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Intelligence is added to a computer sleep mode indicator system. A method for an intelligent indicator system is provided to turn off the sleep mode status indicator of a computer during sleep mode when a user is known to be unavailable to monitor the indicator, for example, when the user is sleeping or having lunch. This embodiment also handles reasonable variations of user habits. Further, to account for a gradual change of user unavailability habits over time, this invention obtains and applies a user unavailability intelligence by dynamically modifying the beginning and the ending times of a specified user unavailability period based on user experience. One preferred method for dynamically modifying the beginning and ending times is by calculating the moving averages of the actual sleep mode entry and exit times that occurred within a pre-determined period from the specified beginning and ending times.
The present invention includes a temperature-dependent power window and sunroof system for an automotive vehicle. This system according to the present invention is activated when the vehicle is presumably parked and left unattended by a vehicle operator. One aspect of the invention is directed to the detection of actions by the vehicle operator as input for system activation and deactivation, for example, the operator removes the ignition key, opens the driver door, closes the driver door and locks the door. Advantageously, if the vehicle operator stays in the vehicle after the key is removed from the ignition cylinder, the present invention remains inactivated whereby affording the maximum flexibility to the car driver. One preferred embodiment maintains a "comfortable" temperature range for the interior of the vehicle over the time period the vehicle is parked and left unattended. Moreover, to actively maintain the "comfortable" temperature range for the vehicle interior, a separate algorithm may be used. Another aspect of the invention includes means of communications to alert the vehicle operator and others in case of exceedingly high or low temperatures in the vehicle interior that might be life-threatening to those toddlers, pets or other incapacitated living beings who are left unattended in the vehicle.
Our invention has to do with an electrical light fixture for brightening the usually dimmer portion of a drawer storage area. Also, this electrical light fixture is small enough to be attached to an inside surface of a desk. When attached, it is preferably located immediately above the storage area of a desk drawer. This invention does not take away the drawer space available for storage. Also, this electrical light fixture uses battery power for providing automatic lighting turn-on when the drawer is opened and for providing automatic turn-off when the drawer is closed. Alternatively, the automatic turn-off occurs after a pre-determined amount of time. This light fixture is especially convenient for those people who have vision difficulties either because of an illness, a surgical operation or just because of age such as being young children or elderly people.
Unless constantly protected by overhead garages, an automotive vehicle, when parked and with its windows and sunroof opened or closed, is often subjected, respectively, to the risk of freezing or overheating its interior. Such extreme temperatures will reduce the life span of the electronic and mechanical components in or near the vehicle interior. Also, excessively high and low temperatures in the interior of the car would clearly cause a rather discomforting experience for the driver and passengers who subsequently seat themselves in it. This experience is keenly amplified for young children, elderly and those who are physically weak because of their reduced tolerance to discomfort. Briefly, a method and apparatus is provided for automatically adjusting a vehicle's window and sunroof positions after a vehicle operator has left a car unattended. The present invention includes a power window and sunroof system for an automotive vehicle. This system according to the present invention is activated only when the vehicle is presumably parked and left unattended by a vehicle operator. Once activated, the power window and sunroof system will be turned OFF automatically when the vehicle operator returns to drive the vehicle away. The present invention also has a temperature sensing circuitry to be appropriately located somewhere in or near the interior of the vehicle. Once the system is activated, output of the temperature sensing circuitry would then be used to maintain a "comfortable" temperature range for the interior of the vehicle over the time period the vehicle is parked and left unattended.
A new and useful sleep mode indicator system for laptop computers provides efficient use of battery power. In sleep mode, this indicator system turns OFF the typical blinking LED during the user-specified periods of unavailability. For example, a computer in sleep does not need to use electricity to identify its sleep mode status while its user is also asleep or is otherwise unavailable. This indicator system collects periods of unavailability and turns OFF the blinking LED during those periods. Also, sometimes the user may intend to operate the computer during a previously specified period of unavailability. This is reflected by the computer not in sleep mode at the start of the period and later enters temporarily into the sleep mode inside that specified period. Assuming that being the case, the present invention skips the period of unavailability just for that day. Further, the indicator system is not turned OFF any more for the rest of the specified period for that particular day.