Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus, includes notice unit for raising an alarm to call attention, control unit for setting intensity associated with an attention degree of the alarm of the notice unit, detection unit for detecting a determined state, and execution unit for urging the notice unit to output the alarm, irrespective of setting the intensity by the control unit, if the predetermined state is detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for indicating hardware statuses of a display device. The method includes detecting a predetermined signal received by the display device for generating a detecting result, generating an audio signal according to the detecting result, and outputting the audio signal. An apparatus thereof includes a detecting unit, a control unit, and an output unit. The detecting unit is used for detecting a predetermined signal received by the display device to generate a detecting result. The control unit is coupled to the detecting unit for generating an audio signal according to the detecting result. The output unit is coupled to the control unit for outputting the audio signal.

Abstract: An alerting element for use with occupant seating to alert a seat occupant with a haptic and/or audible sensation. The alerting element being suitable for use with any type of seat, including vehicle seats. The alerting element optionally including a striking element for striking a structural component of the seat, and thereby, generating an alerting sensation.

Abstract: In an intersection information provision system, multiple cameras are installed oriented towards the direction where each road extends from the intersection. Each camera captures as an image or video the state ranging from the intersection to each road. Therefore, the area of the captured image by each camera is narrowed down. When this captured image is displayed in a display unit of a navigation apparatus in a vehicle, the driver of the vehicle can perform safety check easily. Furthermore, according to the traveling direction of the vehicle at the intersection, a display pattern of several captured images to be displayed is determined. According to the determined display pattern, multiple captured images are displayed in order. Therefore, image information required to pass through the intersection safely can be offered without shortage to the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A remote engine starting system starts an engine when an engine start command signal is transmitted from a remote controller or an ignition key. The system includes an immobilizer ECU, which sets an immobilizer system to prohibit vehicle travel and drives an LED to flash to thereby indicate the vehicle travel prohibition. When the engine is started by the ignition key, the immobilizer system is unset and the LED stops the indication of the vehicle travel prohibition. When the engine is started by the remote controller, the immobilizer system is unset but the LED continues to flash to indicate the vehicle travel prohibition.

Abstract: There are provided a communications system between a vehicle, a home and a center, a vehicle information communicating apparatus and an indoor information processing apparatus which imposes no limitation on communicating time enables bulk communication. The communications system comprises an on-board server and DSRC on-board equipment which are installed on the vehicle 10 and includes a DSRC base station 23 residing outside the vehicle which can communicate with the DSRC on-board equipment and a PC or a home server 22 residing indoors which is connected to the DSRC base station 23, the communication system having a detection means installed on the vehicle and/or an indoor detection means for detecting the state of the vehicle 10 and a communication activating means for activating the communication of information between the on-board server and the PC or the home server 22 using the detection result of either or both of the detection means.

Abstract: A wheel condition detector and a wheel condition monitor, each having a case provided in an internal space defined between a tire and a wheel member, the tire and the wheel member forming a wheel. The case has a detection space formed therein and a communication section for communicating an interior and an exterior of the detection space with each other. The wheel condition detector or the wheel condition monitor has: a condition sensor located in the detection space that detects a condition of the wheel; and a restriction section that restricts an entry of foreign matter present in the internal space into the detection space through the communication section.

Abstract: An aircraft tire condition monitoring system includes a reader mounted in the fuselage of an aircraft and an antenna that defines a peripheral boundary proximate the circumference of a tire of the aircraft. The antenna is electrically coupled to the reader to facilitate the communication of signals from a transponder located within the tire. The antenna may be located within the tire, or it may be located on the aircraft fuselage.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system may adjust the power it consumes. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a receiver that receives a first signal having a signal strength, determines the signal strength, and causes a second signal to be sent if the signal strength is more than a desired signal strength.

Abstract: A tire monitoring system for a vehicle having tires determines if two tires share a same side of the vehicle based on a state of each of the two tires. In at least one embodiment, a first output signal indicative of a state of a first tire and a second output signal indicative of a state of a second tire are transmitted and received. A determination as to whether the first tire and the second tire are on a same side of the vehicle based on the state of the first tire and the state of the second tire is made.

