Abstract: Aspects of a charging system may involve altering the duty cycle of the shaped charge signal over a period of time to alter an average current supplied to an electrochemical device while maintain the maximum current of the charge signal. For example, the average current of the charge signal used to charge a battery may be adjusted by varying the duty cycle or peak current of the shaped charge signal, and may be based, in some instances, on the state of charge, temperature, and/or impedance of the battery. In some instances, control over the average or total current of the charge signal is constrained by the maximum current that the system can supply, such that altering the duty cycle of the charge signal provides control over an average current of the charge signal without needing to supply additional current sources.

Abstract: A standardized, lyophilized edible food containing a biologically safe stable marker for use in the measurement of gastric emptying by the quantification of marker excreted in the breath of the patient.

Abstract: A ballast (20) for powering one or more gas discharge lamps (70,72,74,76) comprises an inverter (200), an output circuit (300), and an arc protection circuit (400). Arc protection circuit (400) monitors an electrical signal within the output circuit (300). When an arcing condition occurs at the ballast output connections (302,304,306,308,310), the electrical signal includes a high frequency component having a fundamental frequency that is much greater than the normal operating frequency of the inverter (200). In response to the high frequency component exceeding a predetermined threshold, arc protection circuit (400) disables the inverter (200) for a predetermined shutdown period. Arc protection circuit (400) also provides a restart function for periodically attempting to ignite and operate the lamps.

Abstract: A system for implementing a reusable new product planning model includes a processor executing a new product forecast application. The new product forecast application implements a method. The method includes gathering historical demand data for products in a product set and determining a launch period for the products, the historical demand data broken down by time periods. For each of the time periods, the method includes determining a transition percentage for each of the products, grouping the percentages by respective launch-based time periods, and averaging the percentages, resulting in an averaged transition range. The method further includes calculating fast and slow transition ranges for each of the launch-based time periods and developing a production plan for a new product by applying one of the transition ranges to the new product before product launch, and allocating a remaining demand percentage to existing products in the product set using the selected transition range.

Abstract: A ballast (20) for powering one or more gas discharge lamps (70,72,74,76) comprises an inverter (200), an output circuit (300), and an arc protection circuit (400). Arc protection circuit (400) monitors an electrical signal within the output circuit (300). When an arcing condition occurs at the ballast output connections (302,304,306,308,310), the electrical signal includes a high frequency component having a fundamental frequency that is much greater than the normal operating frequency of the inverter (200). In response to the high frequency component exceeding a predetermined threshold, arc protection circuit (400) disables the inverter (200) for a predetermined shutdown period. Arc protection circuit (400) also provides a restart function for periodically attempting to ignite and operate the lamps.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a reusable new product planning model is provided. The method includes gathering historical demand data for products in a product set and determining a launch period for the products, the historical demand data broken down by time periods. For each of the time periods, the method includes determining a transition percentage for each of the products, grouping the transition percentages by respective launch-based time periods, and averaging the transition percentages, resulting in an averaged transition range. The method further includes calculating fast and slow transition ranges for each of the launch-based time periods. The method further includes developing a production plan for a new product by applying one of the transition ranges to the new product before product launch, and allocating a remaining demand percentage to existing products in the product set using the selected transition range and for a corresponding launch-based time period.

Abstract: The present invention provides compatibility of radio frequency identification (RFID) with devices that interfere with radio signals. An RFID tag is positioned at a particular location inside of a chamber of a device or object to be identified, such as a metallic chamber of a pallet, and spaced away from metallic structures by a gap. The RFID tag is tuned to the chamber by positioning the tag at a location in which radio waves entering the chamber are reflected and received by the RFID tag rather than being absorbed or affected by interference. Because of the tuning, the device or object to be identified is utilized as an antenna for the RFID tag. The RFID tag can be integrated into the structure carrying the tag rather than merely attached to the structure, for example on an outside surface.

Abstract: A ballast (100) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (30) at two selectable light levels includes a sensing transformer (120) and a detector circuit (200). Detector circuit (200) provides an output voltage that is dependent on the states of two on-off switches (S1,S2) interposed between the ballast (100) and a conventional AC source (20). The output voltage of the detector circuit (200) is used to control the illumination level of the lamp (30).

Abstract: An electronic ballast (100) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (30) at two light levels includes a full-wave rectifier circuit (120) and a detector circuit (200). Detector circuit (200) provides an output voltage that is dependent on the states of two on-off switches (S1,S2), but that is substantially unaffected by typical X capacitances that are present between the hot and neutral input connections of the ballast.

