Author: claimsbot

1. A cleaning system comprising:
a rotor;
an agitator;
a rechargeable battery;
a suction motor receiving power from the rechargeable battery, the suction motor coupled to the rotor;
a brush motor receiving power from the rechargeable battery, the brush motor coupled to the agitator;
a user-controlled switch configured to generate a user-activated signal in response to user manipulation; and
a controller configured to
output a first pulse-width modulated signal at a first duty cycle to control the suction motor,
output a second pulse-width modulated signal at a second duty cycle to control the brush motor at a first speed,
receive the user-activated signal, and
upon receiving the user-activated signal, output the second pulse-width modulated signal at a third duty cycle to control the brush motor at a second speed.
2. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein one of the first duty cycle, the second duty cycle, and the third duty cycle are modified based on a voltage of the rechargeable battery.
3. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the first speed and the second speed are equal.
4. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery has a housing and at least two cells within the housing.
5. The cleaning system of claim 1, further including a fuel gauge, wherein the fuel gauge indicates a voltage of the rechargeable battery.
6. The cleaning system of claim 1, further including an indicator indicating that the brush motor is operating at least one of the first speed and second speed.
7. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system is an upright vacuum.
8. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the suction motor and brush motor is a brushless direct-current motor.
9. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery is selectively coupled to the cleaning system.
10. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured indicate to the user via an indicator that a fault has occurred.
11. The cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output a first pulse-width modulated signal having a fourth duty cycle to the suction motor when the controller outputs the second pulse-width modulated signal at the third duty cycle to control the brush motor at the second speed.
12. A method for operating a cleaning system, the cleaning system including a rotor, an agitator, a rechargeable battery, a suction motor coupled to the rotor, a brush motor coupled to the agitator, a user-controlled switch, and a controller, the method comprising:
calculating a voltage of the rechargeable battery;
outputting a first pulse-width modulated signal at a first duty cycle to control the suction motor;
outputting a second pulse-width modulated signal at a second duty cycle to control the brush motor at a first speed;
receiving a user-activated signal from the user-controlled switch; and
upon receiving the user-activated signal, outputting the second pulse-width modulated signal at a third duty cycle to control the brush motor at a second speed.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the first duty cycle, second duty cycle, and third duty cycle are based on the voltage of the rechargeable battery.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first speed and the second speed are equal.
15. The method of claim 11, further including indicating the voltage of the rechargeable battery to a user via a fuel gauge.
16. The method of claim 11, further including indicating a fault of the cleaning system to a user via an indicator.
17. The method of claim 11, further including indicating that the brush motor is operating at the first speed or the second speed to the user via an indicator.
18. The method of claim 11, further including outputting a first pulse-width modulated signal having a fourth duty cycle to the suction motor when outputting the second pulse-width modulated signal at the third duty cycle to control the brush motor at the second speed.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for carrying cargo comprising:
a) a tub shaped cargo carrier having a base and walls for surrounding and containing the cargo and a first attachment point;
b) a selectably attachable mobile base, the mobile base being pivotally attached to the cargo carrier, and having a front wheel mechanism, a rear wheel mechanism, and a frame; the rear wheel mechanism being attached to the frame and further including a pair of wheels rotatably attached, the front wheel mechanism being pivotally attached to the frame, and having at least one wheel rotatably attached thereto; and further having a first attachment point; and
c) a selectively attachable handle having a means for attaching to a second attachment point.
2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the base of the cargo carrier further has a corrugate bottom.
3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the corrugate bottom of the cargo carrier forms ribs and grooves running the length of the cargo carrier.
4. The device as described in claim 3 wherein the grooves of the corrugate bottom of the cargo carrier mate with the frame when assembled.
5. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the cargo carrier further includes a latch for locking the cargo carrier in a down position.
6. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the walls have unidirectional corrugations formed thereon.
7. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the cargo carrier further includes an openable cover to the cargo carrier.
8. The device as described in claim 7 wherein the openable cover of the cargo carrier is bifurcated.
9. The device as described in claim 7 wherein the cover is lockable in a vertical position.
10. The device as described in claim 7 wherein the cover is lockable in a horizontal position.
11. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the cargo carrier is constructed from a polymeric material.
12. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the frame is fabricated from tubes.
13. The device as described in claim 12 wherein the tubes are metal.
14. The device as described in claim 13 wherein the tubes are formed from an aluminum alloy.
15. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the frame is pivotally attached to the cargo carrier with a pair of removable pins.
16. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the cargo carrier may pivot over center to become self supporting in the dumped position.
17. The device as described in claim 15 wherein the pivot pins are attached to the cargo carrier proximate the center of gravity of the cargo carrier.
18. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the handle is pivotable in a vertical plane.
