Abstract: The invention provides use of one or more emitted beams of radiation (16), for example, laser beam(s), in combination with an image capturing means (14), for example, one or more video cameras and/or optical elements to detect particles (30), for example smoke particles, located in an open space (12).

Abstract: A smoke detector having a closed internal optical path can detect airborne particulate matter, such as smoke from a fire, via a light scattering sensor and/or a light absorption sensor. The path can be implemented with a plurality of reflectors, such as piezoelectric minors. Input light can be coupled to the path, on a pulsed basis, for example via one of the minors, in a resonant condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel retention monitoring system for a pressurized hydrogen storage tank on a vehicle. The vehicle includes a hydrogen dispensing system having a plurality of conduits for carrying a hydrogen gas. the conduits have at least one connection linking them together. The monitoring system includes a vapor concentrator for the hydrogen gas, shrouding a first one of the connections. The first connection has a parting line where the conduits forming the connection meet. The vapor concentrator may be positioned above the parting line of the first connection and may include a periphery and a top defining a headspace cavity. The monitoring system further includes a hydrogen gas sensor locatable adjacent to the headspace cavity and capable of providing a signal correlated to a hydrogen gas concentration in the headspace cavity.

Abstract: In a domestic electric appliance notification system containing a domestic electric appliance and a portable terminal apparatus 1000 capable of being communicated with the domestic electric appliance in a wireless manner, the below-mentioned domestic electric appliance notification system is provided: That is, in the notification system, the domestic electric appliance transmits both appliance sort information for specifying an appliance to which an alarm is notified, and operation completion information corresponding to the appliance sort information in a wireless manner; and the portable terminal apparatus 1000 receives the operation completion information transmitted from the domestic electric appliance, and sets an alarm time based upon the operation completion information, and then, notifies an alarm based upon the set alarm time by emitting light, by performing a vibrating operation, or by producing a sound.

Abstract: Redundant load sharing power supplies may use lower amperage pilot fuses to monitor the condition of higher amperage main line fuses carrying load current. An alarm monitoring circuit is activated when the pilot fuse has blown. The load sharing characteristics of these supplies may proportion current such that the pilot fuse may not be blown when the main line fuse is missing or blown. An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for ensuring activation of a power distribution alarm monitoring circuit in a load sharing power application using multiple loads to draw current from the power inputs. A control circuit enables current to flow in a controlled manner to blow the pilot fuse to ensure activation of a power distribution alarm monitoring circuit. Ensuring activation of the alarm monitoring circuit allows accurate identification of a faulty supply and satisfies a required operations condition of many telecommunications systems providers.

Abstract: Method and system of guising communication using a chatter signal is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes communicating a chatter signal generated by a first node of a network to a second node based on the communication protocol of the network to guise a true signal of the first node communicated to the second node of the network, and processing the true signal communicated to the second node while dispensing with the chatter signal communicated to the second node based on the communication protocol of the network. The method may also include padding the chatter signal and/or the true signal with pseudorandom bits to make a size of the chatter signal equal to a size of the true signal. Moreover, the method may include guising a key exchanged between the first node and the second node with the chatter signal.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system capable of attaching position information to an image file, and the system comprises a GPS recorder and a memory card. The GPS recorder is used for receiving the position information and transmitting the position information via wireless transmission. When an image file is generated and stored in the memory card, the position information received from the GPS recorder will be immediately attached to the image file.

Abstract: A multi-purpose portable alarm including an alarm unit attached with a ring hook provided with an opening; a wider long side inserted with a sleeve and a narrower short side having its free end to be locked by the sleeve being disposed on both sides of the opening, a locking sleeve being inserted onto the long side to block up the opening for the hook to hook upon a connecting component to secure the hook thus the alarm to an object to be protected for the alarm to generate audible alarm once the alarm unit detects abnormal tilting or vibration.

