Other

International Communication Systems Corporation

Ling-Yuan Tseng

David Tseng

Sheng-Wen Hong

Min-Chih Hsuan

A battery recharging apparatus is specifically configured to enable a customer to exchange a discharged or partially discharged battery for a fully charged replacement. Operator-assisted and entirely automatic vending versions are disclosed. In all embodiments, a controller causes a multiple port charger to recharge one or more batteries electrically connected thereto, preferably using a time multiplexing scheme. In the operator-assisted embodiment, an attendant inputs information concerning the customer, the vehicle, or the battery, and accounting-related functions are carried out through an interface to an electric cash register or some other payment-related facility. In the automated alternative of the invention, the apparatus is entirely self-contained within an enclosure including an access panel or window through which a user may deposit a battery in turn for a fully charged unit. Alternatively, the user may simply purchase a new, fully charged battery or battery pack. In this automated version a control panel accepts customer related information such as vehicle number, battery number or license plate number, the control panel further including means to accept a payment, whether in cash or through a reader of a standard credit card or card dedicated to the use of the invention. The vending machine is preferably constructed in modular form such that additional customer access areas may be disposed around the carousel so as to service more than one individual at a time.

Rechargeable battery vending apparatus

A module containing digital compression and decompression circuitry is used in conjunction with a system whereby a video program may be communicated over a telephone line to an RF broadcaster to be received by individuals at remote locations equipped with one of the modules. In the preferred embodiment, the RF transmitter is an FM transmitter, and the video broadcasts are modulated onto a subcarrier, such as an SCA subcarrier. The module has various other inputs and outputs adapted for connection to other video-related devices and/or a personal computer which may be used for control or program production. A configuration is also described whereby multiple modules may be used in conjunction with a conference control module enabling multiple participants to view one another as part of a gathering such as a classroom instruction situation.

Video communication controller utilizing multiple data channels to

Video communication controller using FM sideband transmission

In an electrically powered vehicle having an inductive pick-up configured to couple electrical power from a series of aligned and spaced-apart charging pads associated with a road surface, methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the lateral positioning of the pick-up as well as the gap between the pick-up and the charging pads as the vehicle moves along a road surface. Control of the lateral positioning and gap may be provided either separately or in combination. In the preferred embodiment, the pick-up is pivotally connected to the vehicle through an extension arm, the pivotal connection including a first position wherein vertical positioning of the pick-up is power controlled toward and away from the road surface, and a second position wherein airflow past the pick-up maintains the positioning of the pick-up relative to the road surface. In terms of lateral positioning, the apparatus further includes a camera capable of sensing the charging pads as the vehicle moves, and apparatus in operative communication with the camera for moving the pick-up side-to-side as the vehicle moves in response to the position of the charging pads as sensed by the camera.

Electric vehicle pick-up position control

A combined parking meter/battery charger station includes a detachable remote receiver to inform the vehicle operator of charge-level status and other information. Upon sufficient payment or credit, the remote receiver is released so that it may be carried away from the charging station. The receiver includes a visual or audible indicator which may keep the operator apprised of charge status, time remaining on the meter or account information. The audible alert may be used to indicate a full charge or to warn that little time is remaining, or other conditions. Communication from the station to the receiver may either be directly from the station or, alternatively, a station may communicate with a central office associated with a plurality of the stations and broadcast may be made therefrom.

Combined parking meter and electric-vehicle battery charger with remote

In a pipeline fluid tagging system, an RF transmitter enclosed within a sealed housing is immersed in one or more of the fluids being transported, and transmits information pertaining to that fluid, such as its type, destination and quantity. One or more receivers, preferably located around the joints between lengths of the pipeline receives the RF signals and communicates them to a data collection facility either by a separate RF transmitter or along land lines. To avoid damage and wear, the transmitter housing is formed into a shape that minimizes contact with the inner wall of the pipeline. This shape is used in conjunction with passive and active mechanical stabilization techniques to further ensure that the transmitter maintains its orientation along the longitudinal center line of the pipe.

