Abstract: A system and method for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle of the approach of an emergency vehicle in an emergency state, comprising a transmitter in the emergency vehicle which produces and transmits a radio frequency signal having a unique audio encoded data signature modulated thereon when the emergency vehicle is in an emergency status, a receiver in motor vehicle which receives the radio frequency signal, demodulates and decodes the radio frequency signal and produces a voltage output when the data signature is present; and an alarm producing device which produces an alarm in response to the voltage output warning the driver of the motor vehicle of the approach of the emergency vehicle.

Abstract: A wireless audible indication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. An embodiment of the transmitter includes a crystal oscillator which produces a signal having a predetermined audio frequency. A duty cycle limiting circuit limits the duty cycle of the oscillator signal to be less than 25%. The limited duty cycle signal is applied to a radio frequency oscillator to produce an amplitude modulated radio frequency signal. An embodiment of the receiver includes a superregenerative detector which provides wide band detection of transmissions about a carrier frequency. A signal processing circuit formed by a cascade of a crystal filter stage, an amplifier/comparator stage, and a detector stage, processes the signal from the superregenerative detector. A sound generator integrated circuit, which generates an audible signal indicative of reception of a transmitted signal, is coupled to the signal processing circuit.

Abstract: Available battery life of a rechargeable battery is assessed and indicated to a user (300). A temporary load is switched onto a fully charged battery (304, 308) and voltage measurements are taken in both unloaded and loaded conditions (306, 310). The battery's internal impedance is determined (312) based on the measured voltages and is compared to a predetermined threshold (314). The predetermined threshold is set based on a value representing a selected minimum available capacity of the battery. An indicator alerts the user as to the status (316, 318) of the available battery life of the battery.

Abstract: A control assembly for a passenger protection system of a vehicle which is tripped upon the occurrence of a side impact traffic accident. The control assembly has at least one detector adapted to detect a pressure rise in a hollow body. The at least one detector is mounted in a largely enclosed side portion on the side of the vehicle body defining a hollow body such as a door. A control unit is connected to and receives signals from the at least one detector. The control unit evaluates a sudden and largely adiabatic air pressure rise detected by the detector upon a side impact collision and determines whether to actuate a passenger protection system such as an air bag.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting house or building from fire in neighborhood or area close by is described. When fire detecting system 16 detects a fire at a position close to house 14, computer 20 will send instruction to motor 18 and motor 18 will unfold foldable fire protecting cover 10, 12 to isolate house 14 from outside. At the same time, computer 20 will automatically send a fire alarm to the fire station and a specific phone such as work phone of householder through modem 22. Since fire protecting cover 10, 12 isolates the house from the fire outside, therefore house 14 can be effectively protected. Fire protecting cover 12 also can be remotely controlled by the householder through a telephone 24.

Abstract: A faulted circuit indicator unit for detecting an abnormally high electric current in an overhead cable includes a substantially rectangularly-shaped housing formed of front and back walls, opposed side walls, a closed bottom wall, and an open top mouth portion. Current sensing circuitry is disposed in a cavity formed in the housing for detecting the high current in the cable. An indication device is joined to the closed bottom wall of the housing and includes a visible indicator responsive to the current sensing circuit to produce a visual flashing light in the presence of the high current which is visible through a small aperture formed in the bottom wall thereof. The indication device is formed of an opaque hood whose central portion is connected around the bottom wall of the housing and a transparent stem joined also to the central portion of the hood and extends downwardly therefrom through which the flashing light is transmitted radially outwardly in all directions.

Abstract: A device for inputting information to a remote computer. The device includes a housing having a base for resting in a support surface and an oppositely facing platform of a size and shape for receiving and supporting the foot of a user. The device further includes sensing means for sensing movement of the foot and for producing motion information indicative of the movement for the computer. The device further includes a switch and a switch actuation surface, the surface facing away from the support surface for engagement with the foot when the foot is supported by the platform.

Abstract: An obstacle detecting apparatus including a light projecting assembly for projecting the laser light generated in a laser light emitting element through a light emitting path, a light introducing assembly for introducing the laser light reflected by an obstacle into a light receiving element through a light receiving path, and a driving motor for driving the light emitting assembly and at least a portion of the light introducing assembly. The light path in the light projecting assembly is different from the light introducing path, and a distance to the obstacle is obtained based on a propagating delay time from emitting the laser light by the laser light emitting element until receiving the laser light by the laser light receiving element.

Abstract: A system for preventing collisions between a vehicle and other objects, the vehicle having a blind side, an opposite driver side, a from end and an opposite rear end, has side ranging capability that determines the distance from the blind side of the vehicle to an object in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into a traffic lane immediately adjacent to the blind side. Rear ranging capabilities are employed to determine the distance from the rear side to an object behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up. A calculating capability, responsive to the side ranging capability and the rear ranging capability, determines when an object is in a lane immediately adjacent to the blind side while the vehicle is in the process of moving into the lane immediately adjacent to the blind side and also determines when an object is behind the vehicle while the vehicle is in the process of backing up.

Abstract: A transponder and sensor apparatus with on-board power supply is mounted in or on a vehicle tire. A pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a tire rotation sensor are mounted in a housing along with the transponder, the power supply and an antenna. Upon receiving an interrogation signal from a remote interrogator, the transponder activates the sensors to sense tire pressure and temperature and then backscatter-modulates the radio frequency signal from the interrogator with the tire condition parameter data from the sensors to return the backscatter modulated signal to the interrogator.

