Abstract: A collective objects data base management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an object receptacle microcontroller with a unique system address which enables generation of a response signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match and activation of the visible indicator. An object container microcontroller periodically polls the object receptacle microcontrollers in the cabinet and stores an updated version of the cabinet object data base. The cabinet object data base contents are sent to a host computer, which maintains the system data base.

Abstract: A secure document receptacle for use in file cabinets having slidable drawers with laterally spaced support rails for removable supporting file folders. The secure document receptacle has a single support brace along the top edge with downwardly opening channels for removable engagement with the drawer support rails. The receptacle has a closed top edge and openings to the interior of the receptacle on the side edge or the bottom edge of the receptacle. Documents can only be inserted and removed via the open side or bottom edges. The receptacle must be partially or completely removed from the drawer support rails before a document can be removed from the receptacle. This interrupts contact between the brace channels and the support rails, an event which can be detected by cabinet sensing circuitry.

Abstract: A collective objects data base management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an object receptacle microcontroller with a unique system address which enables generation of a response signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match and activation of the visible indicator. An object container microcontroller periodically polls the object receptacle microcontrollers in the cabinet and stores an updated version of the cabinet object data base. The cabinet object data base contents are sent to a host computer, which maintains the system data base.

Abstract: A drawer organizer for facilitating the location of an item stored in one of several drawers in one or more drawer organizer cabinets. Each drawer has an LED and a display device mounted on a front panel, as well as a CPU and a display device driver. The CPU memory contains the address of the associated drawer and communicates with an associated controller which receives drawer address and display information from a host computer. A user specifies an item to be retrieved from one of the cabinet drawers, the host computer transmits drawer identification signals to the controller, which converts these signals to a drawer address and supplies the drawer address to all drawer CPUs in the cabinet. If the incoming address matches the address stored in CPU memory of one of the drawers, this result is conveyed via the controller to the host computer, which then sends item display information to the controller.

Abstract: An intelligent fastener unit for fastening together structural members. The fastener unit includes a fastener with an externally threaded shank, an internally threaded mating member for threaded engagement with the fastener, and an intelligent washer having an RFID tag and an antenna mounted on one surface of a centrally aperture body member, and a pressure sensor mounted on the opposite surface for generating electrical signals representative of the compressive force applied to structural members captured by the fastener, the mating member and the washer. An air gap is formed in the washer body member between the outer periphery and the central aperture to reduce eddy current formation when the RFID tag is interrogated by an RFID tag reader using r.f. signaling.

Abstract: An indicator circuit for a storage container designed to enable remote electronic searching for file folders located within the container. Address signals from a host computer are supplied to the storage container to designate a sought file folder. The indicator circuit is activated whenever a sought file folder is located in a given container. When two or more storage containers are interconnected to receive address signals designating a sought file folder, only the indicator circuit of the storage container containing the sought file folder is activated.

Abstract: A storage container and matching cover for storing addressable objects. The storage container has an interconnect panel with a pair of laterally spaced address signal conductors extending vertically along the panel and terminating at the top and bottom edges of the panel in conductive terminal pads. The cover has an interconnect mechanism with spring biased translatable conductive probes positioned to mate with the conductive terminal pads of an upper and lower container when two containers are vertically stacked. The combination of the container and cover eliminates the need for individual USB jumper cables when interconnecting two or more vertically stacked containers. An auto alignment feature ensures that the containers are properly stacked with the terminal pads in contact with the conductive probes.

Abstract: A universal mount bicycle power meter module has a base member with first and second ends and a narrow central portion which is relatively compressible in response to applied forces. Firmly secured to the first end is an internally threaded mounting nut in registration with an aperture in the first end. The nut secures the first end of the base member to an externally threaded end portion of a bicycle axle. The second end of the base member is configured to be firmly secured to a rear frame portion of a bicycle using a mounting clamp. A strain gauge sensor assembly is mounted on the central portion of the base member to generate resistance values representative of the amount of compression in the central portion. The sensor assembly is coupled to a signal processing unit having circuitry for converting the resistance values and bicycle velocity signals from an associated bicycle speedometer to cyclist power signals.

Abstract: A drawer organizer for facilitating the location of an item stored in one of several drawers in one or more drawer organizer cabinets. Each drawer has an LED and a display device mounted on a front panel, as well as a CPU and a display device driver. The CPU memory contains the address of the associated drawer and communicates with an associated controller which receives drawer address and display information from a host computer. A user specifies an item to be retrieved from one of the cabinet drawers, the host computer transmits drawer identification signals to the controller, which converts these signals to a drawer address and supplies the drawer address to all drawer CPUs in the cabinet. If the incoming address matches the address stored in CPU memory of one of the drawers, this result is conveyed via the controller to the host computer, which then sends item display information to the controller.

Abstract: A storage container and matching cover for storing addressable objects. The storage container has an interconnect panel with a pair of laterally spaced address signal conductors extending vertically along the panel and terminating at the top and bottom edges of the panel in conductive terminal pads. The cover has an interconnect mechanism with spring biased translatable conductive probes positioned to mate with the conductive terminal pads of an upper and lower container when two containers are vertically stacked. The combination of the container and cover eliminates the need for individual USB jumper cables when interconnecting two or more vertically stacked containers. An auto alignment feature ensures that the containers are properly stacked with the terminal pads in contact with the conductive probes.

