Abstract: A system for detecting a mass tamper event affecting a vehicle mass record for a vehicle being monitored includes a body bounce frequency estimator configured to estimate body bounce frequency for the vehicle and a mass estimator configured to estimate a vehicle mass, m, according to the equation (I), where k is a constant relating to a suspension system in the vehicle and ?b is the estimated body bounce frequency. A first comparator compares the estimated vehicle mass value with an alternative vehicle mass value and identifies a mass tamper event when the estimated vehicle mass value differs from the alternative vehicle mass value by more than a pre-determined amount. An interface communicates mass tamper event data to a remote device. A system and method for recording vehicle mass data are also provided.

Abstract: A system for detecting a mass tamper event affecting a vehicle mass record for a vehicle being monitored includes a body bounce frequency estimator configured to estimate body bounce frequency for the vehicle and a mass estimator configured to estimate a vehicle mass, m, according to the equation (I), where k is a constant relating to a suspension system in the vehicle and ?b is the estimated body bounce frequency. A first comparator compares the estimated vehicle mass value with an alternative vehicle mass value and identifies a mass tamper event when the estimated vehicle mass value differs from the alternative vehicle mass value by more than a pre-determined amount. An interface communicates mass tamper event data to a remote device. A system and method for recording vehicle mass data are also provided.

Abstract: A golf bag cover for use with a golf bag for preventing theft of golf clubs retained therein, and method for preventing the theft of the clubs, comprising a covering piece having an inner layer constructed of cables welded together to form a hood-like shape and an outer layer stitched over the inner layer to keep the clubs dry. A plurality of cables from the inner layer extend downward and terminate in a plurality of loops. A belt is inserted through the loops of the covering piece and placed tightly around the upper periphery of the golf bag to prevent removal of the covering piece therefrom. The covering piece is provided with a zipper which opens and closes to allow access to the clubs. To prevent unauthorized opening of the zipper, a first padlock is inserted through the belt buckle and the eye of the zipper. A cable strap and a second padlock are used to secure the golf bag to a fixed structure.

Abstract: The system of the subject invention includes an antenna system, a surface apparatus and a battery-powered remote apparatus useful for applications such as well bore telemetry. In well bore telemetry, the surface apparatus is located uphole on the earth's surface and the remote apparatus is positioned at a remote location downhole in a well bore. The remote apparatus includes a sensor/transmitter unit for sensing physical characteristics such as pressure and/or temperature. The remote apparatus conserves power stored in its battery by transmitting change-in-pressure and/or change-in-temperature data that requires less power for transmission than absolute pressure and/or temperature data. The remote apparatus also conserves power by transmitting absolute pressure data in a single data frame and transmitting absolute temperature data in portions in a series of data frames.

Abstract: The methods of this invention reduce the amount of power consumed by a remotely positioned (i.e. downhole) sensor/transmitter used in applications such as well bore telemetry. The method involves the sensing of physical characteristics such as pressure and/or temperature to generate a first absolute value than is transmitted to a surface receiver located at the earth's surface. At a later time (or period) the physical characteristic is again sensed to generate a second absolute value that is subtracted from the first absolute value to generate a difference. If the difference is significant (i.e., greater than a predetermined value), the difference will be transmitted to the surface receiver. Because the difference will generally have fewer bits of data than the absolute data, less data can be transmitted so that battery power is conserved in the remote sensor/transmitter. In the event that the difference is not significant, even fewer bits need to be transmitted by the remote sensor/transmitter.

Abstract: Forage crop plant materials are treated with a laser thereby puncturing the epicuticular wax layer of the plant leaves rendering the materials more accessible to microbes and/or enzymes. The products of this treatment are characterized by enhanced digestibility and therefore have utility as upgraded ruminant feed.