Abstract: There is provided a safety flasher system for a vehicle having a brake pedal, brake lights, an emergency flasher switch, and emergency flasher lights. The system is to be operable during a panic stop or a brake failure, and comprises: a first switch, which is electrically coupled to the brake lights and operable to activate the brake lights when the brake pedal is depressed under normal braking conditions; a second switch electrically coupled to the emergency flasher lights and operable to activate the emergency flasher lights when the brake pedal is depressed under severe braking conditions; a holding relay electrically coupled to the second switch for holding the emergency flasher lights in the activated mode; and an electrical coupling between the second switch, the holding relay and the emergency flasher switch wherein the emergency flasher lights are deactivated by moving the emergency flasher switch to an on position followed by moving the emergency flasher switch to an off position.

Abstract: A multiple dimension vector-based occupancy sensor. One or more sensors (for example, ultrasonic and/or infrared sensors) are used to produce one or more occupancy estimator vectors. The individual dimensions of the one or more occupancy estimator vectors are combined using a fusion based detection algorithm to produce a combined estimator signal. The combined estimator is then used to switch electrical loads when the combined estimator signal is above a predetermined threshold. The result is an occupancy sensor that has a very high probability of occupancy detection and a low probability of false tripping.

Abstract: A doorbell system includes first and second pushbutton and an RF transmitter activatable by the first and second pushbutton. An RF receiver is configured to receive RF signals from the RF transmitter. The doorbell system further includes a microphone. A first storage device of the doorbell system stores a first sound. A second storage device is configured to record a second sound through the microphone. A playback device is operatively associated with the RF receiver and the storage devices to enable a user to select one of the sounds by pressing the first pushbutton and to play the selected one of the sounds by pressing the second pushbutton.

Abstract: A system is described for detecting at least one event of interest. The system comprises a detector, a programmable controller, and a network. Upon detection of an event of interest, the detector communicates that information to the programmable controller through the network. The programmable controller allows a user, who may be in diverse geographic locations, to control the detector.

Abstract: A home security system which includes sensors 11 to 18 that detect an alarming situation in different locations inside a facility, cameras 21 to 26 that capture images of different locations inside a facility, and a controller 30 that memorizes the associations between sensors 11 to 18 and cameras 21 to 26, and when any of the sensors 11 to 18 detects an alarming situation, has cameras that are associated with the sensors that have detected an alarming situation capture images based on the associations, and also updates the memorized associations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating an object. In one embodiment, the occurrence of a plurality of transitions between a first light level and a second light level is detected. If a time period between at least some of the transitions is determined to be less than a predetermined value, an alert signal is emitted. In another embodiment, the alert signal is emitted if an ambient light level is detected to be below a predetermined threshold and the object is detected to not be in a predetermined axial orientation.

Abstract: A waste segregation compliance system and method including a processor, a waste receptacle configured to detect a deposit of an item therein and to provide a deposit signal to the processor, and a detector configured to detect a person and to provide a location signal to the processor in response to detection of the person.

Abstract: A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

Abstract: A baby monitor system with a parent unit communicable with a baby unit having a soothing unit is provided. In an embodiment for the baby monitor system of the present invention, the baby unit is responsive to receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted from the parent unit and the parent unit is responsive to receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted from the baby unit. In an embodiment for a method of the present invention, a method for monitoring a baby is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal representative of an audible sound at a baby unit from a parent unit, receiving a signal representative of an audible sound at a parent unit from a baby unit, and actuating a soothing unit included in the baby unit.

Abstract: An ice detector has a pair of probes, each of which is used for determining the accretion of ice thereon. One of the probes in the assembly is configured so the smaller droplets of supercoooled water are inertially separated and flow away from the one probe. The ice accretion on the one probe is primarily from large (50 microns or greater) supercooled droplets. The ice accreting on the one probe is therefore biased to supercooled large droplets. The probes are connected to detection circuitry that will determine the ratio of the rates of icing between the probes so the presence of supercooled large droplets can be determined. In one form, a flow guide is arranged to create an airflow that carries smaller droplets past one of the probes without impinging on the probe, but the higher inertia, supercooled large droplets will impinge on that one probe.

