A ranging apparatus includes: a main body including a light emitting device which is configured to emit a light beam in a plurality of directions at different elevation angles and a light detector which detects reflected light of the light beam; a signal processing circuit; a vibration detector; a control circuit. The signal processing circuit generates distance data based on a signal outputted from the light detector. The vibration detector detects a change in attitude of the main body attributed to vibration in distinction from a change in attitude of the main body attributed to an inclination of a ground surface at a location where the main body is installed, and outputs a vibration signal indicating an amount of change in the attitude attributed to the vibration. The control circuit corrects a direction of emission of the light beam by the light emitting device based on the vibration signal.

A system for monitoring refuse containers includes a refuse container sensing device having a main body that defines an interior space, a pair of elongated magnets that are countersunk longitudinally along the length of the main body, a movement sensor that is positioned within the interior space of the main body, and a wireless communication unit. The system also includes a site owner server that is in wireless communication with the sensing device, and a container monitoring application for execution on a user interface device. Each of the site owner server and the user interface device are in selective communication with each other and the wireless communication unit of the sensing device to receive alarm notifications generated in response to detected movement by the movement sensor.

A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.

An apparatus including a body and a wireless communication system. The body partially encloses a camera. The wireless communication system is integrated within or coupled to the body of the apparatus. The wireless communication system includes: a sensor, an antenna, a switching unit, a wireless communication circuit, and a controller. The sensor is configured to determine an orientation of the wireless communication system. The antenna is configured to transmit or receive wireless signals and configured to have an antenna gain and polarization. The switching unit is configured to change a configuration of the antenna gain and polarization. The wireless communication circuit is electrically coupled to the antenna to transmit or receive the wireless signals. The sensor determines the orientation of the wireless communication system related to an external wireless communication system and the switching unit changes the configuration of the antenna gain and polarization.

An angle gauge for immediately determining if an inclination of a ladder against a vertical surface is satisfactory is provided. The angle gauge has a circular base portion and an indicator dial rotatably connected to the center of a face of the base portion. A straight edge flange is connected to the base portion to provide a straight edge extending tangentially from the circumference thereof. The face has top and bottom halves dividing by an angle line, wherein the angle line is adjustable so as to select a target angle between the angle line relative to the straight edge. The indicator dial obscures half of the face at all times. The straight edge is connected to a rung of a ladder so that if the ladder is not oriented at the target angle relative to vertical supporting surface, the bottom half is partially visible above the indicator dial.

A surveying system including a surveying device and a terminal device for assisting in placement of a staking tool. The surveying system further includes: a design information acquisition unit for acquiring design information including a designed slope; a surveying information acquisition unit for transmitting surveying information to a terminal device; a current state estimation unit for calculating an estimated altitude of a current ground in accordance with the surveying information; an intersection calculation unit for calculating a coordinate of an intersection between the current ground and the designed slope based on the estimated altitude of the current ground and the design information; a stake shape determination unit for determining a shape of a stake to be placed; and a stake shape information unit for causing the terminal device to inform of the shape of the stake determined by the stake shape determination unit.

Provided herein are a two-directional inclination sensor for sensing an inclination of a structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The two-directional inclination sensor includes a main body of a monolithic piece configured to be installed in the structure for sensing the inclination. The main body includes a first section, a second section, a first resilient device connected between the first section and the second section and susceptible of bending along a first direction, a third section including a single-piece weight, and a second resilient device connected between the second section and the third section and susceptible of bending along a second direction. The main body is formed by a machining process to remove parts of a monolithic blank.

Provided herein are a two-directional inclination sensor for sensing an inclination of a structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The two-directional inclination sensor includes a main body of a monolithic piece configured to be installed in the structure for sensing the inclination. The main body includes a first section, a second section, a first resilient device connected between the first section and the second section and susceptible of bending along a first direction, a third section including a single-piece weight, and a second resilient device connected between the second section and the third section and susceptible of bending along a second direction. The main body is formed by a machining process to remove parts of a monolithic blank.

An apparatus and method for estimating a vehicle pitch relative to a road. The apparatus includes a wheel speed sensor part which obtains wheel speed data, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor part which obtains IMU data, a preprocessing part which extracts a stop section and a moving section on the basis of the wheel speed data and the IMU data, and a slope estimation part which estimates a vehicle pitch in the stop section and a road slope in the moving section and estimates a vehicle pitch relative to a road on the basis of the vehicle pitch and the road slope.

An apparatus and method for estimating a vehicle pitch relative to a road. The apparatus includes a wheel speed sensor part which obtains wheel speed data, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor part which obtains IMU data, a preprocessing part which extracts a stop section and a moving section on the basis of the wheel speed data and the IMU data, and a slope estimation part which estimates a vehicle pitch in the stop section and a road slope in the moving section and estimates a vehicle pitch relative to a road on the basis of the vehicle pitch and the road slope.