Abstract: Reliable and efficient activation and deactivation control of a number of electronic products (P1, P2, P3) is effected by activation of one of the products by emission of an activation command specific to the product and controlling performance and/or functionality of the product by speech commands. Emission of the activation command specific to the one product is accompanied by emission of a deactivation code causing deactivation of any other of the number of electronic products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently querying and identifying multiple items on a communication channel are disclosed. The inventions preferably uses radio frequency identification with interrogation devices and systems that identify radio frequency identification transponders. A depth-first tree traversal protocol algorithm, including commands and symbols, is used to more efficiently interrogate a plurality of transponders in a short amount of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for activating and/or deactivating a security device, particularly an entry device for a motor vehicle, having a portable transmitter unit for wirelessly transmitting a coded information item which is received by a receiver apparatus and is compared with a prescribed coded information item, the receiver apparatus being capable of outputting an actuation signal to the security device if the two coded information items match, and wherein the codes of the transmitter unit and the receiver apparatus can be updated in terms of the currently coded information items to prevent unauthorized use of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A receiver side of a two-wire type remote control system accurately determines the polarity of data. The reception buffer inverts an input from one of the data and electric communication lines, and adds the inverted input to an input of the other line. Then, when the result of the addition is 0 or close to 0, the reception switches buffer logic data to be output to indicate the inversion of the level of the equilibrium pulse-like power received from the communication lines. The polarity identifying portion identifies the polarity when the logical data sent from the reception buffer is maintained at a logic level for a predetermined period of time. The polarity identifying portion sends pulse group data to the data processing portion in accordance with the identified polarity.

Abstract: A high-speed, low distortion N×M crosspoint switch selectively routes input signals arriving at any of N input terminals to one or more of M output terminals. The crosspoint switch includes a switch cell array having N rows and M columns of switch cells. Each of N input lines convey the input signal arriving at a separate one of the N input signals to each switch cell of a corresponding array row. Each of M output lines convey output signals generated by cells of a corresponding array column to a separate switch output terminal. Each switch cell contains a CMOS tristate buffer and a memory cell for storing data controlling whether the tristate buffer is active or inactive. When a tristate buffer is active, it buffers an input signal appearing on one of the input lines to generate an output signal on one of the output lines. When inactive, a tristate buffer refrains from generating an output signal in response to its input signal.

Abstract: A wireless remote and infrared receivers for controlling AC appliances connected to the receivers, capable of leaning codes from other infrared remotes. The system can control light intensity, has a 24-hour programmable daily timer, a selectable sleep timer, and switching for appliances connected to the receivers. The system has an energy saving interval timer for heating and fan ventilation, and a transmitter capable of learning and unifying remotes for other home equipment into one master remote. As a safety measure the receiver has a mechanical bypass switch. The receiver may decode an activation/deactivation sequence on the power line from the main switch connected to the receiver to self bypass. When bypassed, the main switch regains direct control of the appliances. Simultaneously, besides bypassing the receiver, within five seconds the user may have the receiver memorize any key from any other remote to take over control of the appliances.

Abstract: A Write Broadcast system and method uses a base station to write sent data to all or some selected number (sub group) of tags in a base station field simultaneously. By unselecting the tags that have been successfully written to, and requesting a response from the remaining tags in the field (or sub group), the system determines, by receiving a response to the request, that there are tags in the field (sub group) that were unsuccessfully written to. Another Write Broadcast signal is sent to these tags. The system is useful for quickly (simultaneously) “stamping” information on the tag memory of a large number of tags in the field of the base station.

Abstract: A device for improving the security of a “hands-free” access system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising an identification device installed on the vehicle and able to control the locking the opening leaves of the vehicle, and at least one identifier intended to be worn or carried by a user and capable of setting up a remote exchange of data with the identification device so as to control the locking means, when the identification device has authenticated the identifier, the identification means being intended, after a locking command, to send an interrogation signal into the cabin of the vehicle and receive in response a “present” signal from each identifier still present in the cabin, wherein, when a “present” signal is received by the identification device, the identification device sends into the cabin an inhibit signal which is received and stored in memory by each identifier present in the cabin.

Abstract: A keyboard data input device includes a one-hand module having a finger section with groups of keys each of which fixedly assigned to a finger of the operator. The keyboard has a cover part which includes a palm rest section and grooves. A group of keys is sequentially arranged at the ground of said grooves to be reached by the outstretched or bent fingers when the operator's hand is in contact with the palm rest section. A thumb section located adjacent to the forefinger groove comprises a flat area which includes groups of command keys, and comprises further keys at an upright wall adjacent to the forefinger groove. The keyboard may be used for two-hand operation by providing two separate one-hand modules. The keyboard comprises a graphical multipurpose display visualize control information and characters typed in. The keyboard may further include a bar code scanner.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification system having a radio frequency transceiver for generating a continuous wave RF interrogation signal that impinges upon an RF identification tag. An oscillation circuit in the RF identification tag modulates the interrogation signal with a subcarrier of a predetermined frequency and modulates the frequency-modulated signal back to the transmitting interrogator. The interrogator recovers and analyzes the subcarrier signal and determines its frequency. The interrogator generates an output indicative of the frequency of the subcarrier frequency, thereby identifying the responding RFID tag as one of a “class” of RFID tags configured to respond with a subcarrier signal of a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf is provided. The security system includes a lock for maintaining an opening leaf in a closed position, a handle for operating the lock having a pivotal mobile member for grasping and a fixed support, and an interrogation device. The interrogation device triggers interrogation for authorization to permit movement of the bodywork panel between the closed position and an open position. The interrogation device includes an antenna and first and second switches built into the handle for activating an unlocking interrogation (Id) and a locking interrogation (Iv) by movement of the pivotal mobile member of the handle relative to the fixed support without requiring other mechanical actuation.

