Abstract: An endoscope apparatus capable of ensuring safe and compliant use includes an endoscope, a means for identification of the endoscope, a means for determining whether the endoscope is suitable for a given medical act utilizing the identification of the endoscope, and a disablement means that prevents utilization of the endoscope when determined the endoscope is not suitable for the given medical act. The identification may be on a tag fixed to the endoscope and/or container. The information is checked for a match in a cloud database to ensure the endoscope is the right device for the medical act. If not the right device, the endoscope is deactivated. If the right device, the endoscope is activated and the cloud database is updated accordingly. The cloud database can also be updated at each point in the distribution chain to allow complete traceability.

Abstract: A parking assistance method of a parking assistance device for generating a peripheral image indicating a periphery of a vehicle as viewed from above to detect an unoccupied parking space, and displaying, on the peripheral image, an assistance image indicating that the detected unoccupied parking space is an available parking space, determines whether the vehicle intrudes on the unoccupied parking space. The parking assistance method inhibits the assistance image from being displayed on the unoccupied parking space on which the vehicle is determined to intrude in the peripheral image.

Abstract: Provided is an erroneous communication prevention device operable to prevent erroneous communication between an RFID tag installed in a vehicle and an RFID communication antenna disposed at a roadside. The erroneous communication prevention device includes an erroneous communication prevention antenna operable to transmit erroneous communication prevention electromagnetic waves toward an electromagnetic wave leakage monitoring region. The electromagnetic wave leakage monitoring region is outside an RFID communication region where the RFID tag performs valid communications with the RFID communication antenna. In addition, the electromagnetic wave leakage monitoring region is defined in a region where the RFID tag is enabled to perform communications using electromagnetic waves transmitted from the RFID communication antenna.

Abstract: An automatic smoke/carbon monoxide evacuation system for a garage equipped with a garage door and garage door opener with a motor is provided. The system includes a microprocessor, and a smoke/carbon monoxide sensor incorporated in a garage door reverse sensor of the garage door opener and coupled to the microprocessor, and configured to detect presence of smoke/carbon monoxide and send a trigger signal to the microprocessor in response to detecting smoke/carbon monoxide. The system further includes a power switch coupled to the motor and configured to automatically connect the motor to a power source in response to the trigger signal to automatically open the garage door to ventilate the detected smoke/carbon monoxide in response to the trigger signal. An alarm device is communicably coupled to the microprocessor and is configured to issue an alarm in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to identifying a driving mode of an autonomous vehicle. A driving mode of an autonomous vehicle is determined by one or more processing circuits of the autonomous vehicle, the driving mode representing an amount of autonomy of the autonomous vehicle at a particular time. A request for the driving mode of the autonomous vehicle is received from a requesting device. The driving mode is then transmitted to the requesting device.

Abstract: An emergency guidance and advisement system is provided to automatically determine a floor map of a building and using the floor map for advising how to exit the building during an emergency, such as a fire. The system can automatically create an escape plan, based on pre-disaster and in-disaster motion detection of users within the home, and provide dynamic advisement to guide users out of the home during an emergency.

Abstract: Apparatus (300, 400) and method (600) for passive remote control are provided. The apparatus (300) includes at least two radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag devices (330_1, 330_2, 330_N, 430_1, 430_2) each operable to transmit a signal when activated and a first switch coupled to the at least two RFID tag devices (310_1, 310_2, 310_K, 410_1) and operable to activate the at least two RFID tag devices when the first switch is in a first switch state, said first switch being a first key identified by RFID tag information of the at least two RFID tag devices. Apparatus (110) and method (700) for receiving RFID signals are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling one or more visual indicators, such as unit identification devices (UIDs), are provided. Control of such visual indicators allows lighting sequences to be displayed vis-à-vis the visual indicators in a data center or similar environment including multiple hardware devices or units, such as server blades in multiple chassis enclosures in a data center. In this way, users such as data center administrators, information technology (IT) personnel, etc. can be alerted to hardware events that impact hardware devices or units, such as hardware faults. The visual indicators can be controlled in such a way that animated lighting sequences can be used to guide users to the hardware devices or units experiencing the hardware event(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method carried out by a processor for predicting a specific respiratory pathogen in a group of farm animals, which method comprises monitoring the sounds generated by said farm animals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for computing street parking occupancy for a street segment. The computation comprises computing a baseline occupancy module (10) for the street segment using at least map data (120) and at least image data (110), computing a continuous time occupancy module (20) for the street segment using at least the baseline occupancy (10) and at least historical data (200), and computing a forecast occupancy module (30) for the street segment using the continuous time occupancy module (20) and at least real-time data (300). The system comprises at least a memory component storing data and a processing component configured to perform the computation of the baseline occupancy.

