Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses are disclosed for assessing whether a vehicle will make contact with an obstacle. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include an obstacle sensing component configured to determine a location and a dimension of an obstacle, a vehicle sensing component configured to determine a height of a point of the vehicle relative to the ground, and a notification component configured to provide an indication of a presence of the obstacle to assist a human driver or an automated driving system in parking the vehicle without making contact with the obstacle.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system that includes a first modular computing unit comprising a first signal communication interface, and an indicator module coupled to the first modular computing unit. The indicator module comprises, on a first side wall of the indicator module, a second signal communication interface adapted to register with the first signal communication interface of the first modular computing unit, thereby communicatively coupling the indicator module with the first modular computing unit in order to propagate signals from the first modular computing unit for display on the indicator module.

Abstract: An alarm circuit for electronic device includes a detection unit, a signal conversion circuit, and an alarm control circuit. The detection unit is configured to detect a working status of an electronic device, and output a control signal of a first voltage level when the detection circuit determines the presence of smoke in the electronic device. The signal conversion circuit is configured to receive the control signal of the first voltage level, and convert the control signal of the first voltage level to an alarm signal of a first voltage level. The alarm control circuit is configured to receive the alarm signal of the first voltage level and transmit an alarm.

Abstract: A system for tamper detection includes a security device and a data device. The security device has a first portion disposable on a first side of a separation boundary of a separable object, and a second portion disposable on a second side of the separation boundary. The security device further includes a first Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit configured to provide a first return signal. The data device includes a microprocessor and system memory, an RFID reader and a radio antenna. The data device is configured to send and receive radio frequency signals with the first RFID circuit, and to recognize the first return signal as indicating an untampered condition of the separable object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing spoken messages that reflect event status of one or more hazard detection systems within a smart-home environment are described herein. The messages can inform occupants in concise manner that does not overload cognitive recognition of those occupants. For example, the messages may be prioritized to limit the amount of information that is spoken and intelligently condense information in as concise a manner as possible. This may be accomplished by using one or more speaking paradigms to compile audible messages to be played back through a speaker of the hazard detection system.

Abstract: A system and method for using a portable device to communicate with a vehicle to authorize one or more vehicle operations. The portable device may authorize the vehicle to unlock/lock doors, start the vehicle engine, or mobilize the vehicle, or a combination thereof. The vehicle may include a vehicle transmitter system with one or more transmitters disposed at various locations on the vehicle, and the portable device may be configured to monitor a communication strength between the portable device and the one or more transmitters of the transmitter system. Based on the monitored signal strength, the portable device may determine location information about itself.

Abstract: Meters and meter covers comprising: a removable cover housing configured to accommodate the upper portion of the internal components of an existing meter, the cover housing engageable with the housing base of the existing meter to cover and enclose the internal components of the existing meter; a sensor affixed to the cover housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio affixed to the cover housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; and a power unit affixed to the cover housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a missing vehicle tire and notifying a user of the vehicle about a potential vehicle tire theft. The method carried out by the system involves detecting that a tire is missing from a vehicle using a vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system and thereafter providing a notification of the missing tire via a wireless communication sent from a telematics unit on the vehicle. The wireless communication can be sent automatically by the telematics unit in response to the detection. Identification numbers or other data reported by sensors used in the TPM system can be used to determine if a tire is missing.

Abstract: A vehicular component protection system is provided that includes: a controller and a vehicular component; two electrodes electrically coupled to the controller and near the component; a shorting element coupled to the component; and a resistor electrically coupled to the element and controller. The controller activates an alarm upon detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes or continuity between the element and the resistor. Further, the controller may activate the alarm upon detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes that exceeds the predetermined capacitance over a predetermined time threshold. In addition, the predetermined capacitance and time threshold can be set to filter false positives caused by one or more of weather conditions, wind-driven objects, and animals.

Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. A virtual fence is defined around the containment area, as well as around optional exclusion zones within the containment area, during system set up through communication between the base units and a trackable device as the user walks around the desired border. Visualization software enables the user to verify that the location of the fence is as desired and that the system is operating properly using a computing device having a display screen. In use, the system employs improved filtering of consecutive distance measurement values taken between the base units and the collar to discount errant measurement values in terms of their contribution to the current calculation of the dog's location.

