Abstract: The present invention involves a system and method for detecting a graffiti-making act such as the spray of a spray paint can, the writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface, and the scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface. The system includes one or more sensors adapted to sense the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal representative of the graffiti-making act, and a base unit including electronics adapted to process the signal and determined whether the signal represents a graffiti-making act, and a communication device coupled to the electronics and adapted to communicate to one or more entities that a graffiti-making act has been detected. The method includes sonically detecting the graffiti-making act, and initiating an alarm indicating that the graffiti-making act took place.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and for obtaining statistical information about the level of readership of promotional materials, includes providing with promotional materials RF ID tags which only become deactivated when a reader has opened the promotional material. Non-opened promotional material which has been discarded is scanned with a receiver/scanner device which identifies the promotional material pieces that have not been opened, including, optionally, the identity of the addressees who have not opened the promotional materials. Thus, statistical information and profile information is developed which improves the ability of targeting individuals for receipt of promotional materials.

Abstract: A protective cover assembly for use as a convertible top is provided. The protective cover assembly includes a flexible cover and an alarm assembly. The flexible cover includes an outer layer of flexible material, an inner layer of flexible material, and at least one layer of tear resistant material interposed between the outer and inner layers. The alarm assembly includes a pair of conductor plates interposed between the outer layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material, a power source, and an alarm system electrically connected to the power source and at least one of the first and second conductor plates such that upon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductor plate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connection is established between the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alerting signal.

Abstract: A pager having customized page alert for customizing messages when a page is received. The pager having customized page alert includes a housing having a substantially rectangular configuration. The housing has a top surface and a bottom surface, a peripheral wall extending between a periphery of the top surface and a periphery of the bottom surface. The peripheral wall, the top surface and the bottom surface define an interior space of the housing. A display screen is coupled to the top surface of the housing. The display screen is for displaying a visual representation signal. A speaker and a microphone are mounted within the interior space of the housing. A receiving means is operationally coupled to a processing means. The receiving means is adapted for receiving the signal from the tower. The receiving means and the processing means are mounted within the interior space of the housing. The processing means is operationally coupled to the display screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an on-board DSRC apparatus for communicating with the associated one of on-road communication machines, in which the on-board DSRC apparatus is capable of coping readily with the repurchase of a vehicle, and with the change of the preference of a user while maintaining a communication area fixed before and after having changed the type of, the on-board DSRC apparatus, and has high degree of freedom of installation of the body of the on-board DSRC apparatus. A body of an on-board DSRC apparatus which is connected to an antenna unit includes a transmission unit and a reception unit which are associated with the antenna unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical communication system, which comprises photodetection means for receiving communication light and optical means for forming an image from the communication light on the photodetection means, wherein the optical means is provided with a diffraction optical member having at least 0-th diffraction order.

Abstract: An emergency call system is provided in which an arithmetic and control unit sets a drive mode or a theft prevention mode in a vehicle, in accordance with an instruction provided from a HELP center or a portable phone of an authorized user via a data transmission unit, or provided locally via an operation interface, and in which a determination as to occurrence of a theft is made accurately under the control of the arithmetic and control unit on the basis of a current vehicle location obtained via a GPS reception/gyro sensor unit, verification of an ID of a user, frequency of trials for verification of the ID, status of a door of the vehicle, and time that elapses while the door remains closed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of protecting a radiocommunications terminal against unauthorized use, the terminal being adapted to send and receive a plurality of types of user information and a plurality of types of terminal information. According to the invention, when no user information is transmitted, the terminal is automatically switched to a secure mode in which the sending of at least one type of user information is prohibited and the sending of at least one type of terminal information is authorized, secure mode being canceled by entering a predetermined code. The invention applies in particular to GSM mobile terminals.

Abstract: An avionics system for communication between avionics LRUs in an aircraft cockpit instrument panel in which each avionics LRU includes mounted thereon, an optical transceiver and where the aircraft instrument panel has an optical back plane over which signals are sent between the avionics LRU, thereby reducing the need for wiring harnesses customarily associated with interconnecting various avionics LRUs in an aircraft instrument panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to acoustic detection of leaks in a pipeline using locally-intelligent, data-adaptive monitors deployed for a period of time. Monitors are initialized by a base station. Following deployment, monitors receive vibration signals at programmed times, process the vibration signals to detect and characterize abnormal vibrations, and save the processed data in the monitor. Monitors may communicate digitally with a base station, sending processed data and receiving instructions. Alternatively, monitors may be removed from the pipeline and placed in a docking station prior to initialization and subsequent re-deployment on a pipeline. A procedural step of re-synchronization corrects for any mis-alignments in time that may occur among received vibration signals from different monitors. Received vibration signals from two or more monitors may then be analyzed using a correlative method to localize the position of any leaks present in the pipeline.

Abstract: A dual-igniter airbag control switch is provided for a motor vehicle airbag system having a module with a plurality of igniters for causing an airbag to inflate, a diagnostic monitor that determines if a collision is occurring and initiates the igniters, and first and second wires extending between each of the igniters and the monitor for conveying signals between the module and the monitor. The control switch comprises a manually operable switch having portions connected to each of the first wires, for selectively providing continuity in the first wires between the monitor and each of the igniters while in an on position and breaking continuity of the first wires between the monitor and each of the igniters while in an off position.

