Abstract: A global positioning satellite receiver (14) is disposed on a lawnmower (10) for determining the geographical location of the lawn (12) by communicating with one or more satellites (16). A programmer (18) stores an account code and address for the lawn (12) location. A location transmitter (20) is disposed on the lawnmower (10) for transmitting the location from the lawnmower (10) to the programmer (18). The combination is characterized by including a statement generator (22) driven by the programmer (18) for generating a billing statement in response to a predetermined number of cuttings of the lawn (12). The billing statement is sent via mail, regular or email.

Abstract: The guidance assembly includes a diode device (30, 130, 230) for emitting a vertical line of laser light (32). The assembly is characterized by an alignment mechanism for maintaining the vertical line of laser light (32) in parallel alignment with gravity to compensate for misalignment of the upright axis of the carriage (12) from vertical to maintain the vertical line of laser light (32) aligned with gravity as the carriage (12) moves over an uneven plot. In the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 2 through 5, the alignment mechanism includes a rotary motor (38 and 138), for rotating the diode device (30, 130) for rotating the vertical line (32) relative to the upright axis of the carriage (12). The third embodiment of FIGS.

Abstract: The laser guidance assembly (20) includes a platform (26) supported on a vehicle. A mirror support (24) is rotatably supported by the platform (26) for rotation about a vertical axis. A first mirror (22) is supported by the mirror support (24) for rotation about the vertical axis. The assembly (20) further includes a diode (30) attached to the platform (26) for emitting a laser beam (32) in a laser path (34). The assembly (20) is characterized by having a pivotal connection (36) between the first mirror (22) and the mirror support (24) for allowing oscillation of the first mirror (22) about a horizontal axis (48) relative to the platform (26) and the mirror support (24). The assembly (20) has a second mirror (38) supported by the platform (26) and fixed relative to the platform (26) for reflecting a reflected laser beam (40) from the first mirror (22).

Abstract: The guidance assembly includes a diode device (30, 130, 230) for emitting a vertical line of laser light (32). The assembly is characterized by an alignment mechanism for maintaining the vertical line of laser light (32) in parallel alignment with gravity to compensate for misalignment of the upright axis of the carriage (12) from vertical to maintain the vertical line of laser light (32) aligned with gravity as the carriage (12) moves over an uneven plot. In the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 2 through 5, the alignment mechanism includes a rotary motor (38 and 138), for rotating the diode device (30, 130) for rotating the vertical line (32) relative to the upright axis of the carriage (12). The third embodiment of FIGS.

Abstract: An apparatus for activating a doorbell chime and for remotely controlling an auxiliary doorbell chime includes a push button unit responsive to manual actuation for activating the doorbell chime and generating a radio frequency wave and a remote unit responsive to the radio frequency wave for generating an auxiliary acoustic frequency wave. The push button unit has a manually actuated switch assembly with a first pair of normally open switch contacts adapted to be connected in series with the doorbell chime and a source of electrical power and a second pair of normally open switch contacts, a radio frequency transmitter connected in series with the second pair of switch contacts for generating a radio frequency output signal and a first antenna connected to the transmitter and responsive to the radio frequency output signal for generating the radio frequency wave.

Abstract: A cover 20 is hermetically sealed to the lip 18 of a container 12. A stirring shaft 26 extends between a bottom end 28 disposed in the container 12 and a top end 30 disposed outside of and above the cover 20. The container 12 includes a shaft support 32 for supporting and radially centering the bottom end 28 of the stirring shaft 26. A sanitary seal 34 hermetically seals the cover 20 about the stirring shaft 26. A plurality of mixing blades 38 extending radially from the shaft 26 in the container 12. The top end 30 of the shaft 26 includes a driving connection or coupling for receiving a rotating device for rotating the stirring shaft 26 and the mixing blades 38 for mixing the contents of the container 12. The bottom 14 of the container 12 includes an annular leg 40 for supporting the bottom 14 above the central portion 24 of a cover 20 and over the top end 30 of a stirring shaft 26 of a like container 12 assembly.

