Abstract: A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure using an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector is disclosed. The method comprises applying a bipolar energy to a target tissue grasped by the end effector in a tissue-feathering segment, applying an energy blend of the bipolar energy and a monopolar energy to the target tissue in a tissue-warming segment and a tissue-sealing segment following the tissue-warming segment, and discontinuing the bipolar energy but continuing to apply the monopolar energy to the target tissue in a tissue-cutting segment following the tissue-sealing segment.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system is disclosed. The surgical suturing system comprises a shaft comprising a shaft diameter, a firing drive, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft. The end effector comprises a needle track and a needle comprising suturing material attached thereto, wherein the needle is configured to be guided by the needle track and actuated by the firing drive through a firing stroke, and wherein the needle is movable along a needle path comprising a maximum capture width which is greater than the shaft diameter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device is disclosed including a surgical tool including a proximal transducer mounting portion defining a surface, a distal end effector end, and a waveguide disposed therebetween, the waveguide extending along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic surgical device further includes a transducer is in mechanical communication with the surface of the transducer mounting portion. The transducer is configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Upon activation by an electrical signal having a predetermined frequency component, the transducer is configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool to cause the end effector to vibrate, the standing wave having a wavelength proportional to the predetermined frequency component of the electrical signal.

Abstract: A method for adjusting control parameters of a clip applier using a surgical hub is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during a first surgical procedure, evaluating the gathered data to determine the appropriate operation of a clip applier in a subsequent surgical procedure, gathering data during the operation of the clip applier in the subsequent surgical procedure, determining if the operation of the clip applier needs to be adjusted based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure, and adjusting the operation of the clip applier based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure.

Abstract: An automated order fulfillment facility including one or more rows of storage locations for storing totes or other containers, mobile robots configured to move along and/or between rails to transfer the totes or other containers to and from the storage locations, and an energy absorbing mechanical guard mounted at a point along the rails to block or stop a runaway mobile robot. The energy absorbing mechanical guard may be configured to stop mobile robots traveling at a maximum rate of speed for the mobile robots, without damaging the mobile robots.

Abstract: A presence or an absence of an occupant is detected, and an occupancy sensor signal is generated representative of an active state in which the presence of the occupant is detected, and an inactive state in which the absence of the occupant is detected. An ambient light sensor detects the ambient light level and generates an ambient light sensor signal representative of the ambient light level. Dimmable illumination is generated at a first dimming level, based on the ambient light level, corresponding to the active state and a second dimming level corresponding to the inactive state. A transition delay time between an onset of the inactive state and a transition between the first dimming level and the second dimming level may be controlled. The first dimming level, the second dimming level, and/or the transition delay time may be variably set or controlled locally or via a remote device.

Abstract: An ambient light sensor measures an ambient light level at one point in an illuminated environment, such as a warehouse, office, shop, cold-storage facility, or industrial facility, and provides an indication of the measured ambient light level to a processor. The processor maps the measured ambient light level to an estimated ambient light level at a different point in the illuminated environment from the measured ambient light level (e.g., a “task height” about three feet from a warehouse floor). The processor may determine the difference between the estimated ambient light level and a desired light level at the task height, and may change the artificial illumination provided by a light fixture to make the actual ambient light level at task height match the desired light level at the task height.

Abstract: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) generate light more efficiently than high-intensity discharge lamps or high-intensity fluorescent lamps. Driving a series of LEDs with a constant-voltage primary supply and a low-voltage LED driver keeps efficiency high. Unfortunately, LED forward voltage varies as a function of temperature: at low temperature, the forward voltage rises. Placing the LEDs in series magnifies the forward voltage increases. This makes it difficult to drive a series of LEDs at low temperature with a constant-voltage supply because the forward voltage can exceed the power supply voltage. To account for this behavior, an exemplary LED lighting fixture includes a “bypass” circuit that, when engaged, effectively removes at least one LED from each series string of LEDs to bring the total forward voltage below the power supply voltage. The low-voltage driver circuit monitors temperature, and engages the “bypass” circuit when necessary to ensure that DC voltage is not exceeded.

