Abstract: An air hose includes a corrugated flexible hose. The air hose also includes a first hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The first hose end section includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to a warming unit. The first hose end section is configured to releasably couple to a pneumatic convective device. The air hose also includes a second hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The second hose end section is configured to couple to the warming unit.

Abstract: An air hose includes a corrugated flexible hose. The air hose also includes a first hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The first hose end section includes a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to a warming unit. The first hose end section is configured to releasably couple to a pneumatic convective device. The air hose also includes a second hose end section mechanically coupled to the corrugated flexible hose. The second hose end section is configured to couple to the warming unit.

Abstract: The disclosed sterilizer includes a humidity control system for controlling humidity. The sterilizer for sterilizing objects comprises a chamber for receiving objects to be sterilized and a humidity control system. The humidity control system comprises a water control system which can be connected to a water source for injecting a first quantity of water vapor into the chamber, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the chamber for measuring pressure in the chamber, a humidity sensor in fluid communication, or in selective fluid communication, with the chamber for sensing a first humidity value (RHchamber) of the first quantity of water vapor in the chamber; and a controller configured to inject a second quantity of water vapor into the chamber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a temperature device including a flexible substrate, and an electrical circuit on a surface of the flexible substrate, the electrical circuit including a heater element having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, the inner perimeter surrounding a zone of the surface, the zone is thermally distinct from the heater element, wherein the heater element has a first dimension defining the outer perimeter and a second dimension defining the inner perimeter, wherein a ratio of the first dimension to a second dimension is no greater than 2.1:1, a first thermal sensor disposed in the zone, a second thermal sensor disposed outside of the heater element, a plurality of electrical pads disposed outside of the heater element, and a plurality of conductive traces connecting the first and second thermal sensors and the heater element with the plurality of electrical pads.

Abstract: A system and methods for sterilizing and drying contaminated articles, particularly medical articles, and more particularly the hollow internal areas of medical instruments or lumens of medical endoscopes. The system includes a plasma generator having an electrode, a shield, and a dielectric gap between the electrode and the shield. A source of electrical power connected to the plasma generator applies an electrode energy density between the electrode and the shield. A source of a sterilizing gas precursor provides a flow of the sterilizing gas precursor through the plasma generator to generate a plasma, thereby forming a sterilizing gas including acidic and/or oxidizing species. The contaminated article is exposed to the sterilizing gas for a time sufficient to achieve a desired degree of sterilization. A turbulent flow of a drying gas is used to dry the contaminated article alternately with the exposure of the contaminated article to the sterilizing gas.

Abstract: Process monitoring systems include a reader having a read sensor, an optional reference sensor, and a light source. The reader optionally includes an optical block defining an interior volume and an aperture aligned with the read sensor to allow diffuse light to be received by the read sensor. One or more percent reflectance values may be calculated in response to a dark measurement, a correction function, and normalization. The one or more percent reflectance values may be compared to a threshold to determine whether a disinfection cycle was effective. The reader may indicate the determination to a user and provide the determination to a tracking system for diagnostics, inventory management, or compliance monitoring.

Abstract: The disclosed sterilizer includes a humidity control system for controlling humidity. The sterilizer for sterilizing objects comprises a chamber for receiving objects to be sterilized and a humidity control system. The humidity control system comprises a water control system which can be connected to a water source for injecting a first quantity of water vapor into the chamber, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the chamber for measuring pressure in the chamber, a humidity sensor in fluid communication, or in selective fluid communication, with the chamber for sensing a first humidity value (RHchamber) of the first quantity of water vapor in the chamber; and a controller configured to inject a second quantity of water vapor into the chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling humidity. Methods can include providing a chamber configured to receive objects to be sterilized; injecting a first quantity of water into the chamber; determining a pressure rise and a pressure drop in the chamber resulting from the first injection; calculating an absorption ratio (AR) as the ratio of the pressure drop to the pressure rise; sensing the humidity of the chamber after the first injection to determine a first humidity value (RHchamber); comparing the first humidity value to a pre-selected humidity value (RHsetpoint) to determine a humidity error (RHerror), wherein RHerror=RHsetpoint?RHchamber; and injecting a second quantity of water into the chamber, wherein the second quantity of water is calculated based on the absorption ratio (AR) and the humidity error (RHerror). Systems can perform the method; and the systems and methods can be employed in a sterilizer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling humidity. Methods can include providing a chamber configured to receive objects to be sterilized; injecting a first quantity of water into the chamber; determining a pressure rise and a pressure drop in the chamber resulting from the first injection; calculating an absorption ratio (AR) as the ratio of the pressure drop to the pressure rise; sensing the humidity of the chamber after the first injection to determine a first humidity value (RHchamber); comparing the first humidity value to a pre-selected humidity value (RHsetpoint) to determine a humidity error (RHerror), wherein RHerror=RHsetpoint?RHchamber; and injecting a second quantity of water into the chamber, wherein the second quantity of water is calculated based on the absorption ratio (AR) and the humidity error (RHerror). Systems can perform the method; and the systems and methods can be employed in a sterilizer.

Abstract: A branch circuit black box for use in a building electrical system having service entrance, current protection switches (circuit breakers or fuses), and a power distribution system includes a plurality of sensors positioned adjacent to the distribution wires, wherein the sensor data is collected, analyzed and stored by a robust non volatile memory for the purpose of recovering state and operational characteristics of branch circuits after the incident has occurred in a building.

Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensing device includes at least two magnetoresistive elements which are biased in a first direction by an integral conductor and are sensitive to magnetic field components in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The sensitivity of the device to a magnetic field is adjustable and is related to the level of the bias current. In a current measuring application, two of the magnetic field sensing devices are mounted on opposite sides of and perpendicular to a conductor carrying a current to be measured. In a portable current measuring apparatus, two of the magnetic field sensors are mounted in a housing that assists in locating the magnetic field sensors relative to the conductor carrying the current to be measured.

Abstract: A position determining apparatus including a magnet that is attached to a movable member which moves along a defined path of finite length. An array of distributed bridge sensors are located adjacent to the predefined path. The distributed bridge sensors each have one or more magneto-resistive elements positioned at a first location along the defined path of the magnet, and one or more other magneto-resistive elements positioned at a second location along the defined path. The magneto-resistive elements at the first location experience a different magnetic field component than those at the second location. The distributed bridge sensors produce an increased linear range relative to non-distributed bridge sensors of the prior art.

Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensing device includes at least two magnetoresistive elements which are biased in a first direction by an integral conductor and are sensitive to magnetic field components in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The sensitivity of the device to a magnetic field is adjustable and is related to the level of the bias current. In a current measuring application, two of the magnetic field sensing devices are mounted on opposite sides of and perpendicular to a conductor carrying a current to be measured. In a portable current measuring apparatus, two of the magnetic field sensors are mounted in a housing that assists in locating the magnetic field sensors relative to the conductor carrying the current to be measured.

Abstract: Signal isolator circuits using one or more magneto-resistive sensors are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a magneto-resistive sensor is used to sense an input magnetic field. A feedback circuit senses the output signal from the sensor, and applies a current to an output coil that substantially null out the input magnetic field at the magneto-resistive sensor. In another embodiment, the input signal is provided to a first magneto-resistive bridge sensor and an offset input signal is provided to a second magneto-resistive bridge sensor. Changes in sensitivity of the bridge sensors can be detected by comparing the output signal signals from the sensors. The excitation voltage that is applied to the sensors is then adjusted to compensate for any changes in sensitivity. It is contemplated that a single magneto-resistive bridge sensor may be used to effectively perform both measurements of the first and second magneto-resistive bridge sensors.

Abstract: A core of semi-permeable material forms a magnetic circuit having air gaps. A movable magnet provides flux in a first portion and a second portion of the magnetic circuit with the location of the magnet determining the portion. Magnetoresistive sensors in the air gaps provide signals related to the position of the magnet.

Abstract: A position determining apparatus including a magnet that is attached to a movable member which moves along a predefined path of finite length. An array of magnetic field transducers are located adjacent to the predefined path. The transducers provide a bipolar output signal as the magnet approaches, passes and moves away from each transducer. A correction mechanism is provided to correct for residual error caused by the non-linearity of the transducers. The correction mechanism preferably approximates the residual error with a predetermined function, and applies correction factors that correspond to the predetermined function to offset the residual error. By correcting for the non-linearity of the transducers, the length of the magnet may be reduced and/or the spacing of the transducers may be reduced.

Abstract: A controller for a heat pump system wherein the controller has a variable capacity control capability that responds to thermostat output signals. The variable capacity controller computes real-time performance parameters at variable capacity heating/cooling load conditions of the heat pump system. A defrost controller calculates an optimum heat pump operating time period between successive defrost cycles during a heating mode of the heat pump. Such values are calculated as a function of sensed time, temperature and variable capacity operating conditions which are calculated by the variable capacity controller. The controller preferably has a manual mode for verifying correct operation of each actuator of the heat pump system, as a function of a sequenced input signal, while the heat pump system is in a shutdown mode.

Abstract: A controller for a gas heat pump system wherein the controller has a variable capacity control capability that responds to thermostat output signals. The variable capacity controller computes real-time performance parameters at variable capacity heating/cooling load conditions of the gas heat pump system. A defrost controller calculates a maximum heat pump operating time period between successive defrost cycles and a minimum heat pump operating time period of each defrost cycle, during a heating mode of the gas heat pump. Such values are calculated as a function of sensed time, temperature and variable capacity operating conditions which are calculated by the variable capacity controller. The controller preferably has a manual mode for verifying correct operation of each actuator of the gas heat pump system, as a function of a sequenced input signal, while the gas heat pump system is in a shutdown mode.

Abstract: A N-modular redundancy fault tolerant computing system comprises a plurality of microprocessors having their data outputs applied simultaneously to a voter. In accordance with this invention, the system can be event driven while still maintaining synchrony. This is accomplished by providing timing means for establishing a predetermined program execution interval comprised of a fixed number of clock cycles for the plurality of computer means of the N-modular fault tolerant system, the timing means assuring that all of said computer means achieve an identical machine state at the end of the predetermined program execution interval.

Abstract: A apparatus is provided for estimating the position of a rotor of a commutated brushless motor operating without a shaft position sensor. The apparatus includes a tank circuit that incorporates a phase winding of the motor. A low-power signal of a frequency F.sub.1 is injected into the tank circuit. The frequency F.sub.1 is much greater than the switching frequency F.sub.s of the phase winding. Because the effective inductance (L) of the phase winding incorporated into the tank circuit changes in a cyclic manner in response to changes in the mechanical angle .THETA. of the rotor, the characteristic resonant frequency F.sub.0 of the tank circuit varies between maximum and minimum values. The effect of the variation of the resonant frequency F.sub.0 on the output characteristics of the tank circuit are used by a detection circuit to resolve the mechanical angle .THETA. of the rotor and, thereby, control the timing of the phase firing sequence.