Abstract: The invention provides a low current consumption control switch device and method related thereto. The control switch device includes a switch control component, a microprocessor, a wireless signal receiver for receiving control signal and a DC power supply. The DC power supply draws an AC current from the AC power supply to power the wireless signal receiver, the microprocessor and the switch control component. The switch control component has a control input for receiving control instructions to control current supply from the AC power supply. The microprocessor is operatively connected to the switch control component for providing control instructions to alter its switching state. The control signal comprises a preamble and a message portion. The wireless signal receiver is configured to alternate between at least two current consumption modes and to remain in a higher current consumption mode upon detection of the preamble.

Abstract: The present invention provides a patch antenna comprising a patch spaced from a ground plane and two L-shaped feed probes. Each feed probe is connected to a respective input port and has a portion extending parallel to the patch. The antenna further includes at least two walls extending from the ground plane towards the patch. The walls are positioned between the L-shaped feed probes so as to permit direct propagation between the input ports and also to create indirect diffraction paths between the input ports that serve to cancel at least a part of said direct propagation.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a universal transmitter. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting activation of at least one button of the universal transmitter, by a controller, for a predetermined time, outputting at least one set of signals to a first set of terminals of a switch of the universal transmitter, detecting output on a second set of terminals of the switch and determining position of a switch, by the controller, based, at least in part, on the output detected on the second set of terminals, wherein position of the switch relates to a transmission type. The method can further include detecting activation of a first button to be programmed and programming the first button based on the transmission type.

Abstract: A receiver is adapted to receive one or more wireless signals, while also being able to provide a barrier actuation signal to a barrier operator over a signaling line. The barrier operator may then be adapted to actuate a barrier in response to receiving the barrier actuation signal. The signaling line is further used to provide power from the barrier operator to the receiver. In one embodiment, the barrier operator is a garage door opener and the signaling line is coupled to the receiver and a garage door wall button. Alternatively, the receiver may replace the garage door wall button of the barrier operator.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for triggering an operating device. In one embodiment, a triggering device includes a receiving unit configured to receive one or more wireless control signals. The receiving unit may include a switch and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to control the switch for activation of an operating device coupled to a signaling line based, at least in part, on the one or more wireless control signals. According to another embodiment, the triggering device may include a connector configured to electrically couple the receiving unit to the signaling line, the connector having one or more contacts and a housing configured to clasp the signaling line and couple the one or more contacts to the signaling line. Additionally, the signaling line may relate to existing wiring of the operating device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a control switch. In one embodiment, the control switch includes an input terminal coupled to an alternating current (AC) power supply, a load terminal coupled to a load, a triac circuit coupled to the input terminal and the load terminal, a microcontroller and a power supply. The triac circuit may be configured to receive a triggering voltage and provide an activation pulse to the load based on one or more triggering voltage signals supplied by the microcontroller. In another embodiment, the power supply may be configured to step down AC power received from the input terminal and supply line voltage to the microcontroller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a wall switch module using leakage current. In one embodiment, the wall switch module may be operable using leakage current. The wall switch control module may be provided to include a microcontroller, wireless receiver and triac. The wall switch control module may be configured to control power applied to a load. In another embodiment, one or more signals received by the wireless receiver may be useable to control power applied to a load coupled to the wall switch control module. According to another embodiment, the wall switch control module may be useable for home automated systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a patch antenna comprising a patch spaced from a ground plane and two L-shaped feed probes. Each feed probe is connected to a respective input port and has a portion extending parallel to the patch. The antenna further includes at least two walls extending from the ground plane towards the patch. The walls are positioned between the L-shaped feed probes so as to permit direct propagation between the input ports and also to create indirect diffraction paths between the input ports that serve to cancel at least a part of said direct propagation.