Abstract: An improved portable storage device is disclosed having an interface, a controller in communication with this interface, a memory in communication with the controller, and a light-emitting-diode assembly in communication with the controller. The light-emitting-diode assembly has a first and a second light-emitting-diode element, the first and second light-emitting-diode elements emitting a first and a second color of light, respectively. The first light-emitting-diode element and said second light-emitting-diode element each independently controlled by the controller via pulse-width-modulation, to produce a third color which appears to be in between the first and second colors in wavelength, this third color indicative of the percent completion of an I/O task or the usage of the memory.

Abstract: A remote control system including a primary remote control (20) in communication with one or more secondary remote controls (30-38) that each have one or more secondary input keys (22b-c, 24b-c, 26b-c, 28b-c), are that dynamically associated with programmed operation of a DVD player (40), computer, or other electronic device. Upon activation of a secondary input key, the primary remote control receives an input signal and determines a code associated with the activated key. The code may also be associated with a primary input key (22a, 24a, 26a, 28a, 23, 25, 27) on the primary remote control. The primary and secondary input keys may have the same color, shape, or other characteristics. The code is communicated to the electronic device to perform the programmed operation concurrently associated with the code. The programmed operation may also be associated with a display icon that may have the same characteristics as the input keys.

Abstract: A rolling coda transmitter is useful in a security system for providing secure encrypted RF transmission comprising an interleaved trinary bit fixed code and rolling cede. A receiver demodulates the encrypted RF transmission and recovers the fixed code and rolling code. Upon comparison of the fixed and roiling codes with stored codes and determining that the signal has emanated from an authorized transmitter, a signal is generated to actuate an electric motor to open or close a movable barrier.

Abstract: An address number of “1” in a logic address is firstly set, and polling is performed. When there is a response to the polling, a physical address and a device name as response contents are written to and registered in an address list so as to correspond to the address number of “1” in the logic address. When some address numbers in the logic address for each of which no connection confirmation is performed exist in a next device type, the smallest address number in the logic address is selected, and an operation returns back to Step S11. Next, when the connection confirmation for each of all the device types is completed, the polling is performed for each of the remaining address numbers in the logic address. When there are responses to the polling, the physical addresses and the device names about the connections each making the response to the polling are written to and registered in the address list.

Abstract: A universal remote control device (10) is programmed by determining layout properties of an existing remote control device (12) that must be replaced by the universal remote control device (10). Information identifying at least part of said layout properties is input into a selection system (14, 18). A command set for the universal remote control device (10) is selected dependent on said information. The universal remote control device (10) is programmed to implement the selected command set.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sensor node capable of transmitting and receiving a large amount of data or data desired to be reliable without missing data, while preventing battery exhaustion and unnecessary compression of the transmission bandwidth. A name-tag type sensor node includes a detector for detecting connection of an external power supply. When the detector detects that the external power is supplied, the name-tag type sensor node transmits and receives a large amount of data, such as bulk transmission data, at an increased frequency by means of a data selector, a communication timing controller, and a wireless communication controller. Alternatively, the name-tag type sensor node transmits and receives the data desired to be reliable, such as rewriting data of firmware.

Abstract: A vehicle imaging system includes an imaging device that images at least a part of an area around a vehicle; and a visible light attenuation device that attenuates part of visible light that enters the imaging device. The imaging device includes an imaging element that converts both of the infrared light and an infrared ray to electric signals. The imaging device outputs both of image data produced based on the electric signal to which the visible light, which has entered the imaging device without passing through the visible light attenuation device, has been converted, and image data produced based on the electric signal to which the infrared ray, which has passed through the visible light attenuation device, has been converted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hazard prevention. A vehicle has a hazard prevention system. The hazard prevention system includes a plurality of hazard cause controls, a health monitor system, and a vehicle control system. The plurality hazard cause controls are associated with a hazardous conditions and each hazard cause control in the plurality of hazard cause controls is associated with a system in the vehicle to prevent a hazardous condition from occurring during operation of the vehicle. The health monitor system monitors the hazard cause controls to determine if each of these hazard cause controls is operating properly and generates an alert if a hazard cause control is operating improperly. The control system is in communication with the health monitor system, wherein the control system receives alerts and provides a corrective action to avoid the hazardous condition.

