Abstract: A dimmable mirror assembly operates responsive to changes in the thickness of a light absorbing fluid contained between a transparent glass plate and a high reflectance, first surface mirror. The thickness of the light absorbing fluid layer is pneumatically or hydraulically controlled. Variations in pressure are typically developed responsive to a compressible element which can be controlled manually, or responsive to an electrically operated solenoid or motor, to control pressures for creating desired actuation forces. The actuation forces produced by the resulting assembly can be controlled locally, or can be controlled remotely by the driver. The dimmable mirror assembly is suitable for locations within the interior of a vehicle and outside of the vehicle.

Abstract: An interceptor for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water may be queried remotely to check its status. An output signal indicative of the amount of grease is transmitted over a telephone line to a telephone or computer or other remote station, or wirelessly to a remote receiver. The status is preferably also indicated locally with visual and/or audible signals. The grease depth level sensor is preferably a capacitive level sensor operative to sense the amount of water in the body of effluent thereby to determine the amount of grease in the body of effluent. The interceptor may include electric circuitry for effecting manual or automatic calibration of the sensor. The sensor may be adapted to be retrofitted to an existing tank made from either metal or plastic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water. A separation tank defines a separation chamber. An effluent inlet connected with the separation tank permits flow of the effluent stream into the chamber to form a body of effluent in the separation chamber. A grease depth level sensor is used in determining the amount of grease in the body of effluent. The interceptor may be queried remotely to check its status. In one embodiment, an output signal indicative of the amount of grease is transmitted over a telephone line to a telephone or computer or other remote station. Alternatively, the output signal is transmitted wirelessly to a remote receiver. The status is preferably also indicated locally with visual and/or audible signals. The sensor is preferably a capacitive level sensor operative to sense the amount of water in the body of effluent thereby to determine the amount of grease in the body of effluent.

Abstract: An interceptor for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water may be queried remotely to check it status. An output signal indicative of the amount of grease is transmitted over a telephone line to a telephone or computer or other remote station, or wirelessly to a remote receiver. The status is preferably also indicated locally with visual and/or audible signals. The grease depth level sensor is preferably a capacitive level sensor operative to sense the amount of water in the body of effluent thereby to determine the amount of grease in the body of effluent. The interceptor may include electric circuitry for effecting manual or automatic calibration of the sensor. The sensor may be adapted to be retrofitted to an existing tank made from either metal or plastic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water. A separation tank defines a separation chamber. An effluent inlet connected with the separation tank permits flow of the effluent stream into the chamber to form a body of effluent in the separation chamber. A grease depth level sensor is used in determining the amount of grease in the body of effluent.

Abstract: An automatic draw-off grease interceptor 10 includes a separation tank 12 defining a chamber 40. An inlet 24 delivers an effluent stream of grease and water into the chamber which separates into a thicken layer of grease atop a water layer. A pump 70 is included for pumping grease from the chamber when the grease has reached a predetermined level 120. A conductive probe 90 extends vertically in the separation tank 12 from a location above the upper surface of the effluent to a location below the predetermined level 120. An R/C oscillator circuit 112 continuously measures the amount of water in the chamber by measuring the capacitance between the probe and a wall of the tank. A controller 116 actuates the pump in response to the R/C oscillator circuit measuring a capacitance corresponding to an amount of water in the tank when the grease layer reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: A dual state mirror assembly for use with motor vehicles includes a housing having an open front for receiving an outer substrate to form an enclosure. The outer substrate has a surface coated with a thin metal film to act as a beam splitter. An inner substrate having a reflective front surface is mounted within the enclosure so that in a first position, the inner substrate is in direct contact with the outer substrate, to produce a single bright reflected image, and so that in a second position, the inner substrate is placed at an angle with respect to the outer substrate, to provide a dimmed image and to minimize glare.

