Abstract: A programmable vent for a duct used with a building environmental air temperature control system. The programmable vent includes a vent housing with a front face which has an inset, where the vent housing is configured to allow air flow from the duct. At least one louver is movably connected to the vent housing, an actuator is connected to the at least one louver, a controller module is removably attached to the vent housing and positioned in the inset, the controller module being connected to the actuator when positioned in the inset.

Abstract: A loop network hub including a hub port with a loop initialization insertion mechanism. The loop initialization insertion mechanism causes a hub port which detects a new node port connection to automatically begin generating loop initialization data. A hub port continues to generate loop initialization data until that hub port receives a loop initialization sequence. The loop initialization data propagates around the loop of the hub, halting ordinary processing. In this way, the entire loop is cleared. Upon receiving a loop initialization sequence, the hub port originating the loop initialization data inserts the new node port into the loop. At this point, loop initialization begins and each node port in the loop network obtains a unique loop network address.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated laser capture microdissection are disclosed. High throughput microdissection is provided by using cell procurement and multi-imaging tools for pre-selecting cells of interest. Novel methods of computer-controlled cap transfer along with automated multi-slide and multi-cap placements, and automated slide and cap detection are provided. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: A unitary shelf that can be supported on a commercial fryer unit. The shelf is comprised of a flat, solid, horizontal surface capable of supporting pots, pans or fry preparation food components. The shelf includes L-shaped brackets having hooked or U-shaped ends. The hooked or U-shaped ends easily fit over the edge of a commercial fryer. The shelf incorporates lips or vertical barriers on one, two or three sides thereof to prevent the pots, pans or fry preparation components from being accidentally knocked from the flat surface of the shelf.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated laser capture microdissection are disclosed. High throughput microdissection is provided by using cell procurement and multi-imaging tools for pre-selecting cells of interest. Novel methods of computer-controlled cap transfer along with automated multi-slide and multi-cap placements, and automated slide and cap detection are provided. The systems and methods provide the advantages of increased speed and much lower rates of contamination.

Abstract: A loop network hub including a hub port with a loop initialization insertion mechanism. The loop initialization insertion mechanism causes a hub port which detects a new node port connection to automatically begin generating loop initialization data. A hub port continues to generate loop initialization data until that hub port receives a loop initialization sequence. The loop initialization data propagates around the loop of the hub, halting ordinary processing. In this way, the entire loop is cleared. Upon receiving a loop initialization sequence, the hub port originating the loop initialization data inserts the new node port into the loop. At this point, loop initialization begins and each node port in the loop network obtains a unique loop network address.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: A scalable hub divided into a plurality of internal hubs. Each internal hub is connected to a subsequent internal hub in a loop topology. The connection point for each internal hub to the interhub loop is a port which either bypasses that internal hub, isolating the disconnected internal hub, or connects that internal hub to the interhub loop, such that data flows between that internal hub and the interhub loop. In addition the preferred embodiment provides graceful degradation when an internal hub connected to the interhub loop fails.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub of a loop network which detects and replaces invalid data and invalid control signals in the datastream of the loop. The hub port detects invalid data and invalid control signals or primitives received from an attached node port and substitutes buffer data or valid primitives. The hub port substitutes buffer data or primitives which have correct running disparity for the datastream at the point of substitution. In another implementation, an error detection device is included in a loop network and monitors the datastream of the loop network. The error detection device detects invalid data and invalid control signals or primitives received from an upstream node in the loop and substitutes buffer data or valid primitives. The error detection device substitutes buffer data or primitives which have correct running disparity for the datastream at the point of substitution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a technique for inserting and removing a node in a network loop. In a preferred implementation, a hub port includes a detect element which monitors data from the node and from an upstream node. The detect element sets a first flag when a primitive is received at the port, and sets a second flag when a primitive which is a frame termination primitive is received at the port. A frame termination generator generates frame termination primitives and a buffer data generator generates buffer data. A switching element has a control input, an output, and a plurality of data inputs. One data input is connected to each of an output of the node, the upstream node, the frame termination generator, and the buffer data generator. A control element is connected to the detect element and the control input of the switching element.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub of a loop network which automatically bypasses a node port which is generating a particular loop failure initialization sequence. The hub port contains a detection circuit which enables the hub port to detect loop failure initialization data received from its attached node port. Upon detecting such data from an attached node port, the hub port replaces such data with buffer data to be passed to the next hub port. Upon detecting the completion of a loop failure initialization sequence from an attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode. The hub port no longer passes on output from its attached node port and instead forwards along the internal hub link data received from the previous hub port in the hub loop. The bypass is maintained until the hub port receives a primitive sequence indicating the recovery of the attached node port. The hub port periodically sends at least one recovery sequence to the node port.

Abstract: A loop network hub port with an automatic bypass feature. The automatic bypass feature causes the hub port to enter a bypass mode upon detection of a specified loop failure initialization sequence from a node port attached to the hub port. The hub port does not propagate loop failure initialization data generated by the attached node port upon the failure of a data channel from the hub port to the node port. The hub port replaces loop failure initialization data received from the node port with buffer data and conceals the node port failure from the remainder of the loop. Upon detection of the loop failure initialization sequence received from the attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode and maintains that bypass mode until a recovery sequence is received from the node port. At that point, the hub port reinserts the node port into the loop.

Abstract: In a loop network system, a method and apparatus for automatic bypass of a node port associated with a hub port when the node port generates a number of errors beyond a threshold level. In one aspect, a programmable error control circuit provides this automatic bypass. The tolerance level is set through programmable parameters including a number of errors as well as a time interval to evaluate the number of errors detected. After a node port has been bypassed by the error control circuit, the error control circuit continues to monitor the error generation of the node port. When that error generation has reached an acceptable tolerance level, the error control circuit automatically reinserts the node port into the loop. The error control circuit provides statistical reporting on the number of errors as well as the number of bypasses generated at a particular hub port.

Abstract: A hub port which maintains a constant phase in a datastream and reduces jitter transfer to an attached node port. The hub port includes circuitry for maintaining constant bit boundaries for all data transmitted along the hub loop from that hub port using an internal clock. In addition, the internal clock is used to reduce jitter transfer.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub of a loop network which automatically bypasses a node port which is generating a particular loop failure initialization sequence. The hub port contains a detection circuit which enables the hub port to detect loop failure initialization data received from its attached node port. Upon detecting such data from an attached node port, the hub port replaces such data with buffer data to be passed to the next hub port. Upon detecting the completion of a loop failure initialization sequence from an attached node port, the hub port enters a bypass mode. The hub port no longer passes on output from its attached node port and instead forwards along the internal hub link data received from the previous hub port in the hub loop. The bypass is maintained until the hub port receives a primitive sequence indicating the recovery of the attached node port. The hub port periodically sends at least one recovery sequence to the node port.

Abstract: A hub port in a hub which preferably eliminates the transfer of jitter in the signal transmitted to an attached node port. In one implementation, jitter transfer is preferably eliminated by transmitting data to an attached node port using a local clock internal to the hub rather than a clock signal recovered from the datastream. The hub port includes smoothing circuits to synchronize data received from the attached node port to the local clock.