Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an instrument kit tracking system that includes a housing that has tracking electronics that is contained in either a compartment or wall of the medical instrument kit or in a standalone unit that is affixed to a medical instrument kit to contain and protect an electronic device from external temperatures up to 132° C., and higher; where the medical instrument kit contains at least one medical instrument. The internal temperature of the instrument kit tracking system is maintained such that the electronic device contained therein is operable when the external temperature is up to 132° C., and higher. Hardware system architecture and integrated power management intelligently controls power consumption of electronic components for electronic component safety and integrity, efficiency and long term battery life of the device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an instrument kit tracking system that includes a housing that has a parent tracker affixed thereto as well as at least one medical instrument tray residing in the instrument kit housing that receives at least one medical instrument. A child tracker affixed to each of the at least one medical instrument tray where the child tracker communicates data to the parent tracker to obviate the need for full communications electronics, such as including GPS, within the child tracker to thereby save costs while sacrificing minimal loss of accuracy. The temperature sensor in the parent tracker records a temperature reading and calculate a usage of the at least one medical instrument if the temperature reading is above a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electromagnetic connector well suited for use in harsh environments. The connector used an E-core or C-core magnetic members for coupling power such as from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane and using I-cores for coupling signals to and from the module. Separation of the power and signaling allows optimization of each coupling without compromise in performance of each function. Use of I-cores for signal coupling provides efficient use of space, with the use of E-cores or C-cores providing maximum power coupling to the module in a minimum space. Various aspects of exemplary embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic connector is disclosed that is configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion comprising a first core member and a first coil disposed of the first core member. The electromagnetic connector is configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector, where the second electromagnetic connector is configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion comprising a second core member and a second coil disposed of the second core member. The first core member and the second core member are configured to couple the first coil to the second coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. The magnetic circuit is configured to induce a signal in the first coil when the second coil is energized.

Abstract: An electromagnetic connector well suited for use in harsh environments. The connector used an E-core or C-core magnetic members for coupling power such as from a backplane to a module mounted on the backplane and using I-cores for coupling signals to and from the module. Separation of the power and signaling allows optimization of each coupling without compromise in performance of each function. Use of I-cores for signal coupling provides efficient use of space, with the use of E-cores or C-cores providing maximum power coupling to the module in a minimum space. Various aspects of exemplary embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A communications control system is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface for coupling a plurality of input/output modules with a control module. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting the plurality of input/output modules to the control module in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of input/output modules and the control module, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of input/output modules to the control module to transmit information between the plurality of input/output modules and the control module, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of input/output modules. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch.

Abstract: A switch fabric is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting a plurality of slave devices to a master device in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of slave devices to the master device to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of slave devices. The parallel communications interface may comprise a dedicated parallel communications channel for each one of the plurality of slave devices. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch.

Abstract: A switch fabric is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting a plurality of slave devices to a master device in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of slave devices to the master device to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of slave devices. The parallel communications interface may comprise a dedicated parallel communications channel for each one of the plurality of slave devices. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch.

Abstract: A communications control system is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface for coupling a plurality of input/output modules with a control module. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting the plurality of input/output modules to the control module in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of input/output modules and the control module, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of input/output modules to the control module to transmit information between the plurality of input/output modules and the control module, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of input/output modules. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch.

Abstract: An electromagnetic connector is disclosed that is configured to form a first magnetic circuit portion comprising a first core member and a first coil disposed of the first core member. The electromagnetic connector is configured to mate with a second electromagnetic connector, where the second electromagnetic connector is configured to form a second magnetic circuit portion comprising a second core member and a second coil disposed of the second core member. The first core member and the second core member are configured to couple the first coil to the second coil with a magnetic circuit formed from the first magnetic circuit portion and the second magnetic circuit portion when the electromagnetic connector is mated with the second electromagnetic connector. The magnetic circuit is configured to induce a signal in the first coil when the second coil is energized.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating data from a low security assurance source to a high security assurance destination in which information data is transferred from the low end source to the high end destination, but acknowledgments from the high end destination are not directly returned back to the originating source. Rather, receipt of an acknowledgment from a high end destination triggers the generation of a new acknowledgment which is then transmitted back to the originating low end source to acknowledge receipt of the information data. The low end acknowledgment may be generated from an acknowledgment template in which the data payload is empty.

Abstract: A self-validating output module in a control system includes a current detector and an operating component having at least two states. When the operating component is in the first state, current is directed away from a current detector and toward a load. When it is in its second state, current is directed toward the current detector and away from the load. The presence or absence of current on the current detector is thus a status signal indicative of whether or not current is being supplied to the load. This status signal is then made available to a controller.

Abstract: In a three-wire RTD interface, a known current is connected to a first lead during a first measurement interval. In this configuration, current is directed to the first lead and into an RTD. This results in a first signal indicative of a first voltage drop resulting from the voltage drops across the RTD and the lead resistance of the first lead. During a second measurement interval, current is directed through a second lead having a lead resistance substantially identical to the lead resistance of the first lead. This results in a second signal indicative of the voltage drop resulting from the second lead. The first signal, the second signal, and the known current are then combined to eliminate the effect of the lead resistance and to determine the resistance of the RTD.