A method includes optically interacting a bulk material or powder stored in a storage bin with an integrated computational element (“ICE”) configured to modify an electromagnetic radiation according to a characteristic of the bulk material or powder. The method also includes detecting the modified electromagnetic radiation with a detector, and producing an output signal correlated to a value for the characteristic of the bulk material or powder, and receiving and processing the output signal with a signal processor to yield a value for the characteristic of the bulk material or powder. Also, the method includes transmitting a message flagging the storage bin when it is determined that the bulk material or powder is not suitable for continued storage. The bulk material or powder includes a dry cement or a dry cement component.

An input device according to an embodiment includes a vibration element, an acquisition unit, and an element controller. The vibration element causes an operation surface to vibrate. The acquisition unit acquires information on at least one of a traveling state and a traveling environment of the moving body. The element controller causes the vibration element to vibrate at a vibration strength according to at least the one of the traveling state and the traveling environment.

Technologies for verification include storage with private keys, wherein each private key is associated with a group affiliation. The storage also includes characteristic information about an apparatus. The technologies also include a wireless interface configured to receive a request from a reader for verification of membership of the apparatus within a group affiliation. The technologies further include a controller with programmable logic for configuring the controller to determine whether to verify membership of the apparatus within a given group affiliation. The controller is also configured to verify membership of the apparatus within the given group affiliation by signing data with a private key associated with the given group affiliation. The signed data is sent to the reader. Membership within the given group affiliation conveys a subset of the characteristic information.

A piece of jewellery, wherein the jewellery comprises at least one tag or chip programmed with at least a unique identification code, and a tag reader is configured to read the tag or chip when the tag reader and the piece of jewellery touch, or come into close contact and, display a message or content associated with the unique identification code.

A car management system includes, for example, a second terminal generating first and second tokens in response to a request from a first terminal to use a vehicle, and sending the first token to the first terminal; and a third terminal authorizing the first terminal to use the vehicle by generating an access key that provides authority to use the vehicle using the first token and the second token in response to a request from the first terminal for the access key, and providing the generated access key to the first terminal.

A secure short-distance-based communication and validation system validates users in a validation area. The system may include multiple zones in the validation area and beacons in each zone. A run-time mobile device identifier and keys that may be location-specific, device-specific and time-specific are generated and utilized for secure communication between mobile devices and a zone computer in a zone. The validation area may be in a vehicle, and validation may include deducting a fare.

A method of monitoring access authorizations by an access monitoring system by a first method, the data carriers or the mobile electronic devices, on which a valid access authorization or an ID is assigned, are detected and the carriers/devices current positions are determined by trilateration or multilateration. A second imaging method is executed, parallel to the first method, and the current position of all persons presented in the entry area is detected by cameras. All persons, with and without valid access authorization, in the entry area are detected so that an ID map and a people map are created. The ID map corresponds to people who have valid access authorization and the people map corresponds everybody in the entry area. An overlay map is created by matching the ID map with the people map, to identify persons with valid access authorization or ID and the people without valid access authorization.

A wireless access control system may include a remote access wireless communications device and a lock assembly to be mounted on a door. The lock assembly may include a lock, a door position sensor, interior and exterior directional antennas, lock wireless communications circuitry, a touch sensor, and a lock controller. The lock controller may be configured to unlock the lock based upon the touch sensor, determine when the door is closed after being opened based upon the door position sensor, determine whether the remote access wireless device is in an interior or an exterior based upon the directional antennas, switch the lock to the locked position when the door is closed and when the remote access wireless device is in the interior, and not switch the lock to the locked position when the door is closed and when the remote access wireless device is in the exterior.

At the time of setting authority, a management apparatus stores a database in which authority information corresponding to authority to physically drive a drive apparatus, which is a tangible object, using a terminal apparatus, and registration identification information corresponding to a subject that is given the authority are associated, and outputs information representing any of the registration identification information; and a permission apparatus receives and stores the information. At the time of exercising the authority, the terminal apparatus outputs information representing identification information, and the permission apparatus receives the information and, when the identification information corresponds to registration identification information comprised in setting information, outputs information representing authority exercise information required to exercise the authority. The terminal apparatus receives the information representing the authority exercise information and outputs a drive signal corresponding to the authority exercise information. By this drive signal, a drive apparatus, which is a tangible object, is physically driven.

