Abstract: A transmission apparatus with flexible structure for introducing external cables that controls signal transmission efficiently. A cable connector for introducing a cable from the outside is fixed on a sub-printed circuit board. A main printed circuit board has a guide rail along which the sub-printed circuit board can be inserted reversely to change the direction from which the cable is introduced at the time of the sub-printed circuit board being housed. An enclosure has ducts for bunching cables. Transmission units are mounted in the enclosure.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the state of a rail stretch utilize a receiver that is moved along the rail stretch to receive radio signals transmitted by at least three transmitters mounted in the elevator shaft. Spacing data is determined from the radio signals and is compared by an evaluating unit with reference data of the spacing to generate a result with respect to the state of the rail stretch. The positions of rail fastenings, connecting straps and shaft doors can be detected by additional sensors also moved along the rail stretch and are represented in a correction protocol to permit an efficient adjusting of the rail stretch.

Abstract: An open crib gate alarm system for providing a visual and audible alarm when the gate to the crib is left in an open position. The open crib gate alarm system includes a crib having a gate which can be lowered and raised; and also includes an alarm assembly including an alarm unit having a housing being securely fastened to the gate, and also including a first switch member being securely attached to the gate, and further including a second switch member being securely attached to the crib for activating the alarm unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a combined substrate structure, comprising first and second substrates combined, includes: level-adjustable supporting mechanisms for supporting plural supporting points of a bottom surface of the combined substrate structure; a level-detecting system for detecting respective levels of corresponding points of a top surface of the combined substrate structure to the plural supporting points of the bottom surface; and a control system for receiving the detected levels from the level-detecting system and for controlling the plurality of level-adjustable supporting mechanism in respective level-adjustment operations in accordance with the detected levels.

Abstract: A multi-purpose alarm system is designed to produce an alarm signal in response to the movement of an object relative to a fixed position, such as occurs when doors, gates or windows are opened, or when vehicles are moved. The system operates with an emitter providing a beam of light (such as a laser beam of light) mounted in a fixed location. A mirror or retroreflector is mounted on a movable object to intercept the beam of light and reflect it back to a detector located adjacent the emitter. The detector activates an alarm whenever the movable object is moved a sufficient distance to prevent the mirror or retroreflector from returning the beam of light to the detector. Interruption of the beam of light in its path to the mirror or retroreflector is not required to activate the alarm; although the alarm also is activated in the event of interruption of the beam of light from the emitter.

Abstract: A sensor device is used for sensing position of a movable component. The sensor device can be applied to multiple applications. For example, proper alignment between a shifter spline and a shifter position sensor of a transmission assembly can be confirmed by applying the sensor device of the present invention to confirm alignment of the transmission shifter with a transmission shifter position sensor during transmission assembly. A rotary sensor converts angular movement to a proportional electrical output. A converter then converts the proportional electrical output to an input which can be read. The location of the movable component is then determined, and displayed.

Abstract: A sensor detects skewed adjacent movable components. The sensor may be used to detect harmful skews of aircraft control surfaces, such as slats or flaps on aircraft wings, which may be caused by an actuator disconnection from the surface it drives. Harmful skew, which is a relative asymmetrical motion of control surfaces beyond a predetermined limit, is detected by the sensor, but the relatively smaller harmless skew caused by normal flight is ignored. The sensor comprises first and second arms connected to a common base that may be attached to a first control surface. A constraining means such as a mechanical fuse holds the arms together while a separating means such as a spring exerts a separating force on the arms when the fuse breaks. A switching means is integral to the two arms. A striker pin on a second control surface strikes the first or second sensor arm when the relative motion between the control surfaces exceeds a certain predetermined limit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of a continuous determination of an instantaneous position of an impeller blade tip (5′) in a rotor turbine machine, particularly in a turbine impeller (6) in a turbojet engine during its operation in a real condition in order to obtain a current information on a technical state of the blade (5). In a selected place of an housing (7) of a rotor turbo machine, in a movement plane of impeller blade tips (5′), it is arranged in a stable manner at least one microwave antenna (3) with an aperture shape (4) which is consistent with an internal surface of an housing (7). The microwave signal (11), which is produced by a microwave homodyne system, is emitted, and then received, through a microwave antenna (3). The output signal (9) from that system, which carries out information on each instantaneous position of an impeller blade tip (5′) in relation to an antenna aperture (4), is converted by an electronic system, and then it is read.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a security gate, is disclosed which may comprise a driving member connected to the security gate and adapted to move the security gate from a first position to a second position, responsive to operation of the driving mechanism; a position detection device associated with the operating mechanism and adapted to determine a first distance of the driving mechanism from a first reference point and a second distance of the driving mechanism from a second reference point, and to determine the position of the security gate based upon the relation between the first distance and the second distance. The apparatus and method may have the first reference point being the position of the position detector and the second reference point being at a preselected distance from the position detector.

