Abstract: An alerting apparatus for alerting residents to hazardous gas concentrations, comprising an alarm clock, a gas sensor, a microcontroller, and visual display and auditory speech warning means for producing a wake-up alarm and a hazardous gas warning. When the alerting apparatus detects a dangerous level of carbon monoxide, initial visual display and auditory speech warnings are provided to the user using a digital display and a voice synthesizer. The visual and speech warning messages provide the user with warnings and instructions appropriate to the concentration of gas detected and time of exposure. The user may then retrieve further visual and auditory messages which provide a detailed gas detection event history.

Abstract: An electric assist steering system (10) includes a steering torque sensor (110) and an electric assist variable reluctance motor (26) operatively connected to a steering member. A motor control signal is provided in response to a value of the torque signal for control of the assist motor (26). Energization sequence of the assist motor is dependant upon the relative position of the motor rotor (38) with respect to the motor housing and stator (32). A motor position sensor (54) provides a rotor position signal to (i) a drive control circuit (150) controlling motor energization sequence, and (ii) turn signal control function (130). Turn signal control function (130) controls turn signal indicators (121) in response to the sensed motor position.

Abstract: A self-propelled remotely controlled pilot vehicle adapted for use on raiad tracks to monitor hazardous conditions and obstacles on the railroad tracks. The pilot vehicle precedes a train along the railroad tracks at a distance which will allow the train to come to a complete stop in the event the pilot vehicle encounters a hazardous condition on the track. The pilot vehicle is equipped with a sensor array which measures a variety of different parameters such as the presence of noxious gases, moisture in the atmosphere, breakage in one or both rails of the track and orientation with respect to the force of gravity as well as the yaw, pitch and roll attitude of the tracks upon which the pilot vehicle is riding. The pilot vehicle is also equipped with a television camera which provides a visual image of the railroad track ahead of the pilot vehicle to the engineer of the train. An infrared camera which is mounted on the front of the pilot vehicle generates an infrared image of the tracks.

Abstract: A means for recording the status of a traffic regulating device upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision. Sounds are detected by microphone (10), register on decibel meter (20) and are input to microprocessor (40). The microprocessor (40) simultaneously inputs data from a clock (30) and a signal monitor (50) which continuously reads the status of the lamps of the traffic signal (60). The microprocessor (40) continuously calculates the duration of status of each lamp of the traffic signal (e.g., how long the red light has been "on"). If the sound level registering on the decibel meter (20) exceeds a certain threshold, the microprocessor (40) then transmits the time, lamp status and duration of the lamp status to the hard disk (70), which records this data. Said data can be retrieved from the hard disk (70) by using the keyboard (80) to input a request to the microprocessor (40) which will output the data to the television monitor display (90).

Abstract: A tire pressure sensing system is disclosed for detecting, transmitting and indicating low tire pressure information to a vehicle operator. One embodiment of the invention includes an improved pressure sensing switch comprising a hermetically sealed bladder and membrane switch. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an improved tire pressure sensing system which automatically communicates low tire pressure information as well as tire location information to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: When an ignition switch detects that a key rotor of an ignition key cylinder has been turned to the accessory position by a key, a controller energizes a primary coil to cause it to output a high-frequency signal. In the key, a secondary battery is charged with a constant DC voltage generated from an AC voltage induced across a secondary coil. A transmission circuit is powered by the secondary battery, and allowed by a timer circuit to transmit a radio signal including an identification code during a predetermined period after the high-frequency signal is received by the key. Alternatively, the controller energizes the primary coil plural times with a cycle consisting of predetermined output and pause periods if the transmitted identification code does not coincide with a preset identification code at the first comparing attempt.

Abstract: A method of splaying a shift lever position for an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system having an automatic transmission, a shift lever mechanism, a transmission controller interconnecting the automatic transmission and the shift lever mechanism, a body controller, and a communication bus interconnecting the transmission controller and a body controller, said method comprising the steps of sending a gear position indicator message from the transmission controller to the body controller, determining from the gear position indicator message whether the transmission system is in an automatic or manual mode of operation, indicating a position of the shift lever mechanism if the transmission system is in the automatic mode of operation, and indicating a gear selected of the automatic transmission if the transmission system is in a manual mode of operation.

Abstract: A method and a system for simulating the conditions that are present during an air quality emergency occurring in a nuclear powered electrical generation plant. The system uses an apparatus which includes a continuous air monitor (C.A.M.) alarm simulator and chart recorder simulator. The C.A.M. alarm simulator comprises a beacon, a siren, an acknowledge button, an internal power source and a digital alarm control. The C.A.M. alarm simulator is capable of being programmed to activate at some predetermined time. The chart recorder simulator is comprised of a chart holder with a window formed therein. A chart indicating the simulated level of airborne nuclear radiation contamination is placed inside the chart holder so that it can be viewed though the window. The chart holder is placed in visual proximity to the C.A.M. alarm simulator. Simulating the air quality emergency comprises the following steps: At least one C.A.M.

Abstract: A Head Mounted Display (HMD) having both single viewing capability and group viewing capability is provided. The eyepiece of the HMD can be either converted to a group viewing projector or can be replaced or interchangeable with a group viewing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for alarming of tire deflation is provided in which reliability of an alarm is raised by a manner of alarming slightly when tire deflation is small and detection accuracy of a deflation detection mechanism is small, while alarming largely when tire deflation is large and deflation is detected with large accuracy. The apparatus comprises deflation detection means for detecting tire deflation; vehicle speed detection means for detecting a speed of a vehicle; and alarm means for deciding an alarm level depending on a detected tire deflation and a detected vehicle speed, and providing an alarm at the decided alarm level.

