Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8174381 | Mobile energy management system According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management apparatus for a mobile energy management system and method includes detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site, displaying a proximity control selector within a graphical user int... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8111144 | System and method for providing improved detection of user inaction A mobile device, through the use of an NFC subsystem, may determine holster-proximity information, i.e., whether the mobile device is near to (including in) a holster or out of, and away from, the holster. The holster-proximity information may be used by the mobile ... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8077032 | System and method for selectively providing security to and transmission power from a portable electronic device depending on a distance between the device and a user A portable electronic device is provided for sending and receiving a communication signal to and from a target, respectively. Among other components, the portable electronic device includes an antenna, a transceiver, a signal processing system and control circuitry.... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8035511 | Methods for providing services and information based upon data collected via wireless network sensors A method for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor includes providing information in a variety of ways based upon the processed data. The network sensor has a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors in a monitored ... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8004403 | System and method for generating an alert for a trailer A system and method for generating an alert signal for a trailer. Proper truck/trailer matching is based on a proximity analysis between position reports for a truck and position reports for a trailer. In one embodiment, this proximity analysis is triggered by a det... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7973657 | Systems for monitoring proximity to prevent loss or to assist recovery A portable proximity alarm apparatus comprising a Bluetooth system and an alarm monitors the presence of a portable electronic device equipped with a compatible transceiver within range and alarms when that device leaves its range. On detecting disconnection, the pr... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7911338 | Wireless system and wireless module therefor A wireless system includes a server having a port, a plurality of sensors or devices, each of which includes a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and a wireless module. The wireless module includes a port interconnected with the port of the server, a wirel... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7825797 | Proximity sensor device and method with adjustment selection tabs A proximity sensor device and method is provided that facilitates improved usability. Specifically, the proximity sensor device and method provides the ability for a user to easily select the type of adjustment inputted by the proximity sensor device. In one embodim... | 11/02/2010 |
| 7623030 | Distance determination and alarm system A distance determination and alarm system for alarming when a wireless transmitter is either close or distant, having a wireless transmitter for transmitting an emitter signal. A wireless receiver is for receiving the emitter signal. The wireless receiver is for res... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7528716 | Methods, location circuits and computer program products for automated location and monitoring of mobile devices Methods are provided for providing location information associated with a mobile device. A request for presence information is transmitted from a location circuit to an identification circuit associated with the mobile device. The presence information is associated ... | 05/05/2009 |
| 7443291 | Portable terminal and information provision system utilizing the portable terminal A portable terminal comprising a transmission part that transmits to information provision equipment or a server, a signal indicating presence at a prescribed location, presence of a communications counterparty at a prescribed location, a reception part that receive... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7432806 | Spatial position determination system A system is disclosed that determines a spatial position of a tracker device relative to an object sending a return signal to the tracker. Such a system advantageously maintains phase accuracy between a forward signal from the tracker device and the return signal fr... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7423536 | Heat sensor activated detector and method A heat sensor activated detector having a housing, which accommodates a heat sensor, a logic device that compares the heat signal read by the heat sensor to a predetermined level and transmits an enable signal to an audible signal generator where the heat signal is ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7423526 | Integrated patient diagnostic and identification system A small integrated diagnostic and identification system is disclosed that solves several problems associated with current sensory systems. The diagnostic and identification system comprises a bracelet with an identification mechanism that is difficult to remove and ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7417543 | Method and system for monitoring containers to maintain the security thereof A method and system for monitoring the integrity of a container specifically adapted for the system and constructed with at least one door. A sensor is secured in the container for detecting proximity of the at least one door relative to another area of the containe... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7408459 | Environment setup system, electronic apparatus, radio communication terminal, program An MPF (Multi Function Peripheral) obtains a BD address and a device name from a communication partner search response when it receives the communication partner search response from a cellular phone. When the MFP successfully obtains the BD address and the BD addre... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7408462 | Control of monitored zone The invention relates to a method for the control of a monitored zone, in particular at transport devices for objects, wherein the monitored zone is scanned by means of at least one spatially resolving sensor, in particular a laser scanner and/or a camera system, th... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7394346 | Free-space gesture recognition for transaction security and command processing A sensor panel having a matrix of independently decoded sensors, arranged in a two-dimensional pattern allows a consumer identification unit (CIDU) to detect a user-specific gesture made with a gesturing instrument such as an RF ID device. The CIDU monitors on a tim... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7394364 | Wireless item location monitoring system and method A wireless electronic tracking system employs transmitters attached to moveable target items that send continuous analog radio frequency (RF) digitally-coded signals at prime number differentiated time intervals to a base receiver. The coded signals carry transmitte... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7388500 | Enhanced mechanism for radio frequency identification reader The invention relates to an enhanced mechanism for RFID reader which includes: an antenna for receiving a RFID signal transmitted from an object under test and outputting the RFID signal to the RFID reader; a metal plate disposed on an entrance of a building. The me... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7385515 | Surveillance detection system and methods for detecting surveillance of an individual A system and processing techniques are provided for automatically detecting when an individual is under surveillance. At least one uniquely identifying characteristic associated with a vehicle or a person in proximity to the individual is detected as the individual ... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7378967 | RFID tag sensitivity Systems, methods, or computer program products may collect information about the performance of individual RFID tags. In particular, signal strength and/or signal sensitivity of individual RFID tags may be measured and the resulting performance information may be st... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7372368 | Remote timer, thermometer and paging system A remote timer, thermometer and paging system includes a first unit having a radio frequency transmitter, a housing having a recess formed therein and a timer for selecting a time period. The system includes a temperature sensor in communication with the first unit ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7369061 | Vehicle locator device A device for locating a parked vehicle has a remote mobile unit with an aerodynamic housing, including a base and a transparent lens covering an illuminating visual indicator, such as a strobe light. The base contains a battery power source, an electronic sound emit... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7355511 | Notification managing apparatus and notification managing method for vehicle An apparatus for managing a notification from an in-vehicle device to a person to be notified includes an information acquiring unit that acquires information on the person; and a means selecting unit that selects a notification means based on the information acquir... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7339484 | Event-driven discovery method and apparatus Provided is a method and apparatus for performing discovery between devices in a network. Using event-driven discovery, devices conserve energy resources and more rapidly join a given network. The event-driven discovery detects a common-event associated with a first... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7335077 | Man overboard detection and rescue system A system detects a man overboard and facilitates the rescue of the overboard individual. The system includes sensors that provide surveillance of a peripheral envelope of a boat to detect when an individual fall through the envelope. When an individual is detected f... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7333776 | Phone alert A type of cellular phone notification apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus would combine both a transmitter attached to a cellular phone and a receiver that would be attached to an individual's clothing. If the cellular phone and the receiver would become disassoci... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7327255 | Carrying case for a handheld device and methods thereof A user of a handheld device may be alerted to a possible risk of losing the handheld device. The handheld device is able to be secured to a carrying case. The carrying case may alert the user by activating one or more of its user interface elements. The handheld dev... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7323988 | Personal item reminder A system and method are provided for allowing users to verify the presence of personal items. RFID tags are attached to personal items, and the items are entered into a list. The user makes travel lists from the list of items. When traveling, the user queries the sy... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7323991 | System and method for locating and communicating with personnel and equipment in a facility This invention provides a system and method for identifying, locating, authorizing by proximity and communicating with equipment and personnel in a facility that generally employs a series of limited range transceivers for location determination and a distributed wi... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7323983 | Device for alerting when umbrella is left behind The present invention is for an umbrella with a device, called the umpod, built into the handle of the umbrella. When detached from the handle, the umpod serves as a receiver of a pulsating RF signal, or other electronic communication, sent from the handle of the um... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7319889 | System and method for conserving battery power in a mobile station In one embodiment, a mobile station including a chassis having a display, a power reducer, a proximity sensor, and a microprocessor. The power reducer controls power consumption of the display. The proximity sensor is coupled to the chassis and causes the power cons... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7317389 | Audio apparatus and monitoring method using the same An audio apparatus includes a converter having a sound-output mode in which the converter functions as a sound-output device for converting a sound signal into an audio output and a sound-pickup mode in which the converter functions as a sound-pickup device for conv... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7317388 | Position detection system for mobile object A position detection system for measuring a position of a mobile object traveling throughout a controlled area, the position detection system includes a tag, which is provided on the mobile object, a detector, which obtains object position information which indicate... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7312700 | GPS enabled cell phone with common interest alerts A “seeking” wireless terminal determines its location coordinates via access of its GPS receiver. The seeking wireless terminal then sends a seeking request via a supporting wireless network infrastructure. The seeking request includes at least one interest item... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7289025 | Method and system for securing an electronic device A security control system secures electronic devices. The electronic devices communicate wirelessly with the security control system. The security control system can be used to define an authorized wireless communication area for the electronic devices. On a regular... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7283255 | Wireless substrate-like sensor A wireless substrate-like sensor is provided to facilitate alignment and calibration of semiconductor processing systems. The wireless substrate-like sensor includes an optical image acquisition system that acquires one or more images of targets placed within the se... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7274294 | Mobile locator system and method A locator system includes a handheld unit for providing an interrogation signal. The handheld unit can be a handheld computer or PDA including an RF module. The interrogation signal is received by an RF tag. The RF tag can include a power source and a memory. The me... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7271715 | Personal articles tracking A personal articles tracking system, method and apparatus. In the system of the invention, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader can be coupled to a tracking processor. A data store further can be configured to store tag data from corresponding RFID tags. F... | 09/18/2007 |