Abstract: Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the collection of data regarding a plurality of customers in a retail or entertainment environment. Data may be collected via at least one sensor coupled to at least one lighting fixture in the retail or entertainment environment. In one exemplary implementation, data may be collected by one or more lighting fixtures, and data may be communicated via light generated by any one or more fixtures without perceivably affecting a quality of light generated by the one or more fixtures. A map may be generated based on the collected data to display traffic patterns and/or dwell times of the plurality of customers in the retail or entertainment environment, and such a map may be displayed, for example, via a graphical user interface.

Abstract: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) generate light more efficiently than high-intensity discharge lamps or high-intensity fluorescent lamps. Driving a series of LEDs with a constant-voltage primary supply and a low-voltage LED driver keeps efficiency high. Unfortunately, LED forward voltage varies as a function of temperature: at low temperature, the forward voltage rises. Placing the LEDs in series magnifies the forward voltage increases. This makes it difficult to drive a series of LEDs at low temperature with a constant-voltage supply because the forward voltage can exceed the power supply voltage. To account for this behavior, an exemplary LED lighting fixture includes a “bypass” circuit that, when engaged, effectively removes at least one LED from each series string of LEDs to bring the total forward voltage below the power supply voltage. The low-voltage driver circuit monitors temperature, and engages the “bypass” circuit when necessary to ensure that DC voltage is not exceeded.

Abstract: Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface.

Abstract: An ambient light sensor measures an ambient light level at one point in an illuminated environment, such as a warehouse, office, shop, cold-storage facility, or industrial facility, and provides an indication of the measured ambient light level to a processor. The processor maps the measured ambient light level to an estimated ambient light level at a different point in the illuminated environment from the measured ambient light level (e.g., a “task height” about three feet from a warehouse floor). The processor may determine the difference between the estimated ambient light level and a desired light level at the task height, and may change the artificial illumination provided by a light fixture to make the actual ambient light level at task height match the desired light level at the task height.

Abstract: A presence or an absence of an occupant is detected, and an occupancy sensor signal is generated representative of an active state in which the presence of the occupant is detected, and an inactive state in which the absence of the occupant is detected. An ambient light sensor detects the ambient light level and generates an ambient light sensor signal representative of the ambient light level. Dimmable illumination is generated at a first dimming level, based on the ambient light level, corresponding to the active state and a second dimming level corresponding to the inactive state. A transition delay time between an onset of the inactive state and a transition between the first dimming level and the second dimming level may be controlled. The first dimming level, the second dimming level, and/or the transition delay time may be variably set or controlled locally or via a remote device.

Abstract: An ambient light sensor measures an ambient light level at one point in an illuminated environment, such as a warehouse, office, shop, cold-storage facility, or industrial facility, and provides an indication of the measured ambient light level to a processor. The processor maps the measured ambient light level to an estimated ambient light level at a different point in the illuminated environment from the measured ambient light level (e.g., a “task height” about three feet from a warehouse floor). The processor may determine the difference between the estimated ambient light level and a desired light level at the task height, and may change the artificial illumination provided by a light fixture to make the actual ambient light level at task height match the desired light level at the task height.

Abstract: Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface.

Abstract: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) generate light more efficiently than high-intensity discharge lamps or high-intensity fluorescent lamps. Driving a series of LEDs with a constant-voltage primary supply and a low-voltage LED driver keeps efficiency high. Unfortunately, LED forward voltage varies as a function of temperature: at low temperature, the forward voltage rises. Placing the LEDs in series magnifies the forward voltage increases. This makes it difficult to drive a series of LEDs at low temperature with a constant-voltage supply because the forward voltage can exceed the power supply voltage. To account for this behavior, an exemplary LED lighting fixture includes a “bypass” circuit that, when engaged, effectively removes at least one LED from each series string of LEDs to bring the total forward voltage below the power supply voltage. The low-voltage driver circuit monitors temperature, and engages the “bypass” circuit when necessary to ensure that DC voltage is not exceeded.

Abstract: Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface.

Abstract: Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides photobioreactors, solar energy gathering systems, and methods for thermal control of a culture medium containing a phototrophic organism in a photobioreactor, that allow temperature control in a cost effective manner, reducing the energy required for temperature control of a culture medium containing phototrophic microorganisms in a photobioreactor.