Abstract: A multi-stage driver system includes a switched mode power circuit for providing a direct current (DC) power signal to an electrical load and a control block. Control block includes interfaces coupled to receive at least one real-time input signal from a high voltage region or a low voltage region of the switched mode power circuit and to provide at least one control signal to the high voltage region or the low voltage region. Control block configures the switched mode power circuit to provide the DC power signal having at least one power parameter within a tolerance of a power configuration setting value of the electrical load. Control block responds to the at least one real-time input signal from the high voltage region or the low voltage region to adjust operation of the high voltage region or the low voltage region via the at least one control signal.

Abstract: A electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter having a low temperature membrane electrode assembly array and a high temperature membrane electrode assembly array is provided. Additional cells are provided in the low temperature membrane electrode assembly array, which causes an additional amount of the working fluid, namely hydrogen, to be pumped to the high pressure side of the converter. The additional pumped hydrogen compensates for the molecular hydrogen diffusion that occurs through the membranes of the membrane electrode assembly arrays. The MEA cells may be actuated independently by a controller to compensate for hydrogen diffusion.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a first luminaire. The first luminaire includes a first light source that generates a first light output. The first luminaire also includes a first visual feedback response source that generates a first visual feedback response output. Additionally, the first luminaire includes a first speaker that generates a first audio output. Further, the lighting system includes a second luminaire. The second luminaire includes a second light source that generates a second light output and a second visual feedback response source that generates a second visual feedback response output. Furthermore, the second luminaire includes a second speaker that generates a second audio output. The second audio output is different from the first audio output such that the first speaker and the second speaker output different audio components of a multichannel audio protocol output.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) communication system comprising a plurality of RF nodes connected via a mesh wireless network. Each of the RF nodes comprises an RF node processor, an RF node wireless transceiver configured for data communication over the mesh wireless network that is coupled to the RF node processor, an RF node memory that is coupled to the RF node processor of the RF node, and a preloaded routing table in the RF node memory including all or a subset of routes in the mesh wireless network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking shipment of products are disclosed herein. One or more cameras may be used capture video of an area where the products are loaded into and/or unloaded from shipping containers. Wireless beacons may be attached to the shipping containers. A network gateway may receive the wireless signals from the wireless beacon and the video from at least one camera. The wireless beacon may change a transmittal rate of the wireless signal from a first transmittal rate to a second transmittal rate in response to the cover on the shipping container being opened or closed. The network gateway may provide, to a remote server, a selected amount of the received video from its memory along with a unique identifier for the wireless beacon in response to the network gateway receiving the wireless signal at the second transmittal rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless beacons in point of purchase (“POP”) displays to facilitate the delivery of consumer oriented content to mobile devices is disclosed. Wireless beacons may be used to broadcast wireless signals from POP displays, where the wireless signals include data packets with unique identifiers for the wireless beacons. The wireless signals may be received by mobile devices. A remote server may communicate with the mobile device and provide the mobile device with up-to-date content associated with the POP displays. A geographic location of the mobile device may be assessed and used to determine if the mobile device is at an acceptable location for displaying the up-to-date content.

Abstract: A support structure provides two or more axes of intelligent locomotion for a movable object on the support structure. The support structure can include a track system made up of a plurality of identically configured track modules that are connected end-to-end. Each track module can include an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and having two ends. Each end can include at least one beveled edge and at least one track surface extending longitudinally along the elongated body. The track modules can be connected to a power source and include electrical contacts that provide electricity to movable objects that travel along the track system.

Abstract: A direct heat to electricity engine includes solid state electrodes of an electrochemically active material that has an electrochemical reaction potential that is temperature dependent. The electrodes are configured in combination with electrolyte separators to form membrane electrode assemblies. The membrane electrode assemblies are grouped into pairs, whereby each membrane electrode assembly of a given pair is ionically and electronically interconnected with the other. One membrane electrode assembly of a given pair is coupled to a heat source with the other to a heat sink. One membrane electrode assembly of the pair is electrically discharged while the other is electrically charged, whereby the net and relative charge between the two remains constant because of the electronic and ionic interconnection and the difference in temperature of the membrane electrode assemblies, and thereby voltage, results in net power generation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless beacons in point of purchase (“POP”) displays to facilitate the delivery of consumer oriented content to mobile devices is disclosed. Wireless beacons may be used to broadcast wireless signals from POP displays, where the wireless signals include data packets with unique identifiers for the wireless beacons. The wireless signals may be received by mobile devices. A remote server may communicate with the mobile device and provide the mobile device with up-to-date content associated with the POP displays. A wireless data collection device may be used to receive and collect data from the wireless beacons. The collected data may be used to assess one or more properties of the POP displays.

Abstract: A converter includes a working fluid, a housing, a heat sink, a heat source that is at an elevated temperature relative to the heat sink, a first electrochemical cell disposed within the housing, and a micro/nano porous media disposed within the housing. The first electrochemical cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly across which the working fluid is configured to flow. The first membrane electrode assembly includes a first porous electrode and a second porous electrode and at least one ion conductive membrane sandwiched between the first and second porous electrodes. The first electrochemical cell is arranged between the heat source and the heat sink. The working fluid is contained within the micro/nano porous media. The micro/nano porous media is thermally coupled between the heat source and the heat sink, and creates a pressure differential across the first electrochemical cell by transpiration pumping of the working fluid.

Abstract: A lighting system utilizes intelligent system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors. The system also has a data communication network. Some number of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices, also support wireless communication with non-lighting-system devices at the premises. Each such element has a communication interface system configured to provide a short range, low power wireless data communication link for use by non-lighting-system devices at the premises in proximity to the respective intelligent system element. Also, in such an element, the processor is configured to control communications via the communication interface system so as to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of the non-lighting-system devices.

