Abstract: An apparatus for producing aerial images is disclosed employing a combination of plastic spherical mirrors, beamsplitter polarizing filters, and light sources. An object to be displayed is illuminated, and its image is partially reflected by the beamsplitter to a focusing mirror and reflected to an aerial position. A polarizer prevents ambient lights or images from degrading or interfering with the aerial images. A clock radio, a personal television display counter, as well as animated mannequin versions are disclosed.

Abstract: An aerial display system comprising inexpensive optical elements and a highly brightened LCD display or similar video image display types provides floating images in an expensive enclosure. In the aerial display system, either an anti-reflective acrylic plastic layer or a circular polarizer is disposed proximate and parallel to a beam splitter so that the focal point of the floating image is proximate to the plastic layer or polarizer. This image position yields both a wider filed of view and wider perceived field of view. The aerial projection system includes a plastic spherical mirror of low cost, which includes a plastic part of at least the following descriptions: mirror surface supported by wall structures of sufficient sphericity, of a plastic material formulation, having excellent optical grade finish, a reflective metal coating, and a protective overcoat.

Abstract: In one aspect, a phone-interface device determines whether a problem has occurred at a control panel by determining whether a signal from the control panel has been received, and when a signal has not been received within a period of time, the phone-interface device transmits an error message to a monitoring station. In another aspect, the control panel determines whether a problem has occurred at the phone-interface device by determining whether a signal from the phone-interface device has been received, and when a signal has not been received within a period of time, the control panel transmits an error message to a user. In another aspect, the phone-interface device contains memory to buffer data transferred between the control panel and a monitoring station. In this way, a high-speed connection between the phone-interface and the monitoring station can be accommodated while using a lower-speed connection between the phone-interface device and the control panel.

Abstract: A aerial display system comprising inexpensive optical elements and a high brighted LCD display or similar video image display types provides floating images in an inexpensive enclosure. In the aerial display system, either an anti-reflective acrylic plastic layer or a circular polarizer is disposed proximate and parallel to a beam splitter so that the focal point of the floating image is proximate to the plastic layer or polarizer. This image position yields both a wider field of view and wider perceived field of view.

Abstract: A phone-interface device receives a wireless signal from a control panel. The wireless signal encodes information regarding a system condition that has occurred in a facility. The phone-interface device communicates the system condition to a monitoring station. The phone-interface device receives its electrical power from the telephone line or from an energy storage device. In another aspect, the phone-interface device receives a provisional-alarm signal command from a control panel. The phone-interface device determines whether a disarm command has been received from the control panel. When a disarm command has not been received before expiration of a period of time, the phone-interface devices sends an alarm condition to a monitoring station.

Abstract: A system and method for selling and/or dispensing consumer products from a vending or transactional-based machine is disclosed. The vending or transactional-based machine comprises an aerial display device that displays an aerial image designed to attract the attention of potential consumers and sell advertising, special promotions or certain products. Once a consumer begins to interact with the vending machine, demographic data is collected or correlated with the product purchased or dispensed. The consumer can initiate and conclude a purchase by merely pointing at the desired product. A mechanism is provided that accepts payment by currency, credit card or electronically.

Abstract: The Invention presents a system and method of combining a medical device, a medical testing procedure, in a combination of hardware and software that provide motivation and digital rewards through a hand held video game controller or other hand held computing device.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for simplifying the interpretation of suspend and wake-up functions in an operating system for information appliance is disclosed. An input device integrates the suspend and wake-up functions into the same key, and a communication signal receiver accepts the signal from the input device.

Abstract: A PIR sensor apparatus and method make use of a dc amplifier circuit. The dc amplifier circuit amplifies a dc-coupled sensor signal generated by a PIR sensor for analysis. For improved accuracy, the dc amplifier circuit is controlled to compensate for dc offset in the sensor signal. In this manner, the dc amplifier circuit is capable of reducing false triggering and inhibited triggering due to excessive dc offset. The amplifier is dc-coupled to an output of the PIR sensor to receive the sensor signal. A detector detects a level of dc offset within the sensor signal. A controller controls the amplifier to compensate for the detected level of dc offset The amplifier may include a differential amplifier having a first input that receives the sensor signal and a second input that receives a reference voltage. A resistor-capacitor circuit can be provided to set the reference voltage received by the second input of the amplifier.

