Abstract: This process is adapted for at least two groups of antennas (4, 6). A modulated signal is emitted by a first group of antennas (4) whilst the antennas (6) of a second group emit a similar modulated parasitic signal but of less amplitude. An unmodulated signal of an amplitude comprised between the amplitude of the parasitic signal and the amplitude of the signal emitted by the first group of antennas (4) is superposed on the parasitic signal emitted by the antennas (6) of the second group. Application to a free hand system for access and/or starting of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A fingerprint identification system for a motor vehicle includes an ignition mode setting unit, a matching board and an engine control unit. The ignition mode setting unit identifies an ignition mode, scans and reads an input fingerprint, and sets and deletes a registered fingerprint. The matching board stores the registered fingerprint and compares the input fingerprint with the registered fingerprint to output an output signal. The engine control unit receives the output signal to output a control signal for controlling a key lock/release and a steering wheel lock/release.

Abstract: An impaired person is provided with a personalized accessibility device, which communicates an identification of a disability or impairment to an assistance device, which provides assistance. Also provided is a method and apparatus for providing feedback to a person with impairment. The feedback may be configured based on the type and extent of impairment, as well as personal preferences, such as a preferred language. The assistance device may also request a response from the disabled or impaired person, thus solving the person's Special Needs in a conversational manner without calling attention to the impairment.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (“RFID”) device for increasing tag activation distance comprises a first exciter electrode (2), a second exciter electrode (21), a dielectric substrate (3), and a first exciter voltage source (4). The second exciter electrode is positioned behind the first exciter electrode. The dielectric substrate is disposed between the first and second exciter electrodes. The dielectric substrate isolates the first exciter electrode from the second exciter electrode. The first exciter voltage source is coupled to at least one of the first exciter electrode and the second exciter electrode.

Abstract: A key and lock device comprises a key and a standalone lock. The key has an electronic circuitry with a first memory and a contact. The lock has electronic circuitry with a memory, and a contact arranged to co-operate with the key's first contact. A blocking mechanism is adapted to block operation of the lock unless an authorized key is inserted in the lock. The memory of the key stores a public identification item of the key identifying a group of keys having identical mechanical codes. In the memory of the lock, there is provided a list of the public and secret identification items of authorized keys and a list of the public identification item of non-authorized keys. A key is authorized if the public and secret identification items are present in the list of authorized keys and the public identification item thereof is absent in the list of non-authorized keys.

Abstract: A mobile phone has a display and a keypad which comprises a plurality of keys. Each key has associated with it a plurality of different symbols. The keypad is used to enter symbols in the form of Pinyin strings (25) into the display which are then used to determine a candidate list (26) of Chinese characters which are presented in the display. Symbols are entered into the display by pressing respective keys once or more than one times in rapid succession. Selection of a symbol is only permitted if it corresponds to a valid Pinyin string (25), either in isolation or in combination with one or more symbols entered in a previous selection. Characters chosen from the candidate list are entered into a message (24) in the display.

Abstract: An RF transmitter capable of transmitting a plurality of different codes at a plurality of different frequencies is set forth herein. The transmitter offers a new way of multiplexing inputs so that fewer controller I/O ports are needed to read or determine the state of a plurality of inputs. More particularly, the controller is capable of using one pin as both an input port and output port and determines the state of various inputs by detecting changes to the I/O pin. The multiple inputs connected to the controller pin are also connected to a pull down resistor and capacitor, and the controller can determine what state the inputs are in by detecting whether the pin input is at a logic high, low, or some state in between.

Abstract: An object circuit for use in an r.f. identification system for locating a specific object by generating identification signals of a specific frequency assigned to a given object, said object circuit including a receiving antenna, a crystal coupled to said receiving antenna, said crystal having a resonant frequency equal to the frequency assigned to the associated object, and circuitry coupled to said crystal for responding to a signal of said assigned frequency received by said object circuit.

Abstract: During a communication operation in a transponder system, consisting of a write/read station (1) and at least one transponder (2), a selection data block (SDB) is transmitted from the station (1) to at least one transponder (2) and, in response to the received selection data block (SDB), at least one transponder (2) transmits an identification data block (IDB) to the station (1), after which the station (1) transmits, in response to the identification data block (IDB), an acknowledge data block (QDB) to a transponder (2), the bit configuration of the acknowledge data block (QDB) being formed while using only a part (PM1) of the identification data block (IDB) associated with a transponder (2).

Abstract: The disclosure describes a communication device and a transponder adapted to provide contactless communication with the communication device include time-value determiner with the aid of which at least one time value can be determined, which time value is representative of at least a part of the communication time interval which starts at a starting instant and ends at an ending instant, in which communication time interval communication between the communication device and the transponder is possible.

Abstract: Smart cards systems that are utilized in biometric authentication are slow in processing and have the cards themselves have the added disadvantage of being misplaced or lost. Moreover, storing biometric data (on a database) over a network poses security issues that in extreme instances can be compromised. Significant security can be achieved if the biometric templates are stored locally in a portable device. A user can use the portable device to either transmit wirelessly the stored biometric for authentication purposes, or a user can locally measure a biometric using the portable device and match it against a biometric which is also stored locally (in the portable device).