Abstract: An electronic directory and entry control system includes, in different embodiments, a scheme for cooling a liquid crystal display ("ILCD") and an interface for a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf ("TDD"). Because entry control systems are commonly installed outdoors under uncontrollable temperature conditions, and because LCDs are typically inoperable in high temperatures, a first embodiment of the present system utilizes a solid-state thermoelectric cooling device to maintain the LCD within a preferred temperature range. Further, because entry control systems typically rely on verbal communications between a visitor and a tenant in determining whether the visitor should be admitted, such systems are often of no use when hearing-impaired individuals visit. Accordingly, a second embodiment of the present system allows for TDD use in communication between hearing-impaired visitors and tenants.

Abstract: A tiled flat-panel modular display system includes an array of display modules which contain thin seal liquid crystal displays. Each one of a plurality of module alignment devices attach a respective display module to a large base plate. A frame is connected to the base plate and surrounds the base plate and display modules. A global cover glass assembly disposed above the display modules encloses and protects the display modules. Included in each of the display modules is a light source configuration of a light box and a light box cover which utilizes global light sources that provide efficient uniform backlighting of the corresponding display. The alignment devices permit alignment of the display modules with respect to each other and to a global black mask disposed in the global cover glass assembly to achieve a display system that is seamless in appearance.

Abstract: A dual state mirror assembly for use with motor vehicles includes a housing having an open front for receiving an outer substrate to form an enclosure. The outer substrate has a surface coated with a thin metal film to act as a beam splitter. An inner substrate having a reflective front surface is mounted within the enclosure so that in a first position, the inner substrate is in direct contact with the outer substrate, to produce a single bright reflected image, and so that in a second position, the inner substrate is placed at an angle with respect to the outer substrate, to provide a dimmed image and to minimize glare.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dimmable safety mirror which is adaptable for mounting over a conventional motor vehicle mirror. The safety mirror comprises a dimmable mirror subassembly having a surface selectively switchable between at least a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state and a mounting mechanism for attaching the dimmable mirror to the conventional mirror in a manner to make the dimmable surface a viewing surface of the safety mirror. In the case of a power loss, the dimmable mirror subassembly can be quickly and easily removed to make the conventional mirror the viewing surface.

Abstract: A thin seal liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal material sandwiched by first and second metalized substrates and contained by a thin seal. The thin seal is formed by applying a bead of epoxy with minimal edge variation on a metalized substrate and by precisely sawing the metalized substrates and seal of the resulting assembled liquid crystal display to form the thin seal. Electrical edge contacts may be deposited on the display edges to electrically link electrical conductors connected to picture elements of the display and drive circuits located external to the display.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a mirror subassembly having a dimmable dichroic liquid crystal mirror on one side and a conventional mirror on the opposite side, and a mirror housing which permits mounting of the mirror to the housing in either a first or second positions. In normal operation, the mirror subassembly is mounted to the housing in the first position with the dimmable mirror as the viewing surface. The dimmable mirror can be caused to operate a high reflectance state or low reflectance state by electronic control. Upon power loss, which causes the dichroic liquid crystal mirror to revert to a low reflectance state, the mirror subassembly can be manually mechanically mounted to the housing in the second position with the conventional mirror surface of the mirror subassembly as the viewing surface.

Abstract: A liquid crystal lens assembly that can be used to replace existing color lenses in traffic signals without the need for any special modifications to the traffic signal. The lens assembly utilizes a dichroic liquid crystal mixture that absorbs light when no electric field is applied to the mixture. When an electric field is applied across the liquid crystal mixture by two electrodes, the molecules change their orientation within the mixture and absorb less light, and the signal appears "on". The illumination of the bulb behind the lens assembly is visible to the user. The electric field is energized at the same time that the bulb for the traffic signal is illuminated. A colored transflector positioned in the rearward portion of the lens assembly provides the color for the signal and also acts to reflect light from the front of the lens assembly. Wires for applying the electric field to the electrodes connect directly to the terminal block for the traffic signal.