21648 results about "Signal transition" patented technology

The present invention is generally directed to a system and method for monitoring and controlling a host of residential automation systems. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless communication devices configured to relay both data and command encoded signals through the wireless network of communication devices interposed between integrated sensors / actuators and a gateway device. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the gateway translates the data encoded signals and embeds the information in a data packet using terminal control protocol / Internet protocol to communicate the data to a computing device on a wide area network. The computing device may comprise data collection and or control algorithms as desired. The computing device may forward command signals to the gateway device. In response thereto, the gateway may convert the command signals into appropriate command encoded signals for wireless transmission to a designated actuator integrated in a residential system. The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for monitoring and controlling residential systems. In its broadest terms, the method can be described as: sensing a parameter; generating a wireless signal; traversing a wireless network to a gateway interconnected with a wide area network; communicating the parameter to a computing device on the network; generating a control signal; communicating the control signal to the gateway; converting the control signal; and broadcasting the control signal such that an appropriate actuator is energized.

In one embodiment of the invention, a control system for a robotic surgical instrument is provided including a torque saturation limiter, a torque to current converter coupled to the torque saturation limiter, and a motor coupled to the torque to current converter. The torque saturation limiter receives a desired torque signal for one or more end effectors and limits the desired torque to a range between an upper torque limit and a lower torque limit generating a bounded torque signal. The torque to current converter transforms a torque signal into a current signal. The motor drives an end effector of one or more end effectors to the bounded torque signal in response to the first current signal.

In one embodiment of the invention, a control system for a robotic surgical instrument is provided including a torque saturation limiter, a torque to current converter coupled to the torque saturation limiter, and a motor coupled to the torque to current converter. The torque saturation limiter receives a desired torque signal for one or more end effectors and limits the desired torque to a range between an upper torque limit and a lower torque limit generating a bounded torque signal. The torque to current converter transforms a torque signal into a current signal. The motor drives an end effector of one or more end effectors to the bounded torque signal in response to the first current signal.

There is disclosed a radio communication system in which a constitution of a base station and further a control station can be simplified. A radio communication system according to the present invention converts a received signal received by a plurality of antenna elements in a base station to a signal of different frequency band, and then conflates the converted signal in order to generate sub-carrier wave multiplex signal. The signal is converted to an optical signal, and then the optical signal is transmitted to a control station via an optical fiber. Or the control station performs weighting to phase of the transmitted signal transmitted from a plurality of antennas of a base station, and then performs frequency conversion to different frequency band, and then conflates the converted signal in order to generate the sub-carrier wave multiplex signal. The signal is converted to an optical signal, and then an optical signal is transmitted to the base station side via the optical fiber. The control station and the base station divides the received sub-carrier wave multiplex signal by each frequency band, and then the frequency of the divided signals are converted to the same frequency band in order to generate the transmitted / received signal of each antenna element. By such a constitution, it is possible to reduce constituent of the optical transmission components to the minimum and to simplify the constitution of the base station. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain the relative phase difference and the relative intensity of the transmitted / received signal of each antenna element. Because of this, it is possible to estimate an arrival direction of the received signal and to control radiation beam pattern of the transmitted signal.

A repeater allows terminals of a first communications system, employing a first air protocol or radio interface, to communicate with terminals of a second communications system, employing a second air protocol or radio interface different from the first. Where the first and second air protocols differ only in operating frequency, but are otherwise compatible, the repeater may linearly translate signals from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency, and vice versa, without demodulating and remodulating the signals. Where the air protocols differ in other ways, the repeater receives and demodulates signals from the first system, converts the signals to a common format, and remodulates and retransmits the signals according to the second air protocol (and vice versa), in the same frequency bands or in different frequency bands. The repeater translates control and signalling information transmitted in compliance with one air protocol to a format which complies with the other air protocol and has the same or equivalent effect. For each of the two communications system, the repeater emulates the functions of a terminal in that communications system, so that corresponding terminals in that system may communicate transparently with the repeater. The repeater provides a connection between the two emulated terminals, thereby allowing a terminal of the first system to use the repeater to communicate with an otherwise incompatible terminal of the second system.

A received signal is first converted into a digital sequence that may contain "erasures" (or ambiguity symbols) as well as errors. Then iterative decoding is applied in order to eliminate or reduce the erasures. This decoding procedure works effectively with the associated transmitter that adopts a concatenation of an outer coder, a permutation and an inner coder. The principal of the invention is also applicable to a system in which the inner coder is replaced by a "digital modulator" that introduces some constraint, or a channel that introduces some memory such as partial response signaling, intersymbol interference or multipath propagation. The invention can be applied to many existing systems while maintaining "backward compatibility" in the sense that the transmitter side need not be modified.

