Abstract: An electronic measuring instrument includes a housing, a storage spool rotatably mounted to the housing, and a thin, flexible line provided on the storage spool and extendible from the housing for measuring distances. The storage spool is rotatable in a first direction for unwinding the line from the storage spool and a second direction for winding the line onto the storage spool. The instrument includes a rotatable drum in engagement with said line so that movement of said line causes movement of said rotatable drum.

Abstract: An electronic drinking mug includes a heating element in thermal communication with the mug for heating a liquid contained in the mug, a temperture sensoring in communication with the heating element for monitoring a temperature of the liquid, a controller integrally attached to an outer surface of the mug and in communication with the temperature sensor and the heating element for selectively activating and deactivating the heating element so as to heat the liquid in the mug to a desired temperature. In operation, the controller receives temperature readings from the temperature sensor and deactivates the heating element when the monitored temperature of the liquid is greater than or equal to the desired user preset temperature of the liquid. A user interface is integrally attached to the outer surface of the mug and in communication with the controller for establishing the desired temperature of the liquid.

Abstract: An electronic drinking mug includes a mug having an outer surface, a heating element in thermal communication with the mug for heating a liquid disposed in the mug, and a temperature sensor in communication with the heating element. The mug has a controller in communication with the heating element for selectively activating and deactivating the heating element for heating the liquid in the mug to a desired temperature, and a user interface attached to the outer surface of the mug and being in communication with the controller for establishing the desired temperature of the liquid.

Abstract: A baby monitor has a nursery unit and parent unit. The nursery unit has a controller for generating a privacy code, a microphone for detecting baby sounds and a transmitter for transmitting a signal made up of the privacy code and the baby sounds. The parent unit has a receiver for receiving the signal, a controller for comparing the privacy code to a reference code, and an amplifier and speaker for outputting the baby sounds. The baby sounds are output by the parent unit if the privacy code matches the reference code. The nursery and parent units have a scrambler and descrambler respectively for scrambling the signal.

Abstract: A digital tape measure includes a housing containing a measuring line, a rotatable measuring drum in engagement with the measuring line so that movement of the measuring line causes rotation of the measuring drum, and a rotatable disc coupled with the measuring drum for rotating simultaneously with the measuring drum. The digital tape measure includes an optical sensor in communication with the rotatable disk for compiling data related to rotation of the disk, and electronic circuitry in communication with the optical sensor for processing the compiled data so as to calculate a length of the measuring line drawn from the housing.

Abstract: A device for locating an object behind a wall lining includes a housing having a front portion adapted to fit substantially in the palm of a users hand. Operating switches are located in juxtaposition the grip portion so as to be operable by the user without substantially altering a grip on the housing. The device also includes a sensor comprising a first capacitor plate and a pair of second capacitor plates. The capacitor plates are arranged vertically, and calibrated by a Pulse Width Modulator and integrator. Operating electronics are incorporated into an Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

Abstract: An object sensor for sensing objects hidden from view behind a first wall surface. The object sensor has a housing having a front surface with a display and a rear surface. The object sensor also has a sensing system and provides additional functions. The additional functions can include a distance detector, a computing system working in conjunction with the distance detector to determine the distance between the object sensor and a second wall, a tracking mechanism, and a projector to project a beam at predetermined distances. The object sensor may further have a level or a location marker.

Abstract: A rotisserie system includes a rotatable skewer adapted to secure meat, the rotatable skewer including a temperature sensor for recording a temperature of the meat and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the temperature. The system also includes a remote temperature monitor having a wireless receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted temperature and a visual display for displaying the temperature, whereby the remote temperature monitor is movable away from the rotatable skewer while remaining in wireless communication with the wireless transmitter to enable an operator to continuously monitor the cooking temperature of the meat. The wireless transmission and reception may be accomplished using infrared light or radio frequency waves.

Abstract: An electronic candy and oil thermometer includes a housing having a visual display for displaying indicia associated with a plurality of candy cooking stages and a plurality of fried foods. The housing includes a controller having operating protocols and a memory for storing predetermined optimal temperature ranges for each said candy cooking stage and each said fried food. The electronic thermometer also includes a temperature sensing probe projecting from the housing for obtaining temperature readings and transmitting the temperature readings to the controller, and a control interface provided on the housing and in communication with the controller for selectively activating either a first of the operational protocols for monitoring temperatures associated with the candy cooking stages or a second of the operational protocols for monitoring temperatures associated with the fried foods.

Abstract: An electronic drinking mug includes a heating element in thermal communication with the mug for heating a liquid contained in the mug, a temperature sensoring in communication with the heating element for monitoring a temperature of the liquid, a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the heating element for selectively activating and deactivating the heating element so as to heat the liquid in the mug to a desired temperature. In operation, the controller receives temperature readings from the temperature sensor and deactivates the heating element when the monitored temperature of the liquid is greater than or equal to the desired user preset temperature of the liquid. A user interface is attached to the mug and in communication with the controller for establishing the desired temperature of the liquid.

Abstract: An electronic candy and oil thermometer includes a housing having a visual display for displaying indicia associated with a plurality of candy cooking stages and a plurality of fried foods. The housing includes a controller having operating protocols and a memory for storing predetermined optimal temperature ranges for each said candy cooking stage and each said fried food. The electronic thermometer also includes a temperature sensing probe projecting from the housing for obtaining temperature readings and transmitting the temperature readings to the controller, and a control interface provided on the housing and in communication with the controller for selectively activating either a first of the operational protocols for monitoring temperatures associated with the candy cooking stages or a second of the operational protocols for monitoring temperatures associated with the fried foods.