Abstract: A wheel position detecting apparatus comprises transmitters, a triggering device, and a receiver. The transmitters are attached to the plurality of wheels respectively. Each transmitter transmits a frame responsively to a triggering signal from the triggering device. The frame includes data indicating a reception intensity of the triggering signal. The triggering device is disposed in a vehicle body and outputs the triggering signal toward the transmitters attached to the plurality of wheels. This triggering device is poisoned nearest to a specified wheel among the plurality of wheels to which the triggering signal is outputted, the specified wheel being influenced most heavily by noise generated in the vehicle. The receiver, disposed to the vehicle body, receives the frame and uses the data indicating the reception intensity of the triggering signal to detect positions of the wheels by determining which transmitter is attached to which wheel.

Abstract: A safety system that reminds parents when their children are still strapped inside the car. The preferred system monitors the status of the driver's seatbelt buckle and the child's buckle, and includes at least two different alarms. The first alarm, which is not offending and can only be heard inside the Vehicle, is sounded after the driver unbuckles and the child remains buckled in the car. The second alarm, which is louder than the first and can be heard outside the vehicle, is sounded after a set amount of time has expired since the driver unbuckled, and yet the child remains buckled in the car. The second alarm is intended to draw the attention of members of the public, and on a hot day could save the child's life.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of system, devices, components and methods for controllably configuring the brightness of light emitted by an automotive LED illumination system. The brightness levels of LEDs, or clusters or groups of LEDs, may be varied smoothly or in step-wise fashion to produce virtually any desired pattern of collimated light. The pattern may be varied in respect of time, space or both time and space. Light and other types of sensors may be employed to provide feedback control as a further means of controllably configuring the brightness of light emitted by such a system in response to changes in external and other conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vehicle systems for alerting operators of other vehicles, pedestrians, or passerby regarding vehicle position relative to other vehicles, and more particularly a method and apparatus for simultaneously activating both the vehicle headlights and horn when the vehicle horn is activated by the driver to alert the operator of another vehicle, a pedestrian, or passerby regarding the first vehicle's position.

Abstract: A system for testing PLC equipment, network conditions, and protocol performance is provided. Noise measurements can be made at a single point, and protocol traffic, signal levels, and upper-layer parameters of any transmissions by other equipment on the same network are logged. Alternatively, a plurality of units located at different points in the PLC network are at least part of a distributed test system. As a result, coordinated tests can be conducted by multiple nodes, such as point-to-point network transfer function measurement and analysis, estimation of the location of noise sources and system null and resonances, receiver operating curve (ROC) measurements with actual protocol modulation, or any other suitable tests. Preferably, the test devices are able to test using a plurality of PLC protocols. In some devices, PLC protocol-specific modules can be added or removed as desired to increase, decrease or change the test device's protocol abilities.

Abstract: In order to provide a method as well as a communication device (100, 100) for communication between and among mobile nodes (10, 12, 14, 16), in particular between and among vehicles, comprising—at least one transmission unit (20), in particular at least one sender block, for broadcasting at least one message (22), in particular at least one hello message and/or at least one warning message, and at least one receiver unit (30), in particular at least one receptor block, for sensing at least one arriving message (32, 34, 36), in particular at least one hello message and/or at least one warning message, being broadcasted by at least one neighboring node (12, 14, 16), wherein a flexible and immediate adjustment of the transmitting power in accordance with the transmitting conditions, for example with the traffic density, is guaranteed, it is proposed to provide at least one controller unit (40), in particular at least one relay control box, for calculating and/or for selecting the transmitting power for broadcast

Abstract: A sensor node for intermittently sensing data in a short cycle includes a control unit for acquiring information by driving the sensor, a radio communication unit for transmitting the information acquired by the control unit and a battery for supplying the control unit. The control unit includes a clock supply unit (RTC) for supplying the control unit with clocks at a predetermined frequency. A sensor control unit starts the supply of power to the sensor when the measurement period has begun, maintains the power supply to the sensor even if the control unit has shifted to the standby state during the measurement period, and shuts down the power supply to the sensor when the measurement period has been completed. A measurement unit is also provided for acquiring information from the sensor every time the latter has shifted to the operational state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an RF telemetry system and method for enabling communication between an implantable medical device and an external device with an improved tolerance to noise from external sources. Multiple communications channels at different frequencies are provided which are synchronously switched between during a communications session by both devices.

