A power processing apparatus includes an input port, an output port, a power transforming module, and a power releasing module. The power transforming module is between the input port and the output port to transform power into predetermined voltage or current. The power transforming module has a capacitor unit connected to LEDs in parallel. The power releasing module has a switch unit to disconnect the resistor unit and the capacitor unit when the power transforming module receives the power, and to connect the resistor unit to the capacitor unit when the power transforming module does not receive the power. Therefore, it may release the residual power to make the LED off in a short time when one turns off the power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a power supply, and more particularly to a power processing apparatus to supply light-emitting diode (LED) power and a method of releasing residual power.
2. Description of the Related Art
With advancement in technology, light-emitting diode (LED) is more and more popular in the modern market. LED has many advantages, including small size, short response time, long life, low decrement, strong surface, anti-vibration, emitting full-color light (including invisible light), low power loss, low radiant heat, and easy to manufacture. Therefore, more and more light sources use LED to replace light bubble or tube.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional power processing apparatus 70, including an input port 71, an output port 72, and a power transforming module 73. A power source 110 is connected to the input port 71 to provide AC power, and LEDs 80 are connected to the output port 72. The power transforming module 73 is between the input port 71 and the output port 72, including a capacitor unit 731, a rectifier-filter unit 732, and a DC/DC converter 733. The capacitor unit 731 and the LEDs 80 are in parallel connection. The rectifier-filter unit 732 is between the input port 71 and the DC/DC converter 733 to transform the AC power into more stable DC power. The DC/DC converter 733 receives the DC power from the rectifier-filter unit 732, and change to a predetermined voltage or current level DC power, and then the DC power is transmitted to the capacitor unit 731 and the LEDs 80 through the output port 72 to light the LEDs 80.
As shown in FIG. 2, the LEDs will keep lighting for a while after someone turns off the power switch SW because of the capacitor unit 731. Many consumers may think the electronic device is malfunctioned or has some problems. Therefore, the conventional power processing apparatus 70 still has to be improved.

Power processing apparatus and method of releasing the residual power thereof


A broadcasting signal receiver and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal are disclosed. An identifier of a cell is configured in second program table information or signaling information of the broadcasting signal. If the cell is changed, channel information of the changed cell can be obtained from second program table information in which transmission channel information of each cell for a broadcasting program is configured. Accordingly, the broadcasting signal receiver can continuously output the program although the cell is changed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a broadcasting signal receiver and a method for transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A digital broadcasting system for mobile reception, which is capable of transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal, has been developed and commercialized. However, the digital broadcasting system for mobile reception is designed independent of a broadcasting system for fixed reception and thus is incompatible with the conventional broadcasting system for fixed reception.
For example, a transmission system according to an advanced television systems committee (ATSC) vestigial sideband (VSB) scheme was designed without considering mobility, due to terrestrial characteristics. The ATSC broadcasting system is suitable for a multi-frequency network environment. In the ATSC broadcasting system, if a user moves to an area where broadcasting contents are broadcast with a different frequency, the user should retune a channel in order to continuously view the broadcasting contents.

Broadcasting signal receiver and method for transmitting/receiving broadcasting signal


A nonvolatile memory controller performs a data stripe operation on data blocks by processing a collection of commands. The nonvolatile memory controller includes command processing units, each of which processes a command of the data stripe operation to store a data block into a nonvolatile memory device. A parity calculator in the nonvolatile memory controller receives the data blocks of the data stripe operation by receiving a sequence of data blocks. The parity calculator generates a parity block in a page frame as the parity calculator receives the sequence of the data blocks. A command processing unit in the nonvolatile memory controller determines when the parity calculator has completed generating the parity block and writes the parity block to a nonvolatile memory device.

Fault-tolerant computing systems often employ data storage techniques for recovery of data lost as a result of a disk drive failure. These data storage techniques often involve a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). In some of these data storage techniques, a disk drive controller performs a data stripe operation by dividing data into data blocks and generating parity data based on the data blocks. In this way, the disk drive controller generates redundancy data based on the data blocks. The disk drive controller distributes the data blocks and the parity data among an array of disk drives. In event of a hardware failure of a disk drive in the array, the disk drive controller reconstructs the data in the failed disk drive based on the data stored in the other disk drives of the array, and stores the reconstructed data into a replacement disk drive.
Because generation of parity data in a RAID operation is often a computationally intensive task, some types of disk drive controllers include a dedicated processor for generating parity data. In these types of disk drive controllers, the dedicated processor stores data blocks into individual data buffers of the disk drive controller, executes computing instructions to generate parity data, and stores the parity data into yet another data buffer. Although use of a dedicated processor for generating parity data generally improves throughput of a disk drive controller, generation of parity data is still a performance bottleneck in many disk drive controllers. Moreover, the data buffers consume a considerable amount of area and power in integrated circuit implementations of the disk drive controller.

System and method for generating parity data in a nonvolatile memory controller by using a distributed processing technique


A pharmaceutical order filling system uses a physical parameter that occurs during attaching cap to a pharmaceutical container to determine if the cap is properly engaged. The physical parameter may be torque on the cap when placed on the container. An order processing device receives a pharmaceutical order and sends the order to a dispensing device that fills the container with a pharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical order. A cap device is configured to apply the cap the container containing the pharmaceutical from the dispensing device, wherein the cap device is configured to sense the physical parameter, e.g., torque, to the cap when applying the cap to the container.

A high-volume pharmacy may process and fill a large number of prescriptions and prescription orders. Automated systems may be used by a high volume pharmacy to process and fulfill prescriptions.
Certain prescription drug may be ready for delivery to a patient utilizing the original packaging provided by the manufacturer, while other prescription drug may be filled in the pharmacy. A container that has been filled with a prescription drug via automation or manually may be capped or otherwise closed. Different styles of caps may be preferred.

Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.


A silicon-germanium bipolar transistor includes a silicon substrate in which a first n-doped emitter region, a second p-doped base region adjoining the latter and a third n-doped collector region adjoining the latter, are formed. A first space charge zone is formed between the emitter region and the base region and a second space charge zone is formed between the base region and the collector region. The base region and an edge zone of the adjoining emitter region are alloyed with germanium. The germanium concentration in the emitter region rises toward the base region. The germanium concentration in a junction region containing the first space charge zone rises less sharply than in the emitter region or decreases and, in the base region, it initially again rises more sharply than in the junction region.