A wireless access control system may include a remote access wireless communications device and a lock assembly to be mounted on a door. The lock assembly may include a lock, a door position sensor, interior and exterior directional antennas, lock wireless communications circuitry, and a lock controller. The lock controller determine whether the lock is manually unlocked, determine when the door is closed after being opened based upon the door position sensor, and determine whether the remote access wireless device is in an interior or an exterior based upon the directional antennas. The lock controller may also switch the lock to the locked position when the door is closed and when the remote access wireless device is in the exterior, and not switch the lock to the locked position when the door is closed and when the remote access wireless device is in the interior.

Apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling functions of a vehicle. The apparatus for an information system of a vehicle includes a communication module for communication with a mobile device and a control module for controlling the communication module. The control module obtains a key signal and information about a user profile from the mobile device via the communication module. The user profile includes user settings for functions of the vehicle. The information about the user profile includes data about at least one subset of the user settings. The control module controls a locked state of the vehicle based on the key signal and controls at least one subset of the functions of the vehicle based on the information about the user profile.

An apparatus may include a housing defining a compartment, wherein the housing is configured to accept at least one item within the compartment. The apparatus may also include a member coupled with the housing, wherein the member defines a container, wherein the member is configured to provide access to the compartment in a first state, and wherein the member is further configured to restrict access to the compartment in a second state. The apparatus may further include an electronic lock disposed at least partially within the container, wherein the electronic lock is configured to limit relative movement between the member and the housing in the second state. The apparatus may also include an interface routed between the compartment and the container, wherein the interface is configured to allow control of the electronic lock.

A multi sensor detection and disabling lock system includes detector cases for holding interchangeable detectors that sample for chemical, biological and radiological compounds, agents and elements, with each detector case disposed in or upon the monitored product. The detector case transmits detection information to a monitoring computer terminal and transmits a signal to a lock disabler engaged to the product to lock or disable the product's lock thereby preventing untrained, unauthorized and unequipped individuals from gaining access and entry to the product, and also preventing further contamination of the area. The detection system can be interconnected to surveillance towers scanning detector cases disposed at seaport docks, freight depots and rail terminals for monitoring containers being prepared for shipment or sitting on docks for long periods of time.

A system includes a sensor configured to sense an input at a skin surface, a processor configured to receive an output signal from the sensor and generate a haptic control signal based on the output signal, and a haptic output device configured to generate a haptic effect based on the haptic control signal.

The Firearm Alarm is a pressure-plate activated alarm switch to provide a functional and operational response to handguns being handled in a home. The design of the Firearm Alarm allows for mobility and placement in almost any type of setting. The alarm is a high decibel alarm that can access any part of most homes, even through closed doors and walls. The Firearm Alarm also allows for a tiered defense of a firearm such as using it in conjuncture with trigger locks and weapon safes.

A multi-spectral detection device is provided that includes a housing, a bezel spacer, a microphone, an end cap and electro-optical sensors mounted to the end cap. The housing has an inner chamber that holds sensor components. The bezel spacer has a first end and an opposed, second end. The first end of the bezel spacer extends from a first end of the housing. The bezel spacer has a central bezel passage leading to the inner chamber of the housing. The bezel spacer further has at least four side walls. Each side wall is positioned 90 degrees away from an adjacent side wall. A microphone is coupled to each side wall of the bezel spacer in such a manner that each microphone is faced 90 degrees with respect to an adjacent microphone to form a compact acoustic array. The end cap is coupled to the second end of the bezel spacer and the electro-optical sensors are mounted to the end cap.

A ceiling mount intrusion detector with arbitrary direction detection capability is provided. The detector can include a pyroelectric sensor and a unitary Fresnel lens such that the unitary Fresnel lens includes a first piece of a first full Fresnel lens and a second piece of a second full Fresnel lens and such that the first piece and the second piece are spliced together. Due to the dimensions and location of the unitary Fresnel lens relative to the sensor, the sensor can output a signal indicative of an alarm condition when an object passes in front of the lens at any angle relative to the sensor.

