Wabtec Holding Corporation

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation

Trutek Research, Inc.

Monaghan Medical Corporation

Nortgate Research, Inc.

Robert Urman

Alfred G Brisson

James W Citta

Christopher Nowacki

Jerry R Grychowski

Frank Cammarata, Iii

Warren D Roddy

Cristopher Nowacki

A method and apparatus of recognizing the presence of a passenger in front of a door of a transit vehicle comprises directing an ultrasound transmitter/receiver at a volume of space adjacent the door, emitting an ultrasound pulse into the empty volume, recording and integrating intensity of the echoes and storing the integrated value as a standard value, repeatedly emitting an ultrasound pulse into the volume, and comparing the integrated values to the standard value.

Ultrasonic passenger detection

A two-wire adapter circuit comprises a current shunt monitor and a circuit for sensing an abrupt change in the output of the current shunt monitor, a power supply, and a two-wire electrical conduit connecting the power supply to a load via the current shunt monitor, the circuit for sensing the abrupt change in the output of the current shunt monitor configured to output a defined digital signal on a third wire upon sensing the abrupt change.

Two-wire adapter

A passenger door open request switch for use in a multi-passenger, mass-transit vehicle. A wireless, powerless switch sensor which includes an RFID reader, a circuit located remotely from the RFID reader that is formed by connecting an RFID antenna with a control/storage element, and a switch. The switch is connected between the antenna and the storage element in such a way as to either enable or disable the antenna. This allows the system to be configured to monitor the status of the switch.

Wireless powerless switch sensor

An apparatus and method for measuring a directional attitude of a driven load in respect to a level plane is employed to adjust initial driving power requirements in order to overcome the effects of such attitude. The apparatus employs a sensor for measuring the attitude, a processor for comparing the measurement against a threshold and a driver for altering the initial driving power requirements. Additional sensors for measuring shock, vibration, and temperature levels that the load is subjected to prior to the movement may be employed for calibration of the directional attitude measuring sensor or for further adjustment of the initial driving power requirements.

Attitude detection method and apparatus for initial motion control

A capacitance based switch device employs an electric field imaging device electrically coupled via an electrical conductor to a conductive electrode member that is attached to the door or any other suitable surface. Such electric field imaging device generates a sine wave which is transmitted to the conductive electrode member and produces a surrounding electrical field. Any human body part which enters such electrical field will create a capacitance load due to the body being grounded to a surface. Reduction in distance between the body part and the conductive electrode will increase the capacitance and will decrease the voltage intermediate the resistor and conductive electrode which is an inverse function of the capacitance. Such change in voltage will be detected by a microcontroller by comparing voltages at each end of the resistor and the change exceeding a predetermined threshold will be associated with an output control signal.

Capacitance activated switch device

An illuminated touch switch has a touch sensitive area and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a predetermined pattern. The touch switch includes a first rigid circuit board with a first electrical conductor and a second flexible circuit board with a second electrical conductor separated by a spacer of a predetermined thickness. Both conductors are aligned with the touch sensitive area and are coupled from the applied pressure providing an output signal. Light emitting diodes illuminate a single color light to indicate an enabled condition of the touch sensitive area.

Illuminated touch switch

A flow device is provided for sensing air flow and includes a body having at the opposite ends thereof coaxial bores. Counterbores extend inwardly from the coaxial bores and are interconnected by a restricted bore having lateral bores extending from opposite ends thereof to provide a pneumatic pressure drop. The bottom portions of the respective counterbores are relieved to provide a pair of troughs for water collection outside of the normal air flow area so that water can accumulate for an extended period of time before interferring with pressure drop readings.

Flow device with water trap

A rate volume monitor includes a sensor which provides an output upon inspiration and upon expiration. If inspiration follows expiration too closely a computer operates an alarm to provide warning that air entrapment or 'stacking' may occur in the patient's lungs.

Circuit providing indication of air entrapment in patient's lungs

A variable threshold circuit is provided for use with a rate volume monitor. A series analog switch is controlled by a comparator which is biased by a voltage divider. During low rate exhalation by a patient the bias keeps the analog switch biased against conduction, and noise is suppressed. When exhalation is at a high rate a resistor is switched by a second analog switch into parallel with one of the resistors of the voltage divider to change the bias to the comparator, and thus to render the first analog switch conductive. At this time the high level of the exhilation signal masks any noise.

Variable threshold for rate volume monitor

A drift compensating circuit cooperates with an air-pressure-to voltage transducer. The first input of a comparison circuit is connected to the transducer, while a reference voltage is connected to the second input. The reference voltage is provided by an up/down counter and a digital to analog converter. The comparison circuit has an output connected to the up/down counter to cause the counter to count up or down. The counter is enabled at predetermined intervals.

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Schaumburg, IL, United States of America

Robert Urman