Abstract: An improved system for preventing scattering of glass pieces during a vehicle accident, which is capable of preventing scattering of glass pieces when a vehicle accident occurs, whereby it is possible to protect a driver or passengers in the vehicle from being injured due to the scattering glass pieces. The system includes a high viscosity liquid tank disposed in an engine room and filled with high viscosity liquid, a motor for pumping the high viscosity liquid from the high viscosity liquid tank, a collision detection sensor for detecting a collision of a vehicle, a controller for controlling the motor, and a plurality of spraying nozzles for spraying the high viscosity liquid, whereby the high viscosity liquid is sprayed toward the windshield at the moment of a vehicle accident for bonding the windshield.

Abstract: This invention relates to a monitoring arrangement for a hanging file folder for identifying information contained in an electronic file folder locator system. A hanging file folder, as known in the art, includes a pair of laterally extending support bars along a pair of upper edges of the file folder wherein each upper edge is formed with a channel for holding a respective support bar, and the file folder is formed with a plurality of apertures into one of the upper edge channels at a plurality of spaced locations along that channel. The monitoring arrangement comprises a pair of parallel, substantially horizontal, support rails spaced apart within a file cabinet to suspend the file folder therebetween.

Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a vehicle security sensor and associated sensor bus interface, an alarm indicator and associated alarm indicator bus interface, and an alarm controller and associated alarm controller bus interface for interfacing the alarm controller. The vehicle security system is for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus connecting a plurality of vehicle devices. The security system preferably further includes a desired signal enabling circuit for enabling the alarm controller to operate using a set of desired signals for a desired vehicle from among a plurality of possible sets of signals for different vehicles. Accordingly, the desired signal enabling circuit permits the alarm controller to communicate with the vehicle security sensor and the alarm indicator via the data communications bus so that the alarm controller is capable of operating the alarm indicator responsive to the vehicle security sensor.

Abstract: The device for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined level of contents in a container comprises a sensor, which is so mounted on the container at the level of contents to be monitored that it comes into contact with the contents of the container when the same reach the predetermined level. The sensor is excited to mechanical vibrations at its natural resonant frequency by an exciting arrangement. An evaluating circuit serves for causing indicating and/or switching operations in a manner dependent on whether the frequency of the mechanical vibrations of the sensor is higher or lower than a switching frequency. Associated with the sensor is an electrical circuit element which has a characteristic parameter, whose value bears an unambiguous relationship to the natural resonant frequency of the sensor. In the evaluating circuit the switching frequency is set in accordance with the value of the characteristic parameter of the electrical circuit element.

Abstract: Method and means for preventing trespassing and/or unauthorized staying in an area outdoors or indoors, e.g. in a building, part of a building, in vehicles, vessels, etc., sound signals with periodically varying frequencies with the variation of the frequencies out of phase are transmitted from several sound generators in such directions that the sound waves from the sound generator meet within the area to be protected.

Abstract: A flasher for intermittently operating a third brakelight in response to a predetermined deceleration of a vehicle. The inventive device includes a flasher relay electrically couplable to the power supply line of the third brakelight. A mechanical deceleration sensor is electrically coupled to the flashing relay to effect operation thereof during a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle. The mechanical deceleration sensor is pivotally mounted to the vehicle so as to remain level during traversing of the vehicle over inclined or declined terrain.

Abstract: A barrier device threadably mounts to a cabling aperture on a field mounted transmitter. The field mounted transmitter receives and transmits signals, and is wholly powered by a current loop circuit. The barrier device has a conductive housing with at least a first and a second aperture and a pair of conductors passing through the first aperture of the barrier device, for connecting to a terminal block in the transmitter. A pair of signal terminals, preferably as ring tongue lug, is mounted in the second aperture of the barrier device. The signal terminals are connectable to a handheld communicator, which is used to calibrate, monitor and test the transmitter. A barrier circuit is mounted in the housing and is electrically connected between the signal terminals and the conductors. Signals from the communicator access the terminal block through the barrier circuit, and the barrier circuit limits the power available at the signal terminals.

Abstract: A method for measuring the current in an AC power transmission network, where a measurement quantity is obtained by means of a current transformer and digital samples are converted. To prevent faulty detection of the current due to a decaying DC component of the current transformer, two initial auxiliary measurement quantities that are normal to one another are formed from the digital samples by means of at least two FIR filters, and together with two additional auxiliary measurement quantities that are normal to each other, are used to produce a measured value corresponding to the amplitude of the current. The additional auxiliary measurement quantities are produced from samples formed from an older measurement quantity obtained earlier by a quarter period of the current to be measured. The differential angle is formed from the two measurement quantities. An output signal is generated from the two measured values in an evaluation device when the measured values exceed preset threshold values.

Abstract: A small puff of air is periodically exhausted through a semi-permeable stainless mesh (23) filter upward through the plane of the roadway surface. The puff of air is created by a miniature air pump (14) and timer, typically On one half second and Off 30 seconds. The timing can be adjustable. The puff of air is delivered to the sensor (20) through hose (5). When ice on pavement has formed over the sensor (20), it blocks the release of the air puff. This causes pressure to build up, triggering the pressure switch (16) which then turns on output switch (17) which can then be used to turn on any number of warning devices.

Abstract: A coupling circuit for a power line communications system for coupling information signals from a transmitter unit to a power line and for coupling information signals from the power line to a receiver unit. The coupling circuit includes: (a) a ferrite core coupler for isolating the transmitter unit or the receiver unit from a power line and for coupling information signals from the transmitter unit to the power line and from the power line to the receiver unit, (b) a bandpass filter for selectively passing information signals from the transmitter unit to thew power line and from the power line to the receiver unit, and (c) an impedance matching pad for matching the impedance of the transmitter unit to the impedance at an outlet connected to the power line and to which the transmitter unit is connected and the receiver unit to the impedance at an outlet connected to the power line and to which the receiver unit is connected.