Abstract: A battery pack designed for disassembly and maintenance comprises a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell has a set of battery terminals, and ones of the set of battery terminals are connected electrically to supply collective power. A set of battery pack terminals receives and conveys the collective power. The battery pack includes a flexible outer sheathing secured around it that rigidifies the battery pack. For example, one or more foils may connect ones of the sets of battery terminals, and layers of electrical insulation may be included within the outer sheathing, for example, interposed between the anodes and the cathodes of the battery cells and the foils. The outer sheathing may comprise shrink wrap. A battery assembly jig for assembling the battery pack is also disclosed. The assembly jig is both modular and symmetrical, allowing the battery cells to be easily welded.

Abstract: A battery management system implements a cell balancing method. In the method, the voltages of a set of battery cells are measured, typically at a regular interval. A controller, or another element of the battery management system, calculates statistics describing the measured voltages. These statistics typically include a measure of central tendency and a measure of variability. While the variability statistic is greater than a predefined threshold and each of the set of battery cell voltages is greater than a stop voltage, ones or groups of the set of battery cells are drained according to a predefined set of priority rules until the variability statistic is less than or equal to the predefined threshold or any one of the set of battery cells has a voltage less than or equal to a stop voltage. The stop voltage may be, or be derived from, the measure of central tendency.

Abstract: A method includes providing, by a server, a producer interface on a producer device of a respective producer for entering campaign parameters for a respective campaign. The producer interface provides (i) a product field facilitating selection of a respective ingredient for the respective campaign, (ii) a target bid field facilitating entry of a target bid for each unit of the respective ingredient for the respective campaign, (iii) a unit of measure field facilitating selection of a type of unit of measure that is used to measure a quantity of the respective ingredient, (iv) a quantity field facilitating entry of a campaign quantity of the respective ingredient for the respective campaign, and (v) an end bid field facilitating entry of a final bid for the respective campaign. The target bid and the campaign quantity define a campaign budget. The campaign parameters define an allocation line with a dynamically selectable slope.

Abstract: A piece of electronic equipment, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or server, has a case adapted for mounting in a rack or cabinet. The equipment includes a presence sensor installed within the case such that it has an external field of view. A controller connected to the presence sensor. In response to a presence detection by the presence sensor, the piece of electronic equipment may take any of a number of different actions, at least some of which are geared toward making the area around the equipment more comfortable for workers and providing workers with helpful information. These actions may include, but are not limited to, changing the speeds of internal fans, powering up a display to provide status and maintenance information, and other such actions. The presence sensor may also be used to detect emergency conditions, such as fire.

Abstract: Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and control methods are disclosed. The UPS can deliver power from a first source, such as AC grid power, under normal operating conditions and a from second source, such as batteries, if power from the first source is unavailable or unsuitable. The UPS can also allocate power to and among various connected loads and can supply supplemental power to a load if that load has surpassed its regular power allocation. For example, when the power output or demand from the loads exceeds the available incoming power from the first power source, supplemental power may be supplied from the second source. Thus, the UPS can support temporary surges in power demand by apportioning power among loads and by temporarily engaging all available power sources, if needed.

Abstract: A method includes providing, by a server, a producer interface on a producer device of a respective producer for entering campaign parameters for a respective campaign. The producer interface provides (i) a product field facilitating selection of a respective ingredient for the respective campaign, (ii) a target bid field facilitating entry of a target bid for each unit of the respective ingredient for the respective campaign, (iii) a unit of measure field facilitating selection of a type of unit of measure that is used to measure a quantity of the respective ingredient, (iv) a quantity field facilitating entry of a campaign quantity of the respective ingredient for the respective campaign, and (v) an end bid field facilitating entry of a final bid for the respective campaign. The target bid and the campaign quantity define a campaign budget. The campaign parameters define an allocation line with a dynamically selectable slope.

Abstract: A method includes comparing a consumer ingredient inventory to a plurality of recipes to determine a relevance percentage; separating the plurality of recipes into sets based on the relevance percentage; generating a respective campaign of a respective producer based on campaign parameters for a respective ingredient, which includes creating a plurality of slots based on a campaign quantity of the respective ingredient and determining a ranking bid for each of the plurality of slots based on the campaign parameters; and ranking each recipe within each of the sets based on a plurality of campaigns regarding each of the plurality of ingredients in each recipe, which includes determining a highest ranking bid from the plurality of campaigns for each ingredient in each recipe within each of the sets and aggregating the highest ranking bid for each ingredient in each recipe to determine a score for each recipe within each of the sets.

