Abstract: Among the embodiments of the present invention is a system including a pest control device and a magnetic field source external to the pest control device. The pest control device has a bait operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of pest, a pest sensing circuit, and a monitoring circuit coupled to the pest sensing circuit. The monitoring circuit includes a device responsive to a magnetic field provided by the magnetic field source to output status information about the pest sensing circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a monitoring system for remotely monitoring an item or activity, the monitoring system including a recording device for recording a visual record of the item, a communicator for communicating the visual record, and a security device for controlling access to the monitoring system. Also provided is a method of remotely monitoring an item by recording a digital image of the item, communicating the digital image of the item through a communication system, and accessing the digital image using a secured access device.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring device includes a planar circuit board, a sensor, a controller, and an antenna. The sensor is mounted on the circuit board, is adapted for detecting a pressure of a pneumatic tire of a vehicle, and is operable so as to generate a signal that corresponds to the detected pressure of the pneumatic tire of the vehicle. The controller is mounted on the circuit board, and is operable so as to control operation of the tire pressure monitoring device. The antenna is mounted on the circuit board, is operable so as to transmit the signal generated by the sensor, and includes a spiraling antenna section that lies on a plane parallel to the circuit board.

Abstract: Traffic messages are received together with the respective position of the point relating to the message. Only those traffic messages that relate to a selected area together with the respective position of a point related to the traffic message are stored. The positions of the traffic messages are compared with a respective position of the motor vehicle in order to determine distances between the respective positions in the traffic messages and the position of the motor vehicle. The traffic messages are sorted in accordance with distances determined and the traffic messages starting with the smallest distance are outputted. Whether the traffic message is significant for a current direction of travel or for an opposite direction of travel is detected, and only traffic messages that are relevant to the current direction of travel are outputted.

Abstract: A system and methods of the present invention advantageously provide efficient mail processing and handling that, as compared to existing procedures, enhances detection of biological, germ, chemical, or other harmful agents within the mail being processed or handled. A system and methods additionally provide a higher level of quality and consistency for processing and handling mail so that concerns over contamination of postal workers and potential mail recipients are reduced. A system and methods further provide enhanced detection of contaminated mail contents, mail, mail equipment, mail containers, and mail personnel due to exposure or contact with harmful agents associated with mail. The system and methods preferably includes the use of at least one harmful agent sensor associated with mail processing equipment.

Abstract: An interactive local and wide area network system is for communications between the restaurant service elements providing service to a customer and for recording of selected related service data for real time information and for review and analysis and for management control. The wide area network uses distributed data processing for the collection and analysis of related area wide restaurant operations for use in management and control.

Abstract: A nested container establishes a relative hierarchy of associated containers as logistical units. The relative hierarchy comprises lower-layer containers and upper-layer containers relative to the nested container. To do so, the nested container sends interrogation signals to neighboring containers in order to retrieve identification information and layer information. Also, the nested container sends its own information identification information and layer information responsive to received interrogation signals. The nested container outputs the relative hierarchy to, for example, a site server or agent using a hand-held device. The identification module comprises, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) device.

Abstract: A decorative cover for smoke detectors and like devices mounted on a wall or ceiling provides a cover member of a generally opaque material approximately the shape of the device it is covering and somewhat larger than the device to be covered. The cover is provided with a plurality of connector resilient legs fixed to the inside of the cover and extending towards the device to be covered in the pattern to engage selected distributed points of engagement. Cam surfaces on the ends of the resilient legs are position to laterally deflect the respective legs when they contact the distributed points of engagement. Forces imposed by the resilience of the legs while deflected are directed in opposition to one another to maintain frictional engagement at respective points of engagement.

Abstract: An optical display device of a selector lever arrangement with a selector lever mounted in the motor vehicle for shifting between different shifting states of a motor vehicle transmission. The selector lever can be pivoted along at least one shift gate from a first selector lever position into at least one second selector lever position, wherein the optical display device has at least two display elements arranged in different display positions for displaying symbols unambiguously associated with the shifting states and a detection device for detecting the current shifting state. The symbol associated with the current shifting state is always displayed by the first display element during the operation of the display device.

Abstract: A compact particle sensor for detecting suspended particles includes a housing, a light source, a light receiver and a plurality of optical elements. The housing provides a test chamber and includes at least one opening for admitting particles into the test chamber, while simultaneously substantially preventing outside light from entering the test chamber. The light source is positioned for supplying a light beam within the test chamber. The plurality of optical elements are positioned to direct the light beam from the light source to the receiver, which is positioned to receive the light beam supplied by the light source.

