Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a system for assisting a driver with personal items includes a plurality of detectors that detect a signal from a transmitter that has been previously associated with a personal item; and a processor configured to: determine at least one characteristic of a journey, receive an indication from at least one of the detectors regarding a detected signal, identify a personal item and determine its location based on the detected signal, provide an indication if the determined location is different than an expected location based on the at least one characteristic of the vehicle journey, determine whether at least one other personal item is expected to be located based on the at least one characteristic of the vehicle journey, and provide an indication that the other personal item is expected but not detected.

Abstract: A direct-drive wind turbine comprises a wind turbine rotor and a generator mounted on a frame. The wind turbine rotor comprises a hub carrying blades and the generator comprises a generator stator comprising a track structure and a stator surface connected to the track structure, wherein the stator surface has coil windings, and carriages connected one after the other and adapted to run on the track structure, wherein the carriages carry an electrically magnetically active material facing the stator surface such that when the carriages run along the track structure a magnetic field is generated across an air gap provided between the carriages active materials and the stator coil windings, wherein one or more carriages are directly coupled to the wind turbine rotor by rigid connectors such that rotation of the wind turbine rotor causes displacement of the carriages along the track.

Abstract: An actuator for a mud pulse telemetry tool. The actuator includes a solenoid-based servo valve with a coil shaft responsive to data transmitted by a data processor. The coil shaft is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Movement of the coil shaft to the extended position moves a poppet to close a servo orifice thereby preventing mud flow to a main mud pulse valve of the mud pulse telemetry tool. Movement of the coil shaft to the retracted position moves the poppet to open the servo orifice thereby allowing mud flow to actuate the main mud pulse valve. The poppet is connected to a poppet shaft and the poppet shaft cooperates with the coil shaft in a slide hammer mechanism to amplify force provided by the coil shaft against the poppet shaft with linear movement of the coil shaft to the extended position and to the retracted position.

Abstract: Site based clustered APB security systems and methods are provided. Some systems can include a first plurality of access controllers located at a first site, a second plurality of access controllers located at a second site, and a host system supporting each of the first and second plurality of access controllers. A triggering event at a first of the first plurality of access controllers can cause the first of the first plurality of access controllers to transmit a triggering signal to the host system. Responsive thereto, the host system can identify the remaining access controllers in the first plurality of access controllers, transmit a status update to the remaining access controllers in the first plurality of access controllers, and avoid transmitting the status update to the second plurality of access controllers.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a rotary electric machine, an electric power storage device, an electric power generation device, a switch, and an ECU. The switch is a switch operated by a user when the user requires recovery control to be executed or stopped. The recovery control is control for increasing the electric power storage amount of the electric power storage device by using the electric power generation device. The ECU is configured to select any one of a plurality of control modes that include a charge sustaining mode and a charge depleting mode, and control the hybrid vehicle in accordance with the selected control mode. The ECU is configured to select the charge depleting mode when the recovery control is requested to be stopped by using the switch during the execution of the recovery control.

Abstract: Automatic voltage regulation is shown involving full wave rectifying a power signal and generating a reference corresponding to an operating voltage level, line sampling the power signal and comparing it to the reference to generate a line sync signal synchronized to the power signal. Producing 90° out of phase signals synchronized to the line sync signal with a PLL locked onto the line sync signal that outputs a phase error signal. Generating a quadrature signal from the phase signals. Sampling the peaks of the rectified power signal using the quadrature signal to produce a control signal. Subtracting the error signal and damping signal from the reference to produce a duty cycle modulation signal. The duty cycle modulation signal controls a duty cycle of a field voltage control signal that oscillates at a predetermined frequency. The field voltage control signal is low-pass filtered to produce the damping signal.

Abstract: A circuit configuration is described, for starting an internal combustion engine, using at least one starter, which includes a starter motor, an engaging relay, a switching relay and a control relay, the control relay being able to be controlled by an ignition switch, the engaging relay being able to be controlled by the control relay and a current path of the starter motor being able to be switched using the switching relay. In order for the starter, for starting an internal combustion engine, to operate more accurately, and thus to achieve a longer service life, the switching relay is able to be controlled as a function of the occurrence of a specified event, at least in the switching-off process. This has the advantage that the switching relay is able to interrupt a current path from the starter motor earlier in time, especially a main current path, so that energizing in the reverse direction is avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling opening and closing of a vehicle door are provided. The apparatus includes a driving unit that opens and closes a door a controller that operates the driving unit. Additionally, an acoustic wave processing unit receives and analyzes an acoustic wave signal generated by force exerted onto the door to generate a control signal for opening or closing of the door. The controller receives the control signal to thus operate the driving unit. Further, the acoustic wave processing unit includes an acoustic wave sensor disposed inside of the door and receives the acoustic wave signal, and an MCU that analyzes a signal output from the acoustic wave sensor to generate the control signal.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a system includes a plurality of drive units coupled to a plurality of propellers. Each drive unit includes a single motor/generator and a single motor controller, and the plurality of drive units includes a first drive-unit pair and a second drive-unit pair. The system also includes a high-voltage bus connecting the motor controllers in the first drive-unit pair to a tether, a low-voltage bus connecting the motor controllers in the second drive-unit pair to the tether, and an intermediate-voltage bus connecting the motor controllers of the first drive-unit pair in series with the motor controllers of the second drive-unit pair. The motor controllers in the first drive-unit pair are connected in parallel via the high-voltage bus and the intermediate-voltage bus, and the motor controllers in the second drive-unit pair are connected in parallel via the intermediate-voltage bus and the low-voltage bus.

