Abstract: An electrical coil includes first and second electrically-conductive elements each of a thin, flat, annular configuration formed with a gap to define the turns of a 2-turn coil, and an electrically insulative element also of a thin, flat, annular configuration disposed coaxially between the two electrically-conductive elements and formed with a gap aligned with one end of each turn to permit the ends to be electrically connected together. Also described is a transformer having a secondary winding including a plurality of such 2-turn coils, and a primary winding of a plurality of double-coils each connected together at their mid-portions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide for high-performing inductor structures utilizing multi-layer organic stackups. In particular, these high-performing inductor structures may be formed of one or more stitched metal layer building blocks, which are each formed of at least two inductor sections that are vertically or horizontally aligned, and then stitched or connected together. This stitching process significantly reduces the DC/RF losses while reducing the inductance value by a substantially lower factor, thereby significant increasing the Q-factor of the resulting inductor structure. Each stitched metal layer building block may be formed on an organic dielectric layer (e.g., liquid crystalline polymer (LCP)) having a first conductive layer on a first surface and perhaps a second conductive layer on a second surface opposite the first surface.

Abstract: A multi-loop transformer includes a first loop built with at least one metal plate forming a magnetic field with electric power supplied; a second loop, disposed in a concentric manner with the first loop, which generates induction current; at least one first sub-loop disposed in the concentric manner with the first loop, and electrically connected to the first loop, the second loop being disposed between the first sub-loop and the first loop; and electric power supply units, disposed between the respective metal plates of the first loop, which supplies electric power to each metal plate. Accordingly, the present invention can improve the efficiency of a power amplifier by reducing the loss of the distributive active transformer (DAT).

Abstract: A laminated balun transformer that achieves improved balance characteristics and prevents the occurrence of parasitic inductance has an impedance transformation ratio of one to four and outputs balanced signals generated from an unbalanced signal. The laminated balun transformer includes a magnetic substrate, a laminated body, and external electrodes. The laminated body includes a first transformer, a second transformer, and a non-magnetic body which completely covers the first and second transformers from the outside. The first and second transformers are arranged side by side in a direction substantially parallel to the magnetic substrate. A primary coil of the first transformer and a secondary coil of the second transformer are configured to be 180-degree rotationally symmetric with respect to a center line, while a secondary coil and a primary coil are also configured to be 180-degree rotationally symmetric with respect to the center line L.

Abstract: A transformer includes at least two magnetically coupled cores with a common axis. The cores have cross sectional configurations transverse to the common axis which are not rectangular. An exciting voltage is to be applied across a first winding provided on one of the cores. A second winding provided on one of the cores includes first and second terminals across which a voltage is to be induced in response to the exciting voltage. A first device provides a relatively higher impedance between the first and second terminals of the second winding. The first device is coupled between the first and second terminals. Third, fourth and fifth windings have respective first and second terminals. The third and fourth windings are wound on one of the cores with a first polarity. The fifth winding is wound on one of the cores with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity.

Abstract: A cord type thermal fuse, comprising a fuse core produced by winding a conductor meltable at a predetermined temperature on an insulating core member continuous in the length direction, and an insulating cover covering the outer periphery of the fuse core, wherein the conductor can be cut by expanding the insulating core member at a predetermined temperature and/or by contracting the insulating cover at the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The invention describes a temperature sensor for a, resistance thermometer having an electric measuring resistor the resistance material of which consists either of a ceramic material or of a metallic resistance material in combination with a ceramic or a mineral carrier; having a protective tube comprising a closed tip and a rear end that provides an access to the inner space of the protective tube and that contains the measuring resistor; having at least one connection wire of the measuring resistor that is brought out through the rear end of the protective tube; and having an electrically insulating filler based on a ceramic or a mineral material that fills the space between the protective tube on the one side and the measuring resistor on the other side.