A system is provided for locating a vehicle. The system comprises a transmission device such as a key fob for transmission and receiving of a signal. Typically the key fob has a plurality of indicators such as LED indicators arranged in a circle. The key fob is adapted to transmit a radio frequency or microwave frequency transmission signal. An antenna array is positioned on or in a vehicle. The array comprises a plurality of antennas, generally arranged in a circular pattern. The array is adapted to receive the transmission signal from the transmission device which is converted to be analyzed by a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU is adapted to: (i) receive digital data converted from the transmission signal, (ii) calculate an angle of arrival (AOA) or direction of arrival (DOA) based on known components and an algorithm, and (iii) transmit a selection signal back to the key fob. A signal processing unit is coupled to the plurality of antennas and the MCU. The signal processing unit is adapted to receive the signal transmission from each antenna, convert the signal to digital data, and transmit the digital data to the MCU.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a virtual assistant to at least one party of a communication. The virtual assistant is injected into the communication, for example, by a VXML engine. The operation of the virtual assistant is controlled by one or more software modules that are obtained from a proxy node. The software modules allow commands received from or destined for the party to be interpreted. The virtual assistant may optionally be customized based on a selection of the one or more supported external applications. The proxy node provides at least one method for the party that allows the party to access functionality provided by at least one external application. The proxy node interprets signals from the virtual assistant; converts the signals from the virtual assistant into commands for the external application; and converts one or more of commands, messages and data from the external application into signals understood by the virtual assistant.

A dual mode mobile unit is arranged to communicate in either a first or second data communications standard, such as combined Bluetooth and 802.11 operation. An interface unit converts received Bluetooth or 802.11 format signals into 802.11 frame format data signals to be provided to a digital signal processor which is programmed to process signals in either standard. The dual mode mobile unit can operate in the 802.11 standard to reserve a time interval for Bluetooth activity during which other 802.11 units will avoid-transmissions to avoid interference.

A lighting system for areal illumination is disclosed which includes a remote driver and a plurality of fixtures including luminaires, control devices, and / or standalone sensors. The luminaires include a light source whose output light level can be adjusted, a light sensor co-located therewith adapted to measure light received from adjacent fixtures, and a microcontroller capable of transmitting the output of the light sensor over wires to the remote driver. The remote driver is capable of bidirectional communication with the luminaires and provides independently controllable power for the light sources of the luminaires. A method of commissioning a lighting system is also disclosed which includes installing a plurality of luminaires above the area to be illuminated, causing a light source co-located with each luminaire to emit a signal, detecting the signal at light sensors co-located with each luminaire, converting the signals obtained by the light sensors into distance measurements between luminaires, creating a map recording the relative location of luminaires, and assigning luminaires to groups based on their relative locations in the map. A movable orb region large enough to containing a plurality of luminaires can also be defined and the light levels of individual luminaires can be set according to a defined mathematical function of their location within the orb region, where the defined mathematical function sets light levels which vary from the center to the periphery of said orb region.

Tissue sensors house one or more sensor elements. Each element has a housing mounted substrate and a superstrate with a planar antenna between. A transitional periphery (TP) of a superstrate outer surface interconnects a base to a plateau. At least some of the TP has a generally smooth transition. Plural elements are spaced by the housing. Alternately, the superstrate TP is flat, the housing extends to the outer superstrate surface and a shield surrounds the element. The housing is flush with or recessed below the superstrate and defines a TP between the housing and superstrate. A method converts a reference signal to complex form; plots it in a complex plane as a reference point (RP); converts a measurement signal to complex form; plots it in the complex plane as a measurement point (MP); determine a complex distance between the MP and the RP; and compares complex distance to a threshold.

A combined wireless transceiver and signal conversion unit comprises a radio receiver for receiving a wireless radio signal, and a converter for converting the signal into a form having a communications protocol supported by a communications port of a user digital device. An output device is provided for transmitting the converted signal to a user digital device via a wireline or other suitable medium for carrying the converted signal. The unit includes an input device for receiving a communications signal from the communication port of a user digital device via a wireline or other suitable signal transmission medium, and a transmitter for converting the received signal to a form for wireless transmission.

Provided is an apparatus for transitioning a millimeter wave between dielectric waveguide and transmission line using a millimeter wave transition structure formed by the dielectric waveguide, the transmission line, and a slot to transition a signal with lower losses. The apparatus includes: transmission lines disposed respectively at input and output terminals on an uppermost dielectric substrate in a signal transition direction and adapted to transition a signal; a dielectric waveguide formed by a via array disposed between top and bottom ground surfaces of a lowermost dielectric substrate in the signal transition direction as a signal transition path; and slots disposed at a signal transition path of an upper ground surface of each dielectric substrate to connect the transmission lines to the dielectric waveguide so as to transition a signal from the transmission line of the input terminal to the transmission line of the output terminal through the dielectric waveguide.