Abstract: A communication system (10) uses commercial, mass market paging transmission facilities (16) to deliver messages (18′) to a population of reception devices (22). Each reception device (22) includes a display screen (48) at which lines (72) of national and local news and advertising, a banner advertising box (74) and a clock (76) are displayed. Line buttons (54′) are aligned with the displayed lines (72). The reception device (22) is configured so that a user may press a line button (54′) aligned with a particular line (72) scrolling on the display screen (48) to view additional details related to the subject matter of the particular line (72). Selected lines (72) include alert activating codes (42) which signal the reception device (22), when enabled, to activate an alert which attracts the user's attention to those selected lines (72).

Abstract: A switch for routing input signals from any of N input terminals to one or more of M output terminals includes a high-speed N×M crosspoint switch array providing the necessary signal paths. Each of a set of N input drivers buffers a separate one of the input signals into the crosspoint array and each of a set of M output drivers buffers an array output signal onto a separate one of the output terminals. The crosspoint switch array is horizontally and/or vertically segmented by input and output buffers to limit the amount of the array's capacitance that each input driver must charge and discharge when the input signals change state, thereby reducing signal path delay through the crosspoint array.

Abstract: A system for increasing transaction security across existing infrastructure is provided. A user bio-metric sensor device is integrated into a credit or debit card. A display unit provides a key, preferably encrypted, upon successful utilization of the sensor device. Included in the key generation mechanism is an indicator of the transaction number or other sequential count indicative of card use. An authorization service decrypts the key in a manner at least partially dependent upon a second sequential count maintained in sync with the first count to determine whether the use is authorized.

Abstract: A transmitter 16, receiver 20 and control circuit 10are provided on a mobile unit, and a response circuit 26, 28, 30 and a control circuit 32, 34, 30 are provided on a portable unit. Priorities are assigned to the transmission of a recognition signal by the response circuit and the transmission of a recognition signal by the operation circuit, and by so doing the transmission from the operation circuit is given priority and performed first if both transmissions are requested simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for receiving messages in an appliance such as a clock radio modified to retrieve messages from a remote computer, converting the retrieved messages into corresponding audio messages, generating a wake up signal to the user at a selected time in the radio appliance, starting the delivery of the audio messages from a speaker in the radio appliance in response to the generated wake up signal, and receiving audible commands in the radio from the user to control delivery of the messages. In a first embodiment, these method steps are performed in the radio appliance and, in a second embodiment, a remote computer performs all of the messages except delivery of the audio messages and receiving audible commands which occur at the appliance. Where two or more appliances are used, audio commands can cause the delivery of messages to stop in one appliance and resume in another appliance.

Abstract: System for tracking mobile tags. Cell controllers with multiple antenna modules generate a carrier signal which is received by the tags. Tags shift the frequency of the carrier signal, modulate an identification code onto it, and transmit the resulting tag signal at randomized intervals. The antennas receive and process the response, and determine the presence of the tags by proximity and triangulation. The recursive-least squares (RLS) technique is used in filtering received signals. Distance of a tag from an antenna is calculated by measuring the round trip signal time. The cell controllers send data from the antenna to a host computer. The host computer collects the data and resolves them into positional estimates. A combined infrastructure including a wireless communication system and the local positioning system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An interface assembly with an animated character/prop has at least one speaker for generating language and mechanisms for generating correlated movement. A logic controlling device has a plurality of inputs and outputs and is adapted to configure and synchronize message request signals from the various sensors, relays, thermostats, user controls and the like, with the appropriate audible words and movement commands from the generating devices as required to convey messages relating to the environment to the user. The interface assembly provides an audio component adapted to receive output signals from the logic controlling device to actuate the speaker. The interface assembly provides a movement component adapted to receive output signals from the logic controlling device to actuate the mechanisms for generating movement. The interface assembly provides a drive converter assembly operatively coupled to and adapted to convert and transfer signals between the movement component and the character/prop.

Abstract: A vehicle door lock system has a lock mechanism for locking or unlocking the vehicle door. A control mechanism for controlling an operation of the lock mechanism includes first and second resonators. The first resonator resonates at a predetermined first value Q for transmitting a first signal to the outside of the vehicle. The second resonator is connected in series with the first resonator and resonates at a second value Q which is greater than the first value Q, and changing a resonant condition in accordance with a change of a capacitance. A single actuator is provided for actuating the first and second resonators. A switching mechanism is provided which utilizes the actuator for alternatively switching actuation between the first and the second resonators. The control mechanism controls the switching operation of the switching mechanism and the operation of the door lock mechanism in accordance with the resonant condition of the second resonator.

Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock system with at least one vehicle lock, an outside door handle assigned to the vehicle lock, and at least one sensor assigned to the outside door handle, where the system is adapted to detect the approach of the hand of an operator to the outside door handle and/or touching and/or activating of the outside door handle. In one embodiment of motor vehicle door lock system, the activation of the outside handle by the hand of an operator or the approach to the outside door handle is recognized early. A vibration generator is assigned to the outside door handle such that the outside door handle or a part thereof is mechanically vibrated. A sensor is provided for acquiring the vibration, the sound waves caused by the vibration and/or their reflections so that the motor vehicle door lock system can detect when the outside door handle or a part thereof is being approached and/or touched and/or activated by the hand of an operator.