Systems and methods to determine open neutral conditions in a poly-phase electrical connection. Voltage measurements of at least two phases of poly-phase electrical power delivered to a customer premises are received from an electrical meter via a communications network providing communications among many electrical meters. The electrical power is delivered with a neutral conductor separate from the at least two phases. A first voltage measurement of a first phase and a second voltage measurement of a second phase of at least two phases are received. Based on determining that a difference between the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement exceeds a phase-to-phase threshold amount, a likely open neutral condition in the neutral conductor is determined. An indication of the likely open neutral condition is sent to a customer service system.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for initiating sealed sensor units in the field. A packaged sensor unit may include a sensor module, an activation mechanism and an internal battery, all situated in a sealed enclosure. In some cases, the sealed enclosure may be devoid of any externally accessible switches. A pre-defined triggering stimulus may be applied to the packaged sensor unit, and the pre-defined triggering stimulus may be detected via the activation mechanism. In response to the activation mechanism detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, the internal battery may be connected to the sensor module. Prior to detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, both the sensor module and the activation mechanism may draw no power from the internal battery of the packaged sensor unit. In some cases, the activation mechanism, once activated, irreversibly couples the power supply to the sensor module.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for initiating sealed sensor units in the field. A packaged sensor unit may include a sensor module, an activation mechanism and an internal battery, all situated in a sealed enclosure. In some cases, the sealed enclosure may be devoid of any externally accessible switches. A pre-defined triggering stimulus may be applied to the packaged sensor unit, and the pre-defined triggering stimulus may be detected via the activation mechanism. In response to the activation mechanism detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, the internal battery may be connected to the sensor module. Prior to detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, both the sensor module and the activation mechanism may draw no power from the internal battery of the packaged sensor unit. In some cases, the activation mechanism, once activated, irreversibly couples the power supply to the sensor module.

The present application relates to a remote control device for controlling a plurality of controllable devices. The remote control device comprises at least two spaced apart antennas for receiving a radio signal from a same positioning device, a sending unit for sending a control signal, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine a position information of the remote control device in relation to the positioning device based on the radio signal, to select a controllable device of the plurality of controllable devices depending on the position information, and to send a control information for controlling the selected controllable device via the control signal with the sending unit to the selected controllable device.

A light guide is provided for illuminating innumerable constructions, but which is ideally suited for illuminating the keys of a keyboard. The light guide includes a translucent planar plate having a top, a bottom and sides. Further, the light guide includes one or more cavities which project upwardly into the translucent plate from its bottom surface. The cavities are hollow or filled with a translucent material so that the translucent plate and the one or more cavities form translucent interfaces where the cavities interface with the plate. The light guide also includes a reflector which covers the plate bottom and cavity openings. Light produced by a light source, preferably in the form of one or more LEDs, is transmitted to and through the translucent plate until striking the plate-cavity interfaces where the light is refracted into the cavities' interior or reflected upwardly to the plate's upper surface.

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for disrupting bone conduction signals. According to one aspect, a device can receive a signal via a communication path that is external to a body of a user associated with the device. The device can generate a disruption signal to disrupt the signal. The device can send the disruption signal through the body of the user to disrupt the signal.

A remote controller and a remote control method thereof are provided. The remote controller includes a communication module which communicates with a plurality of devices; an input unit through which a user command is input; and a controlling unit which determines a pointed device, among the plurality of devices, that the remote controller is pointing towards, and controls the communication module to transmit the user command to the pointed device to control the pointed device.

A wireless sensor system is described which can be used to measure temperature and/or pressure within an electromagnetically shielded environment. The sensor system includes an embedded processor which intermittently transmits data from the sensors. In electromagnetically shielded environments, the processor transmits the data when the electromagnetically shielding components are moved into a non-shielding configuration.

The present invention relates to a device for acquiring electricity utilization information which comprises a data acquisition and processing circuit configured to detect an operation parameter about a coupleable power supply circuit; a non-isolated power supply configured to convert an AC power into a DC power to supply an appropriate operation voltage to the data acquisition and processing circuit; a data communication module configured to modulate the detected operation parameter onto a predetermined frequency, wherein the modulated operation parameter is transmitted with a predetermined data transmission rate, and the predetermined frequency is higher than the predetermined data transmission rate such that the transmitted operation parameter can be demodulated; and an isolation component configured to provide electrical isolation and signal transmission isolation to perform a coupling isolation for the modulated operation parameter. The device not only can achieve divided measurement of electricity utilization, but also has the advantage of smaller volume.

A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the universal controlling device to adapt the universal controlling device to communicate with an intended target appliance.