Abstract: In various example embodiments, a bio cell system is described comprising one or more bio cell units, each comprising a primary tank and one or more secondary tanks, which tanks each comprise side walls, a floor connected to the side walls, and a removable cover. The cover of the tank comprises a lighting system comprising variable output lights and a controller connected to the lighting system comprising code for varying a time period of light output of the lights of the secondary tanks to be out of phase with a time period of light output of the lights of the primary tank.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a graduated filtering assembly is disclosed. The graduated filtering assembly comprises a filter module that is inserted into a receiving duct. A series of filters of graduating sizes are contained inside the filter module. Each of the filters are inside filter trays which allow them to be removed and replaced when needed. The filtering assembly filters either liquid or gas fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are low data rate electronic devices capable of wireless communication at ranges of thousands of meters. These devices may be such things as keypads, door latches, occupancy monitors, sprinkler controllers and others in a campus or a collection of buildings. Devices may measure the quality of a communications link on a channel, and apply varying levels of redundancy based upon a recent history of success and failure of packet transmission to other distant devices, which measurement may be a value of badness increased as errors are encountered and decreased as packet communication is successful. Devices may include an exterior indicator as to the present latency in communication, permitting an expectation of how patient a user should be before finding an error has occurred. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: An air filter housing for is disclosed. The air filter housing is created by a base filter section and a top filter section. The top filter section is a hood of a vehicle. This allows the filter to be changed and inspected by simply lifting up the vehicle hood. Air channels are formed in a bottom portion of a two-layer hood allowing air to be delivered to the air intake of a combustion engine. The hood interfaces with the base filter housing section and seals the filter by pressure created by the hood.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) test apparatus and testing method are described. The PCB test apparatus includes a motor connected to a gearbox that includes a gear that is directly connected to an output shaft. The test apparatus includes two printed circuit board connections for testing an electric-component connector that includes two circuit boards. One connection port includes a plurality of contact pins for attaching one of the PCBs while the other connector port is part of a position encoder that includes a diametrically magnetized magnet that tests the other PCB's ability to detect changes in magnetic fields. The apparatus is configured such that both PCBs of the electric-component connector are tested in tandem.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering goods to recipients is disclosed. The method and system include a remote input receptor which includes a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs from a user. A cloud-based network stores one or more acceptable inputs and comprising a network device for obtaining said one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor. The network device obtains the one or more user inputs from the remote input receptor while the user is using the user interface. Also, the cloud-based network compares the one or more user inputs to the one or more acceptable inputs, with the acceptable inputs at least partially derived from dynamically changing environmental parameters. A remote device is controlled based on the comparison of the one or more user inputs to the one or more acceptable inputs and generating an access code to enable access to an enclosure, with the user inputs comprising the access code.

Abstract: The invention is an intelligent headrail for a window covering which includes an extensible end cap which applies force to the adjacent window or door frame to hold the headrail in place. The end cap includes a pressure sensor or a force sensing resistor to detect whether sufficient force is present to safely hold the headrail in place. The headrail may include a controller which is connected to the pressure sensor or a force sensing resistor. The controller may include program code which identifies the safety status of the window covering based on the pressure or force reading. The controller may include a data transmission port which transmits pressure or force readings to an output device. The program code may also send a report to the output device to indicate whether the force or pressure is moderately low or so low that the window covering is in danger of falling.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system and method for determining a gross combined weight of a vehicle and its load is disclosed. A method includes: providing predetermined calibration settings relating force to engine speed for a specific vehicle travelling in a reverse direction, altering accelerometer data based on filtered vehicle pitch and roll data, determining that one or more vehicle performance parameters fall within a threshold range, storing a plurality of data pairs that include longitudinal acceleration and drive force, and determining a slope of a line that linearly approximates the plurality of data pairs, the slope indicating a total weight, the total weight comprising a weight of the vehicle and a weight being hauled by the vehicle; and transmitting the total weight to a remote system for display.

Abstract: An apparatus is described herein that may generally include an air pump, a rotatable drum, a flexible hose, and first and second housings. The drum may draw in and let out the flexible hose. The pump may be connected to the flexible hose. The first housing may enclose in inner portion of the drum, and may include a first air intake. The pump may be disposed within the first housing. The second housing may surround the drum and may include a second air intake. The flexible hose may pass through the second air intake. The first intake may be aligned perpendicular to the second air intake. Alternatively, the first intake may be aligned parallel to the second air intake on a side of the drum opposite the second air intake. Sound emitted from the pump may pass over, and be absorbed by, the flexible hose within the second housing.

Abstract: A customizable glass wall system is disclosed. The system comprises at least two glazed, transparent panes mounted to a frame, which is preferably less than five inches thick. The frame includes a removable headboard whereon multiple rollers are mounted. A film is attached to each of the rollers. The films can be selectively extended and retracted behind the transparent panes in the glass wall system by means of the rollers. Each of the films can be controlled individually by a motor driving each of the rollers. The films can be arranged in any combination to perform various functions, but most importantly, to allow various amounts and types of light to pass through the window system in order to control the thermal insulation of the glass wall system. The system can be automated based on time, amount of sunlight, weather, temperature, and user preference.

