Abstract: An apparatus mountable on a wearer's wrist includes a housing having at front portion and an opposite a back portion. The back portion is wearably positionable in contact with the wearer's wrist. The apparatus includes a PPG circuit for generating a PPG signal. The PPG circuit includes a light source and a photosensor on the housing back portion. The PPG signal may be used to continuously determine the wearer's a pulse rate. The PPG signal may also be used in combination with an ECG signal to determine the wearer's instantaneous blood pressure. The ECG signal may also be used to determine the wear's heart rate. The ECG signal may be generated with an electrode mounted on the back of the housing and another electrode mounted on another portion of the housing, such as the back or one or more of the sides.

Abstract: An automatic appointment reminder system uses location and/or direction of travel of the reminder recipient relative to appointments to affect the time of sending of appointment reminders to the user, and thus enhances the user's ability to be on-time for appointments.

Abstract: An automatic appointment reminder system uses location and/or direction of travel of the reminder recipient relative to appointments to affect the time of sending of appointment reminders to the user, and thus enhances the user's ability to be on-time for appointments.

Abstract: The system includes a removable entertainment device including an information retrieval device. The information retrieval device is configured to receive removable storage media. The removable entertainment device includes a controller in electrical communication with the information retrieval device to retract the media into the information retrieval device when the controller receives a signal indicative that the removable entertainment device will be moved. Such signals may include a screen closure sensor, a movement sensor, or a player supported sensor.

Abstract: An article carrier apparatus for a vehicle includes a cross rail interconnected to an exterior surface of the vehicle, a heat sink positioned within the cross rail, and a light source positioned within the cross rail. The light source is thermally connected to the heat sink such that the heat sink will absorb at least a portion of the heat generated by operation of the light source. The cross rail will structurally support an article attached to the exterior of a vehicle.

Abstract: The system includes a controller, a portable media reader, and an input device. The controller is in communication with the portable media reader and the input device. The controller detects when a particular portable media is inserted into the portable media reader for a first time. When the controller detects the initial insertion of the portable media, the controller records a macro. As the user configures the system, user input is recorded by the macro. The controller is configured to play the macro when the portable media is subsequently loaded into the portable media player.

Abstract: The system includes a removable entertainment device that interfaces with a docking station. The removable entertainment device includes a controller that implements a software lock to disable the removable entertainment device, if it is improperly removed from the docking station. The docking station uses a challenge and response message to provide a secure methodology to control the unlocking of the removable entertainment device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved receiver system including a tuner and a database. The tuner is configured to receive a signal including program signal data and program information data. The database is in communication with the tuner, allowing the tuner to store the program information data into the database and correlate the program information data with time markers indicative of user interest in the program signal data. The tuner is configured to generate a selection list based on the time markers and the program information data.

Abstract: A satellite receiver system including an antenna, an amplifier, a tuner, a base band processor, and a buffer is provided. The antenna is configured to receive a satellite signal. The amplifier is in communication with the antenna and configured to generate an amplified signal based on the satellite signal. The tuner is in communication with the antenna and configured to receive the amplified signal. The tuner generates a program signal based on the amplified signal. The base band processor receives the program signal from the tuner and generates a plurality of data segments in the program signal at predefined time intervals. The base band processor stores the program signal in the buffer thereby causing a time delay in the program signal. If the satellite signal is interrupted, the tuner will continue to play out of the buffer without interruption.

Abstract: An automobile head unit display system including an antenna, a lightbox assembly and a circuit board is described therein. The antenna is attached to the lightbox system, while the lightbox assembly is attached to the circuit board. The antenna and the lightbox assembly are in communication with the circuit board.

Abstract: A removable vehicle entertainment system is provided. The system includes a video display screen for displaying entertainment to an occupant of the vehicle. The system can be removed from the docking bracket in the vehicle, and attached to an external docking station such that the system can be used independently of the power supply and speakers of the vehicle. Further, the system can be used as a self-contained personal entertainment system. The system includes mechanical and/or electrical componentry that determines audio mute and video display configuration based on a power signal and a docked signal.

Abstract: A portable satellite receiver includes a tuner, an antenna, and an amplifier. The portable satellite receiver has a protective housing enclosing the tuner, antenna, and amplifier. The portable satellite receiver is configured to interface with an accessory device through a communication link such that the accessory device receives audio signals from the portable satellite receiver over the communication link.

Abstract: A vehicle multimedia system having a safety interlock mechanism. The vehicle multimedia system comprising a portable multimedia unit having a support sensor for sensing support thereon and a docking station configured to interlock the portable multimedia unit therein. The docking station comprises a main frame having a receiving port to receive the portable multimedia unit. The main frame includes a locking assembly for securing the portable multimedia unit to the main frame and a microprocessor for communicating with the locking assembly and the support sensor.

Abstract: An improved display system for automotive applications is provided. The display system includes a display controller, a display, a driver information system, and a vehicle entertainment system. The display controller is in communication with the display to provide a driver side image and a passenger side image. The driver information system is in communication with the display controller to provide information used to generate the driver side image. The vehicle entertainment system is also in communication with the display controller to provide a video signal used to generate the passenger side image.

Abstract: Quantum well lasers are wavelength tuned after fabrication to provide a desired shorter emission wavelength. A wavelength tuned quantum well laser is accomplished by thermal annealing the laser for a prescribed period of time. The length of the anneal period and the temperature of annealing are based upon the desired primary emission wavelength to be achieved.

Abstract: The method of and apparatus for tuning the wavelength using an external diffraction grating is accomplished with a quantum well injection laser wherein the range of operating wavelength selection is extended beyond the expectations of wavelength selection in fundamental emission spectrum of conventional bulk-crystal heterostructure lasers to include wavelength selection at the multiple carrier recombination transition energies possible in the conduction band sub-bands and valence band sub-bands present in quantum well heterostructures of single or multiple quantum well lasers. Quantum well heterostructure lasers have a unique advantage over previous tuned semiconductor lasers, as exemplified in the previously cited prior art, in that the active region of the quantum well laser can be bandfilled to well above the bulk crystal band edge at moderate current densities indicative of excellent candidates for broad band tuning through a wide range of the quantum well sub-bands of the quantum well structure.

Abstract: The method of tuning the wavelength of a quantum well laser to a shorter emission wavelength is accomplished by the step of thermal annealing the laser for a prescribed period of time, the length of the period and the temperature of annealing being based upon what primary emission wavelength is desired. For good results, the annealing is conducted in an elemental anti-outdiffusion environment or the laser structure to be annealed is encapsulated so that any outdiffusion of laser elemental constituents is discouraged during thermal annealing. In an exemplary illustration of the invention, laser heterostructures of the GaAl/GaAlAs regime are utilized and annealed for several hours in an As environment to selectively reduce the emission wavelength by as much as 200 .ANG. or more. The As environment prevents the outdiffusion of As from the GaAl/GaAlAs heterostructure during thermal annealing, elemental As having the lowest temperature of vaporization of elemental Ga, Al and As.