Abstract: A dining plate active foodware system senses food characteristics, such as weight and calories. Removable dining plates are placed on an underplate comprising sensing and wireless communication components. The system may include a camera. Data related to the food is sent to the internet as well as displayed on the visual stimulating component of a handheld communication device, such as a mobile phone. Auditory and haptic stimuli may also be provided.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting cavitation in pumps for fixed and variable supply frequency applications is disclosed. The system includes a controller having a processor programmed to repeatedly receive real-time operating current data from a motor driving a pump, generate a current frequency spectrum from the current data, and analyze current data within a pair of signature frequency bands of the current frequency spectrum. The processor is further programmed to repeatedly determine fault signatures as a function of the current data within the pair of signature frequency bands, repeatedly determine fault indices based on the fault signatures and a dynamic reference signature, compare the fault indices to a reference index, and identify a cavitation condition in a pump based on a comparison between the reference index and a current fault index.

Abstract: A fastener for fastening a first element to a second element comprising: a first part; a second part fastenable to the first part via a first fastening mechanism; and a third part fastenable to the second part via a second fastening mechanism. The third part comprises at least one protruding member for inserting thereof to the second element for fastening the second element between the second and third parts. The first fastening mechanism is configured such that to open the fastening of the first part to the second part an external tool such as a key or a magnet should be applied.

Abstract: A communication converting apparatus for a pulse meter is provided, comprising: a pulse collection unit, configured to collect a pulse signal generated from the pulse meter; a storage unit, configured to store a reading of the pulse meter; a micro control unit, configured to control the pulse collection unit to collect the pulse signal, to read the reading stored in the storage unit, and to obtain an updated reading of the pulse meter according to the pulse signal and the reading stored in the storage unit; and a RS485 communication unit, configured to covert the updated reading of the pulse meter into a RS485 communication signal for outputting.

Abstract: A system includes a transmitter for use in conjunction with a horizontal directional drilling system that transmits a multi-bit symbol stream that characterizes sensor symbols for receipt by an aboveground portable device. The portable device receives the symbol stream for aboveground recovery of the sensor signals. The transmitter can precisely place the symbol frequencies at least to avoid a noise environment, as well as to avoid powerline harmonics, and can utilize wave shaping for transmitted symbols at least to provide for transmission power control, spectral content control and wideband antenna matching. The receiver can measure the noise environment to identify the symbol frequencies used by the transmitter. The noise can be scanned at an incremental resolution across a wide frequency bandwidth for display or automatic symbol frequency selection.

Abstract: An arrangement of a thermal device and a surface reflecting and/or scattering electromagnetic radiation in the inner part of the thermal device. A source of electromagnetic radiation is arranged at a first distance (L1) from the surface, and a detector of electromagnetic radiation is arranged at a second distance (L2) from the surface. The source is configured to emit radiation to the surface, which is reflected and/or scattered from the surface as reflected radiation. The detector receives reflected radiation; and the processing unit determines data dependent on the first and/or second distance by the emitted and reflected radiation. A wall of the thermal device has a window or aperture for emitting an optical signal from the light source to the surface. An electromagnetic distance measurement device measures the thickness or the increase in the thickness of a contamination layer from a thermal device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a secure and energy efficient method of asset tracking using BLE tags. The security module determines identification criteria associated with at least one scanning device. The security module processes and/or facilitates a processing of the identification criteria to cause, at least in part, a transmission of at least one scan response to the at least one scanning device including, at least in part, asset data associated with at least one tag. The security module causes, at least in part, a modification of one or more advertising packets of the at least one tag based, at least in part, on the transmission of the asset data.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a sensor for detecting at least one of urination and excretion into an incontinence garment, the sensor comprising an activation unit and a sensing unit and being connectable to a power supply; the activation unit comprising: two spaced-apart electrodes, and a switch arranged in series between the sensing unit and the power supply; wherein the activation unit is configured to activate the sensing unit in the presence of moisture by closing the switch; and wherein at least one of the sensing unit and the activation unit comprises a latching circuit arranged such that the activation of the sensing unit is irreversible. An incontinence garments such as the diaper is incorporating such a sensor is also disclosed as it is a method for operating such a sensor or incontinence garment.

