Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, devices, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller.

Abstract: Provided is a circuit for controlling a level of brightness of a light electrically coupled to a dimming circuit including control leads configured to provide a dimming control voltage to the dimmable driver, the dimming control voltage having a permissible voltage range. The circuit includes a photo sensor for detecting an ambient light level in the vicinity of the light and a clamp controller for selectively reducing the dimming control voltage to a clamped voltage range less than the permissible voltage range. Also included is a feedback controller for adjusting the dimming control voltage in response to a detected ambient light level, the dimming control voltage being within the clamped voltage range.

Abstract: A method that includes the steps: inoculating nutrient agar with bacterial stock to form a culture; incubating the culture to form a first incubated culture; incubating a portion of the first culture with nutrient agar to form a second culture; incubating a portion of the second culture to form a third culture; incubating the third culture to form an inoculated test plate; forming an inoculum by suspending bacteria from the inoculated test plate in a buffered test solution, adjusting the pH to ˜7 to 8, and adding organic soil at a concentration of approximately 10% to 30% by weight; inoculating a silver-containing surface region of a test carrier with a portion of the inoculum; incubating the inoculated test carrier; washing the test carrier in a neutralizing solution to form a residual test inoculum; and calculating the percent reduction in the number of surviving bacterial colonies in the residual test inoculum.

Abstract: A server computer queries a client device using a test fingerprint that does not correspond to any document stored in the client device, and restricts access by the client device to the server computer if the query result is incorrect. In some implementations, the server selects a set of first fingerprints associated with documents stored in the client device, generates a set of test fingerprints, none of which are associated with any document stored in the client device, and queries the client device using fingerprints from the set of first fingerprints and the set of test fingerprints to produce query results. The server computer restricts access by the client device to the server computer if at least one of the query results is incorrect, and enables the client device to access the server computer if at least a predefined number of the query results are correct and none are incorrect.

Abstract: The invention features methods and compositions that exploit the ability of amphipathic alpha-helical (AH) peptides to cause disruption of lipid-containing vesicles, such as enveloped viruses, in a size-dependent manner.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device (IED) configured to supervise a process having a state has at least one of a current, voltage or resistive input configured to monitor the state of the process, a binary status input configured to monitor the state of the process, a binary status input configured to receive a digitally encoded serial communication package for monitoring the state of the process, a control output configured to output a signal to control process protection, control, or automation, or a combination thereof, or a control output configured to output a digitally encoded serial communication package to control protection, control, or automation, or a combination thereof. The IED is also configured to facilitate digital communication between at least two compatible devices by directing communication packets from ports connected to an originating compatible device to ports connected to a destination compatible device.

Abstract: A detector assembly includes a base; a detector chamber removably attached to the base; a detecting module removably secured between the base and the detector chamber, the detecting module including: a detecting module printed circuit board; a sensor mounted to the printed circuit board; a controller mounted on the printed circuit board, the controller generating alarm signal in response to the sensor.

Abstract: A device includes an input processing unit and an output processing unit. The input processing unit dispatches first data to one of a group of processing engines, records an identity of the one processing engine in a location in a first memory, reserves one or more corresponding locations in a second memory, causes the first data to be processed by the one processing engine, and stores the processed first data in one of the locations in the second memory. The output processing unit receives second data, assigns an entry address corresponding to a location in an output memory to the second data, transfers the second data and the entry address to one of a group of second processing engines, causes the second data to be processed by the second processing engine, and stores the processed second data to the location in the output memory.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller. The lock survives power cycling and soft resets of the audio output device. A special hard reset can be used to release the audio output device.

Abstract: An electronic high intensity discharge (HID) ballast (102) is presented which includes a dual mode buck converter (120) providing a DC output voltage (122) to drive an inverter (140), where the buck converter (120) regulates the DC output voltage (122) to a first value in normal operation and a clamp circuit (134) changes the converter mode to clamp the DC output open circuit voltage when the converter DC output exceeds a reference value (Vref).

Abstract: Electronic ballasts, driver apparatus, and methods are provided in which a heating current is generated by the driver to power a resistive heating element of an insulation detector associated with a recessed can fixture using a regulated current source/sink circuit.