The invention relates to a silicon-germanium bipolar transistor having a germanium concentration profile which is optimized for the purpose of reducing an operating-point-dependent variation of the current gain.
Silicon-germanium bipolar transistors, which are abbreviated as SiGeBTs, represent a further development of silicon bipolar transistors and are distinguished by special performance in the high-frequency range.
In the case of such SiGeBTs, a base region and an edge zone of an adjoining emitter region are alloyed with germanium (Ge) in a targeted manner. Through the use of a suitable Ge concentration profile, in that region of the transistor, the band gap between valence and conduction bands is smaller, with the effect that charge carriers traverse the base region more rapidly. Therefore, SiGeBTs have very high limiting frequencies and are particularly suitable for high-frequency applications. Such SiGeBTs are known, for example, from an article in IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 4, 1993 by F. Crabbe et al..
In an SiGeBT, the base region is usually alloyed with from 10 to 25% by weight of Ge. The transition in the Ge concentration from the emitter to the base has a profile that rises either abruptly or approximately linearly. With regard to the high-frequency properties of SiGeBTs, a Ge concentration profile with an approximately linear rise has proved to be optimal.
That concentration profile has the disadvantage of causing the current gain to be greatly dependent on the collector current which is respectively flowing. That disadvantage can be attributed to the fact that the current gain of a transistor is related to the position of the space charge zone of the emitter/base pn junction, which is abbreviated as EB space charge zone. In that case, the following two factors are significant:
Firstly, the current gain of a transistor falls with a rising base charge, which is determined by the position of the space charge zone.
Secondly, the current gain is a negative exponential function of the band gap in the base, in particular at the base-side boundary of the EB space charge zone.
With a rising base-emitter voltage, the base-side boundary of the EB space charge zone migrates in the direction of the emitter so that, on one hand, the base charge rises and, on the other hand, at that boundary the band gap is enlarged due to the falling Ge concentration. Both effects lead to a major reduction in the current gain.
Since the collector current also rises with a rising base-emitter voltage, the current gain indirectly depends on the collector current or on the operating point of the transistor and falls sharply with a rising collector current. That dependence is undesirable since, as a result, the linearity of the transistor is impaired and the dynamic range of the transistor is limited.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a silicon-germanium bipolar transistor with an optimized germanium profile, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which reduces an operating-point-dependent variation of a current gain of an SiGeBT.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a silicon-germanium bipolar transistor, comprising a silicon substrate and, formed in the silicon substrate: a first n-doped emitter region having an edge zone, a second p-doped base region adjoining the emitter region and a third n-doped collector region adjoining the base region. A first space charge zone is formed between the emitter region and the base region and a second space charge zone is formed between the base region and the collector region. The base region and the edge zone of the adjoining emitter region are alloyed with germanium. The emitter region has a germanium concentration rising toward the base region. A junction region contains the first space charge zone and has a germanium concentration rising less sharply than in the emitter region or decreasing. The base region has a germanium concentration initially rising more sharply than in the junction region.
In the case of the transistor according to the invention, in a narrow region in the vicinity of the EB space charge zone, the Ge concentration profile deviates from the customary Ge profiles with an approximately linear rise in the Ge concentration. According to the invention, the Ge alloy is embodied in such a way that, in the event of a shift in the base-side boundary of the EB space charge zone, the factors which cause the change in the current gain largely compensate for one another.
The variation of the current gain becomes smaller, the smaller the rise in the Ge concentration in the direction of the collector and the further this rise is shifted in the direction of the collector. In the case of the Ge doping profiles according to the invention, the Ge concentration rises less sharply or falls toward the base in the vicinity of the EB space charge zone as compared with the adjoining regions.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the Ge concentration is kept constant at a suitable level in the vicinity of the EB space charge zone.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the Ge profile is configured in such a way that the Ge concentration decreases in the vicinity of the EB space charge zone. In this case, the concentration gradient is chosen in such a way that the operating-point-dependent variation of the current gain is optimally compensated for.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the emitter region and the collector region are p-doped and the base region is n-doped.
It is advantageous that, in the case of this invention, there is a reduction in the production-dictated manufacturing tolerance for SiGeBTs with regard to the nominal current gain.
This normally very large fluctuation in the nominal current gain of SiGeBTs is based on the fact that, due to unavoidable production tolerances, the exact position of the emitter-base pn junction relative to the Ge profile varies from transistor to transistor. In the case of the germanium profile configuration according to the invention, this production-dictated variation leads to smaller changes in the nominal current gain than in the case of SiGeBTs according to the prior art.
A further advantage of this invention is that the nominal current gain can be set very precisely due to the targeted alteration of the Ge concentration in the region of the emitter-base pn junction or the adaptation of the Ge concentration in this region to the maximum Ge content.
Since only a small region in the linear rise of the Ge profile is modified, the high-frequency properties of an SiGeBT are only marginally altered by the Ge profile configuration according to the invention.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a silicon-germanium bipolar transistor with an optimized germanium profile, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Silicon-germanium bipolar transistor with optimized germanium profile


One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing plastic containers within an open aseptic converter chamber comprising a sanitized environment, a supply line, a sanitizer device, a perforator device, a sealing device, and a conveyer. During operation, the method includes: providing and filling a container with heated or heatable liquid including water; sealing the container with a seal or cap; cooling the container to create a first headspace pressure; enclosing the container within the chamber; creating an opening in the seal or cap within a sanitized environment of the perforator device; increasing the first headspace pressure to a second headspace pressure by introduction of a sanitized fluid; resealing the container within a sanitized environment of the sealing device; and, transporting or conveying the sealed container away from the chamber.

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing containers, and in particular for containers for containing human consumable material.
Various types of beverages or products are stored in different types of containers for eventual consumption by consumers. Beverages and other products are typically filled in containers such as thermoplastic or glass liquid containers in an automated filling process. The product, the container, and container closure, such as a cap, must all be sterilized on the internal surfaces of the sealed container, or free from microorganisms, to provide the consumer with a safe product that has the respective quality attributes expected by the consumer.
Typically, containers can be filled with beverages in either a "cold-fill" process or a "hot-fill" process. The method of achieving sterilization within the container differs between the techniques, with each method having different benefits and cost implications.
The hot-fill process is less expensive and easier to maintain on a global basis, from an equipment and method perspective, but results in more expensive containers with little design freedom. The cold-fill process is typically much more expensive and difficult to maintain, but offers less expensive containers and more design freedom in the containers.
So called "hot-fill" containers are known in the art, therefore, as this technology is widely practiced globally. Plastic containers, such as PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) containers, are filled with various liquid contents at an elevated temperature, typically around 185° F. (85° C.). The product has been held in a batching process for a period of time prior to filling to ensure any microorganisms have been killed (referred to as pasteurization). The purpose is to kill microscopic bacterial life inside the liquid, ensuring the product stays fresher longer. After filling the product into the container, the container is sealed or capped and held at the filling temperature for a period of time, usually around 2-3 minutes. This is to allow the heated and sealed contents to sterilize the inside of the container. Following this the container is typically cooled to prevent heat damage to the containers, as they have generally only been 'heat-set' to withstand the hot fill temperature for a set period of time. Once the liquid within the container cools, the volume of the contained liquid reduces, creating a vacuum within the container that pulls inwardly on the side and end walls of the container. This in turn leads to deformation of the plastic container if it is not constructed rigidly enough to resist the vacuum forces. This need for rigid and strong containers leads to an inordinate amount of material being used as containers must be thick and strong.
Beverages are filled into hot-fill PET containers until they are almost full. The level where the beverage settles after filling is called the 'fill point' and this leaves a small amount of air above the fill point in the top of the bottle called the 'headspace.' When a hot-filled container cools the reduction in volume of the liquid results in an induced vacuum within the headspace.
Once a container is filled at a hot temperature, it is typically sealed via capping and quickly inverted. That is the container is laid on its side or completely turned upside down. This action allows the hot liquid to soak the upper end of the container and also the inside surface of the cap. After approximately 30 seconds the container is reinverted to its normal standing position and conveyed towards a cooler. After approximately 2-3 minutes it can be safely assumed that the container and its contents have been safely sterilized, and the container may enter the cooler unit. A cooler is usually a simple cold water shower tunnel that cools the bottles more rapidly to reduce the amount of time that the container is under the extreme stress of the hot contents, allowing the containers to then be labelled.
An alternative to filling a container with a heated liquid is to fill the container with a liquid, sealing the container and then subsequently applying heat to the container to sterilize the contents. Pasteurization is a common method of sterilizing a container and its contents. While similar to hot-filling the two main steps happen in reverse. First the container is filled and sealed, and then it is heated. This occurs in a pasteurization tunnel that heats the outer surfaces of the container until a targeted core temperature has be reached. This core temperature is calculated to achieve a desired PU count, the PU count being a unit of measurement that the industry uses to represent the cleanliness of the contents of the container. The container is then allowed to cool. During this process the internal pressure builds up significantly, leading to a plastic expansion in the container that is irrecoverable to a degree. As the liquid cools and shrinks the container is unable to completely recover the original size and so is left larger than when filled. The result is a build-up of vacuum within the container headspace.
The alternative to the hot-fill process of filling containers is the common method of 'aseptic' filling. To avoid hot-filling a container and therefore dealing with the consequences of cooling and allowing a build-up of vacuum, the containers are filled cold. Aseptic systems must, however, fill the containers in a completely aseptic or sterile environment. There is no provision for sterilizing the internal surfaces of the container and cap, as there is with hot-filling methods. Sterilized rooms and equipment process completely clean both the inside and outside surfaces of the containers, prior to filling a cold liquid into the container that has itself been sterilized to a degree through suitable flash pasteurization or other methodology. While this method of filling has been successfully implemented, the cost and expertise required to run such a filling lines are prohibitive barriers that cannot be overcome by many organizations. These environments are extremely difficult to control as they span large connected enclosures in which no contamination can take place, limiting access and serviceability. Staff expertise is required to be much higher, and this is often beyond the means of many manufacturers around the world. The filling system also needs to be stopped constantly and cleaned to ensure product integrity, as there is no useful method to detect contamination while the filling line is in production.
Aseptic systems therefore generally require the container to be blow-molded within the sterile environment, filled within the sterile environment, and sealed within the sterile environment. Sophisticated procedures are required to check sterility, unlike the hot-fill environment where sterility is much easier to predict based off simple temperature monitoring.
In summary, hot-filling a beverage is a very cost effective and reliable method to ensure a beverage will maintain a robust shelf-life and provide a way to easily sterilize the internal volume of a container. The containers may be supplied 'off-line' from independent channels. The biggest downside, however, to this technique is the resulting vacuum pressure that occurs within the container after cooling. Managing this vacuum requires heavier and therefore more expensive bottles. This counters the low cost appeal of hot-filling the containers to achieve pasteurization. Inversely, aseptic filling lines can employ very lightweight and inexpensive containers but are much more expensive and difficult to operate as the making, filling and sealing of the containers requires significant control and integration. Both of these systems counter their opposite advantages with their opposite disadvantages, leaving neither technology clearly superior.


