Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a short-range communication device (10, 10?, 5 10?) for a personal protective equipment or a personal protective device (200, 210, 220, 230) comprising a transmission unit (20, 20?, 20?) for wirelessly transmitting a voice signal of a user (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) to a receiving unit (40,40?, 40?) over a predetermined distance such that a communication channel is established between the transmission unit (20, 20?, 20?) and the receiving unit (40, 40?, 40?) so that a user (100, 10 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) can hear the voice signal. The present disclosure further relates to a short-range communication system comprising at least two short-range communication devices (10, 10?, 10?) according to the present disclosure and to a method of establishing a short-range communication between such devices (10, 10?, 10?).

Abstract: A pet door includes a latch assembly for locking and unlocking a pet flap. The latch assembly has an electric motor, a motor drive shaft having a first end coupled to the electric motor and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end, a drive pin coupled to the second end of the motor drive shaft, and a drive wheel coupled to the drive pin. The drive wheel incrementally rotates with each full rotation of the drive pin. The drive wheel is coupled to a cam drive shaft. The latch assembly also has plurality of latches assemblies coupled to the cam drive shaft for selective engagement of the peripheral edge of the flap depending upon the rotational position of the cam drive shaft, the selective engagement between the latches and the peripheral edge of the flap determining the locking and unlocking of the flap relative to the frame.

Abstract: A pet door includes a motor for locking and unlocking a pet flap of a pet door. The pet flap is rotatably attached to an upper portion of the pet door. The flap has at least one peripheral edge and a movable seal coupled to the flap for reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The seal has a second magnetic portion that is magnetically attracted to the first magnetic portion of the frame. The seal is biased to the retracted position when the door is open and the seal being magnetically biased to the extended position by the magnetic force between the first and second magnetic portions when the door is closed.

Abstract: A pet door is described herein comprising a motor for locking and unlocking a pet flap of a pet door, wherein the pet flap is rotatably attached to an upper portion of the pet door. The pet door includes a first motion detector for monitoring movement in a first detection region and a second motion detector for monitoring movement in a second detection region, wherein the pet flap of the pet door occupies a plane separating the first detection region from the second detection region when the pet flap is in a locked position. One or more applications running on at least one processor of the pet door are configured to receive a first motion signal from the first motion detector indicating movement of a pet in the first detection region, the receiving the first motion signal including activating an access sequence controlling ingress or egress of a pet.

Abstract: There is provided an exhaust apparatus for connection to a personal protection respiratory device that defines a filtered air volume adjacent to the face of a wearer and comprises at least one exhalation, the apparatus comprising a blower in fluid connection with the at least one exhalation valve, the blower being responsive to the wearer's respiratory cycle to draw a substantial portion of the wearer's exhaled breath through the at least one exhalation valve wherein, in response to the wearer's respiratory cycle, the blower operates throughout the wearer's exhale breath, or a substantial period thereof, and does not operate throughout the wearer's inhale breath, or a substantial period thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a system having an electronic device powered by at least one battery, a controller communicably coupled to at least one battery, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a state of charge of the at least one battery; and interrupt a function of the electronic device for at least one predefined time period based on the state of charge of the at least one battery, where the interruption is indicative of a state of charge of the at least one battery. There is also provided an electronic device for use in the system.

Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for connection to a personal protection respiratory device that defines a filtered air volume adjacent to the face of a wearer and comprises at least one exhalation, the apparatus comprising a blower in fluid connection with the at least one exhalation valve, the blower being responsive to the wearer's respiratory cycle to draw a substantial portion of the wearer's exhaled breath through the at least one exhalation valve wherein, in response to the wearer's respiratory cycle, the blower operates throughout the wearer's exhale breath, or a substantial period thereof, and does not operate throughout the wearer's inhale breath, or a substantial period thereof

Abstract: A pet litter box (10) includes a housing (12) having a base portion (14), a grid portion (16), and a top portion (18). The base portion has a floor (20) and a raised, peripheral ledge (22) with a vertical wall (28) and a horizontal wall (30). The pet litter box has a removable tray (40). The horizontal wall includes air vents (56). Each air vent has an upwardly extending hood (58) having a rear wall (60), two oppositely disposed end walls (62) which define an outwardly facing air outlet opening (64). Each side air outlet opening is in fluid communication with a bottom air inlet opening (66) extending through the ledge horizontal wall. The air inlet opening is in fluid communication with ambient air external of the litter box. The grid portion 16 has a generally flat floor (72) with a grid of holes (74) there through.

Abstract: A system for a host vehicle and includes a memory and a vehicle control module. The memory stores autonomous status bits for each local vehicle. The autonomous status bits indicate whether the corresponding local vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous mode. The vehicle control module: generates autonomous status bits indicative of an autonomous status level of the host vehicle and transmits the autonomous status bits in a message to first vehicle communication devices; determines that local vehicles are in a local environment of the host vehicle; receives messages including the autonomous status bits of the local vehicles from second vehicle communication devices; and unless operating in a fully autonomous mode, generates a request for a driver of the host vehicle to take control of the host vehicle based on the autonomous status bits of the host vehicle and the local vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method for warning a vehicle of brake deterioration including (i) detecting conditions that impact brake performance of a primary vehicle through a plurality of sensors; (ii) receiving information from the plurality of sensors; (iii) determining data for a brake event; (iv) storing the brake event data in a bin; (v) determining an average of the brake data for the bin; (vi) determining whether a rate at which the average of the brake data for the bin is increasing over time is greater than a first predetermined threshold; (vii) flagging the bin when the average of the brake data for the bin is increasing over time greater than a first predetermined threshold; (viii) determining whether a number of flagged bins is greater than a second predetermined threshold; and (ix) generating an alert to a driver when the number of flagged bins is greater than the second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: There is provided an exhaust apparatus for connection to a personal protection respiratory device that defines a filtered air volume adjacent to the face of a wearer and comprises at least one exhalation, the apparatus comprising a blower in fluid connection with the at least one exhalation valve, the blower being responsive to the wearer's respiratory cycle to draw a substantial portion of the wearer's exhaled breath through the at least one exhalation valve wherein, in response to the wearer's respiratory cycle, the blower operates throughout the wearer's exhale breath, or a substantial period thereof, and does not operate throughout the wearer's inhale breath, or a substantial period thereof.