Abstract: The invention is an elevator. The elevator is driven by a rack and a chain. The elevator also comprises a transportable frame, a floor, and an elevator shaft. The purpose of the invention is, by using a rack and chain lifting device to drive the elevator, to allow the elevator to be driven from the bottom. Driving the elevator from the bottom makes the structural integrity of the elevator box unnecessary, so that the elevator box can be replaced with an elevator box façade and a fabric door, making the elevator lighter and more economical. In addition, the design of the elevator allows for adjacent doors, battery power, and voice control.

Abstract: A vehicle is described herein that includes a unibody vehicle frame, a vehicle body panel, and one or more monolithic tripartite support mechanisms, which mechanisms provide structural support for at least three frame-mounted vehicle components. Each support mechanism includes a windshield support arm, a side view mirror support arm, and a body panel fixing plate. The side view mirror support arm extends from the windshield support, and the body panel fixing plate extends from the windshield support arm, the side-view mirror support arm, or both. Additionally, the windshield support arm holds a windshield to the vehicle, the side view mirror support arm holds a side view mirror to the vehicle, and the fixing plate secures the body panel to the frame.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bridging apparatus. The apparatus may be used to span the gap between a vertically movable storage container and a stationary floor structure when a landing of the storage container is planar to a landing of the stationary floor structure. In this invention, the bridging apparatus comprises a bracket, an overlay plate, a hinge comprising a rod, glides, and a switch, which interact with each other and with the vertically movable storage container and the stationary floor structure. As the storage container ascends, the glide of the overlay plate slides angularly contacts a vertical wall of the stationary floor structure and glides along the wall. When the storage container landing is planar with the stationary floor structure landing, the overlay plate rotates downward to a 90-degree angle, resting in a recess in the stationary floor structure landing, engaging the switch to terminate power to the vertically movable storage container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wireless devices operable at intermediate wireless at ranges of thousands of meters, utilizing packets that include a preamble and a data payload. Devices may be such things as keypads, door latches, occupancy monitors, sprinkler controllers and other devices needing a communications link. Devices include an intermediate-range transceiver and a separate deployment wireless interface accessible from a mobile device such as a cellular telephone or portable tablet. Devices can be registered in a database and deployed for use by means of an application running on the mobile device. A scannable label bearing a code can be affixed to a wireless device providing a means of tracking, identifying and verifying a device through the deployment process. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A winch is described comprising a rotatable drum for winding and unwinding a first cable therefrom. The winch contains a cable-wiping apparatus with one or more actuators are activated when the drum rotates in a direction for winding the first cable onto the drum. A mechanical force may be transmitted from the actuator to a second cable that is operatively connected to a wiper clamp. The wiper clamp compresses around the first cable when the cable is pulled in.

Abstract: An automated sliding window mechanism is disclosed. An automated sliding window mechanism includes a motor attached to a first component of a sliding window and configured to open and close the sliding window, a controller that controls the motor, and at least two air pressure sensors in communication with a processor. If the window is open, based on signals from the air pressure sensors, the processor determines whether a draft is flowing through the window. If the window is closed, based on signals from the air pressure sensor, the processor determines whether a draft would flow through the window if opened. The processor sends a signal to the controller to either open or close the window, depending on whether a user has elected to have a draft flow through the window. In a preferred embodiment, a system is provided with at least two automated windows.

Abstract: The invention is a modular building component with rod-based dimensions. The modular building component comprises a prismatic box structure. A number of the prismatic box structures are placed side by side horizontally to create a ceiling and a floor with rod-based dimensions. The ceiling and the floor function as components of a building with rod-based dimensions. The building may also have walls that are also prismatic box structures with rod-based dimensions. Two or more of the buildings can be placed side by side to fill equal portions of an entire width of a perfect-acre lot. The buildings that fill an entire perfect-acre lot lead to a sustainable community design, given that no space is wasted. The rod-based building components are properly dimensioned for quickly assembling these optimally sustainable buildings.

Abstract: An automated sliding panel mechanism is disclosed. An automated sliding panel mechanism including a motor is configured to move a sliding window between a closed position and an open position, and includes a power source providing power to the motor, a rack consisting of rack teeth wherein a portion of the surface of the rack teeth are generally perpendicular to a plane, and a gear rotated by the motor and consisting of gear teeth, wherein the gear teeth are shaped to mesh with the rack teeth.

Abstract: A system and a method for a swivel winch are described for rotating a winch about an axis such that friction is reduced when letting out or pulling in a line. The swivel winch includes a fairlead with an orifice and sensors which sense the pressure from the cable and send the retrieved data to a controller which generates commands for an actuator, causing the swivel mount coupled to the winch to swivel in a direction that will relieve pressure.

Abstract: A method of charging a light bulb is disclosed. A processor within the light bulb detects a state-of-charge of the battery and if it is below a predetermined dynamic battery state-of-charge threshold then the transceiver sends a wireless signal from the light bulb to a remote light switch with instructions to supply power to the light bulb. The predetermined dynamic battery state-of-charge threshold may be determined based on historical light use data during an on-peak energy time period. The predetermined dynamic threshold allows a battery in the light bulb to supply energy to the light bulb during on-peak hours and recharge during off-peak hours.