In a method and a machine tool for machining metallic workpieces, a cooling device is provided to supply a cryogenic coolant to a first tool and a precooling device is provided to supply the cryogenic coolant to a second tool. The first tool is held in a first chuck and processes a workpiece, with the first tool during processing being cooled via the cryogenic coolant. The second tool is held in a second chuck and will subsequently be used for processing the workpiece. The second tool is supplied via the precooling device with the cryogenic coolant and thus cooled to the operating temperature required for processing. Due to the fact that the second tool is precooled to the required processing temperature, after the change of tools, the processing of the workpiece can be continued immediately. By precooling the second tool during the primary processing time, the total processing time of the workpiece is reduced, providing the machine tool with higher productivity.

A machine tool is known from DE 601 11 162 T2 (equivalent to EP 1 208 940 B1) comprising a tool carousel for machining metallic workpieces. The tool carousel comprises several chucks, in which one tool each is arranged for processing the workpiece. Cryogenic coolant is guided through the tool carousel to the respective tool presently engaged with the workpiece to be processed. High productivity in processing workpieces is yielded by the effective cooling using said cryogenic coolant.
The invention is based on the objective to provide a method allowing higher productivity in machining metallic workpieces.
Using the method according to the invention, the productivity in processing workpieces is increased such that during processing of the workpiece by a first tool, a second tool provided for a subsequent processing is precooled by the cryogenic coolant simultaneously during processing. For the cryogenic processing of workpieces the tools first need to be cooled to the required low operating temperature before the machining process can begin. This cooling process for the cryogenic processing of workpieces can only begin in methods and machine tools of prior art when the tool provided for processing is located in the operating position and/or in the chuck provided for processing. For example, the cooling process in methods and machine tools of prior art can only begin when the tool provided for processing is located in the tool spindle connected to a supply line for the cryogenic coolant.
Due to the fact that as early as during the processing of the workpiece via a first tool the second tool provided for subsequent processing is being cooled by the cryogenic coolant, the precooling period required for the second tool is moved from the primary processing time into the secondary processing time. Due to this precooling simultaneous to the primary processing time, the workpiece, after being processed by the first tool, can directly be further processed without any additional precooling by the already precooled second tool. This way, no primary processing time is lost, in which the second tool had to be cooled to the lower processing temperature. The cryogenic processing of a workpiece can therefore be continued directly after the change of tools, with the second tool during processing being cooled by the cryogenic coolant.
The precooling of a tool provided for subsequent processing occurs for example via a precooling device, which can be coupled to a tool magazine, a tool carousel, or any other chuck.
The method ensures a simple and effective precooling of the second tool provided for processing. For example, liquid or gaseous nitrogen, liquid or gaseous oxygen, gaseous hydrogen, gaseous helium, liquid or gaseous argon, gaseous carbon dioxide, and liquid or gaseous natural gas may serve as the cryogenic coolant. Preferably, during processing, the same cryogenic coolant is used, preferably nitrogen, for the precooling and the subsequent cooling of a workpiece.
The method ensures a rapid and effective precooling of the tool provided for subsequent processing. Preferably the cryogenic coolant provides the lower temperature even when it hits and/or flows through the workpiece to be precooled.
The method ensures that the processing of the workpiece can be continued immediately after the change of tools. The change of tools may occur, for example, by the precooled second tool being changed into the first chuck, which may be embodied as a tool spindle, for example. Alternatively the change of tools can occur by the second chuck with the second tool held there and precooled being moved from a storage position into a processing position. This is the case, for example, in tool carousels, with the different tools being brought by way of rotation of the carousel disk from a storage position into the processing position. The precooling device is particularly embodied such that the tool exchange occurs so fast that the second tool provided for processing essentially does not heat up prior to the change into the processing position.
The method ensures an efficient precooling of the tool provided for processing.
The method allows precooling in a simple fashion. The precooling device comprises for example a thermally isolated reservoir for providing the cryogenic coolant and a corresponding cooling condenser for cooling the cryogenic coolant as well as a precoolant-feeding line to supply the cryogenic coolant from the reservoir to the second chuck. The precoolant supply line is preferably embodied in a thermally isolated fashion. Preferably the precoolant device is coupled to a cryogenic cooling device to cool the tools during processing such that for precooling and for cooling during processing, the cryogenic coolant is taken from the same reservoir.
The method ensures in a simple fashion that during the change of tools no cryogenic coolant escapes the precooling device in an uncontrolled fashion. This way, a long operating life of the machine tool is ensured because cryogenic coolant only flows out of the precooling device when a tool to be precooled is coupled thereto.
The method ensures a simple and efficient cooling of the tool provided for processing. The influx of cryogenic coolant is only released by the precooling device when the tool to be precooled is coupled to the precooling device.
The invention is further based on the objective to further develop a machine tool of the generic type such that an increase of productivity is yielded in the machining of metallic workpieces.
The advantages of the machine tool according to the invention are the same as the above-described advantages of the method according to the invention. The machine tool according to the invention comprises a cooling device for the cryogenic cooling of the first tool, which is presently engaging the workpiece to be processed. Furthermore, the machine tool comprises a precooling device, serving to precool a second tool provided in a second chuck and intended for the subsequent processing of the workpiece. The cryogenic cooling device and the cryogenic precooling device are addressed by a control device such that during processing of the workpiece by a first tool the second tool provided for the subsequent processing of the workpiece is precooled and brought to the lower processing temperature required. This way, in the above-described manner, the precooling time for the second tool is changed from the primary processing time to the secondary processing time. After changing the second tool into the position intended for processing the workpiece the processing of the workpiece can continue immediately. This way, the primary processing time and/or cycle time for the tool processing is reduced and the productivity of the machine tool is increased.
The machine tool ensures a simple precooling of the tool provided for processing. Preferably the reservoir and the corresponding cooling condenser are both part of the precooling device as well as a part of the cooling device, so that the cooling of the tool processing the workpiece and the precooling of the tool provided for processing can occur with the same cryogenic cooling medium. For this purpose, a precoolant-supply line leads from the reservoir to the second chuck and a coolant-supply line from the reservoir to the first chuck.
The machine tool ensures effective precooling of the tool provided for processing. The supply of the cryogenic coolant to the tool to be pre-cooled is only released when the tool is mechanically coupled to the coupling unit. The release of the cryogenic coolant can occur either mechanically or electromechanically.
The machine tool ensures in a simple fashion the coupling and decoupling of the precooling device to and/or from the second chuck. For this purpose, either the precooling device can be arranged fixed at a basic frame of the machine tool and the second chuck can be displaceable or vice versa.
The machine tool ensures the precooling of a multitude of different tools in a simple fashion. The first chuck may be embodied as a common tool spindle, for example, which performs a tool exchange in the pick-up method and here places the first tool into the tool magazine and accepts the precooled second tool from the second chuck. Alternatively, a common tool changer may be used.
The machine tool ensures an efficient precooling and simultaneously an efficient cooling during processing. The reservoir is both a part of the precooling device as well as a part of the cooling device so that only one reservoir is required in order to guide the cryogenic coolant via the precoolant-supply line to the second chuck and via the coolant supply line to the first chuck.
The machine tool ensures efficient precooling and cooling of the respective tool. The supply lines preferably show a specific thermal conductivity at 0° C. of maximally 0.40 W/(mK), particularly no more than 0.30 W/(mK), and particularly no more than 0.20 W/(mK). By a thermally isolated embodiment any undesired heating of the cryogenic coolant is prevented over the path from the first and/or the second chuck. This way, the respective tool can be precooled and/or cooled extremely effectively. Preferably the supply lines are embodied entirely in a thermally insulated fashion, i.e. over their entire length. Furthermore, the supply lines are preferably embodied in a vacuum-isolated fashion. For this purpose they comprise an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding it, connected to each other and limiting an evacuated isolated space. In the vacuum-isolated embodiment the supply lines preferably show a specific thermal conductivity at 0° C. of no more than 0.01 W/(mK). In a vacuum-isolated embodiment preferably at least one of the tubes can be changed in its length so that a compensation to different longitudinal changes of the inner and the outer tube is possible. When the supply lines conduct the cryogenic coolant the respectively inner tube essentially assumes its temperature, while the respectively outer tube, based on the isolation medium arranged between the two tubes, cools considerably less. The inner tube changes its length therefore to a considerably greater extent than the outer tube. In order to avoid any damage to the supply lines at least one of the tubes is capable of changing its length. Preferably the outer tube comprises a pleated metallic bellows for a thermal compensation of length.
Additional features, advantages, and details of the invention are discernible from the following description of an exemplary embodiment.

