Abstract: Monitoring of food temperature during cooking for taste as well as to check if it is safe for consumption is well known, especially when grilling or bbqing or in professional kitchens. With smartphones and tablets, use of wireless thermometers that use bluetooth or WiFi are now available commercially. These thermometers use the internet cloud when needed and have apps that provide a lot of information to make cooking easier and fun. The present invention relates to an unique temperature monitoring system.

Abstract: With proliferation of “Internet of Things” (IoT) type of devices, autonomous remote monitoring is becoming common. Often times monitoring is to prevent product loss or it is mandated by regulatory agencies such as the FDA or CDC or others depending on the product stored or where it is used. However, the solutions are typically not complete or affordable and have significant scalability problems. The purpose of the invention is to provide a complete solution that leverages the recent IoT innovations to not just monitor but also provide the means to troubleshoot, maintain and manage.

Abstract: Consumers have a general awareness of cyber threats and its prevalence but most are completely unaware that their own computer systems are below the standard for keeping them safe. Systems on the internet are now exposed to cyber-attacks by sponsored and unsponsored hackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities known to exist in applications and operating systems. A typical home user has a simple network with multiple devices connected to the internet but does not have an awareness of activity on their network. There has been a long felt need for a wireless monitoring solution that is affordable, made for homes and offices, monitors remotely, continuously and uses a plug and play type of accessory that does not require modifying the existing network used in homes and offices and does not require outsourcing of the cyber security threat and protection.

Abstract: Home use of sensors has been limited to rudimentary devices such as using a thermometer or sensors installed in homes by third party for security. An affordable sensor with advanced capabilities as used in commercial applications has not been possible. Smartphone or smart tablets, with advanced computing ability, has not been a platform for sensor communications though the capability exists. Recent products such as the iCelsius convert the iPhone into a data logger for measuring temperature and relative humidity. However, these sensors are tethered to the device and not wireless. A cost effective sensor solution for consumer application with remote monitoring capability is now possible using WiFi based wireless sensors that will work with the smart phones and the cloud based computing on the internet; such an integration of these three platforms in such a way that the user does not have to intervene to make it all work seamlessly is the purpose of this invention.

Abstract: Home use of sensors has been limited to rudimentary devices such as using a thermometer or sensors installed in homes by third party for security. An affordable sensor with advanced capabilities as used in commercial applications has not been possible. Smartphone or smart tablets, with advanced computing ability, has not been a platform for sensor communications though the capability exists. Recent products such as the iCelsius convert the iPhone into a data logger for measuring temperature and relative humidity. However, these sensors are tethered to the device and not wireless. A cost effective sensor solution for consumer application with remote monitoring capability is now possible using WiFi based wireless sensors that will work with the smart phones and the cloud based computing on the internet; such an integration of these three platforms in such a way that the user does not have to intervene to make it all work seamlessly is the purpose of this invention.

Abstract: Temperature, relative humidity and air quality define comfort indoors. Individuals judge comfort by how the environment feels and smells. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipments are used to control the indoor climate and thereby control comfort. Most homes and offices are normally equipped with just a sensor to show the temperature level. It is rare to find humidity sensors and temperature sensors in every room in homes and offices so controlling the environment locally is not possible. Air quality, another parameter that influences comfort, is measured by the presence of volatile organic compounds or particles that can now be identified using more sophisticated monitors. An invention is described here that will make it easy and affordable to measure and control the temperature, relative humidity and air quality using a smart phone, that is commonplace now, thereby controlling the comfort level.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network is installed inside pipelines using sensors and wireless transceivers that are small, low-cost, and rugged. The objective is monitoring the pipeline and recommending maintenance and repair at specific locations in the pipeline. Maintenance includes detection of internal corrosion using sensors that can result in leaks. Furthermore detection of leaks for prevention of catastrophic failures as a result of damage, such as third party mechanical damage. After establishing the wireless sensor network, the network is activated so the sensors can make measurements periodically or continuously using instructions transmitted via a base station. The sensor data from the various sensors are transmitted inside the pipe and extracted to access points in the pipeline to a remote computer that stores the data within the computer. The sensed information can be used for monitoring as well as analysis using a recommendation engine to provide maintenance and repair alerts.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that use mobile sensor nodes for monitoring of mobile assets and one or more mobile sensor nodes have mobility that is unpredictable to a wireless network. The mobile sensor nodes collect data with the goal of monitoring the environment including weather and pollution, biological and chemical agents for security application and traffic application. The mobile sensors form local groups opportunistically to coordinate measurements and other actions. The collected sensor data will be stored locally with global positioning system (GPS) data and the time of data collected. The information can be transmitted to a remote computer opportunistically using a low cost method such as WiFi or the cell phone network. The information will be aggregated to provide environmental maps, traffic maps and maps to first responders in the event of biological nuclear or chemical calamity.