Abstract: A temperature indicator is mounted within a wheel hub to generate a warning signal when a wheel end component overheats. The temperature indicator comprises a thermal battery that is activated only when the wheel end component exceed a predetermined temperature. Once activated the battery powers an RF transmitter to generate a wireless warning signal that is transmitted to a remote receiver to display a warning.

Abstract: A fault detection system detecting malfunctions or deteriorations, which may result in an inverter fault, is provided. The system has a temperature sensor installed on a semiconductor module to monitor a temperature rise rate. It is judged that an abnormal condition has occurred if the thermal resistance is increased by the deterioration of a soldering layer of the semiconductor module or by drive circuit malfunctions and, as a result, the relation between an operation mode and the temperature rise rate falls outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light indicator, comprising an indicator element (2) illuminable by a light source (1). The indicator element is manufactured from a substantially transparent material provided with an informative indicator pattern. The indicator element (2) is designed as a waveguide panel, wherein light beams propagate with total reflection and get outcoupled therefrom with a diffractive outcoupling system (2u), such as a grating structure or the like, which is configured as an indcator pattern, for producing an indicator pattern (2a) activable in the indicator element (2) by the action of light, such that divergent recesses and/or grooves of various sizes and/or shape constitute divergent local gratings of various sizes and/or shapes, such as multi-shaped and/or binary pixels and/or units, the filling factor, shape, profile and/or size thereof being optimized in such a way that the difraction efficiency is a function of place.

Abstract: A wireless remote-controlled lighting system is composed of a remote controller module and a remote control receiver installed in each of at least one addressable light bulb. Each addressable light bulb has assigned thereto a unique address, which is stored in a memory at each bulb. The remote controller module is used to emit a remote control signal to be received by the remote control receiver, the address for which has been entered into the remote controller module by a user. Once it has been determined that a transmitted address code matches the unique address stored in one of the addressable light bulbs, the bulb will be triggered into the applicable on/off state responsive to a control code transmitted with the address code.

Abstract: A remote control, particularly for a home entertainment system, includes a display screen generating a query regarding the status of the components. The status may include whether the component is on or off or whether media is in a media player. The remote control receives user input indicating the status of the components in response to the query from the remote control. The remote control further includes a transmitter for generating the control signal to the component based upon the indication of the component status from the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining position in a pipe provides for the precise determination of location and associated characteristics of each pipe joint of a well, cross country pipeline or other fluid transmission line. The system includes a passive or active radio identification device at each joint in the pipe or casing string. The devices are preferably sealed within the resilient seal positioned between each pipe or casing joint. A pipeline tool includes a radio transmitter and receiver, with the transmitter transmitting on a frequency selected for resonating the identification devices. The resonant response of each device is detected by a receiver in the pipeline tool, with the response transmitted to the surface via the wireline to which the tool is connected. Alternatively, the tool may include storage information means until the tool can be recovered from the well or pipe.

Abstract: A fiberoptic transceiver system for use in an industrial paint spraying apparatus where analog information from flow sensors in the flow meter on the spray head is converted to a single channel digital signal for transmission on a fiberoptic cable to a receiver for decoding into an analog signal representing flow rate and a signal indicating flow direction. The encoding of two signals onto one channel is accomplished by encoding the flow rate as the frequency of the digital signal and the direction as the pulse width. The direction of the flow is determined by comparing the two analog signals from the flow meter and determining which signal is lagging the other.

Abstract: To ensure that of all information transmitted through broadcast communications, only the information corresponding to the traveling route of a mobile body will be efficiently displayed at the information terminal of a car navigation system or the like, the information terminal is provided with: a means for receiving the spot or area information being transmitted, and receiving information that has been linked to the spot or area information being transmitted, a means for judging whether the spot or area information that has been received above is included in part of the spot or area information corresponding to the traveling route of the mobile body, and storage media for retaining the received spot or area information that the above-mentioned judgment means has judged to be included in the spot or area information corresponding to the traveling route of the mobile body.