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting, by a system including at least one processor, a presence of an object from sensor data generated by a sensor device, retrieving, by the system, from a memory device a plurality of profiles biometrically descriptive of approved objects, asserting, by the system, an alarm responsive to determining from the sensor data that the detected object is not biometrically correlated to any of the plurality of profiles, classifying, by the system, the detected object as an authorized object responsive to determining from the sensor data that the detected object is biometrically correlated to at least one of the plurality of profiles, and notifying, by the system, at least one neighboring device responsive to asserting the alarm or responsive to classifying the detected object as the authorized object. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A register system includes a handheld unit including a code scanner and a security tag signal reception unit and a processor. The processor is configured to determine whether or not a security tag on a product is deactivated based on whether or not the security tag signal reception unit receives a security tag signal from the product during scanning of a product code on the product, and register the product code for a transaction when the security tag is determined to be deactivated.

An acoustic magnetic tag includes a housing, a resonant sheet, and a biasing magnetic sheet received in the main body. The housing includes a main body having an opening, a first connecting portion connected to one side of the main body, a second connecting portion connected to an other side of the main body opposite to the one side, a partition connected to the first connecting portion, and a cover connected to the second connecting portion. The partition is rotated relative to the main body to be received in the main body by folding the first connecting portion, and the cover is rotated relative to the main body to cover the opening by folding the second connecting portion. The partition is positioned between the resonant sheet and the biasing magnetic sheet.

A system, method, and device for improving the functioning of security tags for use with merchandise are provided. A security tag device, to be used in conjunction with a tag monitoring device, may be provided with a product. The product may be conductive or may have metallic packaging. The security tag may include a planar dielectric substrate having a first side and an opposing side. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) circuit may be placed on the first side of the planar dielectric substrate. A ferrite sheet having a first side and an opposing side may be coupled to the opposing side of the planar dielectric substrate. A metal backing sheet may be coupled to the opposing side of the ferrite sheet. The planar dielectric substrate may be centered or offset on the ferrite sheet and the ferrite sheet may be centered or offset on the metal backing sheet.

An alarm system including an alarm panel, a sensor operatively connected to the alarm panel and operable to detect alarm events, and a communicator module operatively connected to the alarm panel and operable to capture signals transmitted by mobile devices within a predefined area, extract mobile device identifiers from the signals, and record the mobile device identifiers in an active device identifier list that is maintained in a memory associated with the communicator module.

An example method of security prejudgment based on characteristic information include receiving characteristic information of a monitored party from the monitored party, calculating security status information of the monitored party based on a probability of danger that has been stored and corresponds to the characteristic information of the monitored party, determining that the security status information is greater than a first threshold, performing an appropriate operation based on the determination. Accordingly, the technical solution of the present disclosure solves a problem that presetting of monitoring conditions cannot cover potential surrounding risks that result in a safety hazard. Further, the technical solution can monitor risks that are not reflected by spatial information. After identifying and warning based on the characteristic information, potential risks may be avoided before occurring without wasting data traffic.

An approach is disclosed that provides assistance to disabled individuals when utilizing public spaces. In the approach, a wireless message is received at a detector of the system with the wireless message being from a device worn by a disabled individual. The wireless message includes impairment data pertaining to the disabled individual. In addition, reception of the wireless message indicates that the disabled individual has entered a physical area that provides accommodations to disabled individuals. The approach identifies an impairment pertaining to the disabled individual and adjusts a device setting of a device in the physical area based on the identified impairment of the disabled individual.

Disclosed is an intelligent shoe for the blind, which includes a sole and an upper. At least a portion of the sole is provided with multiple pressure sensors for generating pressure sensing signals when the sole is in contact with raised ground surface. The intelligent shoe further includes a storage chip, used to pre-store a signal characteristic of pressure sensing signals generated when the sole is in contact with a blind sidewalk, and a ata processing chip electrically connected to the multiple pressure sensors and the storage chip, used to compare a signal characteristic of pressure sensing signals from the pressure sensors with the pre-stored signal characteristic, and determine that the sole deviates from the blind sidewalk and send a prompt signal in the case that the signal characteristic of the pressure sensing signals from the pressure sensors is inconsistent with the pre-stored signal characteristic.