Abstract: An assistive communication device of the type on which a user can compose a message to be spoken by the device, using an input device to select items on a display to construct the message, can operate in a mode suitable for visually impaired and/or inexperienced users by aurally stepping through the available choices, explaining to the user the consequences of selecting each choice. The order in which choices are presented in these modes may differ from a mode in which they would be presented to an experienced or fully-sighted user. Even for an experienced user, the order in which choices are highlighted on the display may differ according the user's usage history. The device may be connected to external communications, including a telephone line, a data network for electronic mail, or a caregiver alert device. The caregiver alert device may be portable, or may be a caregivers' station console.

Abstract: A child locator that enables a parent to locate a child includes a master unit for wear by a parent and a monitored unit for wear by a child. The master unit may actuate an on-board alarm when its processor determines that the monitored unit is beyond a first predetermined distance and may actuate an alarm on the monitored unit when the separation distance is beyond another distance. The first and second predetermined distances may be the same of different. The child locator may also actuate the monitored unit manually and the alarms may be audible or visual. Once an alarm on the monitored unit is activated, a signal from the master unit is required to deactivate it. The master unit may include a directional antenna for determining a position on the monitored unit. The monitored unit may deliver voice data to a speaker at the monitored unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of discovering a remotely-located control device in a wireless control system having a plurality of control devices. Each of the control devices of the control system has a unique serial number. A query message is first transmitted to the plurality of control devices. An acknowledgement message is transmitted from the first control device in response to the query message. The acknowledgement message is transmitted in a random transmission slot and contains a random data byte. The first control device is identified by the random transmission slot and the random data byte. The serial number of the first control device is requested, and transmitted from the first control device. At this time, the control device is operable to be assigned a unique device address.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards apparatuses, systems and methods for providing improved sensor-based patient monitoring and tracking. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided for adjusting a vital sign alarm threshold of a vital status sensor as a function of a patient's GPS data, which may comprise: altitude data, velocity data, and position data. In accordance with another aspect, a method is provided for adjusting one or more alarm detection parameters based in part on a patient's calculated heart rate variability (HRV) data. According to yet another aspect, an electronic triage tag is configured to include a colored card insertion region for inserting a colored card for preventing the device from being inadvertently activated, an LCD screen and a series of LEDs for displaying the triage status of a patient (red, yellow, green, black).

Abstract: A cargo security sensing system includes a smart container having a sensor, wherein the smart container is a standard shipping cargo container that includes the sensor. The sensor may be any suitable type of sensing device capable of sensing changes in environmental conditions. The sensing system includes a plurality of dumb containers in corresponding relation to the smart container, wherein, the dumb container may be any suitable shipment container, including the same type of cargo shipment container or other type, as the smart container, excluding the sensor. The system for cargo security provides for the smart container to detect an event occurring with respect to either the smart container itself and/or the nearby dumb containers. An event may be an occurrence detected by the sensor, such that the smart container may notify of any potential security breaches in any of the containers.

Abstract: A personal article, such as a handbag, comprising a wireless companion proximity detector system which includes one or more electronic components. The electronic components may be a transmitter for transmitting a signal, receiver for receiving a signal, or a notifier. In some cases, the wireless signals may be RF signals. In some cases, one or more of the electronic components are attached to the personal article.

Abstract: An emergency alert system with the capability of providing audible alerts upon the detection of a possible emergency condition or a malfunctioning system component is provided. An audible alert may include voice phrases that are selected and output based, at least in part, on information associated with the possible emergency condition or malfunctioning system component. The noise in an area may be received and the volume of the outputted voice phrase may be changed based, at least in part, on the noise in the area.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a portable alarm having a base unit with an electronic package. At least one sensor is associated with the electronics to transmit signals to the electronics in the event of a breach. The electronic package in turn signals a central monitoring station, as well as transmits a signal to an audible or visual alarm coupled with the base unit. Also, the base unit includes a device to selectively program the electronics to enable the user to utilize particular programs. A bracket, which retains and secures the base unit, may be secured to a surface to enable desirable positioning of the base unit within a structure.