19. The device as described in claim 1 wherein the handle is pivotable in a horizontal plane.
20. An apparatus for carrying cargo comprising:
a) a tub shaped cargo container having upwardly extending walls for surrounding and containing cargo and having one of said walls extending upwardly at an acute angle forming a dumping surface; the cargo carrier further having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of grooves formed on the bottom thereof, and having a handle attachment point formed adjacent the dumping surface; the container further having a plurality of pivot tabs formed thereon;
b) a frame having an inverted U shaped platform, the frame having a distal end and a proximal end, a U shaped rear axle affixed to the distal end of the frame, the rear axle having pivotal attachment points for pivotal attachment to the container; and the rear axle extending outwardly and thence downwardly and terminating in a means for attaching wheels; the rear axle further having a circular wheel attached to each end of the rear axle; an inverted U shaped front axle pivotally attached to the proximal end of the frame, the front axle extending outwardly and thence downwardly and terminating in a means for attaching wheels; the front axle further having a circular wheel attached to each end of the front axle; the front axle further having a triangular shaped sub-frame extending proximally therefrom; the sub-frame having a handle attachment point formed thereon; and
c) an elongate handle having a D shaped proximal end and a distal end the distal end of the handle selectively attached pivotally to a handle attachment point.
21. The device as described in claim 20 wherein the rear axle has a forward angle and the pivotal attachment points are at the foremost point of the rear axle; and pivotal attachment points of the cargo carrier are near the center of gravity of the cargo carrier to facilitate dumping the cargo carrier.
22. A utility carrier comprising:
a) a cargo portion;
b) a frame selectively attachable to the cargo portion;
c) a handle selectively attachable to the frame and is selectively attachable to each member of the group consisting of the cargo portion and the frame.
23. The apparatus described in claim 22 wherein the handle has a proximal end extending outwardly from the utility carrier, the proximal end terminating in a gripper, the gripper selected from the group consisting of a D shaped handle, a ball, and a hitch.

What is claimed is:

1. An article information providing system, comprising:
a portable terminal to which an information demander inputs a desire for an article as demand information, and receiving information corresponding to said demand information from an information provider;
a mediate apparatus provided with: registration means for previously registering each information provider and a keyword so as to allow the information and the keyword to correspond to each other; retrieval means for retrieving said keyword from said demand information; delivery destination determination means for determining said information provider as a delivery destination of said demand information, said information provider being registered in said registration means while corresponding to the keyword when the keyword is retrieved from the demand information; and transmission means for transmitting information to said information demander, the information being provided from the information provider determined by said delivery destination determination means and corresponding to said demand information.
2. A mediate apparatus for mediating demand information to an information provider, the demand information being input to a portable terminal with regard to an article by an information demander, comprising:
registration means for previously registering each information provider and a keyword so as to allow the information and the keyword to correspond to each other;
retrieval means for retrieving said keyword from said demand information;
delivery destination determination means for determining said information provider as a delivery destination of said demand information, said information provider being registered in said registration means while corresponding to the keyword when said keyword is retrieved from the demand information; and
transmission means for transmitting information to said information demander, the information being provided from the information provider determined by said delivery destination determination means and corresponding to said demand information.
3. The mediate apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein said mediate apparatus is included in a computer system operating as a server and comprises demand information reception means for receiving said demand information.
4. The mediate apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
provided information reception means for receiving information, the information being provided from the information provider determined by said delivery destination determination means and corresponding to said demand information.
5. A portable terminal used by an information demander when obtaining article information provided by an information provider via a mediate apparatus comprising:
an interface section to which the information demander inputs a desire for an article as demand information potentially including a keyword, and from which the information demander outputs information provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand information.
6. The portable terminal according to claim 5,
wherein said interface section is at least one of a browser, a home page and a portal site.
7. A providing method of article information, comprising the steps of:
registering each information provider and a keyword previously so as to allow the information and the keyword to correspond to each other;
urging an information demander to input a desire for an article to a portable terminal as demand information potentially including a keyword;
receiving said demand information;
retrieving said keyword from said demand information;
determining the information provider as a delivery destination of said demand information, the information provider being registered while corresponding to the keyword when said keyword is retrieved;
receiving information provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand article information; and
transmitting said provided information received by said provided information reception means to said information demander.
8. A method, in which an information demander obtains article information from an information provider via a mediate apparatus, comprising the steps of:
inputting a desire for an article to a potable terminal as demand information potentially including a keyword by the information demander; and
receiving information from said information provider, the information being provided from the information provider and corresponding to said demand information.
9. The mediate apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein said demand information is at least one of character information, image information and voice information.
10. The mediate apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein said demand information is transmitted to said mediate apparatus together with terminal identification information.
11. The mediate apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein said terminal identification information is at least one of a telephone number, a mail address and an account (a user ID).
12. A recording medium readable by a computer providing article information, comprising the steps of:
registering each information provider and a keyword previously so as to allow the information and the keyword to correspond to each other;
urging an information demander to input a desire for an article to a portable terminal as demand information potentially including a keyword;
receiving said demand information;
retrieving said keyword from said demand information;
determining the information provider as a delivery destination of said demand information, the information provider being registered while corresponding to said keyword when said keyword is retrieved;
receiving information corresponding to said demand information and provided from said information provider; and
transmitting the information to said information demander, the information being provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand information.