A patient care system and a corresponding method that provide patient monitoring. The system includes a server, at least one patient communication device, and at least one caregiver communication device. The communication devices send receiving signals and notifications wirelessly to/from the server, and may be adapted to be worn on a user's wrist. Notifications can be sent to the caregiver communication device to notify the user to provide care to a patient in response to a patient request for assistance based on defined conditions, which may be proximity based. The server may track all received and sent notifications and may provide analytics of this information to improve quality of healthcare in a facility.

A flap detector can detect significant flapping with magnitudes of state deltas (i.e., differences between values representing events or states). The flap detector aggregates monotonic state deltas. Aggregating monotonic state deltas yields a magnitude of monotonic state deltas. A magnitude of a series of same direction state deltas can be considered the magnitude of flap because the end of the series corresponds to a beginning of a state delta series in a different direction. When directional transition occurs (i.e., flapping occurs), the flap detector generates multiple monotonic state delta magnitudes. The determined magnitudes can be used to filter out insignificant flapping that could be considered noise.

A room privacy device sounds an audible alarm when a door to a room is not closed and sound is detected in the room. This helps prompt people in the room to close the door to maintain the privacy of the conversation and/or prevent sound in the room from disturbing others outside the room. In some embodiments, the room privacy device includes a door sensor for detecting whether a door is open, a microphone for capturing sound, and a speaker for providing an audible alarm. The room privacy device also includes a processor that causes the speaker to sound an audible alarm based on a signal from the door sensor indicative of the door being open and a signal from the microphone indicative of sound being detected.

A computerized monitoring system and method for detecting electrical equipment failure. The system includes a sensor that detects a sound level representative of ultrasonic emissions radiating from electrical equipment to be monitored. A computer system in communication with the sensor is programmed to determine whether the electrical equipment is experiencing one or more of arcing, tracking, or corona based on the sound level detected by the sensor. In some embodiments, the computer system continuously monitors for these conditions based on the sound level detected by the sensor.

A glucose meter with an adjustable alarm and an integral wireless transmitter to send a user a reminder to take a second glucose level measurement. The glucose meter with an alarm features a housing with a display and input buttons connected to a microprocessor. The housing has a slot designed to accept a strip with a sample of blood. A glucose level sensor within the housing is adapted to measure the glucose level of the blood sample. After the measurement is taken, an alarm is set to activate after a predetermined period of the time, reminding a user to take a second glucose level measurement. The alarm can be an auditory or a vibrating alarm. Additionally, the wireless transmitter is designed to send an email or text message to a user as a reminder to take a second glucose level measurement.

A touchless management method and system can include: a server beacon, the server beacon including a gesture sensor, a motion sensor, a managed sensor, a server beacon mass storage, and a server beacon power transceiver; detecting gesture data from the gesture sensor; recording sensor data with the managed sensor; a power station including a power station power transceiver, a station control unit, upload coordinator, and a station storage unit; sending a packet from the server beacon to the power station; prioritizing the packet; uploading a message including the sensor data to the power station; and uploading the message to a database server.

The present invention relates to a personal protection service and method, comprise: a user terminal requesting a personal protection service by transmitting basic user information, a situation setting message, and etc., when an emergency arises; a personal protection service server connecting to the user terminal through a mobile communication network to provide an Individual Safety Guard service; and a terminal of an institution connected to the personal protection service server and a social safety network. When an emergency arises, a user who encounters danger presses an emergency button on a terminal to immediately request to the personal protection service server that the emergency be transmitted to the terminal of a guardian or an institute linked to the social safety network to respond within a short period of time, and the location of the user terminal requesting rescue is tracked so that safety personnel can be immediately dispatched to provide safety.

