Abstract: A driving behavior monitoring system mountable within a vehicle and having a board member on which are mounted first and second accelerometer devices for measuring acceleration in mutually orthogonal directions. Each accelerometer device includes an arm member in the form of a generally L-shaped crank or elbow. The crank is pivotable at the elbow joint thereof, and one arm of the crank is provided with a weight at the end thereof with the other arm having the free end thereof attached to one end of a tension spring, the other end of which is fixedly attached to the board member. A pair of electrical switch contacts are positioned in spaced relation on either side of the spring, with each contact being placed at approximately the same distance from the axial centerline of the spring. Movement of the weight translates to deflection of the spring in a direction orthogonal to its axis.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for a power plant including a plurality of direct current sources, includes a unit for displaying a predetermined number of symbols representing the direct current sources, and a unit for changing a displayed form of a corresponding symbol when at least one physical quantity of the states of the direct current sources changes.

Abstract: A deceleration magnitude detecting and signaling device for alerting a driver of a following vehicle of the occurrence and magnitude of deceleration of a lead vehicle. A deceleration sensor unit, in circuit between a series of lamp assemblies and a power supply, causes said lamp assemblies to incrementally illuminate in response to increases in deceleration. A signaling unit, affixed to the rear of the lead vehicle, comprises a plurality of light panels which are illuminated by the lamp assemblies in response to increases in deceleration. An infra-red receiver mounted in the following vehicle is capable, upon receiving a signal from an infra-red transmitter mounted upon the lead vehicle, of signaling an engine management override system which is mounted in the following vehicle to automatically decelerate said following vehicle in response to sudden deceleration of the lead vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle's position is determined, normally within .+-.0.37 inches, relative to an imaginary center line of a road lane along which are buried, normally about every 13 feet, completely passive resonant circuits, normally each a simple, inexpensive and durable 1-turn 11.5" diameter shallow loop of #12 copper wire in series with a proper capacitor, nominally 10 nanofarads, for resonance. In-lane positional determination is in and by a phase detection circuit, and process. A low-power r.f. electromagnetic field, normally 1.9432 MHz, is maintained in a (i) vertically- or (ii) horizontally-oriented first loop, normally a 6-turn 6-inch coil. Resonance is electromagnetically induced in nearby road coils; radiated fields are not involved. The induced r.f. field is itself then detected in a another, second, loop means within the vehicle.

Abstract: A sensor linked with a power cable to produce a first signal in response to the presence of at least one of a sensed current and a sensed voltage within the power cable. The measuring circuit is electrically connected to the sensor to produce a second signal in response to the first signal representative of the magnitude of at least one of the sensed current and the sensed voltage within the power cable. The measuring circuit also produces a third signal in response to the first signal representative of a sensed frequency of at least one of the sensed current and the sensed voltage within the power cable. The measuring circuit includes a model of a set of predetermined relationships between a plurality of reference frequencies and a reference amplitude for each of the reference frequencies for at least one of the sensed voltage and the sensed current of the power cable.

Abstract: A battery capacity meter for a battery includes a controller, a display unit for displaying a present dischargeable absolute capacity of the battery and a display light for displaying a condition of the battery under which the present dischargeable absolute capacity of the battery amounts to a maximum of chargeable absolute capacity of the battery. The present dischargeable absolute capacity and the maximum of chargeable absolute capacity of the battery are calculated on a basis of a charging or discharging current and a temperature of the battery. Since the battery capacity meter can display both of the present dischargeable absolute capacity and the maximum of chargeable absolute capacity under the temperature of the battery at charging, it is possible for a driver to confirm the chargeable absolute capacity as a residual capacity of the battery during using it.

Abstract: A passive marker is placed adjacent to a structure in order to locate that structure after burial. The marker has a tuned circuit arrangement contained within a housing. The tuned circuit arrangement has plural tuned circuits that are oriented substantially orthogonally to each other. A multidirectional response pattern is produced by the tuned circuit arrangement, which pattern is broader than the directional response pattern of a single tuned circuit. The housing is divided into two hemispheres for ease of assembly. Each hemisphere has channels formed therein for receiving the respective tuned circuits. The channels can be formed by the exterior wall of the housing, interior walls of the housing, or in an interior spherical mandrel.

Abstract: A FM (VHF) infrared wireless digital metal detector is disclosed having a sealed aluminum radiation shield and dielectric case, with a infrared phototransistor detector and krypton bulb arranged to relay detection data to meter within a clustered instrument combination down in front of metal detector unit.

Abstract: A rotary unit and illumination unit for a 3-side variable advertisement display board is disclosed. It has a frame made up of a lower groove and two lateral hollow tubes and fixed to a supporting leg by welding. Light tubes are fixed inside triangular hollow columns by rubber pads screwed to an upper member. A cross-head shaft passing through the worms of a worm gear disposed inside a lower supporting member and connected to a rectangular axle on top of the lower supporting member, is joined to a gearing wheel which driven by a driving wheel actuated by a motor, will cause the movement of the cross-head shaft, resulting in the rotation of the triangular hollow columns. An ultra-red ray sensor is used to signal the stop movement of the triangular hollow columns, a timer and a rectifier are used to preset and control the regular movement of the triangular hollow columns.

Abstract: A light detection apparatus includes a light detector using a photoelectric converter such as a photodiode. The light detector has a selective viewport that limits the field of view observed by the photoelectric converter. The photoelectric converter generates a current signal based on the light received through the selective viewport. Using current-mode amplification, a current amplifier generates an amplified current signal based on the current signal received from the photoelectric converter. A switch coupled to receive the amplified current signal from the current amplifier, generates an output signal based on the amplified current signal. The switch can be implemented to generate the output signal with predetermined logic levels compatible with a desired logic family.