Abstract: An electronic device configured to be carried on a user's person is provided for directing the user to a parked vehicle. The electronic device utilizes node location data provided by at least one local wireless node and vehicle location information provided by the vehicle. The electronic device includes a network receiver and a controller coupled thereto. The network receiver is configured to receive the node location data from the at least one local wireless node. The controller is configured to store the vehicle location information, to estimate the location of the electronic device from the received node location data, and to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device and a keypad structure thereof are disclosed. The keypad structure includes a first key group, a second key group and a third key group. The second key group is disposed on the left side of the first key group, and the third key group is disposed on the right side of the first key group. Each key area of the second key group is smaller than that of the first key group, and each key area of the third key group is also smaller than that of the first key group.

Abstract: A numeral input method simply uses the keys of a mobile phone or some of a computer keyboard and the beginning point and the ending point of each English letter manually written by hand on the keys to achieve a numeral code system for the English alphabet. So, under the mode, Chinese characters and English alphabets (small and capital letters), numerals and simple symbols can be retrieved, even available for other languages. It can lessen the knocking times on the keys and make input operated easily and conveniently like writing on a mobile phone or a keyboard, an people all over the world speaking diverse languages can key in sentences, information, etc. more easily and quickly.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method and apparatus for determining compression state information which is to be used in the compression of data being transmitted between two communicating parties. The method of determining the compression state information for use in interactively compressing data comprises the steps parsing the data to determine a hierarchical data structure of the data; traversing a shared hierarchical node index to determine common compression state information entries between the hierarchical data structure and the hierarchical node index; and selecting at least one of the common compression state information entries for use in compressing the data.

Abstract: A signal decoding apparatus preventing substantial noise from being produced when transmission error occurs during decoding of scalable-coded information. In this signal decoding apparatus, a coded information operation section (601) performs error detection for base layer coded information, first enhancement layer coded information and second enhancement layer coded information using transmission error detection bits. A decoding operation control section (602) performs ON/OFF control of control switches (606, 607) in accordance with pattern information indicating error detection results and bit rate patterns, and controls the sampling frequencies of sampling frequency adjustment sections (608, 609). A base layer decoding section (603), first enhancement layer decoding section (604) and second enhancement layer decoding section (605) perform decoding of coded information or frame loss compensation processing, depending on error detection results and bit rates.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for performing analog to digital signal conversion in shorter time and/or with less power consumption than that of a comparable analog to digital conversion that uses a conventional sequential approximation method based on a binary search. In one embodiment, a predictive guess is supplied as a digital first signal. The digital first signal is converted (D/A) to a counterpart, analog guess signal. A comparison is made between the analog guess signal and a received, analog input sample signal. The result of the comparison is used to improve on the initially supplied guess in a next cycle. Fewer cycles and less power is consumed if the initial guess is within a certain range of the actual magnitude of the analog input sample signal. In one embodiment, a digital modeler is used to model a process underlying the analog input sample signal and to thereby provide fairly good guesses.

