safety-relevant processes, through the provision of cooperating evaluators (212, 222) arranged in a shared manner in communications stations (21, 22) in order to evaluate safety-oriented data in a simple and cost-effective way. Accordingly, the invention provides a method in which a data report is transmitted from a first station (21), by means of a communications system (1) designed for serial data transmission, to a second station and said data report is checked by means of a second evaluator (222) arranged in the second station (22). Depending on the results of the check of the data report, an acknowledgement report is transmitted from the second station (22) to the first station (21), which [acknowledgement report] likewise is checked by the evaluator (212) arranged in the first station (21). Furthermore, the invention provides for a system to carry out the method.

Abstract: An RF tag system includes a first reader/writer unit and a second reader/writer unit. A first reader/writer control unit is configured to control the first reader/writer unit to read a first data from a first RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the first reader/writer unit. A second reader/writer control unit is configured to control the second reader/writer unit to read a second data from a second RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the second reader/writer unit. A monitoring section is configured to issue a selection instruction and to monitor the first reader/writer unit through the first reader/writer control unit, and the second reader/writer unit through the second reader/writer control unit. A switching section is configured to select one of the first reader/writer control unit and the second reader/writer control unit in response to the selection instruction from the monitoring section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device control system that can automatically switch the control units to eliminate the stop time of a device, and increase the utilization efficiency of the device. If the first control unit detects that the control of an RF tag reader-writer is incomplete from the activity ratio of a control part by supervising the RF tag reader-writer and supervising the periodical communication with the RF tag reader-writer, the control unit confirms whether or not there are one or more notifiable control units by referring to a control unit list. If the first control unit is notifiable to the second control unit, the first control unit notifies the information of the RF tag reader-writer to the second control unit. The second control unit returns a controllable code to the first control unit if the RF tag reader-writer is controllable by referring to the information of the RF tag reader-writer from a device information list.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a system for safety to personnel or other systems is disclosed comprising: identifying at least one operating parameter of a first subcomponent of said product; identifying an inherent hazard of said first subcomponents based on an analysis of the at least one operating parameter; identifying features of the structure or operation of the subcomponent corresponding to the inherent hazard; identifying modifications or controls for the identified features which would mitigate the inherent hazard; prioritizing the identified features with respect to the effect that each of said features has on safety of the product; and determining whether an unsafe condition could result from the inherent hazard.

Abstract: A gate comparator control panel, in accordance with the subject invention, allows a user to define up to four different gate regions that may exist on any of the live waveforms, maths waveforms, or REF waveforms. A menu for each gate controls the position of each gate and selects the source for the signal that is to be gated. All gates must be the same width. A high level application copies the gated region of a waveform into a REF memory. For example, Gate 1 would go into REF 1, gate 2 into REF2 and so on. A user-settable tolerance value is used to determine if difference between the waveforms of the gates reaches a point at which a violation is indicated. A master gate position control causes all gates to move by the same amount, thus maintaining a constant distance between them. A master gate width control causes all gates to change width.

Abstract: In a security system that has a large number of individually-addressable modules interconnected on a data bus to a control panel, a method of concurrently supervising the modules by first configuring each module with a unique zone number including a group number and a module number. During operation, the control panel initiates a group supervision poll sequence for each group number by transmitting a group poll command including a group number data field populated by the group number currently being polled. If a module is part of the group being polled, then it sets a discrete bit appended to a group poll response message that logically corresponds to the module number for that module. The control panel then determines if any bit in the group poll response message has not been set, and then issues a unit poll sequence addressed to a module that corresponds to any such bit not determined to have been set in the group poll response message.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a redundant safety system for use with vehicles. The redundant safety system of the invention includes at least two sensors, and signals from the sensors are processed to calculate values for operating configuration parameters of the vehicles. If the calculated operating configuration parameter values deviate from each other or from stored predetermined safe values an error message is generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cyclical communication between communications stations (1, 2, 3) which are provided for controlling or surveying a technical process (50), through a bus (4). According to the invention, communications relations (12, 13, 21, 31) which are provided for the communication stations (1, 2, 3) are executed during each bus cycle of predetermined duration (&Dgr;t) and if a communications relation is disturbed, its repetition (21W) is scheduled for a succeeding bus cycle and the disturbed communications relation is acknowledged with a special acknowledgement code.

Abstract: When an operation is performed to set a subcontroller in remote-control enable mode, the subcontroller first checks the operation mode of a main controller, then setting itself in the remote-control enable mode if the main controller is in the remote-control enable mode, or maintaining itself in remote-control disable mode if the main controller is in the remote-control disable mode.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system includes a center main system (209) installed in a sales office and a substitute center system (208). The monitoring and control system further includes a different substation terminal interconnection function that, in the case where there occurs an abnormality to a communication channel provided for each substation terminal and connects the substation terminal to the center main system (or the substitute center system), instructs a different substation terminal to perform the interconnection and communication with the center main system (or the substitute center system) instead of the substation terminal. With this construction, through the different substation terminal that received the instruction, the center main system monitors and controls a switch to be monitored by the substation terminal connected to the communication channel to which the abnormality occurs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus encompasses a technique for routing an information packet through a satellite communications system 20 from a source satellite 38 to a destination satellite 40. A path through the system 20 is chosen for the packet and an identifier identifying the path is appended to the packet. In addition, an identifier identifying the destination satellite 40 is appended to the packet. Satellites in the system 20 then use the identifiers in the packet to route the packet to the destination satellite 40. If the chosen path is not available, an alternate path can be taken by the packet. In one embodiment of the present invention, a centralized controller 36 is provided for controlling the routing of packets throughout the entire system 20.