35results about How to "Conserving charge" patented technology

A flashing warning light apparatus (10) for warning motorists in oncoming traffic that an object such as a car is stopped near the highway ahead. The apparatus (10) includes a housing (24) with an array of lights (12) on the front and possibly also the rear faces. Sensors (14) front and back sense oncoming traffic. A switch (36) allows the user to cause the arrays of lights (12) to flash continuously or only when oncoming traffic is sensed. The device may be powered by the car battery through a cigarette lighter adapter (34), dry cell batteries (28) or a solar cell (44).

Disclosed is a coin-free retail business management system and method. The method comprises reading a customer identification into a business management system, retrieving a first value previously saved under the customer identification; comparing the first value to a second value from a present transaction amount, the second value being a non-billable fraction from the present transaction amount, that is less than the face value of a lowest-valued monetary bill; generating a third value that is an addition of the first and second values; and subtracting the addition less a non-billable fraction of the addition from the present transaction amount.

A navigation apparatus for use in a hybrid vehicle in which an engine and a drive motor are used in combination acquires a current SOC value of a battery, geometry of roads around the vehicle, gradient information, traffic information, learning information, and so forth. A travelable range of the vehicle after the battery is charged is calculated for each of a plurality of various charge times on the basis of the acquired information. The plurality of calculated travelable ranges is simultaneously displayed on a liquid crystal display. It is thus possible to display a minimum charge time required to travel to a destination in a manner easily understandable to a user.

A communication network switch system, comprising: a first phone number database accessed by a cable telephony network service provider; a second phone number database accessed by an internet service provider; a plurality of communication network switch devices conducting audio and / or data communications therebetween through a cable telephony network or an internet, the communication network switch devices switching audio and / or data communications between the cable telephony network or an internet telephony system and a short-range wireless communication network; and a plurality of mobile communication devices each of which including a long-range wireless network system transceiver module, a short-range wireless network system transceiver module and a switch device module. The communication network switch device includes a short-range wireless communication network transceiver module, a cable telephony network transceiver module, an internet telephony system drive module, a first switch module and a second switch module. The first switch module of the communication network switch device stores a communication number of a long-range wireless communication network of the mobile communication device and an assigned phone number of the switch device module in the cable telephony network in the first phone number database. The second switch module of the communication network switch device stores a communication number of a long-range wireless communication network of the mobile communication device and an IP address of the second switch module in the second phone number database.

A flashing warning light apparatus (10) for warning motorists in oncoming traffic that an object such as a car is stopped near the highway ahead. The apparatus (10) includes a housing (24) with an array of lights (12) on the front and possibly also the rear faces. Sensors (14) front and back sense oncoming traffic. A switch (36) allows the user to cause the arrays of lights (12) to flash continuously or only when oncoming traffic is sensed. The device may be powered by the car battery through a cigarette lighter adapter (34), dry cell batteries (28) or a solar cell (44).

An apparatus can receive and transfer data and energy between adjacent apparatus in a chain. Each apparatus comprises an input antenna for receiving an input signal which is tuned and impedance matched for a receiver and demodulator in a control circuit. The demodulated signal is provided as input to a transmitter module to create an output signal. The input signal is then impedance transformed to generate a sufficient voltage to energize a power supply which charges a battery. The input signal and the output signal can be a radio signal, a magnetic induction signal, or a combined radio and magnetic induction signal. A controller in the control circuit monitors the condition of the battery and power supply and controls a switch operable to selectively power parts of the apparatus dependently upon their monitored condition.

The invention relates to a method and system for connecting subscribers participating in several telecommunication networks under one telephone number. The invention is characterized in that the subscriber data are stored in at least one telecommunication network and made available to the other telecommunication networks on request. To this end the invention provides for at least one of the telecommunication networks to have a data bank shared by all participating telecommunication networks.

A navigator receives, through communication with a server, only such map information or locality information as is considered to be necessary, and stores it by overriding with it already used map information and locality information. Thus, the navigator, despite having a small storage capacity, is free from interruption of display. Receiving minimum needed information helps save the communication charge.

A network termination (NT) which is universally applicable and permits fair billing. The network termination (NT) according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a switching facility (DET, 1, 2, 3) whereby the interface (a / b, U) on the network side is switchable from an analog one (a / b) to a digital one (U). A subscriber who needs a digital interface, for example because he wants to have two B channels of the ISDN at his free disposal, can release a digital interface (U) or have it released. A subscriber who wants only an analog access can release an analog access or have it released. To accomplish this, the network termination (NT) contains a switch (3) and a detector (DET). The switching between analog access and digital access on the network side can be effected without replacement of the network termination (NT).

