Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a valve actuator to open and close a valve in fluid communication with a fluid control system. The valve actuator includes a motor having windings of wire. The wire includes insulating material disposed over a conductor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods include a valve actuator to open and close a valve in fluid communication with a fluid control system. The valve actuator includes a motor having windings of wire. The wire includes insulating material disposed over a conductor.

Abstract: A method of operating a nuclear reactor includes operating a valve actuator to open and close a valve in fluid communication with a nuclear reactor fluid control system. The valve actuator includes a motor having windings of magnet wire. The magnet wire includes a layer of insulating material disposed over a conductor. The layer of insulating material comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and has a thickness between about 0.025 mm and about 0.381 mm. A method of replacing a valve actuator motor with such a motor having windings formed of PEEK-insulated magnet wire is also disclosed. A method of coupling a valve actuator with such a motor having windings formed of PEEK-insulated magnet wire to a valve is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a nuclear reactor includes operating a valve actuator to open and close a valve in fluid communication with a nuclear reactor fluid control system. The valve actuator includes a motor having windings of magnet wire. The magnet wire includes a layer of insulating material disposed over a conductor. The layer of insulating material comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and has a thickness between about 0.025 mm and about 0.381 mm. A method of replacing a valve actuator motor with such a motor having windings formed of PEEK-insulated magnet wire is also disclosed. A method of coupling a valve actuator with such a motor having windings formed of PEEK-insulated magnet wire to a valve is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a physiological monitoring device that, in one embodiment, comprises a capacitive sensor. The sensor comprises a first plate, a second plate and a dielectric medium coupled to the first plate and second plate. A power source charges the sensor to generate an initial capacitance. A band couples the sensor to a blood vessel of a patient. For example, the blood vessel can be located in the umbilical cord of a human baby. An impulse from the blood vessel exerts pressure against the second plate of the sensor and consequently generates a first capacitance. A controller monitors the patient's physiological measurement by detecting the generation of the first capacitance.

Abstract: An airbag deployment system including at least one module housing, at least one deployable airbag associated with each housing, an inflator associated with each housing for inflating the airbag(s) to deploy into the passenger compartment, an airbag inflation determination unit for determining that deployment of the airbag(s) is/are desired, and respective electronic control units arranged within or proximate each housing and coupled to a respective inflator and the airbag inflation determination unit for initiating the inflator to inflate the airbag(s) in the respective housing upon receiving a signal from the airbag inflation determination unit. The control units include a power supply for enabling initiation of the inflator.

Abstract: Wireless sensing and communication system including sensors located on the vehicle, in the roadway or in the vicinity of the vehicle or roadway and which provide information which is transmitted to one or more interrogators in the vehicle by a wireless radio frequency mechanism. Power to operate a particular sensor is supplied by the interrogator or the sensor is independently connected to either a battery, generator, vehicle power source or some source of power external to the vehicle. The sensors can provide information about the vehicle and its interior or exterior environment, about individual components, systems, vehicle occupants, subsystems, or about the roadway, ambient atmosphere, travel conditions and external objects. The sensors arranged on the roadway or ancillary structures would include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, moisture content or humidity sensors, and friction sensors.

Abstract: System and method for displaying data to a vehicular occupant about road signs includes a display system arranged to be visible to the occupant and a processor coupled to the display system for receiving data about signs along roads on which the vehicle travels and displaying the received data to the occupant. The data may be provided by a map database containing data about signs along roads on which the vehicle travels, with the processor being coupled to the map database and receiving data about signs along the roads from the map database. A communications unit may be arranged in the vehicle and receives data about signs along the roads on which the vehicle travels from a transmission unit coupled to each sign. The processor may be coupled to or integrated with the communications unit and receives data about signs along the roads from the signs via the communications unit.

Abstract: Asset including an arrangement for monitoring objects in an interior of the asset includes a sensor system arranged on or in the asset to obtain data about the asset or an object in the asset and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system. The communication system transmits the data obtained by the sensor system to a remote facility via the Internet. A data reception system is arranged on the asset arranged to obtain data to enable the position of the asset to be determined, i.e., at the remote facility, and is coupled to the communication system which transmits the data to enable the remote facility to determine the location of the asset. The sensor system may be integrated with a cell phone or PDA.

Abstract: Asset including an arrangement for monitoring objects in an interior of the asset includes at least first and second optical imagers for obtaining images of a common area of the interior and which are spaced apart from one another, and processing circuitry coupled to the first and second imagers and arranged to derive information about objects in the interior from images obtained by the first and second imagers. A communication system may be arranged on the asset and coupled to the processing circuitry. The communication system wirelessly transmits the information about the objects to a remote facility. A location determining system may be arranged on the asset to monitor the location of the asset so that the communication system also transmits the location of the asset to the remote facility.

