A hydrogen purging device for a fuel cell system includes a humidifier that humidifies dry air supplied from an air blower, using moist air discharged from a cathode of a stack and supplies the humidified air to the cathode. A water trap and a hydrogen recirculation blower are sequentially connected to an outlet of an anode, wherein a hydrogen outlet of the water trap and an inlet of the humidifier are connected by a cathode-hydrogen purging line for purging hydrogen to the cathode so that the hydrogen discharged from the anode of the fuel stack is purged to the cathode during idling or during normal driving.

A fuel cell system for supplying anode gas and cathode gas to a fuel cell and causing the fuel cell to generate power according to a load includes a component that circulates discharged gas of either the anode gas or the cathode gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a power generation control unit that controls a power generation state of the fuel cell on the basis of the load, a freezing prediction unit that predicts the freezing of the component on the basis of a temperature of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes an operation execution unit that executes a warm-up operation without stopping the fuel cell system or after the stop of the fuel cell system in the case of receiving a stop command of the fuel cell system when the freezing of the component is predicted.

Embodiments of the invention provide a fuel cell system including a fuel cell coupled to a controller configured to route power generated by the fuel cell to at least one peripheral device. Embodiments include a hydrogen generator including a reactor vessel enclosed by a housing. The hydrogen generator is fluidly coupled to the fuel cell and configured to deliver hydrogen to the fuel cell. Embodiments include at least one water harvesting system fluidly coupled to the hydrogen generator and configured to deliver water or water vapor to the hydrogen generator using a controller. Some embodiments include at least one waste heat recovery system used to heat harvested water or water vapor delivered to the hydrogen generator. Some embodiments include a fuel cell system fueling method using the hydrogen generator fluidly coupled to the fuel cell including delivery of captured water or water vapor to the hydrogen generator.

A protective layer system for a metallic lithium-containing anode of a lithium cell, for example a lithium-sulfur cell and/or lithium-oxygen cell. To increase the service life and reliability of the cell, the protective layer system includes a lithium ion-conducting layer, in particular an inorganic layer, on the anode side. The anode-side layer has an anode contact side which rests against or which may be placed against the anode. At least one lithium ion-conducting layer, in particular a polymer layer, which contains at least one agent which is reactable with metallic lithium to form an electrically insulating solid is situated on a side of the anode-side layer opposite from the anode contact side. Moreover, the invention relates to an anode which is equipped with such a protective layer system, a lithium cell, and a lithium battery.

A battery system for an electric vehicle includes a container having a lid and a plurality of battery cells housed in the container. Each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells may include a pair of tabs to electrically connect to the battery cell, a printed circuit board housed in the container, and a pair of contact elements. The printed circuit board may include circuitry adapted to monitor at least one battery cell. And, each contact element may be attached to the printed circuit board and configured to separably contact a tab of the at least one battery cell to electrically connect the at least one battery cell to the printed circuit board.

A module feeder system is disclosed. The module feeder system comprises a module feeder which has an unload bed, a feeder bed, a first side wall and a second side wall. A cutting device is attached to the feeder bed. At least one hydraulic cylinder is positioned on each of the first and second side walls. Each hydraulic cylinder is configured to project in a direction away from the sidewalls and over the feeder bed. A method used to unwrap a cotton module is also disclosed.

A working assembly (1) includes a rotatable hollow drum or cylinder (2) having a cylindrical wall (3) with ends having transverse header walls (4) with openings (16, 17), and with a longitudinal shaft (5). The external lateral surface of the cylindrical wall (3) has a clothing device intended to interact with the fibers being carded. First and second support uprights (6, 7) are fixed in operation, and adapted to support the ends of the shaft (5) of the drum or cylinder (2) for rotation about a preferably horizontal axis. The support uprights (6, 7) and the drum or cylinder (2) are configured and coupled with each other such as to define at least one fluid path for a flow of a refrigerating fluid, which extends through the openings (16, 17) and inside the drum or cylinder (2) and is adapted to cause cooling of the lateral cylindrical wall (3) thereof.

