Abstract: A process of analytically determining the adjusted fill time for a brine tank based on non-adjusted fill time and an analytically derived multiplier factor, in order to compensate for brine saturation. Calculating a non-adjusted fill time as a function of actual salt dose requested; determining a multiplier factor (MF) for the non-adjusted fill time utilizing an empirically generated fill time curve; and calculating the fill time as a product of the non-adjusted fill time and the multiplier factor for a given salt dose, such that a water softener system can be provided with extra water to account for a brine concentration lower than 100% saturated brine.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing a first and second sodium ion selective electrode (ISE). The ion selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, having first and second reference electrodes, respectively, with a salt bridge therebetween, where the first ISE receives hard water and the second ISE receives soft water. A least one drain receives outflow from effluent fluid from the first and second sodium ISE sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: A method of application to provide a workable solution for tracking the hardness of water utilizing an ion selective electrode by tracking the relative hardness of water at the outflow or egress of an ion exchange column. A monovalent cation exchange membrane (ion selective electrode) distinguishes hard water and softened water in a water flow stream. A voltage is applied across the membrane, facilitating the movement of sodium though the membrane (such that anions and divalent ions are excluded), and the current is measured. The change in current (delta current) is used to determine the hard water concentration or level of hardness in an influent stream. A second application estimates or detects the exhaustion of an ion exchanger, and/or determines the regeneration time/cycle of the ion exchanger through the use of an ion selective membrane. Blending of the influent hard water and effluent soft water allows a user to control hardness levels of the effluent.

Abstract: A method for modifying a portion of a substrate after production is described herein. The method can include diagnosing a circuit operation error causing a malfunction, identifying a first contact on the substrate, and connecting, electrically, the first contact to a second contact with at least one trace. The trace is done with a focused ion beam. The method can include diagnosing an error on an operative area of a post-manufacture circuit board causing a malfunction; introducing a metal precursor into a focused ion beam chamber; ionizing the metal precursor by contacting it with a gallium ion beam into a conductive metal and a further ion; depositing a first portion of a conductive metal onto a substrate to form a first trace; and forming the first trace between the operative area and a non-operative area thereby connecting the operative area and the non-operative area.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: A method for modifying an LGA package after production is described herein. Generally, a modification of an LGA package by shorting two contacts together via a trace made of a robust conductive metal such as tungsten or platinum. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method for modifying a LGA package shorting two contacts together using FIB deposition via a gallium ion beam.

Abstract: A method of application to provide a workable solution for tracking the hardness of water utilizing an ion selective electrode by tracking the relative hardness of water at the outflow or egress of an ion exchange column. A monovalent cation exchange membrane (ion selective electrode) distinguishes hard water and softened water in a water flow stream. A voltage is applied across the membrane, facilitating the movement of sodium though the membrane (such that anions and divalent ions are excluded), and the current is measured. The change in current (delta current) is used to determine the hard water concentration or level of hardness in an influent stream. A second application estimates or detects the exhaustion of an ion exchanger, and/or determines the regeneration time/cycle of the ion exchanger through the use of an ion selective membrane. Blending of the influent hard water and effluent soft water allows a user to control hardness levels of the effluent.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Abstract: A controlled droplet applicator (CDA) system comprising a CDA nozzle cup having an open end; a shroud covering all but a portion of the open end; and an air assist device disposed proximal to the open end, the cup and the air assist device separated by at least a portion of the shroud.

Abstract: A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation.

Abstract: A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation.

Abstract: A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation.

Abstract: In an example, a cross-view detection engine is disclosed for detecting malware behavior. Malware may attempt to avoid detection by remaining in volatile memory for as long as possible, and writing to disk only when necessary. To avoid detection, the malware may also provide a pseudo-driver at a file system level that performs legitimate-looking dummy operations. A firmware-level driver may simultaneously perform malicious operations. The cross-view detection engine detects this behavior by deconstructing call traces from the file system-level operations, and reconstructing call traces from firmware-level operations. If the traces do not match, the object may be flagged as suspicious.

Abstract: A tampon produced by a method of multiple successive passes of a needle through a fiber web in a manner such that the tampon is afforded a desirable structural configuration and optimized characteristics, including tensile strength, relative absorbency, linear density, and thickness.

Abstract: A water treatment system, such as a water softener, is remotely operated and a method of remotely controlling a water treatment system. In a first embodiment, a method of detecting abnormal water usage within a water system associated with a water treatment system is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring water usage associated with the water treatment system, determining whether the current water usage is above an alarm value, and sending an alarm notice in the event the current water usage is above the alarm value, and automatically taking predetermined action.

Abstract: In an example, a classification engine compares two binary objects to determine whether they can be classified as belonging to a common family. As an example application, the classification engine may be used to detect malware objects derived from a common ancestor. To classify the object, the binary is disassembled and the resulting assembly code is normalized. Known “clean” functions, such as compiler-generated library code, are filtered out. Normalized blocks of assembly code may then be characterized, such as by forming N-grams, and checksumming each N-gram. These may be compared to known malware routines.

Abstract: In an example, a cross-view detection engine is disclosed for detecting malware behavior. Malware may attempt to avoid detection by remaining in volatile memory for as long as possible, and writing to disk only when necessary. To avoid detection, the malware may also provide a pseudo-driver at a file system level that performs legitimate-looking dummy operations. A firmware-level driver may simultaneously perform malicious operations. The cross-view detection engine detects this behavior by deconstructing call traces from the file system-level operations, and reconstructing call traces from firmware-level operations. If the traces do not match, the object may be flagged as suspicious.