Abstract: Digital audio circuitry including modulation circuitry (35; 135) for generating a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal from processed pulse-code modulated (PCM) audio signals. The modulation circuitry includes a duration quantizer function (32) that generates a sequence of duration values d(k) from received PCM samples, quantized to integer multiples of periods of a master PWM clock (CLKpwm). The duration quantizer function also produces a feedback PCM value x(k) from each quantized duration value d(k) that is applied to a loop filter (36), the output of which modifies the received PCM sample stream to suppress quantization noise. Transient effects caused by modulation or abrupt changes in the desired PWM period are suppressed by digitally filtering (34; 134) the PWM period sample stream.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having an analog front end to receive a signal from a communication channel physical medium, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to an output of the analog front end to digitize the received signal, and a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to receive an output signal of the ADC and to process the digitized signal to generate a decision output and an error signal, and a feedback path to provide the error signal from the DSP to the ADC for use in calibration. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) unit (200) that includes an analog to digital converter (204), which includes one or more analog inputs (202). The unit (200) additionally includes a control/status register block (216). The unit 200 further includes a FIFO register block (20)6 with a first, second, third, and fourth FIFO conversion register. Further included is a programmable sequencer (300) that includes a first (208), second (210), third (212), and fourth (214) programmable sample sequencer And further, the unit (200) includes a first (226), second (228), third (230), and fourth (232) trigger event control multiplexer, where each trigger event control multiplexer corresponds to each programmable sample sequencer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sigma-delta analogue/digital converter for an xDSL multi-standard input stage for converting an xDSL signal into a digital output signal, where the sigma-delta analogue/digital converter (1) has: an analogue loop filter (6) which filters an analogue difference signal between the xDSL signal to be converted and a feedback signal in order to produce a filter output signal; a quantizer which quantizes the filter output signal from the analogue loop filter (6) in order to produce the digital output signal; a first digital/analogue converter (16) which converts the digital output signal into the analogue feedback signal; where the analogue loop filter (6) has at least two resonator filter stages (6a, 6b) which respectively comprise a first integrator (6a-1; 6b-1) and a second integrator (6a-2; 6b-2) connected in series therewith, where the second integrator (6a-2; 6b-2) can be connected to the first integrator (6a-1, 6b-1) by means of a controllable feedback switch (6a-3, 6b-3) in order

Abstract: A sigma-delta modulator is provided with a feedback digital-to-analog converter having less resolution than the quantizer, while providing a reduced length output word, requiring minimal additional internal processing, and shaping of the truncation error by an effective noise transfer function greater than the order of the host sigma-delta modulator.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques and architecture for summing, sampling, and converting signals associated with a capacitive feedforward filter using a quantizer.

Abstract: A system includes an analog-to-digital modulator to convert at least one analog input signal into at least one digital output signal. The system also includes a processing device to set an operational order and a quantization level of the analog-to-digital modulator. The analog-to-digital modulator converts the analog input signal into the digital output signal according to the operational order and the quantization level.

Abstract: A sigma-delta ADC (200A) uses blue-noise (random, pseudo-random) modulation (202) to reduce the effect of the substrate noise. Pairs of blue-noise multipliers (202) are placed before and after each non-delayed integrator (106). In the case of a sample-delayed integrator, the integrator is first separated into a non-delayed integrator (110) followed by the delay element (112). The multiplying sequence is a sequence of 1's and ?1 's that has blue-noise spectral characteristics (i.e., the spectrum has a low frequency deficiency).

Abstract: An integrated circuit may include an operation amplifier, a first capacitor, a plurality of second capacitors, and/or a switching circuit. The operational amplifier may have a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and/or an output terminal. The first capacitor may have a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal of the first capacitor may be connected to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier. The plurality of second capacitors may each have a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal of each of the second capacitors may be connected to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier. The switching circuit may include a plurality of switches configured to switch in response to a plurality of switching signals.

Abstract: An optical quantizing unit includes an optical divider dividing 1st optical pulses to be quantized and sending the divided 1st optical pulses into a plurality of paths; a plurality of optical filters passing with different transmittances the divided 1st optical pulses; and an optical threshold filter sequentially receiving the 1st optical pulses, and sending 2nd optical pulses when light intensities of the 1st optical pulses are above a preset threshold value.

Abstract: The first and second time-domain signals are received, and a difference between the pulse width of the first time-domain signal and the pulse width of the second time-domain signal within a unit time for carrying one item of analog signal information is obtained. The obtained difference is treated as positive information if the pulse width of the first time-domain signal is greater than the pulse width of the second time-domain signal, or as negative information if the pulse width of the first time-domain signal is smaller than the pulse width of the second time-domain signal.