Abstract: A resistance adjusting method, a resistance adjusting element, and a resistance adjusting device are disclosed. The method includes first, second, and third cut-off steps that leave a part having a length capable of preventing cracking of a remaining resistance film. The resistance adjusting element includes first, second, and third cut-off parts. The resistance adjusting device includes a carrier portion, a laser irradiating portion, a drive portion, an image recognition portion, and a final resistance adjustment portion.

Abstract: An intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may define a security zone or group of zones. The system may identify vehicles and individuals entering or exiting the zone through image recognition of the vehicle or individual as compared to prerecorded information stored in a database. The system may alert security personnel as to warrants or other information discovered pertaining to the recognized vehicle or individual resulting from a database search. The system may compare images of a suspect vehicle, such as an undercarriage image, to standard vehicle images stored in the database and alert security personnel as to potential vehicle overloading or foreign objects detected, such as potential bombs. The system may track individuals or vehicles within a zone or between zones. The system may further learn the standard times and locations of vehicles or individuals tracked by the system and alert security personnel upon deviation from standard activity.

Abstract: The system of the preferred embodiments includes a housing, an input element to detect the characteristics of an area, a processor to convert the detected characteristics of an area to an output signal, and an aiming device to adjust the orientation of the input element with respect to the housing. The system has been designed to detect the characteristics of an area and convert the detected characteristics to an output signal to a visually impaired user.

Abstract: A welcoming system for welcoming a user of an automobile has a host communication means provided in the automobile or a facility around a parking location of the automobile. The system further has a distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the user and the parking automobile. A welcoming control means operates a welcoming operating means, such as a head lamp of the automobile, in such a manner that a content of the welcoming operations will be selected and changed depending on the detected distance between the user and the automobile.

Abstract: A keyless entry system is disclosed for use in an entry system wherein the latching mechanism may be locked or unlocked by either a key or a remotely controlled mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical indicator system and a method for operating the system includes a plug adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source remote from the vehicle and an indicator adapted to be mounted to the vehicle at a visible location. The indicator is operable to provide a first visual indication when electrical power is present at the plug. The indicator provides a second visual indication, different from the first visual indication, when current is flowing through the plug.

Abstract: A flat tire alert system for detecting flat tires on trailers. The system includes: a plurality of sensor modules coupleable to an axle, and configured to sense deflation of a tire. Each sensor includes: a coupling mechanism, a retention spring, a first arm, a joint mechanism, a second arm, and a roller. The system also includes: an indicator module, in communication with the sensor modules, and configured to indicate a response when the sensor module senses a deflation of a tire; and an alert module in the form of a horn, in communication with the indicator module, and configured to provide an alert when the indicator module indicates a deflation of a tire. Further, there is a control module having an On/Off switch, in communication with the indicator module, and configured to control the indicator module.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a traffic condition of a vehicle includes receiving status information of a plurality of vehicles, the status information including at least a speed of the respective vehicle. An average speed is determined according to the speed included in the status information of a first group of vehicles among the plurality of vehicles satisfying a first condition. An indication of the determined average speed is provided to a driver of a first vehicle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for time-based setting and removal of alarm inhibits are disclosed. In one method, a command is provided that allows a user to specify a time period with which an alarm generated within a telecommunications signaling platform will be inhibited. Once the command is received, alarms associated with the specified device are suppressed. When the time period expires, the alarm inhibit is automatically removed and alarms associated with the specified device can be generated.

