Abstract: An electrical apparatus which is configured with an antenna, transceiver, or repeater for transmission or reception over a wireless interface. In one embodiment, the appliance interfaces to a user device through a system which includes the power distribution system of the apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus, optionally in combination with a user device, forms a node of a wireless communication system.

Abstract: A parking lot guidance system guides parking lot users to empty parking spaces in a large-scale parking lot in a way that is easy for the user to understand. The parking lot guidance system N has vehicle detection units 1 for detecting vehicles parked in parking spaces, a control unit 2 for generating parking space availability data for the parking lot based on detection results from the vehicle detection units 1, a parking lot map storage unit 3 for storing maps of the parking lot, an empty space data storage unit 4 for storing the empty parking space data generated by the control unit 2, and data transmitters 6 for sending the empty parking space data to optical beacons 5 located at various places throughout the parking lot. The parking lot is preferably divided into multiple parking blocks, and data indicating whether any of those blocks as an available parking space is sent to vehicles V.

Abstract: A transmission wave is applied to a predetermined range in a width-wise direction of a subject vehicle. Objects located ahead of the subject vehicle are recognized on the basis of reflected waves which result from reflections of the transmission wave. The reflected waves are converted into a received signal. Detection is made regarding a variation in an intensity of the received signal along a direction corresponding to the width-wise direction of the subject vehicle. The received signal is separated into a first signal portion and a second signal portion on the basis of the detected signal intensity variation. The first signal portion corresponds to a scattered portion of the transmission wave. The second signal portion corresponds to an unscattered portion of the transmission wave. Objects are recognized on the basis of the second signal portion.

Abstract: When a radio communication device inputs a target place, it receives information of a radio control apparatus at the target place and those on the route from a database or a radio control apparatus. Upon reception of identification information of the radio control apparatus, the radio communication device compares it with the information of the radio control apparatus, and notifies the comparison result, thereby confirming its current position.

Abstract: A deflection sensor for a taut wire perimeter fence detection system, which can be installed after the fence wire has been installed easily, and the sensor the operates in line with the wire tension. The sensor includes a plate member adapted to be pivotally mounted, a first wire attachment point at one end of said plate member, a second wire attachment point remote from said first wire attachment point and a transducer or sensor element located on said plate member between the attachment points. The taut wire type detection system including at least one taut wire for a perimeter fence supported by a plurality of posts, at least one deflection sensor being pivotally mounted to one of the posts or a support thereon and a sensor processing circuit for interrogating the at least one deflection sensor and to provide an alarm indication on tampering of the at least one taut wire or the at least one deflection sensor.

Abstract: A taut wire intrusion detection system includes posts that are used to detect an intrusion into a secured area. The supporting posts are used to both detect a movement of the taut wire and anchor the taut wire by using separate anchor and sensor elements. The taut wire system eliminates many of the weaknesses of prior taut wire systems by providing a less variant taut wire sensitivity.

Abstract: An emergency warning system including a sensor for detecting an environmental condition. A first transmitter is connected to the sensor for broadcasting a communication signal carrying information describing the environmental condition. A first receiver receives the communication signal from the first transmitter. A second transmitter is connected to the first receiver for broadcasting an alert signal carrying information describing the environmental condition. A second receiver receives the alert signal from the second transmitter and has an indicator for exhibiting the information indicative of the environmental condition.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling brake lights in a vehicle. The vehicle has a braking system designed for outside force actuation, a control device for controlling the vehicle brakes, and a brake light switch located in the vicinity of a brake pedal, which is connected with a control device for controlling at least one brake light. In order to indicate to following traffic a brake application by active braking intervention in a vehicle, the control unit is connected with the control device and operates the latter such that the brake light, even without actuation of the brake light switch, is activatable under first specified vehicle operating conditions and is deactivatable under second specified vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: A liquid crystal-based light valve system with automatic color correction. The invention includes a light input, a liquid crystal-based spatial light modulator, a light output, a light intensity sensor, and a color controller. The light intensity sensor is located along an optical path between the light input and the light output and is configured to detect the intensity of light illuminating the spatial light modulator. The color controller is electrically connected to the light intensity sensor. The color controller may be configured to modulate the light received at the light input. In addition, the spatial light modulator may include a pixellated electrode and control circuitry electrically connected to the pixellated electrode and the color controller. The invention may alternatively include a first, second, and third liquid crystal-based spatial light modulator, a color separator, and a first, second, and third light intensity sensor.

Abstract: The personal security and tracking system that enables an individual in distress to initiate an alarm to alert appropriate personnel combined with a locating and tracking system that enables the alerted personnel to monitor the location of the individual in distress. The system comprises a portable signaling unit includes a locating system and a manual trigger switch to provide the priority alarm levels. The central processing station receiving signals from the portable signaling unit to process and analyze the signal of interpreting the geographical location and the priority alarm signal.

