Abstract: A container fill station includes a seal bar configured to temporarily contact an open end of a container, to temporarily seal an interior of the container from a surrounding atmosphere, a fill head configured to be moved by a fill head actuator through a sealed opening in the seal bar, a fill head valve located in a fluid pathway between a liquid source and the fill head outlet, and an outflowing gas valve in fluid communication with the interior of the container. Therein, control of a liquid fill rate is provided by opening the outflowing gas valve a select amount while simultaneously opening the fill head valve. During a filling operation method, the interior of the container may be temporarily sealed and pressurized, or filling may be done at ambient/atmospheric pressure, preferably with the fill head outlet being disposed below the liquid's surface during filling.

Abstract: A mat apparatus, configured to be placed on the ground at the perimeter of a tire's footprint to protect the driveway or similar surface from chemical overspray, preventing the formation of product rings and blown debris on the surface. The apparatus blocks the overspray from tire detail spray, cleaner, and similar chemical compounds, and provides protection against gravel and dirt blowout/up from pressurized water flow, as well as prevents sponges, rags and scrub brushes from picking up particles on the ground that could scratch finished surfaces when washing tires and rims on vehicles. The mats are preferably equipped with an oleophobic coating to enable easy cleaning of the mats for reuse. The material with which the mats are manufactured is preferably flexible to enable one to roll them up for storage when not in use.

Abstract: A container fill station includes a seal bar configured to temporarily contact an open end of a container, to temporarily seal an interior of the container from a surrounding atmosphere, a fill head configured to be moved by a fill head actuator through a sealed opening in the seal bar, a fill head valve located in a fluid pathway between a liquid source and the fill head outlet, and an outflowing gas valve in fluid communication with the interior of the container. Therein, control of a liquid fill rate is provided by opening the outflowing gas valve a select amount while simultaneously opening the fill head valve. During a filling operation method, the interior of the container may be temporarily sealed and pressurized, or filling may be done at ambient/atmospheric pressure, preferably with the fill head outlet being disposed below the liquid's surface during filling.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment. In one aspect, the invention can be a system comprising: a monitoring device configured for attachment to the article, the monitoring device including a display configured to display a price of the article; a server; and a router configured to maintain a wireless communications connection between the monitoring device and the server; wherein the monitoring device is configured to: receive a communication including a price change message; and modify a stored price in response to receiving the price change message.

Abstract: A method of point source target detection for multispectral imaging is disclosed. In one embodiment, a background source spectral ratio is determined using at least one radiant source, such as baseline intensities, camera optics sensitivity properties and atmospheric transmission properties. Further, a spectral difference is computed for each pixel in an incoming frame by applying the background source spectral ratio to a spectral band-specific radiant intensity value of each pixel. Furthermore, offset biasing in the incoming frame is removed by applying spatial median filtering to each computed spectral difference in the incoming frame.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment. In one aspect, the invention can be a system comprising: a monitoring device configured for attachment to the article, the monitoring device including a display configured to display a price of the article; a server; and a router configured to maintain a wireless communications connection between the monitoring device and the server; wherein the monitoring device is configured to: receive a communication including a price change message; and modify a stored price in response to receiving the price change message.

Abstract: A method of spectral-spatial-temporal image detection is disclosed. In one embodiment, a spectrally differenced image is obtained by computing a difference of at least two intensity values in at least two spectral bands of an image. Further, a spatially filtered spectral image is obtained by applying a spatial median filter to the obtained spectrally differenced image. Furthermore, a temporal image is obtained by determining a temporal pixel value difference using a computed predictive frame difference. In addition, a spectral-spatial-temporal filtered image for detection is obtained by using the obtained spatially filtered spectral image and the temporal image.

Abstract: A method of point source target detection for multispectral imaging is disclosed. In one embodiment, a background source spectral ratio is determined using at least one radiant source, such as baseline intensities, camera optics sensitivity properties and atmospheric transmission properties. Further, a spectral difference is computed for each pixel in an incoming frame by applying the background source spectral ratio to a spectral band-specific radiant intensity value of each pixel. Furthermore, offset biasing in the incoming frame is removed by applying spatial median filtering to each computed spectral difference in the incoming frame.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment.

Abstract: Exemplary systems, methods and other means for providing a key device that may be used with a monitoring system are discussed herein. The key device may be configured to communicate with one or more other devices, silence an alarm, commission a tag, decommission a tag, unlock a tag from an item, among other things. The key device may include rules that permit particular functionality based on, for example, time and/or location.

Abstract: A method of spectral-spatial-temporal image detection is disclosed. In one embodiment, a spectrally differenced image is obtained by computing a difference of at least two intensity values in at least two spectral bands of an image. Further, a spatially filtered spectral image is obtained by applying a spatial median filter to the obtained spectrally differenced image. Furthermore, a temporal image is obtained by determining a temporal pixel value difference using a computed predictive frame difference. In addition, a spectral-spatial-temporal filtered image for detection is obtained by using the obtained spatially filtered spectral image and the temporal image.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for triggering an alarm. In this regard, one example apparatus includes means for receiving an instruction to alarm a security gate device, and means for tuning a security resonator at a location such that a field generated by the security gate device interacts with the security resonator to cause the security gate device to trigger an alarm in response to at least receiving the instruction to alarm the security gate device.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for triggering an alarm. In this regard, one example apparatus includes means for receiving an instruction to alarm a security gate device, and means for tuning a security resonator at a location such that a field generated by the security gate device interacts with the security resonator to cause the security gate device to trigger an alarm in response to at least receiving the instruction to alarm the security gate device.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for triggering an alarm. In this regard, one example apparatus includes means for receiving an instruction to alarm a security gate device, and means for tuning a security resonator at a location such that a field generated by the security gate device interacts with the security resonator to cause the security gate device to trigger an alarm in response to at least receiving the instruction to alarm the security gate device.

Abstract: Exemplary systems, methods and other means for providing a key device that may be used with a monitoring system are discussed herein. The key device may be configured to communicate with one or more other devices, silence an alarm, commission a tag, decommission a tag, unlock a tag from an item, among other things. The key device may include rules that permit particular functionality based on, for example, time and/or location.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for triggering an alarm. In this regard, one example apparatus includes means for receiving an instruction to alarm a security gate device, and means for tuning a security resonator at a location such that a field generated by the security gate device interacts with the security resonator to cause the security gate device to trigger an alarm in response to at least receiving the instruction to alarm the security gate device.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of configurable monitoring devices, methods, systems, computer readable storage media and other means for locating devices. In some examples, the devices are attached to a retail or other type of article. The devices can be dynamically configurable and communicate wirelessly with other network entities.

Abstract: According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment.

Abstract: What is provided is the use of an array of E-field sensors to detect the closest approach of incoming projectiles and to determine through time difference of arrival the bearing of the incoming projectile, thus to identify the bearing of the source of the projectile. dE/dT processing of the individual outputs of the E-field sensors indicates by the zero crossing the peak of the E-field disturbance and thus the instance of time of the closest approach of the projectiles to a sensor.