Abstract: A method includes imaging, with an optical read head attached to a second mechanical component, a portion of an encoder track disposed on a first mechanical component. The encoder track has a first encoder scale extending along the encoder track and a second encoder scale extending along the encoder track, and the imaged portion of the encoder track includes a first portion of the first encoder scale and a second portion of the second encoder scale. The method further includes transforming an imaged portion of the encoder track to a spatial frequency domain; identifying a pair of frequency bins in the spatial frequency domain; determining a phase difference between a first frequency bin and a second frequency bin in the pair of frequency bins; and mapping the phase difference to a positional relationship between the first mechanical component and the second mechanical component.

Abstract: A system includes an industrial controller comprising a first processor. The first processor is configured to execute a substantially deterministic control process. The first processor is further configured to communicate with a second processor included in a communications interface system and communicatively coupled to the first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to communicate an asynchronous data to the second processor via an industrial communications protocol during the execution of the control process, and the second processor is configured to retrieve external data from an external system based on the asynchronous signal, and to communicate the external data to the control system via an Ethernet-based communications protocol.

Abstract: A platform independent system for performing a search request provided by a user. The platform independent system includes a consuming application executing on a first computer that handles the search request provided by a user. The search request includes instructions to retrieve selected data from a second application. A web interface module executing on a second computer receives the search request and formulates search routines regardless of the search engine logic or infrastructure of the consuming application to connect to a data model that contains the selected data for retrieval. The web interface module structures data associated with the search request to be compatible for searching with the data model.

Abstract: A platform independent system for performing a search request provided by a user. The platform independent system includes a consuming application executing on a first computer that handles the search request provided by a user. The search request includes instructions to retrieve selected data from a second application. A web interface module executing on a second computer receives the search request and formulates search routines regardless of the search engine logic or infrastructure of the consuming application to connect to a data model that contains the selected data for retrieval. The web interface module structures data associated with the search request to be compatible for searching with the data model.

Abstract: A system includes an industrial controller comprising a first processor. The first processor is configured to execute a substantially deterministic control process. The first processor is further configured to communicate with a second processor included in a communications interface system and communicatively coupled to the first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to communicate an asynchronous data to the second processor via an industrial communications protocol during the execution of the control process, and the second processor is configured to retrieve external data from an external system based on the asynchronous signal, and to communicate the external data to the control system via an Ethernet-based communications protocol.

Abstract: Control applications can access data regarding interrelations among subsystems of a system and parameter values of the subsystems through interfaces in a service oriented architecture. Control applications can be added to operate on existing subsystems and subsystems can be added without required customized control applications.

Abstract: The present teachings provide, among other things, methods, systems, apparatus, and devices for providing protection for outdoor plants against the elements, and for regulation of climactic conditions for both indoor and outdoor plants. The present teachings provide, for example, methods and apparatus for covering growing plants to protect them from the elements, and to a freestanding rigid but collapsible frame and a fitted protective cover for use, for example, in cultivated agricultural fields, farmlands, and indoor spaces.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Agapanthus named ‘Golden Drop’, characterized by its variegated foliage with light green centers and creamy yellow margins, and its flowers that are light blue in color and held on erect stems.