Industrial Technology Research Institute

Norm Pacific Automation Corp.

Jia-Ming Shyu

Inn-Ming Chen

Chih-Li Chang

Yunghsueh Chao

Ting-Yao Chen

Wei-Chiang Lin

Meng-Feng Li

Djang-Jer Lee

Chung C Ku

Min-Lee Chen

Yunn-Chiang Kung

Tian-Quey Lee

Ching-Wang Chuang

Jung-Lung Liu

James H Wang

Kuoan Huang

A method and an apparatus for the transference of traffic information among vehicles and for assisting navigating the vehicles. The traffic information of the vehicles, such as the speed and the route and direction, is remotely transmitted to each other during passing, via communication devices mounted on each of the vehicles. The apparatus comprises sensors to detect the direction and the displacement of the vehicle; a microcomputer to recognize the position of the vehicle by referring the detected direction and displacement to a digitized map; a receiver to receive the passing vehicle's traffic information to be processed by the microcomputer; a transmitter to transmit the traffic information to the passing vehicle; and a navigation unit in the microcomputer to generate navigation information and indicate the traffic information of vehicles ahead is transmitted to a receiving vehicle in an indirect manner via a passing vehicle.

Traffic information inter-vehicle transference and navigation system

A combination fire alarm/air conditioner, which can immediately detect a fire. The device includes a temperature-sensor and/or a smoke-sensor installed in the room-side air inlet of the air conditioner. Signals generated by the sensor are received by a microcomputer which monitors them based on a threshold and a rate of change of the signals. When the rate of change of the signals exceeds the threshold, the microcomputer produces signals which set off an alarm.

Fire alarm device accompanied with air conditioner

An interior atmosphere control system contains a group of sensors to detect/measure indoor and outdoor air temperature, humidity, air pressure, oxygen content, carbon-dioxide content, static electric charge, indoor wall temperature, sound and light. These measured results, through a signal transfer interface, are sent to a microcomputer which also accepts a user's command as input data through a user's interface. The microcomputer, based on a monitor/control program and data prestored in its memory unit, the sensed values, and the user's command, will then execute the necessary calculation, comparison and decision, and output adequate time variant control signals, through an output interface, to actuate a series of actuators to adjust the indoor temperature, humidity, air pressure, oxygen content, carbon-dioxide content, wind speed, static electric charge, magnetic field, sound, odor, and light which will generate different atmospheric modes, for example, to make people feel comfortable, refreshed, awakened, energetic, sleepy, uneasy, or even frightened. Above all, these feelings are promoted on the basis of the natural balance of human body, such as heat release and perspiration, by adjusting, the room temperature, humidity, wind speed and other factors.

Interior atmosphere control system

A device for modulating and controlling the level of luminosity output by a lighting facility. The modulation may be of average current or voltage. The device modulates electrical power in a cyclical manner for input to the lighting facility, so that the resulting modulation of the luminosity output serves to exercise the eyes of persons exposed thereto. The average luminosity, and the amplitude and period of modulation can be set and adjusted by the user. The rate of modulation is sufficiently slow that the level of change of luminosity is accommodated by human eyes and is imperceptible through the eyes of persons exposed thereto. In one embodiment, an illuminance sensor is provided to read the actual illumination of a lighted object. The values of the illumination so read are fed back in the device to adjust the luminosity of the lighting facility, so that the object is illuminated in the desired cyclical manner.

Automatic luminosity cyclical modulation device for a lighting facility

An apparatus for controlling air-exchange and pressure conditions in an air-conditioned room by opening and closing ducts and operating fans. The apparatus provides required indoor air pressure, such as a positive pressure for preventing dust from entering a room, or a cyclically modulated pressure in specific modes for achieving special atmospheric effects, such as to improve the spirits of occupants or to expel insects. The rate of change of the indoor pressure relative to the outdoor pressure can be measured in order to detect the degree of airtightness of the room. A warning signal is triggered when an abnormal condition of airtightness occurs, so that users may take steps to minimize unnecessary air-exchange, reduce energy consumption, and increase efficiency for air filtering and air conditioning.

Apparatus for controlling air-exchange and pressure and detecting

An air conditioning apparatus having a condenser fan, an evaporator fan, a compressor, at least two motor for driving the fans and the compressor, and being responsive to vibration of the apparatus to control the speed of each motor to reduce the vibration. In its preferred embodiments, the apparatus performs a test to determine optimum speeds of the motors to minimize the vibration. The apparatus uses a microcomputer, operative during the test to change the speed of at least one of the motors to each of a plurality of different speed values within a predetermined speed range, and at least one vibration detector. The detector detects values of the vibration when the motors are operating at the different speed values. At the end of the test, the motors are controlled to operate at the speed value at which the vibration is minimized.

