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 binder management system having a cabinet with shelves for removable storage of searchable binders. Each binder has a body with front and rear covers and a spine. Inside the body is a binder mechanism for removably retaining sheet media. Each binder has externally extending upper and tower ohmic contact members which ohmically engage conductive members mounted on the shelf surfaces near the front. Each binder has a binder identification circuit coupled to an LED mounted on the binder spine in a location visible when the binder rests on a shelf. When a binder identification signal from a host computer is presented to the shelf conductive members it is transferred by the binder contact members to the binder identification circuit. If the signal matches, the LED is activated to aid the user in finding the binder. An LED and an optional audible indicator are mounted on the shelves to further aid the user in finding the sought binder.

Abstract: An electric motor driven fan device has a base member with walls forming an enclosure, an electrically powered motor located within the enclosure and having an output shaft coupled via a bearing mounted in an upper wall of the base member to one end of a flexible drive shaft rotatably enclosed in a bendable sheath secured to the base member. The other end of the flexible drive shaft is coupled via a second bearing to a driven shaft secured to a multi-bladed fan. The other end of the bendable sheath is secured to the outer race of the second bearing. The predominant mass of the device is at the bottom, which reduces the footprint of the lower portion. The bendable sheath enables the attitude of the fan to be manually adjusted.

Abstract: An intelligent fastener having a head and an externally threaded shank for threaded engagement with a structural member. The head has a recess formed in the top surface for mounting an RFID tag with a memory containing information specific to the fastener—such as fastener identification, specified torque value and other information—an antenna for enabling bidirectional communication with an RFID tag reader, and a torque value sensor for determining the torque applied to the fastener by a fastener installation tool. Once installed, the existing torque on a collection of fasteners is measured by using an RFID tag reader to scan the information stored in the memory of each fastener.

Abstract: A collective objects 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 address decoder with a unique system address which enables generation of a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match, and a circuit for deriving operating power for the address decoder from an incoming address signal. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer.

Abstract: An intelligent fastener having a head and an externally threaded shank for threaded engagement with a structural member. The head has a recess formed in the top surface for mounting an RFID tag with a memory containing information specific to the fastener—such as fastener identification, specified torque value and other information—an antenna for enabling bidirectional communication with an RFID tag reader, and a torque value sensor for determining the torque applied to the fastener by a fastener installation tool. Once installed, the existing torque on a collection of fasteners is measured by using an RFID tag reader to scan the information stored in the memory of each fastener.

Abstract: A collective objects 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 address decoder with a unique system address which generates a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations.

Abstract: A bicycle power meter has a strain gauge sensor assembly mounted on a relatively compressible portion of the end of the rear fork of the bicycle frame. The relatively compressible portion is near the rear hub and subject to the forces exerted by the cyclist to the crankset, and transferred via the chain, and sprocket assembly to the hub. The sensor assembly has two ohmically interconnected stretch sensors each having a first layer bearing a variable resistance element, whose resistance changes with displacement of the compressible portion, and a second layer for providing support for the first layer. The sensor assembly is connected in a bridge circuit to two other resistances to generate signals representative of cyclist applied force. These signals are processed along with velocity signals to generate power signals and the power signals are supplied to a display.

Abstract: An electric motor driven fan device has a base member with walls forming an enclosure, an electrically powered motor located within the enclosure and having an output shaft coupled via a bearing mounted in an upper wall of the base member to one end of a flexible drive shaft rotatably enclosed in a bendable sheath secured to the base member. The other end of the flexible drive shaft is coupled via a second bearing to a driven shaft secured to a multi-bladed fan. The other end of the bendable sheath is secured to the outer race of the second bearing. The predominant mass of the device is at the bottom, which reduces the footprint of the lower portion. The bendable sheath enables the attitude of the fan to be manually adjusted.