Abstract: Trainline controller including testing of signal quality on a trainline network by commanding each node to transmitter calibration signal. A signal detector is connected to the trainline at a common junction with a head end termination circuit. A stuck-on transmitter is determined by a transmission current drawn by the transceiver is on for a present amount of time.

Abstract: The invention is a method of calling a group of tourists back to their conveyance, in which each passenger is given a portable alerting device when they leave the conveyance. When the conveyance is ready to leave, a transmitter on the conveyance transmits a wireless signal which causes the alerting device to vibrate or give off a light or sound signal, alerting the passenger to return to the conveyance for departure.

Abstract: A high-resolution position sensor device for use in precise positioning of servomechanisms, by providing increased resolution using of an encoder mounted on the shaft of a motor, which produces transition pulses through a light-sensitive arrangement using a photodetector. Each time the pulse makes a transition because the groove of the encoder wheel has passed, a reset signal is produced which resets to zero the number of clock pulses which have been measured for that interval between the transition pulses. The transition pulses and the time between them changes with changes in motor speed, while the system clock pulse rate remains fixed. The invention provides a more accurate position sensor, which operates by generating more transition pulses than the encoder itself actually generates. If the encoder produces transition pulses at a given resolution, the sensor device produces output pulses having a higher resolution.

Abstract: A decoder for decoding data transmitted between superconductor circuits. Interleaved data and clock pulses are applied to a clock input of a flip-flop circuit and one input of an AND gate. The output of the flip-flop circuit is a clock signal, and is applied to a delay circuit to be put in phase with the data pulses in the interleaved signal. The delayed clock signal is then applied to the other input of the AND gate, so that when a data pulse occurs in the interleaved signal it aligns with a clock pulse and is outputted from the AND gate. The clock signal from the flip-flop circuit is also sent to the input of the flip-flop circuit through a delay circuit that delays the signal more than one half of the clock period and less than one clock period. This delayed clock signal sets the flip-flop circuit to the “1” state after the data pulse in the interleaved signal are input to the flip-flop circuit so that the data pulses are not outputted from the flip-flop circuit.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) comprises a current DAC, first and second resistance circuits, and an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA). The first resistance circuit is coupled between a first node and an output of the OTA. The second resistance circuit is coupled between the first node and a power supply node. The current DAC is arranged to provide an analog current to a first node in response to a digital input signal. The OTA has a first input that receives a stable DC reference voltage signal, and a second input that is coupled to the first node. A charge pump provides the local supply voltage of the OTA to improve the system dynamic range. The output voltage corresponds to the sum of the voltages across the first and second resistance circuits. An increase in the current produced by the current DAC causes a decrease in the output voltage.

Abstract: A method for radar-based gauging of the level of a substance in a tank (13) having at least one interfering structure, e.g. a beam (16a); an agitator (16b) or a tank side wall (16c), comprises transmitting a microwave signal in a predetermined polarization state (LHCP) towards the surface (14) of the substance and the at least one interfering structure; detecting, separately in two different polarization states (LHCP, RHCP), microwave signals (32, 33, 34) as reflected against the surface of the substance and against the at least one interfering structure; distinguishing based on signal strengths of the microwave signals detected separately in the two different polarization states, the detected microwave signal (32), which has been reflected against the surface of the substance; and calculating based on a propagation time of the distinguished microwave signal the level of the substance in the tank.

Abstract: A method for radar-based gauging of the level of a substance in a tank (13) having at least one interfering structure (16a-c), comprises the steps of: (i) transmitting a microwave signal in a plurality of radiation lobes (15a-b; 15a-d), each of which being individually directed towards the substance and at least one of which being directed towards the interfering structure; (ii) for each of the radiation lobes detecting temporally resolved the microwave signal as reflected against the substance, and for at least one of the lobes detecting the microwave signal as reflected against the interfering structure; (iii) based on signal strengths of the detected microwave signals, distinguishing the detected microwave signals, which have been reflected against the substance; and (iv) based on a propagation time of at least one of the microwave signals distinguished as those, which have been reflected against the substance, calculating the level of the substance.

