Abstract: A communications network comprised of a source of information to be transmitted in the form of a signal, one or more transmitters which emit light suitable for illumination and including means for modulating the light with the information signal, a medium such as a fluid through which the light passes, and one or more receivers for receiving the light and demodulating the signal to obtain the information. A user for the information may be a device, such as a computer or a compact disk player, or it may be a person, perhaps with some form of sensory or mental impairment. The information may be encrypted, may provide directional guidance, such as to a user moving in a vehicle, and/or may be transmitted simultaneously over multiple channels. Various types of visible light assemblies may be employed, with varying power inputs and outputs.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation in which the radiation has both a first and second utility. The electromagnetic radiation is modulated to produce electronically detectable variations to achieve the second utility, the variations not affecting the first utility. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation is visible light. In this embodiment, the first utility is illumination and the second utility is the transmission of data. In another embodiment, the invention provides a lamp for generating visible light capable of providing illumination and transmitting data to a receiver. Any variations in the visible light resulting from the data transmission are imperceptible by a human eye regardless of the nature of the data being transmitted.

Abstract: A system for remotely inducing a phase transition in a gel is provided. The system includes a gel capable of volume change in response to an environmental stimulus, a seed material in contact with the gel, and generating a time-varying magnetic or a time-varying electric or electromagnetic field in the proximity of the gel to produce the environmental stimulus. In a preferred embodiment, the environmental stimulus is temperature.

Abstract: A multi-processing transient event detector for use in a nonintrusive electrical load monitoring system has been provided. Templates of transient pattern data associated with each electrical load which may be monitored are stored. Such templates are then used to match and correlate with the actual monitored transient pattern data at the load site. The decomposition in which time scales are changed is accomplished in parallel along with one or more parallel event detection processing modules for each decomposition.

Abstract: A large signal, linear, digital, unity power-factor controller for controlling a power supply is disclosed. The power supply controller includes a voltage controller and a current controller. The voltage controller is a feed forward and proportional-integral type of controller. By determining the control command of the voltage controller as a function of the feed forward load power, the power term in the state equations for the voltage controller is eliminated. As such, the current controller operates in time domain in such a way that the voltage controller appears as a unit time delay to the current controller. The load is a battery incorporated within an electrically-powered vehicle. The controller operates to charge the battery. The connection between the battery and the power supply being controlled is an inductive coupling.

Abstract: A system for remotely inducing a phase transition in a gel is provided. The system includes a gel capable of volume change in response to an environmental stimulus, a seed material in contact with the gel, and generating a time-varying magnetic or a time-varying electric or electromagnetic field in the proximity of the gel to produce the environmental stimulus. In a preferred embodiment, the environmental stimulus is temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transient event detector for use in a nonintrusive electrical load monitoring system at a monitored site having at least one electrical load. The transient event detector includes a data acquisition portion for acquiring and storing start-up power transient pattern data associated with each electrical load being monitored; a monitor for continuously monitoring total power load pattern data at the site; and a processor for correlating the transient pattern data to the total power load pattern data in order to identify each electrical load.