Abstract: A doorbell system having a sound memory for storing and playing a CD quality doorbell sound is disclosed. Said doorbell system includes a receiver unit for receiving an indication of a doorbell button being pressed, a code detector for commanding the sound memory to output stored sound signals and sound producing means for outputting a CD quality sound. Also disclosed is a method for storing a CD quality sound into a doorbell system.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring movement of a person's eye, e.g., to monitor drowsiness. The system includes a frame that is worn on a person's head, an array of emitters on the frame for directing light towards the person's eye, and an array of sensors on the frame for detecting light from the array of emitters. The sensors detect light that is reflected off of respective portions of the eye or its eyelid, thereby producing output signals indicating when the respective portions of the eye is covered by the eyelid. The emitters project a reference frame towards the eye, and a camera on the frame monitors movement of the eye relative to the reference frame. This movement may be correlated with the signals from the array of sensors and/or with signals from other sensors on the frame to monitor the person's level of drowsiness.

Abstract: An infrared detection and alarm system for the bottom shelf of shopping carts having attached to the bottom shelf an infrared emitter which shall emit therefrom infrared light which shall be received by an infrared detector when no merchandise is located on the bottom of the cart and if a piece of merchandise is located on the bottom shelf the light shall be interrupted. Upon interruption of the light, a transmitter shall communicate a code to a receiver mounted on the checkout stand at which point said receiver shall activate an LED warning light to communicate to the sales clerk the presence of merchandise on the bottom shelf of the shopping cart.

Abstract: A method and a device for image registration of the external characteristics and the number plate of a vehicle in a road toll unit for checking the payment status relating to a toll fee, which is intended to be collected by means of remote communication. During the checking and payment operation, the vehicle is followed by successive video recordings. In these recordings, a marker is connected to the vehicle. The same marker is connected to the image of the number plate and to an image of the physical shape of the vehicle. In the event of incorrect payment, a search may be performed based upon both the image of the number plate and the associated image of the physical shape of the vehicle, which are connected together by means of the successive following of the position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A polarization mode dispersion (PMD) emulator may include one or more modular “cells” that emulate PMD. Each of the cells may include optical delay and phase modulation components. The optical delay and/or the phase modulation components may be adjusted to account for differences in PMD and two or more of the cells may be combined to further adjust the overall PMD of the apparatus. Similarly, a PMD compensator may include one or more modular “cells” that compensate for PMD, with each of the cells including optical delay and phase modulation components. The optical delay and/or the phase modulation components may be adjusted to compensate for various PMD values and two or more of the cells may be combined to further adjust the overall PMD compensation of the apparatus. The PMD compensator apparatus may be used to compensate for PMD in wideband applications, such as wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems.

Abstract: A security system comprises a card containing access information, a reader for reading the card, a power source, a locking mechanism, and a first circuit for operating the locking mechanism. The power source is coupled to the first circuit to provide power to the first circuit. The power source is also coupled to a wake-up circuit to provide power to the wake-up circuit. The wake-up circuit detects the presence of an object and enables the reader to ascertain whether the object is the card. A method for operating the security system comprises first determining that electromagnetic energy is not being detected by the wake-up circuit, then determining that electromagnetic energy is being detected by the wake-up circuit, then determining that electromagnetic energy is not being detected by the wake-up circuit, and then ascertaining whether the object is the card.

Abstract: A frequency division multiplexing (FDM) node used in optical communications networks provides add-drop multiplexing (ADM) functionality between optical high-speed channels and electrical low-speed channels. The FDM node includes a high-speed system and an ADM crosspoint. The high-speed system converts between an optical high-speed channel and its constituent electrical low-speed channels through the use of frequency division multiplexing and preferably also QAM modulation. The ADM crosspoint couples incoming low-speed channels to outgoing low-speed channels, thus implementing the ADM functionality for the FDM node.

Abstract: A remote system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag specifically identified by an RF identification signal. The specific RFID tag is associated with a particular remote data transfer device. When identified, the specific RFID tag changes the state of the associated remote data transfer device from a zero power state to an operational state. Limited power-capacity of a remote power supply is used solely for data transfer between the data transfer device and an administrator. Although many RFID signals may be transmitted over time to the location of many remote systems, each of which has an RFID tag, an RFID signal is only infrequently sent to a specific one of the RFID tags. Such an RFID signal is transmitted only to request a data transfer operation with the particular remote data transfer device that is associated with that specific RFID tag.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance marker is disclosed, including a signal producing layer and a signal blocking layer. The signal producing layer includes flux collection portions joined by magnetic switching sections each having a major axis A, and the signal blocking layer comprises signal blocking elements overlying each flux collection portion. The elements each have at least one boundary that overlies a magnetic switching section and preferably has a tangent T that is not perpendicular to the major axis A of that magnetic switching section. Methods of making the inventive marker are also disclosed.