Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for determining respective locations of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags distributed within a materials handling facility using planogram data that indicates respective item locations of items in the facility. In some examples, the techniques utilize item-identifying carts that automatically identify items that the users place in their carts as they move around a facility. Upon identifying an item, the identity of the item may be provided from the cart to one or more servers, along with an indication of an RFID tag detected by an RFID reader mounted to the cart. Upon receiving the identity of the item and the indication of the RFID tag, the servers may access the planogram data for the facility to determine an item location of the item within the facility and may associate this item location as the location of the RFID tag.

Abstract: A power converter is provided. The power converter includes a first phase including a first upper diode and a first lower diode, a second phase including a second upper diode and a second lower diode, a third phase including a third upper diode and a third lower diode, a plurality of MOSFETs, each of the first upper diode, the first lower diode, the second upper diode, the second lower diode, the third upper diode, and the third lower diode electrically connected in parallel with a respective one of the plurality of MOSFETs, and a control system configured to selectively activate each MOSFET when current flows through a diode electrically coupled in parallel with that MOSFET.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide improved, automatic, and dynamic frequency selection for and/or by medical body area network apparatus are disclosed. Certain examples provide a medical body area network apparatus. The example apparatus includes a radio to receive a beacon signal and a processor to process the beacon signal to determine a location of the apparatus. The example processor is configured to at least: when the beacon signal indicates a first location, communicate via a first frequency band; and when the beacon signal indicates a second location, communicate via a second frequency band.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide improved, automatic, and dynamic frequency selection for and/or by medical body area network apparatus are disclosed. Certain examples provide a medical body area network apparatus. The example apparatus includes a radio to receive a beacon signal and a processor to process the beacon signal to determine a location of the apparatus. The example processor is configured to at least: when the beacon signal indicates a first location, communicate via a first frequency band; and when the beacon signal indicates a second location, communicate via a second frequency band.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide improved, automatic, and dynamic frequency selection for and/or by medical body area network apparatus are disclosed. Certain examples provide a medical body area network apparatus. The example apparatus includes a radio to receive a beacon signal and a processor to process the beacon signal to determine a location of the apparatus. The example processor is configured to at least: when the beacon signal indicates a first location, communicate via a first frequency band; and when the beacon signal indicates a second location, communicate via a second frequency band.

Abstract: A position tracking system includes one or more beacon transmitters and one or more beacon receiver systems configured to be disposed on an object. Each of the one or more beacon receiver systems includes one or more photodetectors configured to receive signals from the one or more beacon transmitters, and an analog-to-digital convertor to convert analog signals received by the one or more photodetectors to digital signals. Each of the one or more beacon receiver systems also includes a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory. The instructions includes receiving signals collected by the one or more photodetectors, converting the received signals to digital signals, and processing the digital signals.

Abstract: A power converter is provided. The power converter includes a first phase including a first upper diode and a first lower diode, a second phase including a second upper diode and a second lower diode, a third phase including a third upper diode and a third lower diode, a plurality of MOSFETs, each of the first upper diode, the first lower diode, the second upper diode, the second lower diode, the third upper diode, and the third lower diode electrically connected in parallel with a respective one of the plurality of MOSFETs, and a control system configured to selectively activate each MOSFET when current flows through a diode electrically coupled in parallel with that MOSFET.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide improved, automatic, and dynamic frequency selection for and/or by medical body area network apparatus are disclosed. Certain examples provide a medical body area network apparatus. The example apparatus includes a radio to receive a beacon signal and a processor to process the beacon signal to determine a location of the apparatus. The example processor is configured to at least: when the beacon signal indicates a first location, communicate via a first frequency band; and when the beacon signal indicates a second location, communicate via a second frequency band.

Abstract: A position tracking system includes one or more beacon transmitters and one or more beacon receiver systems configured to be disposed on an object. Each of the one or more beacon receiver systems includes one or more photodetectors configured to receive signals from the one or more beacon transmitters, and an analog-to-digital convertor to convert analog signals received by the one or more photodetectors to digital signals. Each of the one or more beacon receiver systems also includes a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory. The instructions includes receiving signals collected by the one or more photodetectors, converting the received signals to digital signals, and processing the digital signals.

Abstract: A beacon location system includes a plurality of first broadcasters configured to broadcast first broadcasts to be received by a registered receiver device, and includes one or more second broadcasters configured to broadcast second broadcasts to be received by the registered receiver device. The beacon location system includes a controller communicatively and operatively coupled to the plurality of first broadcasters, and the one or more second broadcasters, wherein the controller comprises a memory and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory. The instructions include generating one or more masked correspondences between the first broadcasts and locations of the plurality of the first broadcasters, wherein the one or more masked correspondences comprise one or more levels of accuracies. The beacon location system also includes a website accessible to the registered receiver device to obtain the one or more masked correspondences.

