Abstract: A vehicle control system for detecting an obstacle present ahead on the road in the course of travel of a vehicle, comprising a first laser radar mounted on the vehicle which emits an electromagnetic beam to detect the obstacle present ahead on the road, and second and third laser radars which measures distances between the first laser radar and the road surface at different angles. The system determines whether the first laser radar is mounted on the vehicle such that the laser beam central axis is horizontal or inclines upward or downward relative to the road surface or vehicle body, based on the distances, a height of the first laser radar from the road surface, the angles at which the distances are measured and reference values. The system may correct the inclination if determined. With the arrangement, the system ensures detection of an obstacle on the road without fail and conduction of a desired obstacle avoidance control.

Abstract: A mobile unit detection system or information system in which the existence of a car or other mobile unit which must be paid attention to can be detected only upon receiving a necessary signal. The mobile unit detection system or information system detects a mobile unit through communication between the car and the mobile unit. The car includes a device for judging the operating condition of the car and transmitting a detection signal based on the result. The mobile unit may transmit a response signal upon receiving the detection signal so that the car is able to detect the existence of the mobile unit.

Abstract: For remotely operating security barriers such as gates, garage doors and the like by manipulating multiple pre-existing equipment controls of a motor vehicle simultaneously or successively, a vehicle-integrated access control device is described having an access control signal transmitter, an optional voltage regulator, and means for causing the operation of the transmitter to depend on the actuation in concert of several vehicle controls such as, for example, the simultaneous or rapidly successive actuation of the left and right turn signals of a motorcycle. A logical AND device and, alternatively, a pair of transistor switches are disclosed for establishing the dependency. One or more optional relays are disclosed for establishing the dependency. A latching circuit is described for establishing the dependency upon successive actuation of first and second circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a vehicle theft alarm using a handheld computing device. A handheld computing device is disclosed that includes an image capture device, a location determination system and a communication device. The handheld computing device can be used for capturing images and transmitting images to other locations via the communication device. The handheld computing device also includes a position determining system for determining position of the vehicle. The handheld computing device can be located within a vehicle and the alarm system activated such that, upon the occurrence of an alarm triggering event, the image capture device captures images of the driver's compartment of the vehicle and the location determination system determines the location of the vehicle. The captured images and the determined location are transmitted through the communication device to a designated remote location.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification transponder (RFID tag) in accordance with the principles of the present includes a tag antenna having a gain and an input impedance. The tag also includes RFID circuitry, which may be in the form of an RFID tag integrated circuit, the RFID circuitry also being characterized, in part, by an input impedance. According to the principles of the present invention the tag's read distance is maximized by tuning the tag antenna impedance and gain. In general, the imaginary part of the antenna impedance is chosen as the negative of the imaginary part of the RFID circuitry's impedance. Additionally, the real part of the tag antenna's impedance is selected by tuning those geometrical antenna parameters that affect both the antenna's gain and impedance. For RFID tags wherein the geometrical parameters of the tag antenna do not affect the gain G.sub.

Abstract: A security device (2) of a security system which a user can unlock by means of a transmitter unit (1) normally can also be unlocked by unauthorized users utilizing the transmitter unit (1). The new procedure acording to the invention is to allow only authorized users to access the object (4) to be secured by means of a security system, even in the event of the transmitter unit (1) being lost or stolen. To this end, the transmitter unit (1) will generate an identification signal (3) characterizing the user, by means of a detector (10) scanning the user's own physical features, preferably a finger print. This identification signal (3) will then be transmitted to the security device (2). This security device can then be unlocked only if there is a match between the identification signal (3) and a stored identification signal provided by a user authorized to unlock the security device.

Abstract: A garment or apparatus worn by emergency workers includes an electrically operated source of multiple, mutually diverging laser light beams. The light beams may be modulated to identify the worker and his status. The worker's location in an emergency environment is readily established as the locus of the diverging beams. A smoke-filled environment makes the laser beams more visible to rescuers.

Abstract: An improved crane warning system which includes acceleration sensors, motion sensors, hydraulic sensors, remote communications and/or a camera. The crane warning system may include a crane warning device integrated into the ball of the crane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a waiting time prediction system for visualizing waiting times until the arrival of at least one vehicle (2), in particular a vehicle of the public transit system, at at least one station stop (5). Hardware and/or software expenses are minimized by including the following components: a first device for determining position data of the vehicle (2), a second device for calculating the remaining expected driving time until the arrival of the vehicle (2) at the station stop (5) based on the measured position data of the vehicle (2) and the known coordinates of the station stop (5), and first and second transmission means for transmitting information from the first device to the second device and from the second device to a station stop display (4), wherein the station stop display (4) can be controlled by this second transmission means to indicate the waiting time.

Abstract: An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in internal pressure of tires is alarmed based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle. The apparatus comprises a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of each tire, a memory means for storing the rotational information of each tire, a calculating means for calculating reciprocals of turning radiuses based on rotational information of tires attached to a driving shaft and judged values from the rotational information of each tire, and a determining means for determining decrease in internal pressure from a relationship between the reciprocals of the turning radiuses and judged values.

