Upon a user selecting and associating document data and a digital multifunction peripheral on a computer screen, the document data associated with the selected digital multifunction peripheral is searched for, scan settings using the document data as model data are extracted, and the extracted scan settings, as well as information as to a storage location of the document data are transmitted to the digital multifunction peripheral, in order to request button registration. The digital multifunction peripheral receiving the request presets the received scan settings, registers a scan and transmit button using the received storage location as a transmission destination, and displays it through a user interface. Upon pressing the scan and transmit button, a document is scanned with the scan settings associated therewith and the acquired document data is transmitted to the transmission destination associated with the scan and transmit button.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus using a scanning and transmitting function of a digital multifunction peripheral, an image input apparatus, a document distribution system, and a control method therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for registering a scan and transmit button in association with a digital multifunction peripheral and performing scanning and transmission by only a user operation that associates an already-stored document and a digital multifunction peripheral with each other; an image input apparatus (such as a digital multifunction peripheral); a document distribution system (e.g. comprising an information processing apparatus and an image input apparatus); and a control method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
These days, a large number of document management systems are available for reading documents in a paper-medium form using a variety of readers, for sorting such document information in electronic-data form, and for storing the sorted data in databases in order to make data searches easier. In particular, in recent years, more attention has been given to activities and laws, such as internal control or the SOX Act, for the purpose of improving or providing for the sound running of companies or organizations. Therefore, a number of opportunities to store scan data (i.e. electronic data representing scanned documents) obtained by converting documents into electronic-data form is increasing with the trend toward information technology (IT) as a format for document storage.
One example of an apparatus for reading a variety of documents is a digital multifunction peripheral, which can be equipped with many functions, such as copying, printing, faxing, scanning, scanning and transmitting, storing, and the like, and which has become widely available in offices. Users of such digital multifunction peripherals need to complete the operations they perform with these peripherals in a short time with a minimum of effort. In other words, they are required to carry out a job with such peripherals as quickly and efficiently as possible. However (and perhaps surprisingly), because of the complexity of the above-described digital multifunction peripherals, the practical reality is that users sometimes cannot easily execute an activity as potentially straightforward as a document scanning and transmitting operation. Users are therefore not exploiting the full potential of digital multifunction peripherals.
In an attempt to solve the above problem, conventional technology has proposed that a setting operation performed on an operation panel of a digital multifunction peripheral is implemented using an application that is running on an information processing apparatus (e.g. a PC) connected through a network to the multifunction peripheral (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-287389). According to this technology, as a result of registering a scan and transmit button with a digital multifunction peripheral, scanning and transmission can be implemented without occupying the digital multifunction peripheral (i.e. without keeping the digital multifunction peripheral unavailable to others for extended periods).
With this conventional technology, a user generates a file called a "shortcut to scanned document" through the information processing apparatus. Specifically, the shortcut file is generated by inputting scan information settings and a designated storage location with the user interface (e.g. monitor and keyboard) of the information processing apparatus (e.g. PC), and the generated shortcut file is registered with the multifunction peripheral, which thereby achieves a single-button operation.
As another conventional technology to simplify printing, a user interface using icons has been proposed. This conventional technology has proposed a print-instruction program in which the print settings for a specific printer have been stored associated with a "print settings" icon, using a special-purpose setting application, and a document data icon is associated with the print settings icon in order to transmit a print job to the printer (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-120041).
With this conventional technology, through an operation of dragging and dropping a document data icon onto a print settings icon, document data and print settings can be transmitted as a print job to a printer.
With the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-287389, the time a digital multifunction peripheral is occupied by a user can be shortened as a result of creating scan and transmission settings using an application running on the information processing apparatus. However, this method remains unchanged from conventional methods in that a user needs to perform a setting operation on the operation panel of a digital multifunction peripheral; therefore, a user cannot always create settings in a short time, fully exploiting the functions of a digital multifunction peripheral.
The method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-120041 provides operability, i.e., printing is performed by an operation of dragging and dropping a document data icon onto a print settings icon. This is an effective measure to allow a user to be freed from creating complicated settings. However, this is not sufficiently applicable to the case of scanning and transmission using a digital multifunction peripheral where there is originally no document to be processed, such as in the case of printing and, besides, the setting of a destination to which data is transmitted is necessary.

