Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: A method of cleaning power cells in an array of power cells, comprising coupling at least one first power cell to second power cells in an array of power cells and causing the second power cells to drive the at least one first power cell with a voltage to clean catalyst on the at least one first power cell.

Abstract: A control circuit controls power generation by a power cell in a presence of fuel and oxidant through electrical control. The control circuit may be extended to an array of power cells or array of banks of power cells to configure the cells or banks in series-row and column combinations to generate power in a selectable manner. The controller may include basic power maintenance and control of the array of power cells, and high level control modules may provide unique power generation control to cause the array to cold start, output time-varying waveforms, output multiple DC voltages from a single source of energy, regulate voltage or current, and so forth. Because the power cells may be configured in vast arrays, power cells may be connected to a group of other power cells in the array and driven with a time-varying voltage or pulse to self-clean catalyst of contaminants.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring stratified layers in grease interceptors with a sensing unit for being disposed in a grease interceptor, a wireless transmitter electrically coupled to the sensing unit for transmitting acquired data regarding the stratified layers in the grease interceptor wirelessly from the grease interceptor, and a central server for receiving acquired data transmitted by the wireless transmitter. Data regarding stratified layers can be transmitted wirelessly automatically after predetermined time periods for analysis and display, such as on an internet website. Electronic message notifications, such as emails and text messages, regarding acquired data can be sent automatically in response to a predetermined relationship between acquired data and predetermined target levels of stratified layers.

Abstract: A vehicle communication network provides information about traffic conditions in a local area on a near real time basis. An RF transceiver in a vehicle communicates with other transceivers in other vehicles to relay traffic condition related information. The traffic information can be provided to local vehicles equipped with transceivers, or roadside devices that participate in the communication network. The traffic information is derived from data that may include time, position, velocity, acceleration or other information related to traffic flow. The data can be derived from a GPS, accelerometer or other devices that are typically prevalent in automobiles, whether as standalone units or integrated into the automobile. The transceivers can implement an emergency messaging construct to permit rapid dissemination of traffic information that may be derived from collisions, slowdowns, congestion or other traffic conditions that may prompt drivers to slowdown or otherwise increase vehicle spacing.

Abstract: A wireless vehicular positioning and communications system that combines inter-vehicular ranging and a self-organizing TDMA MAC protocol to both achieve more accurate positioning than is possible with GPS positioning and provide a deterministic channel for inter-vehicle communication. The band used for the system is divided into time slots, with each vehicle being able to obtain a time slot autonomously. Within a time slot, there is a ranging signal which occupies the full bandwidth; following the ranging signal, the band is divided into sub-bands. Some of the sub-bands are used to send packets according to the TDMA MAC protocol, and thus provide the deterministic channel; others are used for a non-deterministic channel which may be used for packets following the Internet Protocols. The system also uses mesh networking to permit vehicles to obtain advance warning of abnormal conditions in other vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method of determining and reporting on the position of a wireless device relative to a group of other wireless devices dispersed within a specified geographic area. The system includes at least one Query Unit, three or more Responding Units disposed at determinable locations within the specified geographic area, and one or more Mobile Units, which may correspond to additional Responding Units or units that function only as receivers. The Query Unit sequentially queries the Responding Units, and, responsive to the respective query messages, the Responding Units transmit corresponding response messages. One or more of the Mobile Units receive the query and response messages, and generate, for each query-response message pair, a set of time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements, which are used by the Mobile Units to determine their positions relative to the Responding Units.

Abstract: An inventory control and communication system provides automated real-time control of stock levels and ordering in a timely manner so that optimal stock levels are maintained. An inventory sensor that includes a storage unit, or bin, for each stock item or inventory object. One or more transducers are associated with each storage unit to produce a mass/weight signal indicative of the weight of the stock items stored in or at the corresponding storage unit. The signals are transmitted to a computer associated with the inventory sensor, which determines the weight and the number of the inventory objects present in the bin and provides this data as part of the inventory data associated with the inventory object. The inventory data is provided to a host computer that maintains information about the inventory sensor location and the corresponding stock item, such as item weight and supplier information.