Abstract: A backup aid system, for a vehicle, senses when the vehicle is in reverse gear. Ultrasonic sensors at the rear of the vehicle provide continuous range information to a control module for objects that are detected as being relatively close to the vehicle. A radar system provides range information to the control module for objects detected beyond the range of the ultrasonic system. At low speeds below a predetermined minimum speed level or when the system is placed in the "park" mode for parking, the radar information is ignored and only the ultrasonic information is used to warn the vehicle operator. At a relatively high threshold backup speed, the vehicle operator is immediately warned to slow down, whether or not an object is detected in the vehicle path. Between the lower and upper threshold speeds, both the ultrasonic system and the radar system are used to continuously range and detect any objects that enter their respective detection fields.

Abstract: A fire detection system contains several detectors connected to a control center, some of which are fitted with at least two sensors for monitoring different fire parameters. Preferably, one sensor is a thermal sensor and another is an optical sensor. An arrangement for processing the sensor signals is located within each of the detectors. It contains a microcontroller for conditioning the sensor signals and for signal processing, with the aim of generating alarm signals. The alarm signals are obtained in a neural network.

Abstract: A system for dissipating heat from a power supply enclosed within a housing having an air inlet and outlet. The system includes fans disposed in a plenum structure adapted to fit over the housing to thereby establish air communication between the fans and the housing inlet so that operation of the fans causes air to flow through the inlet, the power supply, and out through the outlet, thereby dissipating heat from the power supply. Each fan is operable independent of any other of the fans. The relationship between the fans may be serial, parallel, or a combination of serial and parallel. The fans are monitored to detect failure of any of the fans and, upon such detection, an alert is activated.

Abstract: A safety driving system detects a driver's alertness, thereby emitting an alarm depending on the detected alertness. The safety driving system comprises an operation detecting section A, which updates monotonousness T each time one of the driver-operated device is operated, and subtracts a weight ni, assigned to the operated device, from a value denoting the monotonousness, a steering detecting section (C) for deriving a steering amount (e.g. SQ), a running position detecting section (A) for detecting a zigzag amount (Rn) denoting a deviation of white lines detected based on an image of a road surface, a fuzzy inference section D inferring driver's alertness using membership functions of the sections (A), (B) and (C), and an alerting section F for emitting an alarm in accordance with the detected driver's alertness. The zigzag amount (Rn) may be determined on the basis of images which are taken by a camera 2 and which indicate white lines on the road surface so as to reliably determine the driver's alertness.

Abstract: An anti-hijack security system which automatically protects the vehicle with anti-hijack after the ignition has been turned off for a predetermined long period of time or after the ignition has been turned off and a door has been opened and closed for a predetermined short period of time. Thus, ensuring the owner to have anti-hijack protection when he returns to his vehicle. The anti-hijack protection system also makes sure that, once triggered, it will perform the anti-hijack trigger sequence even if a door sensing device is damaged or if a door is not closed properly. The system also makes sure that once anti-hijack trigger sequence is in it's last few stages, it cannot be disarmed by simply pressing the arm/disarm switch but can only be disarmed by entering a security code.

Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a controller in the vehicle for generating a plurality of security system condition signals. A local indicator generates a plurality of local security system condition indications adjacent the vehicle based upon respective security system condition signals from the controller. A local transmitter generates transmitted signals based upon respective security system condition signals from the controller. A remote unit or indicator is adapted to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signals from the local transmitter and for generating a plurality of remote security system indications emulating the local security system condition indications generated by the local indicator. In other terms, the remote indicator means mimics or emulates the indications given at the vehicle by the local indicator means.

Abstract: A control mechanism for controlling hazard warning and turn indicator lamps in a vehicle is combined with a control lever in the vicinity of a steering wheel for easy operation. When the control lever is angularly displaced in a first direction, an elevator (displacing member) is displaced in a corresponding direction. At this time, a movable contact is also displaced into contact with hazard warning fixed contacts, turning on a hazard switch to energize turn signal lamps in a hazard warning state. When the control lever is displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction while in the hazard warning state, a turn switch is turned on, thereby electrically canceling the hazard warning state. The hazard warning state is thus automatically canceled upon switching from the hazard warning state to a direction indicating state.

Abstract: An apparatus for warning a user that a radiation source is likely to fail in the near future comprises a radiation source, having a radiance; a detector, responsive to the radiance; a memory, having a radiance measurement unit for collecting radiance data and a failure prediction unit for determining that the radiation source end of life is near; and a processing unit, coupled to the detector and the memory. A method for warning a user that a radiation source is likely to fail in the near future comprises the steps of collecting radiance data from the radiation source; determining if the radiation source's end of life is near; and warning a user if the radiation source's end of life is near.

Abstract: A corrosive gas detecting sensor has a cartridge, a sensor body, and a connecting unit. The cartridge has a sensor element and a memory device. The sensor element changes its characteristic property when the sensor element contacts a corrosive gas, and the memory stores an initial value of the characteristic property of the sensor element. The sensor body has a control unit which detects a change of the characteristic property of the sensor element when the cartridge is connected to the body and outputs an indication of a fire when a rate of the change exceeding a preset reference value, the cartridge is detachably attached to the sensor body. The connecting unit electrically connects the cartridge with the sensor body when the cartridge is attached to the sensor body.

Abstract: Vehicles normally equipped with safety airbags in the steering wheel and dashboard can be modified by deleting the airbags. A method for ensuring that the modifications are properly made, involves the use of an indicator light on the vehicle instrument panel and an electrical circuit that turns the indicator light off when the airbag deletion hardware is properly installed. The electric circuit includes light energizer circuits in the steering wheel and dashboard, and a shorting bar in each energizer circuit.