Abstract: A supervised fire suppression system (10, 100) is disclosed that includes a discharge valve (14, 114) for controlling release of a fire extinguishing agent from a container (12), a control head (16, 116) operatively associated with the discharge valve for actuating the discharge valve in the event of a fire, wherein the control head may be removed from the discharge valve to facilitate inspection of the control head, and an internal supervisory switching device (130) mounted within the control head and configured to interact with the discharge valve to provide an indication that the control head has been removed from the discharge valve.

Abstract: A system for providing wireless power transfer includes a primary antenna having a primary lens surrounding the primary antenna and a secondary antenna having a secondary lens surrounding the secondary antenna. The secondary antenna is operatively connected to power at least one sensor. A mains power source is operatively connected to power the primary antenna. The primary and secondary antennas are separated a distance apart to wirelessly transfer power from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna.

Abstract: A portable fire extinguisher is disclosed which includes a cylinder for storing a pressurized fire extinguishing agent and has a neck portion defining an outlet, and a flexible hermetic seal supported across the outlet of the cylinder, wherein the flexible hermetic seal is adapted and configured to transition between: an unexpanded condition corresponding to an unpressurized cylinder; an expanded condition corresponding to a pressurized cylinder; and a bursted condition corresponding to an opened cylinder.

Abstract: A portable fire extinguisher is disclosed which includes a cylinder for storing a pressurized fire extinguishing agent and has a neck portion defining an outlet, and a flexible hermetic seal supported across the outlet of the cylinder, wherein the flexible hermetic seal is adapted and configured to transition between: an unexpanded condition corresponding to an unpressurized cylinder; an expanded condition corresponding to a pressurized cylinder; and a bursted condition corresponding to an opened cylinder.

Abstract: A system for providing wireless power transfer includes a primary antenna having a primary lens surrounding the primary antenna and a secondary antenna having a secondary lens surrounding the secondary antenna. The secondary antenna is operatively connected to power at least one sensor. A mains power source is operatively connected to power the primary antenna. The primary and secondary antennas are separated a distance apart to wirelessly transfer power from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna.

Abstract: A supervised fire suppression system (10, 100) is disclosed that includes a discharge valve (14, 114) for controlling release of a fire extinguishing agent from a container (12), a control head (16, 116) operatively associated with the discharge valve for actuating the discharge valve in the event of a fire, wherein the control head may be removed from the discharge valve to facilitate inspection of the control head, and an internal supervisory switching device (130) mounted within the control head and configured to interact with the discharge valve to provide an indication that the control head has been removed from the discharge valve.

Abstract: A method for access authentication includes receiving a facial recognition picture from a mobile electronic apparatus of a user. The facial recognition picture is compared to a stored facial recognition picture of the user. If a positive match exists, an authorization key is transmitted to a locking mechanism. The stored facial recognition picture can include a picture stored on a picture database populated by each transmitted facial recognition picture. In certain embodiments, the facial recognition picture can be retrieved from on a social media account.

Abstract: A system for characterizing the environment and objects in the environment created by fusing a plurality of sensor data, comprising a plurality of radar sensors each radar sensor integrated into a wireless module. A processor is operatively connected to the plurality of radar sensors and to a memory, wherein the memory includes instructions recorded thereon that, when read by the processor, cause the processor to combine the sensor data to identify, monitor and characterize the environment and objects within the environment.

Abstract: A supervised fire suppression system (10) is disclosed that includes a valve assembly for controlling the release of a fire extinguishing agent from a container (17), an actuator (25) operatively associated with the valve assembly for actuating the valve assembly in the event of a fire, wherein the actuator may be removed from the system for periodic inspection and/or maintenance, and an externally mounted supervisory switching device (16, 30) configured to interact with the actuator to provide an indication relating to removal or disengagement of the actuator from the system for periodic inspection and/or maintenance.

Abstract: A system for delivery of a fire extinguishing agent includes an agent tank at least partially filled with a volume of liquid fire extinguishing agent and a supply of pressurizing gas operatively connected to inject pressurizing gas into the volume of liquid agent. A discharge valve is configured to open when the agent tank reaches a desired pressure due to the injection of pressurizing gas therein thereby delivering a flow including fire extinguishing agent with associated dissolved pressurizing gas from the agent tank. The flow of fire extinguishing agent and associated dissolved pressurizing gas is discharged from the agent tank.

