Abstract: An air conditioning system cools air within an area. An air conditioner controller defines information based on input data from door and window open status sensors and a return air monitor sensing the dry bulb temperature and the wet bulb temperature or relative humidity of the air within the area being cooled by the air conditioning system and shuts down the system when specific conditions exist. The defined information is transmitted to a remote host device which retains and presents the transmitted information or information derived therefrom.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for defining a cost for water usage in a unit of a multi unit building such as an apartment or commercial building. The unit may include a water discharge device such as a sink, tub/shower or toilet and may include a device such as a heating/cooling device which is connected to a closed loop water supply pipe. Monitor means is associated with each supply pipe to determine the commencement of flow through the monitor means, the stoppage of such flow indicating the conclusion of an event and the duration of the flow. The flow duration and flow events for each monitor means are accumulated and are multiplied by a defined cost per unit flow duration/flow events for that monitor means to define a cost for the use of the water.

Abstract: A wireless audience response system that comprises a plurality of remote response units, each of the response units comprising a first transmitter, a first receiver and a first processor coupled to the first transmitter and the first receiver and having a selectable input, the input being operable by a user to instruct the first processor to provide a response output, comprising at least one of a plurality of outputs, to the first transmitter. There also is a central control unit comprising a second transmitter, a second receiver and a second processor operatively coupled to the second transmitter and the second receiver. The second processor is operative to control the second transmitter to selectively transmit a command signal, comprising at least one of a plurality of command signals, to said plurality of remote response units, and dynamically assign a plurality of time slots to respective ones of the remote response units.

Abstract: A high flow valve assembly and a low flow valve assembly are in parallel flow relation between an inlet and an outlet of a flush controller. The valve assemblies are opened by solenoid operated pilot valves under the control of a microprocessor based flush control system. A turbine directly measures flow through the low flow valve assembly by providing pulses to the microprocessor, and the control system counts pulses and computes flow through the high flow valve assembly to perform a flushing operation including an initial siphon trap flushing high flow portion and a subsequent trap reseal low flow portion. Corrections are made to the pulse count to correct for partial valve open conditions and other variables. An override switch provides a signal to the control system for a flush operation A user detection system includes a pair of emitters and a pair of detectors defining an array of intersecting detection points in a skewed plane in which the control system can locate the position of a user.

Abstract: A high flow valve assembly and a low flow valve assembly are in parallel flow relation between an inlet and an outlet of a flush controller. The valve assemblies are opened by solenoid operated pilot valves under the control of a microprocessor based flush control system. A turbine directly measures flow through the low flow valve assembly by providing pulses to the microprocessor, and the control system counts pulses and computes flow through the high flow valve assembly to perform a flushing operation including an initial siphon trap flushing high flow portion and a subsequent trap reseal low flow portion. Corrections are made to the pulse count to correct for partial valve open conditions and other variables. An override switch provides a signal to the control system for a flush operation A user detection system includes a pair of emitters and a pair of detectors defining an array of intersecting detection points in a skewed plane in which the control system can locate the position of a user.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring the use of water supplied by a pipe to a device that discharges water during use. A meter generates information indicating the volume of water is flowing through the pipe and the temperature times the volume thereof which is transmitted to a host computer. The host computer determines the average temperature of the water by dividing the temperature times volume data by the volume data and corrects the volume data for any temperature difference above a reference cold water temperature.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a water consuming structure in an individual unit of a multi-unit building, comprising means for determining that volumetric flow through the pipe proximate the water consuming structure has been continuous during a predetermined period of time, the predetermined time being selected to be greater than a period of time during which water should be flowing continuously through the pipe, and means for transmitting an alarm signal in the event that it is determined that flow to the water consuming structure has been continuous for the predetermined time.

Abstract: An apparatus (32) is preferably part of an occupant protection system (10), and the apparatus determines a characteristic of an object (70) that may be located on a seat (14) of a vehicle (12) for use in control of the system. The object (70) may be a vehicle occupant, and the preferred characteristic that is determined is distance between the object and an instrument panel (22) of the vehicle (12). An emitter array (36) and a detector array (50) are located on the instrument panel (22). Each emitter (40) emits a beam (42) along a different path on which the object (70) may be located. Each detector (52) receives beams (42) emitted from the emitter array (36) that are reflected from the object (70). Each reflected beam received at the detector array (50) is indicative of distance between the instrument panel (22) and the object (70).

Abstract: A vehicle detector unit and detection method for use with an electronic parking meter for providing the electronic parking meter with the ability to reliably detect the presence or absence of a vehicle in any existing corresponding parking space, independent of the surrounding environment, while using a minimum of power.