Abstract: A system includes one or more retro-reflective markers positioned within a ride system and a tracking system that may detect the one or more retro-reflective markers to track a position of a rider. The tracking system includes an emitter that may emit light toward the one or more retro-reflective markers, a detector that may detect reflected light from the one or more retro-reflective markers, and a controller that may determine the position of the rider relative to the one or more retro-reflective markers based on detection of the reflected light and that may provide an indication of the position of the rider.

Abstract: A field device for process instrumentation comprises a measuring and comparison device and a readable storage element. The measuring and comparison device is configured for monitoring an operating characteristic variable for compliance with a predefined range. The readable storage element maintains a state. The storage element state is permanently changed if a value held by the operating characteristic variable goes out of said predefined range. The predefined range is determined in such a manner that, as a result of a changed state of the storage element, a loss of suitability of the field device for special operation with an operating characteristic variable with restricted specifications, but not a loss of suitability for normal operation with an operating characteristic variable with less restricted specifications, is indicated.

Abstract: A portable terminal and a computer readable storage medium are described. According to one implementation, a portable terminal includes, a storage section, an imaging section, a notifying section and a control section. The storage section stores item identification information to identify an item with a RFID tag attached corresponded with tag position information which shows a position of the RFID tag. The control section retrieves item identification information of an item corresponding to image data imaged by the imaging section from the stored item identification information, and allows the notifying section to notify the tag position information corresponding to the retrieved item identification information.

Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a passive keyless entry receiver system having an application controller that is activated upon receipt of an entire payload of a data packet to determine if peak RSSI levels for a plurality of RSSI steps within the payload match an expected sequence of peak RSSI levels (i.e., if a fingerprint is genuine). The receiver system has a receiver that receives a wireless signal having a data packet with a plurality of power levels within a plurality of RSSI steps of the payload. The receiver system writes a plurality of peak RSSI levels to a plurality of RSSI peak payload registers that store the peak RSSI levels for RSSI steps of the payload. Once an entire payload of a data packet has been received an application controller determines if the peak payloads correspond to an expected sequence of power levels.

Abstract: Embodiments of a flight deck display system deployed onboard an aircraft are provided, as are embodiments of a method carried-out by a flight deck display system. In one embodiment, the flight deck display system includes a cockpit display device and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) establish the speed trend of the aircraft over a predetermined time period; (ii) generate a primary flight display on the cockpit display device including a speed trend vector graphic representative of the established speed trend; and (iii) alter the appearance of the speed trend vector graphic in a first predetermined manner if a low speed change condition is detected during at least one of aircraft takeoff and landing.

Abstract: A method and a device for character input by direction key are disclosed. The method comprises: a mapping relation between characters in input character set and direction key input sequences is constructed, and at least a code table representing the mapping relation is established; the character is inputted by a code table selection key and a direction key, the character input comprises the following steps: a code table as a current code table is determined according to the input of a code table selection key (S10); a prompting message of the current code table is displayed on a display screen (S20); an input character is determined in the current code table according to a direction key input sequence (S30). The used direction key, the confirmation key and the code table selection key are based on an existing key of an existing e-book reader, media player and other electronic devices.

Abstract: A radio transmitter used to transmit an activation signal for radio tags held by individuals or the like provides multi-dimensional polarization to an activation signal so as to allow more consistent range detection of an individual with a tag having a single axis of sensitivity. Circular or spherical polarization can be obtained using the system which may include an antenna design permitting decoupling of antennas necessary for the polarization, a quadrature locking system simplifying proper phase control of the necessary signals and a system for tuning the same.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that adapt or configure an electronic device to be capable of detecting movement of the plug of a headset relative to a socket therefore (i.e. be capable of detecting relative movement of the coupling between the headset and the device). The plug can then be used to control functions on the electronic device, including those associated with audio programming. The resultant auxiliary controls can also be used for other applications, even those where the device is actively being used, e.g. a video game, to provide further control inputs for the electronic device.

Abstract: Meters and meter covers comprising: a removable cover housing configured to accommodate the upper portion of the internal components of an existing meter, the cover housing engageable with the housing base of the existing meter to cover and enclose the internal components of the existing meter; a sensor affixed to the cover housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio affixed to the cover housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; and a power unit affixed to the cover housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.