Abstract: An evaporative emission control canister system comprises an initial adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of greater than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, and at least one subsequent adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of less than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, an effective butane working capacity (BWC) of less than 3 g/dL, and a g-total BWC of between 2 grams and 6 grams. The evaporative emission control canister system has a two-day diurnal breathing loss (DBL) emissions of no more than 20 mg at no more than 210 liters of purge applied after the 40 g/hr butane loading step.

Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: An evaporative emission control canister system comprises an initial adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of greater than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, and at least one subsequent adsorbent volume having an effective incremental adsorption capacity at 25° C. of less than 35 grams n-butane/L between vapor concentration of 5 vol % and 50 vol % n-butane, an effective butane working capacity (BWC) of less than 3 g/dL, and a g-total BWC of between 2 grams and 6 grams. The evaporative emission control canister system has a two-day diurnal breathing loss (DBL) emissions of no more than 20 mg at no more than 210 liters of purge applied after the 40 g/hr butane loading step.

Abstract: Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: A system for cutting molten plastic material for compression molding includes a rotary-driven cutter mounted in operative association with an extruder which supplies molten plastic. The cutter is driven by a servo motor, the operation of which is coordinated with an associated rotary carousel on which cavities are successively presented to the cutter apparatus. In order to effect separation of each cut discrete quantity of plastic material from the cutting blade of the cutter apparatus, the servo motor is operated to create a period of distinct deceleration during each rotary cutting cycle, thereby effecting separation of the molten plastic from the surface of the cutting blade. The electronic controls of the apparatus further operate to permit the speed at which plastic cutting takes place to be controlled independently of the speed of the associated rotary carousel, while coordinating each cutting cycle with successive presentation of the cavities by the rotary carousel.

Abstract: A monitoring system provides a method of operating a compression plastic molding apparatus which entails substantially continuously monitoring the position of an upper compression cam of the apparatus, against which a rotatably movable mold assembly reacts during operation of the apparatus. By monitoring the position of the compression cam, the system is able to detect excessive loading of the apparatus, such as attendant to depositing of excessive plastic material in the mold assembly. A force determining device, illustrated in the form of a fluid pressure (pneumatic) cylinder, is operatively connected with the compression cam, with the system operating to release pressure in the cylinder in the event that the compression cam is moved in a manner which indicates excessive loading of the plastic mold assembly.

Abstract: An image processing system and filters applicable to such a system wherein digitized discrete signals, as pixel signals, are processed in a look-up table according to the sum of the current digitized value of a discrete signal multiplied by a factor and the digitized value of the signal from the look-up table for a preceding discrete signal multiplied by one less the factor for low pass filtering; and wherein high pass filtering is the difference between a factor times the current digitized value of a discrete signal and the digitized value of the low pass filter from the look-up table for a preceding discrete signal multiplied by a factor. Two dimensional filtering in a two dimensional array of pixels is afforded by identifying pixel signals by row and column and high pass filtering in pixel columns from row-to-row. Vector combinations of row and column filtered values are employed in a system for electro-optical inspection of the image of a product.

Abstract: A servo control system and method for controlling repetitious or oscillatory motion of a member in a glass manufacturing process between predetermined points. A desired trajectory between such points is first established as a function of time, and this trajectory is then loaded into a digital electronic memory as a plurality of discrete trajectory position signals arranged in an incremental series as a function of time. Control logic, which includes a real time oscillator, periodically accesses the memory so as to sequentially select and read therefrom the incremental trajectory position signals. These incremental signals are fed as a desired position control signal to a servo amplifier, which receives a second input from a position transducer coupled to the movable member and provides an amplifier output to a servo motor and then to the member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the average thickness (T.sub.1) of a film lamina of thermoplastic, dielectric material having a known density (D.sub.1) and coextruded at a variable extrusion rate with a foam lamina of similar thermoplastic material having a thickness (T.sub.2) and the density of (D.sub.2) to form a thermoplastic laminate is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first gauge for sensing the thickness of the laminate and for providing a caliper signal (C) corresponding to the thickness sensed and a second gauge for sensing the mass/unit-area of the laminate and for providing a mass signal (M) corresponding to the mass/unit-area sensed. The apparatus further comprises a third gauge for sensing a response to the dielectric material and its distribution in the laminate and for providing a dielectric signal (W) corresponding to the response sensed.

Abstract: A web-feeding machine used to provide a continuous supply of material having successive labels and registration marks printed serially thereon includes an assembly for splicing the material from a ready web to the material severed from a running web. The splicing assembly has a response time T after being actuated by a control system. The control system comprises a driving circuit for electromechanically actuating the splicing assembly, a scanner positioned adjacent the material to provide a signal in response to the presence of a registration mark, and an encoder for providing a fixed number of pulses proportional to a corresponding length of the moving material. The control system also comprises a control circuit connected to the scanner, the encoder and the driving circuit. The control circuit counts the number of encoder pulses B.sub.o between successive scanner signals and then decrements from that number B.sub.o to zero. In addition, the control circuit provides a time delay T.sub.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved method and apparatus for controlling the tension in a tensionally fragile web of material being pulled by a constant speed processing machine from either one of a pair of supply rolls. A first festooning roller effects the control of the web tension during the normal operation of the machine. During the splicing of the web from one supply roll to another, the tension in the web would tend to dramatically increase. This tendency is offset by a second festooning roller engageable with the web and shiftable in a web tension decreasing direction only upon the occurrence of web tensions substantially in excess of the normal tension range. Means are provided to restrict the rate of return movement of the second festooning roller to that which falls within the control limits of the first festooning roller, thus eliminating any tendency to accelerate the new supply roll to a speed above the desired machine operating speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling the position of a stepping motor which is driven by a buffered translator. Commands calling for either forward or reverse motor steps are sent to the buffered translator, and the motor subsequently executes these commands. In order to determine if the motor executes all of the commands sent to the buffered translator, a signal representing the position the motor would assume if all of the commands were executed is compared to a signal representing the actual position of the motor. If they do not correspond, additional command pulses are caused to be generated to the buffered translator until the desired motor position is achieved.

Abstract: An improved control system for the cutting of spirally wound composite can "sticks" with accurate registration. Cutting knives, which cut a wound tube into sticks, are mounted on a servo-driven sled, which is in turn mounted on a reciprocating carriage. The point of cutting is controlled by adjusting the position of the carriage (for long term errors) and the sled (for short term errors). Factors analyzed to determine where the carriage and sled should be positioned include the phase relationship between the label and the carriage, the angle at which the label is wound onto the tube, the point at which the label is wound onto the tube, label stretch, and misprinting of reference marks on the label. Means may be included for automatically rejecting sticks which are out of registration.