Method and machine tool for machining of metallic workpieces


A wireless network using network coding, and a method of adaptively adjusting buffering time in the wireless network, are provided. A communication method of a cross node in a wireless network, includes determining information associated with a number of hops between a source node and the cross node, and/or a number of hops between the cross node and a destination node. The method further includes adaptively adjusting a buffering time at the cross node based on the information. The method further includes buffering a packet received by the cross node based on the adjusted buffering time. The method further includes performing network coding of the buffered packet and another packet.

1. Field
The following description relates to a wireless network using network coding.
2. Description of Related Art
A network coding scheme may refer to a coding scheme performed in a network layer. When pieces of input data are combined based on the network coding scheme, efficiency in using communication resources may be improved. Examples of the network coding scheme may include an exclusive or (XOR) network coding scheme, a random linear network coding (RLNC) scheme, and the like.
To apply an RLNC scheme to a wireless network, a data packet needs to be appropriately buffered at a cross node that performs network coding. According to the RLNC scheme, the cross node may perform network coding based on a batch set unit, and the cross node may be determined based on a routing path. In this example, a coding failure ratio may increase due to traffic asynchronization in the wireless network. The coding failure ratio may refer to a ratio of a number of cross nodes that do not perform network coding due to the traffic asynchronization, to a total number of cross nodes. When the coding failure ratio increases, a coding gain associated with network coding may decrease.

Wireless network using network coding, and method of adaptively adjusting buffering time in wireless network

Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation Gyeongsang National University


A document generation apparatus includes a determination unit, an upload unit, and a transmission unit to generate a document and upload the generated document to an external service via a network. The determination unit determines whether a document generated according to a document generation request from a client apparatus can be uploaded to the external service. The upload unit uploads the document to the external service, if the determination unit determines that the document can be uploaded to the external service. The transmission unit transmits, to the client apparatus, the document and information for uploading the document from the client apparatus to the external service, if the determination unit determines that the document cannot be uploaded to the external service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a document generation apparatus, a document generation system, a document upload method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, cloud computing systems have started to be widely used as an architecture in which a server computer side manages business data and performs various types of processing. In this system, a user accesses a web page of a cloud server computer from a browser of a client computer via the Internet, and displays business data that the user wants to view on the web page. When the user issues a document generation instruction from the screen or the like showing the business data, the cloud server computer redirects the instruction to a document generation server.
Then, the user selects a form to be used in form overlay processing on the screen returned by the document generation server to be displayed on the browser of the client computer. When the user selects a form, the document generation server acquires data stored in the cloud server to generate a document, and downloads the document to the browser or uploads the document to the cloud server.
In such a system, the document generation server needs to process requests from a large number of client computers simultaneously. As a method for uploading a large number of documents to the cloud server simultaneously, there is a known technique for, when the number of connections to be processed exceeds the remaining number of acceptable connections, waiting for a retry interval time and repeating the upload processing until the retry count exceeds the maximum allowable number therefor or the processing is completed (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-167129).
In the cloud platform service, a data transmission method for uploading a file is specified, and for some services a method may be specified which requires a large amount of memory for the file upload processing. For example, encoding based on the Base 64 method requires a memory amount equal to or more than a size of a file to be generated due to its algorithm.
However, if the document generation server, which uploads a file to the cloud platform service, is provided as a cloud service, the document generation server may receive a large number of accesses simultaneously. Therefore, there is an issue in a thus-configured system that, due to a limited amount of resources (memory amount) of the document generation server, concurrent execution of data upload processes to the cloud platform service may result in heavy consumption of the memory and deterioration of the performance of the document generation service as a whole.

Document generation apparatus, document generation system, document upload method, and storage medium


An HF-excited laser for high input powers, particularly a CO.sub.2 stripline laser, is provided. For supply of a high-power HF energy, a matching unit is integrated into the laser. The matching unit contains an L-C element, whereby the inductance L and the capacitance C are variable. The inductance can be set by a variation of the length of the electrically conductive parts of an HF feed and of an HF tap. The capacitor is annularly designed and the capacitance is defined by the size of a capacitor wafer and by the properties of the dielectric.

The present invention is directed to an HF-excited laser for high input powers, particularly to a CO.sub.2 stripline laser which contains a laser housing and a matching unit integrated into the laser housing for matching the impedance to the impedance of an HF feed. Such a laser is disclosed by European Application EP-A-0 477 879. A stripline laser is also disclosed by German Published Application 37 29 053.
A matching unit in HF-excited lasers having high power, for example given an input power of at least 1 kW, serves the purpose of transforming the impedance of the electrons exciting the plasma to the output impedance of the generator, this usually amounting to 50 Ohms, given a prescribed frequency. Up to now, either two short-circuit lines having a .lambda./4 spacing were inserted into the input line, or a .pi.-element having a fixed series inductance and two variable shunt capacitors were utilized. The shunt-circuit lines, however, cause high currents and high voltages on the 50 Ohm lines, whereas the .pi.-element must be constructed with a large volume.


A device for mosquito repellents, including a support structure having a first end arranged to be positioned on a surface, and a second end opposite the first end, the distance between the first end and the second end defining a height H of the support structure. The device further includes a first plate arranged at the second end of the support structure perpendicularly to a direction of height of the support structure, the plate being void of openings and suitable for receiving a heated mosquito repellent. The device still further includes a fan attached within the support structure, between the first end and the second end of the support structure, to blow air from the first end towards the second end of the support structure and the first plate, and means for operating the fan. The size and shape of the first plate is such that it covers the fan, when seen from the second end of the support structure in the direction of height of the support structure.

Various mosquito repellents and repellents for other bugs are know and sold. The repellents in question in this description are typically of the type that are heated or burned. For example, mosquito coils are well known. These are burnable spirals, typically made of a burnable powder containing pyrethrum or some other active ingredient, which repels mosquitos and other insects. The spirals or coils burn slowly, smouldering, thus spreading the repellent. Another type of known mosquito repellent is for example electronic devices that heat up the substance containing mosquito repelling active ingredient and spread the steam generated by heating the substance. Some heatable mosquito repellents are sold under the tradename of Thermacell®, where a container of mosquito repellent is heated. The repellent may be for example in the form of a liquid in a container, or it may be absorbed on the pad.
A problem of such type of mosquito repellents is that the smoke or steam does not spread evenly and such solutions are not very effective as the effect remains rather limited in space. Document CN 208354435U discloses one possible device for improving spreading of the repellent. The device presented therein has a support structure with air inlet hole at its bottom part and air outlets at its top part. The burnable repellent coil is place at the bottom of the device, and a fan is arranged between the coil and the air outlets at the top of the device. The fan thus makes air circulate and the vaporised or burned repellent is spread around.
Despite the solution proposed in CN 208354435U, there still exists a need to provide an efficient device for mosquito repellents. It is indeed an aim to provide a device where the evaporation or burning of the mosquito repellent product is efficient and the evaporation and burning is carried out in optimal conditions.


An absorbent article, the absorbent article being a personal hygiene article, includes a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet, an absorbent core enclosed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a fluid flow control member arranged between the top sheet and the backsheet. The fluid flow control member is a spacer fabric including a top layer, a bottom layer and an interconnecting layer of pile filaments between the top layer and the bottom layer. The spacer fabric has a ratio of thickness to basis weight at 15 kPa of at least 1.5·10−5 m/gsm, as measured according to the Mecano-method disclosed herein.

