Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility's envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures. Operating conditions and facility characteristics may be further considered in determining a particular user's access of the consumable product. Thermal resistance factors of the building may be determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility. Finally, one or more signatures of a building system are analyzed to determine a building's overall efficiency, including determining a controllable load of a building and/or determining an efficient start time for one or more building systems.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner in a reservoir of an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes rotating a shaft positioned in the reservoir. By rotating the shaft, a first magnet and a second magnet having a variable angular offset between them are rotated around an axis of rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet are continually sensed at a point in their rotational paths. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet is continually determined from the sensing. An estimate of the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir is continually updated based on a predetermined correlation between the determined amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet and the amount of toner remaining in the reservoir.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a valve stack forming a seal cavity, and an outlet check extending through the seal cavity. A check seal is positioned within the seal cavity and seals about the outlet check. The valve stack also includes a back-up plate trapping the check seal within the seal cavity, such that a crevice is formed within the seal cavity between the check seal and the back-up plate. The back-up plate has a vent formed therein that fluidly connects the crevice to a drain.

Abstract: A toner level detection assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a magnet connected to a rotatable shaft and rotatable with the shaft around an axis of rotation of the shaft. The magnet is pivotable independent of the shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced radially from the axis of rotation. A magnetic sensor is positioned to sense a magnetic field of the magnet at a point in a rotational path of the magnet and is configured to measure an orientation of the magnetic field of the magnet at the point in the rotational path of the magnet. Processing circuitry in communication with the magnetic sensor is configured to determine an estimate of an amount of toner in a toner reservoir correlating with the measured orientation of the magnetic field of the magnet at the point in the rotational path of the magnet.

Abstract: A toner level detection assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a magnet connected to a rotatable shaft and rotatable with the shaft around an axis of rotation of the shaft. The magnet is pivotable independent of the shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced radially from the axis of rotation. A magnetic sensor is positioned to sense a magnetic field of the magnet at a point in a rotational path of the magnet and is configured to measure an orientation of the magnetic field of the magnet at the point in the rotational path of the magnet. Processing circuitry in communication with the magnetic sensor is configured to determine an estimate of an amount of toner in a toner reservoir correlating with the measured orientation of the magnetic field of the magnet at the point in the rotational path of the magnet.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility's envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures. Operating conditions and facility characteristics may be further considered in determining a particular user's access of the consumable product. Thermal resistance factors of the building may be determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility. Finally, one or more signatures of a building system are analyzed to determine a building's overall efficiency, including determining a controllable load of a building and/or determining an efficient start time for one or more building systems.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet is rotatable with the shaft around the axis of rotation. An arm connected to the shaft leads the first magnet around the axis of rotation in an operative rotational direction of the shaft. A second magnet connected to the shaft trails the first magnet around the axis of rotation in the operative rotational direction. The arm is operatively connected to the second magnet such that an angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet increases as an angular offset between the first magnet and the arm increases and the angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet decreases as the angular offset between the first magnet and the arm decreases.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a valve stack forming a seal cavity, and an outlet check extending through the seal cavity. A check seal is positioned within the seal cavity and seals about the outlet check. The valve stack also includes a back-up plate trapping the check seal within the seal cavity, such that a crevice is formed within the seal cavity between the check seal and the back-up plate. The back-up plate has a vent formed therein that fluidly connects the crevice to a drain.

Abstract: Dental prostheses may be manufactured based on electronic models of the prostheses. Manufacturing aids may be used to check manufacturing quality of the dental prosthesis and components thereof. For example, a jig may be used during and after the manufacture of the dental prostheses and systems and methods for using the same. A customized tooth die may be designed and fabricated to fit a dental prosthesis or components thereof in a jig for inspection. A customized jig may be designed and fabricated for inspecting a dental prosthesis or components thereof throughout the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic circuit protection system includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal and a plurality of pyrotechnic modules connected between the first and second connection terminals. Each of the pyrotechnic modules includes a nonconductive housing and electrical connectors facilitating plug-in connection of the pyrotechnic modules to one another. A single control module may control and coordinate a plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