Abstract: An intrusion alarm system in which intrusion into an protected space is detected as a variation in air pressure. The variable pressure detector uses a membrane and a displacement detector. One side of the membrane is exposed to the protected space and the opposite side of the membrane is enveloped by an enclosure with a limited pressure coupling to the protected space. A signal from the displacement detector is analyzed by a processor to identify rapid changes in air pressure to activate the security alarm. The same type of a variable pressure detector may be used to control electric lights and other devices in response to people entering into a room.

Abstract: A metal detector (1) used for identifying contaminants (35) in products (35). The detector (1) includes an oscillator coil assembly (10) that may be formed as a combination of pairs of series wound coils (15, 18) and pairs of parallel wound coils (16, 17). A pair of input coils (13, 14) defines the boundaries of a region (39) within which the oscillator coil assembly (10) resides. A first signal (8) is generated by the first input coil (13) in response to the presence of a metallic object (35) while a second signal (24) is generated by the second input coil (14) in response to the presence of the metallic object (35). By measuring the ratio of the first signal (8) to the second signal (24) the physical location of a metal object within the metal detector cavity (7) can be determined.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an access portal through an enclosure around a hazard comprises a line-scan camera mounted above the portal so that its linear field of view extends along a generally opposite threshold of the portal and can detect electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object passing through the portal. The apparatus distinguishes signals from the camera corresponding to items that are intended to pass through the portal for example on a conveyor from signals corresponding to items, particularly intruders that are not intended to pass through the portal. The apparatus preferably comprise an elongate sodium discharge lamp mounted above the portal and provided with a reflector so that monochromatic light therefrom is concentrated in a narrow strip extending along the threshold and the camera is sensitive only to this monochromatic light.

Abstract: A privacy protection method designed to prevent or authorize a communication between a reader and an RFID label situated in an efficiency zone. In the method a) there is permanent detection of possible variation of an ambient magnetic field in one or more frequency bands allocated to the RFID labels, and b) in the event of detection of an instantaneous variation of the local magnetic field and in the absence of inhibition, a parameter value of a magnetic circuit is modified so that the instantaneous value of the local magnetic field is modified.

Abstract: A personal article, such as a handbag, comprising a wireless companion proximity detector system which includes one or more electronic components. The electronic components may be a transmitter for transmitting a signal, receiver for receiving a signal, or a notifier. In some cases, the wireless signals may be RF signals. In some cases, one or more of the electronic components are attached to the personal article.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for communicating the shelf position of an item within a storage unit. An item to be located in the storage unit is identified. The storage unit system determines the shelf position of the identified item. The system then communicates the shelf position of the identified item to the user. If the user requests multiple items, the optimal sequence of retrieval for the items is determined based on a user configurable algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention is an innovative system and method for managing RFID elements which provides a solution for improving the efficiency, reliability and security of RFID systems. From the stand point of the users, the proposed system provides a unified interface to the raw data, giving them full and continuous access to all tags in a given RFID system. The invention enables operating a RFID system in diverse and less than optimal conditions which would otherwise compromise the integrity of the data. For instance, the proposed solution can achieve high degrees of accuracy in environments where liquid and metal distractions tender tags otherwise unreachable. In addition, the system provides means for successfully accomplishing transference of advance commands such as read, write, lock and suspend to tags which are in noisy and multi tag environments, as well as tags which are in motion or are in remote distances from a reader.

Abstract: An over voltage protection device on a radio frequency identification tag or in a radio frequency receiver comprises electro-magnetic coupling means between a base station and the radio frequency identification tag or radio frequency receiver. At least one ferroelectric capacitor is electrically connected to the coupling means. As long as the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor remains below its coercive voltage, its capacitance will be linear and the tag or radio frequency receiver will behave normally. However, if the voltage across the ferroelectric capacitor exceeds the coercive voltage, the ferroelectric capacitance will experience polarization reversal and exhibit its non-linear and dissipative behavior. Connecting the ferroelectric capacitor in suitable ways to the coupling means, will result in a dumping of the voltage transferred to the electronics present on the tag or radio frequency receiver. This electronics is then protected against excessive voltages that could cause it damage.

