Abstract: A prescription management system receives prescription information and manages containers filled with the prescription. The prescription is stored in the container and the container is attached to a tracking device storing prescription information. The tracking device is managed by the prescription management system. The tracking device activates an indicator when it receives a request from the prescription management system identifying the tracking device. The indicator permits a user, such as a pharmacist, to locate a desired prescription. In some instances, the system may detect an event associated with the stored prescription that prevents the prescription from being dispensed to a customer. For example, the storage container may be tampered with, the prescription may require additional verification, or a consultation must be given to the customer first. Once the appropriate remedial action has taken place, the system allows the prescription to be dispensed to the customer.

Abstract: A prescription management system receives prescription information and manages containers filled with the prescription. The prescription is stored in the container and the container is attached to a tracking device storing prescription information. The tracking device is managed by the prescription management system. The tracking device activates an indicator when it receives a request from the prescription management system identifying the tracking device. The indicator permits a user, such as a pharmacist, to locate a desired prescription. In some instances, filled prescriptions may be stored in a filled prescription holding area for a long period of time (i.e., the customer hasn't picked up the prescription). The system allows a user to identify these filled prescriptions and return the medication back to available stock for filling future prescriptions. The system may also identify these filled prescriptions and have the filled prescriptions delivered to a customer's home before the prescriptions expire.

Abstract: A composition comprises a highly filled polymeric concentrate produced by melt processing a filler with a liquid polymeric dispersion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media stores instructions. The instructions, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to receive engine rotation timing event signals for one or more components of the engine and vibration signals indicative of movement of the one or more components, to synchronize the engine rotation timing event signals and the vibration signals to generate synchronized vibration signals, to determine whether a fault exists by comparing the synchronized vibration signals to vibration signatures, and to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that depicts the synchronized vibration signals at angular positions of the one or more components in relation to time as the one or more components rotate during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a first light assembly that is configured to emit light periodically. The lighting system further includes a second light assembly that is spaced apart from the first light assembly, the second light assembly also being configured to emit light periodically. The periodic light emitted by the first and second light assemblies is synchronized such that the first and second light assemblies operate in unison to form a single light source.

Abstract: A method of forming a substrate in a thermal compression bonding process that permit substantially greater amounts of fillers than previously accomplished. The method employs a dispersion of a thermoplastic binder and a filler. The dispersion is then thermally compression bonded to form a substrate. Lightweight fillers are one example of fillers that are ideally suited for the thermal compression bonding through the use of a dispersion. Such lightweight fillers enable the formation of a substrate with a very low and desirable specific gravity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating when an engine event occurs is described. The system includes a controller configured to receive a first signal from at least one knock sensor coupled to a combustion engine, receive a second signal from at least one engine crankshaft sensor coupled to the combustion engine, transform the first and second signals into a plurality of feature vectors using a multivariate transformation algorithm, determine an expected window of an engine event with a statistical model, center a segment of the plurality of feature vectors around the expected window, estimate, using the statistical algorithm, a time in the expected window corresponding to when the engine event occurred, and adjust operation of the combustion engine based on the time.

Abstract: A method or system to determine peak firing pressure of a cylinder of an engine having a crank shaft. The method includes accessing a knock signal received from a knock sensor of the cylinder. The method includes determining a location of peak firing pressure based at least in part on the knock signal. The location of peak firing pressure is associated with combustion of the engine and corresponds to a time or a crank angle of the crankshaft. The method includes generating an indication of the location of peak firing pressure.

Abstract: A method of deriving the health of a first cylinder in a reciprocating device includes receiving a first signal from a first knock sensor in proximity to the first cylinder, receiving a second signal from a second knock sensor in proximity to a second cylinder, processing the first signal and the second signal, and deriving the health of the first cylinder by determining whether the first signal is coherent with the second signal.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a knock sensor includes steps of receiving data from the knock sensor, the knock sensor configured to be coupled to an engine, processing the data to derive one or more events from the data, and determining whether the one or more events took place at a known time or a known crank position.