Abstract: The improved methods and apparatus for analysis of environment provide wireless communication of the environmental analyzers, e.g. such as particle monitoring (counting and measuring) instruments. The improved apparatus includes at least one of a plurality of environment monitoring systems and at least one of a plurality of remote control systems, each of which comprises the wireless communicating device and control/processing device. Also the improved apparatus includes the selectable channel flow system for the assayed environment which intersects a light (laser) beam or a ray within monitoring region of the monitoring device of the improved apparatus. The selection of the channel is provided by the valving device coupled with the inlet filtrating device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for communicating, processing and responding to information reporting the status of health care patients. In one aspect, the invention provides a procedure for allocating the attention of health care personnel to issues and events that are reported in association with health care patients located within a health care facility. In some embodiments, assignment of health care personnel to health care patients can be configured according to a set of directives. The directives can direct assignment of personnel based upon many criteria including, but not limited to, the identity and/or location of a health care patient, an issue or event associated with the status of the health care patient, the relative availability of other health care personnel to respond to the issue or event, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention describes a restroom attendant system. The restroom attendant system utilizes a notification device placed in a restroom. A patron would select a request for service button when the patron recognizes that the restroom needs servicing. The notification device can include a cancel feature as well as indicators to indicate when a request for service is in process and if the restroom is considered cleaned. The notification device would communicate with either a main terminal or a service person. The main terminal can further monitor the time between cleanings and request that a restroom be serviced should the time since the previous servicing exceeds an acceptable time-span. The information can be stored, printed, and uploaded to a central receiving station.

Abstract: A shielded antenna system is provided for reading from and/or writing to an RFID transponder wherein the energy radiated from the antenna system has a narrow beam width so that only one RFID transponder in a record member along a web of record members, each having an RFID transponder, is read from and/or written to without affecting or being affected by any other RFID transponder along the web.

Abstract: A drinkware is provided to provide information to a receiver. The drinkware is a RF device coupled to a handheld drinking container. The RF device can receive and send RF signals and communicate with a sensory device. A transmitter can send a signal to the communication device, which then activates sensory device. The RF device can communicate with the transmitter to control a fountain machine.

Abstract: A reader for an RFID system includes an antenna assembly, a signal driver and a controller. The antenna assembly has an antenna coupled to an antenna tuning circuit which includes a variable capacitance circuit. The signal driver is coupled to the antenna assembly to apply a drive signal to the antenna assembly. The controller is coupled to the antenna assembly to determine a difference between an antenna impedance and a signal driver impedance and to set the variable capacitance at a set capacitance value which reduces the impedance difference.

Abstract: A shielded antenna system is provided for reading from and/or writing to an RFID transponder wherein the energy radiated from the antenna system has a narrow beam width so that only one RFID transponder in a record member along a web of record members, each having an RFID transponder, is read from and/or written to without affecting or being affected by any other RFID transponder along the web.

Abstract: An antenna array is provided for an RFID reader, which includes a first reader antenna tuned to operate at a first frequency and a second reader antenna tuned to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The first and second antennas are preferably arranged in an overlapping arrangement or an opposing magnetic flux arrangement to reduce the effect of antenna self resonance.

Abstract: In an RFID system including an RFID tag and an RFID reader for performing wireless communications with the RFID tag, an RFID relay antenna has a first loop antenna for electromagnetic induction coupling with an antenna at the RFID tag, a second loop antenna that is provided apart from the first loop antenna and for electromagnetic induction coupling with an antenna at the RFID reader, and wires for connecting the first loop antenna and the second loop antenna so as to form one closed loop and for conveying an induced current generated at the first and second loop antennas to the second and first loop antennas, respectively.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for attenuating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. In one embodiment, the method includes optimizing a coverage area of an RFID reader.

Abstract: A mount sheet having a plurality of radio tags attached at an interval to it is run over a radio communicating section. The radio communicating section has a metal member providing a conveying surface with a slit formed therein. A dielectric member is arranged on a lower surface of the metal member with a projecting section inserted into the slit and, by doing so, the top surface of the projecting section is set flush with the top surface of the metal member. An antenna of the radio communicating section is located beneath the projecting section of the dielectric member and this antenna is held within the metal case. When any radio tag being an object of a radio communication is located over the slit, the radio communicating section positively makes radio communication with the radio tag through the antenna.

Abstract: A child restraint system includes an electronic control unit having an event data recorder for storing data relating to proper adjustment or installation of the child restraint system. The control unit receives an electrical signal from one or more sensors mounted on the child seat and determines conditions of the child seat based upon the value of the property indicated by the signal. The event data recorder is configured to store the resulting data and to allow the stored data to be retrieved in response to an inquiry. Thus, in the event of a vehicle accident or other incident, the electronic control unit may be connected to an external diagnostic unit, and the relevant data may be downloaded to the diagnostic unit for evaluation.

