Abstract: An accessory brake light system for automobile includes an elongated housing having a receiving cavity therein and a front transparent shield covering the receiving cavity, a lighting apparatus having a plurality of brake lighting LEDs mounted within the receiving cavity of the elongated housing, an electrical controlling device for connecting the lighting apparatus with the power source of the automobile and activating the lighting apparatus to provide lighting when the automobile is braked, and a mounting means for firmly securing the elongated housing to a frontmost central position of the automobile, such as a central position on the front bumper, the front license case, or a radiation cover positioning between the two front head lamps of the automobile.

Abstract: A smoke detector (10) has internal self-adjustment and self-diagnostic capabilities. It includes a microprocessor-based alarm control circuit (24) that periodically checks the sensitivity of a smoke sensing element (20) to a smoke level in a spatial region (12). The alarm control circuit and the smoke sensor are mounted in a discrete housing (25) that operatively couples the smoke sensor to the region. The microprocessor (30) implements a routine (50) stored in memory (32) by periodically determining a floating adjustment (FLT.sub.-- ADJ) that is used to adjust the output (RAW.sub.-- DATA) of the smoke sensing element and of any sensor electronics (40) to produce an adjusted output (ADJ.sub.-- DATA) for comparison with an alarm threshold. The floating adjustment is not greater than a maximum value (ADJISENS) or less than a minimum value (ADJSENS). Except at power-up or reset, each floating adjustment is within a predetermined slew limit of the immediately preceding floating adjustment.

Abstract: A detector sensor system for sensing the presence of a toxic gas, such as carbon monoxide and/or smoke whereby a corresponding alarm is sounded. The presence of the gas is detected by passing light through a biomimetic sensing material in which the optical characteristics change in the presence of the target gas. This system includes a housing containing a light emitter, light detector and a mechanism for sounding an alarm. The sensing material is contained in a cell which, together with a battery to power the system, is mounted in a key insertable into the housing. The key may be readily inserted or withdrawn from the housing for replacement purposes. When fully inserted, the key positions the sensing cell means between the light emitter and detector means and brings the battery contacts carried therewith into connection with contacts associated with the system circuitry mounted within the housing.

Abstract: A notebook computer is provided with first and second different types of pointing device modules, representatively a pointing stick module and a touchpad module, that may be releasably and interchangeably installed on its base housing portion. Each module, when installed on the base housing, is automatically coupled to cursor control circuitry within the computer. Representatively, a convenient snap-in attachment structure is used to releasably connect each module to the computer base housing, and a removable computer component underlies and assists in supporting the removably installed pointing device module.

Abstract: An alarm apparatus includes a vehicle temperature sensor, a vehicle power failure sensor, and a radio paging alarm generator for generating a radio paging output signal to a remote paging receiver carried by an animal caregiver responsive to one of vehicle temperature being outside a predetermined temperature range, and failure of vehicle AC or DC electrical power. Accordingly, the animal caregiver is alerted by the radio paging alarm signal when the temperature within the vehicle is outside the predetermined range or when the temperature within the vehicle is likely to move outside the predetermined range as indicated by a failure of electrical power of the vehicle. Method aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic chime is created by a piezoelectric transducer with an exponentially decaying audio signal. The electronic chime has a power supply, an oscillator, a drive circuit, and a piezoelectric transducer. The drive circuit contains reactive components that function with the piezoelectric transducer to modulate the amplitude of the decaying audio signal. The amplitude modulated audio signal better simulates a mechanical chime.

Abstract: An apparatus for carbon monoxide detection and automatic shutoff of a heating system is provided which includes a single housing containing a thermostat, a carbon monoxide detector, and a control circuit serially connected to the heating system via the existing thermostat wiring connections. The control circuit includes a relay with a plurality of contacts which are opened and closed to automatically control the operation of the furnace based on the operation of the carbon monoxide detector. In another embodiment, an existing thermostat is retrofitted by mounting the existing thermostat on an adapter plate containing an integrated carbon monoxide detector and control circuit. Another embodiment of the invention includes a carbon monoxide detector, a transmitter serially connected to the carbon monoxide detector for transmitting a predetermined radio frequency, and a receiver serially connected to the existing combustion-type furnace system for receiving the predetermined radio frequency from the transmitter.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive resistance tablet coordinate input device is provided which enables the cursor to be moved to a desired position on a PC display by pressing a tablet sheet (6) with a stylus, permits the stylus press-shift operation at the center of the tablet sheet (6) and maintains the continuity of control of the cursor movement even if the pressure to the tablet is once removed. The device is selectively switchable between an absolute value output data in which pressed-position data (x.sub.n,y.sub.n) is used as cursor control data (X.sub.n,Y.sub.n) or a relative value output mode in which relative position data is calculated by comparing pieces of pressed-position data before and after the stylus press-shift operation on the tablet sheet (6). The relative position data thus calculated is used as the cursor control data (X.sub.n,Y.sub.n). Since either one of the two modes of operation can be selected in accordance with the contact resistance value r.sub.