A communication network switch system, comprising: a first phone number database accessed by a cable telephony network service provider; a second phone number database accessed by an internet service provider; a plurality of communication network switch devices conducting audio and / or data communications therebetween through a cable telephony network or an internet, the communication network switch devices switching audio and / or data communications between the cable telephony network or an internet telephony system and a short-range wireless communication network; and a plurality of mobile communication devices each of which including a long-range wireless network system transceiver module, a short-range wireless network system transceiver module and a switch device module. The communication network switch device includes a short-range wireless communication network transceiver module, a cable telephony network transceiver module, an internet telephony system drive module, a first switch module and a second switch module. The first switch module of the communication network switch device stores a communication number of a long-range wireless communication network of the mobile communication device and an assigned phone number of the switch device module in the cable telephony network in the first phone number database. The second switch module of the communication network switch device stores a communication number of a long-range wireless communication network of the mobile communication device and an IP address of the second switch module in the second phone number database.

A method is provided for operating an oil supply for a combustion engine and / or a transmission system of a motor vehicle particularly with start / stop-automatic, comprises the steps, that a deceleration of the motor vehicle is detected, at least one status parameter, which correlates with the manner of the deceleration, is monitored, a future oil pressure of the oil supply is estimated based on the status parameter and the actual oil supply control strategy, and if the estimated future oil pressure is below a predetermined threshold of the oil pressure, an oil pump for filling an accumulator tank of the oil supply is activated. Since the accumulator tank is filled in advance of a possible automatic stop a sufficient high oil pressure, when the combustion engine is started again, is safeguarded, wherein the period of time for accomplishing the automatic stop is not lengthened. This leads to a reduction of the fuel consumption and the CO2-emissions of the combustion engine without dealing with a too low oil pressure at the start of the combustion engine.

An apparatus can receive and transfer data and energy between adjacent apparatus in a chain. Each apparatus comprises an input antenna for receiving an input signal which is tuned and impedance matched for a receiver and demodulator in a control circuit. The demodulated signal is provided as input to a transmitter module to create an output signal. The input signal is then impedance transformed to generate a sufficient voltage to energize a power supply which charges a battery. The input signal and the output signal can be a radio signal, a magnetic induction signal, or a combined radio and magnetic induction signal. A controller in the control circuit monitors the condition of the battery and power supply and controls a switch operable to selectively power parts of the apparatus dependently upon their monitored condition.

A self-contained electro-mechanical device incorporating a hand crank wound main spring mechanism coupled with gears to a rotating magnet inside an iron core with wound copper wire for the purpose of generating electricity. An external AC adaptor can use the generator as a motor to wind the main spring without the need to use the hand crank. An internal electronic circuit is connected to the motor / generator and mechanically coupled using a unique solenoid and clutch mechanism to prevent the main spring from turning until an external load is detected. When packaged in the form of two standard C or D size batteries this invention can be installed into devices currently using electro-chemical batteries. An internal LED light enables the device to be used as a self-contained flashlight. A mini USB connector is incorporated for charging cell phones and powering numerous devices compatible with USB power.

A high voltage generating circuit is disclosed. In the high voltage generating circuit a boost node is precharged and boosted by a plurality of pump circuits and then discharged to an output terminal. Where a voltage apparent at the boost node is smaller than a power supply voltage, the voltage apparent at the boost node is elevated to the power supply voltage. Where the voltage apparent at the boost node is larger than the power supply voltage, a current path is prevented from forming between the boost node and the power supply voltage so as to maintain the voltage apparent at the boost node.

A CMOS switching circuit that includes a charge reservoir and a multiplexer connected to the charge reservoir. The multiplexer receives control signals from a delay line and a control signal line, and it delivers a switching signal to an output terminal. A first set of signals delivered to the control terminals of the multiplexer causes the charge reservoir to deliver charge to the output terminal, and a second set of signals delivered to the control terminals causes charging of the charge reservoir. With the charge reservoir, charge from falling signals is conserved and used to help rising signals at the output, reducing the power required to provide an output switching signal.

A system and a method for tracking a mobile telecommunication apparatus are provided. The system includes a first mobile telecommunication apparatus and a second mobile telecommunication apparatus. The first mobile telecommunication apparatus has a Global Positioning System (GPS) module to provide position information of the first mobile telecommunication apparatus. The second mobile telecommunication apparatus transmits a query instruction to the first mobile telecommunication apparatus by the Short Message Service (SMS). The first mobile telecommunication apparatus transmits the position information back to the second mobile telecommunication apparatus by the SMS in accordance with the query instruction.