Abstract: A CANOpen network including a bus master and an I/O module is disclosed. Each is communicatively coupled to a common bus. The I/O module is subject to a state change. The bus master collects state information from the I/O module by determining if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus and sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the I/O module if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus. The I/O modules sends a state signal to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: A power transmission and data communications system for use in a gas or oil well borehole is disclosed. The borehole includes a casing and a piping structure therein and at least one downhole equipment module located therein. The system provides for a power signal to provide power transfer to downhole systems that require power and for data and control signals to be transmitted using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) to the downhole equipment located in the downhole equipment modules. In particular, the system provides for the data signal to be electrically coupled to the case and piping structure for transmission downhole to the downhole systems that are similarly coupled to the casing and piping structure. The downhole equipment includes a power supply that is operative to recover electrical power from the power signal and to provide output power to the other downhole equipment.

Abstract: A CANOpen network including a bus master and an I/O module are disclosed. Each are communicatively coupled to a common bus. The I/O module is subject to a state change. The bus master collects state information from the I/O module by sending a state signal from the I/O module to the bus master in response to a state change of the I/O module, sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the I/O module, and sending a state signal from the I/O module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: A reprogrammable data communications system for use in a gas or oil well borehole is disclosed. The borehole includes a casing and a piping structure therein and at least one downhole equipment module located therein. The system provides for data and control signals to be coupled to the casing and piping structure by a surface modem and transmitted to the downhole equipment located in the downhole equipment modules. The downhole equipment modules include a downhole modem that is coupled to the casing and piping structure and receives the transmitted data and command signals and recovers the transmitted data and commands therefrom. A downhole processor is coupled to the downhole modem and receives the data and commands from the downhole modem and stores the data and commands in retentive memory that is coupled to the downhole processor. In this way, the downhole processor can be reprogrammed with new algorithms and communications parameters.

Abstract: A power transmission and data communications system for use in a gas or oil well borehole is disclosed. The borehole includes a casing and a piping structure therein and at least one downhole equipment module located therein. The system provides for the power signal that is used to provide power transfer to be modulated with data and control signals that are to be transmitted to the downhole equipment located in the downhole equipment modules. In particular, the system provides for the power/data signal to be electrically coupled to the case and piping structure for transmission downhole. The downhole equipment includes a power supply that is operative to recover the power signal portion of the power/data signal and to provide power to the other downhole equipment. A downhole receiver is operative to recover the data portion of the power/data signal and to demodulate the data provided thereon.

Abstract: An inventory control and communication system provides automated real-time control of stock levels and ordering in a timely manner so that optimal stock levels are maintained. An inventory sensor that includes a storage unit, or bin, for each stock item or inventory object. One or more transducers are associated with each storage unit to produce a mass/weight signal indicative of the weight of the stock items stored in or at the corresponding storage unit. The signals are transmitted to a computer associated with the inventory sensor, which determines the weight and the number of the inventory objects present in the bin and provides this data as part of the inventory data associated with the inventory object. The inventory data is provided to a host computer that maintains information about the inventory sensor location and the corresponding stock item, such as item weight and supplier information.

Abstract: A CANOpen network including a bus master and an I/O module is disclosed. Each is communicatively coupled to a common bus. The I/O module is subject to a state change. The bus master collects state information from the I/O module by determining if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus and sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the I/O module if the bus master is prepared to receive further data from the bus. The I/O modules sends a state signal to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: A CANOpen network including a bus master and an I/O module are disclosed. Each are communicatively coupled to a common bus. The I/O module is subject to a state change. The bus master collects state information from the I/O module by sending a state signal from the I/O module to the bus master in response to a state change of the I/O module, sending a trigger signal from the bus master to the I/O module, and sending a state signal from the I/O module to the bus master in response to the trigger signal.