A multi-axial telescoping support structure positioning system includes a frame having first and second opposed vertical sections. An axle is rotatably coupled to the first vertical section of the frame. A first rotary actuator has a first end mounted to the second vertical section of the frame and a second end rotatable with respect to the first end attached to the axle to rotate the axle. A telescoping support structure has a plurality of telescoping sections extendable from a base section along a longitudinal axis. A second rotary actuator is attached to the base section of the telescoping support structure at an intermediate position along the length of the base section and to the axle at a position between the first and second vertical sections of the frame to tilt the telescoping support structure about a tilt axis aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the telescoping support structure.

A pumping system frame assembly for use in supporting a horizontal pumping system on a platform includes a central body assembly, a motor plate connected to the central body assembly and a plurality of platform support assemblies connected to the central support member. The central body assembly includes a central support member that has an upper face and a pair of side rails connected to the upper face. A central brace extends along at least a portion of the central support member.

An adjustable hanging system comprising a first support portion with a first portion configured to be removably mounted to a fixture and a second portion configured to guide him to hold an article, a second support portion with a first portion configured to be mounted to a fixture and a second portion configured to hold an article, and a spacer configured to connect the first and second support portions at an adjustably selected separation distance. A method of use is also disclosed.

A connector hub assembly usable as a standalone module or as a component in a work space system. The connector hub assembly optionally includes features for connecting one or more arms of a support frame for supporting a modular workspace system including desk space, cabinet space, view screens, electronic equipment, and/or other workspace system components.

Described herein is an arm stabilization member for dampening inadvertent movement of the arm of a user during a surgical procedure, comprising an arm support and a movement mechanism coupled to the arm support. The arm support comprises an outer frame sized to support at least a portion of the user's arm and an inner pad lining an inner surface of the outer frame and configured to conform to the user's arm. The movement mechanism comprises a counterbalance system movably connected by joints and configured to compensate for the gravitational forces exerted by the arm of the user.

A gimbal system, including apparatus and methods, with one or more gimbals having non-preloaded or preloaded vibration isolators, a biased preloading compensation mechanism, sag compensation, and/or lateral snubbing.

An apparatus for reverse mounting an electronic device in a server housing is provided. The apparatus includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a coupling. The first bracket couples to the device body and extends outward from the device body toward a front rail of the server housing. The first bracket includes a first end configured to releasably couple to front rail of the server housing. The second bracket includes a protrusion that extends outward from the device body in an opposite direction relative to the first bracket. The coupling includes a first portion that couples to a rear rail of the server housing and a second portion defining a channel that receives the protrusion of the second bracket.

A suspension system has an isolator cylinder with a primary reservoir having a primary reservoir volume, a secondary reservoir having a secondary reservoir volume, a manifold and a primary duct fluidly connecting the primary and secondary reservoirs for controlling the flow rate of the fluid between the primary and secondary reservoirs, and optionally a valve for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through the duct, and a control system for operating the valve. A shock absorption system for a vehicle seat is provided comprising an isolator with at least one secondary pneumatic reservoir connected with a fluid duct to the primary reservoir of an isolator. The reservoir volumes, length and cross sectional area of the connecting duct and fluid flow control valves may be determined using methods including algorithms, experimental testing and models to determine the optimal values to achieve consistent shock mitigation across a range of seat loads.

A weight system for supporting a free-standing object comprising first and second upper panels, a least one side panel, a lower panel, and a closure system. The panels are joined to define an upper wall and at least side wall, with the first and second upper panels defining a fill opening in the upper wall and a container defining an interior chamber. The closure system is arranged to allow the container to be configured in a closed configuration in which access to the interior chamber through the fill opening is substantially prevented and an open configuration in which access to the interior chamber through the fill opening is allowed.

A conduit spacing and mounting system and method are provided for prefabricating multilayered assemblies of conduits and mounting them end-to-end in a building. The system includes a pair of spacer plates, each having a same pattern of conduit-receiving openings, and a plurality of clamping assemblies, each including a bracket which is discrete from and individually attached to the spacer plate adjacent to one of the conduit-receiving openings. The clamping assemblies are oriented at different angles relative at different rows of the conduit-receiving openings to provide access for a clamp-tightening tool in the spaces between different rows of conduits. The use of spacer plates largely prevents lateral misalignments between the conduits, and the use of a separate bracket formed from a harder, stronger or thicker metal than the spacer plate greatly increases the strength and reliability of the clamping force applied to the conduits.

