Abstract: Described is a system and/or method for displaying the location of a ferromagnetic object in a living organism by using a surgical probe. The surgical probe has a shaft with three-dimensional magnetoresistance sensors located on a distal end configured for insertion into the living organism and three-dimensional magnetoresistance sensors located on a proximal end that stays outside of the living organism. The system comprises a display configured to show the relative location of a detected ferromagnetic object to the tip of the probe in a simulated three-dimensional view on a two-dimensional display.

Abstract: A system and/or method for detecting a ferromagnetic object during surgery comprises a probe tip magnetoresistance device configured for insertion into a human or animal cavity and a probe base magnetoresistance device configured for remaining outside the cavity. The system and method detect the ferromagnetic object by comparing the electrical signals generated by the probe tip and the probe base magnetoresistance devices in response to the ambient magnetic field without generating a magnetic field to detect the ferromagnetic object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated interaction with a touch-screen device are described. A system for automated interaction with a touch-screen device may include at least one optical sensor configured to sense at least a first portion of a touch-screen of the touch-screen device; at least one solenoid including an end effector that is tactilely detectable by the touch-screen, wherein operation of the at least one solenoid causes the end effector to tactilely engage with a second portion of the touch-screen; and a controller that is operatively connected to the at least one optical sensor and the at least one solenoid, and that is configured to operate the at least one solenoid in response to detecting a predetermined characteristic of the touch-screen via the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A lock for permanent attachment to a movable freight container cargo door as a replacement for a prior art hasp or a prior art keeper. The lock is configured for permanent attachment to the cargo door using pre-existing hole locations for the prior art hasp or keeper. The lock comprises a straight shackle and a c-shaped lock body and is configured to retain a door handle between the shackle and the back of the c-shaped lock body. The shackle is locked into the lock body using a shackle lock element that engages with a groove in the shackle. The shackle groove is perpendicular to the shaft of the shackle. The shackle lock element is pressed into the groove using by one or more springs in linear direction that is perpendicular to the length of the shackle and perpendicular to the groove, and released from the groove through by a lock module, which could be a lock cylinder or an electronic lock module.

Abstract: A locking system and method for a movable freight container door comprises an electronic module and a mechanical lock element. The mechanical lock element comprises a shaft, at least of portion of which is configured to be inserted through an aperture in the electronic module, across a door handle retention region, and into a cavity in the electronic module. The shaft is securely retained in the electronic module by moving a lock mechanism to a locked position. At least one magnetic field sensor in the electronic module is used to read the position of the shaft in the cavity by sensing or not sensing one or more magnets in the shaft. A wireless communication component in the electronic module wirelessly transmits magnetic field sensor information.

Abstract: A system and/or method for detecting a ferromagnetic object during surgery comprises a probe tip magnetoresistance device configured for insertion into a human or animal cavity and a probe base magnetoresistance device configured for remaining outside the cavity. The system and method detect the ferromagnetic object by comparing the electrical signals generated by the probe tip and the probe base magnetoresistance devices in response to the ambient magnetic field without generating a magnetic field to detect the ferromagnetic object.

Abstract: A locking system and method for a movable freight container door comprises an electronic module and a mechanical lock element. The mechanical lock element comprises a shaft, at least of portion of which is configured to be inserted through an aperture in the electronic module, across a door handle retention region, and into a cavity in the electronic module. The shaft is securely retained in the electronic module by moving a lock mechanism to a locked position. At least one magnetic field sensor in the electronic module is used to read the position of the shaft in the cavity by sensing or not sensing one or more magnets in the shaft. A wireless communication component in the electronic module wirelessly transmits magnetic field sensor information.

Abstract: A freight tracking system uses a tracking device hidden in the taillight of a vehicle and a remote device located somewhere else on the vehicle. The remote device determines the position of the vehicle using information received from global navigation system satellites and communicates this wirelessly to the tracking device using a mesh network. The tracking device comprises a 9-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit) that uses a fusion filter and a calculation involving digital quaternions to determine inertial information. The vehicle position is compared to geographic boundary information to determine if the vehicle might have gone outside of geographic boundaries. If so, a geofencing alarm is triggered. The device has a tampering detector to ensure that the device is not opened. The alarms, vehicle position, and time information can be communicated to an internet-connected database using a cellular wireless device.

