Abstract: A beverage dispensing system is configured to facilitate communication between a point-of-sale terminal and a beverage dispenser for receiving and fulfilling beverage orders. The dispensing system comprises a translation server that maps beverage orders between the point-of-sale entry data and beverage dispenser recipe data. An automatic portion control (APC) assembly comprises a mass sensor that is configured to determine a mass of a cup resting thereon. Using the mass of the cup, the dispenser makes a cup size prediction and performs portion control dispensing operations. Based on the cup size prediction, a user interface is modified to allow for quicker interactions. The APC assembly is positioned beneath a nozzle of the beverage dispenser and comprises a removable platform assembly magnetically coupled to a mass sensor assembly. The mass sensor assembly comprises a load cell or other mass sensor.

Abstract: A multi-phase electric drive includes a multi-phase power transformer, including a primary winding and a first number of secondary windings, said primary winding being electrically connectable to a source of multi-phase AC power; a first number of power units, each of said first number of power units having input connected with a corresponding one of said first number of secondary windings, and a multiple of said first number of power units being serially connected with respective others of said power units in each phase output line connectable to a multi-phase AC load; at least one measurement device, being electrically connected with said input to at least one of said first number of power units and being adapted for measuring an electrical quantity at the input thereto; and a control system, being adapted for detecting a fault based on a value for the measured electrical quantity.

Abstract: A multi-phase electric drive includes a multi-phase power transformer, including a primary winding and a first number of secondary windings, said primary winding being electrically connectable to a source of multi-phase AC power; a first number of power units, each of said first number of power units having input connected with a corresponding one of said first number of secondary windings, and a multiple of said first number of power units being serially connected with respective others of said power units in each phase output line connectable to a multi-phase AC load; at least one measurement device, being electrically connected with said input to at least one of said first number of power units and being adapted for measuring an electrical quantity at the input thereto; and a control system, being adapted for detecting a fault based on a value for the measured electrical quantity.

Abstract: A multi-lamp fluorescent light fixture includes a plurality of replaceable fluorescent lamp starter units. Each starter unit has a built-in microcontroller, an RF (Radio-Frequency) receiver, and communicates wirelessly with a master unit. The plurality of starter units can be wirelessly controlled to dim the multi-lamp fixture. Each starter unit receives a DIM command. Each starter unit identified as a dimmer starter unit responds to the DIM command by turning off coupled fluorescent lamps. Starter units not identified as dimmer starter units respond by leaving coupled lamps turned on, or alternatively, turning off and quickly restarting coupled lamps. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can dim the lights if room occupancy is not detected or if sufficient ambient light is available.

Abstract: A multi-lamp fluorescent light fixture includes a plurality of replaceable fluorescent lamp starter units. Each starter unit has a built-in microcontroller, an RF (Radio-Frequency) receiver, and communicates wirelessly with a master unit. Each starter unit can be wirelessly controlled to turn off coupled fluorescent lamps. Each starter unit receives a turn off command, monitors the AC voltage supplied to coupled lamps, and initiates turn off when the AC voltage reaches a threshold voltage stored in a memory of the microcontroller. In one novel aspect, each threshold voltage is selected such that turn off of lamps coupled to each starter is initiated within one millisecond. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can turn off the lights if room occupancy is not detected or if sufficient ambient light is available.

Abstract: The invention relates to a master cylinder, in particular for a controlled motor vehicle brake system, including a first and a second piston which is displaceable in a housing and has a captive spring, a first end of the spring bearing at least indirectly against the piston and a second end thereof against a sleeve which is displaceable with respect to the piston and the movement of which with respect to the piston is limited by a pin provided on the piston and by a stop washer, the stop washer being arranged on a free end of the pin. In order to avoid impact noise upon rapid release of the brake, the stop washer of the first piston has a device for the damped abutment of the sleeve.

Abstract: Synthetic RNA molecules having a pore, compositions including RNA molecules having a pore, where the compositions are capable of filtering metal ions, filtering molecular ions, performing size exclusion chromatography, performing ion specific chromatography, reversible metal ion and molecular ion binding, ion selective membranes, ion selective channels, ion selective/specific sensors, electrical conduits, battery components, etc., and devices and methods for making and using same. The RNAs used may be modified to improve stability. For example, by for example, a methyl group may be attached to the 2? OH of the ribose.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp starter unit determines whether the lighting fixture into which it has been plugged is in a first or second state. The lamp is on in the first state and off in the second state. If the fixture is in the first state then the starter unit uses a first method to detect ballast type, whereas if the fixture is in the second state then the starter unit uses a second method to detect ballast type. In one example, the first method involves turning on the power switch of the starter unit at a time after a zero-crossing and then using the periodicity of a transient switch current signal to determine ballast type, whereas the second method involves turning on the power switch at the time of the zero-crossing and then using peak amplitude information of the transient switch current to determine ballast type.

Abstract: A starter unit (for example, an RF-enabled and replaceable starter unit) has an ability both to turn on and to turn off a fluorescent lamp. The starter unit detects whether a ballast in the circuit with the fluorescent lamp is of a first type (for example, an L-type ballast) or is of a second type (for example, a C-type ballast). If the determination is that the ballast is of the first type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a first way (for example, using C-type timing and then using L-type timing alternatingly). If the determination is that the ballast is of the second type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a second way (for example, using only C-type timing). The same starter unit design is usable both in single-lamp fixtures and in multi-lamp fixtures where a mix of ballast types may be used.