Abstract: A pet litter box (10) includes a housing (12) having a base portion (14), a grid portion (16), and a top portion (18). The base portion has a floor (20) and a raised, peripheral ledge (22) with a vertical wall (28) and a horizontal wall (30). The pet litter box has a removable tray (40). The horizontal wall includes air vents (56). Each air vent has an upwardly extending hood (58) having a rear wall (60), two oppositely disposed end walls (62) which define an outwardly facing air outlet opening (64). Each side air outlet opening is in fluid communication with a bottom air inlet opening (66) extending through the ledge horizontal wall. The air inlet opening is in fluid communication with ambient air external of the litter box. The grid portion 16 has a generally flat floor (72) with a grid of holes (74) there through.

Abstract: A system for a host vehicle and includes a memory and a vehicle control module. The memory stores autonomous status bits for each local vehicle. The autonomous status bits indicate whether the corresponding local vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous mode. The vehicle control module: generates autonomous status bits indicative of an autonomous status level of the host vehicle and transmits the autonomous status bits in a message to first vehicle communication devices; determines that local vehicles are in a local environment of the host vehicle; receives messages including the autonomous status bits of the local vehicles from second vehicle communication devices; and unless operating in a fully autonomous mode, generates a request for a driver of the host vehicle to take control of the host vehicle based on the autonomous status bits of the host vehicle and the local vehicles.

Abstract: A system for autonomous operation of equipment in an environment inaccessible to GPS. The system includes a plurality of location controllers configured to be arranged in the environment. Each one of the location controllers includes a ranging transmitter/receiver, a communication transmitter/receiver, and a control module. The ranging transmitter/receiver is configured to measure controller distance to another one of the location controllers to map the environment, and measure equipment distance to the equipment to determine the equipment's location. The communication transmitter/receiver is configured to transmit the measured controller distance to the master controller, and transmit directional commands to the equipment. A master location controller is configured to build a map of the environment based on the measured controller distances. The plurality of location controllers transmit directional commands to the equipment.

Abstract: An article mounting device including a stretch releasable adhesive strip capable of being attached to a surface. The adhesive strip is positioned on the base, whilst the non-adhesive pull tab portion is visible to allow easy detaching by the user. The mounting device comprises an adjustable protrusion to allow the mounting of a variety of articles to different surfaces such as a wall, ceiling and others.

Abstract: A system and method for warning a vehicle of brake deterioration including (i) detecting conditions that impact brake performance of a primary vehicle through a plurality of sensors; (ii) receiving information from the plurality of sensors; (iii) determining data for a brake event; (iv) storing the brake event data in a bin; (v) determining an average of the brake data for the bin; (vi) determining whether a rate at which the average of the brake data for the bin is increasing over time is greater than a first predetermined threshold; (vii) flagging the bin when the average of the brake data for the bin is increasing over time greater than a first predetermined threshold; (viii) determining whether a number of flagged bins is greater than a second predetermined threshold; and (ix) generating an alert to a driver when the number of flagged bins is greater than the second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a safety verifying system for a tractor-trailer combination. The system includes a trailer-data storing portion, a wireless reader, a determining portion, and a controlling portion. The trailer-data storing portion is disposed in a trailer that is to be towed by a tractor. The trailer-data storing portion stores first data associated with the trailer. The wireless reader retrieves the first data from the trailer-data storing portion. The determining portion determines whether the combination of the trailer and the tractor satisfies a safety requirement based on the first data retrieved by the wireless reader and second data associated with the tractor or an intended route to a destination of the trailer. The controlling portion controls operation of the tractor based on a result of the determining portion.

Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for connection to a personal protection respiratory device that defines a filtered air volume adjacent to the face of a wearer and comprises at least one exhalation, the apparatus comprising a blower in fluid connection with the at least one exhalation valve, the blower being responsive to the wearer's respiratory cycle to draw a substantial portion of the wearer's exhaled breath through the at least one exhalation valve wherein, in response to the wearer's respiratory cycle, the blower operates throughout the wearer's exhale breath, or a substantial period thereof, and does not operate throughout the wearer's inhale breath, or a substantial period thereof.

Abstract: A hazard warning system for vehicles including hazard detection sensors and a primary transmitter for a primary vehicle configured to transmit information regarding a hazard and a path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary receiver for a secondary vehicle is configured to receive the information regarding the hazard detected by the hazard detection sensors, and the path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary vehicle control module is configured to notify a driver of the secondary vehicle of the hazard when the secondary vehicle is traveling along a path similar to that of the primary vehicle.

Abstract: A hazard warning system for vehicles including hazard detection sensors and a primary transmitter for a primary vehicle configured to transmit information regarding a hazard and a path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary receiver for a secondary vehicle is configured to receive the information regarding the hazard detected by the hazard detection sensors, and the path history of the primary vehicle. A secondary vehicle control module is configured to notify a driver of the secondary vehicle of the hazard when the secondary vehicle is traveling along a path similar to that of the primary vehicle.