Abstract: A cross-link antenna system including a plurality of spacecraft in a constellation is provided. Each of the spacecraft includes an antenna. One or more of the antennas has a number of antenna elements that can be controllably energized. Determined or selected phases and amplitudes can be individually applied through phase shifters and amplifiers to the antenna elements. In determining phase values for energizing the antenna elements to provide the receive beam in the direction of the current transmit antenna of one of the spacecraft in the constellation, location information is obtained for the transmit spacecraft and each of the beam receiving spacecraft. Additionally, attitude information for each receive spacecraft is found and location information associated with each of the antenna elements for each receive antenna is obtained.

Abstract: A system for capturing a virtual model of a site includes a range scanner for scanning the site to generate range data indicating distances from the range scanner to real-world objects. The system also includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the range scanner for acquiring GPS data for the range scanner at a scanning location. In addition, the system includes a communication interface for outputting a virtual model comprising the range data and the GPS data.

Abstract: This invention provides a phased array antenna comprising an input, a feed network electronically coupled to the input, a plurality of radiating elements, a plurality of continuously voltage tunable phase shifters for receiving signals from the feed network and providing phase shifts for the signals prior to transmitting the signals to the radiating elements, and a controller for controlling the phase shift provided by the phase shifters. The phased array antennas can be configured to produce beams that can be scanned in one dimension (one-dimensional) or two dimensions (two-dimensional) by using continuously adjustable phase shifters that are based on low cost, low loss voltage-tunable dielectric materials.

Abstract: An interferometer array system for processing pulse signals from a target emitter includes an n element interferometer array of radiator elements for producing radiator signals in response to the pulse signals from the target emitter. M processing channels process radiator signal elements, where m<n. A switch matrix is connected between the array and the processing channels, switching different combinations of the radiator elements to the channels within a single pulse to achieve processing of all radiator signals within a single pulse of said pulse signals from the target emitter.

Abstract: A detection apparatus is provided to detect the direction of arrival and the position of an emission source of radio wave with high accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for precise geolocation of low-power, broadband, amplitude-modulated rf and microwave signals having poor coherency. The invention provides a basis for dramatic improvements in RF receiver technology, offering much higher sensitivity, very strong rejection of unintended signals, and novel direction finding techniques. When mounted on an airborne surveillance platform, the invention can detect and geolocate weak, broadband, incoherent RF and/or microwave signals. Embodiments of the invention are implemented by dual channel receivers (heterodyne or tuned-RF) that use crystal detection and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis for geolocation. Geolocation is accomplished using a subsystem of phased arrays and an angle of arrival technique.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an antenna structure. In one embodiment, the method includes forming an antenna trace on a substrate proximate a ground plane of the substrate. In addition, the method includes creating an insulation region extending through the substrate and located between the antenna trace and the ground plane.

Abstract: The aerial comprises an element (20) capable of radiating or receiving an electromagnetic field, a conductive plane (22), and an anisotropic composite 24, formed by a stack of alternate ferromagnetic and electrically insulated layers. These layers or film are perpendicular to the conductive plane and to the electrical component (E) of the radiated or received field.

Abstract: A stacked patch antenna is disclosed which includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element for cooperating with the first antenna element. These antenna elements are preferably a passive parasitic element in combination with a driven element. A flexible substrate is provided having first and second opposing surfaces, each respectively in contact with the first and second antenna elements. The flexible substrate preferably has a desired dielectric property to provide a desired capacitance between the antenna elements. One or both of the antenna elements are formed on the respective opposing surface. The antenna element is preferably formed by printing.

