Abstract: An infrared hand-held remote control for handling a single or plural devices such as lights, shades, drapes and the like contains ergonomically selected and placed control buttons that are self-describing and easy to use. It allows explicit, easy-to-use control of different functions by providing for each function to be controlled vertically disposed discrete buttons that provide “all or nothing” control of some physical feature and similar, vertically disposed and horizontally aligned “adjust” buttons that allow for fine and continuous control of the physical quantities between the extremes or limits of the discrete button functions. Successive groups of buttons provide for the control of different appliances or devices, where each group of buttons is identified by easy to comprehend icon or alphabetic representations.

Abstract: A method for configuring button keys on a membrane includes the steps of: mapping the membrane under the conditions of without jumping and without generating ghost keys; gathering adjacent button keys on a same cluster; defining a button key configuration chart according to each cluster; and linking circuits of each button key in each cluster to a flat cable of the membrane. Then defining total number of various composite keys; locating the composite keys to be not co-linear or cross co-linear on the X-axis or the Y-axis of the matrix scanning lines; and mapping other adjacent button keys without the jumping.

Abstract: A joystick controller has a body (10), an operating shaft (12) and a ball-and-socket joint (14) mounting the operating shaft for universal pivotal movement relative to the body (10) about a pivot center. First and second and third carrier members (16, 17, 19) are movable relative to the body (10) about respective first, second and third, mutually perpendicular axes which pass through the pivot center of the ball-and-socket joint (14), and carry respective magnets (24, 26, 29). Rotary movement of the operating shaft (12) about its longitudinal axis causes movement of the third carrier member (19) about the third axis. Hall-effect devices (52, 54, 56) are mounted on a common planar circuit board (48) at the base of the body (10) and producing respective output signals indicative of the positions of the magnets (24, 26, 29) carried on the first, second and third carrier members (16), respectively.

Abstract: An electronic communication system for a vehicle, including a base station which is accommodated in the vehicle and at least one portable data carrier which is arranged to exchange data signals with the base station. A first coupling link is formed at least partly by the body of a user, whose skin is not required to be in physical contact with the data carrier, so that the body of the user contactlessly conducts displacement currents from the data carrier without contacting the data carrier. This permits the user to unlock a car door, or trunk, and/or start the vehicle, without using a key or having to touch a remote control device. The data carrier can be located in a briefcase and/or purse, and the ability to access the vehicle is not comprised even though there is no physical contact between the user and the data carrier.

Abstract: A method of passive response communication, especially for an access control system, in which a first transponder (2) transmits an interrogation signal to a remote second transponder (3), which responds by transmitting data back to the first transponder (2), the two transponders each comprising a transmitter and a receiver, and a communication signal exchanged between said transponders (2, 3) in at least one direction including a plurality of anti-relay-attack pulses (13, 14). At least one distinguishing pulse (14) selected among the anti-relay-attack pulses has a distinctive shape and the receiver of said communication signal is selectively responsive to the shapes of said plurality of pulses (13, 14). Interception of the transmitted signal in a relay attack using digital transceivers will not relay the distinctive shape and the response of the second transponder is inhibited.

Abstract: A local wireless device serves as a unique identifier for students and teachers in a school system. The school is equipped with multiple stationary hubs for tracking the location of students and teachers. The school may also be equipped with multiple mobile hubs, such as hand-held hubs and hubs on school buses, which allow easily and quickly determining if a student or teacher is where he or she should be. The local wireless device may be used in conjunction with a pager, mobile phone, a voicemail device, and devices for storing, reviewing and sending audio and video files. The preferred embodiments also includes a single device that provides all of the above-mentioned functions. In addition, a wireless display may be coupled to the local wireless device as needed. The function of these devices may be controlled according to the needs of the system. For example, some of the functions may be disabled during class periods, but enabled between classes.

Abstract: A system and method described for tracking portable devices. The system may include a transmitter which transmits wireless inquiries to a plurality of portable devices and a receiver receiving replies to the inquiries from the portable devices. In addition, the system may include a memory storing identifier data corresponding to the portable devices and a processor coupled to the memory and to the receiver, the processor retrieving from each reply, identifier data uniquely identifying a particular one of the portable devices which generated the reply and comparing the identifier data to the stored identifier data. Furthermore, the system may include an alarm system coupled to the processor and controlled based on the comparison of stored identifier data to the identifier data retrieved from the replies.

Abstract: An improved electronic lock system is provided for use with real estate lock boxes where there is the need for many people to access the secured compartment of the lock box in a controlled manner. Each user has an identification card with a non-volatile secure memory (known as a “smart card”), for exchanging data with the lock box, and with a portable computer capable of reading data from the smart card; or a cell phone can be used to gain access information from a central computer. The user first inserts the smart card into the connector attached to the lock box; the lock box reads the user's ID stored in the smart card memory and records this information in lock box memory. The lock box then transfers its access code information and other data to the smart card for further processing. The user then inserts the smart card in a portable card reader to learn the access code, or calls a central computer via a mobile phone system and interacts with the computer to elicit the necessary access code information.

Abstract: A motor-kinetic identification apparatus includes a pliant material, a source of a magnetic field embedded in the pliant material and a magneto metric element embedded in the material. The pliant is adapted to be gripped by a user. The pliant material has a normally biased rest shape and the shape becomes deformed upon the material being gripped. The magnetic field has a field contour dependent on said shape of said material. The magneto metric element is disposed within the field and has a detectable state commensurate with the magnetic field contour.