Abstract: A system for boiler control is provided. The system includes supply units to provide supplies of combustion materials for combustion thereof, a vessel coupled to the supply units in which the combustion materials are combusted, a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor disposed at an outlet of the vessel to sense a quantity of exhaust CO output from the vessel as a product of combustion therein and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the supply units and the sensor and configured to issue a main servo command and a pulse servo command to one or more of the supply units to control operations of the one or more supply units in accordance with the sensed quantity of the exhaust CO.

Abstract: A portable fire extinguisher is disclosed which includes a cylinder for storing a pressurized fire extinguishing agent and has a neck portion defining an outlet, and a flexible hermetic seal supported across the outlet of the cylinder, wherein the flexible hermetic seal is adapted and configured to transition between: an unexpanded condition corresponding to an unpressurized cylinder; an expanded condition corresponding to a pressurized cylinder; and a bursted condition corresponding to an opened cylinder.

Abstract: A system for detecting a structural change to a structure is provided, wherein an exciter is positioned at a first location of the structure to transmit an excitation signal that is based on a reference signal and to apply the excitation signal to the structure. An accelerometer is positioned at a second location of the structure to sense the excitation signal after it has propagated to the second location. The accelerometer outputs an electrical signal that represents seismic activity applied to the structure by the excitation signal. A signal processing component is synchronized with the reference signal and receives the electrical signal. The signal processing component is configured to use the reference signal to extract portions of the electrical signal that are synchronized with the reference signal, and to output phase and amplitude values of the extracted portion.

Abstract: A system for detecting a structural change to a structure is provided, wherein an exciter is positioned at a first location of the structure to transmit an excitation signal that is based on a reference signal and to apply the excitation signal to the structure. An accelerometer is positioned at a second location of the structure to sense the excitation signal after it has propagated to the second location. The accelerometer outputs an electrical signal that represents seismic activity applied to the structure by the excitation signal. A signal processing component is synchronized with the reference signal and receives the electrical signal. The signal processing component is configured to use the reference signal to extract portions of the electrical signal that are synchronized with the reference signal, and to output phase and amplitude values of the extracted portion.

Abstract: A system for detecting a structural change to a structure is provided, wherein an exciter is positioned at a first location of the structure to transmit an excitation signal that is based on a reference signal and to apply the excitation signal to the structure. An accelerometer is positioned at a second location of the structure to sense the excitation signal after it has propagated to the second location. The accelerometer outputs an electrical signal that represents seismic activity applied to the structure by the excitation signal. A signal processing component is synchronized with the reference signal and receives the electrical signal. The signal processing component is configured to use the reference signal to extract portions of the electrical signal that are synchronized with the reference signal, and to output phase and amplitude values of the extracted portion.

Abstract: An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle.

Abstract: An exemplary security device includes a reader configured to read information stored on a credential device. The reader enters a sleep mode when not reading a credential device. A wake-up module includes an inductively coupled resonant circuit. The wake-up module is configured to detect a credential device near the reader if the credential device has a resonant frequency corresponding to a frequency of an electromagnetic field of the inductively coupled resonant circuit that is controlled by a stable oscillator. The wake-up module is configured to provide an indication to wake-up the reader from the sleep mode responsive to detecting a change in power of the electromagnetic field caused by the credential device.

Abstract: An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle. A controller selectively controls at least one of (i) the gas provided to the pump, which controls the fluid pressure in the conduit, or (ii) the gas provided to the nozzle or the conduit, which controls the gas pressure delivered to the nozzle.

Abstract: A method for controlling video in a system includes receiving wirelessly at a stationary base station a low quality video from a mobile device, the mobile device configured to record both the low quality video and a high quality video of a same video stream, to store each of the low quality video and the high quality video, and to wirelessly transmit only the low quality video. The method includes analyzing the low quality video at the stationary base station and, based on the analysis, transmitting a signal to the mobile device to delete the low quality video and the high quality video from the mobile device, to allow overwrite of the low quality video and the high quality video from the mobile device, or to request transmission of the high quality video from the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for access authentication includes receiving a facial recognition picture from a mobile electronic apparatus of a user. The facial recognition picture is compared to a stored facial recognition picture of the user. If a positive match exists, an authorization key is transmitted to a locking mechanism. The stored facial recognition picture can include a picture stored on a picture database populated by each transmitted facial recognition picture. In certain embodiments, the facial recognition picture can be retrieved from on a social media account.