Abstract: The prior art in this field had a display portion of electronic paper at a part of a shelf and showed a problem that the display portion and the goods were hardly co-related to each other in response to an arrangement of the goods. In addition, it was necessary to prepare a special display substrate for changing all the shelf lengths into a display portion and its price was expensive. It was necessary to provide a signal line and a wiring for power supply up to the display portion and so it was necessary to perform a wiring at the shelf surface with opaque raw material or perform a connecting work for the wiring every time when the shelf was transferred.

Abstract: In a system for producing a location-based inventory of objects each furnished with an RFID transponder (24) designed to interact with an RFID reader/interrogator (30) and placed at different locations of a warehousing structure (10) consisting of a plurality of rows (16A-16C) supported by vertical uprights (18A-18D), provision is made for each of the uprights of this warehousing structure to be furnished at each of the rows with an RFID location transponder (26) and for processing means (30; 32) to produce a location-based inventory of the objects present on the warehousing structure according to the information received from the transponders.

Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) label carries an embedded RFID antenna and is capable of being affixed to a package or label. The RFID enabled label includes a bottom portion and an RFID flap that includes a first portion attached to the bottom portion and a second portion that carries the RFID antenna. The RFID flap can be placed in a first position in which the second portion carrying the RFID antenna lies adjacent to the bottom portion, such that the RFID enabled label can be used in conjunction with a printer. The RFID flap is put into a second position in which the second portion carrying the RFID antenna is displace from the bottom portion. Displacing the RFID antenna from the bottom portion results in the RFID antenna being displace from the package or surface to which the bottom portion is affixed, allowing the RFID antenna to operate without interference from the package or surface.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, receive service data at a computer system from an RFID tag, where the service data was sent to the RFID tag from an RF transmitter while the computer system was powered off. The RFID tag includes tag memory and an antenna, and the RFID tag is attached to the computer system. In another embodiment, the computer system sends the service data to the RFID tag, and the service data is received by an RF scanner from the RFID tag via the antenna while the computer system is powered off. In various embodiments, the service data identifies the computer system or a product within the computer system. In another embodiment, the service data includes log information associated with the computer system. In this way, in an embodiment, service data associated with a computer system, such as vital product service data and log information may be accessed and updated even while the computer system is powered off.

Abstract: An oscillator tuning system and an oscillator tuning method are provided. The system includes a determination unit which determines whether a power which is used in an RFID tag having an RFID oscillator is greater than a reference value; and a frequency tuner which tunes a driving frequency of the RFID oscillator according to a result of the determination. The method includes determining whether a power which is used in an RFID tag having an RFID oscillator is greater than a reference value; and tuning a driving frequency of the RFID oscillator according to a result of the determination.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention may include an antenna for a wireless device, the antenna operable to store electrical energy received from a power source. The stored electrical energy may then be used to power the circuitry of the device. Storing electrical power in this manner may allow the device to temporarily continue operating when the incoming harvested energy becomes too weak to instantaneously provide all the power needed to continue operating the device. In some embodiments the wireless device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

Abstract: We have found that to effectively shield inductively coupled RFID systems, the shield does not have to be present on all the sides of the device. It is also not required that one side be covered completely. In fact, a shield of any shape that allows a current to flow in a closed loop may be enough to shield the RFID. The only requirement is that the back electromagnetic field (EMF) from the shield induces sufficient flux to cancel all or part of the magnetic flux coming from the reader. It is possible for the shield to work even if the induced flux is small: the shift in the self-inductance of the RFID or contactless card coil due to the presence of the material in the shield can be enough to cause a shift in a resonant frequency of the circuit and thus in the power delivered to the chip. The current invention is a shield that does not completely cover a smartcard or RFID tag and/or has a hole or void within the shield.

