Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8106786 | Terminal including light emitting device, method of notifying selection of item using the terminal, and method of notifying occurrence of event using the terminal Disclosed herein is a method of notifying the selection of an item using a plurality of light emitting devices provided in a terminal, including: selecting an item of at least one item displayed on a display included in the terminal, and notifying the selection of t... | 01/31/2012 |
| 7623042 | Wireless network control for building lighting system Wireless control of lighting fixtures via a wireless radio network using a radio-controlled relay device located between a lighting fixture or a ballast of a fluorescent fixture and its power supply. The radio-controlled device receives signals from remote controlle... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7545284 | Signaling appliance, in particular a signaling column A signaling appliance is provided, in particular a signaling column for indication of at least one operating state of a technical appliance such as a machine, an installation, a vehicle or the like, having at least one holding apparatus (5) for holding an ele... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7385481 | Method and apparatus for tri-color rail signal system with control A signaling control device apparatus (10) comprises at least one LED (20) having a light emitting surface (18). A sensor (24) is set to detect an external light load (16) directed to the light emitting surface (18) and gener... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7385519 | Apparatus and method for operability and live-dead-live testing An operability testing apparatus used in conjunction with an electrical testing apparatus to perform live-dead-live tests consists of: a power source; a voltage source coupled to the power source with the voltage source being configured to provide an AC voltage outp... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7369056 | Photoelectric controller for electric street lighting An electric street light controller apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic street light turn-on and turn-off characteristics to be field programmable using RFID technology, lamp current magnitude recording, auxiliary sensor input, diagnostic alarming and d... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7339465 | Vehicle-to-trailer light connection verification tester A vehicle-to-trailer light-connection verification tester (10) designed to be located within a towing vehicle (20), a towed trailer (30) or within a cable adapter (24) that is connected between the vehicle (20) and the trailer (... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7333021 | Opening/closing apparatus for vehicle door An opening/closing apparatus for a vehicle door includes: a door handle secured to an outer surface of the vehicle door, the door handle being manipulated by a user for opening and closing the vehicle door; an operation detecting portion for checking w... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7327998 | System and method of providing a geographic view of nodes in a wireless network A geographic view rendering tool receives geographic location data for nodes in a wireless network and renders a geographic view displaying the nodes at their corresponding geographic locations. The geographic view may be displayed overlaying a digital map. The geog... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7323877 | Apparatus and methods for making spectroscopic measurements of cathode fall in fluorescent lamps Apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring cathode fall within a fluorescent lamp that contains an electrode and a gas. A level of cathode fall associated with the electrode may be identified based on an intensity and wavelength of radiation emitted by the ga... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7319404 | Non-invasive, low cost method and apparatus for the transmission, display and detection of internal computer status A method and apparatus for permitting diagnostics in a PC is described. Signals, imperceptible to a user, are transmitted through the LED used to indicate on/off power status. A small hand-held device may be used for detecting and interpreting the signals and to pro... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7315255 | Load status indicator A load status indicator is disclosed wherein a green light-emitting diode of a bi-color light-emitting diode lights up when power is available to but not being used by a monitored device, whereas a red light-emitting diode of the bi-color light-emitting diode lights... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7312721 | Data collector for an automated meter reading system The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicati... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7310049 | Status indicator A status indicator indicates an operating state, including an electrical malfunction, of an electrical load that is located and controlled from locations remote from a monitoring location. ... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7305327 | Wireless meter for real time measurements and method therefor A wireless metering device for real time measuring of at least one parameter has a probe for measuring the at least one parameter. The probe will wirelessly transmit real time measured values. A meter is wirelessly coupled to the probe. The meter is used for display... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7301476 | Dynamic self-configuring metering network A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instr... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7298244 | NBC marker light An NBC marker light is designed to be simplistic, lightweight, and expendable. The case is two pieces, designed for ease of assembly. The assembly includes a circuit card, one or more batteries, light sources, typically IR and visible LEDs, and a custom designed rot... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7295105 | Turn indicator unit for a relay-controlled flasher A turn indicator unit includes a light source, a matching module, and a current interrupter. The light source is coupled across an output side of a flasher. The matching module is coupled across the light source. The current interrupter is coupled between the light ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7286039 | Chip resistor and method of manufacturing the same A chip resistor is provided which includes a resistor film 5 formed between a pair of terminal electrodes 2 and 3 on an upper surface of an insulating substrate 2. The resistor film is formed with two inward grooves 7, 8 and two tr... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7268693 | Towed vehicle lighting module Control of an accessory lighting array for temporary installation on a towed vehicle through the controller area network of a towing vehicle is effected through access to the controller area network over a bus extension, and connection of an accessory controller to ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7265684 | Onboard equipment for aircraft and the like An emergency lighting system for an aircraft comprises networked light units that communicate wirelessly with a master controller to switch the light units on in an emergency. Each unit has its own battery power source and is arranged conserve power consumption by c... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7262709 | System and method for efficient configuration in a fixed network automated meter reading system Meters are configured using either a program update method or a meter update method. In the program update method, meters associated with a specified configuration program are identified and configured with updated parameters. In the meter update method, a specified... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7259685 | Landing light fault annunciator A helicopter of the type having an electrical system, a landing light, a master switch and a power supply of between about 18-32 V for operating the electrical system when the master switch is in an on position also includes a landing light fault detector. The landi... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7250872 | Method and device for testing at least one LED strip A test device for at least one LED strip contains: a voltage source, by way of which a cold test voltage or a warm test voltage can be applied to a parallel circuit formed of a test resistor and the LED strip, and an evaluation unit which records the cold test curre... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7245224 | Methods and systems for diagnosing projection device failure Projection device failure may be diagnosed by sensing improper operation of projection lamp ignitor circuitry. An ignitor failure indicator may be activated based on a sensed failure in the operation of the lamp ignitor circuitry to prevent incorrect projection lamp... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7239250 | System and method for improved transmission of meter data The system includes a number of first meters, which are typically battery powered transmit only devices. The system includes a number of two-way meters, which are operable to both transmit and receive data. The first meters transmit their data to the collector eithe... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7209840 | Systems and methods for providing remote monitoring of electricity consumption for an electric meter A system for providing remote monitoring of electricity consumption is provided. In one embodiment the system may comprise electric meters, communication devices having a unique address and defining a wireless communication network, and a site controller. Each elect... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7196633 | Integrated radio tower light controller and alarm reporting device An integrated radio tower light controller and alarm reporting device is described that is made up of solid-state current sensing modules that monitor the AC current distributed to the various lights/beacons and report various alarm modes. In addition, a solid-state... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7187906 | Method and system for configurable qualification and registration in a fixed network automated meter reading system A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instr... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7176807 | System for automatically enforcing a demand reset in a fixed network of electricity meters Methods and systems of enforcing a demand reset in a meter that communicates via a wireless network. When billing data is received by a server, it is accompanied by a demand reset counter. The counter is compared to a counter stored on the server. If they received c... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7170425 | System and method for creating multiple operating territories within a meter reading system The present invention enables multiple operating territories to be defined, named, and managed within a meter reading system. Each operating territory may correspond to a geographic sub-section of the meter reading system that is regulated by a particular regulatory... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7158041 | Electrical protection device and method for a communication circuit A protection device for a communication circuit that includes a sensor monitoring a protection device parameter and an indication module coupled to the sensor. The indication module generates an indication output as a function of the protection device parameter indi... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7154378 | Apparatus and method for using RFID to track use of a component within a device RFID circuitry is used in an endoscopic light source unit to track cumulative light bulb use information. An inductively powered RFID tag is affixed to the light bulb assembly, and communicates wirelessly with an RF transceiver within the light source unit via a low... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7154403 | Apparatus and method for monitoring the output of a warning or indicator light An operational status detection system for a railroad warning device having a warning light, comprising: a photodiode configured to generate a signal corresponding to a light output of the warning light of the railroad warning device; an amplifier for increasing a s... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7149798 | Method and system for adaptively setting a data refresh interval A method and system is disclosed for adaptively refreshing a data using system. The data using system includes a data source and a data using device for utilizing data from the data source. The data using device has an initial refresh interval. A communication link ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7145474 | Dynamic self-configuring metering network A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instr... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7142106 | System and method of visualizing network layout and performance characteristics in a wireless network A system for visually detailing the layout of a wireless network and for providing performance statistics regarding the network. Graphical diagrams are generated in accordance with a request wherein the diagrams illustrate nodes and data collectors in the wireless n... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7129856 | Illuminated sign for traffic control and method for functional monitoring of such a sign An illuminated sign is for traffic control, in particular for road traffic, and includes light sources for generation of the sign and a monitoring device for functional monitoring of the light source. The light sources are embodied as light diodes and the monitoring... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7126494 | Remote access to electronic meters using a TCP/IP protocol suite An electronic meter incorporates a TCP/IP protocol suite and an HTTP server to provide two-way access to the meter data. Alternatively, the TCP/IP protocol suite may be incorporated into a gateway serving multiple meters connected through a power line or wireless tw... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7123165 | Apparatus and method for monitoring the output of a warning or indicator light An operational status detection system for a railroad warning device having a warning light, comprising: a photo detector configured to generate a signal corresponding to a light output of the warning light of the railroad warning device, the photo detector comprisi... | 10/17/2006 |
