Abstract: A vehicle winch mechanism includes a drum, a motor and transmission, at least one drum and motor side support, at least one battery, and a motive trickle charge mechanism. The drum pays out and takes in a line. The motor and transmission drive the drum. The side supports couple the drum, the motor, or both to the vehicle. The battery provides power to the motor. The motive trickle charge mechanism charges the battery. In one embodiment, the motive trickle charge mechanism includes a permanent magnet, an enclosure housing the magnet, and two or more sets of conductive coils wrapped around the enclosure and electrically coupled to the battery. The enclosure houses the magnet such that the magnet freely moves and changes orientation within the enclosure. The coils of an individual set of coils are aligned along parallel planes, and the coils of separate sets are aligned along intersecting planes.

Abstract: A winch mechanism is described that includes a motor, a drum mechanism, a winch line, and a hammer and anvil mechanism. The drum mechanism is connected to the motor, and the winch line is connected to the drum. The hammer and anvil mechanism is connected to the motor and the drum mechanism within the drum mechanism. The motor activates the hammer and anvil mechanism, and the hammer and anvil mechanism applies a percussive force to the drum mechanism as the drum winds up the winch line. In an alternative embodiment, the hammer and anvil mechanism is disposed around at least a portion of the drum mechanism.

Abstract: A fluid dispersal node is disclosed that includes one or more fluid outlets, an electromechanical valve, one or more hardware processors, hardware memory, a hardware wireless communication module, an antenna, and a fluid-tight, substantially radio frequency (RF) transparent enclosure. The valve is disposed in the node, and controls fluid flow to the outlets. The processors, in turn, control the valve. The wireless module receives instructions for operating the valve and forwards those instructions to one or more of the processors and the memory. The processors, memory, wireless module and antenna are disposed within the RF-transparent housing. In some embodiments, the antenna is disposed on a riser associated with the node outside the enclosure. In other embodiments, the antenna is disposed in a fluid line connected to the node.

Abstract: A solar powered window covering system is disclosed. The system includes a headrail, which includes a motor, a gearbox, and one or more tiltable slats. At least one slat includes sliding tracks. The system further includes one or more PV cells movably disposed within the sliding tracks. The PV cells slide in the tracks with regard to an amount of sunlight incident on the cells. Methods of operating a solar powered window covering are also disclosed. The methods generally include detecting a tilt of at least one window covering slat. The slat includes one or more PV cells disposed in sliding tracks in the slat, and the tilt indicates an amount of sunlight incident on the cells. The methods also include sliding the PV cells in the tracks with regard to the amount of sunlight incident on the cells.

Abstract: A system to reduce drafts in front of a window is described. The system includes a window covering and a motor and gearbox that adjust the window covering. The system also includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a microcontroller networked to the motor and temperature sensors. The first temperature sensor is positioned above the window covering within a thermal convection zone of a window associated with the window covering, and the second temperature sensor is positioned below the window covering within the thermal convection zone. The microcontroller instructs the motor to adjust the window covering based on a temperature gradient from the first temperature sensor to the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a window covering with a motorized tilting assembly. The method includes removing a tilt rod from a blinds tilting mechanism and introducing the motorized tilting assembly into the blinds tilting mechanism. The assembly includes a motor, a gearbox having an internal enclosure and an external enclosure, and an output shaft. The internal enclosure encloses gears, and the external enclosure encloses the internal enclosure. The output shaft includes a through-channel and extends through the internal enclosure and the external enclosure. The method further includes: selecting a tilt rod adapter having an internal shape complementary to the tilt rod and an external shape complementary to the through-channel of the output shaft; inserting the tilt rod adapter into the output shaft; and reinstalling the tilt rod such that the tilt rod passes completely through the output shaft and the tilt rod adapter.

Abstract: Methods for negotiating optimum parameters for communicating between a wireless control device and a wireless user device are disclosed. The methods generally include transmitting a frequency-hopped and spread negotiation signal using network-maximum parameters. The initial parameters make the negotiation signal long-range but low-data. The methods further include adjusting the initial parameters to optimal parameters based on a link budget and data rate requirements received in response to the negotiation signal. The signals are communicated on the 902-928 MHz unlicensed ISM band, and the parameters include spreading factor, output power, and carrier frequency channel bandwidth.

