Abstract: A portable alarm device which comprises an enclosed compartment within which a spring-loaded triggering device may be locked into an alarm position by a magnetic field and held there until properly switched off. The apparatus further comprises a battery power supply and locking apparatus for locking it into a disarmed position.

Abstract: An auto-drive control unit which can switch a vehicle provided with an auto-drive mode from the auto-drive mode to a manual drive mode at a desired point. Based on detection signals from various types of sensors, an auto-drive controller controls an actuator to perform auto-drive. A changeover switch is provided to switch between the auto-drive and manual drive. The current position of the vehicle is detected by a GPS, and the controller calculates the time to reach the desired point. According to a shifting time to complete the shift to the manual drive, timing for operating the changeover switch is determined, and a message is shown on a warning display to urge a driver to operate the switch. When it is judged that the changeover cannot be completed in time, the controller forcedly decelerate the vehicle.

Abstract: A two-way medical telemetry system is provided for displaying and monitoring, at a central location, physiologic and other patient data of multiple, remotely-located patients. The system comprises multiple battery-powered remote telemeters, each of which is worn by a respective patient, and a central station which receives, displays and monitors the patient data received (via RF) from the remote telemeters. The telemeters communicate with the central station using a two-way TDMA protocol which permits the time sharing of timeslots, and which uses a contention slot to permit telemeters to transmit service requests to the central station. Two-way spacial diversity is provided using only one antenna and one transceiver on each remote telemeter. The remote telemeters include circuitry for turning off the active transceiver components thereof when not in use (to conserve battery power), and include circuitry for performing a rapid, low-power frequency lock cycle upon power-up.

Abstract: Wheel speed values for each of four wheels are collected and analyzed for a statistical variation which would indicate low tire pressure. Prior to analysis, and following reset of the system, calibration factors are determined for each of the wheels to compensate rolling radius variations, and subsequently used to correct all wheel speed values. The corrected speed values are then filtered to exclude values which represent wheel slippage, rough road fluctuations, vehicle cornering, and uphill or downhill travel. When a sufficient number of values have been collected, an F-value is calculated substantially according to the statistical method "analysis of the variance", and the F-value is compared to an empirically determined value corresponding to a predetermined pressure loss. This comparison can provide the basis for a driver warning. Since a larger F-value indicates a larger statistical difference in wheel speeds, the value can be rechecked after a further interval for additional pressure loss.

Abstract: For security against theft or for identification of products using an electronic alternating field in an interrogation zone, a pulse generator, upon magnetic reversal due to a Barkhausen jump, exhibits an impulse behavior that produces characteristic harmonics and largely prevents confusion with other magnetically soft materials in the interrogation zone. This pulse generator is formed of an amorphous strip or an amorphous wire with a cobalt content of at least 20 at-%, subjected to a heat treatment by a current flowing through the strip or wire, to produce a ratio of remanence induction to saturation induction of between 0.2 and 0.9.

Abstract: A bird's eye view commonly used in a flight simulation is applicable to an apparatus and method for navigating a vehicle running on a set route of travel to a set destination using a (color) display unit according to the present invention. The bird's eye view of a road map surrounding a present position of the vehicle has a viewing point placed at a predetermined position on an upper sky in a direction opposite to the set destination with the present position of the vehicle as a reference and has a line of sight looking down over the road map so that a part of the road map surrounding the present position of the vehicle can be viewed in an extended scale form and the remaining part of the road map remote from the present position and nearer to the set destination can be viewed in a gradually reduction scale form.

Abstract: An engineering unit converter system for converting an analog measurement into an engineering value. An analog measurement of a physical quantity is transformed into a digital value. The digital value is then split into a high order digit and a lower order digit. The high order digit is used as an address to a memory device for fetching a line segment coefficient and a line segment offset coefficient. The lower order digit is multiplied with the line segment coefficient in a multiplier resulting in a product. The product is added to the line segment coefficient offset resulting in a sum whose value is an engineering unit. One embodiment is directed to converting temperature measurements into engineering units via thermocouples. This embodiment includes: thermocouple devices, resistance thermal devices or positive temperature coefficient thermistors, adders, multipliers, and memory devices (readable and writable memory devices).

Abstract: A wireless remote control transmitter for remotely controlling the operation of home entertainment devices. In one embodiment, the transmitter comprises a generally rectangular housing having a top end, a bottom end, a front, a back, a right side and a left side. An L-shaped printed circuit board is disposed within the housing, the board having a front portion and a right side portion. The printed circuit board includes a first LED adapted to transmit a beam of infrared light through a window in the top end of the housing, a second LED adapted to transmit a beam of infrared light through a window in the right side of the housing, suitable electronics and a printed circuit coupling the LED's to the electronics. A first keyboard, whose keys are accessible from the front of the housing, is positioned over the front of the printed circuit board. A second keyboard, whose keys are accessible from the right side of the housing, is positioned over the right portion of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A load insulator 2, for interposition into a loaded line, comprises a plurality of mechanical links 4 connected together to form a chain, and an electrical insulator 8 arranged between a pair of adjacent interlocked links 10,12 in the form of an insert of insulative material to electrically isolate the links 10,12 of the pair from each other. A load sensing device may be provided for sensing the strain on the mechanical link. A measuring device 24 for measuring the resistance of the insulator 8 is provided to check the electrical condition of the load insulator, whilst a recording and indicating device allows for recording of electrical strikes and provide a lifetime expiry indicator.