Disposable absorbent articles for hygiene purposes are typically intended to absorb body liquids, such as urine and blood. Users put high demands on such articles, requiring them to be thin and comfortable and at the same time effectively absorb body liquids.
Disposable absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence guards or the like typically include a liquid pervious topsheet, intended to be facing the wearer during use, a liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent structure there between. Absorbent structures commonly used are relatively thin and compressed, and often include a high amount of so called superabsorbents, which have a high absorption capacity but in many cases a too low absorption speed in order to instantaneously be able to absorb the large amount of liquid that can be discharged during a few seconds of urination. Therefore, a liquid acquisition layer is commonly incorporated in the absorbent article, which layer should be able to quickly receive large amounts of liquid and temporarily store it before the liquid is absorbed by the absorbent structure. An example of an absorbent article comprising a liquid acquisition layer is disclosed in WO 2009105000 A1.
It is also desirable that the absorbent article has sufficient liquid distributing capacity, in order to avoid leakage, and to fully use of the absorption capacity of the absorbent article.
When an absorbent article is used by a wearer, it is exposed to pressure, which tends to compress the article. Such pressures are typically about 2-5 kPa when standing or walking, about 10-20 kPa when sitting, 30 kPa when sitting and leaning forward, and up to 50 kPa when bicycling, in the centre of an absorbent pad. In order to maintain excellent liquid distribution properties in the absorbent article, it is desirable that the fluid flow control member can withstand high pressures.
There is a need for improvement of disposable absorbent hygiene articles in order to ensure fluid flow control, especially when the articles are exposed to pressure.
WO 2005051656 A1 discloses an incontinence article comprising a moisture management fabric composite in the form of a spacer fabric. Such fabric being constructed in order to be launderable, reusable and retain its qualities after repeated washings making it inexpedient for a disposable article.

Absorbent article having fluid flow control member


The invention relates to an acoustic panel assembly. There is a need for a simple and inexpensive acoustic panel assembly. An acoustic panel assembly includes a parent panel and an insert panel. The parent panel has a higher density body and a sound reflecting skin. The insert panel is mounted to the parent panel, and includes a sound absorbing body, a lower density rim and a sound transmitting skin. The parent panel includes a border portion which surrounds an opening which engages an outer edge of the insert panel. The border portion and the edge engage each other and form an interlocking joint. The border portion defines an annular groove which receives the outer edge of the insert panel. The body of the parent panel comprises a higher density expanded polypropylene material, and rim body of the insert panel comprises a lower density expanded polypropylene material.

It is known to provide vehicles with interior panels made out of expanded polypropylene (EPP). In agricultural vehicles, there is a need for interior panels which absorb sound and reduce noise level in the vehicle cab. However, EPP panels do not reduce noise levels in a vehicle interior.
It is known to attach acoustical material to interior panels. But, this requires secondary operations to mechanically fasten and/or adhesively bond the acoustical material to the back of the panels. These secondary operations complicate the assembly process, create additional cost, and result in a less reliable assembly.
A simpler, lower cost sound absorbing panel assembly is desired.


A 3D image display apparatus includes a first display panel which alternately displays a left eye image and a right eye image, a second display panel having a plurality of pixels including a left eye pixel and a right eye pixel, a backlight unit which is disposed at a back side of the second display panel, a lens array which is disposed at a front side of the second display panel and has a plurality of lenticular lenses dividing light emitted from the backlight unit into a left eye visual field and a right eye visual field and emitting the divided light, and a control unit which controls on and off of the left eye pixel and the right eye pixel of the second display panel according to a time when the left eye image and the right eye image are displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the exemplary embodiments relate to a three-dimensional (3D) image display apparatus and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to an auto-stereoscopic 3D image display apparatus and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of technologies, an image display apparatus capable of displaying a more vivid image is required. Accordingly, not only a high-resolution image display apparatus having the increased number of pixels for displaying an image but also a 3D image display apparatus displaying a stereoscopic image have been developed. Such a 3D image display apparatus may be applicable not only to television but also to various fields such as medical imaging, games, commercials, education, and military where a stereoscopic sense can be used very effectively.
A stereoscopic image is generally created by a principal of stereo visual angle of human eyes, and binocular parallax, caused by about a 65 mm lateral distance between a person's left eye and right eye, can be regarded as the main cause of the stereoscopic sense. Therefore, if an image which is the same as an actual image is input to the two eyes, a stereoscopic sense may be realized easily. For example, if two cameras having the same properties are placed spaced apart just like the two eyes and a left eye image photographed from a left camera can be perceived only by the left eye and a right eye image photographed from a right camera can be perceived only by the right eye, a stereoscopic sense may be realized.
Such a 3D image display apparatus using binocular parallax may be divided into two types: a 3D image display apparatus using an auto-stereoscopic method, and a 3D image display apparatus using a stereoscopic method. The auto-stereoscopic method which obtains a stereoscopic image by separating a left eye image and a right eye image without using glasses may include a parallax barrier method, a lenticular method, an integral imaging method and a holography method. The auto-stereoscopic method may include a polarized-glasses method and a shutter-glasses method.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are views for explaining prior art technologies.
According to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an auto-stereoscopic display apparatus according to the prior art lenticular method realizes a 3D image by causing a left eye and a right eye to perceive a different image using a space-division method.
That is, the prior art auto-stereoscopic display apparatus realizes images perceived by the left eye and the right eye separately, and refracts each image to have a specific angle using a lenticular lens so that the left eye image can be focused onto the left eye and the right eye image can be focused onto the right eye, thereby realizing a 3D image.
However, as an auto-stereoscopic 3D panel using the prior art lenticular lens realizes a left eye image and a right eye image separately, resolution of the images decreases by half. In addition, a portion where a lenticular image is focused is fixed and thus, a user may perceive a 3D image only at a specific location and angle.
Furthermore, the auto-stereoscopic 3D panel using the prior art lenticular lens refracts an image using a lenticular lens and thus, image quality may deteriorate if a 2D image is realized.

3D image display apparatus and driving method thereof


A coupling member comprises peripheral flanges and a body, with the peripheral flanges having the same axis of rotation. The body of the coupling member has a smoothly curving hub portion extending to two axially separated disk portions and is defined by three relationships. A thickness relationship describes the thickness of the body throughout the hub and disk portions. A spacing relationship describes how much of the body is to be occupied by the hub portion. A continuity relationship describes the thickness of the body within the hub portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flexible couplings for rotatable shafts, and more particularly, to couplings permitting both angular and axial misalignment between coupled shafts.
2. Description of Prior Art
In order to accommodate misalignment and torque, flexible couplings have been employed between rotatable shafts having fixed or variable misalignment. Such couplings are connected typically about peripheral flanges so as to transmit torque from one shaft to the other shaft while absorbing and sometimes dissipating the effects of misalignment. An example of one type of such flexible couplings is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,647,380.
The practical coupling construction of the prior art is shown in FIG. 5 where coupling member 110 comprises body 112 and two peripheral flanges 114. Body 112 has two axially separated disk portions 116, which extend radially outward from the axis of rotation, and annular hub portion 118. The massive hub portion 118 is rigid and heavy, accounting for a large percentage of the weight of the entire coupling member 110. Peripheral flanges 114 are formed at the outer ends of disk portions 116 of body 112 such that both peripheral flanges 114 rotate about the axis of rotation.
Such conventional couplings have a major disadvantage: limited degree of flexibility. For a given misalignment, the coupling member is subjected to high stresses. The coupling member responds with high reaction forces transmitted to the connected equipment. If during operation the misalignment changes due to unforeseen circumstances, the flexible element may fail due to fatigue fractures. In addition, if the connected machines are modified to result in an increase in misalignment compared to the original set-up, the coupling member must be redesigned or configured to avoid costly failures. One common way of increasing misalignment tolerance is to incorporate additional flexible elements 110, thereby resulting in a heavier and more expensive construction.
Limited flexibility results primarily from the massive hub portion 118. As shown in FIG. 5, hub portion 118 occupies approximately 15% to 30% of the available Rt-Ri envelope (i.e., the space wherein body 112 is located). Since hub portion 118 is rigid, flexibility is limited to the disk portions 116 in the remaining 70% to 85% of the Rt-Ri envelope.
Fatigue fractures primarily result from structural designs that are too rigid to tolerate either steady or transient deformations of the coupling in use. For example, the structural design shown in FIG. 5 generally experiences fatigue fractures in the thin disk portion 116.
Accordingly, a structural design is desired which significantly reduces fatigue and stress fractures from increased misalignment, and which is more flexible and lighter without adding to the fabrication cost.