Abstract: A low-power communication interface, such as used with 10 Gigabit Ethernet, that uses an analog front end having a charge-domain analog-to-digital converter that uses a charge-domain pipeline.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of computer software particularly to an improved method of providing aircrew decision aids for use in determining the optimum placement of an Electronic Attack (EA) aircraft. The core of the invention is a software program that will dynamically provide the EA flight crew situational awareness regarding a threat emitter's coverage relative to the position of the EA aircraft and to the position of any number of protected entities (PE). The software program generates information to provide visual cues representing a Jam Acceptability Region (JAR) contour, a Jam Assessment Strobe (JAS) and text for display on a number of flexibly configurable display formats posted on display units. The JAR and JAS graphics and text will aid the EA aircrew in rapidly assessing the effectiveness of a given jamming approach.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of computer software particularly to an improved method of providing aircrew decision aids for use in determining the optimum placement of an Electronic Attack (EA) aircraft. The core of the invention is a software program that will dynamically provide the EA flight crew situational awareness regarding a threat emitter's coverage relative to the position of the EA aircraft and to the position of any number of protected entities (PE). The software program generates information to provide visual cues representing a Jam Acceptability Region (JAR) contour, a Jam Assessment Strobe (JAS) and text for display on a number of flexibly configurable display formats posted on display units. The JAR and JAS graphics and text will aid the EA aircrew in rapidly assessing the effectiveness of a given jamming approach.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of computer software particularly to an improved method of providing aircrew decision aids for use in determining the optimum placement of an Electronic Attack (EA) aircraft. The core of the invention is a software program that will dynamically provide the EA flight crew situational awareness regarding a threat emitter's coverage relative to the position of the EA aircraft and to the position of any number of protected entities (PE). The software program generates information to provide visual cues representing a Jam Acceptability Region (JAR) contour, a Jam Assessment Strobe (JAS) and text for display on a number of flexibly configurable display formats posted on display units. The JAR and JAS graphics and text will aid the EA aircrew in rapidly assessing the effectiveness of a given jamming approach.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a bearing from a vehicle to a transmitting station are described. The method includes accessing a database to obtain transmitter position information for the transmitter, obtaining vehicle position information based on a GPS signal, and generating the bearing from the vehicle to the station utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information. The system includes a database storing transmitter position information identifying a position of the transmitter, a GPS receiver obtaining vehicle position information identifying a current position of the vehicle based on a GPS signal, and a controller generating a bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information.

Abstract: In a DME ground apparatus, under the control of a transmission-rate monitoring control unit, the transponder unit decodes an interrogation signal it has received and generates a response signal. The transmission rate at which to transmit the response signal is monitored. If the result of the monitoring indicates that the transmission rate has reached a preset value, the response signal is transmitted from the DME ground apparatus. If the result of the monitoring indicates that the transmission rate has not reached a preset value, squitter pulses are transmitted from the DME ground apparatus.

Abstract: The transponder unit provided in a DME ground apparatus detects the transmission rate at which to transmit the pulse-pairs constituting a response signal. The threshold of the reception level of the pulse detection unit provided in the transponder unit is raised as the transmission rate increases.

Abstract: A monostatic multi-beam radar sensor for motor vehicles, having a group antenna, a planar lens having multiple inputs, and a homodyne mixer system, wherein the mixer system comprises multiple transfer mixers that are connected in parallel to the inputs of the lens.

Abstract: An arrival angle estimation system includes a transmitting device and a receiving device and estimates an arrival angle at which frames transmitted by radio from the transmitting device arrive at the receiving device. The transmitting device includes two directional antennas each arranged so that its directivity is tilted at ±? degrees with respect to the front of the transmitting device. The receiving device includes a directional antenna having directivity toward the front of the receiving device. Frames are transmitted alternately from the respective directional antennas of the transmitting device, and received signal strengths of the frames on the receiving device side for the respective transmitting directional antennas are compared with each other to estimate the arrival angle.

Abstract: Array antenna calibration verification coupling interrogator and responder with mode-related interrogation signal having a previous calibration phase angle, producing in responder a characteristic interrogation response. Conjugate signal is generated by reversing phase of interrogation signal, producing in responder a characteristic conjugate response. Interrogation and conjugate responses sensed and combined to determine difference characteristic for responder array element. Responder difference characteristic iteratively determined for elements in antenna array representative of present calibration verification state. Present and previous calibration verification states compared, with significant variation adapting array to desired calibration verification state. Verification processor controls interrogator, responders, and signals providing built-in missile RADAR calibration verification.