Abstract: An activity sensor system includes a library that stores image information. A low power artificial intelligence based image sensor captures images from a first location at a first image resolution. The sensor has access to the library that stores image information. The sensor is able to recognize images based on the image information in the image library.

Abstract: A seed delivery apparatus and methods in which a seed conveyor delivers seed from a metering device to a furrow in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within the furrow.

Abstract: A device for detecting a being left within a vehicle includes a sensor that detects when a being (e.g. a pet, a child, etc.) is within a vehicle and the operator of the vehicle has moved away from the vehicle by more than, for example five feet. Upon detection of such, the device emits a sound to notify others nearby of the being that was left within the vehicle. The sound is preferably different than a sound of a typical vehicle theft alarm system. In a preferred embodiment, determination that the operator has left the vehicle is by a loss of a signal from a personal transmitter that is attached to the operator's key ring or worn by the operator. After moving away from the vehicle by more than five feet, the signal from the personal transmitter decreases and initiates determination if a being remains within the vehicle.

Abstract: A product with packaging includes an envelope having a cavity. An NFC chip may be embedded in the packaging. The NFC chip may be passive, and may connect to the electronic device of the specific user, and once connected may initiate or carry out an authentication process or activation process.

Abstract: A method of providing object detection warning to an operator of a machine is provided. The machine includes object detection modules, a display unit and a controller communicably coupled to the object detection modules and the display unit. The method detects at least one object being located within a predefined distance range from the machine and determines a distance and position of the detected at least one object relative to the machine. The method further displays a threat warning widget on the display unit. The widget includes a plurality of threat level indicators, each of the threat level indicators being representative of a warning level as a function of distance and position of the object relative to the machine. Furthermore, the method activates at least one threat level indicator based on the determined distance and position of the detected at least one object relative to the machine.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for using strain gauges to detect a state of a lock. The strain gauges may be disposed within a key or a key head sub-system. The key bank system may include receiving a first signal, comparing the first signal with first or second signatures, and determining state change of a lock when the first signal matches the first or second signal within a first or second threshold. The key bank system may include receiving a current state of the lock, where the state of the lock is the first state, and changing the current state of the lock to a second state, where the second state is opposite the first state. The current state of the lock may be displayed on a communication device and may be stored in a memory of a communication device or a memory of a server.

Abstract: A locking device includes a locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock different types of objects upon a corresponding command from a separate remote device such as a smartphone controlled by a user and running an application program. A motion sensor senses any physical motion of the locking device, and an alarm provides a visual and/or audible alarm upon sensed motion or tampering of the locking device. A location tracker (GPS) continuously senses a location of the locking device. A communication module is in two-way (cellular) signal communication with the remote device, which transmits signals to the communication module indicative of a user command to lock and unlock the locking mechanism. The communication module transmits signals to the remote device indicative of a status of various parameters of the locking device. A processor is configured for signal processing of the various signals within the locking device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a method for identifying parking locations. The current disclosure presents a technique for identifying parking locations within a geographical area. In one embodiment, a database is populated and stores information associated with parking locations. The database can include coordinates associated with parking locations and other relevant attributes. In another embodiment, the information from the database may be used to identify and present a visual representation and route to available parking locations.

Abstract: A deployable safety zone system includes at least a first arm mounted on a support member and being movable between stored and operating positions relative to the support member. The support member and first arm define a safety zone between then when the first arm is in the operating position. The safety system may include reflective mechanisms, light sources, and an alarming system. The alarming system may include a transmitter positioned on one part of the safety system, a receiver positioned on another part of the safety system and an alarm mechanism. A signal may be sent between the transmitter and receiver and if that signal is interrupted, a visual or audible alarm may be generated. Alternatively, the deployable safety zone system may comprise a sensor assembly disposed adjacent the support member. The alarmed safety zone is defined between the support member and the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A seismic warning system comprises: a plurality of sensors, each sensor sensitive to a physical phenomenon associated with seismic events and operative to output an electronic signal representative of the sensed physical phenomenon; a data acquisition unit communicatively coupled to receive the electronic signal from each of the plurality of sensors, the data acquisition unit comprising a processor configured to estimate characteristics of a seismic event based on the electronic signal associated with a P-wave from each of the plurality of sensors; and a local device communicatively coupled to the data acquisition unit. The plurality of sensors, the data acquisition unit and the local device are local to one another.