Abstract: A vision-based object detection decision-making system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes multiple vision sensing systems (14) that have vision receivers (20) and that generate an object detection signal. A controller (16) includes a plurality of sensing system aid modules (18) that correspond to each of the vision sensing systems (14). The controller (16) operates the sensing system aid modules (18) in response to a vehicle parameter and generates a safety system signal in response to the object detection signal. The sensing system aid modules (18) have associated operating modes and operate the vision sensing systems (14) in the operating modes in response to the vehicle parameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a monitor for sensing and transmitting sounds in a baby's vicinity. The monitor includes a housing having a base and two substantially spaced-apart legs, the housing enclosing acoustical and electrical means for sensing and transmitting the sounds. The monitor is mountable on a support by straddling the support with the substantially spaced-apart legs. The present disclosure also relates to a sound monitoring system. The system includes the monitor, a receiver, and a charger. Further, the present disclosure relates to a method of securedly and releasably mounting the monitor to a support.

Abstract: There is provided a monitoring system for remotely monitoring an item or activity, the monitoring system including a recording device for recording a visual record of the item, a communicator for communicating the visual record, and a security device for controlling access to the monitoring system. Also provided is a method of remotely monitoring an item by recording a digital image of the item, communicating the digital image of the item through a communication system, and accessing the digital image using a secured access device.

Abstract: A probe 10 has internal circuitry capable of operating in a plurality of different modes, for example a variety of filter modes and turn off modes. A switch on the probe sends an input to a controller which is arranged to preset the mode in response to operation of the switch. The switch may be a push button 32 which is operated externally of the probe 10 by means of an actuator in the form of a plunger 34. The probe has a workpiece-contacting stylus 11 mounted on a seat from which it is deflectable. The stylus and the seat may comprise the switch. An indicator, eg an LED 44, indicates the mode in response to an output from the controller. The controller outputs a plurality of indications of different modes in a sequence and a mode is selected by operating the switch once the desired mode is indicated.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting incidents along a roadway are provided. A plurality of readers are spaced at intervals along a roadway for reading uniquely identified data from each of a plurality of vehicles. These readings are correlated to obtain information on each of the vehicles and to determine the number of vehicles potentially affected by incidents along the roadway. Finally, the number of each of the vehicles potentially affected by incidents is compared to a sample threshold in order to determine if a traffic incident has occurred.

Abstract: A circuit (14) for use in a tire (16) of a vehicle (10) having a tire parameter sensing system (12) includes a battery (60) for supplying electrical energy. The battery (60) has an equivalent series resistance (64) that varies inversely with temperature. The circuit (14) further includes a current control device (90) that is responsive to at least one of an output voltage of the battery and temperature for adjusting a current draw from the battery (60) to insure a predetermined minimum output voltage from the battery (60).

Abstract: A wheel position indication system for a vehicle comprising a steerable wheel, a wheel position indicator and a controller. The wheel position indicator has an on state and an off state. The wheel position indicator provides a visual indication of the position of the steerable wheel when the wheel position indicator is in the on state. The wheel position indicator does not provide a visual indication of the position of the steerable wheel when the wheel position indicator is in the off state. The controller selectively alters the wheel position indicator between the on state and the off state. The controller places the wheel position indicator into the on state when the vehicle is in a predetermined driving condition and places the wheel position indicator into the off state when the vehicle is not in the predetermined driving condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for annotating an item with electronic data secures a memory tag to the item. The memory tag has a memory and a transponder to enable wireless communication with the memory tag, and has an external dimension D. The memory tag is adapted for wireless communication only with a transceiver located within a distance of 10D of the memory tag.

Abstract: A combination vehicle alarm and locator device. The device includes a housing, a vehicle alarm activator positioned within the housing including a transmitter for activating an alarm system on a vehicle and an infrared transmitting device located in the housing for communicating with a Global Positioning Satellite system for determining a location of the device. A key ring selectively extends from a side of the housing. The vehicle alarm activator includes an alarm activation button extending from the housing for activating the vehicle alarm activator to transmit the infrared signal. The transmitter device includes a processor, a memory device for storing identification information concerning the device and an activation button for activating the processor to retrieve the identification information from the memory for transmission to the Global Positioning Satellite system.

Abstract: A message display system includes a main housing that is couplable to a vehicle. The main housing has bezel portion designed for encompassing a perimeter edge of a license plate. The main housing has a top display means for presenting a visual message. The top display means is medially positioned on a top portion of the main housing. A receiver portion is operationally coupled to the top display means. The receiver portion is positioned substantially within the housing. The receiver portion facilitates input of a message to be visually presented. A remote transmitter member is designed for receiving user input of a message to be visually presented. The remote transmitter member is operationally couplable to the receiver portion such that the message is communicated from the remote transmitter to the receiver portion.