Abstract: Disclosed are system and method of remotely controlling the home appliance by employing the voice/character recognition technique. The appliance detects a connection relationship between the appliance and the mobile terminal and dynamically transmits the control code and a module for transmission. If the appliance control command is inputted through the voice control command input screen or the handwriting control command input screen, after the inputted command is interpreted through the voice/character recognition technique and is transformed to the control code of the appliance to be sent to the home appliance, the control code is sent to the home appliance to remotely control it. The function thereof may be extended to the environment capable of implementing the bi-directional communication with the appliance by receiving the control code from the appliance, while overcoming the limitation of the conventional terminal having a fixed function.

Abstract: A navigation aid for a refreshable Braille display and similar products for the visually impaired. A navigation wheel is located adjacent at least one end of the refreshable Braille display. Rotation of the wheel by an increment moves the displayed text forward or backward by a predetermined increment, such as by one word, or one line or one paragraph. In a preferred embodiment, the function performed by rotating the wheel can be changed by depressing the wheel. A separate navigation wheel may be located at opposite ends of the refreshable Braille display and the two navigation wheels may perform the same or different functions when rotated.

Abstract: A method and system for checking a guest into a hospitality site is provided. A biometric sample is captured from a guest using a biometric-sample-capture device to create a portable biometric profile. The biometric sample is compared to a biometric sample previously stored in a memory location. If the guest is authenticated, he/she is approved for check-in. A user profile can be retrieved that has a set of user preferences. These user preferences can then be used to customize the guests stay at the hospitality site. Many hospitality sites can remotely access the biometric profile to effect authentication.

Abstract: In a method, system and apparatus of measuring electrical power to consumers (16a–d) in a power distribution network (12), an electromagnetic field is sensed around at least one electrical conductor (12) in a power meter (30a–d) located at a consumer. The current flowing through the conductor is then derived from the sensed electromagnetic field. Instantaneous current values are stored in an electronic memory powered by the electromagnetic field. These instantaneous values or values derived from the instantaneous values are transmitted as digital information on the network to a receiver (20) provided at a distance from the power meter.

Abstract: A method and device for child seat recognition in a vehicle involving use of radio signals to recognize a child seat. The child seat includes a passive transponder. The radio signal is sent back by the child seat and is then sampled by a device in the vehicle, the computing time between the sampled values is used for the management of other tasks. After the termination of the sampling, the evaluation occurs. This is controlled using interrupts.

Abstract: A mechanism for assigning an actuator to a device. It includes a transmitter on the device side for transmitting a scanning signal as well as a processing unit on the actuator side which include means for receiving scanning signals and which emits a contact signal when a scanning signal matches a previously defined reference signal. The processing system emits the contact signal only at the end of a predetermined time delay, which is characteristic for a specific actuator, after receiving the scanning signal.

Abstract: A transponder (1) comprising an antenna (4), a demodulator (5) and a signal processing circuit (6) which converts a modulated signal received via the antenna (4) into a signal suitable for processing in the demodulator (5). The signal processing circuit (6) comprises an amplifier (7) with a predefined amplification factor and a closed loop control circuit (8) serving to maintain the voltage swing of the processed signal applied at the input of the demodulator (5) substantially constant. In a preferred embodiment the closed loop control circuit comprises a capacitor which is continually discharged and differingly charged as a function of the strength of the output signal of the amplifier of the signal processing circuit, the voltage resulting across the capacitor controlling a controllable resistor connected in parallel to the input of the signal processing circuit and forming with a coupling capacitor a voltage divider.

Abstract: A method for operating an anti-theft system having a transceiver unit comprising a trigger unit and a portable code generator, comprises the steps of: emitting a request signal by the transceiver unit upon activation of the trigger unit, and emitting a response code signal by the code generator after reception of the request signal, wherein the request signal and the response code signal overlap for a predefined time period.

Abstract: A mood response system enables a user to communicate audio messages to another, which correspond with the emotional state of the user, over a speaker. The mood response system comprises a handheld controller disposed with a keypad, a message set switch, and three message sets, each comprising up to ten individual audio messages, which may be played over the speaker. The mood response system further includes the capability to record audio messages from the user, store them in one of the message sets, and play the recorded audio messages over the speaker.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for authenticating a user of a device comprises: generating at least one arrangement comprising a sub-set of a plurality of stored objects, the sub-set comprising at least one authenticating object that forms at least part of a user's authentication key and the sub-set further comprising at least one non-authenticating object, wherein such generating comprises randomly selecting a position within the at least one arrangement for the at least one authenticating object and randomly selecting the at least one non-authenticating object from the plurality of stored objects; presenting to a user the generated at least one arrangement; receiving input that comprises a selection of at least one of the objects from the at least one arrangement; and determining whether the selection identifies the authentication key.

Abstract: An improved universal remote control unit (URC) for home entertainment units. The URC has the typical remote controller module for controlling appliances such as TV, stereo, VCR or DVD. Additionally, the URC has a built-in digital recorder module for recording the consumer's voice, or any audio messages from the appliances. The digital recorder module can be implemented with a microphone, a voice recorder chip and a speaker, all integrated with the URC unit. The digital recorder module can even use the battery that is typically used by the URC. The URC alternatively can be implemented with a memory and display screen, coupled to the number keys. Such arrangement allows the telephone information to be punched in, using the numeric keys on the URC, stored in the memory for display.