Abstract: A networked radio frequency identification system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers, a computer in signal communication with the RFID tag readers over a network, and a software module for storage on and operable by the computer that localizes RFID tags based on information received from the RFID tag readers using a network model having endpoints and oriented links. In an additional example, at least one of the RFID tag readers includes an adjustable configuration setting selected from RF signal strength, antenna gain, antenna polarization, and antenna orientation. In a further aspect, the system localizes RFID tags based on hierarchical threshold limit calculations. In an additional aspect, the system controls a locking device associated with an access point based on localization of an authorized RFID tag at the access point and reception of additional authorizing information from an input device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wirelessly detecting area changes are provided. Predetermined thresholds may be stored in memory. Each predetermined threshold is associated with a time of day, calendar day, and/or activity. The sensor may detect a change in the in the targeted area. The detected change is evaluated to determine an applicable threshold. Then it may be determined whether the detected change meets a predetermined threshold. If so, information regarding the change is wirelessly transmitted to an associated controller that controls light in the targeted area. The operation of the light may be controlled based on the wirelessly transmitted information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure pass-set entry are disclosed. In one example, an authenticator device is configured to generate a pass-set menu to output in visual format on the display. An I/O device is configured to output audio corresponding to the pass-set menu to the user. A user input interface is configured to receive user actions to navigate the pass-set menu and receive user menu selections.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and diagnosing refrigeration equipment including one or more monitoring devices, a data collection and communication hub in communication with the monitoring devices, and in communication with an analysis means. In some examples, the systems and methods include an Internet accessible cloud-based analysis means. In some further examples, the systems and methods include analysis means implemented on locally networked computers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for a media controller configured to associate data from a media device received using a media device interface with actions on the media devices. The associated data and actions may be used to build a media device interface command map. The media device interface command map may be used by the media controller to control the media device. A user interface provided by the media controller may thus be used to control disparate devices, allowing for a coordinated and consistent user experience across multiple media devices, even when they are from different manufacturers.

Abstract: An evacuation slide comprises a sliding face having a top end portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to an exit of a region to be evacuated, and a bottom end portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to an escape route leading away from the region to be evacuated and being arranged at a lower height than the region to be evacuated. A light signal generating device is adapted to irradiate at least one light beam onto the escape route which extends further in a direction parallel to a center line of the escape route than in a direction perpendicular to the center line of the escape route so as to indicate a predefined evacuation direction along the escape route.

Abstract: A lifeguard alarm system for swimmers, capable of detecting whether a swimmer is moving forward or drowning. The system includes a detecting device, an accelerometer disposed on the detecting device and a computing unit; the accelerometer configured to output respective acceleration values along X, Y, and Z axes of the detecting device and of gravity, the computing unit configured to calculate a sum of squares of the X, Y and Z acceleration values of the accelerometer as a first value and square of an acceleration of gravity as a second value and to compare the first value with the second value. A relationship between the first value and the second value can be used to control the warming unit.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes a portable RFID reader, and a read infrastructure that includes a distributed read structure, which may be part of a display (such as a shelf) for holding objects. The read structure is used to couple the RFID reader to RFID devices (tabs and/or labels) on or near the structure. The RFID reader and the read structure communicate in a near field or proximity region communication, without any use of a direct ohmic electrical connection. The RFID reader may have an antenna that is configured for near field or proximity communication with a coupler of the read infrastructure. The RFID reader may also have a separate antenna for use in far field communication. The RFID reader may be able to obtain information more efficiently in the near field or proximity mode, allowing information to be received faster and with greater reliability.

Abstract: A fingerprint recognition device and a touch apparatus comprise a plurality of fingerprint recognition areas (100) with a rectangle shape arranged in a matrix. Each of the fingerprint recognition areas (100) comprises a plurality of mutually independent fingerprint recognition electrodes (110) arranged along a diagonal direction of the fingerprint recognition area (100). Arrangement directions of the fingerprint recognition electrodes (110) in the respective fingerprint recognition areas (100) are same. Because the fingerprint recognition electrodes (110) in the respective fingerprint recognition areas (100) are arranged in a same diagonal direction, the fingerprint recognition electrodes (110) belonging to a same or adjacent fingerprint recognition area(s) (100) can detect full fingerprint information when a finger slides on the fingerprint recognition device in any one of a plurality of directions, so that the fingerprint is recognized.

Abstract: RFID data signals from RFID tags may be recovered by determining the probabilities of transitions between data states between a series of a pairs of signal samples using a set of predetermined probabilities related to data, timing, baud rate and/or phase variables affecting the received signal and processing those determined probabilities to determine the sequence of such transitions that has the highest probability of occurrence. A second set of predetermined probabilities related to transitions in the opposite direction may be used to sequence in a reverse direction. The determination of the sequence representing the RFID tag data may be iterated in both directions until further iterations do not change the determined probabilities.

Abstract: A patient communication system having a medical sensing device operable to collect medical data, a network communication module operable to transmit the medical data onto a data network, a controller operable route the first medical sensing data to the network communication module, and a power source operable to provide power to the first medical sensing device, the controller, and the network communication module.

Abstract: An RF tag system is provided, in which in addition to a method of easily sending back MPSK modulated sub-carrier signals on the RF tag side, communication protocols and circuit systems for accurately demodulating modulated waves on the RF tag reader side can be implemented, data transmission from an RF tag to an RF tag reader can be realized over a long operating distance at high speed, and an RF tag can be operated for a long lifetime.