Abstract: An apparatus powered by batteries may include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor may consume more electrical power than the second processor. The second processor acquires data from one or more sensors. At a predetermined time or other trigger, the second processor activates the first processor that is then used to send the acquired data to an external device. For example, items are stowed on the apparatus that includes weight sensors. The second processor awakens hourly, acquires weight data indicative of the weight of items stowed on the apparatus, and returns to a sleep mode. After 24 hours of acquiring weight data, the second processor activates the first processor to send the accumulated weight data to an external device, such as a server, using a network interface. Power consumption is substantially reduced, allowing the apparatus to operate without external power for extended periods of times.

Abstract: Electrical faults pose a significant risk to people and property. A system is described that deploys instrument devices with sensors to detect faults within an alternating current (AC) electrical distribution system. These sensors may detect electrical, optical, thermal, acoustic, radio frequency, and other phenomena associated with a fault. Data from different sensors may also be used to distinguish fault and non-fault status. Users are notified if a fault status is detected. Mitigating actions may be automatically taken, such as de-energizing a branch circuit associated with the fault status. Information about non-fault status may also be used to mitigate nuisance circuit breaker interruptions. In some situations, a nuisance interruption of a breaker may be automatically reset if all instrument devices connected to the breaker reported non-fault status before the interruption.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a platform that is supported by a first set of load cells. Output from these load cells may be adversely influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, aging, and so forth. The device includes a second set of load cells that are unloaded, that is they do not support the platform. Output from the first set of load cells is digitized to produce first digital data while output from the second set of load cells is digitized to produce second digital data. The first digital data and the second digital data are processed to produce compensated data. For example, values of the second digital data may be subtracted from values of the first digital data to produce the compensated data. In other implementations, other processing may be used. The resulting compensated data may be used to provide highly accurate weight data about the platform.

Abstract: An audio video system is described that includes an AV receiver with a wireless audio module (WAM) host and without audio amplifier functionality. The system further includes a plurality of wireless speakers each having a WAM device to enable unidirectional or bidirectional communications with the WAM host. Each wireless speaker includes an amplifier that may be matched to a driver of the speaker to optimize the frequency response of the driver.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an AV receiver with a wireless audio module (WAM) host. The apparatus further includes a plurality of wireless speakers each having a WAM device to enable bi-directional communications with the WAM host. The apparatus further includes a wireless input/output device or a plurality of wireless input/output devices embedded in speakers to enable bidirectional communications with the WAM host in order to automatically configure the plurality of wireless speakers to optimize audio parameters of the wireless speakers. The automatic configuration includes determining a location for each speaker in order to identify each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting time delay parameters for each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting volume parameters for each speaker.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an AV receiver with a wireless audio module (WAM) host. The apparatus further includes a plurality of wireless speakers each having a WAM device to enable bi-directional communications with the WAM host. The apparatus further includes a wireless input/output device or a plurality of wireless input/output devices embedded in speakers to enable bidirectional communications with the WAM host in order to automatically configure the plurality of wireless speakers to optimize audio parameters of the wireless speakers. The automatic configuration includes determining a location for each speaker in order to identify each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting time delay parameters for each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting volume parameters for each speaker.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an AV receiver with a wireless audio module (WAM) host. The apparatus further includes a plurality of wireless speakers each having a WAM device to enable bi-directional communications with the WAM host. The apparatus further includes a wireless input/output device or a plurality of wireless input/output devices embedded in speakers to enable bidirectional communications with the WAM host in order to automatically configure the plurality of wireless speakers to optimize audio parameters of the wireless speakers. The automatic configuration includes determining a location for each speaker in order to identify each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting time delay parameters for each speaker. The automatic configuration further includes setting volume parameters for each speaker.

Abstract: An audio video system is described that includes an AV receiver with a wireless audio module (WAM) host and without audio amplifier functionality. The system further includes a plurality of wireless speakers each having a WAM device to enable unidirectional or bidirectional communications with the WAM host. Each wireless speaker includes an amplifier that may be matched to a driver of the speaker to optimize the frequency response of the driver.

Abstract: A digital image enhancer includes a deinterlacing processor receptive to an interlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor includes a first deinterlacer and a second deinterlacer and provides a deinterlaced video stream. The digital image enhancer also includes a video output processor receptive to the output of the deinterlaced video stream to provide a scaled, deinterlaced video stream. A portable DVD player including the digital video enhancer has a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from said first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display, and the enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure.

Abstract: A portable DVD player includes a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display. The enclosure further includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure. A digital processing system within the enclosure includes a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller. The decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into the enclosure to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, the deinterlacer converts the interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and the display controller uses the deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on the video display. Preferably, the portable DVD player is both mechanically and electronically isolated for physical shocks to the player.