Did You Know...
...that the first rickshaw was invented in 1869 by an American Baptist minister, the Rev. E. Jonathan Scobie, to transport his invalid wife around the streets of Yokohama?
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7633251 | Single-sensor based commutation of multi-phase motor System, method, and apparatus for commutating and controlling a multi-phase motor using one output rotor sensor and circuitry that measures time between rotor pole-to-pole transitions is disclosed. The exemplary system, method, and apparatus may utilize the polarity... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7609019 | Photovoltaic system and method for operating a photovoltaic system 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 photovo... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7570003 | Automatic opening garbage can A lid assembly for use with a garbage can having a frame that includes a lip at the bottom of lid and a housing. The housing is defined by a lower wall and a sidewall with an opening. A static electricity sensor is positioned in the housing. The lid assembly also in... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7504793 | DC motor driving method for reducing adverse RF interferences and application to a vehicle lighting or signaling device The invention concerns a method of controlling a control circuit, which comprises a step in which a variation in a control parameter for the control circuit is effected, said variation being determined so that at least one emission characteristic of an unfavorable e... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7477035 | Dynamic aperture driving apparatus and method for reducing vibration The present invention generally relates to a dynamic aperture for controlling the intensity of light of projection lens, more particularly to a dynamic aperture driving apparatus and method for reducing vibration by which vibrations are minimized in spite of command... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7425805 | Three-in-one control device for a ceiling fan A three-in-one control device for a ceiling fan includes a signal receiving module, which is able to receive segmented controlled signals, stepless controlled signals and wireless controlled signals respectively, for transmitting controlled signals to a micro comput... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7420349 | Microcontroller interface with hall element A device controller system incorporates an inexpensive Hall element to detect motion of a brushless DC motor. A magnet, which is part of a motor rotor, passes by the Hall element producing a Hall voltage each rotation. The Hall voltage is coupled through an interfac... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7417397 | Automated shade control method and system This invention generally relates to automated shade systems that employ one or more algorithms to provide appropriate solar protection from direct solar penetration; reduce solar heat gain; reduce radiant surface temperatures; control penetration of the solar ray, o... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7362224 | Thermally sensitive array device for presence detection around automatic doors The present invention relates to a thermally sensitive array device for detecting a presence of a target object in a surveillance area. The device comprises a plurality of at least two thermally sensitive sensors provided in an array arrangement, each thermally sens... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7354097 | Power-actuated closure system A power-actuated closure system is disclosed. The system includes a power-actuated closure panel having a leading edge. One or more non-contact optical sensing system(s) is/are affixed to the power-actuated closure panel. The sensing system is adapted to detect the ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7348586 | Exterior element sensor An exterior element sensor can include an optical element mounted on a window. The optical element can include a cylindrical lens having both ends shaped spherically and a central portion that exerts little or no influence on exterior element detection (such as rain... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7348584 | Infrared projector An infrared projector including: a light source which radiates an infrared ray; and an emitter which emits visible light when exposed to infrared light, wherein the emitter is provided on a position where the infrared ray radiated from the light source reaches. ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7342375 | Automatic storm shutter control The present invention provides wireless and direct wired methods and devices for automatically closing electrically-driven roll-down storm shutters in the presence of rain on one or more rain sensors. ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7340969 | Rotation-detecting apparatus A rotation-detecting apparatus includes a rotation-detecting device for detecting a rotation of a rotor, a rotational speed-detecting device (3) for detecting a rotational speed of the rotor and a transfer signal-generating device for generating a digitized t... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7337016 | Door operator console A console or controller unit for a garage door operator includes a message recording and playback device. The console unit may be wall mounted or configured as a remote transmitter type unit and includes a molded light transmitting switch actuator part mounted on a ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7315143 | Operating system utilizing a selectively concealed multi-function wall station transmitter with an auto-close function for a motorized barrier operator An operating system which utilizes a multi-functional wall station for a motorized barrier includes an operator for controlling movement of a barrier between various positions. The operator may receive signals from a wireless or wired wall station transmitter, a wir... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7315147 | Motor and motor drive system Provided is a motor having a combination of a plurality of coil pairs and a permanent magnet, wherein these coil pairs are supplied with an excitation signal from a drive circuit so as to be excited at alternate opposite poles, and the permanent magnet is constitute... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7287887 | Vehicle headlamp A movable shade is moved by a shade driving device between a first shade position which is positioned on an optical axis at a rear focal point of a projection lens and a second shade position which is located further downward than the first shade position. Even in t... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7262572 | System and method for providing a macro for a barrier operator A recording of a macro is initiated. A first of a plurality of actions performable by the moveable barrier operator is selected and the first action is associated with the macro. At least a second of the plurality of actions available is selected at the moveable bar... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7256694 | Automatic lid opening and closing system for a waste container A lid opening and closing system for a waste container having an opening and a lid for covering the opening, the system including a proximity sensor, which may be a capacitive proximity sensor, for sensing the presence of a user's hand or body near the waste contain... