A remote location monitoring system, for example, a home monitoring or weather monitoring system may include one or more sensors and/or receivers at a remote location such as a residence or business to be monitored. The sensors and receivers may communicate with a central server via a gateway device, and may be controlled by users locally or remotely via the server. Users may register to receive remote notifications of weather events and other home monitoring events. Users may also access remotely sensors and receivers to configure alerts, notifications, and automatic responses for the devices and integrated appliances at the remote location.

A device is provided that is intended to simultaneously measure and identify at least two characteristics of multiphase fluid flows through the device and/or equipment attached to the device. The device has a lower measurement medium invasive compartment comprised of at least two ultrasonic and/or acoustic transducers, a piezo-resistive sensing element, and a resistance temperature detector (RTD) to make simultaneous independent measurement. A pathway connects to the device's upper electronic compartment comprised of an accelerometer array, multiple stacked circuit boards providing power, sensing interface, processing, calculation, and network communication functionalities. The device is capable of measuring, processing, and calculating simultaneous independent pressure, temperature, flow rate, and vibration measurement. The device reports data to an external system via either wired and/or wireless communication channel.

A device is provided that is intended to simultaneously measure and identify at least two characteristics of multiphase fluid flows through the device and/or equipment attached to the device. The device has a lower measurement medium invasive compartment comprised of at least two ultrasonic and/or acoustic transducers, a piezo-resistive sensing element, and a resistance temperature detector (RTD) to make simultaneous independent measurement. A pathway connects to the device's upper electronic compartment comprised of an accelerometer array, multiple stacked circuit boards providing power, sensing interface, processing, calculation, and network communication functionalities. The device is capable of measuring, processing, and calculating simultaneous independent pressure, temperature, flow rate, and vibration measurement. The device reports data to an external system via either wired and/or wireless communication channel.

Wireless sensor devices are described which harvest energy and provide an antenna or antennas for wireless communication on a relatively small form factor, preferably one that is co-extensive with a largest component of the device, e.g., an antenna layer or sensor layer. The devices are able to sense and/or control certain specific parameters of a system; store energy, e.g., in a supercapacitor system or battery system; transmit that as information/signals via a wireless link, e.g., RF or optical link; receive information from other devices and relay that information. Such devices accordingly may be self-powered and wireless devices, and not dependent on a separate device or form factor to provide a power source. Such devices can be entirely autonomous or substantially so, can be mobile or fixed, and may require little servicing over a period of time. The devices can be used as sensor nodes in a wireless mesh network.

To provide a sensor apparatus and sensor system using a low-power input source such as a microbial fuel cell, provided is a sensor apparatus including a microbial fuel cell; a boosting DC-DC circuit that operates based on an input voltage from the microbial fuel cell and boosts the input voltage; a power storage element that stores power output from the boosting DC-DC circuit; and a sensor element that operates based on power output from the power storage element, as well as a sensor system that includes this sensor apparatus and a wireless communication apparatus.

To provide a sensor apparatus and sensor system using a low-power input source such as a microbial fuel cell, provided is a sensor apparatus including a microbial fuel cell; a boosting DC-DC circuit that operates based on an input voltage from the microbial fuel cell and boosts the input voltage; a power storage element that stores power output from the boosting DC-DC circuit; and a sensor element that operates based on power output from the power storage element, as well as a sensor system that includes this sensor apparatus and a wireless communication apparatus.

An A/D converter includes an A/D conversion unit and an output unit. The A/D conversion unit includes a second A/D converter (successive approximation register A/D converter) and generates first digital data having a first number of bits and second digital data having a second number of bits, where the second number of bits is smaller than the first number of bits. The output unit provides first output information that is the first digital data and also provides second output information based on the second digital data. The output unit provides the second output information before providing the first output information.

In connection with a user interface for a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive, a driver is able to select whether the hybrid drive is operated in an operating mode which consumes charge, or in an operating mode which retains charge. The user interface is configured to display the charge state of the energy store on a display, and to receive or calculate a charge state variable which is characteristic of the charge state. The charge state variable may be displayed with a first range of values in a first display area during operation of the hybrid drive in the charge-consuming operating mode. The charge state variable may be displayed with a second range of values, which is a subset of the first range of values, in a second display area during operation of the hybrid drive in the charge-retaining operating mode. The second display area is larger than a subrange of the first display area in which the second range of values is displayed.

A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including at least a first barcode and at least a second barcode, the at least a second barcode being in a second barcode unreadable state prior to exceedance of the at least one threshold and upon exceedance of the at least one threshold the at least a first barcode becoming unreadable and generally simultaneously the at least a second barcode becoming readable.

A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including at least a first barcode and at least a second barcode, the at least a second barcode being in a second barcode unreadable state prior to exceedance of the at least one threshold and upon exceedance of the at least one threshold the at least a first barcode becoming unreadable and generally simultaneously the at least a second barcode becoming readable.