Abstract: A wireless sensor network will be used to detect the location of subsurface infrastructures such as a pipeline. The objective is to alert the infrastructure operator and the construction equipment operator of the threat of damage to the infrastructure. Currently the equipment operator has to depend on the color marks made by the locater sent by the One-Call center. The low cost wireless sensor network will alert the operator when the machine tool gets close to an existing utility. A combination of radio frequency signal, ultrasonic pulse, and acoustic signals is used to determine the infrastructure location. A sensor network is then used to map the infrastructure location with respect to the construction equipment operator and provide a reliable, accurate system to alert the operator of the potential danger.

Abstract: A wireless sensor system is installed inside pipelines using sensors and wireless transceivers that are small, low-cost, and rugged. The objective is monitoring the pipeline and recommending maintenance and repair at specific locations in the pipeline. Maintenance includes detection of leaks and prevention of catastrophic failures as a result of internal corrosion or other damage, such as third party mechanical damage, using multitude of sensors. After establishing the wireless sensor network the network is activated so the sensor can make measurements periodically or continuously using instructions transmitted via the base station. The sensor data from the various sensors are transmitted inside the pipe and extracted to access points in the pipeline to a remote computer that stores the data within the computer memory. The sensed information can be used for monitoring as well as analysis using a recommendation engine to provide maintenance and repair alerts.

Abstract: A stainless steel sheet suitable for use in the manufacture of an exhaust component. The steel sheet has at least one surface pretreated with a protective coating resistant to delamination at temperatures up to about 540.degree. C. including an inner inorganic portion and an outer organic portion. The inorganic portion includes at least 50 mg/m.sup.2 of a chromium based conversion coating having a thickness no greater then 0.02 mm. The conversion coating contains particulate silica with the weight ratio of chromium to silica within the range of 1:1 to 2:1. The outer organic portion includes a silicone paint containing 40-60 wt. % silicone resin. The silicone paint is dried at a temperature less than 300.degree. C. in less than one minute and then coated with a copolymer of a thermoplastic acrylic and a lubricant or a polymeric olefin. The acrylic copolymer contains 5-70 wt. % of the lubricant and the polymeric olefin contains 90% olefin resin.

Abstract: Painted metal sheet pretreated with a composite coating including an insoluble, inorganic inner layer and an organic outer layer. The inorganic layer is formed by rinsing the sheet with an alkaline solution containing at least 0.005M of at least one of a dissolved silicate or a dissolved aluminate. The sheet is dried to form an inorganic layer having a thickness of at least 2 .ANG.. The inorganically coated sheet then is rinsed with a solution containing at least 0.1 vol.-% of a hydrolyzed silane and at least 0.02 vol.-% of a hydrolyzed crosslinking agent. The silane treated sheet is dried to form a siloxane layer having an average thickness at least 5 .ANG.. After being painted, the siloxane layer forms an adherent bond between the paint and the metal substrate. The metal preferably is a chromium alloyed steel and may be etched prior to being rinsed with the alkaline solution to remove chromium oxide to further enhance the paint adhesion.

Abstract: Painted metal sheet pretreated with an insoluble, composite layer containing siloxane. The composite layer is formed by rinsing the sheet with an alkaline solution containing at least 0.005M of a dissolved silicate or a dissolved aluminate, at least 0.1 vol.-% of an organofunctional silane and at least 0.02 vol.-% of a crosslinking-agent having two or more trialkoxysilyl groups. After the sheet is dried, the composite layer has a thickness of at least 10 .ANG.. After being painted, the siloxane forms a tenacious covalent bond between the paint and the metal substrate.