Abstract: A toner level detection assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable shaft is positioned within a toner reservoir. A magnet is connected to the shaft and is rotatable with the shaft around an axis of rotation of the shaft. The magnet is pivotable independent of the shaft about a pivot axis that is spaced radially from the axis of rotation such that a radial distance of the magnet from the axis of rotation varies as the magnet pivots about the pivot axis. A first magnetic sensor is positioned to sense the magnet within a first range of radial distances from the axis of rotation. A second magnetic sensor is positioned to sense the magnet within a second range of radial distances from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An extremity stabilization apparatus and methods for supporting and immobilizing an extremity during venous access. One example of an apparatus includes a cuff having a top surface structured for receiving a limb of a patient, the cuff having a front end and a back end. The surface of the cuff may be c-shaped such that the cuff partially surrounds the extremity received in the cuff. The apparatus further includes a handle having a grip for receiving the hand of a patient, the grip arranged offset from the front end of the cuff, and an assembly coupled to the cuff, the assembly movable between at least a first position and a second position to change the position of the top surface of the cuff, each of the first position and second positions corresponding to a different angle of the top surface of the cuff.

Abstract: A Statistical financial system to value patient visits to healthcare providers allows healthcare providers to optimize their financial outcomes when billing insurance payers for services rendered in the course of patient visits. Commercial healthcare information systems today lack the ability to value these services in advance. Given the complexity of valuing services based on many variables and resource limitations, a predictive valuation provides the user with the information for accurate and timely decision making Using the historical data, the system creates a predictive model of future claims by creating attribute patterns from the data. As new information comes into the system, these attribute patterns are compared to the real-time data in order to create a value for a service and an overall visit. Using the valuation, the system will now be able to prioritize all follow-up tasks. The overall result is a better financial performance for the healthcare provider.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic circuit protection system includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal and a plurality of pyrotechnic modules connected between the first and second connection terminals. Each of the pyrotechnic modules includes a nonconductive housing and electrical connectors facilitating plug-in connection of the pyrotechnic modules to one another. A single control module may control and coordinate a plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

Abstract: A method for estimating an amount of toner remaining in a reservoir of a replaceable unit for an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes receiving by processing circuitry pulses from a magnetic sensor. Each pulse is indicative that the magnetic sensor detected a magnet on a moving paddle positioned in the reservoir. The processing circuitry counts the number of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor. Upon receiving a request from a controller of the image forming device, the processing circuitry sends to the controller of the image forming device the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor and resets the count of the pulses received from the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system comprises a primary unit, having a primary coil and an electrical drive unit which applies electrical drive signals to the primary coil so as to generate an electromagnetic field. The system also comprises at least one secondary device, separable from the primary unit and having a secondary coil which couples with the field when the secondary device is in proximity to the primary unit. A control unit causes a circuit including said primary coil to operate, during a measurement period, in an undriven resonating condition. In this condition the application of the drive signals to the primary coil by the electrical drive unit is suspended so that energy stored in the circuit decays over the course of the period. A decay measurement unit takes one or more measures of such energy decay during the measurement period.

Abstract: A Statistical financial system to value patient visits to healthcare providers allows healthcare providers to optimize their financial outcomes when billing insurance payers for services rendered in the course of patient visits. Commercial healthcare information systems today lack the ability to value these services in advance. Given the complexity of valuing services based on many variables and resource limitations, a predictive valuation provides the user with the information for accurate and timely decision making. Using the historical data, the system creates a predictive model of future claims by creating attribute patterns from the data. As new information comes into the system, these attribute patterns are compared to the real-time data in order to create a value for a service and an overall visit. Using the valuation, the system will now be able to prioritize all follow-up tasks. The overall result is a better financial performance for the healthcare provider.

Abstract: A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner and a drive shaft positioned in the reservoir. The drive shaft is rotatable about a rotational axis in an operative rotational direction. A toner agitator extends from the drive shaft in the reservoir. The toner agitator is rotatable around the rotational axis of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates. The toner agitator folds relative to the drive shaft counter to the operative rotational direction if resistance to rotation of the toner agitator provided by toner in the reservoir exceeds a threshold amount. The toner agitator is biased relative to the drive shaft in the operative rotational direction. A radial length of the toner agitator decreases when the toner agitator folds relative to the drive shaft counter to the operative rotational direction.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph with a positioning system for the inlet liner and the column includes a column and the positioning system for the inlet liner and the column. The column is configured for gas chromatography. Wherein, the positioning system for the inlet liner and the column is configured to position the inlet liner and the column with respect to one another. The positioning system for the inlet liner and the column is configured to repeatably and optimally position the inlet liner and the column with respect to one another. The positioning system for the inlet liner and the column positions the inlet liner in a perpendicular orientation to the column.