A monitoring and alert system for retro-fitting to latching mechanisms. A master control unit is located proximate to an operator of the system. It includes a user interface having: an input enabling an operator to arm the system and then allow it to operate with minimal interaction of the operator. It also includes an output alerting the operator as to the status of the system in relation to a plurality of prescribed conditions. One or more slave units having sensing units detecting a latched and unlatched state are attached to a discrete latching mechanism for detecting the latching status thereof. Each slave unit comprises sensing means to detect whether the latching mechanism is in a latched state or an unlatched state.

A method and device for the remote control of a function of a vehicle is disclosed. Images of the vehicle are recorded by a camera which is integrated in the mobile control unit. A visual signal is generated at a predetermined position on the vehicle, where remote control is only enabled if the visual signal is recorded by the camera. The device for the remote control of a function of a vehicle includes a mobile control unit with an integrated camera to record the images of the vehicle. A signal generation unit is arranged at a predetermined position on the vehicle for the generation of a visual signal and the vehicle includes a function unit for the control of the function. The function unit is formed in such a way that remote control is only enabled when the visual signal is recorded by the camera.

The invention provides a remote control system, including a cloud server, a first device and a portable electronic device. The first device includes a transmission interface for connecting to a second device. The portable electronic device sets up a transmission path to connect with the first device via the cloud server. The first device transmits type information including a type of the transmission interface to the portable electronic device through the transmission path. The portable electronic device encodes original data based on the type information to generate encoded data conforming to the transmission interface, and transmits the encoded data to the first device through the transmission path. The first device transmits the encoded data to the second device through the transmission interface, so as to control the second device.

A method for interleaving time slots in a multi-antenna system for communication with RFID tags is disclosed. An example is shown for an eight antenna system. A first four antennas arranged side-by-side are sequentially energized to interrogate RFID transponders. A second set of four antennas arranged side-by-side, the first of which is adjacent to the last of the first set of antennas. A four-antenna sequence is performed for the first four antennas and a second four antenna sequence is performed for the second set of antennas. The first and second four antenna sequences are offset by only a marginal amount, sufficient to ensure that a transponder signal received four antennas away from an active antenna is not acknowledged because the receive window for the non-active antenna is delayed.

A vehicle may traverse a portion of a vehicle transportation network, which may include a processor of the vehicle executing instructions to identify a first vehicle operation assistance information item, and, on a condition that an immanency for the first vehicle operation assistance information item is within a maximum relevant immanence and a utility metric for the first vehicle operation assistance information item indicates high utility, present a representation of the first vehicle operation assistance information item by, on a condition that a first urgency identified based on the immanency indicates a warning urgency or an advisory urgency, controlling a primary graphical display portion to present a first portion of a graphical representation of the first vehicle operation assistance information item, and controlling a secondary graphical display portion to present a second portion of the graphical representation.

Various embodiments are described herein for methods and systems for managing a parking area. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a parking authorization request from a parking lot user, the request specifying a parking stall identifier corresponding to a parking stall occupied by the user's vehicle, the request further specifying a parking duration parameter identifying a time duration the user's vehicle can occupy the stall; determining a parking duration rule for the stall based on the parking duration parameter, the rule indicating a parking expiration time; at a first time, receiving a first data associated with the parking stall identifier, the first data comprising an occupancy parameter indicating a presence or absence of a parked vehicle at the identified stall; if the occupancy parameter indicates a presence of a parked vehicle, generate a citation alert for the stall if the first time exceeds the parking expiration time.

Conventional driving support systems have a problem that the driver of a user's vehicle is still at a hazard because the conventional driving support systems cannot make another vehicle irradiate, with its visible light, an obstacle existing at a position which the user's vehicle cannot detect with its on-vehicle radar, etc. According to the present invention, a determination unit 104 determines, on the basis of position information of a first moving object and position information of an obstacle, whether or not the first moving object detects the obstacle, and a controller 105 informs the first moving object of the existence of the obstacle when the determination unit 104 determines that the first moving object does not detect the obstacle.

A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, is response, receive maps and operator instructions.