Abstract: A freight tracking system uses a tracking device hidden in the taillight of a vehicle and a remote device located somewhere else on the vehicle. The remote device determines the position of the vehicle using information received from global navigation system satellites and communicates this wirelessly to the tracking device using a mesh network. The tracking device comprises a 9-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit) that uses a fusion filter and a calculation involving digital quaternions to determine inertial information. The vehicle position is compared to geographic boundary information to determine if the vehicle might have gone outside of geographic boundaries. If so, a geofencing alarm is triggered. The device has a tampering detector to ensure that the device is not opened. The alarms, vehicle position, and time information can be communicated to an internet-connected database using a cellular wireless device.

Abstract: A locking system and method for a movable freight container comprises an electronic module with a shaft that goes into a cavity in a mechanical lock module. The shaft is securely retained in the cavity by a lock mechanism in the mechanical lock module by moving the lock mechanism to a locked position. A plurality of magnetic field sensors in the shaft are used to read the position of the shaft in the cavity by sensing or not sensing one or more magnets in the lock mechanism to confirm continuous time insertion of the shaft in the cavity. A wireless communication component in the electronic module wirelessly transmits an alarm signal if the magnetic field sensors detect an unexpected interruption in at least one of the continuous time shaft position magnetic sensor readings.

Abstract: A locking system and method for a movable freight container comprises an electronic module with a shaft that goes into a cavity in a mechanical lock module. The shaft is securely retained in the cavity by a lock mechanism in the mechanical lock module by moving the lock mechanism to a locked position. A plurality of magnetic field sensors in the shaft are used to read the position of the shaft in the cavity by sensing or not sensing one or more magnets in the lock mechanism to confirm continuous time insertion of the shaft in the cavity. A wireless communication component in the electronic module wirelessly transmits an alarm signal if the magnetic field sensors detect an unexpected interruption in at least one of the continuous time shaft position magnetic sensor readings.

Abstract: A device and method for interacting with a display using an accelerometer sensitive to tilt about two perpendicular axes and a third signal having a magnitude responsive to user input. The device and method allow a user to change a characteristic of an object on the display by converting pitch information, roll information, and a linear dimension into Cartesian coordinates for use by the display.

Abstract: A device and method for interacting with a display using an accelerometer sensitive to tilt about two perpendicular axes and a third signal having a magnitude responsive to user input. The device and method allow a user to change a characteristic of an object on the display by converting pitch information, roll information, and a linear dimension into Cartesian coordinates for use by the display.

Abstract: A device and method for interacting with a display using an accelerometer sensitive to tilt about two perpendicular axes and a third signal having a magnitude responsive to user input. The device and method allow a user to change a characteristic of an object on the display by converting pitch information, roll information, and a linear dimension into Cartesian coordinates for use by the display.

Abstract: A hand-held pointing device for manipulating an object on a display is disclosed. The device is constructed from at least one accelerometer and at least one linear input element. The accelerometer or accelerometers generate a pitch signal and a roll signal. These pitch and roll signals are used to determine a position on a display.

Abstract: A hand-held pointing device for manipulating an object on a display is disclosed. The device is constructed from at least one accelerometer and at least one linear input element. The accelerometer or accelerometers generate a pitch signal and a roll signal. These pitch and roll signals are used to determine a position on a display.

Abstract: A computer input device constructed from at least one tilt accelerometer and at least one linear input element is disclosed. This input device can be used in a computer system to specify a position on a display using radial coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, or spherical coordinates.

Abstract: A computer input device constructed from at least one tilt accelerometer and at least one linear input element is disclosed. This input device can be used in a computer system to specify a position on a display using radial coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, or spherical coordinates.