Abstract: An indicator circuit for a storage container designed to enable remote electronic searching for file folders located within the container. Address signals from a host computer are supplied to the storage container to designate a sought file folder. The indicator circuit is activated whenever a sought file folder is located in a given container. When two or more storage containers are interconnected to receive address signals designating a sought file folder, only the indicator circuit of the storage container containing the sought file folder is activated.

Abstract: A universal mount bicycle power meter module has a base member with first and second ends and a narrow central portion which is relatively compressible in response to applied forces. Firmly secured to the first end is an internally threaded mounting nut in registration with an aperture in the first end. The nut secures the first end of the base member to an externally threaded end portion of a bicycle axle. The second end of the base member is configured to be firmly secured to a rear frame portion of a bicycle using a mounting clamp. A strain gauge sensor assembly is mounted on the central portion of the base member to generate resistance values representative of the amount of compression in the central portion. The sensor assembly is coupled to a signal processing unit having circuitry for converting the resistance values to cyclist power signals.

Abstract: A dual function two stage draw latch has a first stage loop member pivotally attached at one end to a latch lever pivotally mounted to a base member secured to a wall of a first container. A second stage loop member is pivotally attached to the other end of the first stage loop member. The free end of the second stage loop member is able to engage a catch mounted on a wall of a second container stacked on top of the first container to provide a holding force for the two containers. This free end is also able to engage a catch element mounted on a container lid to hold the lid in place. Electrically conductive strips interconnect the latch and catch to provide electrical interconnection between the containers.

Abstract: A self-authenticating intelligent document in sheet medium form has an information storage and transfer means incorporated thereinto for storing the original text portion of document information formed on the surface of the sheet medium and for storing an image of the completed document after supplemental information has been added to the original text portion on the surface of the sheet medium. The information storage and transfer means is either a single RFID tag having a first memory portion for storing the text portion and a second memory portion for storing the image of the completed document; or a first RFID tag having a memory portion for storing the text portion and a second RFID tag for storing the image of the completed document. To verify the authenticity of the document, the image stored in the information storage and transfer means is read out and compared with the visible version. When the two are identical, the document is authentic.

Abstract: A compartment storage container for use in a collective objects management system with remote location of compartments containing sought objects. Each compartment has an address decoder with a unique address electrically connected to an electrical input connector which supplies compartment search signals to the container. Each compartment has an LED indicator which is activated when a compartment search signal specifies a compartment address which matches the address of an address decoder in the container. Each container has an electrical output connector which can be connected to the electrical input connector of another container so that several containers can be connected to one another. Each container can be removably installed in a cabinet drawer and electrically connected to conductive support rails in the drawer to communicate with a cabinet based collective objects management system.

Abstract: A documents management system with remote location and retrieval of documents contained in file folders positioned in file drawers in a collection of file cabinets. Each document has an RFID tag containing a document identifier and the contents of the document stored in a read-only memory. Each file folder has a circuit containing a unique identifier for that folder. Each file cabinet has a control unit which searches for a specific file folder in response to receipt of a file folder request from a source. If the folder is found, each cabinet has an R.F. reader which searches for a specific document in response to receipt of a document request from the source. If the document is found, the R.F. reader extracts the document contents and transmits them to the source.

Abstract: A pedometer has first and second signal generators mounted along the inner margin of a first shoe and separated by a fixed distance. A sensor and transmitter assembly is mounted along the inner margin of a second shoe. The sensor and transmitter assembly includes a sensor, a microcontroller unit and a wireless transmitter. A pair of impulses is received by the microcontroller unit each time the shoes pass in close proximity to each other. The microcontroller unit generates various pedestrian performance data based on the impulses. The pedestrian performance data is wirelessly transmitted to a display unit carried by the pedestrian.

Abstract: A storage container for use in a documents management system with remote location of file folders positioned on support members mounted between walls of the storage container. The support members are electrically connected to an electrical input connector which supplies file folder search signals to the container and receives response signals from address decoder circuits located in each file folder removably received in the container. Each container has an electrical output connector which can be connected to the electrical input connector of another container so that several containers can be connected to one another. Each container can be removably installed in a file cabinet drawer and electrically connected to the file drawer conductive rails to communicate with a file cabinet based file management system.

Abstract: A dual function two stage draw latch has a first stage loop member pivotally attached at one end to a latch lever pivotally mounted to a base member secured to a wall of a first container. A second stage loop member is pivotally attached to the other end of the first stage loop member. The free end of the second stage loop member is able to engage a catch mounted on a wall of a second container stacked on top of the first container to provide a holding force for the two containers. This free end is also able to engage a catch element mounted on a container lid to hold the lid in place. Electrically conductive strips interconnect the latch and catch to provide electrical interconnection between the containers.

Abstract: A compartment storage container for use in a collective objects management system with remote location of compartments containing sought objects. Each compartment has an address decoder with a unique address electrically connected to an electrical input connector which supplies compartment search signals to the container. Each compartment has an LED indicator which is activated when a compartment search signal specifies a compartment address which matches the address of an address decoder in the container. Each container has an electrical output connector which can be connected to the electrical input connector of another container so that several containers can be connected to one another. Each container can be removably installed in a cabinet drawer and electrically connected to conductive support rails in the drawer to communicate with a cabinet based collective objects management system.