183results about How to "Guaranteed economical operation" patented technology

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

An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20). Users of the machine deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine through the opening. Stacks of sheets may include sheets such as notes, checks or other documents. Stacks input to the machine may include mixtures of various types of sheets. The machine operates to receive notes, process checks and perform other operations. Notes received in the machine and assessed as valid may be recycled and dispensed to other users. Notes assessed by the machine as being of questionable validity may be marked with a removable mark and subjected to further analysis. Checks processed by the machine may be imaged by an imaging device, cancelled and stored in the machine or alternatively returned to a user. Documents produced by the machine such as receipts, checks or money orders as well as notes dispensed from the machine may be assembled into a stack within the machine and delivered from the machine through the opening.

A system and method for identifying objects possessing minute but significant details is described. At its core, the system includes a user interface, means for comparatively identifying the object and means for displaying results. Notably, because the system does not rely upon highly specialized or complex equipment, the invention is expected to have particular applicability in a wide variety of every-day situations. Moreover, the system is explicitly designed for user friendliness, so as to eliminate that need for extensive training for any prospective user of the system. The system should have particular applicability in key blank identification and key duplication processes.

An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20) for users to deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine. The machine includes a sheet handling mechanism therein including a first transport path (46) and a second transport path (42). Various devices for dispensing and receiving sheets (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) are positioned adjacent to the second transport path and dispense and/or receive sheets therefrom. The second transport path meets the first transport path at an intersection (60). The machine includes control circuitry (44) which controls the dispensing and movement of sheets along the sheet paths in response to inputs by customers. A sheet directing apparatus (110) is positioned adjacent to the intersection (60). The sheet directing apparatus (110) is selectively operative as a stack of sheets moves through the intersection to either add a sheet to the stack or to separate a sheet from the stack.

A charging mechanism includes means for generating electrical current and means connected to the generating means for distributing the generated current. At least one battery bank formed from a plurality of batteries is connected in series. A means for charging the batteries is connected between the bank and the distribution means. A voltage controller controls a voltage level provided by at least one battery bank from at least one of exceeding and falling below a predetermined voltage level. Upon the controlling means detecting the voltage level is below the predetermined voltage level, the controlling means causes the generating means to generate the electric current to be provided to at least one battery bank by the distribution means and the charging means charges at least one battery bank.

An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20). Users of the machine deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine through the opening. Stacks of sheets may include sheets such as notes, checks or other documents. Stacks input to the machine may include mixtures of various types of sheets. The machine operates to receive notes, process checks and perform other operations. Notes received in the machine and assessed as valid may be recycled and dispensed to other users. Notes assessed by the machine as being of questionable validity may be marked with a removable mark and subjected to further analysis. Checks processed by the machine may be imaged by an imaging device, cancelled and stored in the machine or alternatively returned to a user. Documents produced by the machine such as receipts, checks or money orders as well as notes dispensed from the machine may be assembled into a stack within the machine and delivered from the machine through the opening.

A personal communication and cosmetic storage device comprising a housing including personal communication circuitry having a first input portion and a second output portion pivotally connected to one another. At least one cosmetic storage layer is positioned within the first input layer for retaining and storing at least one type of cosmetic therein The device further includes a means for accessing the at least one cosmetic storage layer. The device is selectively operable in a first mode as a personal communication device and, in a second mode upon accessing the at least one cosmetic storage layer thereby allowing a user to access the stored cosmetic for application thereof.

The invention provides a refrigeration system with a compressing unit, and a method of controlling a refrigeration system. To facilitate a better control, the capacity of the compressing unit is controlled based on a predicted future cooling demand rather than an actually determined cooling demand. The invention further provides a system wherein a cost value for changing the cooling capacity of the system is taken into consideration.

A telecommunications call routing and billing computer system includes a telecommunications network including a junction point including a call routing switching device, and including two call routing links meeting at the junction point and in communication with each other through the call routing switching device; and a call routing simulation network including a junction point simulation computer located at the junction point and in communication with the call routing switching device and the two call routing links. A method of placing a call through such a telecommunications network includes the steps of: placing one junction point simulation computer at each telecommunications network call junction point; for each call placed with the telecommunications network, plotting a call routing vector through the simulation network with forward chaining through the junction point simulation computers; and sending routing vector information back through the simulation network with rearward chaining to direct the call along a parallel routing vector through the telecommunications network. The method preferably includes the additional steps of: monitoring buffer levels of telecommunications network junction point computers with the simulation computer at each junction point; and using the buffer level information to shunt calls from telecommunications network junction point computers having smaller buffers to those having larger buffers.

