Bizarre Patents
A simulation environment for the sport of boxing utilizing a robotic machine interface system which carries a person.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7400260 | Optical system and element for detecting ice and water An optical system for detecting ice and water on the surface of an aircraft includes an elongated transparent optical element having first and second end portions. A light source and light detector are disposed in one end of the optical element and a reflective surf... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7370525 | Inflight ice detection system A dual channel inflight ice detection system to detect ice accretion on an aircraft surface by illuminating an ice collecting surface mounted on an aircraft with linear polarized light. The backscattered light is acquired in two light conductors one with polarizatio... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7337621 | Optical frost sensor The present invention relates to a device and method for operating a fully automatic, “on demand” refrigeration defrost cycle and controlling the frost build-up on the evaporative surfaces of both medium temperature (above freezing), and low temperature (below f... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7327273 | Fluid monitoring device This invention relates to a device to monitor the administration of a fluid through a conduit, such as intravenous fluid, and detect the completion of fluid delivery by monitoring the fluid level inside a chamber. The device will monitor, through an optical fluid se... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7324001 | System and method for detecting and discriminating between water and ice formation on objects A system for detecting and discriminating between water and ice formation on a number of objects, such as aircraft or roadways is described. The system includes an optical element or sensor adapted to receive at least first and second wavelengths of light from a mul... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7312713 | Methods and systems for detection of ice formation on surfaces A system for detecting ice formation on metal, painted metal and other material surfaces can include a transparent window having an exterior surface upon which ice can form; a light source and optics configured and arranged to illuminate the exterior surface of the ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7301478 | Vehicle safety warning device Apparatus, methods, system and devices for monitoring road surface temperature to detect hazardous road surface conditions. An indicator provides the sensed road surface temperature and hazardous road condition warning to a driver while a tail light interface automa... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7286935 | Method and device for hydrometeor detection This publication discloses a method and apparatus for measuring hydrometeors. According to the method, the mechanical impulses of hydrometers falling on a detection surface are measured. According to the invention, part of the measuring device (1) is used to ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7282695 | Active search sensor and a method of detection using non-specular reflections It has been found that target optics produce non-specular, augmented optical returns when interrogated by a laser pulse. This non-specular radiation is detected by an active laser search system employing a direct-reading, thresholded focal plane detector that is abl... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7277295 | Industrial ethernet switch According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a housing having a front side and a bottom side adjacent the front side. The apparatus also includes a plurality of light generating devices each operable to generate light in response to operation ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7265846 | Methods for detecting ice and liquid water on surfaces Methods for detecting the presence or absence of ice or liquid water on surfaces are provided. In a first embodiment of the invention, a reflectance spectrum from a surface to be tested is measured using any suitable near-infrared optical system. The midpoint wavele... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7247837 | Optical moisture sensor and method of making the same A soil moisture sensor uses a non-collimated light source and a photosensor, respectively, mounted at the foci of a transparent ellipsoidal plastic body. The dimensions of the body are such that emitted light rays are internally reflected toward the photosensor at t... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7227473 | Thermal sensor A thermal sensor is provided, which is distinguished in that it includes means for removing a deposit on a sensing element of the sensor. In addition, means for detecting the deposit may be provided. The means for removing the deposit are realized by a trigger circu... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7224284 | Smoke detector calibration A method for calibrating a smoke detector includes adjusting the sensitivity of the smoke detector to get a consistent predetermined response over the expected operating range. The sensitivity is generally consistent for all detectors and an independent offset value... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7203344 | Biometric imaging system and method A method and system of obtaining a ten-print plain impression fingerprint includes scanning a print image, processing the scanned image, separating the processed image into individual fingerprint images, and determining how many print images have been scanned. The m... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7158071 | Radar rainfall estimation technique when attenuation is negligible A method of using a bipolar radar to estimate a precipitation rate for rain that generates negligible attenuation. The method includes using the bipolar radar to measure the differential phase ΦDP and the apparent reflectivity Ze on at least o... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7154400 | Fire detection method A method for detecting a fire while discriminating against false alarms in a monitored space containing obstructed and partially obstructed views includes the steps of positioning an infrared camera in a location where the camera has both a direct view of a first po... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7151460 | Electronic device having a proximity detector A smoke detection device for use in a portable device such as a mobile terminal. The smoke detection device comprises a light emitter and a light detector disposed on different locations on the portable device so that when smoke or an intruding object is presence in... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7142091 | Self-authenticating identification substrate with encoded packet output A biometric fingerprint device for self-authenticating identification of a user of the device including internal memory and processing within a substrate of the device and digitized tonal output for communicating with a remote tone bank for validation. The digitized... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7104502 | Ice detector for improved ice detection at near freezing condition An ice detector for providing a signal indicating ice formation includes a probe protruding into an airflow. The probe extends into the airflow from a strut. The strut has one or more features which allow the probe to accrete ice at a higher temperature than would c... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7091869 | Optoacoustic measuring arrangement and use thereof The measuring arrangement contains a measuring cell and a reference cell, respectively, and microphones assigned to these cells, to which microphones an electronic evaluation circuit is connected and in which a subtraction of the signals of the microphones takes pla... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7062125 | Prismatic reflection optical waveguide device A prismatic reflection optical waveguide device having an input and an output optical waveguide segments and a reflection interface provided therebetween apt to convey a light beam from one direction to another, wherein the light beam is conveyed by a single reflect... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7049596 | Method and apparatus for distinguishing materials An apparatus and method for optically detecting whether a substance is present at an inspection site on a base material based on light reflected from the inspection site. A light module generates light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength. A first ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7027153 | Dermoscopy epiluminescence device employing multiple color illumination sources The present invention provides a hand held dermoscopy epiluminescense device having a generally circular optical magnification lens incorporated into the housing of the device. A lighting array provides the light necessary for medical examination of the skin. The li... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7016026 | Method and apparatus for a downhole refractometer and attenuated reflectance spectrometer The invention relates to refractometry and attenuated reflectance spectrometry in a wellbore environment. Specifically, it pertains to a robust apparatus and method for measuring refractive index of fluids along a continuum (rather than in steps), and for measuring ... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7006223 | Dermoscopy epiluminescence device employing cross and parallel polarization The present invention is a hand held dermoscopy epiluminescense device with a magnification lens and an associated ring of luminous diodes powered by an on board battery. Every other diode in the ring operates as first and second light sources. The even diodes are f... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6999172 | Optical apparatus An optical apparatus that measures a polarization dependent characteristic of a measured object includes a light source for emitting non-linearly polarized light in an extreme ultraviolet region or an X-ray region, and a rotary polarizer for reflecting the light emi... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6979119 | Sensor system and method for sensing in an elevated-temperature environment, with protection against external heating Sensing in an elevated-temperature environment is provided using a sensor system having a sensor housing with an exterior wall with a window-support region having an outwardly facing external face, and a window through the window-support region of the exterior wall ... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6977597 | Vehicle mounted travel surface and weather condition monitoring system A system and apparatus for detecting and evaluating surface conditions on a road surface and atmospheric conditions simultaneously from a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of deposited material on a road surface, a detect... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6961445 | Image processing warning system A method and apparatus for capturing and processing images from a portion of a system in order to detect a warning condition for providing warnings to users or operators of the system. One or more image capture devices capable of capturing an image, for example, a c... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6954146 | Method for determining a state of a road during the driving mode of a motor vehicle In a method for determining the state of a road during driving of a motor vehicle, the sound which is generated when a vehicle tire rolls on an underlying surface is sensed. A frequency signal is determined by means of a sound level signal which describes the sound,... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6944908 | Device for keeping optical elements clean, in particular covers for sensors or cameras, in motor vehicles The invention relates to a device for keeping optical elements clean in motor vehicles, especially sensor or camera covers. This is done according to the present invention by applying a directed stream of gas, for example a stream of air, to the transparent cover in... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6908770 | Fluid based analysis of multiple analytes by a sensor array A system for the rapid characterization of multi-analyte fluids, in one embodiment, includes a light source, a sensor array, and a detector. The sensor array is formed from a supporting member into which a plurality of cavities may be formed. A series of chemically ... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6903824 | Laser sensitometer An optical apparatus. More particularly, a laser sensitometer. The apparatus comprises: a polarized light source adapted to provide a Gaussian beam of light directed along an optical axis; a rotatable polarizer disposed in the optical axis adapted to vary an intensi... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6753778 | Orientation/time sensing alarm device for golf club An orientation/time sensing alarm device is provided, which comprises an orientation sensor, a time sensor connecting to the orientation sensor, and an alarm connecting to the orientation sensor and the time sensor, forming a circuitry. The time sensor is activated ... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6737977 | Fire detector unit An improved fire detector unit has a plastic base defining a smoke chamber for detection of a smoke density in terms of light scattering due to the smoke particles in the smoke chamber. The base carries a circuit board mounting a light emitting element, a light rece... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6654484 | Secure control data entry system An identification system for use in controlling the operation of a device comprises comparing fingerprint data with stored data to identify both an individual and which of the individual's fingerprints has been input, and using the identity of the individ... | 11/25/2003 |
| 6529132 | Device for monitoring an enclosure, in particular the hold of an aircraft This device comprises at least one sensor of a CCD camera of very short spectral band lying between 0.4 μm and 1.1 μm, fitted with an infrared filter eliminating the spectral band lying between around 0.4 μm and 0.8 μm, this sensor being associated wi... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6166657 | Imminent icing condition enunciator An imminent icing condition detector employs an infrared sensor with a focusing element to receive ambient infrared energy from a surface, particularly a road surface, and the output of the sensor is processed to provide an indication of the likelihood of... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6166645 | Road surface friction detector and method for vehicles A road surface friction detector for use in a vehicle. The detector provides information regarding the integrity of a road surface to an operator of the vehicle. The detector is made up of three main parts, a sensor unit, a display unit and a microprocess... | 12/26/2000 |