Abstract: The device has a printed-circuit board (5), on one side of which at least one antenna (1) is located and, on the other side of which electrical circuits (3) are located. An electromagnetic shield between the antenna (1) and the electrical circuits (3) is realized in a manner that is simple with regard for production engineering by locating a feeder network (13, 15)—developed using a coplanar circuit technique and with which the at least one antenna (1) is contacted—on the antenna-side surface of the printed-circuit board (5), and by covering the antenna-side surface of the printed-circuit board (5) with the connected-to-ground outer conductor (45) of the coplanar circuit to such an extent that the required shield between the antenna (1) and the electrical circuits (3) is produced as a result.

Abstract: A description is given of a miniaturized directional antenna with a ceramic substrate (2) having at least one resonant printed wiring structure (3, 4, 5), in particular for use in the high-frequency and microwave ranges, which antenna is particularly suitable in that an electrically conductive motherboard (1, 11) is provided on which the substrate is arranged, while the at least one printed wiring structure (3, 4, 5) extends with one end as far as the motherboard. A radiation characteristic directed largely only in a half-space is achieved thereby.

Abstract: A multiband antenna applicable as an internal antenna in small mobile terminals especially. The antenna (200) is a PIFA placed inside the housing of a mobile station with at least two operating bands. A first resonance falling into a lower operating band is produced by means of a radiating conductive pattern (B21) in planar element (220). To improve the characteristics of the antenna in the upper operating band the planar element further comprises a slot (232) which goes between the feed point (F) and the short-circuit point (S) of the antenna. The radiator provided by this slot can be considered a quarter-wave slot radiator or a half-wave loop radiator. The PIFA further may have another radiator, which resonates in the upper operation band. By means of said slot the upper operating band of an antenna can be widened or the radiation in the horizontal plane in the upper operating band can be made more effective.

Abstract: An efficient antenna exhibiting primarily circular polarization is described. Electrical performance is similar to that of a patch antenna having the same volume; however, greater bandwidth is achieved. The antenna consists of four radiating elements arranged in a semi-spiral configuration on a dielectric material, with a shunt feed system. The novel feed system incorporates a phase delay line, with two adjacent elements fed. The other two elements are parasitically coupled to the first two, with a 180 degree phase difference, resulting in a progressive phase shift of 90 degrees between the four elements. Circular polarization is a product of the symmetric geometry, as opposed to a circularly polarized patch antenna, which utilizes an offset feed. The antenna may be placed directly on a printed wiring board having a ground plane. The antenna is well suited for GPS applications and has a smaller major surface area than a patch antenna with comparable performance.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement comprises a patch conductor (102) supported substantially parallel to a ground plane (104). The patch conductor includes first (106) and second (108) connection points, for connection to radio circuitry, and further incorporates a slot (202) between the first and second points. The antenna can be operated in a plurality of modes by variations in the impedances connected to the first and second points. For example, if signals are fed to the first point (106) then a high frequency antenna is obtained by connecting the second point (108) to ground and a low frequency antenna by leaving the second point (108) open circuit. A wide range of embodiments having alternative connection arrangements are possible.

Abstract: A microwave antenna for use in a sectorized cellular communication system comprises a wide-flare pyramidal horn having two pairs of opposed flared side walls. At least one of the two pairs of opposed walls has corrugated interior surfaces. The length of the horn and the flare angle of the walls having the corrugated interior surfaces are selected to produce a ratio &Dgr;e/&lgr; greater than 1.5, where &Dgr;e/&lgr;=[a/(2/&lgr;)] tan (&agr;e/2) is the spherical-wave error of said horn, &lgr; is the free space wavelength of the microwave signals to be transmitted by said antenna, &agr; is the horn's aperture width, and &agr;e the half-angle of the horn in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: Dual polarisation antenna having low side lobes, useful in a satellite radio communication system. The antenna includes a reflector assembly (12) illuminated by a feed source (11). The reflector assembly (12) includes a front reflector (15) that reflects two electromagnetic waves orthogonally polarized and each at a different frequency, an auxiliary reflector (16) that reflects one of the orthogonally polarized electromagnetic waves, and a deflecting surface (13) that totally diffracts the orthogonally polarized electromagnetic wave that passes through the auxiliary reflector (16).