A mobile self-contained apparatus and process for grinding, grating, macerating, chemically disinfecting, and drying infectious waste material. A trailer (10) contains a hopper (27), a grinder/grater (28), an enclosed conveyor system, drying and filter apparatus, and sources of power, chemical disinfectant, and fresh water. Bagged infectious waste material in a cart is lifted and dumped into the hopper, sprayed with a sodium hypochlorite disinfectant solution, fed to the grinder/grater, ground, grated, and macerated into small particles of confetti-like material, sprayed again, immersed in the disinfectant solution, conveyed by an upwardly inclined screw conveyor (34) and thoroughly mixed therein, dried, passed into a vertical screw conveyor (47), and passed to a discharge screw conveyor (50) which discharges the dry confetti-like material. The enclosed system operates under negative pressure produced by a suction fan that draws the air within the system through a HEPA filter to remove chemical fumes, airborne dust, odors and bacteria.

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for recovery of spent lubricating oil. The evaporation of hydrocarbon fractions from spent lubricating oil is carried out in three steps. The first step is at approximately 150-1030 mbar and between 70-240° C. in which is greater than 99% water, greater than 99% of ethylene glycol and greater than 50% of hydrocarbon molecules with normal boiling point up to 310° C. are evaporated from spent oil. The second step is operated at 6-30 mbar and 200-2900 C in which predominantly gasoil and light vacuum gasoil fractions are evaporated. The third step is operated at 250-320° C. and 0.5-15 mbar in which mainly heavy vacuum gasoil (boiling range of 425 to 570° C. on ASTM D-1160 test) is evaporated from spent oil.

A hands free cellular phone system combining a full featured cellular phone with a form factor of a conventional audio cassette is provided. Several embodiments enabling real time interactive multimedia applications are also provided. Said hands free cellular phone system comprises a cellular phone device (1) in form factor of a conventional audio cassette (9). Device (1) can be inserted into any conventional audio cassette player (22) to transfer audio content into conventional audio cassette player (22) by using electromagnetic coupling with electromagnetic transducer (28) of said device (1) and electromagnetic transducer of conventional audio cassette player (35). Said device (1) provides a full featured, forward compatible, low installation cost hands free cellular phone system.

A video surveillance camera comprising a lens, lens holder, image sensor, base, and ring. The base has a plurality of slots, and the image sensor is mounted on the base. The lens is positioned in the lens holder, which has a plurality of arms with a pin. Each of the arms is positioned so that its respective pin is located in one of the plurality of slots in the base. The ring has a plurality of grooves for engagement with the pins and is rotatably engaged with the base such that rotation of the ring imparts axial movement to the lens relative to the image sensor.

A method for encouraging maturation and growth of a plant includes a provision of at least one stroboscopic lamp disposed adjacent the plant. The stroboscopic lamp is cycled through at least one on-period and at least one off-period for a predetermined cycling time. The plant is exposed to strobed high-intensity light during the at least one on-period, and not exposed to strobed high-intensity light during the at least one off-period. A maturation rate and the growth of the plant are thereby encouraged. A related system includes the at least one stroboscopic lamp and a controller for controlling the stroboscopic lamp according to the method, for encouraging maturation and growth of the plant.

A crimp sleeve connector is provided for the secure connection of a tube and a fitting. The crimp sleeve connector is substantially positionable on the fitting and the tube is inserted between the fitting and the crimp sleeve connector. The connector includes a crimp ear which extends through the body of the crimp sleeve connector. At least one o-ring is fitted over the fitting in such a position that when the tube, fitting and crimp sleeve connector are in place the o-ring functions to maintain a fluid-tight seal. An alternative embodiment of the crimp sleeve connector includes a crimp indicator in the form of a band which falls away after crimping, thus allowing visual confirmation that the crimp ear has been crimped.

A fuel cell power plant (9) includes a stack (10) of fuel cells, each including anode (11), cathodes (12), coolant channels (13) and either (a) a coolant accumulator (60) and pump (61) or (b) a condenser and cooler fan. During shutdown, electricity generated in the fuel cell in response to boil-off hydrogen gas (18) powers a controller (20), an air pump (52), which may increase air utilization to prevent cell voltages over 0.85V during shutdown, and either (a) the coolant pump or (b) the cooler fan. Operation of the fuel cell keeps it warm; circulating the warm coolant prevents freezing of coolant and plumbing. The effluent of the cathodes and/or anodes is provided to a catalytic burner (48) to consume all hydrogen before exhaust to ambient. An HVAC in a compartment of a vehicle may operate using electricity from the fuel cell during boil-off.