Abstract: A system for billing individual units of a multi-unit building for water use or water related energy use wherein the multi-unit building is supplied water from a common source and the individual unit has a plurality of water using structures each supplied by one or a pair of water pipes supplied from a common source. The system includes a monitor for determining the volumetric flow through each of the water pipes and/or the temperature of the water and periodically transmits a signal encoded with the volumetric flow and temperature or the heat energy used and the identification of the individual unit. A remote receiver receives the encoded signals from each of the monitors, defines a total volumetric flow of water and/or total heat energy use for the individual unit for a selected period of time, computes a water consumption/heat energy charge and prepares and forwards a bill to the individual unit.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the use of water supplied by a pipe to a device that discharges water during use. A meter generates information indicating that water is flowing through the pipe with a measured BTU content and a control receives the information and determines that either the water is flowing through the pipe or that water has stopped flowing through the pipe. An event counter counts events defined by the flow of water through the pipe followed by the stoppage of water flow in the pipe for at least a predetermined duration of time, and a volume counter counts volumetric flow (gallons of flow, for example) and energy content (therms of energy, for example). Where the meter can be interfered with by attaching a magnet to the meter a tamper signal is also generated. With this data, misoperation of the devices can be indicated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass antenna system with improved reception, a connector of the glass antenna system and a method of producing the glass antenna system. The glass antenna system includes a glass substrate, at least one electroconductive antenna element positioned along a major surface of the substrate, wherein the antenna element provides an impedance which varies over a given frequency band, an impedance matching network secured to the glass substrate in a position such that the impedance matching network is electrically coupled to a portion of the antenna element, and means to electrically interconnect the network to a feedline of an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving unit. The impedance matching network is used to transform the impedance of the antenna element to a desired impedance. In one particular embodiment of the invention the impedance matching network is part of a connector and is formed along a first major surface of a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the flow of water through a pipe. A pipe section is adapted to be located in a water line which includes a metering device having a target displaceable at a rate representative of the rate of flow through the pipe section. A telemetering unit includes a sensor for sensing a target and a receiver for receiving the output of the sensor and transmitting data representative of the flow to a remote receiver. A housing houses the telemetering unit and is releasably secured to the pipe section so that the sensor will sense the metering device target.

Abstract: A pressure assist toilet includes a gravity flow bowl, a gravity flow tank, and a thin walled pressure tank. The thin walled pressure tank is selectively configured to have a rectanguloid shape for insertion into the gravity flow tank and having strengthened areas to enable said thin walled pressure tank to be pressurized to about 20 PSI. The thin walled pressure tank is charged with a predetermined volume of water at about 20 PSI, and the charge is released from the thin walled pressure tank to the gravity flow bowl.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the use of heat energy in water devices in an individual unit of a multi-unit complex wherein the multi-unit building is supplied water from a common source and the individual unit has a plurality of energy consuming water devices each supplied by supply and return water pipes supplied from said common source. The system comprises a monitor for monitoring the flow through each of the water pipes which will determine that successive volumetric flow units have flowed through the pipe, define the heat energy of each of the successive volumetric flow units, and compute a total heat energy removed from the successive volumetric flow units, and periodically transmits the total heat energy consumed from the successive volumetric flow units, and a remote receiver which receives the total heat energy transmitted from each of the plurality of monitors and computes a total heat energy use for the individual unit for a selected period of time.

Abstract: A siphon for use with a flush type toilet having a tank with a drain hole at the bottom. The siphon comprises a vertical tubular discharge portion including a vertical tube which is secured within the drain hole in the bottom of the tank. The siphon also includes a bell shaped inlet portion including a connecting portion having a downwardly extending tubular portion for telescopic insertion into the vertical tube. A hole is defined in the bell shaped inlet portion and an elbow is secured within the hole and extends downwardly, terminating at a height selected to define the desired flush height of the toilet. The flush volume can be automatically set to either a normal or low volume flush with a control that includes a sensor that senses the presence of a user at the toilet.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising a selectively operable light source, RF receiver for reproducing a received pulsed RF signal. Means for determining whether the reproduced RF signal is within an acceptable range of asymmetric patterns of "on" pulse times followed by "off" times selected to include a plurality of different asymmetric patterns and operating means for the light source for a selected period of time when the determining means determine that the reproduced RF signal is within acceptable range.

Abstract: A door lock assembly comprising a lock plug having a key receiving opening, selectively operable light source for illuminating the key receiving opening, RF receiver for reproducing a received pulsed RF signal and means for determining whether the reproduced RF signal is within an acceptable range of asymmetric patterns of "on" pulse times followed by "off" times selected to include a plurality of different asymmetric patterns and means for operating the light source means for a selected period of time when the determining means determines that the reproduced RF signal is within acceptable range.

Abstract: An integrated dust collector diagnostic and programmable control system. A microprocessor-based subsystem interfaces with a dust collector in order to receive information related to operating conditions of the dust collector. The microprocessor executes embedded software to analyze the information and perform the diagnostics. In response to the analysis, the microprocessor outputs control signals to the dust collector and activates a display panel in order to provide an indication of the dust collector operating conditions.

Abstract: An integrated dust collector diagnostic and programmable control system. A microprocessor-based subsystem interfaces with a dust collector in order to receive information related to operating conditions of the dust collector. The microprocessor executes embedded software to analyze the information and perform the diagnostics. In response to the analysis, the microprocessor outputs control signals to the dust collector and activates a display panel in order to provide an indication of the dust collector operating conditions.