Abstract: A wirelessly controlled inflator is described herein that includes a pump, a hose, a programmable switch, and a wireless transceiver. The hose is fluidically coupled to the pump. The programmable switch is electrically coupled to the pump and stores instructions that, when executed, activate the pump until a desired pressure setting is reached. The wireless transceiver is electrically coupled to the programmable switch and relays pump operation information to the programmable switch. The inflator may be remotely controlled by one or more networked devices, such as directly or via a cloud-based network.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered wireless switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, and one or more tactile control buttons. Additionally, the switch includes one or more docking prongs. Each docking prong is contained within a groove in a switch back, with pivot pins through one end of each docking prong perpendicular to a prong longitudinal axis and parallel to the switch back. The switch also includes flexible strips coupled to the same end of each docking prong as the pivot pins, and a prong extender button coupled to the flexible strips. The dock includes one or more docking prong slots, where the number of slots matches the number of prongs. The prongs fit in the slots to mount the switch to the dock.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and one or more magnetic prongs. The magnetic prongs are contained within prong slots in a switch body. The prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs when the prongs extend outwards from the switch body. The dock includes one or more metallic holes, where the number of holes matches the number of prongs. The prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the holes when brought near enough to the holes that the holes exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring.

Abstract: An apparatus for automating a set of window blinds is described. The apparatus includes a motor and a microcontroller. The motor includes a window blind coupler that couples a window blind tilt rod to the motor. The microcontroller stores instructions that, when executed, instruct the microcontroller to dynamically actuate the window blind coupler via the motor. The instructions include obtaining a desired room temperature, calculating a first temperature gradient between the window-side of the window blinds and the room-side of the window blinds based on a window-side temperature and a room-side temperature, and calculating a second temperature gradient between the room-side temperature and the desired temperature. The instructions further include retrieving a tilted state related to the first temperature gradient, the desired room temperature, and a zero-value second temperature gradient, and activating the motor to turn the window blind coupler to tilt the window blinds to the tilted state.

Abstract: An apparatus for automating a set of window blinds is described. The apparatus includes a motor and a microcontroller. The motor includes a window blind coupler that couples a window blind tilt rod to the motor. The microcontroller stores instructions that, when executed, instruct the microcontroller to dynamically actuate the window blind coupler via the motor. The instructions include obtaining a desired room temperature, calculating a first temperature gradient between the window-side of the window blinds and the room-side of the window blinds based on a window-side temperature and a room-side temperature, and calculating a second temperature gradient between the room-side temperature and the desired temperature. The instructions further include retrieving a tilted state related to the first temperature gradient, the desired room temperature, and a zero-value second temperature gradient, and activating the motor to turn the window blind coupler to tilt the window blinds to the tilted state.

Abstract: A redundant star network is disclosed. The network includes a peripheral device (PD), a control hub, and a backup hub. The control hub and backup hub each have a wireless long range transceiver, hardware processors, and hardware memory. The PD includes a wireless long range transceiver and a microcontroller. The control hub and backup hub hardware memories store system operation information. The system operation information includes instructions for controlling the PD. The PD microcontroller includes test firmware and update firmware. The test firmware instructs the PD to test the control hub and to listen for a test response signal indicating the control hub is operational. The PD update firmware instructs the PD to switch control of the PD to the backup hub when the test response signal is not received within an expected response timeframe after the test signal is sent.

Abstract: A redundant star network and methods for communicating over the network are disclosed. The network includes a peripheral device, a first network hub, and a second network hub. Each of the peripheral device, the first network hub, and the second network hub includes a wireless long range transceiver and at least one microcontroller. The first and second network hub microcontrollers store system operation information that includes instructions for operating the peripheral device and instructions for designating a peripheral device control hub. Additionally, the first and second network hub microcontrollers each include firmware for testing whether the other hub is operational and updating the system operation information to change the peripheral device control hub if it is non-operational. In some embodiments, the network is connected to a cloud server that communicates system updates to a user device.