Abstract: A hybrid reflector antenna particularly suited for reflecting a frequency band in a satellite includes a central portion fully reflective to the frequency band. A first annular band is disposed directly adjacent to the central portion. The first annular band is partially reflective to the frequency band. The reflector may include several annular bands having various degrees of reflectivity and thus attenuation. The present invention may be implemented using two such reflectors, one for transmitting and one for receiving in a satellite, for either single or multiple beam applications. This invention offers more compact and lower mass/cost antenna configurations compared to conventional antennas from multiple beam satellite payloads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reflective antennas. With previous antennas, the beamwidth of a reflected signal decreases linearly as the frequency of a transmitted signal increases. This is because the beamwidth for a normal antenna is a function of several parameters, including the frequency of the signal and the diameter of the reflective antenna. A beamwidth that decreases with frequency is undesirable because a decreased beamwidth results in a smaller user area on the ground. The present invention provides an antenna that maintains a constant beamwidth by using a mesh whose spacing increases with the distance from a central point.

Abstract: An image signal generating unit supplies a single image signal to multiple image display units having different unit numbers. Embedded in the image signal is an index signal designating the image display units on which the image signal is to be displayed. Each image display unit compares its unit number with the index signal to select displayable frames of the image signal, preferably storing and displaying the most recent selected frame. Each image display unit can thereby display a different image. The image signal may have a standard format.

Abstract: An image signal generating unit supplies a single image signal to multiple image display units having different unit numbers. Embedded in the image signal is an index signal designating the image display units on which the image signal is to be displayed. Each image display unit compares its unit number with the index signal to select displayable frames of the image signal, preferably storing and displaying the most recent selected frame. Each image display unit can thereby display a different image. The image signal may have a standard format.

Abstract: A stereoscopic display system which includes a processor and a display device is described. The processor parses a left eye image of a stereoscopic image into a plurality of vertical left eye strips and parses a right eye image of the stereoscopic image into a plurality of vertical right eye strips. The processor then combines the left eye strips and the right eye strips into a display image by interleaving the left eye strips with the right eye strips. The display image is provided to the display device, which includes a lenticular layer which acts as a light guide to steer light from each of the left eye strips and the right eye strips to no more than one corresponding eye of a left eye and a right eye of a viewer, such that the viewer can perceive the display image as having three-dimensions without using special goggles, glasses, or the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel scanning technique aimed at reducing the phenomenon of contouring. The scanning technique of the invention consists in adding at least one redundant subscan SP0 to SP4. The purpose of the redundant subscans SP0 to SP4 is to place an additional illumination time which is privileged. The redundant subscan SP0 to SP4 thus introduced makes it possible to have a steady illumination time virtually independent of the grey level and therefore to minimize the high-weight switching effects.

Abstract: A drive circuit of plasma display panel (PDP) unit including at least a pair of electrodes and discharge cells connected thereto, further comprises a first path having a first switch and a first coil for applying voltage to the discharge cells; a second path having a second switch and a second coil for expelling the voltage applied to the discharge cells; and electric charge accumulating devices connected to the first path and the second path, wherein the inductance value of the second coil is larger than the inductance value of the first coil.

Abstract: The present application discloses a characteristic adjusting method of executing a step of changing the characteristics of display devices in an image display apparatus. In particular, the present invention discloses a configuration in which target values for changes in characteristics are obtained by reducing the high-frequency components of the spatial distribution of the characteristics of the display devices.

Abstract: An electron source comprises a plurality of electron-emitting devices and a drive means for driving the devices. The drive means applies a voltage above a threshold level to selected ones of the plurality of electron-emitting devices according to an image signal to cause the selected devices to emit electrons. The drive means also applies a voltage pulse for bringing the plurality of electron-emitting devices into a high resistance state. The voltage pulse for bringing into a high resistance state has a polarity reverse to that of the voltage for causing electron emission and has a voltage rising rate of greater than 10 V/sec.