Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes repeatedly selecting, by a control system for the environment, control settings for the environment based on internal parameters of the control system, wherein: at least some of the control settings for the environment are selected based on a causal model, and the internal parameters include a first set of internal parameters that define a number of previously received performance metric values that are used to generate the causal model for a particular controllable element; obtaining, for each selected control setting, a performance metric value; determining that generating the causal model for the particular controllable element would result in higher system performance; and adjusting, based on the determining, the first set of internal parameters.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes identifying a procedural instance; determining a temporal extent for the procedural instance based on temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities in the procedural instance; selecting control settings for the procedural instance; monitoring environment responses to the control settings that are received for the one or more entities; determining which of the environment responses to attribute to the procedural instance in a causal model; and adjusting, based at least in part on the environment responses that are attributed to the procedural instance, the temporal extent parameters for the one or more entities.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining causal models for controlling environments. One of the methods includes repeatedly selecting control settings for the environment based on (i) a causal model that identifies causal relationships between possible settings for controllable elements in the environment and environment responses that reflect a performance of the control system in controlling the environment and (ii) current values of a set of internal parameters; and during the repeatedly selecting: monitoring environment responses to the selected control settings; determining, based on the environment responses, an indication that one or more properties of the environment have changed; and in response, modifying the current values of one or more of the internal parameters.

Abstract: Devices and methods for packaging food cups is provided. The devices include unitary blanks with a front panel, bottom panel, rear panel, top panel, and side closures (in various forms) configured for assembly into a hollow substantially polyhedral package enclosure for 2 cups, 4 cups, or other even number of cups. Package enclosures with different side closures are designed for assembly with no glue joints, one glue joint, 3 glue joints (two cup enclosure), or 5 glue joints. Package enclosures provide visual displays that permit viewing of contents of cups secured in the enclosures. Package enclosures are structurally stable for packaging, transport, and storage. And the visual displays provide aesthetic appeal for consumers. Material and manufacturing costs and product waste are minimized with the invention.

Abstract: Devices and methods for packaging food cups is provided. The devices include unitary blanks with a front panel, bottom panel, rear panel, top panel, and side closures (in various forms) configured for assembly into a hollow substantially polyhedral package enclosure for 2 cups, 4 cups, or other even number of cups. Package enclosures with different side closures are designed for assembly with no glue joints, one glue joint, 3 glue joints (two cup enclosure), or 5 glue joints. Package enclosures provide visual displays that permit viewing of contents of cups secured in the enclosures. Package enclosures are structurally stable for packaging, transport, and storage. And the visual displays provide aesthetic appeal for consumers. Material and manufacturing costs and product waste are minimized with the invention.

Abstract: A light input energizes an optical transmitter providing a light output to a waveguide indicating a process variable. The transmitter has a process variable sensor generating a sensor output. An electrical circuit receives the sensor output and generates an electrical transmitter output indicating the process variable adjusted by a changeable parameter stored in the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit has an input energizing the circuit. An LED converts the electrical transmitter output to the light output. A gallium arsenide photodiode converts a first portion of received light into electrical energy provided to the energization input and converts a second portion of the received light into an electrical output controlling the stored parameter.