Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic toys are disclosed. A photo-chromic toy includes a photo-chromic material such as a photo-chromic ink, paint, plastic, or dye. The photo-chromic material may be supplied in a material of the toy or applied to a surface of the toy at the factory. The photo-chromic material may be activated in various ways with various light activating devices that can generate the activating light with appropriate wavelengths.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic doll playsets are disclosed. A photo-chromic doll playset includes a doll having a substrate; a photo-chromic material applied to the substrate; a light pen to selectively apply a tightly focused activating light output on the photo-chromic material to create narrow lines of activated photo-chromic material. In response to the activating light, the activated photo-chromic material temporarily transforms from a first color to a second color for a period of time before gradually decaying back to the first color.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a doubled ended light pen for photo-chromic toys is disclosed. A doubled ended light pen includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a first ultraviolet light emitting diode (UVLED) mounted near the first end of the housing, a second UVLED mounted near the second end of the housing, and first and second switches mounted in the housing. The housing holds one or more batteries to provide power. The first switch and the second switch respectively switch ON and OFF the power supplied by the one or more batteries to the first UVLED and the second UVLED. When powered on, the first UVLED applies a wide angle activation light while the second UVLED applies a point source activation light to a photo-chromic surface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a positioning system and method for enabling a roving position receiver to determinist own position. The positioning system comprises a specialized transceiver (hereinafter termed a positioning-unit device) that receives one or more reference positioning signals from other positioning-unit devices and/or other qualified reference positioning signal sources. Each of the received reference positioning signals preferably has a carrier component, a pseudo-random code component, and a data component. The Positioning-Unit Device generates, in response to the received reference positioning signals and their known locations, a unique positioning signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method of generating frequency coherence between a received reference positioning signal transmitted by at least one reference transmitter and a unique positioning signal generated by a positioning-unit device. A positioning-unit device is a specialized transceiver capable of receiving and interpreting reference positioning signals from the reference transmitter, another positioning-unit device or both. The positioning-unit device receives a reference positioning signal and measures a frequency offset in the received reference positioning signal relative to a common oscillator. Once a frequency offset is measured, the positioning-unit device adjusts a frequency steerable clock by an amount derived from the measured frequency offset. The positioning-unit device then generates a unique positioning signal, which is aligned with the frequency steerable clock.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a moisture gauge. The moisture gauge may include a capacitor coupled to a collector. The sensing unit may assess an amount of moisture in the collector and provide output that is a function of the amount of moisture in the collector to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing an amount of moisture in a collector near or in a zone to be irrigated and controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a system and method for providing a signal to a communication system comprising an interface between a communication link and the communication system, like an alarm system, wherein the interface receives a signal from the communication link and provides a signal indicative of the availability of the communication link for use by the communication system. Alarm systems operations may be facilitated so that Residential Gateway components (such as voice terminal adapters) may simulate traditional telephone network systems that run on 48 VDC powered telephone lines. The system also comprises an input port associated with the interface for receiving the signal from the communication link, a transformer or a voltage regulator and an output port associated with the interface for providing the conditioned signal to the communication system. A ring voltage received from the communication link may be passed through to the alarm system.

Abstract: Interactive methods and apparatus for infrared (IR) tag shooting games between participants are disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing configured as an infrared transmitting and receiving toy which has an interface display, switches, and an IR device disposed within the housing for transmitting and receiving first or second data between participants. An information processor is coupled to the interface and in communication with the IR device, with the first data including tag or hit information and the second data including special attack information. The information processor and IR transmitter are able to send first IR data indicative of one or more tags or shots being fired in response to user actuation of one or more inputs, and the information processor and IR transmitter are able to send second IR data indicative of a selected special attack in response to user actuation of one or more inputs.

Abstract: A plasma arc torch and method for improving the life of the consumable parts of the plasma are torch, including the electrode, the tip and the shield cap. The method includes turbulating gas as it flows over the exposed surfaces of the electrode, tip and shield cap to increase turbulence in the hydrodynamic boundary layer of the gas flow, thereby enhancing convective heat transfer. The result of enhanced cooling is improved consumable parts life. For example, to increase the turbulence of the gas flow over the outer surface of the electrode, the plasma arc torch electrode has a roughened, or textured outer surface formed with dimples, axially extending grooves or spiraling grooves formed in the outer surface of the electrode. The inner and outer surfaces of the tip and the inner surface of the shield cap are similarly textured.