A method for single event transient filtering in an integrated circuit device is described. The device comprises three sequential elements, each having a data input and a data output with each of the three data outputs coupled to one of three inputs of a voting gate. The method comprises generating first and second nominally equivalent logic signals in first and second SET domains, converting the first and second nominally equivalent logic signals into first, second and third nominally equivalent data channels, and transmitting the first, second and third nominally equivalent data channels to the data inputs of the first, second and third sequential elements. Provision is made for applying the method to logic designs implemented in programmable logic integrated circuit devices.

An ear terminal includes a sealing section arranged for use in the ear meatus of a human, with an inner microphone having a sound inlet for being directed into the meatus and an electronic unit including filtering elements coupled to the inner microphone for filtering the signal from the inner microphone, the filtering elements being programmable to transform the signals based on the sounds received in the ear by the inner microphone into sounds having essentially the characteristics of spoken sounds of the wearer of the ear terminal.

System and method for measurement, DAQ, and control operations which uses small form-factor measurement modules or cartridges with a re-configurable carrier unit, sensors, and a computer system to provide modular, efficient, cost-effective measurement solutions. The measurement module includes measurement circuitry, e.g., signal conditioner and / or signal conversion circuitry, and interface circuitry for communicating with the carrier unit. The module communicates interface information to the carrier unit, which informs the computer system how to program or configure a functional unit on the carrier unit to implement the communicated interface, or sends the information directly to the computer system. The computer system programs the carrier unit with the interface, and the programmed carrier unit and measurement module together function as a DAQ, measurement, and / or control device. The carrier unit may receive multiple cartridges, each having a respective interface protocol, where the carrier unit is configurable to support the respective protocols sequentially and / or in parallel.

A serial ATA disk drive having a parallel ATA test interface is disclosed. A bridge circuit has a serial ATA port that is coupled to a serial ATA interface for receiving and transmitting serial ATA data signals, a parallel ATA port for receiving and transmitting parallel ATA signals, and a disable input for selectably disabling the parallel ATA port. The bridge circuit performs signal conversions between the ports. The test interface is for coupling the disk drive to a disk-drive test system. The test interface includes a connector having contacts for parallel ATA signals, and having a contact for a disable signal coupled to the disable input. The connector may be a pad pattern on a printed circuit of the disk drive. The disk drive may have an industry standard form factor, and the connector may be configured such that it lies within the disk drive's form factor.

A system for communicating content streams (i.e. voice, video, data) between a content server connected to a power-line communications network and a remote electronic device having ultra-wide band connectivity with an interface module. The interface module is a power-line communication / ultra-wide band (PLC / UWB) module preferably connected to a conventional power outlet upon the power-line network. The interface module converts the power-line signals from the server to ultra-wide band signals which are broadcast for reception by the wireless electronic device. Return communications with the server from the wireless electronic device are also preferably supported. The power-line communication and / or ultra-wide band signal can also be encrypted for improved security. The content server and interface module are preferably configured to communicate content streams only within the portions of the bandwidth allocated by a bus master, which may comprise a content server with programming for controlling bandwidth use on the physical power-line communications network.

The present invention allows remote antenna units for radio frequency signal transmission and receipt to operate without the requirement for remote electrical power supplies or for connecting cables that incorporate electrical conductors. According to an aspect of the present invention, an optical communications system employing radio frequency signals comprises a central unit; at least one remote unit having at least one optoelectronic transducer for converting optical data signals to radio frequency signals and converting radio signals to optical signals and at least one antenna to receive and send radio frequency signals; at least one optical fiber data link between the central unit and the remote unit for transmitting optical data signals therebetween; and at least one optical fiber power link between the central unit and the remote unit for providing electrical power at the remote unit.

A method and system for providing a disk drive is described. The disk drive includes media such as one or more disks, a slider and a head residing on the slider. The head has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a touchdown sensor proximate to the ABS. The touchdown sensor is capable of detecting a temperature change of 0.1 degree Celsius or, in some embodiments, smaller. The disk drive also includes touchdown sensor control circuitry coupled with the touchdown sensor. The touchdown sensor control circuitry drives a current through the touchdown sensor and converts a signal from the touchdown sensor into an indication of whether touchdown has occurred.

