Abstract: An inventory control system is described which includes anti-collision, radio frequency identification apparatus or tags affixed to each item of an inventory and including a unique code, an interrogator/reader that generates a field of sufficient range to activate each tag associated with each item of the inventory in communication with a computer. The computer includes a list comprising an identifier for each item in the inventory, the code for the tag associated with each item in the inventory and an item status where the status indicates whether the item is present or absent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for evaluating a useful signal U(t) originating from a proximity sensor. The device comprises a first recognition means (17) which changes the switching state thereof when the value (U1(t)) of a first signal produced from the useful signal exceeds a first limit value that characterizes the proximity of an object. In addition, a second recognition means (34) is provided which changes the switching state thereof from a first to a second state when the value (U(t)) of the useful signal exceeds a second limit value that characterizes the removal of an object.

Abstract: An electronic key system has a portable electronic key and a transmitter provided in a vehicle. The key and the transmitter have respective LC resonance circuits including antenna coils that can be electromagnetically coupled. The portable device has a charge capacitor and a diode. The capacitor is charged with a voltage induced by the coil when the LC resonance circuit resonates. The electronic key is enabled to communicate with the transmitter with the charged voltage of the charge capacitor when a built-in battery runs down.

Abstract: A system for delivering page messages to paging units over a wide area is provided through multiple transmission systems. The system has a controller for routing page messages to each paging unit through the transmission system to which the paging unit is registered. Each transmission system periodically sends a system message having at least a unique identifier for the transmission system. Each paging unit receives system messages of at least one of the transmission systems when located in the transmission system's coverage area, and receives page messages from the transmission system registered to the paging unit when located in that transmission system's coverage area. Paging units update their registration with the controller in accordance with the identifier of received system messages different from their current registered identifier via user enabled or automatic means. The controller may resend messages to paging units which were sent during periods of unlikely reception.

Abstract: This process relates to a vehicle equipped with a hands-free access system in which the vehicle is equipped with short-range antennas intended to send a signal to a tag. The latter is furnished on the one hand with a receiver for receiving the signals sent by the antennas of the vehicle and on the other hand a transmitter of longer range than the transmitting antennas of the vehicle so as to transmit signals in response to signals received from the vehicle.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag system provides location finding in a wireless local area network (WLAN), using a WLAN channel. Interference with the WLAN is prevented by either using a sniffer circuit to determine that no network transmission is in progress, using a modified coding sequence or preamble to cause standard WLAN receivers to ignore the RFID tag transmissions, or transmitting a message using a standard WLAN signal addressed to an address not corresponding to a unit within the WLAN. Location units (LUs) and a master unit (MU) within the WLAN receive the RFID tag transmissions and can determine the location of a tag by triangulation based on differences between the signals received at the location units from the tag. The master unit receives the signal information from the location units and computes the location of the tag. Time-difference-of-Arrival (TDOA), received signal strength indication (RSSI) or other triangulation techniques may be used.

Abstract: A modifiable transmitter is used with an operator to control a position of a barrier. The operator includes a controller for comparing radio frequency transmissions received with stored serial numbers so that the controller can move the barrier when a radio frequency transmission matches any one of the stored serial numbers. The transmitter includes a housing that carries an encoder. A function button is carried by the housing, wherein actuation of the button generates in a non-standard way a new serial number that can be learned by the controller to allow the modifiable transmitter to move the barrier by emitting the radio frequency transmission. A restricted access may also be activated to generate a new serial number.

Abstract: A tag interrogation system including at least one base station and a plurality of tags, each having an awake mode and a sleeping mode, wherein each base station is operative to broadcast messages which are received by the plurality of tags and has a receiving window during which it is operative to receive messages sent by individual tags from among the plurality of tags, and wherein at least some of the messages broadcast by at least some of the base stations include an indication of the time at which a future receiving window is due to open, thereby to allow tags to conserve power by remaining in the sleeping mode until the future receiving window opens.

Abstract: A system for authorizing vehicle and passenger entry into a secure area while the vehicle is moving is disclosed. The vehicle passenger authorization system verifies the identity of the vehicle and its occupants while the vehicle is moving, thereby eliminating the need for the vehicle to stop as it approaches a secure area. Vehicle imaging technology is used to identify the vehicle. Biometric technology is used to confirm the identity of the occupants of the vehicle. By combining the biometric information of the occupants with the vehicle identification, an efficient and safe means for automatically controlling the flow of traffic into secured areas is disclosed.

Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises a portable transmitter, having operating switches, first and second storing units, a first control unit, ID registration mode setting unit, and a transmitting unit; and a receiver, having a receiving unit, a third storing unit wherein reference code is stored, and a control signal generating unit. The portable transmitter transmits signals containing the ID code, and the receiver supplies control signals to controlled mechanisms at the time that the ID code within the received signals matches the reference code. The ID code is made up of a plurality of ID code sections. When the first control unit is set to the ID registration mode and at least one operating switch is operated the ID code section is eventually registered to the first storing unit as the ID code.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a plurality of key elements arranged in rows and columns in a matrix-like manner. Each key element has first and second break contacts which are decoupled for safety reasons and are commonly activated when the key element is actuated. An energy supply unit feeds to an evaluation unit electric energy serially via the first break contacts for each separate column and serially via the second break contacts for each separate row. In this way the location of the key element actuation can be reliably ascertained through column and row detection.

Abstract: A control system for remotely activating an automatically opening door according to the present invention includes a plurality of transmitters held by different people and each transmitter transmits control signals. The system further includes a plurality of doors at least some of which are mounted in different buildings. Each of the doors includes an actuator for automatically opening and closing the door and a receiver electrically coupled to the actuator for receiving control signals from the transmitters and activating the actuator to open the door in response to the receipt of the control signals. In this system, any one of the transmitters may be used to open any of the doors.

Abstract: A fixed transmitter for operating a rolling code receiver is disclosed. A set of fixed codes is captured from a rolling code transmitter that is used to actuate a corresponding rolling code receiver. The set of fixed codes is stored in a memory of a fixed code transmitter. The fixed code transmitter, upon each actuation, transmits one or more codes of the set of fixed codes to operate the rolling code receiver. The set of stored fixed codes in the fixed code transmitter has fewer codes than a total number of unique codes that can be generated by the rolling code receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling electronic equipment for vehicles. The apparatus detects a condition of use of a vehicle and causes the electronic equipment to be put in standby condition from which the electronic equipment can be immediately shifted into a normally operating condition.

Abstract: A system for remote operation of a personal hygiene appliance which includes any one of a toilet flush valve, a faucet, a shower head, a soap dispenser, a hand dryer, and a paper towel dispenser, includes an electric operator associated with each appliance for causing operation thereof. A radio receiver is associated with each appliance, which, upon receipt of a message unique to that appliance, will cause its operation. There is a triggering device, remote from the appliance, which may be for example an infrared sensor or a manually operated switch for signaling an intent to cause operation of the appliance. There is a transmitter and a receiver associated with the triggering device. Each triggering device associated transmitter is programmed to transmit a message unique to that specific appliance. There is an indicator located at each triggering device and a receiver associated with the indicator.

Abstract: A crystal-less keyless entry system includes a microprocessor or micro controller, a timing circuit, and a radio frequency circuit. The timing circuit is a unitary part of the microprocessor. When configured to compensate for power up delays in the radio frequency circuit, the microprocessor outputs data having stretch times that compensate for power up delays in the radio frequency circuit. The stretch times do not substantially vary the substantially constant bit time periods of the output data. When configured to detect a switch activation, the microprocessor transmits a bit within a period that includes a debounce time interval. The method of transmitting data using a crystal-less remote keyless entry system includes selecting a bit from a data stream and encoding the bit with a Manchester like encoding process. The Manchester like encoding process debounces a switch between logic levels of the encoded data.

Abstract: A selector switch for a supervisory remote control system is provided. This control system comprises operation terminals such as switches and control terminals such as relays, and a signal line for connecting a signal transmission unit to the operation and control terminals. Each of the operation and control terminals has an individual address. The transmission unit provides a control signal to the signal line according to a time-division-multiplexing manner such that when one of the operation terminals is operated, a load connected to the control terminal in an address correspondence with the operation terminal can be controlled.

Abstract: A message is automatically broadcast to a plurality of recipients from a mobile wireless communications device. A recipient list of recipient names and addresses is preprogrammed and stored in the wireless communications device. Recorded voice and text messages are sent to recipients and recipient telephones, voicemail systems, and email and Internet addresses from the recipient list. Delivery status options can be selected to identify the recipient addresses receiving the message, the recipient addresses with answering machines receiving the message, the recipient addresses not accepting the message, or non-communicating recipient addresses. In addition, recipient message response options can be selected including accepting, displaying or storing the responses. Recipient non-receipt options also can be selected, such as rebroadcasting the message, displaying a status message, or doing nothing in response to recipient addresses not receiving the message.

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. In one embodiment, a separate credit card reader may be configured to read conventional credit cards, smart cards, and credit cards incorporating such bio-metric sensor devices.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of a vehicle is disclosed that includes a radio frequency transponder and a vehicle configured to respond to data stored in the transponder by preventing or disabling operation of the vehicle under certain conditions indicated by data stored in the transponder. A communications controller receives the data from the transponder, then monitors the operation of the vehicle to make sure it is operated within the limits that are stored in the transponder. By communicating with other controllers on the vehicle that are in charge of other subsystems, it receives information relating to whether the operational limits of the vehicle have been approached or exceeded, and takes appropriate action in that event, the action may include not enabling the vehicle initially, or disabling the vehicle, or causing an operator display to indicate which limit has been exceeded or approached.