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7253890 | Door obstacle sensor A door obstacle sensor in which an optical transmitter and a receiver are located on the same side of an entranceway, and a retroreflector is placed on the opposite side. A controller measures the time of flight of a light beam that is reflected from the retroreflec... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7249441 | Power drive unit for automobile windows A power unit to replace the manual crank handle of a vehicle window, including a housing for a drive unit that will connect to the splined shaft from which a crank handle has been removed, the power unit including drive means to be affixed to a vehicle door when the... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7248144 | Barrier operator with secure/unsecure transmitter and method of use A wireless transmitter used with an operator system controls movement of a barrier between limit positions can be used in an unsecure, single-button actuation mode, or a secure, multiple button actuation mode. The transmitter includes at least two transmitter switch... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7248010 | Wiper controller for controlling windshield wiper A wiper controller includes: a sensor for detecting a waterdrop on a windshield; a wiper for wiping the windshield; and control means for controlling operation of the wiper. The control means monitors a waterdrop reflection when the sensor detects the waterdrop. The... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7242162 | Apparatus and method for retracting awning An apparatus and method for retracting an awning. A sensor detects an awning acceleration caused by wind impacting the awning, and generates a signal having an amplitude corresponding thereto. When the signal exceeds a certain threshold, the awning is retracted. The... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7235944 | Wiper control system A wiper control system for detecting an amount of raindrops landed on a windshield of a vehicle and driving a wipe operation of a wiper to wipe the landed raindrops. The wiper control system includes raindrop sensing means, average landed raindrop amount calculation... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7228883 | Motorized barrier operator system utilizing multiple photo-eye safety system and methods for installing and using the same A movable barrier operator system includes a motorized operator which moves a barrier between limit positions, and a photo-electric safety system connected to the motorized operator. The photo-electric safety system monitors for obstructions at more than one height ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7221858 | Pulse-width modulation motor speed control circuit A PWM motor speed control circuit (10) includes a PWM signal generator (20), a driver integrated circuit (IC) (101) and a photocoupler (30) coupled between the PWM signal generator and the driver IC. The photocoupler receives an original ... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7211975 | Motorized barrier operator system adaptable to different safety configurations and methods for programming the same A motorized barrier operator system is disclosed that is adaptable to different safety configurations. The system is provided with a default configuration that may be changed upon detection of an optional safety configuration by the operator system. The changeover m... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7208897 | Motion control system for barrier drive A system for operating a barrier system such as a garage door, gate or fence. A DC motor is connected to and operates a barrier drive. A power amplifier is configured to receive power signals from a power supply and to output modulated DC signals to the DC motor. A ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7199543 | Power drive unit with unit load device sensor A cargo power drive unit includes a motor and at least one driver roller element coupled to the motor. The power drive unit further includes a light transmitter for emitting light and a light receiver for measuring light. The power drive unit measures an amount of a... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7193201 | Method for measuring external light to control protection means against sunlight or illumination The invention concerns a method which consists in detecting and discriminating at least three states, respectively blue sky, white sky and direct sunlight. The discrimination between the three states is based, for example, on an intermediate detection distinguishing... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7182246 | Secure collection box for mail pieces A drop box for storing mail pieces includes an enclosure, and an articulated door which runs on tracks. The door is selectively positioned in a horizontal course. When the door is in the horizontal course, a mail piece may be inserted through an opening in the enclo... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7183732 | Motorized barrier operator system for controlling a stopped, partially open barrier and related methods A motorized barrier operator that moves a barrier between limit positions, includes a motor for moving the barrier between set limit positions. When the barrier is in a stopped, partially open position the operator implements at least a hybrid control sequence that ... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7173516 | Operating system for a motorized barrier operator An operating system which utilizes a multi-functional wall station for a motorized barrier includes an operator for controlling movement of a barrier between various positions. The operator may receive signals from a wireless or wired wall station transmitter, a wir... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7154241 | Wiper control method and wiper control device There are provided a wiper control method and a wiper control device in which unnecessary wiping operation is not performed. When a fixed amount of water passing through a detection area 4, the water being carried by the wiping operation of a wiper 5 | 12/26/2006 |
| 7155296 | Configuration method for an installation comprising solar protection and/or lighting devices The configuration method for an installation comprising solar protection and/or lighting devices controlled by a central unit comprising a memory, microprocessor and a user interface, is characterized in that method comprises an iteration, over all of the solar prot... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7147029 | Remote control operating system and support structure for a retractable covering for an architectural opening An improved retractable covering for an architectural opening includes an improved mounting bracket, an improved limit stop to prevent over-retraction and over-extension of the retractable covering, an improved battery pack mounting bracket for attaching a power sup... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7131754 | Automatic headlamp control An automatic headlamp control system includes an image sensor and a control. The image sensor captures an image of a forward exterior scene and the control processes the image to determine if any light sources in the captured image are indicative of headlamps of onc... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7129660 | Motor-temperature estimation apparatus and motor control apparatus A motor-current square value calculation section 45 calculates, as a motor-current square value, the sum of respective square values of two phase currents converted from three phase currents flowing through an electric motor. A temperature estimation calculat... | 10/31/2006 |