A sensing system for determining the rank and suit of playing cards is disclosed. The system includes a sensing module capable of reading a line of data from a printed image, a position sensor and a hardware component that combines the signals from the sensing module and position sensor, converts the signal to binary values and compares the converted signal to stored signals. The comparisons are correlated to identify card rank and Suit. The system can be used in a playing card delivery shoe used to control the game of baccarat. The shoe may be a customary dealing shoe equipped with a sensing module, or may be a mechanized shoe. The mechanized shoe may comprise a) an area for receiving a first set of playing cards useful in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat; b) first card mover that moves playing cards from the first set to a playing card staging area wherein at least one playing card is staged in an order by which playing cards are removed from the first set of and moved to the playing card staging area; c) second playing card mover that moves playing cards from the playing card staging area to a delivery area wherein playing cards removed from the staging area to the delivery shoe are moved in the same order by which playing cards were removed from the first set of playing cards and moved to the playing card staging area; and d) playing card reading sensors that read at least one playing card value of each playing card separately after each playing card has been removed from the area for receiving the first set of playing cards and before removal from the playing card delivery area One exemplary sensing system is a CIS line scanning system with an associated card position sensor and a FPGA hardware element.

A programmable system for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business, including:(a) a Measuring Transmitting Unit integrated in a main circuit breaker or utility meter in the residence or business; comprising: (1) a means of receiving AC analog signals, converting the AC analog signals to DC analog signals, summing the DC analog signals, and outputting the information; (2) a microcontroller; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; and (4) a power supply for powering the Measuring Transmitting Unit; and(b) a programmable Receiving Display Unit, comprising: (1) a power supply for powering the Receiving Display Unit; (2) a power plug; (3) a power line carrier transmission interface controller; (4) a data decoder; (5) a microcontroller; (6) memory associated with the microcontroller; (7) a visual display; and (8) a mechanism for inputting to the Receiving Display Unit; andwherein the Measuring Transmitting Unit translates current to digitally encoded signals, and transmits the signals over existing power circuits in the residence or business; and the Receiving Display Unit receives the signals, decodes them, and translates them for viewing. A method for monitoring electricity consumption by a residence or business is also included.

A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an image pick-up section in which photosensitive devices are arranged in, e.g., a honeycomb G square lattice, RB full-checker pattern due to shifted pixels. Regions void of the photosensitive devices are assumed to be virtual photosensitive devices. A signal processing section generates data for the virtual photosensitive devices by using the data of surrounding photosensitive devices while attaching importance to accurate color reproduction and horizontal and / or vertical resolution. As a result, the number of pixel data are increased in a square lattice arrangement. Therefore, high quality image signals are readily achievable with a smaller number of photosensitive devices than conventional with a conventional apparatus. Interpolation can be executed with the high quality signals to the limit of resolution with an adequate circuit scale. The honeycomb arrangement guarantees the required size of the individual pixel and thereby the sensitivity of the entire apparatus while increasing yield on a production line. False colors particular to a single photosensitive portion can be reduced by, e.g., uniform interpolation. Particularly, when a digital camera is constructed by using an imaging apparatus including optics operable with a silver halide sensitive type of film, false colors can be reduced without resorting to an optical low pass filter.

A presence detector for detecting and estimating an audience watching television comprising: one or more presence sensors adapted to capturing signals emitted by or reflected from the audience; and a translator connected to the one or more presence sensors adapted to translating output signals created by the one or more presence sensors to data signals representing the estimated number of people in the audience. Presence information captured is converted to television rating data and is very useful for pricing advertisements accurately.

A waveguide busbar for converting a plurality of high-frequency input signals into high-frequency output signals, includes a waveguide, a plurality of input ports, which are arranged along the waveguide, such that each input port is intended to receive a high-frequency input signal, an output port on the waveguide for delivering the high-frequency output signal and at least one parallel resonator, which is connected to the waveguide busbar between two input ports. The parallel resonator has a mechanically adjustable volume with which a phase relation of the waveguide is adjustable between the two input ports.

A system for wireless communication using ultrasonic signals that includes a transmission module, which receives input signals from a wireless device, modifies the received input signals in a manner that converts each received input signal into a corresponding ultrasonic signal and wirelessly transmits each said ultrasonic signal over an ultrasonic link, and a receiving module, which receives the transmitted ultrasonic signals, recovers the corresponding input signals therefrom and enables outputting each respective input signal through one or more output devices. Modification of the input signals may include compressing, encoding and modulating the input signals. The input signals may be voice audio signals for enabling to use the system for supporting phone calls by enabling ultrasonic communication between for instance, a wireless headset and a mobile phone. Transmission and receiving modules may be associated with a wireless headset and mobile phone for allowing ultrasonic and optionally RF communication therebetween.