Abstract: A two-terminal integrated circuit magnetic-field detector, for use in detecting a low level of a liquid in a vehicle, has a Hall element, a Schmitt type comparator, an anti-sloshing accumulator such as an up-down counter, and a latching driver all connected in tandem. The anti-sloshing accumulator is for producing a signal that is the integral as a function of time of the binary comparator output signal. During sloshing, when the average liquid level is near that at which a low-level warning signal is desired, the accumulator signal climbs in a vacillating manner. The latching driver is connected across the two integrated circuit (I.C.) terminals and latches on when the accumulator signal reaches a predetermined value, dropping the impedance across the two I.C terminals. A liquid level indicating lamp is connected in series with a source of DC voltage and the two I.C. terminals, so that when the average position of the floating magnet approaches that of the I.C.

Abstract: A moving body monitoring apparatus for examining whether a moving body includes communication means or not or examining whether the moving body has particular information or not.

Abstract: An anti-vehicle-thief apparatus having an immobilizer unit for comparing a specific first code received from a transponder to a stored code just after an engine is started, and when these codes are identical, outputting a second code to an EGI unit, the EGI unit for comparing the second code to a stored code, and when these codes are identical, permitting the engine to continue operation, a CPU for counting the number of times that an ignition switch power supply is turned ON and OFF during a code comparison time period, and backup RAM capable of storing the counted number of times that the ignition switch power supply is turned ON and OFF for a predetermined time period. When the ignition switch power supply is turned ON and OFF repeatedly more than a predetermined number of times, the EGI unit causes the engine to stop.

Abstract: A compatible interface for an installation to control household machines that comprises an omnibus line having at least two first line wires used for a supply current, information signals being transmitted on the two first wires and/or on two second line wires, wherein said interface comprises: a circuit to recognize whether information signals are sent on the two first wires or on the two second wires and to transmit a reception identification signal to a household machine; and a current regulation circuit connected to the two first wires to give a stabilized current supply even if information signals are transmitted on the two second wires. Applications include control of household (home automation), industrial, or professional installations.

Abstract: In a method for recognizing disruptions in road traffic within a road sector that is to be monitored at respective measurement cross-sections at the beginning and at the end of the sector, the number and the speed of the vehicles passing through the measurement cross-sections are continuously acquired as measured data, which are collected and compiled cyclically during finite measurement intervals to provide average values of the traffic flow and the speed, and are then evaluated. Each measurement cross-section thereby encompasses all lanes of traffic that can be used in one direction of travel.

Abstract: A security apparatus for buildings, vehicles and the like includes a switch mounted adjacent to a closure access member. A housing mounted adjacent to the closure access member receives a member movable between first and second positions. When the movable member is in the first position, a magnet mounted in the member is disposed in close proximity to the switch to magnetically move the switch contact to an open position. When the movable member is moved to a second position, the magnet is magnetically decoupled from the switch enabling the switch contact to close to ground completing a circuit to activating the alarm. In another embodiment, the magnet is mounted in a body. A rod extends from the body and carries a holder and a lock cylinder engagement member at another end. The lock cylinder engagement member is releasibly insertible into a lock cylinder to position the magnet adjacent to a switch mounted on the closure member.

Abstract: An emergency vehicle sound-actuated traffic controller including an intersection of at least two roads with a plurality of traffic lights for directing traffic therethrough. The traffic lights have a conventional control box for the controlling thereof. Further provided is a microphone adapted to receive audio signals and further adapted to convert the audio signals to electrical pulses. Finally, control circuitry is electrically connected to the microphone and includes a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism includes a pair of contacts coupled to the control box. In operation, the switching mechanism has a first orientation with the contacts thereof open thereby allowing normal operation of the control box and the traffic lights and a second orientation with the contacts abutting each other thereby instructing the control box to direct all of the traffic lights to turn constant red.

Abstract: A passive arming vehicle alarm system has a valet mode which is activated or deactivated by wireless remote control, thus avoiding the need for hiding a valet switch in the vehicle and subjecting the vehicle to attack at the valet switch. The wireless remote control is also used deactivate the alarm when the alarm is sounding, by depressing any of the buttons on the wireless remote control, regardless of the primary function of the button. As a result, the alarm may be quickly deactivated. The alarm also features progressive passive arming; the alarm emits a brief signal such as a siren chirp as a warning, prior to passively self-arming. As a result, the owner/operator will be warned that the vehicle is about to passively arm and may prevent passive arming (e.g., by opening a door) if it is undesired.

Abstract: A thermal emitted radiation detecting device is configured to detect objects in visual blind spots of a vehicle. A low cost differential detector is used which is sensitive to temperature change. Optics train two different fields of view on the detector and switch between the two fields of view to provide a blind spot field of view and a reference field of view. The presence of a vehicle in the blind spot field of view results in a temperature difference between the two fields of view. The resulting detector output signal is compared to predetermined threshold levels and then used to provide an indication, either visual or audible. Several embodiments of optics and switching fields of view are provided.

Abstract: There is provided a synchronous strobe system for synchronizing a flash rate of a plurality of strobe devices positioned along a loop of an alarm system. After the alarm system is energized and activated, a control panel of the synchronous strobe system will transmit a synchronization signal or pulse along the loop at periodic time intervals. Each synchronization signal is detected by a electronic circuit of the strobe device, including a microcontroller. Upon detection of each synchronization signal, the microcontroller determines whether to operate the strobe device in Sync required mode or Sync not required mode. For Sync required mode, the synchronization signal must be detected by the strobe device to flash a strobe light of the strobe device. Otherwise, the microcontroller waits for the next synchronization signal before attempting to flash the strobe light.