Abstract: A method includes receiving data in an electronic format that describes an item, and assigning a unique identifier to the item. The data is normalized across one or more data sets of data that describe other items. The normalizing includes deriving functional and aesthetic attributes of the item based at least in part on the data that describes the item, where at least one of the derived attributes is not included in the data. The normalizing also includes programmatically mapping the attributes to a defined set of taxonomies for pre-defined attribute types. At least one other item is located in the one or more data sets having attributes that coordinate with the attributes of the item. A user interface that includes a styleboard with an image of the item and an image of the at least one other item having attributes that coordinate with attributes of the item.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a greeting card having at least two surfaces and at least three edges, the greeting card comprising an intrinsically valuable base material comprising titanium or a titanium alloy and one or more gemstones embedded on one or more of the surfaces or edges; wherein the greeting card has a thickness of between about 1.0 mm and about 1.5 mm, a first dimension between about 70 mm and about 90 mm, and a second dimension between about 50 mm and about 60 mm; and further wherein the greeting card depicts one or more of a letter, number, symbol, artistic design, image, or message.

Abstract: A merchandise display case and system are provided, comprising a frame housing an image projector, a mirror and a rear-display panel on which the merchandise is supported and displayed, to provide a view that is a combination of the merchandise and an image emanating from below or behind the merchandise. The emanating image and the selected placement and positioning of the merchandise on the emanating image can be coordinated physically and thematically to create a unique visual experience. The system is interactive, operative in default and interactive modes and includes various video image sources which may be selected by a customer who provides user input signals to a microcontroller subsystem which controls the plurality of video image sources and other components to be responsive to the customer.

Abstract: A merchandise display case and system are provided, comprising a frame housing an image projector, a mirror and a rear-display panel on which the merchandise is supported and displayed, to provide a view that is a combination of the merchandise and an image emanating from below or behind the merchandise. The emanating image and the selected placement and positioning of the merchandise on the emanating image can be coordinated physically and thematically to create a unique visual experience. The system is interactive, operative in default and interactive modes and includes various video image sources which may be selected by a customer who provides user input signals to a microcontroller subsystem which controls the plurality of video image sources and other components to be responsive to the customer.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with service panels associated with the dash of an automotive vehicle, in which the service panel is connected to at least one switch and includes an interconnecting grid or network. The switch cooperates directly with the grid or network of the service panel, which is fashioned accordingly.

Abstract: A method of associating the reception of a reset pulse by a microprocessor with access to a specific subprogram depending on whether the reset pulse is associated with a system incorporating the microprocessor being switched on for the purposes of "waking up" the microprocessor, or whether it constitutes a request coming from some other unit in the system, the method being wherein it comprises the following steps: on switch-on, causing a logical data item accessible by the microprocessor to change from a first state to a second state only after a certain time interval has elapsed since the switch-on; on each occasion that a reset pulse is received, reading the logical data item before the time interval has elapsed; and depending on whether the logical data item is in its first state or in its second state, branching either to an initialization subprogram appropriate to switch-on, or else to a subprogram appropriate to processing the request.

Abstract: A remote control system in particular for locking and unlocking the doors of motor vehicles, the system being of the type including light source forming means associated with optical means adapted to configure the beam generated by the light source, wherein the optical means associated with the light source are adapted to define a transmission lobe centered on an aiming axis and comprising a first component of long range and small beam width together with a second component of shorter range and greater beam width.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the operation of a microprocessor and capable of generating an error signal whenever the frequency of a signal derived from the microprocessor crosses an upper or a lower frequency threshold comprises: an oscillator periodically producing a monotonically varying voltage and including a threshold circuit, the oscillator generating an error signal when the monotonically varying voltage crosses a threshold, and including a reset input for returning the monotonically varying voltage to level closer to its starting voltage; and a treatment circuit for treating the derived signal and generating pulses on the input at the frequency of the derived signal so long as the frequency is no greater than the upper threshold, otherwise applying no pulse to the input. When pulses are produced at a lower frequency, the time interval between two reset pulses is greater than the time interval required for the monotonically varying voltage to reach the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A remote control system, in particular for locking and unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle, the system being of the type comprising a portable transmitter including means constituting a light source suitable for generating an encoded light flux, and a fixed receiver including photosensitive means designed to receive the light flux and associated with treatment means designed to decode it, wherein the photosensitive means of the receiver comprise a lens having a toroidal aspherical outside surface, which lens is associated with a plurality of photocells.

Abstract: A lock mechanism comprises a housing and a rotor mounted within a bore of the housing having a skirt, the rotor and skirt being rotatable by a knob. A lock opening and closing lever is rotatable between locking and unlocking positions and a rod is drivably connected to the lock opening and closing lever and serves for connection to a latching device.A securing and release lever drivably connected with the rotor through a drive tang and a slot permitting lost motion is movable by an actuator independently of the rotor.