Abstract: A customizable combination locking system using textual combinations. The principle object of the present invention is to provide a method to create a lock that is capable of being set in any desired set of letters that spells words that are easy for the user to remember. These words are supplied as a list and the tumbler positions are created from that list. The resultant lock would be commercially viable, as it will use existing, standard lock mechanisms comprised of tumbler rings with ten positions (0-9) and two, three, or four tumblers. The letters that appear in each of the ten positions have been selected through the described process. Having been selected, each lock is capable of being set to one of several thousand actual word combinations.

Abstract: In a vehicle backward movement assisting apparatus for in-line parking, at a stop position of a vehicle, a seesaw switch is manipulated until an in-line guide line is superimposed on a target point which is a corner of a frame of a parking space, and a steering wheel is turned until the vehicle space mark is superimposed on the parking space, and the vehicle is moved backward while the steering angle of the steering wheel is held. When an eye mark is superimposed on the parking space, the vehicle is stopped, and the steering angle of the steering wheel is made maximum and the vehicle is moved backward, to thereby complete the in-line parking at the parking space.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of traffic intersections comprising (a) storing traffic flow data and related time data at each traffic intersection in a data storage unit; (b) periodically downloading the traffic flow data and the time data to a computer; (c) using the computer to generate a new set of operating parameters based upon the traffic flow data and the time data; and (d) controlling the plurality of traffic intersections with the new set of operating parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for effecting a security web upon multiple devices. In one embodiment of the invention, multiple devices are enabled to respond as authorized members of a security web such that each device acts as a co-monitoring device within the web. Further, each device transmits an identifiable RF signal at regular time intervals and is enabled to search for the transmitted RF signal from every other device within the security web. Next the invention determines a non-authorized loss of proximity from the web of any of the devices of the web. Upon determining a non-authorized loss of proximity of any device, the invention provides for at least one of the devices of the web to initiate an event.

Abstract: An object identification system and method detects the presence of a target object in a field of inspection and in one aspect of the invention, generates a first signal if the object is left in the field of inspection for more than a minimum threshold period of time. In a second aspect a second signal is generated if the object is introduced to the field of inspection more than a minimum threshold number of times (having been withdrawn from the field of inspection in the interim) within a minimum threshold period of time.

Abstract: In a data transmission, a driving circuit 14 drives a light receiving element 15 in accordance with data from an external control circuit. In accordance with IrDA or remote control communication, driving capability of the driving circuit is changed. In a data reception, received data is transferred to a first or a second signal processing circuit in accordance with the IrDA or remote control communication and processed according to each communication format. In this configuration, a single light emitting or light receiving element permits data communication in different kinds of data communication formats.

Abstract: A synchronous demodulator (10) drives an output antenna (21) with a push-pull driver circuit (13). The push-pull driver circuit (13) includes two transistors connected in a push-pull configuration driving a center-tapped transformer (17). The transformer (17) couples the push-pull driver circuit (13) to an antenna (21). Received signals are demodulated in the output driver circuit (13).

Abstract: A system supporting optical communications includes a backplane comprising an optical communication medium. The system also includes a first optical driver coupled to the backplane and operable to communicate optical signals using the optical communication medium. The system also includes a plurality of cards coupled to the backplane. Each card is operable to receive the optical signals from the first optical driver. The system further includes a plurality of first card reflectors disposed at least partially within the optical communication medium. Each card reflector is operable to reflect the optical signals transmitted in the optical communication medium to a corresponding card.

Abstract: Due to the presence of various environmental condition detectors in the home and businesses such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, natural gas detectors, etc., each having individual but similar sounding alarm patterns, it can be difficult for occupants of such dwellings to immediately determine the specific type of environmental condition that exists during an alarm condition. The present invention comprises an environmental condition detector using both tonal pattern alarms and pre-recorded voice messages to indicate information about the environmental condition being sensed. Single-station battery-powered and 120VAC detectors are described as are multiple-station interconnected 120VAC powered detectors. The pre-recorded voice messages describe the type of environmental condition detected or the location of the environmental condition detector sensing the condition, or both, in addition to the tonal pattern alarm. Provisions are made for multi-lingual pre-recorded voice messages.

Abstract: An optical internet router apparatus uses optical tags to send and receive command and response messages between routers of an optical network for establishing, maintaining or changing a packet data connection over the network between a source router and a destination router. The optical router comprises (1) optical tag apparatus for reading a message and writing a message modulated on one or more wavelengths which are used for communicating with another router of a network connection, the control message being modulated onto the one or more wavelengths using a secondary modulation scheme which is different from a primary modulation used to modulate packet data; and (2) a controller responsive to a received read message for controlling a network connection at this router, and for generating a network control message to be written by the optical tag apparatus, the generated message controlling a network connection to said another router.