A method and device for associating a remote with a component. The method and system may include receiving a control command from the remote. Upon receiving the control command, an identification signal may be transmitted to a display. The identification signal may include information for identifying the component. The remote may be associated with the component based on the identification signal.

An adaptive algorithm based battery-powered long distance wireless temperature and humidity sensor module. The sensor module uses an adaptive algorithm to transmit data on an event basis and/or a reduced basis to extend battery life to more than 10 years. It also uses a low power wireless transmitter which has frequency of sub-1 GHz and an effective transfer distance of up to 250 meters, a low power temperature and humidity sensor, and a long lasting lithium battery which has shelf life of 20 years.

An interface system extends a prior-art fuel delivery pump and reservoir so that authorization to activate the fuel delivery pump can be obtained from a remote authorization service over a long-range wireless communication link such as a cellular telephone connection or a satellite connection; and delivered to the interface system over a different, short-range wireless communication link such as a Bluetooth® connection or a WiFi connection. The system is structured so that different data link devices can serve in one part of the communication chain. Other features and characteristics of the system are described and claimed.

A system and method for displaying a vehicle location on a user device includes an in-vehicle infotainment system and the user device coupled to the in-vehicle infotainment system of a vehicle. A global positioning system generates a vehicle position signal at the vehicle. The in-vehicle infotainment system communicates the vehicle position signal to a user device. The user device generates a display comprising the current vehicle position.

An ignition assembly and a torch ignition system are described that provide a system and a device that can be coupled to a torch and can provide a spark for igniting a fuel/oxygen mixture. In an implementation in accordance with the present disclosure, a torch ignition system includes a torch including a torch body, a first gas tube and a second gas tube coupled to the torch body, and a torch tip coupled to the first gas tube and the second gas tube; and an ignition assembly configured to be positioned proximate to the torch tip to provide ignition to the torch, the ignition assembly including an igniter body, a clip that is coupled to the igniter body, the clip configured to fasten the ignition assembly to the torch, and an ignition assembly.

The ignition system includes a mini hydroelectric generator module connecting an inlet pipe for generating electricity by water flow passing through the inlet pipe and it; a power quality monitoring module electrically connecting the mini hydroelectric generator module for monitoring output electricity quality of the mini hydroelectric generator module and switching on/off the electricity; an ignitor electrically connecting the power quality monitoring module for receiving electricity from the power quality monitoring module to ignite; and an electronic valve electrically connecting the power quality monitoring module for receiving electricity from the power quality monitoring module to switch on/off a gas pipe.

Processes and apparatuses for co-processing pyrolysis effluent and a hydrocarbon stream in which a char produced by the catalytic cracking of the pyrolysis effluent is recovered and utilized to provide energy, such as heat to the catalytic cracking zone. The char can be burned in various combustion zones associated with the catalytic cracking zone. The char is produced from a renewable resource.

Helical wick candle and method of manufacturing this candle. The candle typically comprises a candle with meltable fuel such as wax, and at least one helical wick with a helical radius of at least ¼″ or greater. This helical wick is configured so that as the candle burns, the burning tip of the wick doesn't remain stationary, but rather circles the axis of the wick so as to burn more of the wax than would otherwise be possible with a prior art straight wick candle, at least when the diameter of the candle is larger than the pool of melted wax surrounding the wick. This results in higher fuel burning efficiency, often 1.5× or higher, as well as various interesting artistic shapes as the wick burns. Various wick sheath methods to improve the rigidity and burn resistance of the wick during the burning process are also discussed.

The present invention relates to a candle blower. More specifically, the present invention is an automated candle blower programmable to direct a flow of air to the general position of a flame on a burning candle.

A candle wick trimming device including a cutting assembly having first and second elongated members that are pivotably coupled together. A distal portion of the first elongated member has a cavity defined by a floor and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom. One of the sidewalls defining the cavity forms a first cutting edge. A distal portion of the second elongated member closes the cavity when the cutting assembly is in a closed state. The second elongated member also has a second cutting edge at its distal-most end. The first and second cutting edges interact to shear a candle wick to a desired length and force the sheared portion of the candle wick into the cavity.