Abstract: A system includes a combustion engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system coupled to the combustion engine and configured to route exhaust generated by the combustion engine from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold, and a first knock sensor coupled to the combustion engine and configured to measure vibrations of the combustion engine and output a first vibration signal. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the combustion engine, the knock sensor, the EGR system, or any combination thereof. The controller is configured to determine a peak firing pressure (PFP) within the combustion engine and control operations of both the combustion engine and the EGR system based on the PFP.

Abstract: A substrate and method for providing a thermoplastic composite having a fiberglass mat embedded within a thermoplastic polymer. The characteristics of the fiberglass mat combined with a thermal compression bonding method allow for a substantially improved and desirable thermal expansion coefficient over conventionally filled thermoplastic substrates or other fiberglass reinforced thermoplastics.

Abstract: A pill identification system identifies a pill type for a pharmaceutical composition from images of the pharmaceutical composition. The system extracts features from images taken of the pill. The features extracted from the pill image include color, size, shape, and surface features of the pill. In particular, the features include rotation-independent surface features of the pill that enable the pill to be identified from a variety of orientations when the images are taken. The feature vectors are applied to a classifier that determines a pill identification for each image. The pill identification for each image is scored to determine identification for the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A pill feeder accepts a quantity of pills and organizes the pills into a single file where each pill is output in a controlled orientation at a controlled rate. The pill feeder includes a rotating disk, a rotating rim, a lift gate, a separator gate, and an exit path. The rotating disk receives and moves pills in a rotation direction about a surface of the rotating disk at a first angular velocity. The rotating rim that moves pills received from the rotating disk in the same rotation direction as the rotating disk. The lift gate raises a height above the surface of the rotating rim that permits passage of a single layer of the plurality of pills. A transition to an exit chute of the pill feeder provides a plurality of slopes to control the orientation of pills transitioning from the rim to the exit chute.

Abstract: Grafted polyethylene polymers and copolymers are reactively extruded to achieve enhanced rheological properties. The utilization of an oligomeric or polymeric wax in the reactive extrusion process with functionalized agents, results in improved rheological characteristics of the grafted polymer.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an operating event of a combustion engine includes receiving a noise signal sensed by a knock sensor disposed in or proximate to the combustion engine, correlating the noise signal with a fingerprint having at least an ADSR envelope indicative of the operating event, and detecting if the operating event has occurred based on the correlating of the noise signal with the fingerprint.

Abstract: A system includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one of vibration, pressure, acceleration, deflection, or movement within a reciprocating engine and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a raw signal from the at least one sensor, derive a filtered knock signal using predictive frequency bands by applying a filter, derive an absolute filtered knock signal from the filtered signal, identify a maximum of the absolute filtered knock signal for each engine cycle, predict a peak pressure value of each of one or more engine cycles using the identified maximums of the absolute filtered signal and a predictive model, and adjust operation of the reciprocating engine based on the predicted peak pressure values.

Abstract: A pill identification system identifies a pill type for a pharmaceutical composition from images of the pharmaceutical composition. The system extracts features from images taken of the pill. The features extracted from the pill image include color, size, shape, and surface features of the pill. In particular, the features include rotation-independent surface features of the pill that enable the pill to be identified from a variety of orientations when the images are taken. The feature vectors are applied to a classifier that determines a pill identification for each image. The pill identification for each image is scored to determine identification for the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to receive a signal acquired by the at least one knock sensor coupled to a reciprocating device, to sample the received signal, to analyze the sampled signal, and to utilize standard quality control (SQC) techniques to perform real-time diagnostics on the reciprocating device based on the analyzed signal.

Abstract: A method of deriving reciprocating device component health includes receiving a signal from a knock sensor coupled to a reciprocating device, deriving total harmonic distortion (THD) at one or more frequencies, and determining whether the derived THD exceeds a threshold value.