Abstract: A environmental sensor network having at least two environmental sensor units and a central display unit. Each sensor unit includes a sensor adapted to measure a condition and a transmitter adapted to operate in an “activation” mode in which the transmitter transmits a predefined sequence and a sensor ID and a “data” mode in which the transmitter transmits data based on the measurement. The central display unit includes a receiver adapted to receive a transmission from the two environmental sensors, a memory device, and a processor adapted to selectively operate in an “add” mode in which the processor records the presence of an environment sensor unit in the memory device upon the receipt of the predefined sequence and the sensor ID, and a “display” mode in which the processor outputs information based on the measurement.

Abstract: A circuit for indicating status of a component of a computer system includes a first indicator (D1), a second indicator (D2), a power supply (V), a first transistor (Q1), and a second transistor (Q2). The first indicator includes a positive end and a negative end. The second indicator includes a positive end connected with the negative end of the first indicator, and a negative end connected with the positive end of the first indicator. The power supply is connected to the positive end of the first indicator via a first resistor, and connected to the positive end of the second indicator via a second resistor. The first transistor is connected between the negative end of the first indicator and a ground, and the second transistor is connected between the negative end of the second indicator and the ground.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for indicating the status of one of a plurality of switches connected in series between signal terminals of a safety relay, each switch actuable between an open position and a closed position. The circuit arrangement includes at least one voltage sensor configured to be connected to one of the plurality of switches to provide an output signal upon sensing a presence of a voltage across the one of the plurality of switches and an indicating means associated with the voltage sensor to provide an indication signal when the voltage sensor provides an output signal. The circuit arrangement is powered by the voltage provided at one of said signal terminals of the safety relay.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for testing a cable having a plurality of conductors. The apparatus includes a power supply terminal, a grounded test probe, an interface having a plurality of pins thereon, a plurality of indicators, and a plurality of control circuits, each of the indicators corresponding to a pin of the interface. Anodes of the indicators are connected to the power supply terminal, each of the pins and a cathode of a corresponding indicator are correspondingly connected to one control circuit, when the test probe touches one pin of the interface, the corresponding indicator will be lit.

Abstract: A hand tool with at least two alarm devices comprises a flat handle with having a rectangular shape which is formed by has two first parallel surfaces and two second parallel narrow surfaces connected between the two first surfaces; at least one end of the handle being formed with a driving head; an output device having a sensing unit; the sensing unit being electrically connected to a strain gauge installed at a predetermined position of the handle; and the output device having an alarm unit; the alarm unit of the output device being installed at the connection of the handle and the driving head. An auxiliary alarm unit is installed at one surface of the handle, or the auxiliary alarm unit is installed at an inclined recess between two adjacent surfaces of the handle or the auxiliary alarm unit is arranged across two adjacent surfaces of the handle.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for signaling the status of a mobile device, said mobile device comprising a user input interface, a storage including status information of said device and a signal generator, comprising the steps of receiving a status request from said user input interface, retrieving at least one status information from said storage according to said received status request, and which is characterized by generating an output signal by said signal generator, wherein said output signal comprises at least one non-visual signal component, said non-visual signal component being indicative of said retrieved at least one status information.

Abstract: Communication systems and apparatus to allow a user to perceive the relative spatial location or present position of other elements of interest in a control space, such as the location of a speaker participating in a telephone conference or that of an aircraft carrier to a remotely piloted vehicle on final approach. The system inserts synthetic sound cues into the communication to the user that represent the relative position(s). In one embodiment, the user will perceive the communication as though it were communicated through free space to the user from the relative position of the represented source, so that, for example, the squad leader will perceive his wingman to be at his immediate left. Methods of conveying relative position sound cues are also provided.