Abstract: In a circuit that turns off a fluorescent lamp, clamping circuitry is provided to dissipate energy stored in a ballast when the lamp is being turned off. In a normal state in which the lamp is on, or in a normal state in which the lamp is off, clamping is not performed as long the VDS of a power switch is below a voltage A. In a lamp turn off operation, the switch is turned on for a time period to extinguish the lamp, and is then made to operate as a clamp (operate in its linear region) for a second period of time to dissipate energy that was stored in the ballast. Clamping in the linear region continues for VDS voltages down to B as ballast energy is dissipated, where B is smaller than A. By clamping down to the lower voltage B, re-ignition of the lamp is prevented.

Abstract: A starter unit (for example, an RF-enabled and replaceable starter unit) has an ability both to turn on and to turn off a fluorescent lamp. The starter unit detects whether a ballast in the circuit with the fluorescent lamp is of a first type (for example, an L-type ballast) or is of a second type (for example, a C-type ballast). If the determination is that the ballast is of the first type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a first way (for example, using C-type timing and then using L-type timing alternatingly). If the determination is that the ballast is of the second type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a second way (for example, using only C-type timing). The same starter unit design is usable both in single-lamp fixtures and in multi-lamp fixtures where a mix of ballast types may be used.

Abstract: In a circuit that turns off a fluorescent lamp, clamping circuitry is provided to dissipate energy stored in a ballast when the lamp is being turned off. In a normal state in which the lamp is on, or in a normal state in which the lamp is off, clamping is not performed as long the VDS of a power switch is below a voltage A. In a lamp turn off operation, the switch is turned on for a time period to extinguish the lamp, and is then made to operate as a clamp (operate in its linear region) for a second period of time to dissipate energy that was stored in the ballast. Clamping in the linear region continues for VDS voltages down to B as ballast energy is dissipated, where B is smaller than A. By clamping down to the lower voltage B, re-ignition of the lamp is prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a master cylinder, in particular for a controlled motor vehicle brake system, including a first and a second piston which is displaceable in a housing and has a captive spring, a first end of the spring bearing at least indirectly against the piston and a second end thereof against a sleeve which is displaceable with respect to the piston and the movement of which with respect to the piston is limited by a pin provided on the piston and by a stop washer, the stop washer being arranged on a free end of the pin. In order to avoid impact noise upon rapid release of the brake, the stop washer of the first piston has a device for the damped abutment of the sleeve.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp starter unit determines whether the lighting fixture into which it has been plugged is in a first state (for example, the lamp is off) or is in a second state (for example, the lamp is on). If the fixture is in the first state then the starter unit uses a first method to detect ballast type, whereas if the fixture is in the second state then the starter unit uses a second method to detect ballast type. In one example, the first method involves turning on the power switch of the starter unit at a time after a zero-crossing and then using the periodicity of a transient switch current signal to determine ballast type, whereas the second method involves turning on the power switch at the time of the zero-crossing and then using peak amplitude information of the transient switch current to determine ballast type.

Abstract: A starter unit (for example, an RF-enabled and replaceable starter unit) has an ability both to turn on and to turn off a fluorescent lamp. The starter unit detects whether a ballast in the circuit with the fluorescent lamp is of a first type (for example, an L-type ballast) or is of a second type (for example, a C-type ballast). If the determination is that the ballast is of the first type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a first way (for example, using C-type timing and then using L-type timing alternatingly). If the determination is that the ballast is of the second type, then the starter unit turns off the lamp in a second way (for example, using only C-type timing). The same starter unit design is usable both in single-lamp fixtures and in multi-lamp fixtures where a mix of ballast types may be used.

Abstract: A multi-lamp fluorescent light fixture includes a plurality of replaceable fluorescent lamp starter units. Each starter unit has a built-in microcontroller, an RF (Radio-Frequency) receiver, and communicates wirelessly with a master unit. The plurality of starter units can be wirelessly controlled to dim the multi-lamp fixture. Each starter unit receives a DIM command. Each starter unit identified as a dimmer starter unit responds to the DIM command by turning off coupled fluorescent lamps. Starter units not identified as dimmer starter units respond by leaving coupled lamps turned on, or alternatively, turning off and quickly restarting coupled lamps. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can dim the lights if room occupancy is not detected or if sufficient ambient light is available.

Abstract: A multi-lamp fluorescent light fixture includes a plurality of replaceable fluorescent lamp starter units. Each starter unit has a built-in microcontroller, an RF (Radio-Frequency) receiver, and communicates wirelessly with a master unit. Each starter unit can be wirelessly controlled to turn off coupled fluorescent lamps. Each starter unit receives a turn off command, monitors the AC voltage supplied to coupled lamps, and initiates turn off when the AC voltage reaches a threshold voltage stored in a memory of the microcontroller. In one novel aspect, each threshold voltage is selected such that turn off of lamps coupled to each starter is initiated within one millisecond. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can turn off the lights if room occupancy is not detected or if sufficient ambient light is available.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for searching a defined area. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method comprising receiving a plurality of product data, wherein the product data describes a plurality of products offered for sale by a plurality of businesses. Product data may be associated with a defined area, where the businesses each have a point-of-sale store located in the defined area. A user may enter a search request, and the system searches product data for a plurality of products in a plurality of point-of-sale stores in the defined area. The system outputs product data for point-of-sale stores located in said defined area matching said search request.

Abstract: The integrity of AMA records generated by a switch in the telephone network is achieved by generating test calls and then monitoring and then processing the AMA records generated by those switches in the network which handled the test call. Such monitoring includes tracking for the AMA records that have been generated for the test calls and then processing those records such that the contents of the fields forming the records are analyzed to determine that the data contained therein is correct.