Abstract: A patient position monitoring apparatus and method includes an article configured to be worn by a patient. The article includes a plurality of resonators with each resonator responsive to a wireless excitation signal for causing the unique change in the excitation signal or for outputting a unique wireless response signal. The resonators are stimulated with a first wireless excitation signal when the article is being worn by a patient. The unique change in the excitation signal and /or the unique response signal of each resonator responding to the first excitation signal is determined. From the thus detected response, a signal strength of the unique change in the excitation signal and/or the unique response signal for each responding resonator is determined. From the thus determined signal strengths, the relative locations of the responding resonators with respect to each other can be determined.

Abstract: A laser-marking system that marks products by emitting a laser beam. A laser detection device in the laser-marking system determines whether a laser emitted a laser beam in proper relation to the product. If the laser detection device determines that the laser beam was not emitted in proper relation to the product, an error output signal is generated. The proper relation determination may, for example, be time based or count based. The error output signal may be communicated to a controller, such as a central controller or a programmable logic controller. The controller may shut down operation of the assembly line, shut down the laser-marking system, and/or may alter such systems as desired. The error output signal may also be communicated to a customer interface and/or to a remote location.

Abstract: A substrate support is provided that comprises a sensing system configured to detect when a moveable end effector is in an over clamp position. The sensing system may comprise various sensors such as an inductive sensor, a light emitter and a detector, and a pressure sensor, etc. Use of such an over clamp sensor may prevent substrate damage that results from improper substrate gripping.

Abstract: An electronic system that includes a trailer sensor, a lock sensor and a control circuit determine whether a trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to a trailer. The trailer sensor senses the position of the trailer relative to the trailer hitch assembly and the lock sensor senses the position of the locking mechanism. The control circuit is coupled to the trailer sensor and the lock sensor and masks an output of the lock sensor for a first predetermined stabilization period after the control circuit initially determines that the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer.

Abstract: A self-aligning sensor assembly that is useful for mounting safety sensors that require precise alignment such as electric eyes and electric garage door opener sensors that include an aligned emitter and detector wherein the self-aligning mechanism allows the sensors to be realigned manually or automatically. This invention is also a method for deactivating a sensor mechanism such as a garage door opener sensor using the self-aligning mechanism of this invention.

Abstract: A laser lighting assembly, mounted on a forklift, will be projecting a light beam parallel to and in the same plane as a fork, which itself is parallel to a floor or ground level. Until the forks are parallel to the floor or ground level the laser light will not be continuously on. When an operator of the forklift is adjusting the forks to be level, and then parallel to the floor or ground level, as the level positions are being approached, the laser light appears in a blinking sequence with the off periods initially being longer and then becoming shorter as the level positions are approached. Then when the level positions of the forks are reached the laser light is on full time.

Abstract: A transportation system (100/200) has a wafer container (100), such as a FOUP, to rest on a support surface (200). The container has kinematic coupling grooves, and the support surface has kinematic coupling pins. Grooves and pins are at least partially electrically conductive and allow coupling an electric device (150) associated with the container to an electrical circuit (250) associated with the support surface. Device and circuit in combination allow to perform a variety of functions, such as monitoring the correct position of the container, and exchanging signals.

Abstract: In a transportation system (100, 200) for wafers, a wafer container (100) has kinematic coupling grooves, and a support surface (200) has kinematic coupling pins. Grooves and pins are at least partially electrically conductive to allow monitoring the correct position of the container by measuring electrical resistance, as well as to allow signal exchange to and from the container (100). The kinematic coupling pins have first and second surface areas that are electrically isolated.

Abstract: A library terminal permits a user to execute a loan transaction without assistance. The library terminal (i) provides a visible scan line from a bar code reader indicating the correct positioning of the bar code on a circulating item, (ii) leads a user through a loan transaction, (iii) provides an explicit feedback to a user when an article has an improper position on the article receiving area, (iv) both checks out and checks in circulating items, (v) stores fonts in bit maps of screen displays instead of in a separate font memory, (vi) integrates a security marker reader, a printer, and a controller in the same housing, (vii) processes financial transactions related to the borrowing of circulating items, and/or (viii) displays actions for helping the user to correct errors in use of the terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for the storage and retrieval of media in an automated storage library having media storage cells each housing a single media includes a robotic mechanism. The robotic mechanism is operable to move through the storage library to access the media in the media storage cells. A vibration sensor is associated with the robotic mechanism for generating a vibration signal indicative of vibration of the robotic mechanism. A controller is operable with the vibration sensor for processing the vibration signal to determine if the vibration of the robotic mechanism is abnormal. In the event that the vibration is abnormal, the controller generates a warning signal to warn the operator of the storage library of a possible problem prior to actual failure of the robotic mechanism. The controller is also operable to associated the vibration of the robotic mechanism with particular storage library locations to warn the operator of possible problem locations of the storage library.

