Abstract: System and methods for managing compliance of a wearer of apparel are disclosed. One method includes receiving an identifier associated with a toe cap for footwear; receiving, via radio frequency, characteristic information associated with the toe cap for footwear; determining a compliance of the toe cap based at least on the identifier and the characteristic information; and providing a response to a wearer of the footwear based at least upon the determination of the compliance.

Abstract: System and methods for managing apparel are disclosed. One method includes receiving information indicative of an magnetically energized sensor disposed adjacent a fastener associated with an item of apparel; determining a characteristic of the fastener based at least upon the received information; and providing a response to a wearer of the item of apparel based at least upon the characteristic of the fastener.

Abstract: System and methods for managing compliance of a wearer of apparel are disclosed. One method includes receiving an identifier associated with a toe cap for footwear; receiving, via radio frequency, characteristic information associated with the toe cap for footwear; determining a compliance of the toe cap based at least on the identifier and the characteristic information; and providing a response to a wearer of the footwear based at least upon the determination of the compliance.

Abstract: System and methods for managing comfort of a wearer of apparel are disclosed. One method includes determining a first environmental characteristic using a first sensor disposed adjacent an item of apparel; determining a second environmental characteristic using a second sensor disposed adjacent the item of apparel; determining a comfort signature based at least on the first environmental characteristic and the second environmental characteristic; and providing a response to a wearer of the item of apparel based at least upon the comfort signature.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for producing and using a knitted fabric including one or more integrated sensors. According to one embodiment, a soft touch sensor can comprise a first knitted conductive layer of metallic-coated, plaited yarn and a second knitted conductive layer of metallic-coated, plaited yarn disposed parallel to the first knitted conductive layer. A knitted dielectric layer disposed between the first knitted conductive layer and the second knitted conductive layer. The knitted dielectric layer can be plaited into the first knitted conductive layer and the second knitted conductive layer and can form a spacer between the first knitted conductive layer and the second knitted conductive layer.

Abstract: The monitoring device provides value to parents by assisting with monitoring their infants via a convenient sensor package, straightforward interface, and informative data. With movement, orientation, and temperature data, some strong indicators of general well-being can be monitored and conclusions extracted without the parent needing to be constantly involved. The low-power transceiver technology also means that the device can integrate with smart devices for even more convenience. Such a smart device can in turn communicate with modem large-scale data storage and analysis centers for data logging and analytics, which allows useful analytics to be passed back to the user. The advanced sensing, displaying, and analyzing of data makes the invention stands out in the field of infant monitoring devices.

Abstract: The monitoring device provides value to parents by assisting with monitoring their infants via a convenient sensor package, straightforward interface, and informative data. With movement, orientation, and temperature data, some strong indicators of general well-being can be monitored and conclusions extracted without the parent needing to be constantly involved. The low-power transceiver technology also means that the device can integrate with smart devices for even more convenience. Such a smart device can in turn communicate with modem large-scale data storage and analysis centers for data logging and analytics, which allows useful analytics to be passed back to the user. The advanced sensing, displaying, and analyzing of data makes the invention stands out in the field of infant monitoring devices.

Abstract: The monitoring device provides value to parents by assisting with monitoring their infants via a convenient sensor package, straightforward interface, and informative data. With movement, orientation, and temperature data, some strong indicators of general well-being can be monitored and conclusions extracted without the parent needing to be constantly involved. The low-power transceiver technology also means that the device can integrate with smart devices for even more convenience. Such a smart device can in turn communicate with modem large-scale data storage and analysis centers for data logging and analytics, which allows useful analytics to be passed back to the user. The advanced sensing, displaying, and analyzing of data makes the invention stands out in the field of infant monitoring devices.

Abstract: A power turbine is provided in the form of a set of plates that cooperate to form a housing, with a set of spaced apart disks mounted on a shaft within the housing. Some of the plates and disks cooperate to allow gas or steam to be injected to provide a driving force on the shaft, while others of the disks and plates cooperate to form one or more integral pumps. The pumps are used to pull cooling liquid or water into the housing, and to cool the driving disks. In this way, the steam that drives the disks is condensed while still in the housing, with a water level maintained on the driving disks. In operation, the steam directly acts on the disks toward the outer circumference of the disks, but more toward the center of the disk, the steam transfers its energy to the water, and the water transfers the energy to the disk.

Abstract: A process and camera system is provided for capturing and compressing video image information. The compressed data may be efficiently transmitted to another location, where cooperating decompression processes are used. The compression process first captures a background image, and transmits the background image to a receiver. For each subsequent image, the image is compared at the camera to the background image, and a change file is generated. The change file is then transmitted to the receiver, which uses the background image and the change file to decompress the image. These changes may be aggregated by both the camera and the receiver for even better compression. In some cases, the background may be removed from the displayed image at the receiver, thereby displaying only changing image information. In this way, a display is less cluttered, enabling more effective human or automated monitoring and assessment of the changing video information.

Abstract: An ornamental face mask has an upper face portion and a lower jaw portion hinged together solely by elastic bands. The bands are located at the outer edges of the mask and bridge the upper face portion and the lower portion. The lower jaw portion is also designed so as to grip the chin of the wearer when the mask is held over his face by an elastic mounting strap.