49253results about How to "Reduce maintenance costs" patented technology

A comprehensive electronic business support system comprises three layers: (1) the business layer, including various smart components which unify data and business processes across all customer interactions; (2) the integration layer, including various communications messaging interfaces and enterprise application integration adpaters, which provide a flexible, automated, and process driven solution for integrating across business applications and operations support systems; and (3) the presentation layer, including various customer views, which are presented via particular business portals. A smart component server provides the core services and comprehensive business process logic required to successfully conduct business online. The communications messaging interfaces integrate with back-office systems for functions such as billing, provisioning, and interconnection.

A method of growing a thin film on a substrate by pulsing vapor-phase precursors material into a reaction chamber according to the ALD method. The method comprises vaporizing at least one precursor from a source material container maintained at a vaporising temperature, repeatedly feeding pulses of the vaporized precursor via a feed line into the reaction chamber at a first pressure, and subsequently purging the reaction chamber with pulses of inactive gas fed via the feed line at a second pressure. The second pressure is maintained at the same as or a higher level than the first pressure for separating successive pulses of said vaporized precursor from each other.

The present invention relates to a skin engaging member for use in a razor blade cartridge assembly or shaving systems of the wet shave type comprising an elongated flexible sheath region and at least one elongated, rigid core region. The core region is surrounded by the sheath such that the outer surface of the core does not intersect the outer surface of the sheath. Generally, the core or cores extend axially throughout the sheath and provide sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to provide adequate mechanical strength and rigidity to provide adequate mechanical strength to the entire skin engaging member, as initially produced, during the shaving operation and after a significant amount of shaves.

Methods and associated systems for autonomous package delivery utilize a UAS/UAV, an infrared positioning senor, and a docking station integrated with a package delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV accepts a package for delivery from the docking station on the delivery vehicle and uploads the delivery destination. The UAS/UAV autonomously launches from its docked position on the delivery vehicle. The UAS/UAV autonomously flies to the delivery destination by means of GPS navigation. The UAS/UAV is guided in final delivery by means of a human supervised live video feed from the UAS/UAV. The UAS/UAV is assisted in the descent and delivery of the parcel by precision sensors and if necessary by means of remote human control. The UAS/UAV autonomously returns to the delivery vehicle by means of GPS navigation and precision sensors. The UAS/UAV autonomously docks with the delivery vehicle for recharging and preparation for the next delivery sequence.

A radio frequency (RF) coverage server for use in a wireless network comprising base stations that communicate with mobile stations located in a coverage area of the wireless network. The RF coverage server receives from the mobile stations geographic location data indicating positions of the mobile stations when communication links to the wireless network were dropped. The RF coverage server identifies areas of good RF coverage and areas of poor RF coverage in the wireless network. The RF coverage server also identifies a first one of the mobile stations that frequently drops communication links to the wireless network when the first mobile station is disposed in the good RF coverage areas.

A method of and system for auditing the energy-usage by a facility, where the facility includes an energy-using system having an operating parameter with a value. One embodiment of the method includes acquiring an initial value of the operating parameter, acquiring initial data of the energy-using system with the operating parameter set at the initial value, acquiring values relating to a weather parameter for the facility, and creating a baseline model of the energy-usage by the facility with the initial energy-using system data and the weather data. Some embodiments of the method can further include determining an initial rate of energy-usage by the facility based upon the baseline energy model, changing the initial value of the operating parameter, determining a modified rate of energy-usage by the facility, and calculating a savings in energy costs from changing the initial value of the operating parameter.

An intelligent lighting system employs energy efficient outdoor lighting and intelligent sensor technology in cooperation with video analytics processing. The lighting system selectively illuminates outdoor spaces and identifies and evaluates events in a scene monitored by a video camera, thereby to facilitate proactive and appropriate security responses to those events. Selective use of advanced lighting fixtures may significantly reduce costs of lighting areas that are monitored by security systems such as streets, public parks, and parking lots, while simultaneously improving security, safety, and traffic control. Energy savings alone, for a properly designed system, are estimated at 50%-90% of current usage. When combined with remote monitoring, such systems may prevent accidents and criminal activity.

A photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules and a DC motor connected to a three-phase generator driven by a shaft. The three-phase generator is connected to a power mains. The electric power supplied to the DC motor by the plurality of photovoltaic modules is repeatedly measured and adjusted, by changing an external excitation current of the DC motor, to the peak power attainable at the current ambient temperature and the current incident solar radiation intensity. The peak power is preferably determined by incrementally changing the excitation current in predetermined time intervals, until the supplied electric power produces a power level which can be regarded as the peak power.

Stationary and on-board battery chargers, methods of charging batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, and vehicles with chargers, including electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. Chargers may automatically charge at the correct battery voltage for various types of batteries. Chargers have variable AC power supplies controlled by digital controllers, isolation transformers, and rectifiers. Transformers may be foil-type, and may have copper foil. Power supplies may be variable-frequency generators and the controllers may control the frequency. Electric vehicle chargers may have card readers, and vehicles may have batteries and a charger. Methods of charging include identifying the battery type and gradually increasing the charging at different rates of increase while monitoring charging voltage, charging current, or both, until a current lid is reached. Charging may occur at constant current and then at constant voltage.

Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor device associated with a payment device primarily including means for storing, inter alia, in digital format the visual and sound information to be used. The system is associated through interfaces with display means and sound playback means for providing a multimedia environment. The system is controlled by a multitask operating system including a tool and service library integrated into the storage means. The system, which is also associated through an interface with a telecommunications modem, is optionally connected to an audiovisual data distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, said telecommunications function also being controlled by said multitask operating system.