Abstract: A radar level gauging system for determining a filling level of a liquid in a tank arranged in a mobile unit is disclosed. The system is comprises a processing circuitry for determining a local and momentary filling level at different times at a certain position in the tank of the container based on received echo signals, and is further adapted to identify variations between said local and momentary filling levels corresponding to surface waves in the tank due to movement of said mobile unit. The result of this identification is used for improving the accuracy when estimating an average filling level of the tank.

Abstract: A radio frequency communication front-end device having a front-end radio frequency antenna module comprises a microchip antenna and a radio frequency front-end signal processing core chip, wherein the microchip antenna is used to emit and receive electromagnetic waves for signal communication with other wireless equipment. The present invention, as being in the form of a module, processes the radio frequency signals by means of the radio frequency front-end signal processing core chip and, therefore, achieves optimized efficiency of electromagnetic wave emission and reception.

Abstract: The present application describes an apparatus that includes a radar antenna device to acquire synthetic aperture radar data, radar receiver and transmitter equipment coupled to the radar antenna device, and a synthetic aperture radar processing device in communication with the radar receiver and transmitter equipment. This processing device includes a processor structured to process the synthetic aperture radar data, which is representative of a defocused image. The processor is further structured to define an image processing constraint corresponding to an image region expected to have a low radar return and generate one or more output signals as a function of the image processing constraint and the data. The one or more output signals are representative of a more focused form of the defocused image.

Abstract: A fast and efficient automated satellite constellation detection process can be implemented at least in part independent of in-band data in the satellite signal. The automated detection process iterates through a set of various predefined transponder settings to detect one or more accessible satellite constellations through each satellite dish connected directly or through a switch to a satellite receiver. The process determines whether the satellite receiver is able to lock onto a satellite signal at each transponder setting. Based on the combinations of which satellite constellations are available at each transponder setting, the process allocates a specific satellite constellation to each satellite dish. In one implementation, channel information can be used to further refine the detection and identification of accessible satellite constellations for each satellite dish.

Abstract: A GNSS receiver and antenna system transmits signals from an antenna structure to a remote GNSS receiver and includes a digital communications subsystem that utilizes a high speed digital communications conductor. The transmissions are digital signals that preserve GNSS satellite signal frequency and/or carrier and code phase information. The system may transmit digital signals corresponding to GNSS signals such as GPS, GLONAS, Galileo and Compass satellite signals. In addition, the system may transmit, over the same digital communications conductor in appropriately formatted digital signals, ranging signals from ground-based transmitters or other satellites, differential GNSS correction signals from beacons or base GPS receivers, and/or signals from transmitting or co-located sensors, such as inertial sensors, temperature sensors and so forth.

Abstract: A method for performing integer ambiguity resolution in a global navigation satellite system is disclosed. A set of ambiguities, which are associated with carrier phase measurements of at least some of the signals received from the satellites in an identified set of satellites, are identified. Integer ambiguities are estimated and a best candidate set and a second best candidate set of integer ambiguity values are determined. Upon determining that the best set of integer ambiguity values fail to meet a discrimination test, each ambiguity for which integer ambiguity values in the best candidate set and second best candidate set fail to meet predefined criteria are removed from the set of ambiguities to produce a reduced set of ambiguities. The integer ambiguities in the reduced set of ambiguities are then resolved and an output is generated in accordance with the resolved integer ambiguities.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for geotagging objects on a mobile handheld communication device. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing a user interface with a plurality of user selectable options for obtaining geographic location coordinates; receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of options; and tagging an object with the geographic location coordinates obtained from the selected one of the plurality of options. In another embodiment, the method may further comprise obtaining from an active global positioning system (GPS) module the geographic location coordinates for a current location to tag the object. The method may further comprise providing previously saved geographic location coordinates to tag the object. The object may be an image object.