Abstract: Method for monitoring borders or peripheries of installations includes arranging sensors periodically along the border at least partially in the ground, the sensors being sensitive to vibrations, infrared radiation, sound or other disturbances, programming the sensors to wake-up upon detection of a predetermined condition and receive a signal, analyzing the signal and transmitting a signal indicative of the analysis with an identification or location of the sensors. The sensors may include a processor embodying a pattern recognition system trained to recognize characteristic signals indicating the passing of a person or vehicle.

Abstract: Asset including an arrangement for monitoring objects in an interior of the asset includes a sensor system arranged on or in the asset to obtain data about the asset or an object in the asset and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system. The communication system transmits the data obtained by the sensor system to a remote facility via the Internet. A data reception system is arranged on the asset arranged to obtain data to enable the position of the asset to be determined, i.e., at the remote facility, and is coupled to the communication system which transmits the data to enable the remote facility to determine the location of the asset. The sensor system may be integrated with a cell phone or PDA.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for obtaining information about a person includes providing the person with a portable device, arranging at least one sensor on the portable device, obtaining information about the person carrying the portable device or an environment around the person carrying the portable device using the at least one sensor of the portable device without manual interaction, and transmitting the obtained information from the portable device to a remote facility. The portable device may be a cell phone or PDA. The location of the cell phone or PDA may be provided by the cell phone or PDA or determined from the information at the remote facility from information provided by the cell phone or PDA relating to, for example, reception of signals thereby.

Abstract: Vehicle including a data generating system which obtains or generates information about the vehicle and a communications system coupled to the data generating system for communicating directly with a wireless Internet service provider (ISP) to enable the information obtained or generated by the data generating system to be transmitted via the Internet. The data generating system may be a diagnostic system which diagnoses the state of the vehicle or the state of a component of the vehicle and generates an output indicative or representative thereof. The data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the operation of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the data generating system may be arranged to obtain or generate information about the presence of contents in the compartment and/or when contents are present, information about contents in the compartment.

Abstract: Method and system for deploying an occupant restraint device in a vehicle includes arranging a sensor to detect a rear impact and deploying the occupant restraint device when the sensor detects the rear impact of sufficient magnitude to require deployment of the occupant restraint device to prevent injury to the occupant. The sensor may be a crush sensor which preferably extends across a major portion of the rear of the vehicle, an inertial sensor and/or an anticipatory sensor.

Abstract: Imaging system and method for a vehicle includes an infrared source generating an infrared beam along a particular field-of-view in the vehicle, an infrared detector responsive to infrared radiation reflected from objects in the field-of-view of the infrared beam and which generates image signals from the reflected infrared radiation, and a processor responsive to the image signals from the detector. The processor includes face recognition software that images and identifies facial features of a person to detect a person's face and compares the detected image of the person's face with stored images, and causes a vehicle operation, e.g., ignition of the vehicle, to be performed if a particular person's face is identified. The processor may perform a frame subtracting process where the images when the infrared source is on are subtracted from the images when the infrared source is off so as to eliminate background.

Abstract: Method for controlling flow of gas into an airbag includes generating gas, directing the gas into the airbag, and controlling the flow of gas into the airbag based on conditions at the time of deployment such that the airbag is variably deployed dependent on ambient conditions. A related arrangement for controlling flow of gas into an airbag includes a system for generating gas, a system for directing the gas into the airbag and a system for controlling the flow of gas into the airbag based on conditions at the time of deployment such that the airbag is variably deployed dependent on ambient conditions.

Abstract: System and method for controlling a component in a vehicle includes an image receiving system for receiving images including an occupant of the vehicle and which is arranged to recognize gestures in the received images, e.g., hand gestures, and a control system coupled to the image receiving system for controlling the component based on the recognized gestures. The component may be any component in the vehicle for which occupant-directed control is desired, for example, a vehicle heating and air-conditioning system. The gesture may thus be indicative of the occupant's desire to adjust the heating and air-conditioning system. The image receiving system may include at least one optical camera oriented in a direction of the occupant.

Abstract: Vehicular tire monitoring system includes an energy providing system arranged on the tire, and a sensor system arranged on the tire and coupled to the energy providing system to be provided with energy by the energy providing system. The sensor system obtains data about at least one property of the tire, such as pressure, and converts the data into signals. An interrogator system is arranged on a frame of the vehicle and wirelessly communicates with the sensor system to receive the signals from the sensor system and derives, from the signals, the data obtained by the sensor system. A reactive system on the frame of the vehicle may be responsive to the data obtained by the sensor system, e.g., a display to display the data about the tire such as its pressure, or a communications system which transmits data about the tire to a remote site.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for obtaining information about a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device or an object on which the RFID device is mounted when the RFID device is in a space defined by a frame includes arranging a plurality of antennas on the frame to enable transmission of signals into the space and reception of signals from the space, controlling transmission of signals by the antennas by means of an interrogator, and directing radio frequency signals from at least one of the antennas into the space to cause a RFID device in the space to return a signal if it receives any signal from any of the antennas. The return signals from the RFID device are received, e.g., by the interrogator or an associated receiver, and information about the RFID device or object to which the RFID device is attached is derived based on the return signals.