Abstract: An asymmetric cross-connect system, constituted of: a cross-connect circuitry; and a control circuitry, wherein the cross-connect circuitry comprises a plurality of adaptive equalizers and a plurality of fixed equalizers, wherein the plurality of adaptive equalizers are in electrical communication with a multi-purpose port of a user device and each of the plurality of fixed equalizers are in electrical communication with a respective output of a processor of the user device, and wherein the cross-connect circuitry is arranged, responsive to the control circuitry, to provide a communication path between one of the outputs the processor and the multi-purpose port.

Abstract: An asymmetric cross-connect system, constituted of: a cross-connect circuitry; and a control circuitry, wherein the cross-connect circuitry comprises a plurality of adaptive equalizers and a plurality of fixed equalizers, wherein the plurality of adaptive equalizers are in electrical communication with a multi-purpose port of a user device and each of the plurality of fixed equalizers are in electrical communication with a respective output of a processor of the user device, and wherein the cross-connect circuitry is arranged, responsive to the control circuitry, to provide a communication path between one of the outputs the processor and the multi-purpose port.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided. The vending machine includes a number of bins, with each bin sized to contain a consumable product. The vending machine also includes a consumable product collection area, with the consumable product collection area accessible by a vending machine user. A conveyor communicates at least a portion of each of the bins, with the conveyor positioned to receive the consumable product from the bin and transport the consumable product to the consumable product collection area. The vending machine also includes an interface structured to receive a currency from the vending machine user to purchase at least one of the consumable products and a controller that activates the conveyor to transport the consumable product to the consumable product collection area.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus is provided. The illuminating apparatus can be mounted to tables, cabinets, counter-top enclosures, wall-mounted enclosures and other types of enclosures. The illuminating apparatus includes a light assembly mounted to a bottom, or side surface of the enclosure. The light assembly includes many visible-light emitting elements, and is arranged to illuminate an area directly adjacent to the bottom surface of the enclosure, as well as an area directly beneath the enclosure.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided. The vending machine includes a number of bins, with each bin sized to contain a consumable product. The vending machine also includes a consumable product collection area, with the consumable product collection area accessible by a vending machine user. A conveyor communicates at least a portion of each of the bins, with the conveyor positioned to receive the consumable product from the bin and transport the consumable product to the consumable product collection area. The vending machine also includes an interface structured to receive a currency from the vending machine user to purchase at least one of the consumable products and a controller that activates the conveyor to transport the consumable product to the consumable product collection area.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided that includes optional modules. A first module includes a plurality of bins, each sized to contain a consumable product, each bin including a pivotable product container. An optional capsule dispensing apparatus is sized to fit on a side of the first module, the optional capsule dispensing apparatus including a plurality of capsules, each containing either a consumable product or a non-consumable product. An optional second module includes a second plurality of bins, each also sized to contain a consumable product, each bin also having a pivotable product container, the optional second module sized to be removeably attachable to the first module.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided that includes an enclosure having at least two bin elements, each structured to store an article. A customer selection element is accessible by a customer to select the article from one of the bin elements. A currency receiver element is structured to receive a currency for purchasing the article. A second enclosure is also included, and has additional bin elements, with the second enclosure selectively attachable and detachable to the first enclosure, such that when the second enclosure is attached to the first enclosure, the customer selection element allows a customer to select an article from one of the at least two additional bin elements. A light assembly is coupled to a bottom surface of both enclosures, the light assembly having several visible-light emitting elements, and arranged to illuminate an area directly adjacent to the bottom surface of the enclosures.

Abstract: A vending machine is provided that includes optional modules. A first module includes a plurality of bins, each sized to contain a consumable product, each bin including a pivotable product container. An optional capsule dispensing apparatus is sized to fit on a side of the first module, the optional capsule dispensing apparatus including a plurality of capsules, each containing either a consumable product or a non-consumable product. An optional second module includes a second plurality of bins, each also sized to contain a consumable product, each bin also having a pivotable product container, the optional second module sized to be removeably attachable to the first module.

Abstract: A computer-based database management method permits management of a configuration database associated with one of a plurality of devices. Each device has a variable configuration which includes at least one adjustable parameter. The method includes the steps of selecting a particular device, selecting a particular parameter of the particular device, assigning a particular value for the particular parameter at a particular time, communicating the particular value for the particular parameter to the particular device at the particular time, creating a transaction record, and storing the transaction record in a configuration database. The transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular device and further specifies the particular parameter of the particular device, the particular value for the particular parameter, and the particular time at which the particular value is to be applied to the particular parameter.

Abstract: An interface control for use in a field device management system coupled to a set of smart field devices automatically performs functions related to communication between a device, a database and a user of the management system and functions related to interfacing with a user in a manner which is transparent to the software application running on the management system. The control monitors a device, or a block or a parameter of a device, displays information pertaining to the device, block or parameter to a user, receives information pertaining to such device, block, or parameter from a user and the device, automatically updates the displayed information, and implements changes to the device block or parameter specified by the user. A timeline control specifies a time at which past, present or future configurations of devices, blocks, parameters, or other data associated with one or more devices is to be displayed.

Abstract: A Coriolis effect densimeter which produces density output data of improved accuracy by embodying the principal that the natural frequency of a vibrating tube filled with material decreases with an increase in the material mass flow rate. High accuracy output data is achieved by measuring the natural frequency of the tube as material flows therethrough, correcting the measured frequency to compensate for the decrease in natural frequency caused the material flow (mass flow rate) and using the corrected natural frequency in the material density computation.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for inclusion in a Coriolis meter for measuring and updating a mechanical zero value for the meter using only zero flow measurements that have a sufficiently low noise content. Specifically, the meter produces zero flow measurements while no fluid is flowing through the meter. If a standard deviation of these zero flow measurements is less than a pre-defined limit value, then a resulting mechanical zero value, based on those measurements, is subsequently subtracted from the flow based measurement data.

Abstract: A drive circuit for providing bursts, rather than continuously alternating amounts, of energy for use in driving a flow tube (conduit) in a Coriolis meter and methods for use in such a circuit. Specifically, the drive circuit provides a pre-defined burst of energy to a drive coil affixed to a flow conduit at an appropriate point during a cycle of the oscillatory motion of the conduit in order to maintain the peak amplitude of the oscillatory motion substantially within a prescribed range. This burst can be applied at a pre-defined point, illustratively the peak, in each cycle of the oscillatory motion with no energy being applied during that cycle other than when the pulse occurs in order to reduce the amount of electrical energy applied to the drive coil. Alternatively, to further reduce this energy, a burst need not be applied during every such cycle but rather only at those pre-defined points, e.g. the peaks, within those cycles where the velocity of the flow conduit is less than a pre-defined limit value.

Abstract: The treatment of a filament cable in a device into which it is introduced, in which it is crimped, treated with a gas, and withdrawn, characterized by the fact that the cable is crimped using a crimping device which is operated gas-dynamically, which has been mounted into the front face of a device for the treatment of the cable with a gas, and is thus introduced into this device in the manner of a sluice, and is folded using a slide with an S-shaped section onto a gas-permeable, horizontally transporting base as a crimping cake, is treated there with the gas, and is finally withdrawn from the device.

Abstract: In the process of washing synthetic fibers directly subsequent to the spinning process in which the tow is deposited in a folded condition onto a transportation device, the solvent is removed as completely as possible with the use of as little fresh water as possible if the washing process is carried out on the folded tow in counterflow on this transporting device.