Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5128980 | Automatic paging telephone set and method for controlling thereof An automatic paging telephone set comprising first and second DTMF transmitters, a mode selector for selecting either a pager number recording mode, a paging mode, or a general communication mode, and a controller for controlling the telephone set accordi... | 07/07/1992 |
| 5117422 | Method for providing an efficient and adaptive management of message routing in a multi-platform and apparatus communication system The method for providing an efficient and adaptive management of message routing in a multi-platform, communication system having dynamically changing platform populations and dynamically changing connectivities between platforms where each of the platfor... | 05/26/1992 |
| 5010329 | Block polling data communication system having optimum block determination means An improved data communication system in which a block polling of a plurality of terminal blocks is first carried out, thereafter, a terminal polling of terminals in the terminal block(s) from which a response to the block polling has been issued is carri... | 04/23/1991 |
| 4931941 | Adaptive routing of network traffic A process is disclosed for adaptively routing service requests through a network comprising nodes interconnected with links. The network is also arranged so that each node may communicate with each of the other nodes. At preselected time intervals, sets o... | 06/05/1990 |
| 4930049 | Optical multiplexed electrical distribution system particularly suited for vehicles A multiplexed transmission scheme that reduces the complexity of the normal electrical wiring harness of a vehicle is disclosed. The system directly routes electrical excitation to motorize devices and multiplexes the control of the motorized devices alon... | 05/29/1990 |
| 4928246 | Multiple channel data acquisition system A multiple channel data acquisition system for the transfer of large amounts of data from a multiplicity of data channels has a plurality of modules which operate in parallel to convert analog signals to digital data and transfer that data to a communicat... | 05/22/1990 |
| 4920339 | Switchable bus termination and address selector A switchable termination module for use with addressable devices on a communication bus has a terminator for each signal transmission path, a signal source, for example a switch for signalling whether termination is desired and a terminator control circui... | 04/24/1990 |
| 4882566 | Safety control system for a hospital bed A safety control system for an electrically operated hospital bed utilizes a wireless disconnect signal from an above mounted safety light to an outlet below which supplies electrical power to the bed, thereby to interrupt power to the outlet upon the det... | 11/21/1989 |
| 4862157 | Signal transfer method and equipment for electric machine equipped with three-phase power supply cable For transferring signals relative to an electric machine provided with a three-phase power supply cable with three phase conductors, there is applied a signal to be transmitted to a first point in the three-phase cable between anyone of the phase conducto... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4847616 | Mode selection circuit A mode selection circuit for supplying a mode selection signal and a reset signal to an apparatus having a plurality of operating modes each time an operating mode is selected includes a mode switch to which the operating mode is manually set, a mode regi... | 07/11/1989 |
| 4843289 | Digital control bus system Digitally controllable ICs or function blocks in an electronic apparatus are connected through control bus lines, and a switch device is provided for disconnecting one of the digitally controllable ICs or function blocks from the control bus so that the c... | 06/27/1989 |
| 4825404 | Interface system which generates configuration control signal and duplex control signal for automatically determining the configuration of removable modules An interface circuit in a modular electronic system includes duplex control-signal transmission lines. Modules connectable to a controller unit of the system transmit configuration data items by way of the duplex lines to the controller during a first tim... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4812625 | Temperature control system for cooking apparatus A temperature control system for cooking apparatus, for example, a fryer using cooking oil or shortening which is heated by a suitable heating element. The cooking apparatus has different modes of operation including start-up mode, idle mode and cooking m... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4794370 | Peristaltic electrostatic binary device An array of binary elements suitable for alphanumeric or graphic displays are electrostatically actuated. The elements have a flexible member overlying a stator member. The flexible member has a bulge which is transferred along the element by sequential d... | 12/27/1988 |
| 4788541 | Signal communication system A signal communication system provided in a board device has a signal input/output terminal board having a plurality of input/output terminals. When a signal is communicated between two board devices, some of the input/output terminals serve as an input s... | 11/29/1988 |
| 4730188 | Identification system A passive integrated transponder (PIT) is attached to or embedded in an item to be identified. It is excited via an inductive coupling from an interrogator. The PIT responds to the interrogator via the inductive coupling with a signal constituting a strea... | 03/08/1988 |
| 4714922 | Interconnection networks A serial switched interconnection network comprises several stages of switching units each having a plurality of source ports and destination ports interconnected so that any source port of the first stage can be connected to any destination port of the f... | 12/22/1987 |
| 4679142 | Radioactive material billing system and method Quantities of radioactive material are dispersed at a user location. Billing is accomplished by monitoring the decay of material and the degree of activity following each user withdrawal.... | 07/07/1987 |
| 4642629 | Enhanced distance data transmission system A logic system between parallel channel end devices such as a computer and peripheral device. A level converter converts parallel digital signals from the external devices to levels for the system. A comparator samples the converted levels. Multiplex seri... | 02/10/1987 |
| 4628306 | Remote control system for automated equipment A remote control system operates automated equipment, such as a robotic device. The remote control system operates using an RF link and has both a "hard stop" control and a "soft stop" or "cycle hold" control. The system permits the technician or operator... | 12/09/1986 |
