U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

National University of Singapore

Kok Klong Yap

Boon C Ler

Godwin Dirk Zwanenburg

Swee G Lim

Bernardus F R I Wilkens

Lim: Swee G

Hong W C Tse

Vikram Srinivasan

Heng S Neo

Mehul Motani

Singh Kaldip

A system and method for searching physical objects is described and claimed. The system may include one or more tags, each tag being disposed on one associated object; one or more substations, each substation arranged for communication with tags located within a range around each substation; and one or more base stations, each base station arranged for communication with substations located within a range around each base station. An interrogation engine may reside in each base station for interrogating, in response to a search query, the substations within the range around each base station, to determine whether a search object of the search query is within the range around the respective substations.

System and method for searching physical objects

Automatic shut-off and indication device for an electric heating appliance and electric pressing iron comprising such a device

A steam iron with an indicator for indicating calcification is provided in which the iron is provided with a timer for measuring an accumulated time of use of the steam iron, and an actuator for activating the indicator when the accumulated time exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The timer measures the time of use of the steam iron, the accumulated time of use being indicative of the amount of scale deposited in the steam chamber and steam vents. When the accumulated time of use exceeds a threshold the calcification indicator is activated to warn the user that a self-clean action is to be performed. The time of use measurement may be obtained by accumulating the time of use only during steam generation, or it may be obtained by correcting the accumulated time of use with a weighting factor which depends on the steaming rate. The weighting factor may be made dependent on the hardness of the water to be steamed, or it is further possible to make the threshold level for activating the calcification indicator dependent on the hardness of the water.

Steam iron with calcification indication

A personal-care apparatus comprises a load (LD) and a switch (SW), which load (LD) and which switch (SW) are coupled in series between a first (1) and a second (2) supply terminal for receiving an alternating voltage, the personal-care apparatus further comprising a rectifying circuit (RC) for converting the alternating voltage into a direct voltage, and a safety circuit (SC), which is coupled between a third (3) and a fourth (4) supply terminal for receiving the direct voltage and which comprises a capacitive sensor (CS) for the detection of the presence of a part of a human body in the proximity of the personal-care apparatus, the safety circuit being adapted to control the switch (SW) in response to said detection.

Personal-care apparatus comprising a capacitive on/off switch

A vacuum cleaner is provided which comprises a housing (100) provided with an electric motor (110) and with an electronic circuit (120) for controlling the electric motor (110), and a suction tube (200) coupled to the housing (100) and comprising a grip (210) with a remote control circuit (220) for controlling the electronic circuit (120), which control circuit (220), in order to provide ease of operation without any disturbances, comprises a capacitive sensor (CS) for detecting the presence of a part of a human body in the proximity of the grip (210), which detection enables the electronic circuit (120) to be controlled by the remote control circuit (220).

Vacuum cleaner comprising a suction tube and suction tube provided with

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Singapore, Singapore

Kok Klong Yap