Abstract: Receiving machine-readable information about an anchor point, analyzing that information to determine if connecting a load to the anchor point would be safe, and reporting the results of this analysis to a user.

Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving, at a power adapter, power from a power supply, routing a first portion of the power received from the power supply to the doorbell unit, and routing a second portion of the power received from the power supply to both the device of the doorbell unit and the doorbell chime when the doorbell button is being actuated. In some cases, the power adapter is wired, via doorbell wiring, to at least one of a doorbell chime, a doorbell unit, and the power supply. In one example, the first portion of power is routed to power a device of the doorbell unit when a doorbell button of the doorbell unit is not being actuated.

Abstract: A vehicle having an integrated function of assisting an engine and compressing a refrigerant includes a motor unit and a compression unit coupled within a housing, and a first clutch unit coupled to a rotation shaft of the motor unit or a rotation shaft of the compression unit and that connects or releases a driving force of an engine and a driving force of the motor unit.

Abstract: A method and system for converting mechanical energy from a generator operated by a turbine into electric energy to be input into an electric network, comprising the following: (A) supplying a power electronic converter connectable to input of the generator and to output of the electric network; (B) supplying an electrical power outputting the generator to the power electronic converter; (C) adapting the electrical power using the power electronic converter to input the electrical power to the electric network by the following substeps: (C1) calculating rotation speed of the turbine; (C2) calculating wind speed moving the turbine; (C3) calculating reference rotation speed, corresponding to the maximum point of power input to the electric network, using a Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithm; the method comprising substep (C1) implemented by an algorithm carrying out a virtual encoder, and substep (C2) implemented by training a neural network implementing a virtual anemometer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a safety monitoring system using an intelligent walking stick, the system helps stabilize ambulation of a user, monitors safety and health of the user by monitoring the heart rate or a motion state of the user, and includes content providing mental stimulation and exercise to the user via an application.

Abstract: System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data, particularly between two devices within an electronic apparatus. A first transition may be detected in a signal carried on a data lane of a data communications link or carried on a timing lane of the data communications link and an edge may be generated on a receiver clock signal based on the first transition. Data may be captured from the data lane using the receiver clock signal. The timing lane may carry a clock signal, a strobe signal or another signal providing timing information. The strobe signal may transition between signaling states when no state transition occurs on any of a plurality of data lanes at a boundary between consecutive data periods.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for verifying integrity of a signal path across an isolation barrier are discloses. The devices, systems, and methods insert a marker signal into the signal path across the isolation barrier. The marker includes an analog signal. The devices, systems, and methods transmit a version of the marker signal across the isolation barrier and receiving a signal comprising the transmitted version of the marker signal. The devices, systems, and methods verify the integrity of the signal path based on the received signal.

Abstract: An electrical generator, comprising: a stator having a coil and a lift magnet coupled by a lever to an induction magnet, the induction magnet moveable longitudinally within the coil, the lever configured to move the induction magnet a multiple of a distance that the lift magnet is moved; and, a rotor moveable with respect to the stator, the rotor having a rotor magnet, the rotor magnet and the lift magnet positioned with respective magnetic moments opposing; whereby movement of the rotor magnet toward the lift magnet causes the lift magnet to move away from the rotor magnet which in turn causes, by operation of the lever, the induction magnet to move within the coil to generate a first electromotive force therein.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for producing energy via use of gravity and then integrating such a force into a system design of energy power generation by translating the force of gravity into potential energy then into kinetic energy and from kinetic energy back into potential energy again. This system can operate mechanically or electromechanically with the aid of a minimal amount of external energy. A mechanical sequence is introduced in the system's operation to prolong the operational functionality of motion to its working components to the point where full, or substantially full, and independent recycling of fluids takes place and in the process it generates power to run the system's electricity producing generators and supply electricity to the power grid.

Abstract: In an approach for identifying an object using an electromagnetic tag, an electromagnetic signal is received by a sensor, wherein the electromagnetic signal originates from an electromagnetic tag affixed to an object, and wherein the electromagnetic signal passes through a physical propagation channel. A processor searches a database for an electromagnetic signature corresponding to the electromagnetic signal, wherein the database comprises, at least, object information associated with the electromagnetic signature. A processor determines the electromagnetic signal corresponds to the electromagnetic signature. A processor presents the object information associated with the electromagnetic signature.

Abstract: A starter motor of a vehicle is provided and includes a housing having a central longitudinal axis and at least first and second coils disposed within the housing. One of the at least first and second coils is configured to control driveshaft and ring gear engagement and the other one of the at least first and second coils is offset from the central longitudinal axis and configured to control an application of current to a motor disposed to drive rotation of a driveshaft of the vehicle.