Abstract: A connection system for communicating multiple signals between a steering wheel and a steering column of a vehicle over a single wire is provided that uses time division to multiplex multiple signals. A plurality of signals are multiplexed together ranging from two to as many signals as desired. Input switches are grouped together to form a ladder multiplexer, such as a resistive multiplexer, that includes voltage and current muxing. A plurality of ladder multiplexers are joined together in a time division multiplexing scheme that operates continuously. An analog line may be added as a single channel. A marker pulse is used to signal the start of each time window to be divided for all the channels. Time division multiplexing is provided by a number of switching means.

Abstract: An adapter for a mechanical type levelmeter, which has a magnet that moves in response to a changing level of liquid in a container. The adapter is fitted onto the levelmeter in a manner that is transparent to any existing reading dials, but that permits hall sensors on the adapter to respond to the motion of the magnet. The adapter also has a processing unit and a transmitter, which process the output of hall sensors and generate a transmittable signal representing level data.

Abstract: An electronic shelf label (ESL) transmits a negative response to a radio relay station by means of weak radio waves if it failed to normally receive price information. On the other hand, the ESL transmits no response if it failed to normally receive both ID information and price information. The radio relay station transmits to a radio communication base station ID information of the ESL which transmitted no response and ID information of the ESL which transmitted the negative response. The radio communication base station transfers the received ID information to an electronic shelf label (ESL) server. The ESL server re-transmits via the radio communication base station information to the ESL which transmitted no response and the ESL which transmitted the negative response.

Abstract: A wireless remote-controlled lighting system is composed of a remote controller module and a remote control receiver installed in each of at least one addressable light bulb. Each addressable light bulb has assigned thereto a unique address, which is stored in a memory at each bulb. The remote controller module is used to emit a remote control signal to be received by the remote control receiver, the address for which has been entered into the remote controller module by a user. Once it has been determined that a transmitted address code matches the unique address stored in one of the addressable light bulbs, the bulb will be triggered into the applicable on/off state responsive to a control code transmitted with the address code.

Abstract: A fiberoptic transceiver system for use in an industrial paint spraying apparatus where analog information from flow sensors in the flow meter on the spray head is converted to a single channel digital signal for transmission on a fiberoptic cable to a receiver for decoding into an analog signal representing flow rate and a signal indicating flow direction. The encoding of two signals onto one channel is accomplished by encoding the flow rate as the frequency of the digital signal and the direction as the pulse width. The direction of the flow is determined by comparing the two analog signals from the flow meter and determining which signal is lagging the other.

Abstract: A remote control, particularly for a home entertainment system, includes a display screen generating a query regarding the status of the components. The status may include whether the component is on or off or whether media is in a media player. The remote control receives user input indicating the status of the components in response to the query from the remote control. The remote control further includes a transmitter for generating the control signal to the component based upon the indication of the component status from the user.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for an automotive vehicle (10) that uses existing vehicle components with only slight modifications that can be implemented in readily changeable software. The system includes a vehicle bus (14) and a vehicle information source coupled to the vehicle bus. The vehicle information source (28) couples vehicle information to the vehicle bus (14). The transmitter (16) transmits a first communication having a first transmitter identification code and first vehicle information. A receiver (22) is coupled to the vehicle bus. The receiver (22) couples a second communication word having second vehicle information to the vehicle bus. The automotive vehicle (10) also has a safety system and a safety system controller (34) coupled to the bus. The safety system controller (34) actuates the safety system (36) in response to the second vehicle information.

Abstract: An acoustic signaling system comprises a transmitter, which has frequency stability to create sounds which can reliably be received and which is loud enough to be heard by a receiver. The receiver includes an electret microphone, a limiting amplifier which has high gain, high frequency roll off and produces a maximum output for any input above a minimum value and a Schmitt trigger circuit to square up the output of the limiting amplifier and function as a zero cross detector. A micro-controller measures the times of the zero crossings and performs the detection and decoding algorithms to determine what code is being received. Each code consists of an anonymous repeating sequence of tones, which are transmitted for a certain duration followed by a silence, which allows room echoes to decay. The system creates acoustic sound codes, which are pleasant, sounding, can reliably be received and convey sufficient information to activate toys or dolls.

Abstract: The circuit for detecting the frequency of binary signals includes a circuit for detecting rising edges in the binary signals, a measuring circuit for measuring the period between the rising edges which supplies a logic state, and a shift register whose input latch stores the logic state. Also, the detecting circuit includes a shift circuit for shifting logic states of the shift register, and a decoding circuit for decoding logic states of the register, and which supplies a signal validating the signals. The detecting circuit can be used in contactless chip card readers.