Abstract: Methods of operating a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises applying one of a positive bias voltage and a negative bias voltage to a ferroelectric memory cell comprising a capacitor including a top electrode, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric material between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and an interfacial material between the ferroelectric material and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The method further comprises applying another of the positive bias voltage and the negative bias voltage to the ferroelectric memory cell to switch a polarization of the ferroelectric memory cell, wherein an absolute value of the negative bias voltage is different from an absolute value of the positive bias voltage. Ferroelectric memory cells are also described.

Abstract: Methods of operating a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises applying one of a positive bias voltage and a negative bias voltage to a ferroelectric memory cell comprising a capacitor including a top electrode, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric material between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and an interfacial material between the ferroelectric material and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The method further comprises applying another of the positive bias voltage and the negative bias voltage to the ferroelectric memory cell to switch a polarization of the ferroelectric memory cell, wherein an absolute value of the negative bias voltage is different from an absolute value of the positive bias voltage. Ferroelectric memory cells are also described.

Abstract: Methods of operating a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises applying one of a positive bias voltage and a negative bias voltage to a ferroelectric memory cell comprising a capacitor including a top electrode, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric material between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and an interfacial material between the ferroelectric material and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The method further comprises applying another of the positive bias voltage and the negative bias voltage to the ferroelectric memory cell to switch a polarization of the ferroelectric memory cell, wherein an absolute value of the negative bias voltage is different from an absolute value of the positive bias voltage. Ferroelectric memory cells are also described.

Abstract: An auto changeover mechanism for a thermostat. A heat and cool mode auto changeover with single or crossed setpoints may be an approach for doing a single setpoint auto changeover, an approach that can handle auto changeover with separate heat and cool setpoints that do not require the cool setpoint to always be higher than the heat setpoint, and also an approach that does not necessarily require a dead band between the setpoints. A hysteresis may be associated with switching to the other mode. The thermostat having the auto changeover mechanism may have a display of a mode that automatically changes between heat and cool.

Abstract: An auto changeover mechanism for a thermostat. A heat and cool mode auto changeover with single or crossed setpoints may be an approach for doing a single setpoint auto changeover, an approach that can handle auto changeover with separate heat and cool setpoints that do not require the cool setpoint to always be higher than the heat setpoint, and also an approach that does not necessarily require a dead band between the setpoints. A hysteresis may be associated with switching to the other mode. The thermostat having the auto changeover mechanism may have a display of a mode that automatically changes between heat and cool.

Abstract: Methods of operating a ferroelectric memory cell. The method comprises applying one of a positive bias voltage and a negative bias voltage to a ferroelectric memory cell comprising a capacitor including a top electrode, a bottom electrode, a ferroelectric material between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and an interfacial material between the ferroelectric material and one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The method further comprises applying another of the positive bias voltage and the negative bias voltage to the ferroelectric memory cell to switch a polarization of the ferroelectric memory cell, wherein an absolute value of the negative bias voltage is different from an absolute value of the positive bias voltage. Ferroelectric memory cells are also described.

Abstract: A building automation system may adjust operation of a building system based upon information regarding the relative location of one or more users of the building automation system. In some embodiments, a mobile device having location services for determining a location of the mobile device may provide this information. A mobile device may include a user interface, a memory for storing two or more predetermined geo-fences each defining a different sized region about a home of a user of the mobile device and a controller operatively coupled to user interface and the memory, the controller configured to accept a selection of one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences via the user interface. The controller may report when the location of the mobile device crosses the selected one of the two or more predetermined geo-fences to a remote device. Other geofencing approaches are also described.

Abstract: Many different factors may affect a user's perceived thermal comfort level within a building. Controlling a room temperature according to what the temperature may feel like to a user (i.e. the “feels-like” temperature) may increase a user's comfort level in the building. An HVAC controller may be programmed to determine a temperature offset based on one or more environmental conditions in and/or around the building, and to apply the temperature offset to the indoor temperature, resulting in a feels-like temperature. The HVAC controller may be further programmed to control an HVAC system in accordance with the feels-like temperature.

Abstract: An auto changeover mechanism for a thermostat. A heat and cool mode auto changeover with single or crossed setpoints may be an approach for doing a single setpoint auto changeover, an approach that can handle auto changeover with separate heat and cool setpoints that do not require the cool setpoint to always be higher than the heat setpoint, and also an approach that does not necessarily require a dead band between the setpoints. A hysteresis may be associated with switching to the other mode. The thermostat having the auto changeover mechanism may have a display of a mode that automatically changes between heat and cool.

Abstract: A fall-arrest anchor comprising a single, elongated member having a breaking strength more than 5,000 lb (22.5 kN). The single, elongated member comprises a first anchor portion sized and configured for attachment to a building and a second worker-attachment portion sized and configured for attachment to a worker's lifeline. The first anchor portion is at least about twice as long as the second worker-attachment portion, and the first anchor portion and the second worker-attachment portion are joined at an angle such that subjecting the fall-arrest anchor to a fall-arrest stress load visibly deforms the fall-arrest anchor and visibly changes the angle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an electro-optic device comprising a first region of silicon semiconductor material and a second region of III-V semiconductor material. A waveguide of the optical device is formed in part by a ridge in the second region. An optical mode of the waveguide is laterally confined by the ridge of the second region and vertically confined by a vertical boundary included in the first region. The ridge structure further serves as a current confinement structure over the active region of the electro-optic device, eliminating the need for implantation or other structures that are known to present reliability problems during manufacturing. The lack of “voids” and implants in electro-optic devices according to embodiments of the invention leads to better device reliability, process repeatability and improved mechanical strength.