Pipeline fluid travel monitoring system

A configurable highway divider system features a plurality of markers associated with a lane of traffic, each marker including one or more indicators observable by a vehicle operator traveling on the lane associated with the markers, and a indicator changing device that can be mounted to a vehicle, enabling the vehicle to visit and interact with the markers and change the indicators for the purpose of redirecting traffic flow. In a preferred embodiment, the indicators use reflective color surfaces, and an externally-engageable member which is mechanically linked to each indicator. In an alternative embodiment, the visual attribute displayed by the markers do not change, but, instead, an alternative indicator changing device is used to turn each marker about a substantially vertical axis either with a rotatable drum/disk combination or with a magnetic actuator. Further alternative embodiments incorporate the use of acoustic, optical and thermal interactions between the marker and the changing device.

Configurable highway divider system

An electric vehicle having a non-metallic body portion and equipped with an inductive charging coil for charging the vehicle's battery while the electric vehicle is moving includes a magnetic flux barrier attached to the non-metallic body portion and encompassing a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle for resisting penetration of magnetic flux into the passenger compartment. The inductive charging coil may be formed of wire wound around the body of the electric vehicle or, alternatively, may be formed of stripes etched on the body surface or of flexible adhesive conductors.

Electric vehicle having body-wound inductive coil and EMR shielding

Force-releasable elements are used in association with imprinted numerical values of weight to provide a visual indication of the weight of the contents of a receptacle. The system is extremely easy to manufacture and highly affordable, thus enabling it to be used with disposable items such as trash bags. In one embodiment, the numerical weight values are arranged as bands about the girth of the bag, with the imprinted material being gathered in and covered with a force-releasable strip of material. Each imprinted band and its accompanying force-releasable element are associated with a different value of weight, so that when the receptacle is lifted, a user may ascertain an approximate value of the weight of the contents by referring to the indicia associated with released and un-released elements. In alternative embodiments, the force-releasable elements and indicia being positioned along a cord of a strap which may be tied onto the receptacle or provided with it.

Receptacle weight indicator

A battery of an electric vehicle is inductively charged while the electrical vehicle is moving, using a magnetic field along different portions of an extended linear distance and an inductive coil mounted on an electric vehicle, by having the electric vehicle, as it traverses the different portions of the extended linear distance, move within the influence of the magnetic field. An apparatus senses progress of the electric vehicle along the extended linear distance. The apparatus produces the magnetic field by a power switch bank connected to an array of inductive coils.

Inductive charging of a moving electric vehicle's battery

A parking meter and an electric charging meter are combined in a single apparatus. The combined charging/parking meter may be coin-operated or may be operated using an information-bearing card such as a cash card, a debit card or an IC card. In particular, the charging/parking meter includes a device for receiving and verifying a medium of payment, a device for selecting and visibly indicating some combination of parking time and electric power to be had in exchange for the medium of payment, and a charging device for connecting to and supplying power to an electric car charger inlet. The charger/parking meter may further include a fast-charge setting device for causing the charging device to operate in a fast-charge mode when an amount of parking time selected is insufficient in accordance with a normal charging mode to supply an amount of electric power selected. In addition, the charging/parking meter may further include a current limiting device for preventing overcharging and a communication device for connecting the charging/parking meter to a remote installation. The meter may be used to read various information from a vehicle and send the information to a government entity.

Electric charging/parking meter

A system for maintaining the security of information transmitted between facsimile machines includes a transmitting/receiving facsimile machine for receiving input sheets having an encryption zone; an image sensor for detecting the encryption zones; an encryption device for scrambling messages that appear within an encryption zone. Further the system includes means for sensing encryption zones on transmitted messages and for decoding messages that have been scrambled within the encryption zones.

Facsimile message encryption system

A facsimile signal control system adapted to be connected between a facsimile machine and a telephone line, comprises an RF signal receiver adapted to receive and demodulate RF signals from an antenna, a change-over switch, a first port for connection to a facsimile machine, and a second port for connection to a telephone line and an interface circuit. A control circuit is connected to apply the demodculated facsimile signals from the signal receiver to the interface circuit. The control means further comprises means for controlling the change-over switch to selectively connect the first port to either the second port or the interface circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Ling-Yuan Tseng