Abstract: An illumination level control assembly (10) includes a plurality of light bulbs (20), and a main power switch (30) for supplying electrical power to the bulbs (20). The assembly (10) includes a remote control (32) with a single button for producing a single signal, and a controller (50) responsive to the remote control (32) for sequentially and in numeric order changing the supply of electrical power to the bulbs (20), whereby successive actuations of the single button changes by one the number of bulbs (20) illuminated. The remote control (32) produces a radio frequency signal, and the controller (50) includes a radio frequency receiver (52) to receive signals from the remote control (32). The controller (50) includes a sequencer (54) for sequentially terminating electrical power to the bulbs (20) to successively terminate electric power to the bulbs (20) one at a time.

Abstract: A cover 20 is hermetically sealed to the lip 18 of a container 12. A stirring shaft 26 extends between a bottom end 28 disposed in the container 12 and a top end 30 disposed outside of and above the cover 20. The container 12 includes a shaft support 32 for supporting and radially centering the bottom end 28 of the stirring shaft 26. A sanitary seal 34 hermetically seals the cover 20 about the stirring shaft 26. A plurality of mixing blades 38 extending radially from the shaft 26 in the container 12. The top end 30 of the shaft 26 includes a driving connection or coupling for receiving a rotating device for rotating the stirring shaft 26 and the mixing blades 38 for mixing the contents of the container 12. The bottom 14 of the container 12 includes an annular leg 40 for supporting the bottom 14 above the central portion 24 of a cover 20 and over the top end 30 of a stirring shaft 26 of a like container 12 assembly.

Abstract: A programmable lawn mower assembly (10) including a carriage (12) supporting a mower central processing unit (CPU) (24) for controlling the drive motors (18) to control the direction of movement of the carriage (12). The assembly (10) includes first and second locating transmitters to be disposed on posts in spaced positions about the lawn with each locating transmitter simultaneously transmitting a radio frequency signal which travels at a first velocity and an audio signal which travels at a second velocity slower than said first velocity. A carriage receiver (50, 52) is disposed on the carriage (12) for receiving the radio and audio signals from the locating transmitters and for providing signals to the CPU (24) for determining the position of the carriage (12) relative to the locating transmitters by measuring the time between said radio and audio signals from each locating transmitter.

Abstract: A vehicle central processing unit (CPU) (50) controls the power unit (16 or 18) to control the direction of movement of the carriage (12) of a lawn mower for determining the position of the lawn mower relative to locating stations (36, 38 and 40) in response to the time of movement from the counter (54) of the distance determining transmissions between the transceivers (42) at the locating stations (36, 38 and 40) and the lawn mower.

Abstract: The musical wireless alerting system includes several detectors (12) which transmit rf signals to a common receiver (14). The detectors (12) include manual switches thereon to allow manual selection of a song or melody. The selection is coded in the form of an audio code which is transmitted to the receiver (14). The receiver (14) detects any rf transmissions and verifies that the received transmissions are identifiable with the receiver (14). Upon verification, the receiver reads the audio code and compares same to a plurality of stored songs or tones within memory for transmission to a speaker which plays the tone or song. Each of the detectors (14) may sense different predefined conditions and indicate different audible indications to be played. The detectors may sense conditions such as opening of the door or depression of a door bell.

Abstract: An illumination level control device (10) is disclosed which sequentially reduces the illumination level of a multi-bulb lamp (12). The illumination level control device (10) incorporates two D flip-flops (38,40) configured in a master-slave relationship wherein the two D flip-flops (38,40) change their respective states when the clock (60) sends a positive-edge of the clock signal thereto. A portion (58) of the device (10) sets the two D flip-flops (38,40) when the wall switch (22) is off for more than a predetermined time. In the case of a three bulb (14,16,18) lamp (12), a zero state preventor (56) prevents all of the bulbs (14,16,18) from being turned off when the wall switch (22) is in the ON position. The zero state preventor (56) effectively eliminates the state wherein the outputs of both of the two D flip-flops (38,40) are low.

