Abstract: A water heater system includes an intermediate water heater having a storage tank in which water is initially received at an initial temperature. The intermediate water heater is controllable to heat the water to an intermediate temperature that is higher than the initial temperature. The water heater system also includes at least one point-of-use water heater coupled to the intermediate water heater for receiving the water from the intermediate water heater after the water has been heated to the intermediate temperature. The point-of-use heater is controllable to heat the received water to a point-of-use temperature, the point-of-use temperature being higher than the intermediate temperature.

Abstract: An advertising beacon configured to inductively couple to a power and control system which may include various retail electronic devices such as electronic shelf labels, video monitor displays, out of stock or inventory control sensors, promotional glass displays, and the like. The advertising beacon wirelessly broadcasts content, such as a web address or a programmed computer code associated with a web address, to smart devices which are able to retrieve coupons, advertisements, product information and the like from the web address. The advertising beacon operates in conjunction with other electrical devices of the power and control system to aid a customer's product selection and to aid store personnel's inventory and information management.

Abstract: Wireless camera tags, inventory management systems with wireless camera tags, and methods for making and methods for using wireless camera tags are disclosed. A wireless camera tag is disclosed for a camera system with a mounting rail having one or more electrical conductors connected to a power source. The camera tag includes an outer housing for mounting to the mounting rail proximate the electrical conductors. A digital camera for generating image data signals is attached to the outer housing. An inductor coil is attached to the outer housing and electrically connected to the digital camera. The inductor coil inductively couples power from the electrical conductors of the mounting rail and transmits the power to the digital camera. The inductor coil may comprise an air core coil. The camera tag may further include a rectifier circuit, and a capacitor connected in parallel to the inductor coil to form a resonant circuit.

Abstract: A power converter for use with an area controller system to provide electrical power to electrical devices at the shelves of retail stores. The power converter converts power from the voltage, frequency, and amperage of the area controller system to the voltage, frequency, and amperage of various electrical devices.

Abstract: An electrical control system for controlling the electrical voltage applied to each of multiple pixel electrodes on one side of an electrophoretic display comprises (1) a substrate having a plurality of spaced parallel aluminum conductors on one side of the substrate; (2) a thin oxide layer on spaced pixel regions of each of the aluminum conductors to form a gate insulator over each of the spaced pixel regions; (3) a field-effect transistor (FET) formed on the thin oxide layer in each of the spaced pixel regions, the FET having a source terminal, a drain terminal, and a gate connected to the aluminum conductor on which the FET is formed; and (4) a CMOS controller connected directly to each of the aluminum conductors and adapted to supply gate control signals for the FETs. The controller supplies a separate gate control signal for each of the aluminum conductors.

Abstract: A water heater system includes an intermediate water heater having a storage tank in which water is initially received at an initial temperature. The intermediate water heater is controllable to heat the water to an intermediate temperature that is higher than the initial temperature. The water heater system also includes at least one point-of-use water heater coupled to the intermediate water heater for receiving the water from the intermediate water heater after the water has been heated to the intermediate temperature. The point-of-use heater is controllable to heat the received water to a point-of-use temperature, the point-of-use temperature being higher than the intermediate temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing bird collisions with a window including a UV light source, a mask, and a first lens configured to direct UV light from the UV light source through the mask. The mask is at least partially transparent to UV light and includes a pattern that is at least partially opaque to UV light. The UV light passing through the mask contains the pattern. The pattern-containing UV light is projected onto a pane of glass to form a UV image visible to birds corresponding to the pattern on the pane. The image is configured to deter birds from flying into the pane of glass.

Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator system includes a belt partially located in each of a first chamber and a second chamber. First and second desiccant units are positioned on the belt. At least some of the first desiccant units are in the first chamber at a first relative humidity, causing air received in the first chamber to achieve a first air humidity. At least some of the second desiccant units are in the second chamber at a second relative humidity, the second relative humidity being caused by the air received in the first chamber. The second relative humidity is modified to the first relative humidity by air passing through the second chamber, the air achieving a second air humidity. A controller causes the belt to move second desiccant units from the second chamber to the first chamber when the first air humidity fails to comply with a specific air humidity.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a truck bed is provided with an inner panel and an outer panel. A plurality of five pointed star shaped indentations are formed on the inner panel. Each indentation includes ten angularly oriented sidewalls that extend from the inner panel and converge towards an upper land. Each upper land is attached to the outer panel at spaced apart intervals and provides reinforcement in ten different directional planes along the ten sidewalls.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing bird collisions with a window including a UV light source, a mask, and a first lens configured to direct UV light from the UV light source through the mask. The mask is at least partially transparent to UV light and includes a pattern that is at least partially opaque to UV light. The UV light passing through the mask contains the pattern. The pattern-containing UV light is projected onto a pane of glass to form a UV image visible to birds corresponding to the pattern on the pane. The image is configured to deter birds from flying into the pane of glass.

Abstract: A water heater system includes an intermediate water heater having a storage tank in which water is initially received at an initial temperature. The intermediate water heater is controllable to heat the water to an intermediate temperature that is higher than the initial temperature. The water heater system also includes at least one point-of-use water heater coupled to the intermediate water heater for receiving the water from the intermediate water heater after the water has been heated to the intermediate temperature. The point-of-use heater is controllable to heat the received water to a point-of-use temperature, the point-of-use temperature being higher than the intermediate temperature.

Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator system includes a belt partially located in each of a first chamber and a second chamber. First and second desiccant units are positioned on the belt. At least some of the first desiccant units are in the first chamber at a first relative humidity, causing air received in the first chamber to achieve a first air humidity. At least some of the second desiccant units are in the second chamber at a second relative humidity, the second relative humidity being caused by the air received in the first chamber. The second relative humidity is modified to the first relative humidity by air passing through the second chamber, the air achieving a second air humidity. A controller causes the belt to move second desiccant units from the second chamber to the first chamber when the first air humidity fails to comply with a specific air humidity.

Abstract: Linking the consumer to retailer pricing and database information creates a full-feature shopping tool. The Internet is used as a vehicle to enable customer access to portions of this information from any remotely located computer. Using software resident on the remote computer, the consumer may interact with the database through a Web service to check on product availability, identify item discounts, view promotional specials, access product information, price comparison shop, and plan their shopping visit to the store. The patented Display Edge Technology, Ltd. (DET) Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) System facilitates the Web service with access to the store database. In addition, the ESL system allows for the highlighting of special pricing or tier pricing utilizing display screen annunciators or light emitting devices.

Abstract: Linking the consumer to retailer pricing and database information creates a full-feature shopping tool. The Internet is used as a vehicle to enable customer access to portions of this information from any remotely located computer. Using software resident on the remote computer, the consumer may interact with the database through a Web service to check on product availability, identify item discounts, view promotional specials, access product information, price comparison shop, and plan their shopping visit to the store. The patented Display Edge Technology, Ltd. (DET) Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) System facilitates the Web service with access to the store database. In addition, the ESL system allows for the highlighting of special pricing or tier pricing utilizing display screen annunciators or light emitting devices.

Abstract: A power supply system includes an a-c. power source and an off-line power supply for storing energy from the a-c. power source during first selected time intervals and converting at least a portion of the stored energy to a d-c. output during second selected time intervals. A diode or other switch disconnects the off-line power supply from the a-c. power source during the second selected time intervals to reduce conducted EMI. The first and second selected time intervals are preferably synchronized to the frequency of the a-c. power source.

Abstract: A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor.

Abstract: A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor.

Abstract: A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor.

Abstract: A power and communication system is provided for a product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage areas. A plurality of electronic display tags are mounted adjacent the product display or storage areas. An electrical power system supplies a/c. power to the display tags. A main power distribution loop is connected to the power supply and is magnetically coupled to multiple branch power distribution loops which extend along selected groups of display tags for supplying power to those display tags.