Abstract: Among the embodiments of the present invention are pest control devices (1010, 1110, 1210) each operable to detect the presence of pests. The pest control device (1010, 1110, 1210) has a bait (1032) that is consumed or displaced by one or more species of pest, a pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252), and a monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269). The pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252) can be altered by pest activity. The monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269) detects this alteration and reports it automatically or in response to an external stimulus or interrogation to indicate pest presence.

Abstract: An icing detector is disclosed for detecting presence of ice in static air. An exemplary detector includes an ice collecting surface; a light emitter for emitting a light beam crossing an ice collecting surface, having a prismatic light manipulating window for internally-reflecting the light beam when no ice is present on the ice collecting surfaces, and externally-refracting the light when clear ice is present on the ice collecting surface, wherein the ice collecting surface is oriented to cause standing water to be directed away from the prismatic light manipulating window by gravity; a light sensor in a path of the reflected light; and an annunciator coupled to the light sensor for annunciating the presence of ice when light is sensed by the light sensor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring hazards and determining potential loss exposure resulting from those hazards, the system comprising: a first user input component for permitting a user to specify at least one geographic location to be monitored; a second user input component for permitting a user to specify at least one hazard parameter to be monitored for the at least one monitored location; a first data acquisition component for acquiring hazard data for the at least one monitored location, wherein the first data acquisition component is configured to acquire the data from at least two disparate data sources and aggregate that data in a seamless data set; a second data acquisition component for acquiring data regarding entities associated with the at least one monitored location; an analytical engine for determining the potential loss exposure to the entities associated with the at least one monitored location resulting from the occurrence of hazards at the at least one monitored location; and a reporting engine

Abstract: A system of interconnected alarm modules for a building which warn of detectable hazards in and around the building as well as hazards such as natural disasters which originate elsewhere. The network includes at least one hazardous condition alarm module, capable of detecting dangerous conditions in and around the building such as carbon monoxide or smoke and which provides an audible warning accordingly and also transmits hazard-specific data through the network to all other alarm modules. For other types of hazard conditions, the network includes a radio receiver alarm module which receives broadcasts such as those from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that includes encoded data about hazards according to type of hazard and geographic location.

Abstract: An ornament is provided including a detector, such as a carbon monoxide, smoke, temperature, and/or odor detector, a transmitter and optionally an alarm. Upon detection of smoke, heat, fire, carbon monoxide, etc., the transmitter sends a signal to a receiver in a remote alarm unit located apart from the ornament. The received signal causes an alarm in the remote alarm unit to activate.

Abstract: In a wake-up control device for waking up a peripheral circuit such as a transmitter/receiver in a radio communication device, during a standby time in which an RF unit and a processing unit are powered off by a switch, an RF signal is received to produce a detection signal by a detector. The detection signal is transferred to the wake-up controller to be sampled. The header and other fields are detected and counted. A control signal is in turn produced by the respective counts to turn on the switch.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatically detecting and indicating a mis-configuration condition in an electronic device having one or more factory-default settings. At least one mis-configuration rule that relates to at least one mis-configuration condition of the electronic device, is checked against at least one corresponding current configuration setting to determine whether the electronic device is mis-configured. A mis-configuration alert is provided with respect to the electronic device, when the electronic device is determined to be mis-configured in said checking step.

Abstract: A location tracking system for tracking the location of a person in a premises is disclosed as including a plurality of location sensing devices for assessing the location of the person in the premises; a number of closed circuit television cameras for obtaining visual images of the person; a visual display monitor connected with and receive signals from only one of the closed circuit television cameras at a time; and the visual display monitor is connected with the closed circuit television camera with the higher/highest score of suitability, as calculated in a pre-determined manner.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic system (10) comprising one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21) and an electronic device adapted so that the one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21) are locatable in proximity to the electronic device. The electronic device is operable to recognise the presence of the one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21). Upon recognition of said one or more functionality devices (16, 20, 21), the electronic device is operable to perform one or more additional functionality features associated with said one or more functionality devices whilst said one or more functionality devices are in close proximity to the electronic device.