Abstract: Full body safety harnesses for fall arrest comprising a substantially rigid, resilient and water-resistant core throughout substantially the entire body harness frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an electro-optic device comprising a first region of silicon semiconductor material and a second region of III-V semiconductor material. A waveguide of the optical device is formed in part by a ridge in the second region. An optical mode of the waveguide is laterally confined by the ridge of the second region and vertically confined by a vertical boundary included in the first region. The ridge structure further serves as a current confinement structure over the active region of the electro-optic device, eliminating the need for implantation or other structures that are known to present reliability problems during manufacturing. The lack of “voids” and implants in electro-optic devices according to embodiments of the invention leads to better device reliability, process repeatability and improved mechanical strength.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an electro-optic device comprising a first region of silicon semiconductor material and a second region of III-V semiconductor material. A waveguide of the optical device is formed in part by a ridge in the second region. An optical mode of the waveguide is laterally confined by the ridge of the second region and vertically confined by a vertical boundary included in the first region. The ridge structure further serves as a current confinement structure over the active region of the electro-optic device, eliminating the need for implantation or other structures that are known to present reliability problems during manufacturing. The lack of “voids” and implants in electro-optic devices according to embodiments of the invention leads to better device reliability, process repeatability and improved mechanical strength.

Abstract: A plurality of nodes are coupled via a serial data bus A transition from a first state to a second state is repeatedly transmitted onto the bus from a node arbitrarily selected from the plurality of nodes and is defined as the bit master. One or more of the nodes transmits onto the bus dominant and recessive states at a first predetermined time after each transition. The transmitted states represent respective dominant and recessive bits of an attempted message. The plurality of nodes detect dominant and recessive states of the bus at a second predetermined time after each transition. Any of the one or more nodes that transmits a recessive bit at the first predetermined time and detects a dominant bit at the second predetermined time ceases transmission of bits onto the bus.

Abstract: An autodiscovery system for configuration information about an HVAC system being provided to a controller or thermostat. Configurations or parameters may be autodiscovered from communicating equipment. Also, this equipment may be manually selected and set without affecting the autodiscovery status of the remaining equipment. There may also be non-communicating equipment that does not provide information to the thermostat. However, the thermostat may control the non-communicating equipment via an equipment interface module.

Abstract: A communication system has a number of nodes connected to a serial data bus. Nodes communicate with each other by transmitting dominant and recessive bits during bit intervals as taught by the CAN (controller area network) arbitration protocol. According to the CAN arbitration protocol, any dominant bit transmitted during a bit interval causes the bit value received to be a dominant bit regardless of the number of recessive bits being sent. The system is arranged so that two or more nodes each respond to a report query message sent by one of the nodes, with a report message sent simultaneously by each of the nodes. The headers (leading bits) of each of the report messages sent by nodes responding to a report query message are the same, allowing arbitration on a trailing node data field. This results in the message having the numerically largest (or smallest) node data field value to survive arbitration.

Abstract: First and second serial data busses are arranged so that simultaneous transmission on the respective bus of a dominant state by one node and a recessive state by other nodes results in the dominant state being detectable on the respective bus. Transitions from a first state to a second state signal the start of a bit on the first bus. Dominant and recessive states are detected on the first and second busses at first and second predetermined times after each transition. The states represent respective dominant and recessive bits of attempted messages transmitted by nodes of the first and second busses. The dominant state is transmitted on both busses after the first and second predetermined times if the dominant state was detected on one of the first and the second busses at the first and second predetermined times.

Abstract: A system has a plurality of nodes communicating with each other on a serial data path using dominant and recessive signal levels. A dominant signal level sent on the data path by any of the nodes creates a dominant signal level on the data path irrespective of the number of recessive signal levels sent by other nodes. The dominant and recessive signal levels form a series of bits organized into messages by the nodes. Each sending node senses the signal level on the data path bit by bit, and if different from that sent by that sending node, halts further sending of signal levels by that sending node. A priority value generator in each node provides a priority signal encoding a value whose magnitude indicates a relative priority. A message priority module in each node receives the priority signal, and stores the priority value in predetermined leading bits of the message to be sent.

Abstract: Communicating between first and second serial data busses is described. Each bus includes one or more nodes coupled via the respective data bus so that simultaneous transmission on the respective bus of a dominant state by at least one of the nodes and a recessive state by the other nodes results in the dominant state being detectable on the respective bus. Transitions from a first state to a second state are transmitted onto the first bus. The first and second states are complementary states selected from the dominant and recessive states. Each of the transitions signal the start of a bit on the first bus. Dominant and recessive states are detected on the first bus at a first predetermined time after each transition and on the second bus at a second predetermined time after each transition. The states represent respective dominant and recessive bits of attempted messages transmitted by nodes of the first and second busses.