Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring operation and recording status of at least one battery component of an uninterruptable power supply is provided. Physical parameters of a battery are sensed and stored upon deviation from preselected limits. In addition, the present value of the physical parameters are displayed. Back-up power is supplied upon the interruption of utility power. Furthermore, an operator is signaled with an alarm when utility power is interrupted or there is deviation from preselected battery operation limits.

Abstract: A method of measuring and expressing the unwound amount or residual amount of a web roll, such as carbon film roll or printing paper roll in terms of a unit length of the web roll includes the steps of: starting a count of pulses to be produced by a rotation displacement detecting sensor for each predetermined angle of rotational displacement when the residual amount of the web roll is considered to have been reduced to a predetermined value; and emitting a warning signal when the count reaches a predetermined count number (initially set on the basis of the average value of the amounts of unwinding rotation of the web roll per unit length) during the time when the web roll is unwound and fed by a unit length from the count start time.

Abstract: A portable generator generates a predetermined signal and has an output connected to a first transducer for transmitting the above signal to the body of a first operator (e.g. physician, nurse, etc.); and processing means for analyzing a signal picked up by a second transducer on a second operator (e.g. a patient, etc.) and detecting the significant presence of the above predetermined signal, as a consequence, for example, of direct or indirect contact between the first operator and the second operator.

Abstract: A temperature sensor has a flexible nylon tube connected by a fluid-tight coupling to a metal bellows within a metal housing. The interior of the tube and bellows is filled with a pressurized liquid whose critical temperature corresponds to a threshold temperature to be sensed. The pressurized liquid holds the bellows extended, holding an actuating piston back against the action of a spring. When the threshold temperature is reached, the liquid in the tube must boil and ruptures the tube, causing the bellows to collapse and the actuating piston to move. A projecting actuator then mechanically initiates a response such as the closing of a damper in an air-conditioning duct.

Abstract: A portable generator generates a predetermined signal and has an output connected to a first transducer for transmitting the above signal to the body of a first operator (e.g. physician, nurse, etc.); and processing means for analyzing a signal picked up by a second transducer on a second operator (e.g. a patient, etc.) and detecting the significant presence of the above predetermined signal, as a consequence, for example, of direct or indirect contact between the first operator and the second operator.

Abstract: A combined alarm system and window covering assembly includes a top housing, a bottom rail, a covering, a continuous conductive wire which has a first end and a second end and an alarm device. The alarm device has a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The covering is mechanically coupled to the top housing and the bottom rail. The continuous conductive wire extends from the top housing down to the bottom rail and up from the bottom rail to the top housing. The first and second ends of said continuous conductive wire are electrically coupled to the first and second input terminals of the alarm system. The continuous conductive wire is coupled with the bottom rail as a main pull string for raising and lowering the bottom rail and the covering.

Abstract: A personal safety device controlled by a microprocessor which responds to commands, such as activation and deactivation commands. The microprocessor acts to control sound emitted from two separate speakers. The sound is controlled through digital outputs of the microprocessor such that the sound emitted by the first speaker has a first sinusoidal component sin(a) and the sound emitted by the second speaker has a second sinusoidal component sin(b) yielding a complex tone when perceived by a human ear. The personal safety device further allows for coded deactivation thereby rendering it difficult for a third-party without knowledge of the code, such as a would-be attacker, to deactivate the device. Further, the personal safety device provides a detection circuit for detecting a low battery condition. Finally, a method for operating the device is disclosed.

Abstract: A fixed point for confirmation is photographed by a camera prior to the start of a robot job, to obtain photographing data (S1, S2), a position data is determined from the photographing data (S3), and an error (.DELTA..epsilon.) between the position data and a reference position data (S4) is determined. When this error (.DELTA..epsilon.) exceeds a predetermined tolerance (.epsilon.a), a camera positional dislocation alarm is issued (S6). With this arrangement, the positional dislocation of the camera can be confirmed prior to the start of a job, whereby the job can be safely carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and reporting the presence of liquid on a surface has a detector unit that rests on the surface with the detector unit including at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes for conductively detecting the liquid, with the detector unit resting on the surface via the electrodes, and with the detector unit further including a sensor that is directed toward the surface and serves for optically detecting the liquid. The apparatus also comprises an operations unit, with the detector unit and the operations unit being electrically interconnected.

Abstract: A container has a container cavity bounded by top, bottom, and side walls, as well as a rear wall, with an entrance cavity at forward ends of the side walls, with the side walls having recesses arranged for ease of displacement and removal of a pizza container positioned within the delivery container. Rollers are mounted in a parallel relationship coextensively relative to the top wall for ease of insertion and removal of a pizza container relative to the delivery container. An audio alarm is mounted to the container actuated in response to inclination of the container in use.