A lens assembly for obtaining an image of an object is provided. The lens assembly includes a lens device receiving a reflected light from the object, a circuit board carrying thereon the lens device, a spacer mounted on the circuit board, and a sensor mounted on the spacer, receiving the reflected light from the lens device and converting the reflected light into a digital signal, thereby generating the image.

The method of facet-based searching of databases uses a facet ranking scheme for the searching and information retrieval from large scale, semantic databases, such as semantic biological databases. The method of facet-based searching of databases includes a ranking scheme for facet values to order them by their significance to a search query. The method of facet-based searching of databases also includes a subsequent scheme to present the user with a narrowed set of facet values when a large number of choices are available. In biological databases, for example, users are typically interested in finding average or extreme values. Thus, the user is able to narrow the set of facet values to values that are average, most common, least common and / or most / least significant in a search result. Additionally, the facets themselves can be ordered according to their usefulness in narrowing down the search.

A high voltage generating circuit is disclosed. In the high voltage generating circuit a boost node is precharged and boosted by a plurality of pump circuits and then discharged to an output terminal. Where a voltage apparent at the boost node is smaller than a power supply voltage, the voltage apparent at the boost node is elevated to the power supply voltage. Where the voltage apparent at the boost node is larger than the power supply voltage, a current path is prevented from forming between the boost node and the power supply voltage so as to maintain the voltage apparent at the boost node.

The present invention includes a pass transistor that limits current drawn from a circuit without using a series resistor and while drawing minimal current from an external supply. A current mirror of the output current is formed and compared to a reference current. When the output current increases, the mirror current increases proportionally, and when a threshold is crossed, the pass transistor is turned off. The pass transistor is biased from a charge pump that provides a voltage, a current from which a current mirror is drawn that controls the pass transistor.

Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for providing an alternative telephony service which automatically switches an originating call between a basic telephony network and an alternative telephony network, and a method of inducing a caller or a receiver to subscribe to a service having a cheaper call rate by notifying the caller or the receiver of an inverse call charge which can be reduced according to whether telephony communication is performed using a basic telephony or an alternative telephony. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically connect the telephony communication using the basic telephony or the alternative telephony according to a telephony communication condition of the receiver, and thus reduce inconvenience due to a direct control of the receiver and first select a telephony communication scheme having a cheap call rate. Further, it is possible to more actively save a telephony communication call charge by naturally recommending the subscription and the use of the alternative telephony service through the notification of the inverse call charge to a non-subscriber or a non-user of the alternative telephony service.

The method of detecting plastics material, in particular for a postal sorting installation through which articles pass, is intended to distinguish automatically between articles having an outside surface made of plastics material and articles having an outside surface made of paper. The method consists in moving each article past an electrostatic generator, and then past a member for evaluating electrostatic charge so as to compare the charge on the article with a reference value in order to detect whether the article is a plastics article or a paper article. The method increases the reliability of detection.

The present invention discloses a method and a relevant apparatus for achieving localized roaming of a mobile terminal. In the present invention, the mobile terminal sends real SIM card information to apply for a virtual SIM card to obtain a corresponding mobile terminal number of a roaming region, and registers user information to activate the virtual SIM card to serve as a calling party or a called party, so as to set up a called communication connection of a real SIM card. The mobile terminal applies for a virtual SIM card from a communication network of a roaming country to obtain a corresponding mobile terminal number of the roaming region through allocation, so that the user does not need to purchase a new SIM card in the roaming region, thereby saving the charges for purchasing the SIM card, ensuring a convenient operation and satisfying the demand of the user.

A lens assembly for obtaining an image of an object is provided. The lens assembly includes a lens device receiving a reflected light from the object, a circuit board carrying thereon the lens device, a spacer mounted on the circuit board, and a sensor mounted on the spacer, receiving the reflected light from the lens device and converting the reflected light into a digital signal, thereby generating the image.

A portable device includes a battery, electronic circuitry, and a peak current provider that provides a peak current to the electronic circuitry. Power is supplied to the portable device by connecting a battery to a peak current provider, charging the peak current provider, and supplying a current from the battery to electronic circuitry of the portable device, when a current required by the electronic circuitry is less than or equal to a preset value, and disconnecting the battery from the peak current provider and supplying a current from the peak current provider to the electronic circuitry, when a current required by the electronic circuitry is greater than the preset value.

In the Prior Art, a higher-ranking mechanism controls the standby circuiting of assemblies in 1:N redundancy, resulting in a system dynamics loss. The invention solves this problem in that the devices responsible for the standby circuiting events in the higher-ranking mechanism are relocated into a standby circuit assembly of the 1:N redundancy provided for standby circuiting purposes. The standby circuit events are thus controlled and monitored by the standby circuit assembly itself, relieving the higher-ranking mechanism of these tasks.