Abstract: A load status indicator is disclosed for determining whether power is available to, and current is flowing through, a load. A first visual status indicator may light up when power is available to the load but current is not flowing through the load. A second visual status indicator may light up when power is available to the load and current is flowing through the load. A bi-color light-emitting diode may comprise the first and second visual status indicators. Transistors may be used to permit or prevent current from flowing through the visual status indicators. In some embodiments, a reed switch or a hall-effect sensor may be used to determine whether current is flowing through the load.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for conserving battery energy used in transmitting signals carrying data from a downhole location, using a transmission system where a predetermined set of data is to be transmitted once during a predetermined period. The method can comprise the steps of: transmitting at least one signal during said period to transmit the set of data; selecting the time of transmission of said at least one signal; and representing at least some of the data to be transmitted in terms of the time of transmission of said at least one signal.

Abstract: A microwave detection system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal along a path to detect an intruder to a monitored zone and a modulating reflector configured to receive the transmitted signal to generate a modulated signal having a characteristic introduced by said modulating reflector, the modulating reflector being configured to transmit the modulated signal. The system also includes a receiver located to receive the modulated signal and an adaptive threshold adjustment unit configured for providing a variable detection threshold responsive to a change in a gain of the system. The system further includes a processor configured for processing the modulated signal provided by the receiver and configured for measuring a characteristic in the processed modulated signal with respect to the variable detection threshold provided by the adaptive threshold adjustment unit.

Abstract: An ice detection system that detects the onset of ice accreation on an aircraft's external surfaces, continuously measures its thickness and growth time history and provides the type of ice, glaze or rime, is disclosed along with an independent way to confirm that the contaminant is known to be ice and only ice. Total impedance data, thermal conductivity value and complex dielectric properties are used to discriminate between ice, water, deicing fluid and snow with measurements made by low cost, low power consumption, low profile, miniature electronic chips, components and devices collocated together on the external surface in a thin pliant patch that does not effect the airflow about the aircraft. The ice detection system provides ice accreation data and warning signals to displays and aural signaling devices in the cockpit for the pilot and to the control console of a ground controller flying the aircraft if it is unmanned.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system for use with a traffic information broadcast system which transmits traffic data relating to primary road segments and a communication system which transmits traffic data relating to road segments in a local geographic area. A broadcast receiver receives the broadcast traffic data from the broadcast system and stores the received data. A communication transmitter, when activated, transmits a data request to the communication system. A communication receiver receives the local traffic data from the communication system in response to the data request while a processor displays traffic information on a display screen corresponding to the received broadcast traffic data and the received local traffic data. The local traffic data includes both traffic information relating to local road segments as well as non-traffic temporal events, such as weather, and time-related events which affect traffic flow.

Abstract: An interface circuit capable of controlling a noise margin and a time margin for producing an output a binary data is realized. The circuit comprises a detecting unit for detecting a transition state of logic levels in received binary data corresponding to preceding two clock signals, an output signal producing unit for producing an output binary data based on the received binary data by using a reference voltage and by latching the binary data using the clock signal, a reference voltage control unit for controlling the reference voltage, and a clock phase control unit for controlling a phase of the clock signal. The noise margin can be controlled by changing the reference voltage in accordance with the detected transition state, and the time margin can be controlled by changing the clock phase in accordance with the detected transition state.

