Abstract: A cable connector including a housing with a main body having a front face opposite a rear face and pin holes formed through the main body extending between the front face and the rear face, a first arm and second arm extending from the main body distal from the rear face; a cover removably coupled to the front face, the cover including receivers configured to align with the pin holes to receive either a pin or a socket connected at a terminal end of a wire; fasteners removably coupled to the cover and the housing; at least one guide post extending from an outer surface of the cover; a collar supported between the first arm and the second arm; and a predetermined pattern of the wire coupled to at least one of the pin and the socket, wherein either the pin or the socket are insertable in the pin hole.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting sheet material, comprising a frame including a first arm and a second arm, the second arm in communication with the first arm to support a roll of the sheet material there-between, and a drive roller for transporting the sheet material from the roll. The first arm and the second arm automatically resize the frame corresponding to the dimensions of the roll of the sheet material to provide constant tension in the roll of sheet material by controlling a position of the roll of the sheet material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining sheet material edges on a surface including a sensor configured to detect an outer edge and a usable edge of the sheet material and a controller in communication with the sensor. The sensor comprises a first color optical sensor producing a first signal representing a first physical attribute of the sheet material and a second color optical sensor producing a second signal representing a second physical attribute of the sheet material. The controller comprises a processor, a memory, and a communications adapter, controls dispensing and spreading of the sheet material for detection by the sensor, and signals to a user a presence of the usable edge in the sheet material upon detection by the sensor.

Abstract: An improved technique involves using a systems dynamics model in an information technology (IT) data center in order to determine an optimal distribution of data among data center devices. Along these lines, a data center control server takes measurements of devices across an IT data center over time and compares these measurements to quantities specified in set points (e.g., a service level agreement (SLA)) to produce deviations. The data center control server then inputs the deviations from the set points into a systems dynamics engine that determines a configuration of the devices in the IT data center so that output from the IT data center satisfies a set of constraints, including those specified in the SLA. The data center control server then configures the IT data center devices according to the configuration to send incoming data along the specified data paths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting sheet material, comprising a frame including a first arm and a second arm, the second arm in communication with the first arm to support a roll of the sheet material there-between, and a drive roller for transporting the sheet material from the roll. The first arm and the second arm automatically resize the frame corresponding to the dimensions of the roll of the sheet material to provide constant tension in the roll of sheet material by controlling a position of the roll of the sheet material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining sheet material edges on a surface including a sensor configured to detect an outer edge and a usable edge of the sheet material and a controller in communication with the sensor. The sensor comprises a first color optical sensor producing a first signal representing a first physical attribute of the sheet material and a second color optical sensor producing a second signal representing a second physical attribute of the sheet material. The controller comprises a processor, a memory, and a communications adapter, controls dispensing and spreading of the sheet material for detection by the sensor, and signals to a user a presence of the usable edge in the sheet material upon detection by the sensor.

Abstract: Obesity has grown into one of the world's most significant health problems. The field of bariatrics and the quantity of bariatric surgical procedures is projected to continue to increase rapidly each year. This trend presents a challenge to healthcare providers and facilities striving to provide dignified care that is effective and safe both for the patient and the provider. There is a great demand for new approaches to bariatric patient care. The present invention is a robotic patient lifting system, targeted for, but not limited to, bariatric patient care. Without the need for difficult, time consuming slings and hoists associated with currently available systems, the invented lifting and transferring system utilizes rapidly deployable, articulated robotic arms with gentle conveyor belts. A unique linkage system allows powerful, safe, and flexible lifting and positioning of the patient with a minimal number of actuators.