Abstract: A position tracking system includes one or more beacons and one or more sensor pairs. Each of the one or more sensor pairs is configured to be disposed on equipment that moves within a facility. Each of the one or more sensor pairs includes a motion sensor and a beacon sensor configured to receive signals from the one or more beacons. The position tracking system also include a control system, which include a processor configured to receive a first signal collected by the motion sensor, receive a second signal collected by the beacon sensor, compute a first location and/or orientation based on the first signal, and determine a second location and/or orientation based on the second signal.

Abstract: A method for navigating within a retail establishment includes: generating and distributing an encoded identity to each of a plurality of location beacons, the encoded identity being effective during a time interval; broadcasting the encoded identity from each of the plurality of location beacons to a user device within a retail establishment; mapping the encoded identity of each of the plurality of location beacons to a location thereof; generating a masked mapping by combining the mapping with a time interval mask; storing the masked mapping in a website accessible to the user device; and broadcasting an srw signal to the user device within the retail establishment, the srw signal comprising information for recovering the mapping from the masked mapping in the web site; whereby navigation via the location beacons is enabled.

Abstract: A position tracking system includes one or more beacons and one or more sensor pairs. Each of the one or more sensor pairs is configured to be disposed on equipment that moves within a facility. Each of the one or more sensor pairs includes a motion sensor and a beacon sensor configured to receive signals from the one or more beacons. The position tracking system also include a control system, which include a processor configured to receive a first signal collected by the motion sensor, receive a second signal collected by the beacon sensor, compute a first location and/or orientation based on the first signal, and determine a second location and/or orientation based on the second signal.

Abstract: Processes for commissioning an indoor lighting system composed of a plurality of lighting fixtures, each including a lighting associate, include the steps of establishing a direct connection table for each lighting associate; forming a full direct connection table represented as a square matrix and comprising data derived from all direct connection tables; grouping the lighting associates using an element reduction operation on the square matrix; and transmitting a group direct connection matrix to each lighting associate.

Abstract: A method for navigating within a retail establishment includes: generating and distributing an encoded identity to each of a plurality of location beacons, the encoded identity being effective during a time interval; broadcasting the encoded identity from each of the plurality of location beacons to a user device within a retail establishment; mapping the encoded identity of each of the plurality of location beacons to a location thereof; generating a masked mapping by combining the mapping with a time interval mask; storing the masked mapping in a website accessible to the user device; and broadcasting an srw signal to the user device within the retail establishment, the srw signal comprising information for recovering the mapping from the masked mapping in the web site; whereby navigation via the location beacons is enabled.

Abstract: A method for controlling an illumination device is provided. The method includes obtaining an image of an illumination device, thereby capturing an illumination pattern generated by the illumination device based on a visible light communication technique. The method also includes identifying the illumination pattern based on the image. The method further includes determining a unique identification code of the illumination device based on the illumination pattern. The method also includes representing the illumination device in a computer-generated image based on the unique identification code. The method further includes controlling the illumination device using a physical gesture-based graphic user interface.

Abstract: A system includes a first electronic device configured to attach to an industrial machine or one or more areas of an industrial facility. The first electronic device is configured to transmit a signal indicative of a potentially hazardous condition with respect to personnel of the industrial facility. The system also includes a second electronic device communicatively coupled to the first electronic device and configured to attach to a hardhat of the personnel of the industrial facility. The second electronic device is configured to receive the signal from the first electronic device, determine whether a parameter of the signal is above a threshold, and generate an alarm when the parameter of the signal is above the threshold. The alarm is configured to indicate the potentially hazardous condition to the personnel.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a multi-functional optical sensor configured to couple to one or more light sources within a space. The multi-functional optical sensor is configured to detect occupancy of the space, ambient light within the space, and visible light communication (VLC) signals optically communicated in the space.

Abstract: A tracking associate system that comprises a rotatable platform; an optically retroreflective label reader attached to the platform; a control unit attached to the rotatable platform; a scene recording camera; and a data network configured to process data produced by the label reader and/or the camera. Another tracking system comprises one, or more, label tracking pairs that each have a recording camera associated with a light source emitter; a platform configured to allow the label tracking pair to track a plurality of optically retroreflective labels that are affixed to objects; and a data network in communication with the label tracking pair that is configured to process data received from the label tracking pair.

Abstract: Processes for commissioning an indoor lighting system composed of a plurality of lighting fixtures, each including a lighting associate, include the steps of establishing a direct connection table for each lighting associate; forming a full direct connection table represented as a square matrix and comprising data derived from all direct connection tables; grouping the lighting associates using an element reduction operation on the square matrix; and transmitting a group direct connection matrix to each lighting associate.