Abstract: This disclosure provides modulators of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) having core structure (I), pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one such modulator, methods of treatment of CFTR mediated diseases, including cystic fibrosis, using such modulators and pharmaceutical compositions, combination pharmaceutical compositions and combination therapies employing those modulators, and processes and intermediates for making such modulators.

Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes detecting the occurrence of an abnormal operating condition of the robot during operation from hardware state data relating to the operation of the robot system. In response, current hardware state data of the robot at the time of the detection is captured, including robot positional information. A counter corresponding to the abnormal operating condition may then be incremented and, if the counter exceeds a threshold value or exceeds a threshold value in a certain time, a report may be generated including the captured hardware state data. The abnormal condition may for example be a fluctuation in vacuum level or a data transmission error.

Abstract: A method of operating a robot including a vacuum port for engaging an item, e.g. a wafer, is disclosed. The method includes operating, by a computer system, the robot in a first state, detecting using a vacuum sensor, a transition of a vacuum parameter from a first vacuum parameter zone to a second parameter zone in a plurality of vacuum parameter zones. Based on detecting the transition of the vacuum parameter from the first vacuum parameter zone to the second vacuum parameter zone, the operating state of the robot is altered from the first state to a second state. Also disclosed is an item transfer robot as part of an item transfer system.

Abstract: An end effector for a robot comprises a body and two arms depending from the body. Each arm includes mating features defined therein and a sensor located therein. A protective cap is coupled to each arm, each protective cap including mating features for interlocking with the mating features of the arms. The protective caps may each be coupled to the end effector by a single fastener.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot arm and an end effector coupled to the robot arm for receiving an item, the end effector having an aperture defined therein that is partially covered by an item when the item is received by the end effector. The system may include data processors in communication with the robot arm and an input to receive data from a sensor that can detect obstruction thereof as the end effector is moved past the sensor with the aperture aligned with the sensor. The robot system is able to determine a center of the item from positional information captured during sensor transitions. The robot system can then place the item such that the determined center of the item is received at an intended center location.

Abstract: A method of operating a robot includes detecting the occurrence of an abnormal operating condition of the robot during operation from hardware state data relating to the operation of the robot system. In response, current hardware state data of the robot at the time of the detection is captured, including robot positional information. A counter corresponding to the abnormal operating condition may then be incremented and, if the counter exceeds a threshold value or exceeds a threshold value in a certain time, a report may be generated including the captured hardware state data. The abnormal condition may for example be a fluctuation in vacuum level or a data transmission error.

Abstract: A method of operating a robot including a vacuum port for engaging an item, e.g. a wafer, is disclosed. The method includes operating, by a computer system, the robot in a first state, detecting using a vacuum sensor, a transition of a vacuum parameter from a first vacuum parameter zone to a second parameter zone in a plurality of vacuum parameter zones. Based on detecting the transition of the vacuum parameter from the first vacuum parameter zone to the second vacuum parameter zone, the operating state of the robot is altered from the first state to a second state. Also disclosed is an item transfer robot as part of an item transfer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a pair of telephone lines and similar data communication channels from overvoltage and transients. A filter for filtering noise and transient voltage signals above desired data signals on telephone lines and similar data communication channels includes a longitudinal transformer. The longitudinal transformer includes a single transformer core and a pair of coils. A first one of the coils is connected in series with a first telephone line or a first similar data communication channel. A second one of the coils is connected in series with a second telephone line or a second similar data communication channel. The pair of coils are substantially identical; each coil having an identical number of turns. A high impedance is provided with the longitudinal transformer to noise and transient voltage signals above desired data signals. A low impedance is provided with the longitudinal transformer to desired data signals.

Abstract: An external DC (direct current) power supply is provided for supplying backup DC power to a supported device having an AC input connector. The power supply includes an AC (alternating current) voltage source. A voltage rectifier is coupled to the AC voltage source for rectifying the AC voltage source. An energy storage device coupled in parallel to the voltage rectifier provides a predetermined DC voltage threshold level. A connector of the external DC power supply applies a power output of the parallel combination of the voltage rectifier and the energy storage device to the AC input connector of the supported device. The external DC power supply is capable of reliably, effectively and efficiently supplying backup power to the AC power input of a supported system without requiring any special wiring or modification of the supported system using only the AC input plug for connection to the supported system.

Abstract: An EMI filter formed with a U-shaped ferrite core with parallel first and second legs and a center leg surrounded by a grounding and shorting strap and a capacitor connected between the grounding and shorting strap and a portion of a conductor which extends between the first and second legs. Two or more of the filters can be formed as a stacked array. The filter has a substantially improved frequency response over the prior art.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a non-isolated data communications cable against ground skew used with an AC power source. A current summing transformer is coupled to an AC power source. The current summing transformer includes a single transformer core and a plurality of coils. One of the coils is connected in series with each phase, neutral (if present) and ground line in the AC power source. The plurality of coils are substantially identical. Each coil has an identical number of turns and an identical direction of winding on the transformer core. The current summing transformer is only needed in the power path to one of two or more interconnected systems. The current summing transformer introduces a high impedance to surge current in the data cable ground of one or many non-isolated data cables attached to the system and at the same time offers substantially zero impedance to the normal power currents including leakage and fault ground currents.

