Did You Know...
...that one person who claimed to be the inventor of the television is Russian emigre Vladimir Zworykin? In 1929 David Sarnoff, founder of RCA, asked Zworykin what it would take to develop TV for commercial use. He said: a year and a half and $100,000. In reality, it took 20 years and $50 million! Before his death in 1982 at the age of 92, Zworykin said of his invention: "The technique is wonderful. It is beyond my expectations. But the programs! I would never let my children even come close to this thing."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7403135 | Capacitive relay takeoff swimming platform sensor system A capacitive relay takeoff swimming platform sensor system including multiple stations, timing devices and capacitive sensor devices where the presence or departure of a second swimmer on a relay takeoff swimming platform is sensed by the change in capacitance of a ... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7394367 | Keypad for building automation An exemplary embodiment of a keypad for building automation may comprise a sensing layer operable to detect user input. The sensing surface configured with a plurality of switching fields assigned to different automation functions. A printed label is layered over th... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7365952 | Battery pack having a protection circuit The battery pack according to the present invention is to avoid any trouble or the like of the primary or secondary battery inside the battery pack with a simple mechanical construction when a load is intermittently connected between the external terminals of the ba... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7292145 | Tamper switch arrangement A tamper switch arrangement detects tampering with a device, and includes a tamper switch assembly having a tamper switch with a first part and a second part. The first and second parts are movable relative to each other between an open switch position and a closed ... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7185883 | Sheet treating apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet treating apparatus including, a conveying device for conveying sheets, a sheet stack tray for stacking the sheets conveyed by the conveying device, a sensor detecting the sheets conveyed to the sheet stack tray, a pressure-contact conveying device for convey... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7177383 | Method and system for safety regulation in nuclear power regulating systems A system and method for monitoring rod moving coils in nuclear power system. The system ensures that these coils are each functioning properly, and thus prevent movement of the other coils when a dysfunctional coil is detected. The method for accomplishing this moni... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7092646 | Printing device and method for locating a media jam A printing device is provided that includes a housing having a media path therethrough. The printing device includes at least one sensor for detecting when a media jam occurs in the media path. At least one indicator is operatively associated with a processor to pro... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7075430 | Security system and danger sensor for monitoring danger parameters A security system utilizes danger sensors (3) and a central unit connected wirelessly to the danger sensors (3). The danger sensors (3) have a communication module (8) which has the same dimensions and same shape for all sensor types, and... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7015705 | Capacitance detection apparatus A capacitance detection apparatus includes a first open/close switch provided between both ends of a standard capacitor, one end of the standard capacitor being connected to a first voltage source, a second open/close switch provided between one end of a first capac... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7005983 | Methods and apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus re... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6339376 | Automotive cargo space occupant detector A moving object detecting apparatus, an abnormality alarm apparatus, and a load-carrying compartment opening control apparatus each have an oscillator circuit, an antenna, and a frequency fluctuation detector. If a moving object, such as a human or the li... | 01/15/2002 |
| 5705988 | Photoelectric smoke detector with count based A/D and D/A converter A method and apparatus in a smoke detector for comparing an analog signal voltage to a digital alarm threshold and for converting a digital sensitivity value to an analog test voltage. The analog signal voltage is converted to a digital value by: a) charg... | 01/06/1998 |
| 5705987 | Circuit for controlling operation of a load after a predetermined time delay A circuit for controlling operation of a load, such as an alarm circuit in a fire protection system, in which operation of the load is delayed for an adjustable time period. The load control circuit includes a DIAC for generating a first trigger signal, a... | 01/06/1998 |
| 5572190 | Batteryless sensor used in security applications A batteryless sensor includes either a micro miniature generator/gear train or a piezoelectric crystal to convert a movement of a door or window to an ersatz Vcc transient power supply to radiate a coded RF signal to a receiver, a distance away... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5406256 | Remote sensor and motion alarm system A motion detector having a motion sensitive switch, timing circuit, encoder and radio-transmitting circuit in a housing which may be affixed to a remotely-positioned article; and a decoding and receiving circuit housed in a second housing. The radio-recei... | 04/11/1995 |
| 5086293 | Line interruption supervisory device for a fire alarm system A line interruption supervisory device for a fire alarm system is capable of reliably carrying out the line supervision even if the line length is long and/or there is a large number of connected fire detectors. To this end, a terminating capacitor is con... | 02/04/1992 |
| 4954805 | Piezo electronic horn The invention provides an electronic horn for an alarm circuits of the type in which the d.c. power supply for the horn will be of a particular polarity to indicate an alarm condition. The circuit provides a piezo sounder connected across the terminals of... | 09/04/1990 |
| 4870405 | Object monitoring and alarm device An object that is ordinarily held within a receptacle, such as a pen, is monitored to sense removal of the object from the receptacle. Removal of the object initiates a timing cycle. At the conclusion of the timing cycle, an alarm sounds unless the object... | 09/26/1989 |
