Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.

Methods of controlling an apparatus based on analysis of an input power waveform supplied to the apparatus. The methods may comprise demodulating a plurality of incoming data packets from the input power waveform. The methods may comprise determining whether N data packets of said plurality of incoming data packets are the same, wherein N is a positive integer having a dynamic value that depends on the input power waveform. The methods may comprise controlling at least one aspect of the apparatus based on said N data packets if said N data packets were determined to be the same. Also disclosed are apparatus corresponding to such methods.

Provided is a sensor network system including sensor master devices (15A to 15D) which receive detection information obtained by sensors (11A to 11F) through wireless communication, a data server (17) which acquires the detection information from the sensor master devices (15A to 15D) through power line communication, and notification devices (13A, 13B) which receive notification information from the data server (17) to perform notification, in which the sensor master devices (15A to 15D) are connected to the sensors (11A to 11F) and the notification devices (13A, 13B), and the data server (17) determines an object to be notified in accordance with, for example, a detection position which is detection information for at least one of an object to be notified and notification contents, on the basis of the acquired detection information.

A method for testing a detection sensor positioned facing a target fixed to a drive shaft that is intended to be installed in a motor vehicle. The method includes generating a pulsed voltage test signal, amplifying the high states of the generated test signal, filtering the amplified test signal so as to obtain a voltage test signal having high states the voltage of which is higher than a predetermined high-state detection threshold and low states the voltage of which is lower than a predetermined low-state detection threshold, and detecting the high states and the low states of the filtered test signal in order to test the sensor.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving telemetry information from an apparatus that induces electromagnetic waves on a wire surface of a wire of a power grid for delivery of communication signals to a recipient communication device coupled to the power grid, and detecting a condition from the telemetry information that is adverse to a delivery of the communication signals to the recipient communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An electronic device, a cable, and a method of driving the same are provided. The cable that transmits data and power includes a notification device comprising notification circuitry configured to output a notification when the power is transmitted, a first connector positioned at one end of the cable, a second connector positioned at an other end of the cable, a wire connecting the first and second connectors and including a data line that transmits the data and a power line that transmits the power, and a cable controller connected to the power line and configured to identify a characteristic of power transmitted through the power line and to change a form of the notification output from the notification device based on the identified power characteristic.

Load control interlocks are disclosed and described. The interlocks provide for coupling a power circuit to one or more load circuits once the one or more load circuits and the power circuit are both coupled to the interlock, and disconnects the power circuit from the one or more load circuits if the one or more load circuits or the power circuit are uncoupled form the interlock or an electrical connection between the power circuit and the one or more load circuits is broken.

A method and a management server for automatically deducing a trailer is physically coupled with a vehicle are described. First location data including locations for the vehicle is received, from a first gateway device located on the vehicle. Second location data are received from second gateway devices, where each one of the second gateway devices is on a respective trailer from a set of trailers and each second location data includes locations for the respective trailer. For each trailer that meet a set of criteria, a score is calculated based at least in part on the first location data and the second location data of the trailer, where the score estimates a measure of association of the trailer with the vehicle. A first trailer is selected, based on the scores of the trailers, to be associated with the vehicle indicating that the first trailer is physically coupled with the vehicle.

A power line communication apparatus includes a drive block including an actuator control circuit and a drive circuit and a communication block. The actuator control circuit generates a control pulse for controlling an actuator, and controls a transition timing of the control pulse during an operation period set within a communication cycle by a communication clock. The drive circuit controls a driving current of the actuator supplied from a DC power source through a power line based on the control pulse in which the transition timing is controlled. The communication block generates the communication clock, and modulates a current flowing through the power line in response to data to be transmitted during a signal transmission period different from the operation period, set within the communication cycle.

A powerline simulation system is provided that is used in facilitating the powerline technician training to simulate powerline contact without using a live powerline. A conductive mesh liner covers an exterior of a torso and arms of an electrical safety jacket worn by a powerline technician or trainee. A controller coupled to the mesh detects contact of the mesh with an un-energized electrical line, the contact is detected through a change in capacitance of the mesh and providing an audible indication of the contact to the powerline technician or trainee. The simulation tool allows a consistent testing environment, ensuring that no touches are missed.