An electrochlorination and electrochemical system for the on-site generation and treatment of municipal water supplies and other reservoirs of water, by using a custom mixed oxidant and mixed reductant generating system for the enhanced destruction of water borne contaminants by creating custom oxidation-reduction-reactant chemistries with real time monitoring. A range of chemical precursors are provided that when acted upon in an electrochemical cell either create an enhanced oxidation, or reduction environment for the destruction or control of contaminants. Chemical agents that can be used to control standard water quality parameters such as total hardness, total alkalinity, pH, total dissolved solids, and the like are introduced via the chemical precursor injection subsystem infrequently or in real time based on sensor inputs and controller set points.

Payment-based audiovisual playback system characterized by comprising a microprocessor device associated with a payment device primarily including means for storing, inter alia, in digital format the visual and sound information to be used. The system is associated through interfaces with display means and sound playback means for providing a multimedia environment. The system is controlled by a multitask operating system including a tool and service library integrated into the storage means. The system, which is also associated through an interface with a telecommunications modem, is optionally connected to an audiovisual data distribution network by a telecommunications modem and telecommunications links, said telecommunications function also being controlled by said multitask operating system.

A method and system for dynamically generating database queries is disclosed. The method and system include storing web interface data, including query attributes for a database, in one more tables. The attributes are then retrieved from the tables and displayed in a graphical user interface web page for user selection. Based on the attributes selected by the user, a SQL query is dynamically generated. The method and system further include displaying results of the SQL query to the user in graphical format, thereby enabling dynamic generation of custom queries.

The invention relates to a wind-driven power-plant comprising a rotor (100) which is fitted with at least one rotor blade and which is connected directly or indirectly to a generator for power generation, further including an electrical assembly made up of different electrical sub-assemblies including electronic, electrical and/or electromechanical and/or sensor elements and/or electrotechnical safety elements, where, depending on their purposes, all elements/components of one or more electrical sub-assemblies or specific elements of the electrical sub-assembly are combined into one or more function modules that implement at least one function in relation to the generation of electric power, where a parallel module is associated with at least one function module, and the parallel module is able to implement the same or nearly the same function as the function module in normal operation.

A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring the physical topology of a network on a real-time basis. For patch panel systems, the approach is based upon a distributed architecture that may be modularly scalable and may allow each patch panel to determine port level connectivity by independently monitoring an out-of-band channel supported by each respective port. The approach provides improved real-time reporting of patch panel connectivity with reduced cabling complexity, increased reliability and decreased maintenance costs. The approach is capable of determining the physical equipment and/or physical location information associated with the respective patch panel ports, in real-time, and thereby provide physical network topology information associated with patch cord connections. The approach is compatible with multipurpose network management systems.

The invention discloses a road dust suppressant, which is prepared by mixing and blending 0.1-2.0% of water-soluble high molecular polymer, 20-50% of moisture absorption humectant, 1.0-5.0% of preservative, 0.5-5.0% of penetrating agent and the balance water. The road dust suppressant is a dynamic dust-proof and dust-suppressing liquid product which combines functions of wetting, bonding, permeating, adsorbing moisture and the like into a whole and has extremely strong pressurization-resistant function. The road dust suppressant has the advantages of obvious anti-evaporation performance and good water retention hygroscopicity, and dust on the road surface can be coagulated and is unlikely to fly. The road dust suppressant disclosed by the invention not only can be applied to road dust suppressing but also can be simultaneously used for the aspects, such as the mine exploration and transportation environment, storage yards of coal ash, coal and other ores, and the treatments of municipal construction earthwork dust raise.

A system for acquiring, processing, storing, analyzing and reporting data relating to the condition of a road or other pavement surface (102) in real time. The system includes a digital camera (104) mounted on a vehicle and positioned relative to a pavement surface (102) so as to capture images of the pavement surface (102) while the camera (104) is moving relative to the surface (102). The system also includes an illumination assembly (100) to illuminate the region from which an image is taken and an interface between the digital camera (104) and at least one computer. The system also includes a processor in the computer for processing the images to detect and classify cracks and other pavement surface (102) features.

A method and architecture is described that discovers software application metadata and generates data access applications based on the discovered software application metadata. The discovered metadata along with handcrafted metadata goes through a discovery process and is converted into common, generic abstract metadata objects. The abstract metadata objects then go through an instantiation process to be translated into concrete metadata objects that represent the unique configuration, context and terminology of the source software application. The concrete metadata objects can be generated into numerous forms for the purposes of data access and information sharing. The system also has upgrade protection.

Disclosed is a remote automatic meter reading (AMR) system for image-sensing, reading and transmitting metering values. The AMR system includes an AMR terminal, a collector and an AMR server. The AMR terminal includes an image sensing module for sensing an image signal of a metering value displayed on a display panel of the meter. A character recognition module performs pattern recognition of the image signal, and a communication module transmits digital data from the character recognition module to the AMR server side. The character recognition module may include a microcomputer and an ID setting During power saving mode, the microcomputer wakes up and decodes received data; and when a meter reading command is received, the image sensing module receives the image signal of the metering value, performs pattern recognition, generates the numeral code to form a packet together with the terminal ID, and transmits the packet to the communication module.

Methods and apparatus for determining battery characteristics in a vehicle. A method is provided for determining a potential failure of a battery in a vehicle. The method includes determining one or more battery characteristics during a vehicle starting event, and comparing the battery characteristics to stored reference parameters derived from one or more prior starting events. The method also includes activating a battery alert indicator that indicates a potential battery failure if a selected battery characteristic exceeds a selected reference parameter.