Abstract: A communication protocol is employed between a movable barrier operator and an associated wall button using the traditional signaling wires connecting them. Implementing the communication protocol using the existing signaling wires also allows backward compatibility with the traditional push wall buttons that have a physical contact switch. In one embodiment, the communication protocol allows bi-directional communication between the moveable barrier operator and the wall button. The bi-directional embodiment of the protocol allows further communications, such as handshaking, signal confirmation and more advanced control between the wall unit and the barrier operator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encoding data for wireless transmission are disclosed in which a data message may be encoded into a transmission code as a first coding format and a second coding format. The first coding format characterized by a first bit representation and the second coding format characterized by a second bit representation different from the first bit representation. The transmission code may be transmitted having the first and second coding formats.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a wall switch module using leakage current. In one embodiment, the wall switch module may be operable using leakage current. The wall switch control module may be provided to include a microcontroller, wireless receiver and triac. The wall switch control module may be configured to control power applied to a load. In another embodiment, one or more signals received by the wireless receiver may be useable to control power applied to a load coupled to the wall switch control module. According to another embodiment, the wall switch control module may be useable for home automated systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making articles, and systems for providing wool article have self-cleaning properties. The self-cleaning properties are brought about coating the wool articles with a photocatalyst formulation. The formulation contains titanium compounds, stabilizers, catalysts, and water.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a processing core for operating on a set of instructions to carry out predefined processes. A plurality of comparators perform compare operations within the integrated circuit package. At least one control register is associated with each of the plurality of comparators. The plurality of comparators are programmable to operate in a plurality of operating modes responsive to control bits established in the at least one control register by the processing core.

Abstract: A reconfigurable processor includes a processor core for operating on a set of instructions to carry out predefined processes and includes a plurality of input/output pins in addition to a plurality of functional input/output blocks. These functional blocks allow the processing core to interface with the plurality of input/output pins, each of the functional input/output blocks having an associated and predetermined functionality. This functionality comprises the output as a function of the input, the function defined by the functionality. Each of the functional input/output blocks has a requirement for a defined number of the plurality of input/output pins wherein the total of the defined number for all of the plurality of functional input/output blocks exceeds the number of the plurality of input/output pins and wherein the processor core is interfaced with one of the input or output of each of the functional blocks.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a processing core for operating on a set of instructions to carry out predefined processes. A flash memory stores instructions within the integrated circuit package. A plurality of registers stores data and the program instructions during execution of the program instructions. A JTAG interface provides an interface with the integrated circuit package and enables interactions with the processing core and the plurality of registers. Emulation logic enables manipulating and monitoring program flow through the JTAG interface during execution of the program instructions.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a technique for dynamically pipelined data migration. According to one aspect, it is determined that a source schema-conformant source data set is to be converted to a target schema-conformant target data set. A plurality of conversion mechanisms, which can be invoked in succession to convert the source data set into the target data set, is automatically determined. The plurality of conversion mechanisms comprises (a) an initial set of one or more conversion mechanisms that can be invoked in succession to convert the source data set to a final intermediate data set, and (b) a final conversion mechanism that converts the final intermediate data set to the target data set. Each conversion mechanism in the plurality of conversion mechanisms is successively invoked, in order, to convert the set of source data set to the target data set.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a technique for migrating data using a self-describing format. According to an embodiment of the technique, a first source data set, which is in a source-specific format and which conforms to a source schema, is read from a source database. Based on the structure of the first source data set, a second source data set, which conforms to the source schema but which is in a self-describing format, is generated. The second source data set is automatically converted to a first target data set, which is in the self-describing format but which conforms to a target schema. Based on the structure of the first target data set, a second target data set, which conforms to the target schema but which is in a target-specific format, is generated. The second target data set is written to a target database.

Abstract: A communication protocol is employed between a movable barrier operator and an associated wall button using the traditional signaling wires connecting them. Implementing the communication protocol using the existing signaling wires also allows backward compatibility with the traditional push wall buttons that have a physical contact switch. In one embodiment, the communication protocol allows bi-directional communication between the moveable barrier operator and the wall button. The bi-directional embodiment of the protocol allows further communications, such as handshaking, signal confirmation and more advanced control between the wall unit and the barrier operator.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a processing core and an internal oscillator. The processing core operates on a set of instructions to carry out predefined processes. The internal oscillator provides a system clock for the integrated circuit package. The internal oscillator has associated therewith an internal control register for controlling the operation of the internal oscillator responsive to control bits of the internal oscillator controlled by the processing core.