Noise control of air conditioner

An axial-flow fan-blade, with at least one profiled guide fin extending from the surface of each blade of the fan-blade, is able to control flow direction of the fluid and keep fluid flow speed stable; and, furthermore, offsets the centrifugal force (which is caused by rotation of the blade) with the centripetal force that is generated by pressure difference of the fluid flowing across both sides of each profiled guide fin. The fan blade minimizes turbulent flow, reduces noise generated by vibration of the blades, and increases rigidity of the blades.

Axial-flow fan-blade with profiled guide fins

A ventilation device, which comprises a sensor unit, a fan and control units to control on/off operation and the strength, temperature, humidity and directions of the wind or discharged air. The device can be applied to air conditioners, and ventilators. The sensor unit, monitoring the location and existence of human bodies within the ventilating area, enables the fan and the control units to be on or off while sensing the first person who comes into the area or the last person who leaves the area; and to adjust the strength and directions of the wind based on the location of the human bodies. The sensor unit, furthermore, can follow a specific human body and actuate the control units to provide needed wind based on his/her requirement. When the fan stops operating, all the openings of the ventilation device will shut so that the dust cannot get into the ventilation device.

Ventilation device adjusted and controlled automatically with movement

An oxygen generator accompanied with an air conditioner comprises a reservoir for collecting condensed water outside the evaporator, an electrolyzer for electrolizing the water from the reservoir to produce oxygen, and a controller for controlling the operation of the electrolyzer and providing suitable amount of oxygen into the room.

Air conditioner with oxygen generator

A multiplex heating system for measuring and regulating the temperature of a plurality of heating elements is disclosed. The heating system includes a plurality of heating elements, which also function as temperature sensing elements, that exhibit a known change in resistance as a function of temperature. The heating system further includes a power source, a control apparatus for regulating the respective heating power of each heating element, a measurement apparatus for measuring changes in resistance in the heating elements, and a plurality of switching arrangements. Each switching arrangement is coupled between one of the heating elements and, alternately, the control apparatus and the measurement apparatus, connecting the heating element to either the control apparatus or the measurement apparatus.

Multiplex heating system with temperature control

A heat-pump type cooling system is disclosed which can provide cooling immediately before the compressor begins to rotate. The system stores liquid refrigerant condensed from compressed high pressure vapor in a liquid container, and releases it, through a control valve, to an evaporator and a temporary vapor receiver, enabling the cooling power to be controlled independently of the rotation of the compressor, in accordance with the operation of the control valve and the evaporator.

Instant cooling system with refrigerant storage

An apparatus is provided for preventing a reference car from colliding with a car in front of or behind the reference car by monitoring traffic conditions in front of and behind the reference car and by providing warning and control signals. The apparatus includes distance sensors for measuring the distance between the reference car and a car or any object in front or behind the reference car, a speed sensor for measuring the speed of the reference car, and a micro computer for computing safety distances between cars according to the aforesaid distance and speed measured to operate related actuators for generating warning signals to drivers of the reference car, the front car, and the rear car. The apparatus also provides a method for preventing a reference car from possible collision with other cars or objects.

Vehicle anti-collision system

A device for sensing the emissions from an idling engine and automatically adjusting the engine so as to minimize pollutants in the exhaust. The device measures the composition of gas emitted and the engine speed at idle and compares the measured values to predetermined values. When differences occur between the measured and predetermined values, an actuator is signaled which adjusts the position of an air-regulating screw and an idling screw in the carburetor until the measured values are acceptable.

Automatically adjusting the emissions from an idling engine

A device to be mounted on a car for assisting a driver to make a parallel parking or a perpendicular parking, comprises displacement-sensing devices to measure specific distance that the car moves, obstacle-sensing devices for sensing the position of obstacles around a car, and a microcomputer that can, in accordance with the driver's instructions and the data received from aforesaid displacement-sensing devices and obstacle-sensing devices, generate various signals to tell the driver to drive the car forwards, to stop the car, to turn the car left or right, or to back the car so as to park the car along a specific path, further more, the microcomputer may generate an output signal to control the steering mechanism the transmission, the accelerator, and the brake system for backing the car into a parking space automatically.

Automatic parking device for automobile

An automatic working vehicular system comprises a guiding signal device and an automatic working vehicle which has a power source, driving devices, detecting devices and control devices. By means of a guide wire device for limiting the operational area, the vehicle can start at a preset time, travel from a position in a garage to a specific operation site, complete the required range of operation along a parallel reciprocating course of travel, and return to the garage. The vehicle also comprises devices to control the garage door, detect the fuel level, return itself to the garage when raining, adapt to load variations, change speed automatically, warn moving obstacles, detour obstacles, and prevent its theft.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu Hsien, Taiwan

Jia-Ming Shyu