Abstract: A refereeing aid system for ball games in which refereeing is performed by a referee in charge together with at least one auxiliary judge, both present on the playing field, includes a communications device held by the referee enabling refereeing data to be input and communicated to a management device disposed in the vicinity of the playing field and connected to a central computer which centralizes data from a plurality of management devices present at different playing fields. The management device also include an input for confidential personal data relating to each participant in the game.

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 thin, portable, lightweight electronic name and address cardfile optionally including memo alarm, calendar and calculator functions, is provided with a contact and movement sensitive scrolling mechanism for sequentially advancing electronically simulated name and address cards in the style of bottom-attachable index cards. The scrolling function is accomplished by manipulating a graphic representation of a rotary actuator of the type provided on a mechanical rotary-type directory. The simulated card-flipping is accompanied by an artificial sound effect reminiscent of the expected sound of cards flipping. The device may be provided with holes positioned so as to render the device insertable within a loose-leaf ring-type binder notebook or personal organizer.

Abstract: A method for determining the speed of a vehicle using a camera. The method automatically compensates an apparent speed determination for inaccuracies due to the position of the camera with respect to the vehicle. The invention also includes a method for calibrating a camera to compensate for inaccuracies due to the position of the camera.

Abstract: Described is a preferred wireless system for unlatching the door of a residence. The system includes a solenoid/strike plate assembly controlled by a receiver unit which in turn is controlled by RF or other electromagnetic signals. The preferred system is readily retrofit into existing residential structures with a single bore into the door jamb into which the solenoid/strike plate assembly is mounted, and includes a minimum of moving parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for assisting to mount various detachable packages in electronic equipment which achieves a variety of functions by mounting the packages to a shelf. A first object of the present invention is to provide an assisting apparatus which is configured so that all packages needed for a desired service can surely be mounted and unnecessary packages are not mounted. A plurality of packages cannot achieve a predetermined function if even one of them is not mounted to the shelf. Therefore, when at least one of the plural packages is mounted to the shelf, first display means perform first display to urge the user to mount the remaining packages on the basis of the mounting state when at least one of the plural packages is mounted to the shelf. The first display is performed by, for example, the lighting of a LED. When all of the plural packages are mounted, a predetermined function can be achieved.

Abstract: The two channel remote control system activates the engine of an automobile and also activates predetermined accessories in the automobile such as a heater or an air-conditioner. A first paging system is activated by telephonic inputs originating from a user. This first paging system generates a start remote command. A first paging receiver is mounted in the automobile and receives the start remote paging command. The first paging receiver is acoustically or optically coupled to an audio receiver which is mounted in the automobile. The audio receiver, receiving the start remote command, triggers a controller circuit, a timing circuit, an ignition control circuit and a start motor circuit. The timing circuit generates periodic ignition trigger signals for the ignition control circuit. These trigger signals are generated a predetermined number of times. The timing circuit generates an ignition OFF signal after a predetermined period after receipt of the start remote command.

Abstract: A system and method that monitors four wheel sensors of an automotive vehicle to determined changes in the effective rolling radii of any wheel and a low pressure tire condition. Certain vehicle operating conditions, such as excessive or very low speeds, braking, and turns, are determined from the sensor outputs and are used to prevent erroneous detection of changes in effective rolling radii. Data from the sensors that is determined to be acceptable is accumulated over time as displacement values for each wheel. When the displacement values exceed a predetermined value, a metric function is used to compare differences detected in accumulated displacement values for the front pair of wheels and for the rear pair of wheels. If the difference between compared pairs of wheels is excessive, as compared with a predetermined baseline metric value, a low tire condition is detected.

Abstract: A method for automatically categorizing the general variety of motor-vehicle types moving through a given checkpoint, according to their predominant characteristics; basically involving features such as length, height, axle count, existence of a trailer, and specific envelop contour (i.e.--motorcycle, car, truck, bus, limousine, etc.). Advantageously employing Doppler-based CW-radar for ultimate real-time accuracy, resolving even closely spaced vehicles having differing acceleration/deceleration rates; the system will establish a vehicle's classification during stop-and-go or at speed. Real-time velocity information is read from successively radar targeted vehicles, while combined with real-time information acquired via at least one special electronic profiling-window apparatus employing beam emitters/receptors or lasers in making incremental transverse-slice readings of traversing vehicles.

Abstract: There is disclosed a methodology for measuring the magnetic field strengths of fundamental and harmonic frequencies associated with a.c. electrical current flows over a protracted period of time; and, particularly, in hostile environments. A preferable application calls for the determination of the field strengths associated with electrical currents flowing in a.c. power, distribution lines of utilities. The monitoring instrument is positioned in relation to the power lines to be monitored, typically at the base of a pole immediately adjacent the pole of the power line or on a power line supporting pole itself. In order to provide for long term, powering of the monitoring device, d.c. power is developed utilizing the a.c. power that is present. The conversion from a.c. to d.c. is effected at a distance sufficiently far from the monitoring instrument so as not to have any consequence on the readings that are being taken.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system for a vehicle has a vehicle steering sensor for sensing a direction in which the vehicle is being steered, a source of radiation, an articulated reflector for directing radiation from the source in a desired direction, an articulation mechanism for effecting articulation of the articulate reflector, and a close loop control circuit responsive to the vehicle steering sensor for controlling the articulation mechanism so as to cause the articulated reflector to direct radiation in a direction which is generally the same as that direction in which the vehicle is turning.