Abstract: The transmitter of the circuit breaker locator draws large amplitude, short duration, phase locked unipolar pulses of current from the power source at a frequency lower than that of the AC line frequency. The audible and visual indicators of the transmitter are triggered at the rate of the current pulses drawn from the AC line. The receiver of the circuit breaker locator has a pick-up coil that responds to magnetic field surrounding the circuit breaker, an amplifier for boosting the signal from the pick-up coil, and a single shot pulse stretcher triggered by the amplifier. The pulse stretcher drives both audible and visual signals, and at the same time charges a memory capacitor in a staircase generator fashion. The magnitude of the memory capacitor voltage in turn controls the gain of the amplifier. A switch controls the voltage applied to the amplifier, which increases by a predetermined amount when released.

Abstract: A circuit (10) comprises a driven half-bridge inverter (100), a resonant output circuit (300), and a control circuit (400,500). Inverter (100) includes an upper transistor (120), a lower transistor (130), and a driver circuit (200). Control circuit (400,500) monitors a signal (VX) within resonant output circuit (300). In response to the signal (VX) reaching a predetermined level, control circuit (400,500) directs driver circuit (200) to render upper transistor (120) conductive and lower transistor (130) non-conductive for a predetermined first period. Upon completion of the first period, control circuit (400,500) directs driver circuit (200) to render upper transistor (120) non-conductive and lower transistor (130) conductive for a second period. The second period ends when the signal (VX) again reaches the predetermined level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing uniform carbon-13 labeled biomass using a water soluble carbon-13 labeled carbon source, such as a [13C]-bicarbonate or [13C]-carbonate salt, is disclosed. The biomass is prepared in one or more sterile carboys filled with growth medium, in which acidity, oxygen, and biomass density are carefully monitored and maintained. By using a solid, water-soluble [13C]-bicarbonate or [13C]-carbonate salt as the sole carbon source, a biomass is provided which is uniformly and efficiently labeled with carbon-13. This method and apparatus is particularly useful for the growth of an edible carbon-13 labeled algal mass, with Spirulina platensis being a specific alga species. The biomass may be prepared in conformance with FDA current good manufacturing practice regulations, and may be harvested and formed into lyophilized bulk drug powder which may be further processed into various drug product forms which are useful for diagnostic tests or in pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing uniform carbon-13 labeled biomass using a water soluble carbon-13 labeled carbon source, such as a [13C]-bicarbonate or [13C]-carbonate salt, is disclosed. The biomass is prepared in one or more sterile carboys filled with growth medium, in which acidity, oxygen, and biomass density are carefully monitored and maintained. By using a solid, water-soluble [13C]-bicarbonate or [13C]-carbonate salt as the sole carbon source, a biomass is provided which is uniformly and efficiently labeled with carbon-13. This method and apparatus is particularly useful for the growth of an edible carbon-13 labeled algal mass, with Spirulina platensis being a specific alga species.

Abstract: A standardized, lyophilized edible food containing a biologically safe stable marker for use in the measurement of gastric emptying by the quantification of marker excreted in the breath of the patient.

Abstract: Electronic controls for compression release engine retarders of internal combustion engines which provide electronic signals to control hydraulic valves assembled in the hydraulic actuators of the retarders, to open engine exhaust valves to provide compression release events. The electronic controls may produce signals for both opening and/or closing the controlled valves. The electronic controls may monitor various engine operating conditions and/or parameters with one or more sensors distributed in the engine and vehicle in which the engine is installed. The timing of valve actuation, particularly that for compression release events, can be automatically modified responsive to the level of engine operating conditions and parameters. Various operating routines for the electronic controls are also disclosed.

Abstract: Electronic controls for compression release engine brakes of the type having electrically controlled valves for selectively applying high pressure hydraulic fluid to hydraulic actuators which open exhaust valves in the associated internal combustion engine to produce compression release events in the engine. The electronic controls may produce signals for both opening and closing the electrically controlled valves. The electronic controls may monitor various operating conditions of the engine and the vehicle powered by the engine and may automatically modify the timing of the compression release events in accordance with those conditions.

Abstract: In engine brakes of the type in which a master piston is reciprocated by an associated internal combustion engine part to hydraulically pressurize hydraulic fluid in a plenum, after which a trigger valve is opened to apply that hydraulic pressure to a slave piston which opens an exhaust valve in the engine to produce a compression release event, an electronically controlled trigger valve is used in place of the conventional mechanically operated trigger valve. The electronically controlled trigger valve can be much simpler and cheaper than the mechanical trigger valve it replaces, and it can also be readily controlled to automatically vary the timing of the compression release events if desired.

Abstract: In a compression release engine brake for increasing the braking available from an associated internal combustion engine, an electrically controlled hydraulic valve having at least two coils and at least two positions is used to apply high pressure hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator for opening an exhaust valve in the engine when a compression release event in the engine is desired. After each compression release event, the valve is switched to a condition in which it allows hydraulic fluid to drain from the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing the associated engine exhaust valve to close.