Abstract: A method for detecting an anomaly in a rotor of an induction machine is provided. The method includes obtaining or receiving three-phase stator voltage and current signals from the induction machine connected to a time varying load. The method also includes processing the three-phase stator voltage and current signals by transforming into corresponding two-phase quantities. Further, the method includes transforming the two-phase quantities into two quadrature components into a two-phase reference frame. The method includes analyzing a plurality of in-phase components and the quadrature components. Finally, the method includes detecting the presence of an anomaly and segregating the anomaly from load variations based on the analysis of the plurality of in phase components and the quadrature components, thereby reducing false alarm.

Abstract: An electronic high intensity discharge (HID) ballast (102) is presented which includes a dual mode buck converter (120) providing a DC output voltage (122) to drive an inverter (140), where the buck converter (120) regulates the DC output voltage (122) to a first value in normal operation and a clamp circuit (134) changes the converter mode to clamp the DC output open circuit voltage when the converter DC output exceeds a reference value (Vref).

Abstract: A system for matching impedance in a flexible trace interconnect array. The array comprising a flexible dielectric film, a plurality of trace conductors disposed along a longitudinal axis of the dielectric film, and a shield disposed along a section of the array, wherein at least one parameter of at least one of an unshielded section and of the shielded section is selected such that impedance of the unshielded section and impedance of the shielded section are substantially the same.

Abstract: A network device for performing redirect checking includes an input device and processing logic. The input device receives a data packet on a first one of a number of interfaces. The data packet includes source and destination addresses. The processing logic assigns an incoming interface to the data packet and generates forwarding information identifying a next hop for the data packet. The processing logic also identifies an outgoing interface based on the next hop and determines whether the incoming interface index is equal to the outgoing interface index. The processing logic also determines whether the data packet originated from a station that is part of the same subnet as the next hop. When both of these conditions are met, the processing logic generates a redirect message.

Abstract: A network device includes an input device configured to receive a data packet, where the input device includes a number of interfaces and the data packet includes a source address and a destination address. The network device also includes processing logic configured to generate forwarding information identifying a next hop for the data packet and determine whether an interface on which the data packet was received is a same interface on which the data packet is to be forwarded to the next hop. The processing logic is also configured to determine whether the data packet originated from a device that is part of a same subnet as the next hop.

Abstract: Electronic ballasts, driver apparatus, and methods are provided in which a heating current is generated by the driver to power a resistive heating element of an insulation detector associated with a recessed can fixture using a regulated current source/sink circuit.

Abstract: Valveless piston pumps are disclosed that are magnetically driven, thereby eliminating a troublesome dynamic seal used on conventional valveless piston pumps. An exemplary embodiment includes a housing defining a bore having a bore axis. A piston is situated in the bore so as to be movable in the bore in a reciprocating manner along the bore axis and in a rotational manner about the bore axis. A magnet is situated in the bore and is coupled to the piston. The magnet is engageable magnetically with a magnet-driving device configured to cause the magnet, and thus the piston, to move in the reciprocating manner and in the rotational manner. An exemplary magnet-driving device is a stator assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for manufacturing crumb rubber products. In various embodiments, the product being manufactured is a floor mat, which may be a decorative floor mat or fatigue floor mat used in industrial applications. In various embodiments, a crumb rubber and binder mixture is dispensed into a pan and leveled within the pan using a vibratory leveling operation. A die release may then be applied and the pan conveyed into a press. The press may be equipped with an upper die, which is compressed against the crumb rubber in the pan. The press applies both heat and pressure to activate the binder, which bonds the crumb rubber granules together to form a cohesive mat.

Abstract: A ballast assembly for a lamp includes a housing that receives a circuit board assembly therein. The circuit board assembly preferably has first and second board portions disposed in physically spaced, parallel relation. The board portions are interconnected by a conductive member, preferably a flexible conductive member. The spacing between the board portions is preferably substantially identical to a maximum height dimension of a tallest electrical component extending outwardly from one of the first and second board portions. A separate mounting bracket mechanically secures the housing to an associated surface and constrains the housing along at least one of first, second, and third perpendicular axes. Preferably, the mounting bracket is a one-piece construction where first and second ends of the bracket are laterally off-set, and the bracket can also serve as a heat sink to the ballast housing.