A medical device has a sensor interface, a data network interface, a wireless interface, a computer, and a touch-sensitive display unit. The sensor interface detects a sensor signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter of a patient. The computer provides medical data derived from the sensor signal via the data network interface. The wireless interface receives wireless signals indicative of patient identification of a mobile device carried on the patient. The computer selects a patient identifications subset based on the wireless signals as well as determining respective image data sets based on the selected patient identifications and actuates the display unit to display respective image data sets in respective display fields and to derive a selection of a certain image data set based on a signal provided by the display unit, and to provide the identification assigned to the image data set via the data network interface.

It is common in the field of medicine, such as hospitals, to detect physiological parameters or physiological signals of a patient. It is necessary in this connection to unambiguously assign the detected physiological parameters or the detected physiological data to a patient. A medical device may then provide the detected physiological signals or physiological data via, for example, a data network interface.
If a medical device for detecting the physiological data or physiological parameters of a patient shall be used, these data or signals are usually displayed on a display unit of the medical device. It is advantageous in this connection, for example, to display the name of the patient or his identification together with the data or the signals.
Provisions are made in this connection in conventional solutions for a patient to be picked out of a data bank and then selected by a user by means of a display unit and an input unit at the medical device. To display the name and the identification of the patient on the display unit, such identification must possibly be displayed in its full length and it must therefore possibly be keyed in or entered during the search operation, which is sometimes cumbersome. If the name or the identification of the patient is then displayed, the patient can then be selected by the user from a total set of potential patient identifications or potential patient names, for example, by pressing an enter key or a confirmation key. It is possible in this connection that the medical device polls stored patient identifications or patient data from a memory unit of its own, or from a memory unit, e.g., data bank, which can be reached via a data network interface. It is consequently necessary at times to take into account a relatively large amount of potential patient names or potential patient identifications during the assignment operation and the entry on the medical device by the user.
Such an assignment of a patient to a medical device may therefore require a cumbersome entry procedure by the user.

Medical device and mobile device for assigning physiological patient data to a patient identification


At least one computer processor configured with a single prime field accelerator having software-based instructions operably configured to compute both isogeny-based cryptography equations and elliptic curve cryptography equations using a plurality of shared computations resident on a shared memory storage and that include finite field arithmetic and elliptic curve group arithmetic sequentially computed with an architecture controller.

Cryptology is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties called adversaries. More generally, cryptography is about constructing and analyzing protocols that prevent third parties or the public from reading private messages and includes various aspects in information security such as data confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation. Applications of cryptography include electronic commerce, chip-based payment cards, digital currencies, computer passwords, and military communications. Cryptosystems are a suite of cryptographic algorithms needed to implement a particular security service, most commonly for achieving confidentiality. Due to the typical amount and time of computations required for a cryptography session, namely one utilizing post-quantum cryptography, the hardware or processing footprint is quite expensive. As such, utilizing such methods and systems is made impossible or commercially impracticable when desired for use in smaller devices, such as IoT devices.
Notably, these post-quantum cryptosystems must be vetted for acceptance in the cryptographic community. Post-quantum cryptosystems are by no means as efficient as classical computing cryptosystems. They require large amounts of communication and expensive computations. A large focus of the current research is to only accelerate new and novel post-quantum cryptosystems. However, to deploy such cryptosystems, the IoT device must also support several current cryptosystems to gradually transition to post-quantum cryptosystems. Because there are expensive computations in post-quantum cryptography, one method to reduce the footprint of such a device utilizing post-quantum accelerators is to have the post-quantum accelerator also accelerate classical cryptography computations if similar computations exist.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Architecture and method for hybrid isogeny-based cryptosystems


An apparatus includes an electrically-powered component, a hermetically-sealed, liquid-impermeable, high thermal-conductivity, container encapsulating the electrically-powered component, and a liquid bath surrounding the hermetically-sealed container. The electrically-powered component can include a computer motherboard, a central processing unit of a computer, or an electrical power transformer. The container can include a substance in direct contact with the electrically-powered component and can include a silicone compound, an epoxy compound, or a polyurethane compound.

The power consumption of electrical components, including client and server computers, represents a large portion of the total consumption of electricity in office buildings and data centers. Besides the electrical power necessary to operate the electrical devices, electrical power may also be necessary to cool the environment of the electrical devices. Network servers and other electrical equipment generate a significant amount of heat, which becomes a problem when many computers are placed in a confined location, such as a server room. Often, it is necessary to maintain cool air temperatures in these rooms to ensure that the computer equipment functions correctly. Air conditioning is the most common way to maintain workable temperatures for server computer arrays, and several techniques have been devised to reduce the energy demand. Nevertheless, the air-conditioning used by building, and, in particular, the air-conditioning used to cool rooms housing server computers, can account for a large proportion of the energy budget of the building. Significant savings in energy costs can be achieved by finding ways to minimize the energy use required to maintain tolerable temperatures in the environment of the computing devices.

Heat capture system for electrical components providing electromagnetic pulse protection


A method is provided for detecting a change in posture of a subject. An electrical impedance is measured between two or more sites on a stomach (20) of the subject, and an impedance signal is generated responsive thereto. The change in posture is detected by performing a posture analysis of the impedance signal. A method is also provided for treating a subject. The method includes applying an electrical signal to a site of the subject selected from the list consisting of: a colon (402) of the subject, and a distal small intestine (408) of the subject. The signal is configured to stimulate cells of the subject to increase secretion of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) or PYY, or to decrease secretion of ghrelin, in order to treat the subject.