Abstract: Motorized operating mechanisms for vehicle portal closure members, such as windows, sunroofs, sliding doors, hatches, or convertible tops are common in modern automobiles. Inadvertent operation of such closure members, however, has been known to cause injury and entrapment when such a member is directed to close at an inappropriate moment. A vehicle entrapment prevention system is provided which prevents undesired and possibly injurious operation of such a vehicle portal closure member. Undesired operation often occurs when younger occupants, such as small children, accidentally trigger the operating mechanism, which can cause the closure member to entrap an unsuspecting victim. Such an entrapment prevention system ensures safe operation by determining the presence of a responsible operator through the use of various sensors, and permits operation of a portal closure member only in the presence of such a responsible operator.

Abstract: A warning apparatus provides an alarm indication of the location of an exit from an enclosure or room in the event of a detected fire as well as the safety of the exit. An alarm housing is located remote from a smoke detector on or in proximity to a surface of the exit. The smoke detector output is an ultrasonic frequency signal generated upon detection of a fire. The ultrasonic signal is detected by a receiver carried by the alarm which activates the alarm. The alarm is in the form of at least one, and preferably both of a visible light and an audible alarm mounted within the alarm housing. A temperature sensor on the alarm housing detects the temperature of the exit surface and deactivates the alarm if the temperature exceeds the predetermined safe temperature. A test circuit is included in the smoke detector or on a separate transmitter which, when activated, transmits an ultrasonic signal to the receiver to test the proper operation of the alarm.

Abstract: A local traffic signal controller (3) is interfaced to a satellite subscriber unit (10) to provide for centralized control of the traffic signals (1) controlled by the local controller (3). A central controller (7) provides central control and can download program control information to local controller (3). Dial-up access to local controller (3) is provided to central controller (7) with the subscriber unit (10). The resultant communication path may be utilized to provide for accessing information from the local traffic signal controller (3). Such information may include indications of lamp failures, traffic pattern information and other status or traffic related information.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of providing a visual and/or audible indication of a numerical quantity. The quantity may be derived from any source such as an analog or digital quantity. The invention has utility in any application wherein it is desirable to visually and/or audibly display the magnitude of a quantity. An example system is described which provides a visual and/or audible indication of the received signal strength (RSSI) in an RF receiver. A visual indicator such as an LED is flashed a number of times corresponding to the magnitude of an input signal. Alternatively, or in combination, an audible indicator such as a buzzer can be beeped a number of times corresponding to the magnitude of the input signal. A digitized quantity to be indicated can be calculated by or input to a microcontroller or other processor that is suitably programmed to convert the magnitude of the digitized quantity to a number representing the number of flashes or beeps.

Abstract: Vertical surface protection in a security installation is achieved by detecting disturbances in a microwave beam sent from a transmitter to a receiver, both installed substantially above the ground and adjacent to the vertical surface. The transmitter and receiver have associated beam aerials of extended horizontal aperture of not less than 0.50 meters (20 inches) to mitigate the effects of surface reflection from metal scaffold, plastic sheeting or netting, wooden boarding and brick or stone facing. The aerials are preferably slotted waveguide arrays and the advantages of using circular polarization are shown. Circularly-polarized slotted waveguide arrays are disclosed having a center feed to minimize frequency-dependent beam-spreading.

Abstract: A system for controlling assets for inventory, loss-control, or monitoring. The system includes a combination RFID and EAS tag and a reader.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder (tag) includes a spiral over ground plane antenna. The RFID tag includes a RFID circuitry that may be implemented as an RFID tag integrated circuit and may be mounted on one surface of a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The RFID tag circuitry may be electrically connected to an impedance matching circuit printed on the same side of printed circuit board. The matching circuit is electrically connected to a spiral antenna that may be mounted on same side of the printed circuit board as the tag circuit and matching circuit. The spiral antenna is held a prescribed distance from the ground plane in order to maximize the gain of the RFID tag and to thereby maximize the range of the RFID tag.

Abstract: A transmission of information takes place between a scanning unit of a position measuring system and an evaluation and power supply unit connected therewith through a power supply line which connects the scanning unit and the downstream-connected evaluation and power supply unit. The transmitted information relates, for example, to the position-dependent analog scanning signals generated by the scanning unit.

Abstract: A fire and smoke detector utilizes a statistical analysis of the near infrared radiation incident on it. The spectral radiation intensities incident on the fire detector are continuously measured at two near-infrared wavelengths, and a time series of apparent source temperatures is obtained from these measurements. The power spectral density and the probability density function of the apparent source temperatures are sufficient to determine the presence of a fire in the vicinity of the detector. The detector can indicate the presence of a fire in an adjoining room from the radiation which is incident on it due to reflections from common building materials. The present invention relates to fire and/or smoke detection methodology and associated apparatus. The detector utilizes fiber optic as a viewing and absorption/scattering detection means.

Abstract: A closure-sensitive signalling device with a cantilever switch responsive to the opening of a folded article such as a business card holder, greeting card, folder, or other article having panels foldable with respect to each other along a fold line. The cantilever switch has a stationary electrical contact and a conductive cantilever arm engageable therewith, and is mounted along with a battery-powered signal generator IC on a low-profile printed circuit board adapted for mounting on one panel of the folded article with the cantilever switch adjacent to the fold line. The cantilever arm's free end is engageable with another panel of the folded article such that the switch is held open when the article is closed and is closed when the article is open. The signalling device generates an audible or visible signal in response to a signal from the signal generator IC.