Other

Wi-lan Inc.

Blaine Clifford Readler

Timothy Leo Gallagher

Yair Bourlas

Sheldon I Gilbert

Frederick Wales Price

John Wiss

Stephen C Pollmann

Pranesh Sinha

Sharon Akler

Eli Arviv

Rein S Teder

Ell Arviv

portable recording devices digitize audio signals and store the resulting digital audio samples locally. A master device periodically communicates a time marker and index value. Upon receiving a time marker from the master device, the recording devices latch their sample recording address occurring at that time, and store this latched address along with the received index value. Since the same index value is associated with recorded sample addresses occurring at the same time across all units, the shared index value provides a coordination means to later align the individual recordings, emulating a central multi-track recorder. Optionally, one of the portable recording devices can assume the additional role of master.

Distributed coordinated recording

A water sterilizer powered by solar energy is described. A first check valve allows an increment of untreated water to flow from a reservoir into a boiling chamber where it is heated to boiling, and thus sterilized, by focused solar energy. A second check valve with a higher cracking pressure than the first valve remains closed, holding the increment of untreated water in the boiling chamber until the pressure of steam forces the second valve open, thus evacuating the chamber of now-sterilized water. Once the chamber is evacuated, the second valve automatically closes, and the first valve automatically opens, allowing another incremental sterilizing cycle to begin.

Solar sterilization apparatus for incremental boiling

A method for controlling detached lighting units uses source light of a capable flashlight to communicate information. The capable flashlight encodes an ID Tag in modulated light, and the detached lighting units recognize the specific ID Tag and responds, for example by activating and creating illumination. A user can illuminate selected areas by shining the beam of the flashlight on detached lighting units to selectively activate them, and since the detached lighting units only respond to the encoded light, unintended activation is avoided. In addition to the encoded ID Tag, mode information can be included such that the detached lighting units can respond in a number of ways, such as selected periods of activation. Stored ID Tags can be transferred and thus shared using the same modulated light. ID Tags can be randomly re-assigned, and the new value shared among other flashlights and detached lighting units, creating a coordinated set.

Encoded light-activated illumination

Apparatus, system and method for synchronizing one or more clocks across a communication link. A slave clock may be synchronized to a master clock by means of a synchronization signal sent from the master to the slave clock side of the link. The synchronization signal may be an expected signal pattern sent at intervals expected by the slave side. The slave clock may correlate received signals with a representation of the expected synchronization signal to produce a correlation sample sequence at a first sample rate which is related as n times the slave clock rate. The synchronization signal receipt time indicated by the correlation sample sequence may be refined by interpolating the correlation sample sequence around a best correlation sample to locate a best interpolation at an interpolation resolution smaller than the sample resolution. The best interpolation may in turn be further refined by estimating between interpolator outputs adjacent to the best interpolation output. The synchronization signal receipt time thus determined is compared to the expected time based upon the slave clock, which is adjusted until the times match. After initialization, all slave clock errors are preferably accumulated to prevent long-term slip between the slave and master clocks. Formerly independent master and slave clocks synchronized across the communication link constitute a noncommon clock which may be compared on each side of the link to secondary independent clocks, and the secondary independent clocks may then be separately synchronized by adjusting one to have the same difference from its local noncommon clock as the secondary clock on the other side of the link has from its local noncommon clock.

Synchronizing clocks across a communication link

A slave clock may be synchronized to a master clock by means of a synchronization signal sent from the master to the slave clock side of the link. The synchronization signal may be an expected signal pattern sent at intervals expected by the slave side. The slave clock may correlate received signals with a representation of the expected synchronization signal to produce a correlation sample sequence at a first sample rate which is related as n times the slave clock rate. A best interpolation may in turn be further refined by estimating between interpolator outputs adjacent to the best interpolation output. The synchronization signal receipt time thus determined is compared to the expected time based upon the slave clock, which is adjusted until the times match. The best interpolation may in turn be further refined by estimating between interpolator outputs adjacent to the best interpolation output.

Method and apparatus for simulating an operating television for the purpose of deterring potential intruders by providing the appearance that one or more occupants are at home. Realistic simulation of a television is accomplished via perceived random combinations, amplitudes, colors, and durations of television program scene modes, these scene modes comprised of fades, swells, flicks, and static periods. Efficient, reliable, and inexpensive super-bright LEDs serve as light sources.

Security television simulator

Method and apparatus for simulating an operating television for the purpose of deterring potential intruders by providing the appearance that one or more occupants are at home. Realistic simulation of a television is accomplished via perceived random combinations, amplitudes, colors, and durations of television program scene modes, these scene modes comprised of fades, swells, flicks, static periods, and low frequency noise. Color shifts, both subtle and dramatic, effectively emulate true television output. Efficient, reliable, and inexpensive super-bright LEDs serve as light sources.

Security television simulator with realistic emulation of television output

One or more clocks are synchronized across a communication link using a synchronization signal sent from a master to a slave clock. The synchronization signal may be an expected signal pattern sent at intervals expected by the slave. The slave clock may correlate received signals with a representation of the expected synchronization signal to produce a correlation sample sequence at a first sample rate. The synchronization signal receipt time is compared to the expected time and the slave clock is adjusted until the times match. Master and slave clocks synchronized across the communication link constitute a noncommon clock which may be compared on each side of the link to secondary independent clocks. The secondary independent clocks may be separately synchronized by adjusting one to have the same difference from its local noncommon clock as the secondary clock on the other side of the link has from its local noncommon clock.

A very reliable alarm system is comprised of transceiver node devices interconnected via infrared links forming a secure perimeter, whereby each transceiver node in the perimeter receives an infrared transmission from a previous transceiver node, and itself transmits an infrared signal to the next transceiver node in the perimeter. If a break of an infrared link occurs, such as would happen if an intruder enters the perimeter area, an indication of the break is communicated around to a base unit device either by each subsequent node device inhibiting its infrared transmission, or changing its transmission to that of a special alarm signal. Upon receiving an indication of a perimeter break the base unit device alerts alarm signaling devices such as audible or visual alarm indicators. Each transceiver node device is able to determine its position in the perimeter and, in one embodiment of the invention, the position information of the node device following an infrared link break is communicated around to the base unit device for presentation. During normal, non-breached operation, each transceiver node device can use its known perimeter location to generate a unique infrared transmission so that a receiving unit is able to distinguish the previous unit's transmission from others in the perimeter. As an aid to initial setup, the transceiver node devices can be placed into a calibration mode in which the user is provided visual indication as to the alignment of the transmitted infrared beam from one transceiver node with the infrared receiver of another node. In a different arrangement, by initiating the linked infra-red transmissions from source nodes separate from the base unit, and including multiple infra-red receivers on some link nodes, non-enclosed boundaries can be protected from breaches.

Infra-red perimeter alarm

Method and apparatus for disabling the operation of a computer keyboard with respect to depressed keys as they are observed by the computer's CPU. Entry into, and exit from, the keyboard disabled state is made via specific, simultaneous combinations of depressed keys. In one embodiment of the invention a new software routing ( ) is added to the existing keyboard software ( ) to recognize specific, simultaneous combinations of depressed keys and alternately inhibit or allow transmissions from the keyboard to the computer CPU in response to depressed keyboard keys. In an alternate embodiment an apparatus ( ) is added between an existing keyboard and the computer to similarly recognize specific, simultaneous combinations of depressed keys via a lock detection function ( ) which alternately inhibits or allows transmission of keyboard clock ( ) and data ( ) signals, thus preventing depressed keyboard keys from being recognized by the computer CPU.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Blaine Clifford Readler