Abstract: A battery operated combination burglar alarm and door chime is mounted to the inside of a door. The alarm mode is capable of being armed from either side of the door. A dead bolt slide cooperates with a plate fastened to the door frame to manually arm the device from the inside with the door closed. A plunger slide also cooperates with the plate fastened to the door frame and a mode selection switch to effect either a chime mode or a delayed alarm mode when the door is opened. The delayed alarm mode being activated with the door open to permit pre-arming the device followed by automatic arming of the device when the door is closed. Depending upon the alarm mode of operation selected, unauthorized opening of the door can either lock the door and instantaneously sound an alarm or sound an alarm after a predetermined time when the door is opened. A combination switch deactivates the alarm and chime modes and another switch can alter the combination.

Abstract: In a metal cutting tool wear indicator system, a ratio of an estimated ultrasonic emission signal from a metal cutting process to a measured ultrasonic emission signal, e.g. UE/UE is utilized in place of a prior ratio of horsepower to ultrasonic emission, e.g. HP/UE, together with a continuous revision of the estimator during the cutting process.

Abstract: A shock and vibration detecting device comprising a sensor enclosed in an electromagnetic shielded and dust-proof case to send out a signal to an amplifying circuit constituted mainly by an operational amplifier once it picks up a shock and/or vibration signal. The output of the amplifying circuit is connected to a driving circuit to provide an output signal. A delaying circuit is used to lengthen the active period of the output signal. A voltage regulation circuit provides a regulated and filtered voltage to the above-mentioned circuits.

Abstract: A personal protection device includes a generally dumbbell shaped hollow housing with an operable lever mounted in the central portion of the housing. An electrical circuit within the housing connects first and second switches to a power source and a speaker to produce a high decibel sound when both switches are closed. The first switch is connected to the lever and is maintained in an open position by gripping the housing and lever. The second switch is operable to the open position only upon operating a numeric code or other key lock system. Once the key lock switch has been closed, the speaker will be activated upon release of the lever on the dumbbell. A relay in the electrical circuit will bypass the first switch connected to the lever, once the relay has been activated, so that the speaker cannot be turned off except by opening the lockable second switch.

Abstract: A safety message announcing device is interconnected to a machine so as to make the machine inoperative until the safety message has been announced. A control signal is provided along with the safety message. A control mechanism interconnected to the start switch of the machine will only operate when the control signal is received. The control signal may take the form of multiple fixed frequency tones announced along with the message, with the control mechanism tuned to the tones to only enable the machine when the tones are heard by the control mechanism, thus assuring that the message has been announced as well. The control signal may take the form of a code that must be input by the operator before the machine will operate. This may be done with a visual as well as a sound annunciator.

Abstract: Signals received by an electronic article surveillance system are processed digitally to ascertain the variation in magnitude of successive signals and to prevent the actuation of an alarm when the variation exceeds a predetermined amount; and signals whose frequency components have been phase shifted from a filtering operation are restored by passing them into a signal delay circuit, tapping the delay circuit at several points therealong into associated signal channels selectively amplifying or attenuating the signal in each channel and combining the signals in each channel.

Abstract: A centralized patient monitoring system includes a central station which receives patient information from bedside monitors. The patient information is presented on a video display screen and may include patient demographic information, physiological parameters and a waveform. The display screen is divided into sectors, with each sector containing information for one patient. When an alarm condition occurs at one of the bedside monitors, the alarm condition is transmitted to the central station and is displayed in the corresponding sector of the video display screen. In addition, the alarm condition is highlighted by changing the background in the alarming sector from its normal color, typically black, to a neutral color such as blue, which is easily distinguishable from the normal color and which does not obscure the patient information being displayed. The background of the sector is changed back to the normal color when the alarm is acknowledged by a user.

Abstract: An article tracking system includes a delivery zone transmitter associated with at least one physical article delivery location for transmitting data identifying that physical location, a zone detector carried by at least one manually operated article delivery vehicle for detecting the physical proximity of the vehicle to the delivery zone, and a signal device operatively associated with the zone detector for outputting a signal indicating the physical proximity of the vehicle to the delivery zone. Therefore, an operator of the vehicle is informed that the vehicle is in the proper delivery zone for delivery of an article.

Abstract: A responder assembly for an article inventory control system employs a plurality of sensors for detection of sensitized markers attached to inventory items. By processing signals from each of the plurality of sensors, a detection pattern is provided to determine whether none, one, or more than one marker is present within a zone of sensitivity.

Abstract: A gauze-counting apparatus for surgical use, includes a support frame on is mounted a receiver hopper and a recording chamber. The hopper has a minimum passage section for a single gauze in which is mounted a photoelectric cell, coplanar fashion, the beam of which is broken by the passage of each gauze. The recording chamber includes a power supply, a counter connected to the photoelectric cell, an alarm that is activated when the counter reaches a preset number, and a functioning indicator.