Abstract: A computer based method for activating a vehicular safety device for passenger protection is disclosed. The method uses a centrally located front-end acceleration sensor and a passenger compartment sensor. When a crash situation is sensed, current acceleration data is integrated to produce velocity values for both sensor locations. Actual displacement values for the front-end sensor are calculated as well as displacement values based on absolute values of acceleration of that sensor. The velocity and displacement values are selectively used in at least three vehicle crash mode analyses. Examples of such crash modes are full frontal-like modes, pole-like modes and angle-like modes. When appropriate threshold values are exceeded, device activation for one or more activation stages is initiated.

Abstract: An improved thermal sensing alarm structure comprises a closed chassis having an upper casing with a Fresnel lens and a lower casing; a circuit board between the upper and lower casings; a plurality of wedges protruded from both inner lateral sides of the upper casing such that the upper and lower casing being latched by the latching grooves and wedges; a DC power socket, a long pin terminal, and battery power supply wire being soldered on the circuit board; at least one embedding groove with appropriate width and a set of terminal slot being disposed at an end of the lower casing, such that the circuit board can be inserted into the embedding groove and terminal slot and fixed by the DC power socket and long pin terminal.

Abstract: A system is described which replaces conventional “do not disturb” and “maid service” or “housekeeping” signs in hotel guestrooms. The system comprises means for allowing a hotel guest to choose, from within the hotel room, a message to convey to hotel staff and others such as “do not disturb”. The message is expressed by indicators housed within assemblies located outside of the hotel room, which are visible to passers-by. The system may also convey such messages to a more remote location such as a housekeeping office and the switch may be activated remotely.

Abstract: An interactive system for a facility, such as a parking facility, a warehouse or some other type of facility, includes a user interface for detecting empty parking spaces, moving vehicles and personnel. The user interface can be associated with a “smart” light fixture or other component mounted in the parking structure. A control subsystem includes a system processor which interacts with a user interface. The user interface communicates directly with a user and with a smart card whereby parking transactions are automatically recorded and debited to an account. A key fob transmitter transmits signals to a smart fixture for summoning emergency assistance. The system processor utilizes GPS coordinates for guiding users, locating parking spaces, and identifying smart light fixtures receiving emergency assistance signals. The system can provide various information about the presence, absence and movement of vehicles and individuals within various structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a strip for preparing security elements for electronic protection of goods including a carrier strip with adhesive labels detachably stuck on, or of interconnected tags to be fixed to goods which are to be labeled or protected. Only a certain number of labels or tags have electromagnetically active or activatable security elements. The strip demonstrates a substantially equal level of detection in different surveillance systems. To this end, the security elements consist of at least two types of security elements which are detectable in different surveillance systems.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying emergency personnel as to the location and contents of a vehicle. The system includes an information dispatch device positioned within the vehicle for storing and transmitting data related to the vehicle, cargo being carried by the vehicle and instructions on handling emergency situations involving the cargo carried by the vehicle to a Global Positioning Satellite upon detection of an emergency situation and a command control center for receiving a location signal from the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) including the data transmitted by said information dispatch device and a location signal for the vehicle generated by the Global Positioning Satellite. The command control center is able to contact emergency personnel upon receipt of the location signal and provide a location of the vehicle and information concerning the material carried by the vehicle. The data is preferably provided to the information dispatch device by a data input device.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of powdered materials in envelopes comprises a container with an envelope-positioning unit, envelope corner or edge cutter, a powder excitation and extracting means for shaking the contents of the envelope, and a powder detector with a particle intake device, and air circulation system for circulation of the particle-containing air through the powder detector. The detector can be placed inside or outside of the sealed container and is connected to the cutting zone via the particle suction device. In operation, the envelope is placed into the envelope-positioning unit. Either a corner or an edge of the envelope is cut off or perforated so as to allow a part of the powdered material to leave the envelope while maintaining the other contents, except for small particulates, intact and inside the envelope. The envelope is then subjected to vibration or impacts under the effect of the excitation means.

Abstract: In an environment monitoring system for a vehicle, when a detecting means decides that an approaching vehicle cannot be detected by an image processing means, a waning means gives warning of this fact. Thus, the environment monitoring system permits one's own vehicle to run with safety even when the approaching vehicle cannot be detected.

Abstract: A glass-breakage detector that provides improved immunity to false triggering when detecting the breakage of a glass window, or similar structure, as sensed by an acoustic transducer. The detector employs a validation method which improves discrimination of commonly known false alarm signals, such as glass flexing. Signals from an acoustic transducer are amplified, conditioned, and measured within three signal processing sections which process the signals at low-frequencies, medium-frequencies, and high-frequencies according to methods highly selective to breakage events. The detector provides an alarm output upon validating a detected breakage event.

Abstract: A method monitors an operational condition of an electric motor, and stores in a memory device general trend, prognostic, diagnostic, and hazardous event information indicative of the motor's operational condition. The method includes the steps of sensing characteristics indicative of the operational condition of the electric motor, such as vibration, temperature, magnetic flux, and the voltages applied to the motor's windings, and generating sensor signals related to the sensed characteristics. Upon the occurrence of a first circumstance, such when measurements of the motor's speed, winding temperature, and voltage, indicate that the motor is operating within its normal load profile, prognostic information is extracted from the sensor signals. The prognostic information provides a profile of the motor's operational condition over time without the influences of fluctuating loads, temperature, and voltage.