Abstract: Painted metal sheet pretreated with a composite coating including an insoluble, inorganic inner layer and an organic outer layer. The inorganic layer is formed by rinsing the sheet with an alkaline solution containing at least 0.005M of at least one of a dissolved silicate or a dissolved aluminate. The sheet is dried to form an inorganic layer having a thickness of at least 2 .ANG.. The inorganically coated sheet then is rinsed with a solution containing at least 0.1 vol.-% of a hydrolyzed silane and at least 0.02 vol.-% of a hydrolyzed crosslinking agent. The silane treated sheet is dried to form a siloxane layer having an average thickness at least 5 .ANG.. After being painted, the siloxane layer forms an adherent bond between the paint and the metal substrate. The metal preferably is a chromium alloyed steel and may be etched prior to being rinsed with the alkaline solution to remove chromium oxide to further enhance the paint adhesion.

Abstract: Metal sheet protected against corrosion by a silane treated inorganic aluminate coating. A thin aluminate coating was formed by immersing a galvanized steel sheet into an alkaline solution containing 0.005M dissolved aluminate for about 30 seconds. The sheet was dried to form an adherent aluminate coating having a thickness of at least 50 .ANG.. The aluminate coated sheet was immersed into a solution containing 1.0 vol.-% hydrolyzed organofunctional silane for about 5 seconds forming a silane film having a thickness of at least 20 .ANG. on the outer surface of the aluminate coating. Thereafter, the silane treated aluminate coated sheet was painted. The silane film formed a covalent bond between the outer paint layer and the inner aluminate layer. A steel sheet treated with the silane sealed aluminate coating had good corrosion protection, good paint chipping resistance and good paint formability.

Abstract: A metallic coated steel such as a galvanized sheet is coated with a thin siloxane film having a preferred thickness of about 45 .ANG. for providing temporary corrosion protection. The siloxane film is formed by rinsing the metallic coated sheet with an aqueous solution containing 0.5-2.0 vol. % silane and 0.1-1.0 vol. % crosslinking agent. The silane coating deposited on the rinsed sheet is cured at a temperature less than 200.degree. C. Preferred silane and crosslinking agents are .gamma.-aminopropyltriethoxy and (CH.sub.3 O).sub.3 SiCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.3 respectively. The siloxane film may be removed by rinsing the metallic coated steel sheet in an alkaline solution prior to coating the sheet with a phosphate conversion coating and a paint.

Abstract: Steel sheet coated with a relatively insoluble, inorganic, corrosion resistant coating. A silicate coating is formed on a steel sheet by rinsing the sheet for at least 30 seconds in an alkaline aqueous solution containing 0.005 M silicate, 0.005 M metal salt and having a temperature of at least 25.degree. C. The sheet is dried to form an adherent silicate coating having a thickness of at least 2 nm prior to being treated with an aqueous solution containing 0.5-5 vol.-% silane. If the sheet is painted, the silane film forms an adherent bond between the paint and the silicate coating. A silane treated silicate coating minimizes red rusting on terne coated steel by sealing pin holes. A silane treated silicate coating also provides good corrosion protection and paint adherence on cold-rolled or galvanized steel.

Abstract: Steel sheet coated with a nontoxic, relatively insoluble, inorganic, corrosion resistant coating. A silicate coating is formed on a steel sheet by rinsing the sheet for at least 30 seconds in an alkaline aqueous solution containing 0.005 M silicate, 0.005 M metal salt and having a temperature of at least 25.degree. C. The sheet is dried to form an adherent silicate coating having a thickness of at least 2 nm prior to being treated with an aqueous solution containing 0.5-5 vol.-% silane. If the sheet is painted, the silane film forms an adherent bond between the paint and the silicate coating. A silane treated silicate coating minimizes red rusting on terne coated steel by sealing pin holes. A silane treated silicate coating also provides good corrosion protection and paint adherence on cold-rolled or galvanized steel.