Abstract: An air damper unit for a refrigerator includes a printed circuit board, a sliding door movably mounted to the printed circuit board, a damper position sensor for detecting the position of the sliding door, and a driving mechanism. The sliding door regulates the air flow from a freezer compartment into a refrigerator compartment. A microcontroller is mounted on the printed circuit board for controlling the operation of the sliding door. The microcontroller controls the driving mechanism according to a signal corresponding to a position of the sliding door from the damper position sensor. The continuous feedback from the damper position sensor enables the microcontroller to more effectively control the operation of the sliding door and maintain the temperature setting of the refrigerator compartment.

Abstract: A control and method for an e-field sensor touch switch system includes an output having a first output voltage based on a static capacitance sensed by an e-field sensor and a gain module that generates a final output voltage based on amplifying a difference between an offset voltage and the first output voltage.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a first source of monochromatic light, a second source of white light, and a third source of polychromatic light. The light from the three sources combine to produce a resultant color of light from the apparatus. The intensities of the light emitted by the first, second and third sources are independently controlled by a controller to produce a desired resultant color of light. Varying the amount of electric current applied to each such light source by substantially an equal amounts to changes the luminance of the combined light with out affecting the resultant color. The lighting apparatus can be operated to replicate a Planckian radiator with a color rendering index of at least 80 throughout a substantial portion of the visible light spectrum produced by the lighting apparatus.

Abstract: A feedback method on occasion independently senses a characteristic of light produced by each of several light sources in a lighting apparatus. The sensed value of that characteristic is compared to a reference value for the respective light source and that light source's operation is adjusted accordingly. This method has particular application in a lighting apparatus that produces different lighting effects by varying the intensity of different colors of light produced by the various light sources. The feedback method compensates for light emission variation as the sources age, thus ensuring that the lighting apparatus continues to produce the desired lighting effects. This enables multiple lighting apparatus in an area to be calibrated to the same standard so that uniform illumination is provided.

Abstract: A television receiver system for a healthcare environment where the television receiver has provision for connection of a pendant control mechanism that houses a single switch for controlling the television receiver ON/OFF and tuning functions in a sequential manner and may also contain a pillow speaker and a volume control. The receiver tuning system comprises a cyclical sequence of individual positions for receiving television channels, radio signals and instructional channels, and a position for turning the television receiver OFF. Any position may be designated as the ON position to which the system tunes whenever it is activated, with the OFF position being designated as the position immediately below the ON position.

Abstract: A television control system and method of controlling a television are disclosed. The system includes a host device in communication with one or more televisions. Each of the host devices and televisions use infrared transmitters and receivers. The host device, which may be provided in the form of a computer, receives inputs from a variety of devices, and generates command signals for transmission to each of the televisions. Each of the televisions receive the command signal, as by infrared transmission, and performs the commanded function. Once the commanded function is successfully performed, each of the televisions generates and transmits a confirmation signal to the host device to notify the host device, and ultimately the user, that the requested function has been performed.

Abstract: An institutional television receiver includes parental content controls for selectively blocking television signals based upon encoded ratings therein. The television receiver is coupled to a control center via a communications path. User preferences regarding the parental content controls are set, enabled, and disabled from the control center. User commands are supplied from the television receiver to the control center which, in turn, sends appropriate commands back to the receiver for controlling it.

Abstract: The lighted stand-up target of the invention comprises a housing attached to the playfield and a target switch pivotably mounted to the housing. An array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are positioned on a printed circuit board mounted within the housing. The target switch is actuated each time that it is struck by a pinball. In response thereto, the LEDs are lit indicating the number of times that the impact target has been struck.