Abstract: Overvoltage protection arrangements are provided for a pair of telephone lines effective for suppressing noise and transient voltage signals occurring above data and voice signals carried on the telephone lines and that avoids current flow between the telephone lines responsive to common mode voltage signals on the lines so that audible hum is avoided. The overvoltage protection arrangements include first voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a first predetermined voltage potential and second voltage clamping and filter circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a second predetermined voltage potential and for filtering noise and transient signals from the voltage signals only when the voltage signals exceed the second predetermined voltage potential. The second voltage clamping circuitry substantially avoids current flow between the lines responsive to common mode voltage signals on the lines.

Abstract: A line noise signal measurement system is provided with detecting circuitry for providing a sensed analog signal. Compression circuitry is coupled to the detecting circuitry for providing an amplitude compressed signal responsive to the applied sensed signal. The compression circuitry has a stepwise substantially linear transfer function responsive to a variable magnitude of the applied sensed signal. Signal processing circuitry is coupled to the compression circuitry for sequentially generating a digital signal representative of the sensed analog signal. Digital processing circuitry sequentially identifies a maximum peak signal for a predetermined time interval and provides linearity correction for the identified maximum peak signals and generates a display of the corrected peak signals.

Abstract: Overvoltage protection circuits are provided for coupling a subscriber's station to first and second conductors connected to a telephone system or other similar communications source. The overvoltage protection circuits include first circuitry connected between the first and second conductors for conducting current at a first breakdown voltage and for blocking current below the first breakdown voltage; second circuitry for conducting current at a second breakdown voltage and for blocking current below the second breakdown voltage; and circuitry connected in series between the first and second circuitry for filtering voltage signals on the first and second conductors responsive to the second circuitry conducting current. The overvoltage protection circuits are effective for suppressing noise and transient voltage signals occurring above the data signal and do not require a transient voltage signal to exceed the ring signal for operation.

Abstract: An AC branch power distribution filter is provided for supplying AC power to a plurality of different load devices from a common external AC power source that eliminates the need for a separate protection device at each power outlet with the load devices. A plurality of elongate, flat conductors are coupled to the AC power source and include a neutral conductor, a ground conductor and at least one live conductor. The elongate flat conductors are parallel and spaced apart in an electrically insulated casing member. An electrically conductive shield member is electrically connected to the ground conductor and extends lengthwise of the elongate flat conductors overlying the insulative casing member. The shield member provides a shunt capacitance between ground potential and each of the live conductors and the neutral conductor. This distributed capacitance is utilized as the shunt element of the distribution filter.

Abstract: A dual programmable control time constant circuit is provided for a tap switching line voltage regulator of the type which selectively switches in a sequential adjacent one of a predetermined number of taps on a winding of a transformer. The dual programmable control time constant circuit includes a stepping counter and a first bistable device for determining how long a sensed signal representative of the voltage of the load circuit may be permitted to remain outside preset upper and lower limits before corrective action is taken. A second bistable device is used to reset the stepping counter when the sensed signal has changed so as to again fall within the preset limits for a predetermined time. The dual programmable control time constants provide for large variations in load characteristics with the minimum time required per tap change consistent with stable regulator operation. The surge current caused by excessive tap switching is reduced to prevent damage to the regulator and load components.

Abstract: A high voltage filtering and protection circuit that is particularly useful in multilead distribution systems, that include a live, a neutral and a ground line. Transient voltage suppressors are connected from a common node to each of the lines. The suppressors are advantageously silicon diode transient voltage suppressors suitable for high voltage applications, clamping at a rated voltage in one direction and having a forward diode characteristic in the other direction. Each suppressor may be paired with a parallel filter capacitor protected by its diode from surges or transient voltages. The paired suppressors and parallel filter capacitor where polarized capacitors are utilized provides an AC equivalent capacitor. In one arrangement, a gas discharge tube is provided in series with the suppressor that is connected from the common node to the ground line.

Abstract: An AC variable voltage source utilizing pulse width modulation is provided that converts an input of two AC voltage waveforms of the same frequency but opposite phase into a single AC voltage output of the same frequency but with a variable amplitude. The variable voltage source includes a control voltage input that determines the amplitude of the AC voltage output. The two AC input voltage waveform are provided by buck and boost windings of an AC input transformer having a primary winding connected to an AC source. The variable voltage source utilizes phase switch stages each connected to a respective one of the buck or boost windings and including back to back power MOSFETS. Each of the phase switch stages is controlled at a switching frequence much higher than the AC input frequency with the duty cycle of operation of each of the phase switch stages determining the amplitude of the controlled output.

Abstract: A two-wired telephone testing system employing a low frequency test signal which is a submultiple of the power line frequency. This test signal is applied between the two-wires or between either wire at a point of potential reference (ground). A measure of the integrated value of the current between the connected points is then made for a period equal to one-half cycle of the applied signal with one polarity and one-half cycle with the polarity of the measured signal reversed. The integration periods are selected to be in phase with the applied signal for determining conductance and 90.degree. out of phase for determining susceptance. Direct current measurement can also be made for the same time periods.