Abstract: The invention also relates to a device for monitoring a container according to claim 22, comprising: (A) a plurality of sensors divided into a first group of sensors and a second group of sensors; and (B) an autonomous sampling- rate manager which is configured to: (a) based on one or more excess of bound interrupts from said first group of sensors and a first group threshold, determine whether to wake up the device to sample and store within a memory storage a sample-record reflecting data measured by both said first and second groups of sensors; and (b) based on measurements from said second group of sensors and a second- group threshold, determine whether to increase or decrease a period until a next sampling of the sensors.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an operation of a linear actuator-valve pair and for detecting failures at their early development stages, which comprises: (a) a linear valve for opening or closing a channel between two pipes; (b) a linear actuator for driving the valve to either a closed or an open state by fully or partially displacing a stem of the valve; (c) an angular wireless valve monitoring device for monitoring the status of the pair by inspecting an angular orientation of a main shaft, and for reporting the status to a control center; and (d) a linear to angular converter for converting the linear displacement of the stem to an angular progression of the main shaft.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an operation of a linear actuator-valve pair and for detecting failures at their early development stages, which comprises: (a) a linear valve for opening or closing a channel between two pipes; (b) a linear actuator for driving said valve to either a closed or an open state by fully or partially displacing a stem of said valve; (c) an angular wireless valve monitoring device for monitoring the status of said pair by inspecting an angular orientation of a main shaft, and for reporting said status to a control center; and (d) a linear to angular converter for converting said linear displacement of said stem to an angular progression of said main shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless valve actuation device for a quarter turn valve actuator which comprises: (a) a pressurized air input line; (b) a short range wireless receiver for receiving an actuation message from a control center, said message being conveyed to the device via a gateway; (c) a pressurized air activated actuator which is connected to an air output of a first solenoid and to a stem of the quarter turn valve, said actuator is designed to cause variation in an angular orientation of the stem based on an air pressure as received from said output of the first solenoid; (d) a first solenoid for opening a channel between said air input line and said output line to the actuator, upon receipt of an actuation signal; and (e) a controller for receiving said actuation message, and for activating said first solenoid by conveying to it said actuation signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining a potential future failure of an actuated valve controlling fluid flow in a line by causing an angular change between two states of a stem of said valve, which comprises: (a) a sensor for, upon receipt a control command at said actuator, continuously sensing the angular position of the stem, and conveying to a monitoring unit a respective angular variation signal; and (b) a monitoring unit which comprises: (b1) a sampling unit for receiving said angular variation signal, and producing a transition vector which comprises periodical samples from said signal; (b2) a local storage for storing nominal transitional values for said actuator-valve pair; and (b3) a local comparator unit for comparing at least a portion of said transitional vector with the corresponding stored nominal transitional values, and if a difference above one or more predefined threshold values is determined, issuing an alert for a potential failure of said actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network system for monitoring valves in a facility, which comprises: (a) a plurality of valve monitoring devices—VMDs, each monitoring device is affixed to a valve, and comprises: (a.1) a sensor for sensing the status of the valve; (a.2) short range wireless communication unit for transmitting the status as sensed by said sensor, and for transmitting the status as sensed, together with an identification of said device, to one or more Valve Device Readers—VDRs located within said short range; (a.3) mechanism for affixing the device to the monitored valve in a manner which does not disturb the normal operation of the valve; and (a.4) one or more VDRs for receiving the transmission of the valve status and VMD identification from said VMDs, and for forwarding the same to a server by Ethernet communication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network system for monitoring valves in a facility, which comprises: (a) a plurality of valve monitoring devices—VMDs, each monitoring device is affixed to a valve, and comprises: (a.1) a sensor for sensing the status of the valve; (a.2) short range wireless communication unit for transmitting the status as sensed by said sensor, and for transmitting the status as sensed, together with an identification of said device, to one or more Valve Device Readers—VDRs located within said short range; (a.3) mechanism for affixing the device to the monitored valve in a manner which does not disturb the normal operation of the valve; and (a.4) one or more VDRs for receiving the transmission of the valve status and MD identification from said VMDs, and for forwarding the same to a server by Ethernet communication.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a dual-mode infrared/radio frequency (IR/RF) transmitter is secured within a wristband worn by the mother and within an ankle and/or wristband worn by the infant. In a matching mode of operation, IR signals are received by infrared receivers located within the various rooms of the hospital to precisely and automatically determine by proximity that mother and infant arc correctly united. In a presence detecting mode, RF signals from the infant's badge are detected by RF receivers located throughout the maternity ward of the hospital or throughout the hospital generally. It a security mode, RF receivers located proximate exits of either of the maternity ward and/or the hospital detect RF signals from the ankle and provide a signal to generate an alarm.

Abstract: In a battery operated IR transmitter having at least one IR LED energized by a source of voltage for passing current during transmission of pulses of data, the IR transmitter includes an energy regulator for maintaining transmission energy through the at least one IR LED substantially constant regardless of fluctuations in the voltage. The current is passed for a time duration that increases as the voltage decreases, the time duration being a function of the voltage so as to maintain the transmission energy substantially constant.

Abstract: In a method and system for effecting bi-directional IR data communication between an object transceiver and a reader, the object transceiver transmits successive data packets to the reader, and upon termination of a transmission of each data packet, opens a time window for receiving a transmission from the reader. The object transceiver is typically one of a plurality of object transceivers each worn by a person to whom a short message is to be transmitted and each having a respective unique ID and being able to effect autonomous transmission to the reader. In such case, each object transceiver transmits for a negligible fraction of its duty cycle thereby reducing a likelihood that two or more object transceivers will try to transmit simultaneously. Alternatively, the same objective can be realized by controlling each object transceiver to have a randomly variable duty cycle.

Abstract: A communication device including an RF transmitter mounted in conjunction with an IR transmitter allowing data to be transmitted by RF as well as by IR. Such a device may be a portable badge worn by moving personnel to transmit IR and RF signals to one of a plurality of second devices each being a fixed reader having an IR and RF receiver, and typically being mounted in a respective enclosed space, such as a room. In use, IR transmissions from the portable device are detected by the IR receiver of the reader in the same room and thus provide an immediate identification of the room (or enclosed space) wherein the portable device is located. On the other hand, if the IR transmitter in the portable device is concealed or for any other reason is not within line-of-sight of the reader in its immediate proximity, then the RF signal transmitted by the RF transmitter in the portable device is detected by the RF receiver in the reader, thereby allowing tracking of the portable device in either eventuality.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a dual-mode infrared/radio frequency (IR/RF) transmitter is secured within a wristband worn by the mother and within an ankle and/or wristband worn by the infant. In a matching mode of operation, IR signals are received by infrared receivers located within the various rooms of the hospital to precisely and automatically determine by proximity that mother and infant are correctly united. In a presence detecting mode, RF signals from the infant's badge are detected by RF receivers located throughout the maternity ward of the hospital or throughout the hospital generally. In a security mode, RF receivers located proximate exits of either of the maternity ward and/or the hospital detect RF signals from the ankle and provide a signal to generate an alarm.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a dual-mode infrared/radio frequency (IR/RF) transmitter is secured within a wristband worn by the mother and within an ankle and/or wristband worn by the infant. In a matching mode of operation, IR signals are received by infrared receivers located within the various rooms of the hospital to precisely and automatically determine by proximity that mother and infant are correctly united. In a presence detecting mode, RF signals from the infant's badge are detected by RF receivers located throughout the maternity ward of the hospital or throughout the hospital generally. In a security mode, RF receivers located proximate exits of either of the maternity ward and/or the hospital detect RF signals from the ankle and provide a signal to generate an alarm.