Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system includes a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense chemicals directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the controller, the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module and a user.

Abstract: An impeller is usable in a variable diameter bioreactor having multiple vessel sections of successively increasing or decreasing volume. The impeller includes an impeller blade extending along an impeller blade axis between first and second axial ends and having opposed impeller blade faces, an impeller blade leading edge, and an impeller blade trailing edge. Each of the leading and trailing edges defines a helix or spiral between the axial ends of the impeller blade. In certain arrangements, the impeller blade is one of at least two impeller blades joined together along an impeller shaft extending axially along the impeller blade axis mentioned, and the helix or spiral has a pitch approximately equal to one half of a length between the first and second axial ends.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system has a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; and a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense at least one chemical directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller based on a water quality measurement by the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module comprising a reservoir adapted to contain the at least one chemical, a movable dispenser adapted and configured to advance a fixed quantity of the chemical out of the reservoir and into the water of the water installation in response to signals from the controller.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system includes a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense chemicals directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the controller, the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module and a user.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system includes a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense chemicals directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the controller, the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module and a user.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system has a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; and a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense at least one chemical directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller based on a water quality measurement by the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module comprising a reservoir adapted to contain the at least one chemical, a movable dispenser adapted and configured to advance a fixed quantity of the chemical out of the reservoir and into the water of the water installation in response to signals from the controller.

Abstract: An impeller is usable in a variable diameter bioreactor having multiple vessel sections of successively increasing or decreasing volume. The impeller includes an impeller blade extending along an impeller blade axis between first and second axial ends and having opposed impeller blade faces, an impeller blade leading edge, and an impeller blade trailing edge. Each of the leading and trailing edges defines a helix or spiral between the axial ends of the impeller blade. In certain arrangements, the impeller blade is one of at least two impeller blades joined together along an impeller shaft extending axially along the impeller blade axis mentioned, and the helix or spiral has a pitch approximately equal to one half of a length between the first and second axial ends.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system includes a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense chemicals directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the controller, the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module and a user.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system includes a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense chemicals directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the controller, the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module and a user.

Abstract: A water quality management system for a water installation containing water. In some embodiments, the system includes a water quality measurement module adapted to monitor the water quality of the water in the water installation and to send water quality information to a controller; a chemical dispensing module adapted to dispense chemicals directly into the water installation in response to signals from the controller; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the controller, the water quality measurement module, the chemical dispensing module and a user.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined amount of material from a prefilled syringe. The dispenser includes a dispenser body and a plunger. The dispenser body includes a syringe mounting region and a nozzle portion through which the material is dispensed. The nozzle portion has a syringe dispensing end receiving cavity configured to mate with the dispensing end of the syringe and an outlet. A fluid flow path fluidly communicates the syringe dispensing end receiving cavity with the outlet and includes a measuring cavity having a predetermined volume. The plunger is carried by the dispenser body. The plunger has a retracted state in which the plunger is retracted from the measuring cavity such that the outlet is in fluid communication with the syringe dispensing end receiving cavity. The plunger has a depressed state in which the plunger extends through the measuring cavity to evacuate material from the measuring cavity.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined amount of material from a prefilled syringe is provided. The dispenser includes a dispenser body and a plunger. The dispenser body includes a syringe mounting region and a nozzle portion through which the material is dispensed. The nozzle portion has a syringe dispensing end receiving cavity configured to mate with the dispensing end of the syringe and an outlet. A fluid flow path fluidly communicates the syringe dispensing end receiving cavity with the outlet and includes a measuring cavity having a predetermined volume. The plunger is carried by the dispenser body. The plunger has a retracted state in which the plunger is retracted from the measuring cavity such that the outlet is in fluid communication with the syringe dispensing end receiving cavity. The plunger has a depressed state in which the plunger extends through the measuring cavity to evacuate material from the measuring cavity.

Abstract: An improved immersible oxygen probe for molten metals has a gas permeable body including an immersion end and a support end adapted for being supported by a lance. An oxygen cell and a thermocouple are supported in the immersion end of the body. An unobstructed gas flow passageway is provided through the gas permeable bodies and through the probe body from the immersion end to the support/connector end whereby gases released from the molten metal and sensor body during immersion readily pass through the probe and can escape from within the probe. Thus rapid analysis of the molten metal with improved accuracy within a few seconds after immersion is achieved.

Abstract: A driver for engaging and dispensing fluid from a sealed, prefilled syringe is provided. The driver includes a body and a rotating actuator configured to engage a plunger of the prefilled syringe. The driver is configured such that rotation of the rotating actuator relative to the body imparts both rotational movement and axial movement to a plunger of the prefilled syringe resulting in ejection of fluid from the prefilled syringe.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dynamically halftoning image data, substantially in real-time. Halftone threshold values are calculated and stored in memory, and halftone output values are calculated for the portions of the image data that will be displayed on a display device. Halftone screen parameters may be modified, and new halftone screen threshold values may be calculated for any affected halftone screens. For unaffected halftone screens, the previously stored threshold values may be retrieved from memory. In addition, the portion of the image to be displayed may be modified, and the halftone output values of the new portion may be calculated and then displayed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dynamically halftoning image data, substantially in real-time. Halftone threshold values are calculated and stored in memory, and halftone output values are calculated for the portions of the image data that will be displayed on a display device. Halftone screen parameters may be modified, and new halftone screen threshold values may be calculated for any affected halftone screens. For unaffected halftone screens, the previously stored threshold values may be retrieved from memory. In addition, the portion of the image to be displayed may be modified, and the halftone output values of the new portion may be calculated and then displayed.

Abstract: Color conversion apparatus and methods are provided for converting a first color value, such as an RGB, L*a*b* or XYZ color value, to a second color value, such as an RGB, CMY, CMKY, L*a*b*, L,C1C2, or XYZ color value, without saturation error.

Abstract: Color processing methods and apparatus are provided that blend the gray component replacement (“GCR”) level of arbitrarily-specified input color data with an estimate of the GCR level of an output profile, and then converts processed device-independent data to output CMYK data that has a GCR level that substantially matches the GCR level of the input CMYK data. Methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention may be used to receive CMYK data that approximates a spot color, and provide tints of spot colors using an output profile that has a GCR level that differs from the GCR level of the input color data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for electronically trapping a selected digital color image pixel. A plurality of pixels that surround the selected pixel are identified, a colorant value of each of the surrounding pixels is compared with a corresponding colorant value of the selected pixel, one of the surrounding pixels is identified to control trapping of the selected pixel, and the selected pixel is trapped based on a relationship between a colorant value of the selected pixel and a corresponding colorant value of the identified controlling pixel.