| 4849740 | Safety device for a sheet cutter apparatus A sheet cutter apparatus includes circuitry for detecting when the blades of the cutter are in an "open" position with their cutting edges separted from each other, and a timer that is initiated when the blades are first opened. If the blades remain open ... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4772879 | Motion sensing alarm A motion sensing alarm is disclosed. It is comprised of a time delayed switching circuit connected between a supply circuit and an electronic logic circuit. A triggering circuit is connected between the switching circuit and a false triggering circuit and... | 09/20/1988 |
| 4725821 | Device for generating an alarm signal A device for generating an alarm signal in the event of an abnormality in the environment of a detector includes a pair of signal/power supply lines, a number of detectors for detecting an abnormality, e.g., fire, gas leakage, or burglary, and an alarm re... | 02/16/1988 |
| 4707684 | Alarm for a refrigerator An alarm is disclosed herein for providing an indication when a certain condition, such as a door ajar condition of a refrigerator, has existed for a predetermined time. The alarm includes a capacitor, means coupled to the capacitor for charging same whil... | 11/17/1987 |
| 4567476 | Method and circuit for optical and/or acoustic indication of the charge state of a battery or a storage battery The subject of the invention is a circuit for monitoring the charge state of a battery for supplying voltage to an electrical consumer through a mode selector switch which may be switched from an OFF-state for disconnecting the electrical consumer from th... | 01/28/1986 |
| 4558307 | Reminder device A box formed with an aperture in which a photosensitive cell is secured includes an electronic circuit connected to be fed by the electrical signal produced by the photosensitive cell when the latter is irradiated by ambient radiation. Said electronic cir... | 12/10/1985 |
| 4547768 | Toilet reservoir fill alarm A toilet reservoir fill alarm including water level sensors which can be positioned in the water reservoir tank of a flush toilet to detect the presence or absence of water at a desired level. A switch responds to the water level sensors and produces a co... | 10/15/1985 |
| 4538137 | Fire detector In a fire detector that includes a sensor for producing an output voltage corresponding to smoke concentration, temperature, etc., there is provided a charge-and-discharge circuit to be reset by the turning ON of a switching circuit which is made ON at a ... | 08/27/1985 |
| 4523185 | Zoned intrusion display with series-connected sensors A visual display system detects and continuously displays the location of a breach in a protected building or secure area. Each of a plurality of exclusive OR gates is connected to a separate reed-type sensor switch. Each exclusive OR gate output is conne... | 06/11/1985 |
| 4520351 | Passive personal alarm device A passive personal alarm device is activated by release of a spring-loaded button switch which, when held down, opens an otherwise closed circuit. A time delay element in the circuit prevents sounding of the alarm for a predetermined period in the event o... | 05/28/1985 |
| 4513277 | Low fuel indicator system A low fuel indicator system 10 for a motor vehicle comprises a light-emitting indicator 12 which is energized or de-energized by an output signal derived from a voltage comparator 14 which receives a reference voltage from a reference voltage source 20 an... | 04/23/1985 |
| 4479115 | Fan speed and/or fan failure detector A pressure transducer, such as a microphone, is placed in proximity to the blades of a fan, such as a fan used to cool electronic equipment. As each blade passes the transducer, a pressure wave is generated that is converted into an electrical pulse by th... | 10/23/1984 |
| 4472715 | Dual spectrum fire sensor with discriminator A fire sensor discriminates between fires and the flash caused by a projectile piercing the wall of a protected area. The sensor system comprises first and second radiant energy detectors, each sensitive to radiation within different spectral bands. Each ... | 09/18/1984 |
| 4450351 | Motion discontinuance detection system and method A motion detection system is disclosed which utilizes a lens or other imaging device to be responsive to motion in a particular field of view in a room, for example, and pass illumination to a photocell. The photocell or a screen in front thereof establis... | 05/22/1984 |
| 4432041 | Smoke penetrating emergency light A self-contained, portable lighting apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus functions as an escape light in conjunction with smoke detector alarms in that it is activated by detecting the sound of such alarms. A lighting unit includes circuitry for detectin... | 02/14/1984 |
| 4425532 | Circuit arrangement of a staircase lighting time switch Circuit arrangement of a staircase lighting time switch offers a possibility of an automatic reduction of the light power of lamps lighting the staircase whereby the user is warned that the time of the switch is running out. The time period of full power ... | 01/10/1984 |
| 4242672 | Patient monitoring system and switch A switch is placed on a bed, chair, or other object and is maintained in closed condition so long as a patient occupies the bed, chair, or other object and continues to exert sufficient weight on the switch. When the weight acting on the switch is relieve... | 12/30/1980 |
| 4229733 | Exposure detecting device An exposure detecting device comprising a radiation detector means providing an output signal responsive to the intensity of received ultraviolet radiation, a storage means receiving the output signal of said detector means and providing an output signal ... | 10/21/1980 |
| 4224611 | Smoke alarm station A fire alarm system comprises a central control station feeding through a plurality of parallel supply lines a direct current voltage to a corresponding plurality of remote alarm stations. Each station has a fire sensor including a reference ionization ch... | 09/23/1980 |
| 4164736 | Apparatus for disabling an alarm after a predetermined operating period Apparatus for disabling an alarm after a predetermined operating period employs a relay which is operated by a gate circuit. A contact of the relay applies operating potential to an alarm. An oscillator energizes a counter circuit and after a predetermine... | 08/14/1979 |
| 4127847 | Monitoring system for aircraft master switch An electrical system for use on aircraft and including a manually operated master switch for connecting a d.c. power supply to a supply bus that feeds electrical equipment on the aircraft. Energized by the supply bus is a monitor having a delayed output t... | 11/28/1978 |
| 4115764 | Diagnostic system employing a magnetic field responsive apparatus A current detecting apparatus wherein when a wire is energized, a reed switch comes into operation in response to the magnetic lines of force generated concentrically around the wire to detect the presence of a current flow in the wire. The current detect... | 09/19/1978 |