Abstract: A detection system and method are capable of reducing the occurrence of false alarms and detection failures by compensating for variations in the amplitude of a detection signal generated by a PIR sensor. An adaptive threshold can be used that varies according to ambient temperature of the detection area and the frequency of the detection signal. Comparison of the detection signal to the adaptive threshold allows compensation for temperature-and/or frequency-induced variations in detection signal amplitude. The adaptive threshold can be configured for standard detection area conditions or calibrated for conditions at the installation site. Relative measurement and adaptive sampling techniques also can be used to compensate for the presence of low frequency shifts in the detection signal. Such techniques can provide an accurate representation of signal amplitude relative to a threshold amplitude despite differences in absolute signal magnitude.

Abstract: A security system and method for building complexes having multiple units provides enhanced resistance to intruder disablement, particularly for systems having a unit controller and user input device that are mounted within a common control panel. The system and method are useful with residential building complexes having residential units such as apartments and condominiums, and commercial building complexes having commercial units such as offices, businesses, or storage facilities. A unit controller communicates a unit alarm condition to a main controller located remotely from a respective unit. The unit alarm condition can be communicated via wireless communication. Also, the unit alarm condition is communicated without significant delay following the sensing of a security condition in the unit. For example, the unit controller can communicate the unit alarm condition to the main controller substantially immediately following sensing of the security condition.

Abstract: In a wireless security system, the system controller includes one or more antennas for reception of signals from remote sensor-transmitter units. To detect antenna failure, the system controller generates a test signal with a known parameter and transmits this test signal via a first antenna. The system controller then measures the parameter of the corresponding test signal received, if any, via a second antenna, and compares the parameter of the corresponding test signal received to a predetermined threshold parameter. When the parameter of the test signal received via the second antenna differs from the threshold by a predetermined amount, or predetermined margin for error, an antenna failure message is generated.

Abstract: A wireless sensor receiver module for an alarm and/or event reporting system having the capability of monitoring the operational integrity of associated wireless receiver circuitry relative to RF sensor transmissions. A receiver module supervisory timer is reset with the receipt of each sensor transmission, whether an event or supervisory transmission. If sensor transmissions are not received within a supervised receiver time period determined as a function of the number of system sensors, the receiver module communicates a receiver failure condition to the system controller. Noise monitoring circuitry separately monitors the transmissions to enhance the confidence in a receiver failure determination or adjust the period of the receiver module supervisory timer.

Abstract: Measuring the critical value of a parameter of a sensor in a security system (e.g., battery voltage) is performed at a time when the critical value is most likely to be reached, and the critical value information is sent from the sensor to a system controller at a time when the information is most likely to be successfully received.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing errors in a battery powered sensing circuit uses two pull-up resistors. The first resistor has a value selected to minimize battery drain and the second resistor has a value selected to reduce dendrite or other parasitic parallel resistance. The resistors are selectively connected to the circuit based on a predetermined sequence and/or time interval.

Abstract: A detection system and method are capable of reducing the occurrence of false alarms and detection failures by compensating for variations in the amplitude of a detection signal generated by a PIR sensor. An adaptive threshold can be used that varies according to ambient temperature of the detection area and the frequency of the detection signal. Comparison of the detection signal to the adaptive threshold allows compensation for temperature- and/or frequency-induced variations in detection signal amplitude. The adaptive threshold can be configured for standard detection area conditions or calibrated for conditions at the installation site. Relative measurement and adaptive sampling techniques also can be used to compensate for the presence of low frequency shifts in the detection signal. Such techniques can provide an accurate representation of signal amplitude relative to a threshold amplitude despite differences in absolute signal magnitude.

Abstract: Information in the form of redundant message packets is sent between a remote device and a host device, e.g., a wireless security system. In order to conserve energy, the frequency of trigger events in the remote device is determined, and the number of redundant message packets sent is based on the determined frequency.