Invasive treatments for obesity are often recommended for patients with a body mass index (mass/height2 [kg/m2]) which is greater than 35 or 40. For such patients, their weight is commonly associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Preferably, the invasive treatments are accompanied by changes in lifestyle, such as improved eating habits and an appropriate exercise regimen.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/734,358 to Flesler et al., which published as US Patent Application Publication 2002/0161414, and which is assigned to the assignee of the present patent application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for treating a condition such as obesity. The apparatus includes a set of one or more electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to one or more respective sites in a vicinity of a body of a stomach of a patient. A control unit is adapted to drive the electrode set to apply to the body of the stomach a signal, configured such that application thereof increases a level of contraction of muscle tissue of the body of the stomach, and decreases a cross-sectional area of a portion of the body of the stomach for a substantially continuous period greater than about 3 seconds.
PCT Publication WO 02/082968 to Policker et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes a diet evaluation gastric apparatus, which detects when a patient swallows, and detects the type and amount of matter ingested. The apparatus includes electrodes adapted to be coupled to the fundus and antrum of the patient and to measure electrical and mechanical activity therein, and a control unit to analyze such electrical and mechanical activity and optionally apply electrical energy to modify the activity of tissue of the patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,691 to Chen et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastric pacemaker for treating obesity and other conditions. The pacemaker includes multiple electrodes which are placed at various positions on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and which deliver phased electrical stimulation to pace peristaltic movement of material through the GI tract.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,607 to Mintchev et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastro-intestinal electrical pacemaker, including multiple electrodes which are arranged around a portion of the GI tract. The electrodes stimulate smooth muscle so that local contractions of the portion of the GI tract are artificially propagated therethrough, in order to facilitate a partial emptying of the portion. Preferably, the local contractions are artificially propagated by phase locking or time shifting the electrical stimulus, which is applied to the smooth muscle circumferentially about the portion at two or more locations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,872 to Cigaina, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for applying electrical pulses to the distal gastric antrum of a patient, so as to reduce the motility of the stomach and to thereby treat obesity or another condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,988 to Wernicke et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for treating and controlling diabetes and other systemic pancreatic endocrine disorders attributable to abnormal levels of secretion of endogenous insulin An electrical stimulator implanted into or worn external to the patient's body is adapted, when activated, to generate a programmable electrical waveform for application to electrodes implanted on the vagus nerve of the patient. The electrical waveform is programmed using parameter values selected to stimulate or inhibit the vagus nerve to modulate the electrical activity thereof to increase or decrease secretion of natural insulin by the patient's pancreas. The stimulator is selectively activated manually by the patient in response to direct measurement of blood glucose or symptoms, or is activated automatically by programming the activation to occur at predetermined times and for predetermined intervals during the circadian cycle of the patient. Alternatively, the automatic activation is achieved using an implanted sensor to detect the blood glucose concentration, and is triggered when the patient's blood glucose concentration exceeds or falls below a predetermined level depending on whether diabetes or hypoglycemia is being treated.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,188,104 and 5,263,480 to Wernicke et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, describe a method for stimulating the vagus nerve of a patient so as to alleviate an eating disorder.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,104,955, 6,091,992, and 5,836,994 to Bourgeois, U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,326 to Bardy, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,507 to Wingrove, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe the application of electrical signals to the GI tract to treat various physiological disorders.
PCT Patent Publication WO 99/03533 to Ben-Haim et al., entitled, "Smooth muscle controller," and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/481,253 in the national phase thereof, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present patent application and are incorporated herein by reference, describe apparatus and methods for applying signals to smooth muscle so as to modify the behavior thereof. In particular, apparatus for controlling the stomach is described in which a controller applies an electrical field to electrodes on the stomach wall so as to modify the reaction of muscle tissue therein to an activation signal, while not generating a propagating action potential in the tissue. In the context of the present patent application and in the claims, the use of such a non-excitatory signal to modify the response of one or more cells to electrical activation thereof, without inducing action potentials in the cells, is referred to as Excitable-Tissue Control (ETC). Use of an ETC signal is described with respect to treating obesity, by applying the ETC signal to the stomach so as to delay or prevent emptying of the stomach. In addition, a method is described for increasing the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, by applying an ETC signal to a portion of the tract in order to increase the contraction force generated in the portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,631 to Ben-Haim et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present patent application and is incorporated herein by reference, describes methods for modifying the force of contraction of a heart chamber by applying an ETC signal to the heart.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,385 to Mittal et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a crural diaphragm pacemaker for treating gastroesophageal reflux. The pacemaker includes one or more electrodes which are placed in contact with the crural diaphragm, either by implantation or by connecting the electrodes to the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm through the skin. During spontaneous intermittent relaxations of the diaphragm, the electrodes stimulate the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm, in order to cause contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,764 to Imran et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for diagnosing and treating gastric disorders. A functional device resides within the patient's stomach and is secured to the stomach wall by an attachment device. The functional device may be a sensor for sensing various parameters of the stomach or stomach environment, or may be a therapeutic delivery device. The functional device in one embodiment comprises stimulating electrodes for gastric electrical stimulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,288 to Kuzmak et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes calibrating apparatus adapted to be inserted into and proceeded within the stomach of human body. The calibrating apparatus includes a single-lumen tubing terminating in a proximal portion and a distal tip, each of which has an orifice. The single-lumen tubing has a first opening extending therethrough which is located at a selected distance from the proximal portion and a second opening which extends therethrough and which is located a predetermined distance from the distal tip; an elongated, thin-walled sensor having a circular-cross section and a cavity within the interior thereof and which is operatively coupled in a sealing relationship to the distal tip, wherein the thin-walled sensor is capable of having its cross-sectional diameter varied in response to a force applied to the exterior of the sensor to vary the pressure of a fluid within the cavity, and a balloon surrounding the exterior of said single-lumen tubing at the preselected location, which encloses the second opening, and an elongated tubing member which extends through the single-lumen tubing, through the first opening and into communication with the second opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,339 to Kuzmak et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastric band for forming a stoma opening in a stomach for treating morbid obesity. The band is invasively placed around the stomach, and an expandable portion of the band is used to adjust the diameter of the stoma opening.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,368, 5,226,429, and 5,074,868 to Kuzmak, which are incorporated herein by reference, describe adjustable gastric bands. The size of the stoma opening of the bands can be adjusted by injecting into or removing fluid from an expandable section of the gastric bands.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,604 to Vincent, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastric band for placement around the stomach for treating morbid obesity. The inner surface of the band is inflatable through a remote fill port. The band is invasively placed in an encircling position around the stomach by the facile closure of a single fastening means. After the band is fastened around the stomach, a fluid is injected into the inflatable inner surface, thereby constricting the stoma of the stomach.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,298 to Vincent et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a tool for tightening a band or ligature having a buckle end and a free end during laparoscopic surgery.
PCT Publication WO 01/83019 to Vincent, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus and methods for transferring particles and fluids to or from a body of a patient, including inflating a balloon inside the body during surgical procedures to facilitate the identification of anatomical landmarks and to provide guidance for surgical dissections. The apparatus includes an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon, and a transfer lumen in communication with one or more openings. The method permits a surgeon to empty the contents of the stomach, decompress the stomach, inflate the balloon, perform an operation, such as one involving gastric banding or gastric bypass, using the balloon as a landmark, and irrigate the stomach to check for gastric perforations at the end of the surgical procedure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,669 to Klaiber et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an adjustable gastric band for contracting a patient's stomach in order to fight obesity. A gastric band of a known type, implanted around the stomach and including a cavity filled with liquid, is connected by a tube to a control box and a balancing reservoir which are implanted under the skin of the patient. The box contains an electric pump and an electronic control unit capable of communicating by radio with a monitor carried by the patient and with a controller intended for the doctor. The controller can operate the pump by remote control to transfer determined volumes of liquid in a closed circuit from the gastric band to the reservoir or vice versa, to adjust the diameter of a passage in the stomach. The monitor receives and signals alarms from the control box.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,991 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an adjustable gastric band including an elongated non-inflatable restriction member, a forming device for forming the restriction member into at least a substantially closed loop around the stomach or the esophagus to define a restriction opening, and a post-operation non-invasive adjustment device for mechanically adjusting the restriction member in the loop to change the size of the restriction opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,347 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a food intake restriction device for forming a stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus of a patient. The device comprises an elongated restriction member to be formed into at least a substantially closed loop defining a restriction opening, and a controllable adjustment device for adjusting the restriction member in the loop to change the size of the restriction opening. The device further comprises a wireless remote control for controlling the adjustment device from outside the body of the patient in a non-invasive manner to assist in treating the patient for morbid obesity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,543 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a food intake restriction device for forming a stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus of a patient. The device comprises an elongated restriction member forming an expandable and contractible cavity formed into an at least substantially closed loop defining a restriction opening, the size of which is reduced upon expansion of the cavity and increased upon contraction of the cavity. A reservoir containing a predetermined amount of hydraulic fluid and connected to the cavity of the restriction member, and a hydraulic operation device for distributing fluid from the reservoir to the cavity to expand the cavity and for distributing fluid from the cavity to the reservoir to contract the cavity, are also implanted in a patient with morbid obesity and operated from outside the body of the patient in a non-invasive manner. A non-inflatable restriction member may alternatively be used, and hydraulically adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,907 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an adjustable gastric band that includes an energy transmission device for wireless transmission of energy of a first form from outside the body of the patient. The band is adjusted in response to a second energy form different than the first form to vary the restricted stoma. An energy transfer device is implanted in the patient for transferring energy of the first form transmitted by the energy transmission device into energy of the second form.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,699 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes food intake restriction apparatus that includes a restriction device implanted in a patient, which engages the stomach or esophagus to form an upper pouch and a restricted stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus. The apparatus includes a source of energy external to the body of the patient, and a control device for releasing wireless energy from the source of energy from outside the body. The released wireless energy is used in connection with the operation of the restriction device, to enlarge it to allow food passage, or to contract it to substantially prevent food passage. The restriction device optionally includes at least one implanted sensor for sensing at least one physical parameter of the patient, in which case the control device may control the restriction device in response to signals from the sensor.
US Patent Application Publication 2003/0066536 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes food intake restriction apparatus, including an operable restriction device implanted in a patient and engaging the stomach or esophagus to form a restricted stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus. The apparatus includes a source of energy for energizing the restriction device, and a control device for releasing energy from the source of energy from outside the body of the patient. The released energy is used in connection with the operation of the restriction device to vary the size of the stoma opening to allow or substantially prevent the passage of food therethrough. The restriction apparatus optionally includes a pressure sensor for directly or indirectly sensing the pressure in the stomach. The control device may control the restriction device in response to signals from the pressure sensor.
US Patent Application Publication 2001/0011543 to Forsell, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes apparatus for treating morbid obesity or heartburn and reflux disease, including an elongated restriction member formed in a substantially closed loop around a stomach or esophagus of a human to form a stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus. The size of the stoma opening is adjustable by an implanted adjustment device. A control device is utilized to control the adjustment device, in order to either reduce or enlarge the size of the stoma opening, for example in response to the time of the day. A sensor, such as a pressure or position sensor, is surgically implanted in the body of the human so that the sensor may either directly or indirectly sense a physical parameter of the human, such as the pressure in the stomach or the human's orientation with respect to the horizontal. If in response to sensing by the sensor it is determined by the control device that a significant change in the physical parameter has occurred, then the control device controls the adjustment device to either reduce or enlarge the size of the stoma opening.
PCT Publication WO 01/41671 to Cigaina, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a removable gastric band for controlling obesity by allowing control and/or modification of the diameter of a stomach of a patient. The gastric band comprises a closure mechanism, which allows the elongated body to close around a portion of the stomach. The gastric band can be used in conjunction with a gastric electrostimulator, and is therefore described as being potentially useful for inducing forced slimming in the initial phase of treatment for morbigenous obesity. Such electrostimulation devices may either be incorporated into the removable gastric band or located at a distance from the removable gastric band.
European Patent Application Publication 1 036 545 A2 to Moshe, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastric band for attaching around a circumference of a stomach of a patient, so as to define the diameter of the stomach opening. The band comprises outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach, and at least the outer surface is formed by an elongated member substantially non-extendable along a longitudinal axis thereof. A through-going opening is made in the elongated member and is located so as to define an end portion of the band having a predetermined length. An opposite end portion of the band is shaped so as to be insertable into the through-going opening, for adjusting a desired inner diameter of the band in its closed operating position and fastening the opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,490 to Robert, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a gastric banding device for implantation within a person for the treatment of morbid obesity. The gastric banding device includes an inflatable band portion dimensioned to encircle the stomach, and an inflation conduit operable for conducting a percutaneously injected inflation fluid into the band portion. The band portion is a toroidal member having a head end with first fastening means thereon and a tail end having second fastening means thereon and an inflatable shell therebetween. The outer surface of the toroidal shell in reinforced with a non-extensible, biocompatible material which serves to limit outward expansion of the shell when an inflation fluid is injected thereinto. The inner, stomach-contacting surface of the shell has a layer of an open-cell elastomeric foam affixed thereto and integral therewith. In operation, when the band is placed in an encircling relationship with the stomach, the first and second fastening means on the ends of the shell are engaged in locking relationship. An inflation fluid is injected into the shell by means of a subcutaneously implanted injection port that is in fluid communication with the inflation conduit. As the shell expands inwardly, it constricts and compartmentalizes the stomach.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,801 to Dargent et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an implantable gastric constriction device comprising a constriction member forming a ring in its operational configuration. The constriction member includes a flexible band, of which the two ends are adjacent to one another in the operational configuration, and a means for actuating the constriction member, characterized in that, in cooperation, on the one hand, at least one end of the flexible band includes a tractile element for moving such end relative to the other end, generating a radial deformation of the constriction member, and, on the other hand, the actuating means comprises a member for pulling the tractile element.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,399 to Brown, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method and apparatus for causing weight loss in obese patients by occupying a segment of the stomach volume using a variable volume bladder filled with fluid. The bladder is inserted into the upper part of the stomach including the fundus through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube, which was non-surgically placed to create a permanent channel to the stomach. The inserted bladder is filled and emptied using a filling system for pumping fluid in and out of the bladder according to a predetermined scheme. The filling system comprises a reversible pump, a two-way valve connected to the filling tube, an electronic control means for automatically controlling the action of the filling system, and a battery. The electronic control means is connected to a plurality of sensors placed on the body of the patient to detect digestion cycle and hemodynamic parameters. The electronic control means collects information detected by the sensors, governs the filling system according to the obtained information and predetermined operation scheme, and records times and volumes of the fluid transferred through the two-way valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,454 to Bangs, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for controlling the body weight of a patient. The method includes inserting a percutaneous intragastric balloon catheter into the stomach of the patient through a gastrostomy tract. The intragastric balloon catheter comprises elongated shaft means having first and second ends, a first inflatable balloon carried proximal to the first end, and a second inflatable balloon carried proximal to the first inflatable balloon, the second balloon having a lesser inflated volume than the first balloon. The balloon catheter further comprises first and second inflation lumens, first and second inflation ports communicating respectively with the first and second inflation lumens and the first and second balloons, which ports are carried by the second end, and a drainage lumen passing between said first and second ends. The method continues by inflating the first and second balloons within the patient, partially filling the stomach to provide satiety.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,267 to Garren et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a stomach insert for treating obesity in humans by reducing the stomach volume. The insert comprises a flexible torus-shaped inflatable balloon having a central opening extending therethrough. At least a portion of the balloon has a self-sealing substance to facilitate puncture thereof with a needle for inflating the balloon and sealing of the puncture upon removal of the needle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,785 to De Hoyos Garza, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a percutaneous intragastric balloon catheter for the treatment of obesity. The balloon is non-surgically placed in the stomach, and is collocated by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The balloon includes a valve for regulating the amount of fluid introduced or evacuated from the balloon.
INAMED Corporation (Santa Barbara, Calif.) manufactures and markets the LAP-BAND® System, an FDA-approved adjustable and reversible gastric band for treatment of obesity.
Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a known modulator of insulin secretion in the early phases of a meal and a mediator of satiety. In response to ingestion of a meal, GLP-1 is secreted into the blood by L-cells mainly located in the colon and distal small intestine. Administration of GLP-1, either subcutaneously or peripherally, has been shown to improve glycemic control, partially by restoring the first-phase insulin response and suppressing glucagon, and is therefore considered a potential treatment for obesity and Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM).
Todd J F et al., in an article entitled, "Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): a trial of treatment in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus," Eur J Clin Invest 27 (6):533-6 (1997), which is incorporated herein by reference, write that "GLP-1 has the advantages of both suppressing glucagon secretion and delaying gastric emptying." They conclude, "GLP-1 improves glycaemic control even in the absence of an insulinotropic effect and is a potential treatment for NIDDM."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,102 to DiMarchi et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes pharmaceutical compositions comprising a glucagon-like peptide-1 compound for reducing body weight and treating obesity. The compositions are peripherally administered.
The following articles, which are incorporated herein by reference, may be of interest:
Gutniak M K et al., "Subcutaneous injection of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 abolishes postprandial glycemia in NIDDM," Diabetes Care 17(9):1039-44 (1994)
Robertson M D et al., "The influence of the colon on postprandial glucagon-like peptide 1 (7-36) amide concentration in man," J Endocrinol 161(1):25-31 (1999)
Schirra J et al., "Mechanisms of the antidiabetic action of subcutaneous glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus," J Endocrinol 156(1):177-86 (1998)
Todd J F et al., "Subcutaneous glucagon-like peptide-1 improves postprandial glycaemic control over a 3-week period in patients with early type 2 diabetes," Clin Sci (Lond) 95(3):325-9 (1998)
Vilsboll T et al., "Reduced postprandial concentrations of intact biologically active glucagon-like peptide 1 in type 2 diabetic patients," Diabetes 50(3):609-13 (2001)