Abstract: A diversity system for positioning systems is disclosed, whereby a plurality of positioning signals, which are transmitted and/or are received from substantially the same location, are received and interpreted by an observing receiver. The observing receiver is configured to compare and then select substantially coherent positioning signals, and/or create a best-fit estimate of the measured positioning signals, such that accurate position measurements can be determined in multipath-affected environments.

Abstract: A simplified field testing tool integrates signal-strength and error-rate testing for a variety of networking technologies prevalent for home networking, including but not limited to Multimedia over Coax (or applicable coax standard), HomePNA 2, VDSL, 10OBaseT Ethernet, 802.11 Wi-Fi, and analog/coaxial RF signals.

Abstract: A network access module having a dongle-type housing is provided. The dongle-type housing is coupleable to a computer port and when coupled to a communications network, the dongle-type network access module provides an efficient plug-and-play network connection. The network access module can be powered by a USB-port on a subscriber's computer. The subscriber can connect to a communications network using the network access module over digital subscriber lines (DSL) that use optical fiber transmission lines and optical network terminals. The network access module contains a processor for performing point-to-point access negotiation with the authentication server such that the subscriber can access the communications network without having to provide/load software.

Abstract: A positioning system that includes a plurality of chronologically synchronized Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Positioning-Unit Devices and a position receiver incorporating a TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is disclosed. The plurality of chronologically synchronized Positioning-Unit Devices, positioned at known locations, transmit positioning signals in a predetermined Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) sequence, such that each Positioning-Unit Device has a unique transmission time slot. The TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is configured to consecutively steer a directional receive antenna in spatial synchronization with the plurality of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Positioning-Unit Device transmissions, such that the directional receive antenna is oriented toward the currently transmitting Positioning-Unit Device, or the directional receive antenna is oriented toward the origin of the currently received positioning signal.

Abstract: A plasma arc torch and method for improving the life of the consumable parts of the plasma arc torch, including the electrode, the tip and the shield cap. The method includes turbulating gas as it flows over the exposed surfaces of the electrode, tip and shield cap to increase turbulence in the hydrodynamic boundary layer of the gas flow, thereby enhancing convective heat transfer. The result of enhanced cooling is improved consumable parts life. For example, to increase the turbulence of the gas flow over the outer surface of the electrode, the plasma arc torch electrode has a roughened, or textured outer surface formed with dimples, axially extending grooves or spiraling grooves formed in the outer surface of the electrode. The inner and outer surfaces of the tip and the inner surface of the shield cap are similarly textured.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a moisture gauge. A rate of evaporation of moisture from a collector of a moisture gauge may be within about 10% of an average rate of evaporation of moisture from a zone to be irrigated. The sensing unit may assess an amount of moisture in the collector and provide output that is a function of the amount of moisture in the collector to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector. A method of controlling irrigation may include receiving moisture in a collector and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on an assessed amount of moisture in the collector.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a moisture gauge. The moisture gauge may include a capacitor coupled to a collector. The sensing unit may assess an amount of moisture in the collector and provide output that is a function of the amount of moisture in the collector to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing an amount of moisture in a collector near or in a zone to be irrigated and controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed amount of moisture in the collector.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may communicate with the computer system. The sensing unit may include a solar panel. Electricity from the solar panel may be supplied to the sensing unit. The computer system may receive community irrigation instructions. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the community irrigation instructions. A method of controlling irrigation may include receiving sunlight with a solar panel, using the received sunlight to produce electricity, and providing at least a portion of the produced electricity to a part of the water irrigation system. The method may further include receiving community irrigation instructions and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated by the water irrigation system at least partially based on the community irrigation instructions.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The sensing unit may include a wind sensor. The wind sensor may include thermistors. The sensing unit may assess wind speed at one of the thermistors as a function of temperature. The sensing unit may provide output based on the assessed wind speed to the computer system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed wind speed. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing wind speed as a function of temperature, assessing an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed wind speed, and controlling irrigation to at least meet the assessed irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated.

Abstract: A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The computer system may include an infrared receiver. An operator may use a portable device with an infrared transmitter to provide a signal to the infrared receiver of the computer system. The signal may include instructions for the water irrigation system. The computer system may control irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared signal from the portable device. A method of controlling irrigation may include allowing an infrared receiver of a computer system to receive infrared output from a portable device and controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output. The method may include controlling irrigation of a zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the infrared output received from the portable device.