Abstract: An anti-theft steering lock includes a locking sleeve fixed to a steering shaft and having substantially radial teeth. Pivoted levers each having a pointed tip are freely pivoted on axes extending parallel to the steering shaft and fixed to a fixed support in which cradle portions are formed. The levers are nested in these cradle portions. Second ends of the levers, opposed to the pointed tip ends, cooperate with a window formed in a control bracket which has a narrow zone and a wide zone. The angular spacing between the pointed tips of the levers is slightly smaller than the angular spacing (a) between two successive teeth of the locking sleeve, or a whole number multiple of this angular spacing.

Abstract: In a releasable lock of the kind in which a rotor is controlled by a key suitably profiled to release a stator, the stator comprises a barrel mounted rotatably in a body of the lock and indexed resiliently with respect to the latter, with the rotor controlling an actuating finger for a lock mechanism. The actuating finger is fixed to a first lever which is pivoted on an eccentric first axis fixed to the barrel, the actuating finger also being coaxial to both the rotor and the barrel in a rest position of the lock, and extending through a second lever for actuating the lock mechanism. This second lever is pivoted about an eccentric second axis fixed to the lock body, and the rotor includes a rotor pin for driving the first lever.

Abstract: An evolutive coding process using a pseudo-random discontinuous function for coding remote controls, such as for automobiles. A message containing at least two pseudo-random values calculated by the pseudo-random discontinuous function is transmitted. Preferably the pseudo-random values are successive values of the pseudo-random discontinuous function, and the message optionally includes a code derived as a function of a specific base code associated with the system. The general preferred form of complete code message may take the form T(C) plus FA(C,n-1), plus FA(C,n) where T is a continuous function and FA is a pseudo-random discontinuous function.

Abstract: A lock of the disconnectable rotor type comprises a rotor rotatable in a stator sleeve rotatable in a fixed lock case. Locking means (e.g. pairs of pins or pallets) cooperate with rotor and stator sleeve to couple them together for simultaneous rotation in the absence of a correct key while freeing the rotor from the stator sleeve when the correct key is introduced. The stator sleeve is maintained in a normal or "rest" position by an effaceable indexing member. The indexing member cooperates with the lock case to maintain the stator sleeve in its said position. A lock bolt actuating lever is coupled to the rotor by coupling means such as to effect this coupling only after rotation of the rotor independently of the stator sleeve. The coupling means include a slide ring rotatable with the rotor, cooperating with the stator sleeve through camming means to slide the slide ring axially, and including at least one actuating finger.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which operates by cutting off the electrical supply to the ignition by a relay supplied by a central electronic unit which is connected in series with the "on" contact of the anti-theft steering lock of the vehicle characterized in that the relay is connected to the central unit through at least one transistor and to ground by a switch device which is maintained open while the engine is running.

Abstract: An infrared transmitter of coded message is provided having a fixed code and large number of combinations particularly but not solely for use in the automobile industry.The transmitter comprises a series programmable electronic memory (1), the content of which is addressed by a pulse transmitter (2), an oscillator or timer, the content of the memory (1) being supplied to a pulse generator (3) supplying an amplifier (4), the output of which is transmitted to a transmitter diode (5), the content of the memory (1) being supplied, in addition, to an end of message blocking device (6) controlling the reading pulse transmitter (2).

Abstract: A hidden message device and a method by which a hidden message device is produced. A translucent sheet, of any desired color and of any desired material has a hidden message applied thereto by means of a coating material, such as ink, which has the same color as the sheet. Thus, the hidden message portion of the sheet is substantially opaque and/or presents a significant contrast in translucency. The hidden message is not observable until the sheet is positioned between the observer and a source of light. If desired the hidden message may be applied to the sheet in locations among printed material which is applied to the sheet in a conventional manner in a color or colors different from the color of the sheet. Thus, the conventional printed material is readily observable, but the hidden message is observable only when viewed in front of a source of light.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reflector for an automobile headlight comprising a reflecting quadric having substantially the surface of a paraboloid of revolution intersected by upper and lower truncation planes, an electric lamp filament being situated substantially at the focus of said quadric to provide full beam lighting by reflection on said quadric of the luminous beams emitted by said filament and traversed by an optical glass situated in front of said quadric. The reflector according to this invention is characterized by the fact that at least the lower truncation plane of the reflector is equipped, on its internal surface illuminated by the full beam filament of the electric lamp, with a plurality of reflecting spherical elements spaced in a concentric arrangement comparable with Fresnel echelons with respect to their common axis passing through the focus of the useful reflecting conic of the reflector, this focus being also their common center.

Abstract: A steering lock is disclosed for blocking the rotary movement of a motor-vehicle steering shaft, with at least two locking bolts which are movable close to or at a short distance from one another and next to one another in guides and which, in a position blocking the steering shaft, reach into a recess in the steering shaft by means of a front end face and are movable away from the steering shaft into a non-blocking position in their longitudinal extension. The particular guide (17) is so wide that the locking bolt (13, 14) is tiltable in this. A side wall (19) of the locking-bolt guide (17) has a projection (21) or set-off portion, against which the locking bolt (13, 14) rests by means of a projection or an edge (22) in the blocking and tilted position, in order to secure the blocking position.