Abstract: A circuit is described for monitoring the faultless state and/or for detecting the faulty state of a cable railway or chairlift system, with a plurality of monitoring and detection devices (1) and with at least one control and evaluation unit (2), the monitoring and detection devices (1) being series-connected to one another and to the control and evaluation unit (2) and having the potential to be interrogated with respect to their state, especially with respect to their operating state. To be able to meet safety requirements which are as high as possible and at the same time to require only a small installation space, each monitoring and detection device (1) has several different influence areas (3) and several signal outputs.

Abstract: A multi-sensor alignment testing device for aligning or testing a sensor in a paper processing apparatus. The device comprises a housing, a power supply section, and a signal selector section connected to the housing. The signal selector section is connectable to a power supply section and the sensor. The indicator section is connected to the signal selector section and the sensor.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data between a position measuring system and an evaluating unit that includes the steps of generating a system-specific parameter, transmitting the system specific parameter between a position measuring system and an evaluating unit over at least one supply line.

Abstract: Travel trailer and motor home users must periodically use various facilities for filling motor fuel tanks and water storage tanks of their vehicles, as well as dumping their waste water and sewerage receptacles. Typically the fill or discharge receptacles for these different tanks are located at different locations along the length of the vehicle, making it difficult to align the vehicle with the different service facilities. The present invention comprises a device whereby a driver can accurately line up fill and discharge receptacles with the corresponding service at a service station or dump station without the aid of a second person or the need for leaving the vehicle.

Abstract: An electronic system monitors a trailer hitch assembly that has a hitch plate with a throat for receiving a kingpin of a trailer and a locking mechanism for locking the kingpin in throat. The system determines whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer and includes a trailer sensor, a lock sensor, and a control circuit. The trailer sensor senses the position of the trailer relative to the trailer hitch assembly and the lock sensor senses the position of the locking mechanism. The control circuit is coupled to the trailer sensor and the lock sensor. The control circuit determines whether the trailer hitch assembly is properly coupled to the trailer by taking into account the sequence in which the trailer sensor and the lock sensor sense the respective positions of the trailer and the locking mechanism, as well as, the time periods elapsing between the sensing at such positions.

Abstract: In a component mounting device in which a component is picked up and mounted on a circuit board by a suction nozzle, an amount of displacement between a center position of the suction nozzle 11 and that of the picked-up component 12 is measured, and when it is larger than a preliminarily determined value, a warning is generated indicating that the parts cassette 3 from which the component 12 has been fed is in abnormal condition, as well as the mounting action of the component 12 is stopped.

Abstract: A jack-knife alarm device comprises a pivotable first plate and a first switch operably associated with one end of the first plate, the first plate being biased against the first switch to maintain the first switch in an open position; a pivotable second plate and a second switch operably associated with one end of the second plate, the second plate being biased against the second switch to maintain the second switch in an open position; and a circuit operably connected to the first and second switches, the circuit being configured to be connected to an indicator that is activated when one of the first and second switches is in a closed position.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method of monitoring a power transmission line. According to one embodiment, an apparatus adapted to monitor a power transmission line supported by a plurality of structures includes a first measuring device located at a position in space; and a second measuring device coupled with the power transmission line, the first measuring device and second measuring device being configured to provide position information of the second measuring device relative to the first measuring device.

Abstract: In a disclosed embodiment, a steering axle wheel assembly for a vehicle is provided with a system for actively sensing and alerting a vehicle user of wheel misalignment. The wheel assembly includes an elongated tie rod extending between two wheels and a rotatable knuckle system connecting each wheel to a respective end of the tie rod. A steer angle, that is, the angle of a wheel with respect to an axle, is monitored. When the steer angle is significant, result in a tensile or compressive force is provided on the tie rod. This force on the tie rod is small when the steer angle is small. The tie rod is provided with a system to measure the force. An alerting system is provided which alerts a vehicle user when significant tensile or compressive force on the tie rod is measured, and the steer angle is small. Thus, a vehicle user is actively alerted of wheel misalignment.