Abstract: A method includes comparing a consumer ingredient inventory to a plurality of recipes to determine a relevance percentage; separating the plurality of recipes into sets based on the relevance percentage; generating a respective campaign of a respective producer based on campaign parameters for a respective ingredient, which includes creating a plurality of slots based on a campaign quantity of the respective ingredient and determining a ranking bid for each of the plurality of slots based on the campaign parameters; and ranking each recipe within each of the sets based on a plurality of campaigns regarding each of the plurality of ingredients in each recipe, which includes determining a highest ranking bid from the plurality of campaigns for each ingredient in each recipe within each of the sets and aggregating the highest ranking bid for each ingredient in each recipe to determine a score for each recipe within each of the sets.

Abstract: A computerized auction system is used for collecting bids from a plurality of producers. The bids are placed on individual components of a multi-component ensemble. Bids from separate marketers are added and affect the rank of a single ensemble within a potential consumer's ensemble search result. The bids are cooperative as the separate bids on the components are added to form the single bid on the ensemble. The bids are anonymous such that each bidding marketer is kept unaware of whether another marketer's bid was combined with the bidding marketer's bid.

Abstract: A computerized auction system is used for collecting bids from a plurality of producers. The bids are placed on individual components of a multi-component ensemble. Bids from separate marketers are added and affect the rank of a single ensemble within a potential consumer's ensemble search result. The bids are cooperative as the separate bids on the components are added to form the single bid on the ensemble. The bids are anonymous such that each bidding marketer is kept unaware of whether another marketer's bid was combined with the bidding marketer's bid.

Abstract: A computerized auction system is used for collecting bids from a plurality of producers. The bids are placed on individual components of a multi-component ensemble. Bids from separate marketers are added and affect the rank of a single ensemble within a potential consumer's ensemble search result. The bids are cooperative as the separate bids on the components are added to form the single bid on the ensemble. The bids are anonymous such that each bidding marketer is kept unaware of whether another marketer's bid was combined with the bidding marketer's bid.

Abstract: A computerized auction system is used for collecting bids from a plurality of producers. The bids are placed on individual components of a multi-component ensemble. Bids from separate marketers are added and affect the rank of a single ensemble within a potential consumer's ensemble search result. The bids are cooperative as the separate bids on the components are added to form the single bid on the ensemble. The bids are anonymous such that each bidding marketer is kept unaware of whether another marketer's bid was combined with the bidding marketer's bid.

Abstract: A vehicle detector system having a number of individual vehicle detectors each capable of sampling a plurality of vehicle loops in mutual synchronization. One detector operates as a master detector for synchronization purposes; the other detectors are operated as slave detectors. The system can be configured for series or parallel synchronous operation. The system is particularly advantageous in installations requiring a large number of closely spaced vehicle loops each operated by a detector set to high sensitivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically testing the integrity of an inductive loop in a vehicle detector system. A check loop is placed adjacent each inductive loop in a multi-channel vehicle detector system. Each check loop is periodically activated by the vehicle detector to simulate a vehicle load on the associated inductive loop. Samples representing loop inductance at different activation periods are compared with a standard. When the result exceeds the standard, the inductive loop is subjected to additional sample testing with decreasing time intervals between sampling. After a number of additional samples exceed the standard, the inductive loop is deemed failed.

Abstract: A vehicle detector system having a number of individual vehicle detectors each capable of sampling a plurality of vehicle loops in mutual synchronization. One detector operates as a master detector for synchronization purposes; the other detectors are operated as slave detectors. The system can be configured for series or parallel synchronous operation. The system is particularly advantageous in installations requiring a large number of closely spaced vehicle loops each operated by a detector set to high sensitivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically testing the integrity of an inductive loop in a vehicle detector system. A check loop is placed adjacent each inductive loop in a multi-channel vehicle detector system. Each check loop is periodically activated by the vehicle detector to simulate a vehicle load on the associated inductive loop. Samples representing loop inductance at different activation periods are compared with a standard. When the result exceeds the standard, the inductive loop is subjected to additional sample testing with decreasing time intervals between sampling. After a number of additional samples exceed the standard, the inductive loop is deemed failed.