Abstract: A pedestrian safety system for a restaurant having a drive-through lane for an automobile, a pickup window, and a pedestrian door. The system includes lane sensors proximate the pickup window that generate lane data indicate of the proximity and motion of an automobile. A controller is in data communication with the lane sensors and programmed to determine proximity and motion status data regarding an automobile in the drive through lane. A pedestrian visual alert member is positioned proximate the pedestrian door of the restaurant and includes Stop, Go, and Caution indicator lamps. An appropriate lamp is energized by the controller depending if the lane sensors detect an automobile moving downstream in the drive-through lane, stopped at the pick-up window, or the lane is clear. The system may also include pedestrian sensors inside the restaurant and a lane visual alert member having indicator lamps to indicate a status of pedestrian traffic.
Abstract: A slicing machine for cutting slices of a food product includes a machine housing including a circular blade configured to rotate in a cutting plane, a stop plate configured to be move, by an adjustment device, perpendicular to the cutting plane, a carriage mounted such that it is movable parallel to the cutting plane, and a machine status display for displaying an actual status of the slicing machine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 2, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 28, 2017
Assignee:
BIZERBA SE & CO. KG
Inventors:
Ralf Steinhilber, Holger Klinger, Rainer Seemann, Michael Heck, Markus Bodmer
Abstract: A meter device includes an instrument panel, a coaxial motor, a central light source, a peripheral light source, and units. The coaxial motor includes rotation shafts which rotate around a single axis perpendicular to the instrument panel. The central light source is disposed near the rotation shafts. The peripheral light source is disposed more distantly from the rotation shafts than the central light source. The units rotate together with the rotation shafts, respectively. The units includes indicator parts, respectively. Each of the indicator parts guides light to emit the light, thereby indicating a surface of the instrument panel. The units include a first unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a light path which guides light from the central light source to the indicator part.
Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traffic control system, comprising: a) at least one traffic control unit; b) a plurality of traffic signals, wherein each traffic signal comprises a wireless transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving at least one message to/from at least one vehicle; and c) a plurality of vehicles, each comprising a vehicle communication unit comprising i. at least one vehicle wireless transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving at least one message to/from a plurality of vehicles and/or traffic signals; ii. a vehicle display unit; and iii. a vehicle-to-vehicle pairing system comprising one or more wireless messages, visual indicators or a combination thereof, wherein messaging information is transmitted and received between the traffic control unit and the plurality of wireless roadside transceivers and/or the plurality of traffic signals via a network.
Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting a driver to a status of a traffic signal are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes: detecting, by a computing device, that a vehicle is stopped at an intersection with a traffic signal; determining, by the computing device, an attention focus area of a driver of the vehicle; determining, by the computing device, a target display device based on the determined attention focus area; and causing, by the computing device, the determined target display device to display information to alert the driver of a status of the traffic signal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 2015
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2017
Assignee:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Gautam K. Bhat, Gregory J. Boss, Kevin C. McConnell, Minh Q. Pham
Abstract: Communication devices are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a communication device may include a communication module including an illumination source and a body element. The body element may be configured to allow illumination generated by the illumination source to propagate within and illuminate at least a portion of an outer surface of the body element.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 2, 2015
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2017
Assignee:
FINISAR CORPORATION
Inventors:
Rafik Ward, Stephen T. Nelson, Frank Flens, Cindy Hsin-I Hsieh, Lucy G. Hosking, Joshua Moore
Abstract: A method for managing a self-balancing vehicle includes establishing a first Blue Tooth connection with the self-balancing vehicle, acquiring traveling state data of the self-balancing vehicle through the first Blue Tooth connection, determining whether a smart warning mode is enabled, establishing a second Blue Tooth connection with a smart wearable device if the smart warning mode is enabled, acquiring a preset monitored item and a preset warning event, monitoring the monitored item in the traveling state data for determining whether the warning event has occurred, and sending a warning message to the smart wearable device through the second Blue Tooth connection if the warning event has occurred.
Abstract: A safety indicating apparatus is provided for a vehicle that includes a turn direction manual switch, a turn direction detector, two turn signal indicator lamps, and a turn signal control module. The turn signal control module is configured for operatively determining whether the desired turn direction indicated by the desired turn signal is corresponding to the actual turn direction indicated by the actual turn signal while the operator turns the vehicle. Accordingly, the turn signal control module can automatically turn on/off the turn signal indicator lamps in response to the actual turn direction of the vehicle to avoid a near miss or a traffic accident.
Abstract: According to one embodiment, an access door for a hazard detector includes a release member that releasably secures the access door in a closed position over a battery compartment of the hazard detector. The release member allows the access door to be pivoted open and closed relative to the battery compartment and hazard detector. The access door also includes a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member enables the access door to pivot along a first pivot path and by a first pivot amount and the second hinge member enables the access door to pivot along a second pivot path and by a second pivot amount. A cumulative total of the first pivot amount and the second pivot amount is substantially greater than either pivot amount alone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 11, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2017
Assignee:
Google Inc.
Inventors:
Mathias Schmidt, William Dong, Adam Mittleman
Abstract: A device includes a signaling means and a motion sensor, and logic for activating or controlling the signaling means in response to a sensed motion according to an embedded logic. The device may be used as a toy, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. It may be powered from a battery, either chargeable from an AC power source directly or contactless by using induction or by converting electrical energy from harvested kinetic energy. The embedded logic may activate or control the signaling means, predictably or randomly, in response to sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing of a preset threshold or sensing the peak value. The visual means may be a numeric display for displaying a value associated with the count of the number of times the threshold has been exceeded or the peak magnitude of the acceleration sensed.
Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of lamps disposed on a rear portion of the vehicle, a user-actuatable hazard light control component (e.g. a turn-signal stalk) having a plurality of states, and a hazard lamp controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of lamps, the user-actuable hazard light control component, and the user-actuatable hazard light controller. The hazard lamp controller is configured to illuminate the plurality of lamps in accordance with a lighting pattern responsive to the state of the user-actuatable hazard light control component.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 8, 2014
Date of Patent:
October 24, 2017
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Erik C. Nordstrom, Kris S. Sevel, Stephen M. Cichy, Ryan A. Church
Abstract: A device for detecting a pressure change in a tire includes a first temperature sensor located outside the tire, the first temperature sensor being configured to produce a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature, an input apparatus configured to receive the first temperature signal from the first temperatures sensor, and to receive a second temperature signal from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature signal being indicative of a second temperature, and to receive a tire pressure signal from a tire pressure sensor, the tire pressure signal being indicative of a tire pressure of the tire, and a processor configured to output an evaluation signal including information about a change of tire pressure based on the pressure signal and based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal.
Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory, machine-readable media that facilitates home automation control based on individualized audio differentiation of carbon monoxide detectors. Audio characteristics may be determined based on first sensor data. Attributes may be defined based on the audio characteristics. Second audio characteristics may be determined based on the second sensor data. Second attributes may be defined based on the second audio characteristics. Third sensor data may be analyzed to identify a first alarm or a second alarm based on a volume and/or a directionality determined based on the third sensor data. Consequent to identifying the first alarm or the second alarm, a home automation rule may be determined. The home automation rule may include an operational setting of a home automation device. The home automation device may be instructed based on the determined home automation rule via a home automation network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 24, 2017
Assignee:
ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Abstract: An alert warning system. In an aspect, alert lights are configured to provide a visual alert and a sound system is configured to provide an audible alert to an approaching vehicle operator. The visual and audible alerts are responsive to a two-part initiation event. The first part of the event initiates the visual alert when the approaching vehicle reaches a first predetermined distance from a safety target. The second part of the event initiates the audible alert when the approaching vehicle reaches a second predetermined distance from the safety target. The second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.
Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a device configured to receive media content from equipment of a service provider, an activation request from a monitoring service. The activation request is associated with activation of a video camera coupled to the device. The activation request is received based on satisfaction of an alert condition. The method also includes activating the video camera based on data responsive to a prompt. The prompt is presented by the device in response to reception of the activation request.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 10, 2017
Assignee:
AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Inventors:
Steven Belz, James Pratt, Paul Van Vleck
Abstract: A device includes a signaling means and a motion sensor, and logic for activating or controlling the signaling means in response to a sensed motion according to an embedded logic. The device may be used as a toy, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. It may be powered from a battery, either chargeable from an AC power source directly or contactless by using induction or by converting electrical energy from harvested kinetic energy. The embedded logic may activate or control the signaling means, predictably or randomly, in response to sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing of a preset threshold or sensing the peak value. The visual means may be a numeric display for displaying a value associated with the count of the number of times the threshold has been exceeded or the peak magnitude of the acceleration sensed.
Abstract: A system includes a marshalling cabinet, a plurality of junction boxes, and an interface. The marshalling cabinet is configured to source a voltage in a plurality of cables through junction boxes to a plurality of field devices. Each of the junction boxes is configured to detect the voltage from the marshalling cabinet and transmit a detection message upon detecting the voltage. The interface is configured to receive the detection messages from the respective junction boxes that detect the voltage.
Abstract: Apparatus for use with a vehicle is disclosed and comprises an interlock device. The device is adapted to, in use: at least while said vehicle is in motion, periodically generate a prompt; assess motion of said vehicle; at least when said vehicle is assessed by said device to be at rest, carry out an analysis operation wherein a breath sample is received and analyzed; and in the event that, within a predetermined period following a prompt, the device does not, while said vehicle is assessed to be at rest, carry out said analysis operation, enter an alarm state at least when the vehicle is in motion. The device can be adapted to carry out analysis operations only when the vehicle is assessed to be at rest.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 24, 2015
Date of Patent:
September 26, 2017
Assignee:
Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (International) Inc.
Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle and traffic signal-to-vehicle communication system, comprising: a) at least one traffic signal comprising a wireless transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving at least one message to/from at least one vehicle; and b) at least two vehicles, each comprising a vehicle communication unit comprising i. at least one vehicle wireless transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving at least one message to/from a plurality of vehicles and/or traffic signals; ii. a vehicle display unit; and iii. a vehicle-to-vehicle pairing system comprising one or more wireless messages, visual indicators or a combination thereof; wherein the communication system is configured for wireless communication, and wherein information is transmitted and received via the communication system between the at least two vehicles and/or at least one vehicle and at least one traffic signal.
Abstract: A device includes a signaling means and a motion sensor, and logic for activating or controlling the signaling means in response to a sensed motion according to an embedded logic. The device may be used as a toy, and may be shaped like a play ball or as a handheld unit. It may be powered from a battery, either chargeable from an AC power source directly or contactless by using induction or by converting electrical energy from harvested kinetic energy. The embedded logic may activate or control the signaling means, predictably or randomly, in response to sensed acceleration magnitude or direction, such as sensing the crossing of a preset threshold or sensing the peak value. The visual means may be a numeric display for displaying a value associated with the count of the number of times the threshold has been exceeded or the peak magnitude of the acceleration sensed.