13. A computer-readable recording medium used by an information demander when obtaining article information from an information provider via a mediate apparatus,
wherein the computer-readable recording medium is recorded with an article information transmissionreception program for executing: a step of inputting a desire for an article to a portable terminal as demand information potentially including a keyword by an information demander; and a step of receiving provided information from the information provider, the provided information being provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand information.
14. The mediate apparatus according to claim 13,
wherein said demand information is at least one of character information, image information and voice information.
15. The mediate apparatus according to claim 13,
wherein said demand information is transmitted to said mediate apparatus together with terminal identification information.
16. The mediate apparatus according to claim 15,
wherein said terminal identification information is at least one of a telephone number, a mail address and an account (a user ID).
17. A computer-program for providing article information, causing a computer to execute the steps of:
registering each information provider and a keyword previously so as to allow the information and the keyword to correspond to each other;
receiving demand information;
urging an information demander to input a desire for an article to a portable terminal as demand information;
retrieving said keyword from said demand information;
determining the information provider as a delivery destination of said demand information, the information provider being registered while corresponding to said keyword when said keyword is retrieved;
receiving information provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand information; and
transmitting the provided information to said information demander, the provided information being provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand information.
18. An article information transmissionreception program used by an information demander when obtaining article information from an information provider via a mediate apparatus, causing a computer to execute the steps of:
inputting a desire for an article to a portable terminal as demand information potentially including a keyword by the information demander; and
receiving provided information from the information provider, the provided information being provided from said information provider and corresponding to said demand information.
19. The mediate apparatus according to claim 18,
wherein said demand information is at least one of character information, image information and voice information.
20. The mediate apparatus according to claim 18,
wherein said demand information is transmitted to said mediate apparatus together with terminal identification information.
21. The mediate apparatus according to claim 20,
wherein said terminal identification information is at least one of a telephone number, a mail address and an account (a user ID).

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. A utility meter comprising:
a first portion including metrology components arranged to measure utility consumption at a site; and
a second portion coupled to the first portion and arranged to transfer data between the utility meter and a peripheral device using a universal serial bus (USB) connection and a USB protocol.
2. The utility meter of claim 1, further comprising a third portion including a processor and at least one computer-readable memory storage device, the processor arranged to facilitate data transfer via the USB connection.
3. The utility meter of claim 2, further comprising a fully-functional operating system (OS) stored on the at least one computer-readable memory storage device and operable on the processor to facilitate the data transfer via the USB connection.
4. The utility meter of claim 1, further comprising a fourth portion including utility conductor terminals and a power supply, the fourth portion arranged to convey utility consumption information to the metrology components of the first portion and to supply electrical power to the second portion.
5. The utility meter of claim 4, further comprising a terminal cover arranged to at least partially enclose the utility conductor terminals at the fourth portion, and including an access panel arranged to provide access to the USB connection from the exterior of the utility meter.
6. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the second portion is electrically isolated from the first portion via a predetermined conductor spacing.
7. The utility meter of claim 6, wherein the second portion is arranged to interface with the first portion via one or more optical interface components.
8. The utility meter of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to at least one of collect, transmit, store, and process data corresponding to measured utility consumption at the site.
9. A system, comprising:
an apparatus including metrology hardware, a processor, and at least one computer-readable memory storage device, the apparatus arranged to collect data corresponding to utility consumption at a site; and
a peripheral device arranged to interface with the apparatus via a universal serial bus (USB) connection at the apparatus and using a USB protocol.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the apparatus includes an isolated section including data transfer components associated with the USB connection and a non-isolated section including the metrology hardware, the isolated section being electrically isolated from the non-isolated section based on a predetermined conductor spacing and the isolated section interfacing with the non-isolated section based on optical interface components.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the USB connection is administered at least in part by the processor, based on an operating system stored at the at least one computer-readable memory storage device.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the peripheral device is arranged to receive power from the apparatus via the USB connection, and to at least one of: provide communications for the apparatus, provide sensor data to the apparatus, provide diagnostics of the apparatus, update firmware andor software of the apparatus, and download data from the apparatus.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the peripheral device is arranged to be located external to an enclosure of the apparatus while coupled to the apparatus via the USB connection, the enclosure including an access portion arranged to allow access to a USB port.
14. A method, comprising:
coupling a peripheral device to a utility metering device at a site via a universal serial bus (USB) connection at the metering device; and
transferring data between the metering device and the peripheral device via the USB connection.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling data transfer between the metering device and the peripheral device via the USB connection using an operating system (OS) stored on at least one computer-readable memory storage device and operable on a processor coupled to the metering device.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising establishing a network connection via a communications portion of the metering device and downloading a USB driver for the peripheral device when the peripheral device is coupled to the metering device.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising supplying direct current (DC) power to the peripheral device via the USB connection.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving sensor data at the metering device from the peripheral device via the USB connection.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising updating firmware andor software of the metering device using the peripheral device via the USB connection.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising running diagnostics andor provisioning the metering device using the peripheral device via the USB connection.