Abstract: An ergonomic control apparatus is provided for producing signals in response to human feedback to control aircraft, land vehicles, computers, video games and the like. The ergonomic control apparatus includes a control stick interconnected to a slidable attachment means, pivotal attachment means and rotatable collar. The slidable attachment means includes first and second signal means for producing first and second signals in response to forward and rearward movement of the control stick from a neutral stick position. The pivotal attachment means includes third and fourth signal means for producing third and fourth sets of signals in response to forward and rearward inclination of the control stick. The rotatable collar may be manually rotated about the longitudinal axis of the control stick in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions from a neutral collar position.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring tire pressure which includes a sensor mounted within a tire that triggers a train of pulses when tire pressure reaches a level outside predetermined parameters. The system also includes a receiver mounted in operative proximity to the sensor at a location exterior to the tire. The receiver is electromagnetically coupled to the sensor and the sensor is activated in response to tire pressure reaching a level outside predetermined parameters. Also provided is an indicator which is coupled to the receiver, which signals when the tire pressure reaches a level outside predetermined parameters. The sensor is mounted within the tire that senses tire air pressure. The receiver is mounted within operative proximity to the sensor and at a location external to the tire and is electromagnetically coupled to the sensor to generate signals dispersed by the sensor that are indicative of tire air pressure sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard entry system (100) is provided. The system (100) includes a base (200) on which is provided a set of first control keys (120) for assigning an output function selected by simultaneously operating one of a plurality of multifunction character keys. In particular, alphabetic character output functions are selected utilizing one of a set of first character keys (220), the particular assignment of alphabetic characters to the particular character keys (222, 224, 226, 228 and 230) being made to provide QWERTY compatibility. Each of the sets of keys (120, 220) are irregularly arranged on the base (200) to be located under the fingertips of a user's bent hands. Further, each of the sets of keys (120, 220) are configured about respective axes (276, 286 and 278, 288), the two axes being disposed at different angles with respect to a horizontal reference, permitting a miniaturized keyboard to be implemented with full size keys.

Abstract: A vehicle signaling method and device for alerting drivers approaching from a rear of the vehicle including at least one light emitting signal arranged on an element of the vehicle facing rearward, a velocity measurement sensor for measuring an absolute velocity of the vehicle and a control unit coupled to the velocity measurement sensor for determining if the measured absolute velocity is greater than a threshold velocity. In one embodiment, there is a manual light activation unit which is connected to the control unit and the light emitting signal(s). The manual light activation unit is controlled by the control unit to enable the light emitting signal(s) to be activated only if the measured absolute velocity is less than the threshold velocity.

Abstract: A battery pack including a secondary battery is coupled to an electronic device to behave as a power source of the electronic device. The battery pack comprises a plus terminal (EB+) and a minus terminal (EB-) for supplying a current to the electronic device, a communication terminal (DATAB) for exchanging data with the electronic device, a connection terminal (BATTINB) connected to said electronic device when the plus terminal and the minus terminal are properly connected to the electronic device, battery status measuring elements (6, 7) for measuring the temperature and the voltage of the secondary battery, and CPU (1) for establishing one of operation modes in response to the voltages at the communication terminal and the connection terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a improved safety monitor (10) which comprises a main monitor (12) and a remote monitor (14) which are in two way communication with each other. The main monitor (12) has a main monitor detector (12J) and a main monitor fire/smoke alarm (12K) integrally electronically connected to a main monitor microprocessor (12F). The main monitor detector (12J) is selected from a group consisting of monitor carbon monoxide detector, monitor carbon dioxide detector, and monitor radon detector. The main monitor detector (12J) and the main monitor fire/smoke alarm (12K) send a warning signal to the remote monitor (14) to alert the user of an adverse condition and which type. A charger base (16) is provided to hold the main monitor (12) and the remote monitor (14) as well as charge the main monitor battery (12I) and remote monitor battery (14I).

Abstract: A code plate has an m-bit signal track read out in parallel for providing the starting position of an AC servo motor for commencing rotation when power is first turned ON. An n-bit signal track accompanied by an incremental signal track is provided on the code plate with the n-bit track read out serially, converted to pure binary in parallel, and used once rotation of the servo motor commences to provide the initial absolute value of the encoder. To this n-bit initial value is added signals from the incremental track upon continued rotation of the code plate.

Abstract: A mobile unit communication control method is for exchanging information accurately between a plurality of responders and a questioner in a communication area without information drop-off. A ground unit constituting the questioner transmits an inquiry signal. A vehicle-mounted unit constituting the responder stores and returns the current time the vehicle-mounted unit first received the inquiry signal as a starting time. The ground unit selects a vehicle-mounted unit with the earliest starting time as an object of communication among a plurality of the vehicle-mounted units. A vehicle-mounted unit expected to pass the communication area at the earliest time is selected, and the ground unit transmits a response signal for handshaking with the particular vehicle-mounted unit, to which the vehicle-mounted unit replies. With the establishment of the handshake, data are exchanged between the ground unit and the vehicle-mounted unit.

Abstract: Currents input to and output from a device, such as a heater, in a daisy chain connection are measured and compared. Failure of an individual device, as well as device location, is indicated if no current is consumed by the device. A latch is activated in response to detection of a non-functioning device, sending a signal that gives notice and location of the failure.

Abstract: An apparatus providing combined mouse-stylus-pointer functionalities for interfacing with an electronic device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body defining a chamber for containing electronic circuitry and a stylus member for mechanically actuating an electronic device. A light source projects a light beam out of the body for acting a light beam pointer. The circuitry within the body provides cordless mouse functionalities and pointer functionalities. The mouse circuitry drives a pointer on a display of the electronic device. The pointer functionalities controls the light source projecting the light beam. A user is able to select the various functionalities through an activation interface consisting of a button or other type of mechanical means.

Abstract: A multi-channel recording device for recording the time profiles of a plurality of measurement signals which can be connected to the device. The device has first and second groups of optical indicators on the front of the device and scale strips corresponding to the physical variables to be measured. There are n indicators in the first group, m indicators in the second group and scale strips where n is greater than m. The device assigns one and only one of the m indicators to each of the n indicators.

Abstract: A pair of spaced electrodes within an area subject to wetness couple non-conductively with a sensor protected from wetness, and an alarm sounds in response to moisture decreasing the resistance between the electrodes. For example the electrodes project into the absorbent material of a diaper and extend along the inside of the diaper sheath opposite a pouch on the outside of the sheath. The pouch contains a sensor capacitively coupled to the electrodes.