Abstract: An image coding device is provided that includes an image coding unit which codes image data, a binarization unit which binarizes the coded data, an intermediate buffer, an accumulated amount measuring unit which measures an amount of data in the intermediate buffer, and an I_PCM judging unit which compares the measured amount of data with a threshold. A buffer input selection unit is also provided which causes the intermediate buffer to accumulate next binary data when the amount of the data does not exceed the threshold and causes the intermediate buffer to accumulate next I_PCM data when the amount of the data exceeds the threshold. In addition, the device includes an arithmetic coding unit that arithmetically codes the binary data accumulated in the intermediate buffer and an output selection unit outputs the arithmetically coded data or the I_PCM data.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of determining at least one parameter for encoding multimedia digital data organized in elementary units of data intended to be encoded according to at least one encoding mode, wherein said method comprises the following steps:—determining at least one elementary magnitude which is representative of the resources needed for decoding each elementary data unit encoded according to a different encoding mode,—determining at least one total magnitude which is representative of the resources needed for decoding a plurality of elementary data units encoded as a function on the one hand of the at least one elementary magnitude previously determined and on the other hand the number of elementary units encoded according to each of the encoding modes,—deciding with regard to the determination of at least one data encoding parameter as a function of the at least one total magnitude previously determined and a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A system and method for decompression optimization employing a data input and a dedicated back buffer and data parser. The system and method also relate to accelerating the parsing process during decompression of a block of data by taking advantage of those naturally occurring redundancies within the block of data identified at compression time. The system of the invention includes a parser and an annotated back buffer which operate collectively to optimize the parsing process during decompression.

Abstract: A bitstream generator is described, for placing variable length coding (VLC) data into a fixed width data stream. The bitstream generator includes an input for receiving VLC data; the VLC data may be separated into a value component, and a length component. The bitstream generator also includes an output buffer, a memory module, for storing the VLC data before sending. The bitstream generator also incorporates a backup buffer, which is used to store any overflow data which does not fit in the output buffer. A comparator is used, to determine how much of the VLC data will fit in the output buffer. Any portion of the VLC data which does not fit in the output buffer is stored in the backup buffer.

Abstract: A sampling rate converter able to obtain an amplitude characteristic that passes any frequency and able to achieve a high precision conversion without depending upon a cutoff frequency, having an up sampler 103 for inserting (U-1) zero points between signals and raising a sampling frequency Fsi U-fold, a convolution processing unit 104 including an FIR filter and interpolating a value by convolution with respect to output signals of the up sampler, and a linear interpolation block 105 for selecting two points of samples from the output signal of the convolution processing unit 104 having a sampling frequency UFsi and finding the value at a required position from the linear interpolation, wherein the FIR filter has an impulse response becoming a filter coefficient, having a transmission function H(z) associated with a transmission function Z(z) of a pre-filter, and having a filter coefficient set by performing weighted approximation with respect to a desired characteristic associated with the frequency respons

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for sampling rate conversion. A clamped cubic spline interpolator (CCSI) may be utilized to interpolate or decimate a source signal to provide samples at times based on a sink rate. The source clock and sink clock may be driven by independent oscillators, and may therefore drift independently. A rate tracking algorithm may monitor the relative drift and adjust the conversion of the source signal to track the sink rate.

Abstract: A variable-length decoder includes a bitstream interface unit and a decoding unit. The bitstream interface unit generates a decoding bitstream for a current decoding process based on an unused decoding bitstream and an input bitstream. The unused bitstream includes unused bits of a previous decoding bitstream. The decoding unit decodes the decoding bitstream to generate a plurality of symbols per clock cycle and provides a next unused bitstream for a next decoding process to the bitstream interface unit.

Abstract: A fixed-size codeword table is generated for decompressing GIF encoded data. The fixed-size codeword table is defined to store a codeword string and a codeword length for each of a number of codewords. The codeword string is defined by a codeword previously represented in the codeword table and a character. The codeword length represents a total number of characters in the codeword string. A current codeword in the GIF encoded data is translated according to the codeword table to generate a series of characters represented by the current codeword. The generated series of characters is stored in a computer memory space.

Abstract: A method digitally representing an integral non-linearity response for a device includes: (a) In no particular order: (1) Identifying locations of significant departures of the integral response, including: [a] Extracting first and second differential responses from the integral response in first and second device trim states. [b] Twice-filtering first and second differential responses to produce first and second filtered responses. [c] Determining difference between first and second filtered responses to produce a treated response. [d] Identifying a locus for each maximum of the treated response in a highest excursion range and in at least one lower excursion range. [e] Imposing zero amplitude on the treated response within a code range of each locus. Locations are centered within each code range. (2) Determining magnitude for each significant departure.