Gastrointestinal methods and apparatus for use in treating disorders


Systems and methods for tailoring fluid and energy interaction through surface texturing. The methods comprise: receiving behavior input data specifying known or modeled interactions between a material and pre-solved solution surfaces, discrete input data specifying parameters of a surface to be textured, and continuous input data specifying ranges of values for environmental characteristics that the surface is to be subjected to during use; transforming the behavior input data into a composite response surface comprising a weighted combination of the pre-solved solution surfaces generated based on the discrete input data and the continuous input data; determining an optimized surface texture for the surface based on the composite response surface and desired behavior data specifying a desired interaction between the material and the surface to be textured; and outputting the optimized surface texture (e.g., to a surface texturing machine) so that the optimized surface texture is applied to the surface.

The surface texturing of a device's surface can impact the performance of the device in many ways, particularly as a result of the fluid and energy interaction at the surface. As some examples, improper surface texture can result in icing, contamination, fogging, optical loss, flow resistance, corrosion, and bio fouling of various devices. Exemplary devices which may experience such impacts include radar/telecom antennas, air foils, power transmission lines, pipes (AC, refrigerators), sensors, photovoltaic cells, displays and signs, windows, oil pipelines, coolant cycling, packaging, cooling systems, heating systems, pneumatic system drying, submerged pipes/lines, medical sensors, medical implants, microfluidic cells, maritime hulls, maritime buoys, and bridge supports. The potential impacts and devices are for examples only, and other devices may experience other negative results. As a further complication, most devices have surfaces which may experience multiple negative results.

Systems and methods to achieve tailored fluid and energy interaction through surface texturing