Abstract: A system and method for a tamper-resistant network is disclosed. The system includes a primary network hub (PNH) having a PNH transceiver and a PNH microcontroller. The PNH microcontroller has long range spread spectrum frequency hopping (SSFH) firmware, a plurality of frequency hopping sequences, and PNH tamper firmware. The system also includes a peripheral device (PD) having a PD transceiver, a PD tamper circuit, and a PD microcontroller. The PD microcontroller includes the long range SSFH firmware, the plurality of frequency hopping sequences, and PD tamper firmware. The PD communicates to the PNH that it is compromised, and the PNH deactivates the PD and an associated frequency hopping signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for more efficiently enabling secure access to an enclosure is described herein. The apparatus may include a wireless transmitter in a selectably opaque container, a wireless transceiver, a GPS receiver, an NFC transmitter and/or receiver, one or more hardware processors, and hardware memory. The hardware memory stores instructions for receiving a current location of the apparatus and comparing that location to a delivery address of the enclosure. As the location is within a certain range of the delivery address the apparatus sends a request to a cloud-based server for a hash digest masking an acceptable input for an access control mechanism associated with the enclosure. The apparatus receives the hash digest and forwards it to the access control mechanism via the wireless transmitter. Computer executable code for handling such tasks, and a cloud-based server for generating the hash digest, are also described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for more efficiently enabling secure access to an enclosure is described herein. The apparatus may include a wireless transmitter in a selectably opaque container, a wireless transceiver, a GPS receiver, an NFC transmitter and/or receiver, one or more hardware processors, and hardware memory. The hardware memory stores instructions for receiving a current location of the apparatus and comparing that location to a delivery address of the enclosure. As the location is within a certain range of the delivery address the apparatus sends a request to a cloud-based server for a hash digest masking an acceptable input for an access control mechanism associated with the enclosure. The apparatus receives the hash digest and forwards it to the access control mechanism via the wireless transmitter. Computer executable code for handling such tasks, and a cloud-based server for generating the hash digest, are also described herein.

Abstract: A system for efficient hub switching of mobile network devices is disclosed. The system includes a peripheral device (PD), a first control hub, and a second control hub. The PD includes a wireless long range transceiver and a microcontroller, and is controlled wirelessly by the first control hub. The first control hub and second network hub each have a wireless long range transceiver, hardware processors, and hardware memory that stores system operation information. The system operation information includes instructions for controlling the PD. Additionally, the system operation information includes instructions for listening for a response from the PD. The listening instructions include an expected response timeframe after the control instructions are sent. The system operation information further includes instructions for requesting the second control hub control the PD. Furthermore, the system operation information includes instructions for taking over control of the PD.

Abstract: A dual modulation network is disclosed. The dual modulation network includes a primary network hub (PNH) having a PNH Long range transceiver and a PNH microcontroller. The PNH microcontroller has communication firmware for long range spread spectrum (SS) and narrowband frequency shift keying (FSK) signal communication via the PNH Long range transceiver, and includes a PNH clock signal. The dual modulation network also includes a peripheral device (PD). The PD includes an actuation mechanism, a PD Long range transceiver, and a PD microcontroller. The PD microcontroller has actuation firmware, communication firmware for communication via the PD Long range transceiver, and location firmware, and includes a clock signal. The location firmware instructs the PD long range transceiver to transmit a location signal encoded with a PD transmit time stamp notifying a receiving device of the time the PD transmitted the location signal.

Abstract: A noise-cancelling wall is described that includes a height, a width, a depth, and first and second portions. The first portion has a first characteristic acoustic wavelength and a first thickness along the depth, and the second portion has a second characteristic acoustic wavelength and a second thickness along the depth. A relationship between the first and second portions is such that twice a difference between a ratio of the first characteristic acoustic wavelength to the first thickness, and a ratio of the second characteristic acoustic wavelength to the second thickness ranges from 0.25 above an odd integer to 0.25 below the odd integer. The first portion causes an acoustic phase shift of sound waves passing through the first portion relative to sound waves passing through the second portion, and the phase shift results in destructive acoustic interference between sound waves traveling through the wall.