| 4626846 | Bus arrangement for addressing equipment units and a method therefor A bus arrangement for providing equipment units with an address is disclosed. Each individual equipment unit achieves its address automatically according to its relative physical position within the organization of the units without the need for setting a... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4614943 | Device for the remote control of the position of a mobile support A device for remotely controlling the position and orientation of a camera borne by a vehicle includes a first support member including two arms and an intermediary bracket. The arms have first ends pivotally mounted in a substantially vertical plane to t... | 09/30/1986 |
| 4604693 | System and method for communication between nodes of a closed loop local communication path In an exemplary embodiment a transmission link switch is provided at each node. In a transmission mode, the switch provides a transmission path which transmits incoming messages directly to the node output without any processing delay. In the cutoff mode ... | 08/05/1986 |
| 4600870 | Dual controller position control system A position control system having dual controllers, each capable of operating in either a proportional or a proportional plus integral gain mode, is normally operated with one controller in the proportional plus integral mode and the other in the proportio... | 07/15/1986 |
| 4562436 | Data communication network A mechanized system distributing the access, test and communication functions to the pont of testing, typically the centralized switching facility serving the telephone loops and equipment to be tested. Computer (200) stores information about each subscri... | 12/31/1985 |
| 4560983 | Dynamically interactive responsive control device and system A general device for the input of information in a binary format through rotational motion is disclosed, having independent means for the simultaneous output of information in a form perceivable to the human tactile sense. In particular, a knob is coupled... | 12/24/1985 |
| 4556881 | Active, bi-directional bus tap A lossless, bi-directional bus tap for connecting peripheral devices to a common bus. The tap comprises first and second combiner/divider (C/D) networks each having a first input/output (I/O) port which are connected to the two ends of an interruption in ... | 12/03/1985 |
| 4540984 | Energy saving control circuit for a light switch and a method therefor An energy saving light switch is disclosed. The light switch includes a human actuable switch and a control circuit responsive thereto. The control circuit operates a light in a first timed mode in which the light is turned on for a predetermined period o... | 09/10/1985 |
| 4532509 | Communication system having timer controlled field stations A communication system for communicating between the master station and one or more groups of field stations wherein each group of field stations are interconnected with the master station by a full duplex communication link. Information originates at the... | 07/30/1985 |
| 4486750 | Data transfer system Control side equipment and at least one equipment under control are commonly interconnected via a data line and a strobe line. The equipment under control is provided with means for retaining the logic of a strobe pulse when it is received from a strobe l... | 12/04/1984 |
| 4434463 | Multiprocessor topology with plural bases for directly and indirectly coupling addresses and relay stations A multiprocessor system for processing digital data includes a plurality of P buses and a plurality of at most P(P-1)/2 processor stations. Each station is connected to a pair of buses. The pair of buses to which a station is connected is different for ea... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4425664 | Multiport programmable digital data set Disclosed is a programmable universal data set which is defined as a data set that is capable of simultaneously servicing a plurality of data terminals desiring diverse types of data sets for several different transmission speeds and formats. The universa... | 01/10/1984 |
| 4366478 | Signal transmitting and receiving apparatus Disclosed is a signal transmitting and receiving apparatus for transmitting and receiving parallel-by-word data signals, converting the parallel-by-word data signal to serial-by-word data signal, and transmitting the serial-by-word data signal to control ... | 12/28/1982 |
| 4350972 | Multiple console control system A control system providing control from multiple control consoles of a circuit board fabricated device. Indicators at each control console provide users with status information so that users will not command conflicting functions of the device. The contro... | 09/21/1982 |
| 4348582 | Communication via an electricity supply main Control signals are transmitted through a.c. mains supply lines to control operation of electrical equipment powered from the supply lines. A near short-circuit condition is introduced across the a.c. mains supply lines, for example, by firing a thyristor... | 09/07/1982 |
| 4323882 | Method of, and apparatus for, inserting carrier frequency signal information onto distribution transformer primary winding Power line carrier frequency signals are provided at a distribution transformer primary winding by controlled current injection onto the neutral and phase conductors of the distribution transformer secondary winding circuit, with the direction of current ... | 04/06/1982 |
| 4306314 | Equipment control system with fiber optic coupled remote control Hydraulically operated equipment, e.g., cranes or the like, may be accurately controlled by a remote control coupled by a fiber optic link to hydraulic valve control servo circuitry at the equipment site. Analog input voltage levels representing various f... | 12/15/1981 |
| 4232293 | Line interface unit for voice and wide band signal coupling A line unit interfaces voice band signals and wide band signals extending from D.C. into the voice band between an analog line and a digital telecommunication facility. The line unit includes an analog to digital converter, a control circuit for generatin... | 11/04/1980 |
| 4209783 | Object identification system A transmitting/receiving antenna radiates a sweep frequency signal as an interrogation signal to an answer device. The answer device includes a plurality of resonators which are connected in parallel and have different resonance frequencies and answer ant... | 06/24/1980 |
| 4160253 | Radio controlled, battery-operated model toy A radio controlled, battery-operated model toy having an electric motor, a battery device for supplying energy to the electric motor, a radio control receiver, and a servo mechanism operated by the output of the receiver, wherein a voltage responsive auto... | 07/03/1979 |
