1. Apparatus for detecting and identifying occupants of a vehicle cabin having first and second seats, comprising:
a first receiver disposed at a central location of said cabin for receiving and identifying radio frequency signals;
a first transmitter located in the first seat for radiating a first uniquely identifiable radio frequency signal that is weakly received by said first receiver when the first seat is unoccupied and strongly received and identified by said first receiver when a first human occupant is present on the first seat due to the first radio frequency signal being coupled to the first receiver through the first human occupant;
a second transmitter located in the second seat for radiating a second uniquely identifiable radio frequency signal that is weakly received by said first receiver when the second seat is unoccupied and strongly received and identified by said first receiver when a second human occupant is present on the second seat by virtue of the second radio frequency signal being coupled to the first receiver through the second human occupant; and
a processor coupled to the first receiver for determining a total number of said human occupants and their seat locations based on whether the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal are strongly received by said first receiver.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor additionally determines a distance of said human occupants from said first receiver.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first receiver identifies said first and second radio frequency signals by their frequency.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first receiver identifies said first and second radio frequency signals by their modulation pattern.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first receiver is disposed in a headliner of said cabin.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
an interface panel that can be accessed by different human occupants of said cabin;
a second receiver disposed in proximity to said interface panel for receiving and identifying radio frequency signals, such that said second receiver strongly receives and identifies said first radio frequency signal when said first human occupant is accessing said interface panel, and strongly receives and identifies said second radio frequency signal when said second human occupant is accessing said interface panel; and
a secondary processor coupled to said second receiver for determining whether a human occupant is accessing said interface panel and a seating location of that human occupant based on which of the first and second radio frequency signals are strongly received by said second receiver.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-12. (canceled)
13. A method for screening for melanoma which comprises:
(a) contacting a biological specimen containing malignant cells with a probe which selectively recognizes microphthalmia (Mi); and
(b) determining the level of Mi expression, wherein overexpression of Mi is indicative of melanoma.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the probe detects the gene encoding Mi.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the probe is a nucleotide probe.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein Mi transcripts or expression products are measured.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein immunohistochemistry is used to detect the expression product.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the probe is labeled.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the probe is labeled for visualization by in situ hybridization.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the biological specimen is a malignant cell.
21. A method for detecting human microphthalmia (mi) levels comprising contacting a biological specimen with a probe for Mi, and measuring the Mi levels.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the probe detects the gene encoding Mi.
23. An assay for compounds to treat melanoma comprising screening for a compound that selectively reacts with microphthalmia.