Abstract: The circuit includes a super regenerative detector (12) for receiving a modulated radio frequency signal from a transmitter. The output of the super regenerative detector is amplified and sent into a high frequency interpreter circuit (16, 18, 20) which de-modulates the signal creating an output of low frequency equal to the consecutive pulses frequency. The low frequency signal is received by a low frequency interpreter circuit (22, 24, 26) which outputs a digital signal of a single duration which is received by a counter circuit (30). The counter circuit (30) controls the firing of a triac (T1) to create lighting conditions of on, off and dimming.

Abstract: A remotely controlled electrical power circuit (10) for supplying power to an electrical load (13) requiring electrical power from an electrical outlet comprising a receiver (14) for receiving a predetermined radio signal from a transmitter (12). The receiver (14) includes a super-generative detector (16) for receiving the predetermined radio signal. An amplifier filter (20) amplifies and filters the signal from the detector (16). A Schmitt trigger (34) detects the signal from the amplifier filter (20) and produces positive feedback to operate a latch (36), causing a detector (38) to produce a control signal in response to a first duration of the predetermined radio signal to operate relay (RY1) for closing contacts (24) and to produce a control signal in response to a second duration of the predetermined radio signal for opening the contacts (24).

Abstract: A remotely controlled electrical dimmer circuit (10) for supplying power to an electrical load (18) required power from a constant source comprises a radio signal receiver (14) for receiving a predetermined radio signal from a transmitter (12). The receiver (14) includes a super-generative detector (16) for receiving the predetermined radio signal. An amplifier filter (20) amplifies and filters the signal from the detector (16). A counter (50) triggers a triac (T1) to open and close the circuit (10) in response to a first duration of the predetermined radio signal. The counter (50) also decreases and increases the power supply to the electrical load (18) in a series of stepped levels in response to a second duration of the predetermined radio signal.

Abstract: A remotely controlled assembly (10) for controlling the electrical power to an electrical load having an electrical circuit (14) for controlling the electrical power supply to the electrical load in response to a predetermined female threadable radio signal which is supported by a housing (16) which has a receptacle contact (38) for receiving the electrical load and a male threadable contact (42) for securing the housing (16) in an electrical receptacle for receiving power.

Abstract: A ceiling mounted fan and light assembly remotely controlled by radio signals propagated by a remote transmitter with the transmitter having independent controls for the fan and light respectively. The receiver has two channels and is responsive to the signals for setting the power supplied to the fan drive motor and light respectively at different levels so that the rotational speed of the fan may be set at various different levels and the illumination of the light may be set at various different levels.

Abstract: A control box (10) for a ceiling fan including a housing (12) having front and rear faces (14,16) and a chamber (18) within the housing (12) for containing a remote control circuit (20) and an antenna (22). A slot (24) extends into and through the housing (12) for disposing the housing (12) around a support post (26) of the ceiling fan. Fasteners (46,62) mount the housing (12) on the ceiling fan support structure (34). A variety of O-rings (52,58,60) can be used to adapt the housing (12) to other ceiling fan support structures.

Abstract: A ceiling mounted fan and light assembly remotely controlled by radio signals propagated by a remote transmitter with the transmitter having independent controls for the fan and light respectively. The receiver has two channels and is responsive to the signals for setting the power supplied to the fan drive motor and light respectively at different levels so that the rotational speed of the fan may be set at various different levels and the illumination of the light may be set at various different levels.

Abstract: An add-on device for automatically adjusting the setting of a control mechanism, such as, a thermostat, which includes a separate, independent timer which is mounted adjacent the existing control mechanism and controls the same by means of a mechanically driven member which engages the manual adjuster of the control mechanism; the device further including a suitable coupler for coupling the driven member to the timer for moving the driven member at selected times to change the position of the adjuster.