Abstract: An electrochemical direct heat to electricity converter includes a primary thermal energy source; a working fluid; an electrochemical cell comprising at least one membrane electrode assembly including a first porous electrode, a second porous electrode and at least one membrane, wherein the at least one membrane is sandwiched between the first and second porous electrodes and is a conductor of ions of the working fluid; an energy storage reservoir; and an external load. The electrochemical cell operates on heat to produce electricity. When thermal energy available from the primary thermal energy source is greater than necessary to meet demands of the external load, excess energy is stored in the energy storage reservoir, and when the thermal energy available from the primary thermal energy source is insufficient to meet the demands of the external load, at least a portion of the excess energy stored in the energy storage reservoir is used to supply power to the external load.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using wireless beacons in point of purchase (“POP”) displays to facilitate the delivery of consumer oriented content to mobile devices is disclosed. Wireless beacons may be used to broadcast wireless signals from POP displays, where the wireless signals include data packets with unique identifiers for the wireless beacons. The wireless signals may be received by mobile devices. A remote server may communicate with the mobile device and provide the mobile device with up-to-date content associated with the POP displays. Wireless data collection devices (such as network gateways) may be used to receive data packets from the wireless beacons provide the data packets to the remote server. Accelerometers may be used on the wireless data collection devices to assess movement of the devices. Movement data for the devices may be used to determine reprogramming of the devices after the devices are moved.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of a method, system and asset tag that enables general, coarse and fine estimates of a location of the asset tag. The asset tag receives a signal transmitted from radio frequency (RF)-enabled nodes within a space. Each respective received signal includes a unique node identifier of the respective RF node that transmitted the respective received radio signal. Each RF node has a physical node location in the space that is associated with the unique node identifier. The tag measures the received signal strength of each respective received signal that is associated with the node identifier of the RF node that transmitted the respective received signal. The strongest measured received signal strengths are selected, and a tuple containing the node identifiers for the selected strongest signal strengths is forwarded for estimating a location of the asset tag by a computing device.

Abstract: Printable circuits may be used in combination with a point of purchase (POP) display (e.g., a consumer product display). The POP display may be configured to be deployed at a retail location. A printable circuit may be attached to the POP display with the printable circuit having printed data for a selected retail campaign associated with the POP display. The printed data may include one or more parameters for the selected retail campaign. A wireless beacon may be attached to the printable circuit on the POP display. The printable circuit may provide the parameters for the selected retail campaign to the wireless beacon when the wireless beacon is attached to the printable circuit. The wireless beacon may be assigned a unique identifier in at least one parameter provided to the wireless beacon by the printable circuit.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a universal driver control interface to control various types of driver circuits. The luminaire receives, via a voltage divider, an analog voltage feed as a first driver control signal from at least one driver control wire connected to a driver circuit. The luminaire converts, via an analog-to-digital converter, the analog voltage feed into a digital voltage value. The luminaire compares the digital voltage value with a respective range of unique voltage values in a voltage lookup table for each type of driver circuit to determine a respective type of driver circuit protocol. Based on the determined respective driver circuit protocol identifier and a light source control setting, the luminaire outputs a second driver control signal, via the at least one driver control wire, to the driver circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is system level occupancy counting in a lighting system configured to obtain an indicator data of a RF spectrum signal (signal) generated by a number of receivers at a number of times in an area. At each respective one of the number of times, for each respective one of the receivers, apply one of a plurality of heurist algorithm heuristic algorithm coefficients to each indicator data of the signal, based on results of the application of the heuristic algorithm coefficients, generate an indicator data metric value for each of the indicator data for the respective time. The lighting system is also configured to process each of the indicator data metric value to compute a plurality of metric values for the respective time and combine the plurality of metric values to compute an output metric value for each of a plurality of probable number of occupants in the area for the respective time.

Abstract: An example luminaire includes a white light source (e.g. LEDs emitting white light in a region of the CIE color chart within three Macadam ellipses below the black body curve) and a violet light source emitting light in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to 450 nm (e.g. 405 nm LEDs) for deactivating bacteria, such as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) on a surface exposed to illumination from the luminaire. A controller coupled to the sources pulses the violet light source at periodic intervals or at random times. When ON, the violet source emits light for deactivating bacteria at an intensity higher than the concurrent intensity of the white light.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating a load includes a primary-side switched-mode converter with galvanic isolation of input and output voltage, having: a primary circuit, a secondary circuit and a power transformer, wherein: a first inductor and a second inductor, the first inductor being arranged in the secondary circuit in order to pass the current generated by the transformer when the energy is transferred to the secondary circuit, and the second inductor being interconnected in a measuring circuit. The second inductor is spatially arranged in a stray magnetic field generated by the first inductor; the measuring circuit has an output at which a measuring voltage is output, and the control device is connected to the output of the measuring circuit in order to determine a corresponding current flow from the output measuring voltage, and is configured to control the clocked operation of the switch depending on the current flow determined.

Abstract: A solid state battery cell has a frame formed by a non-electrically conductive material. The frame has a frame thickness (Tf). A cell core surrounded by and entirely within the frame has a cell-core thickness (Tc). The cell core includes at least one anode, at least one cathode and at least one electrolyte between the at least one anode and the at least one cathode. At least one cell-core swell-accommodating recess is surrounded by and entirely within the frame. The at least one cell-core swell-accommodating recess defines an internal cell volume into which the cell core is expandable and from which the cell core is contractible. The cell-core thickness (Tc) is less than or equal to the frame thickness (Tf) during cell-charge and/or cell-discharge cycling.