Abstract: Detection of an intruder includes providing a sensor which senses an action generated by an intruder and produces a signal, determining portions of the signal from individual steps and making values of the signal with this portion closer to one another, determining a main amplitude threshold, obtaining an enveloping line of initial data of the signal, determining maximum values of amplitudes of the enveloping line and time points corresponding to the maximum amplitudes, determining an average value of time intervals between neighboring maximums of amplitudes and an average square value of the intervals of an average value, making more accurate the average value of time intervals between neighboring maximums of amplitudes of the enveloping line and average squared deviation of the time intervals from an average value, as well as other parameters, and making a decision about a presence of an intruder from the thusly determined parameters.

Abstract: A locating device for aiding a user in finding an object. The locating device includes a remote unit and a tag unit. The remote unit is retained by the user and includes a first processor for generating an alarm activation signal; a transmitter for transmitting the alarm activation signal; a sound alarm button and a light alarm button. The sound and light alarm buttons are manually activated for controlling the processor to generate the alarm activation signal. The tag unit is releasably secured to the object and includes a tag section and a locking section. The tag section includes identification information concerning the user and a cover for providing selective access to the information. The locking section includes a lock for releasably securing the tag unit to the object; a second processor; an alarm signal generator; and a receiver for receiving the alarm activation signal and activating the alarm generator to generate at least one of a visual and audible alarm signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ultra-thin outline package for integrated circuits that is much smaller than conventional chip packaging structures. The ultra-thin outline package is particularly useful in fabricating RF or RFID transponders. In an embodiment of the invention, the ultra-thin outline package includes a substrate having an aperture. At least one conductive trace that includes upper and lower portions is disposed on respective upper and lower surfaces of the substrate. The substrate further comprises at least one via electrically connecting the conductive trace portions together. An integrated circuit is disposed in the aperture and is operatively coupled to the upper portion of the conductive trace. An encapsulant is provided in the aperture substantially covering the integrated circuit. The lower portion of the conductive trace is adapted for coupling of the ultra-thin outline package to a secondary substrate using conventional surface mounting techniques.

Abstract: A method of filtering an input signal which includes noise cyclically repeating at a known noise frequency, to substantially remove said noise from the input signal is provided. The method includes sampling the input signal at a frequency corresponding to a whole multiple “N” of the noise frequency; sequentially storing the samples in 0-N storage devices; sequentially subtracting the sample in each storage device from the sample previously stored in the Nth storage device preceding the respective storage device, to thereby produce for each sample, a difference sample in which the cyclically repeating noise is effectively cancelled from the respective sample; and sequentially outputting the difference samples to produce an output signal from which the cyclically repeating noise has been substantially removed.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus, including an intelligent power module, facilitates preventing sudden stop of an inverter due to an anomaly from affecting a factory operation adversely. When an anomaly occurs in IGBTs of the inverter, one of protection circuits outputs an alarm signal via an alarm enable line. In advance to the alarm signal, when the protection circuit detects a sign of a possible anomaly from a collector current or a chip temperature of any of the IGBTs exceeding a second predetermined collector current level or a second predetermined temperature level higher than the normal collector current value or the normal chip temperature but lower than a first predetermined collector current level or a first predetermined temperature level for outputting the alarm signal, the protection circuit outputs a preliminary alarm signal via a preliminary alarm line without turning off the pertinent IGBT.

Abstract: A circuit that senses changes in the electrical characteristics of one or more solder joints, and generates one or more signals based, at least in part, on the electrical characteristics that are sensed, is incorporated into an integrated circuit. In a further aspect of the present invention, the one or more signals generated by the circuit are indicative of the reliability of the solder joints. Embodiments of the present invention provide a warning in advance of system failure, permitting repair or replacement of a failing unit/joint before a failure becomes catastrophic. Embodiments of the present invention include structures and circuitry that can determine whether solder joint failure has occurred, and that can communicate the occurrence of solder joint failure to other components or systems.

Abstract: A detection system includes a switch device having a conductor forming part of a capacitor with variable capacitance dependent upon proximity of a person, and a detector for sensing variation in the capacitance and for generating an output signal indicating the proximity of the person relative to the conductor. The switch device further includes a retaining body adapted to mount the conductor to a door handle, the retaining body also having a mechanical switch arranged for actuation by a person gripping the handle to additionally or alternatively indicate the proximity of the person.

Abstract: A control for use with pressure-sensitive devices, such as in a machine-guarding application. A plurality of pressure-sensitive devices, such as pressure-sensitive safety mats, are operatively connected to produce a disable signal and a status signal. An activation module produces a switching output responsive to the disable signal and the status signal to disable a machine. In one embodiment the status signal is produced by a comparator in response to a quantity selector and a quantity indication signal produced by the pressure-sensitive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the control system of the present invention is able to detect proper safety mat configuration, whether a threshold pressure is being applied to a pressure-sensing region in the plurality of safety mats, and whether the quantity of operatively coupled safety mats conforms to the quantity specified to be deployed.

Abstract: System for preventing detection stationary identification marker in a detection zone of an electronic article surveillance system. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting an exciter pulse for exciting an identification marker, and a receiver system for receiving a characteristic response energy emitted by an identification marker in an inhibit field of the detection zone and in a main area of said detection zone. A comparator system is provided for generating an alarm condition when the characteristic response energy received in the main area exceeds the characteristic response energy received in the inhibit field by a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention is an alarm clock device which programmably and automatically coordinates the movement of one or more electric toy trains, or the like. The present invention alarm clock preferably triggers the movement of an electric toy train when a pre-set alarm time is reached. The alarm clock device comprises at least one base that defines an elongated substantially non-linear track for regulating the movement of a toy train. The traveling speed of the train is preferably regulated by a voltage varying device, such as a transformer, that is attached to the track and also coupled to a manually adjustable speed controlling member within the alarm clock. The movement of the train is preferably accompanied by applicable audible sounds that correspond therewith. The duration of movement may be programmed manually and may be adjusted in any variety of ways.