Disclosed are a method and/or a system of a mounting bracket. In one aspect, the mounting bracket includes a rectilinear faceplate. The rectilinear faceplate has three edges. The adjacent edges produce a specific angle between the adjacent edges. The rectilinear faceplate is capable of being attached to an item to be mounted onto a surface. The mounting bracket includes three walls where each edge is adjoined perpendicular to a corresponding wall. The mounting bracket includes three lips. Each lip is adjoined perpendicular to the corresponding wall such that each edge is associated with a corresponding lip. Each lip is capable of attaching to a fixture affixed to the surface. The mounting bracket allows the item to be mounted on the surface in two specific orientations. The two specific orientations are determined based on being able to rotate the item by a difference between 180 degrees and the specific angle.

This invention is a mounting system for a loudspeaker system that is capable of positioning and re-positioning the box-like device of the loudspeaker without requiring the use of any retaining/tensioning fasteners. A bracket facilitates constraining the positioning and repositioning for the roll and pitch axes while simultaneously providing audible feedback angular movement indication that enable vertical and horizontal orientation with respect both to the installation environment and to match its positioning to other like installed systems.

A backboard for an automated cardio pulmonary resuscitation system, said backboard comprising a board element, the board element defining a plane and having a top edge, a bottom edge a first side edge and a second side edge; a set of connectors adapted for connection of the backboard to an automated cardio pulmonary resuscitation unit, said connectors being provided at said side edges; and at least one set of stabilizing elements extending away from an edge and transversely to said plane.

Systems relating to a safe and easily removable and reusable waterproof pad with accompanying bottom layer that attaches to a crib mattress. The detachable waterproof pad of the present invention seeks to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by providing a tightly fitted pad to comply with current SIDS recommendations. The pad can be changed, cleaned, and replaced frequently.

A furniture system (400) includes a furniture back (408) having a back front surface (410). A desk (414) having an upper work surface (434) extends forwardly from an upper central portion of the front back surface (410). The system (400) also includes a pair of bases (426) with a pair of seats (424) positioned above the bases (426). A spatial interior area (427) exists between lateral sides of the seats (424), and the desk (414) is centered laterally between the seats (424). The furniture system (400) is movable between sitting configurations and sleeping configurations.

A bed vibration system to provide controllable vibrations beneath a mattress, which is located on a bed, the system comprising: a frame attachable to the bed by at least four suspension modules; at least two vibration modules, each vibration module having a rotatable element; at least two travel tracks attachable to the frame, the travel tracks configurable to have the at least two vibration modules respectively displaceable thereupon; and a vibration module control unit configurable to control vibrations and displacement of the respective vibration modules.

Disclosed is a bed clothing system that has a bottom sheet and top sheet attached together at the corners of the foot end of the bed clothing system. At the foot end of the bed clothing system on the corners, where the top and bottom sheets are attached, a stretchable piece of material is disposed in a vertical direction so that the bed sheet system is able to accommodate to any size and thickness of a mattress, while also remaining securely fixed on a mattress.

A system includes an optical fiber and an interrogator to provide source light to the optical fiber. The system also includes a receiver coupled to the optical fiber. The receiver includes at least one fiber optic coupler that receives backscattered light and that produces optical interferometry signals from the backscattered light. The receiver also includes photo-detectors that produce an electrical signal for each of said optical interferometry signals. The system also includes at least one digitizer that digitizes the electrical signals. The system also includes at least one processing unit that calculates I/Q data from the digitized electrical signals, corrects the I/Q data based on ellipse fitting, determines phase values based on the corrected I/Q data, and determines distributed sensing parameter values based on the phase values.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Systems and methods for a pyrolytic oven for processing waste include multiple zones associated with multiple independently-controlled heating sources. The pyrolytic oven may have multiple sensors also associated with each zone. The pyrolytic oven may also include a fuel management system which adjusts a power level of each heating source for each zone independently based on a reading of the corresponding sensor.