Abstract: A brushless D.C. disk motor has one or more disk rotor assemblies and pairs of stator assemblies for each rotor assembly. Each disk rotor assembly has a disk and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed along two or more circular paths in the disk inboard of the peripheral edge of the rotor. Each stator assembly has a plurality of pole pieces and coils distributed along a mounting plate in corresponding circular paths. The disk is rotatably mounted to a support member; while the stator sub-assemblies are fixed to the support member. The coils are selectively activated by commutated power control signals generated in response to a vehicle condition parameter, such as vehicle speed or disk motor load, to optimize power drain from the source of electrical power in accordance with the value of the vehicle condition parameter. The stator assembly pole pieces are movably mounted on the stator mounting plate to improve motor efficiency.

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 binder management system having a cabinet with shelves for removable storage of searchable binders. Each binder has a body with front and rear covers and a spine. Inside the body is a binder mechanism for removably retaining sheet media. Each binder has externally extending upper and tower ohmic contact members which ohmically engage conductive members mounted on the shelf surfaces near the front. Each binder has a binder identification circuit coupled to an LED mounted on the binder spine in a location visible when the binder rests on a shelf. When a binder identification signal from a host computer is presented to the shelf conductive members it is transferred by the binder contact members to the binder identification circuit. If the signal matches, the LED is activated to aid the user in finding the binder. An LED and an optional audible indicator are mounted on the shelves to further aid the user in finding the sought binder.

Abstract: A brushless D.C. disk motor has one or more disk rotor assemblies and pairs of stator assemblies for each rotor assembly. Each disk rotor assembly has a disk and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed along two or more circular paths in the disk inboard of the peripheral edge of the rotor. Each stator assembly has a plurality of pole pieces and coils distributed along a mounting plate in corresponding circular paths. The disk is rotatably mounted to a support member; while the stator sub-assemblies are fixed to the support member. The coils are selectively activated by commutated power control signals generated in response to a vehicle condition parameter, such as vehicle speed or disk motor load, to optimize power drain from the source of electrical power in accordance with the value of the vehicle condition parameter.

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 collective objects 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 address decoder with a unique system address which enables generation of a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match, and a circuit for deriving operating power for the address decoder from an incoming address signal. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer.

Abstract: A collective objects 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 address decoder with a unique system address which generates a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations.

Abstract: A brushless D.C. disk motor has one or more disk rotor assemblies and pairs of stator assemblies for each rotor assembly. Each disk rotor assembly has a disk and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed along two or more circular paths in the disk inboard of the peripheral edge of the rotor. Each stator assembly has a plurality of pole pieces and coils distributed along a mounting plate in corresponding circular paths. The disk is rotatably mounted to a support member; while the stator sub-assemblies are fixed to the support member. The coils are selectively activated by commutated power control signals generated in response to a vehicle condition parameter, such as vehicle speed or disk motor load, to optimize power drain from the source of electrical power in accordance with the value of the vehicle condition parameter. The stator assembly pole pieces are movably mounted on the stator mounting plate to improve motor efficiency.

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 brushless D.C. disk motor has one or more disk rotor assemblies and pairs of stator assemblies for each rotor assembly. Each disk rotor assembly has a disk and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed along two or more circular paths in the disk inboard of the peripheral edge of the rotor. Each stator assembly has a plurality of pole pieces and coils distributed along a mounting plate in corresponding circular paths. The disk is rotatably mounted to a support member; while the stator sub-assemblies are fixed to the support member. The coils are selectively activated by commutated power control signals generated in response to a vehicle condition parameter, such as vehicle speed or disk motor load, to optimize power drain from the source of electrical power in accordance with the value of the vehicle condition parameter.

Abstract: A brushless D.C. motor has a rotor with a plurality of magnets secured to a mounting surface. Each magnet has an RFID tag secured to a magnet surface, with each RFID tag having stored therein a unique identification character serving to identify the magnet. A stator has a plurality of pole teeth separated by slots, each pole tooth having a power coil wound thereabout. A plurality of RFID interrogation antennae are mounted adjacent the pole teeth. An RFID reader generates r.f. interrogation signals broadcast by the antennae to the RFID tags. The RFID tags respond by broadcasting the unique identification character whenever an interrogation signal is sensed as the tag enters the region of a pole tooth. This position and magnet identification information is received by the RFID reader, which processes the information and sends it to a motor controller and driver unit, which supplies operating power to the individual power coils.