Information processing apparatus, image input apparatus, document distribution system, and control method therefor


An undercarriage sprayer is provided for automobiles and the like. The sprayer has a T-shaped frame with a castor wheel at the base of the T and two steerable wheels at the ends of the cross bar. A handle connected to the frame at the intersection of the T is used to manipulate the sprayer and to steer the wheels through the use of a rotating hand grip. Spray nozzles are spaced along the base arm of the T-frame and may be arranged to pivot from side to side under the control of an operator. In other embodiments, the nozzles may be rotating spray heads.

It is often desirable when washing a vehicle to clean the under carriage of the vehicle. This is of particular importance where the vehicle has been used in a corrosive environment, such as where salt has been used to melt ice and hard packed snow. In self service car washes, this under car washing must be done with the spray wand which is used for washing the rest of the car body. However, it is difficult, especially with a low vehicle, to wash the complete under side of the vehicle in a completely satisfactory manner using such a wand.
In addition, it is often desirable to spray the underside of a vehicle with a rust-inhibiting composition. A device that has been proposed for under car washing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,726 issued Apr. 8, 1986 to Michel J. Unger. In that device, two widely spaced vertically oriented nozzles are carried on a rectangular housing supported on two caster wheels. The nozzles are supplied with water through a hollow handle connected to the housing. The handle has a flexible section or is itself flexible so that the housing can be positioned as desired under a vehicle.
The present invention is concerned with certain improvements in a device of this sort.

Under carriage sprayer for automobiles or the like


A differential amplifier having a first and second output terminals and receiving an input signal at an input terminal. The amplifier comprises a first amplifier having a first input connected to the input terminal, a second input and a first output connected together to the first output terminal, and a second output connected to the second output terminal, the first amplifier reproducing the input signal on the first output. The amplifier comprises a second amplifier having a first input receiving a reference signal and a second input connected to the output terminals by resistive elements and controlling the provision by the first amplifier on the second output of a signal such that the signals received at the first and second inputs of the second amplifier are equal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a differential amplifier with two outputs and a single input. Such an amplifier provides across the two output terminals a voltage proportional to the difference between a voltage received at the input terminal and a reference voltage. Such an amplifier is for example used in a digital versatile disk (DVD) reader.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional differential amplifier circuit with two outputs and a single input.
Amplifier 10 comprises an input terminal IN on which is applied a voltage VIN referenced to a reference potential GND, for example, the ground, and two output terminals OUT− and OUT+ respectively providing voltages VO− and VO+, also referenced to reference potential GND. Amplifier 10 comprises a first operational amplifier 12 comprising a non-inverting input (+) connected to terminal IN and an inverting input (−) connected to terminal S of amplifier 12. Amplifier 10 comprises a second operational amplifier 14 comprising an inverting input (−) connected to output S of the first amplifier 12 via a resistor 16 of value R1. The output and the inverting input (−) of operational amplifier 14 are connected via a resistor 18 of value R2. Output terminal OUT− of amplifier 10 corresponds to the output of operational amplifier 14. Operational amplifier 14 comprises a non-inverting input (+) connected to a terminal of a generator 20 of a reference voltage VREF having its other terminal connected to reference potential GND. Second output OUT+ of amplifier 10 is connected to output S of operational amplifier 12.
Since first operational amplifier 12 is connected as a follower, the voltage at output S, referenced with respect to reference potential GND, is equal to VIN. VO+ is thus equal to VIN. Since second amplifier 14 is connected as an inverter amplifier, VO− is equal to (1+R2/R1)VREF−(R2/R1)VO+.
Voltage VOUT between output terminals OUT+ and OUT− thus is in phase with VIN and has an amplitude substantially equal to the difference between VREF and VIN multiplied by an amplification factor 1+R2/R1. Such an amplifier thus provides a voltage VOUT having a peak-to-peak amplitude equal to the peak-to-peak amplitude of VIN multiplied by amplification factor 1+R2/R1. Further, since VOUT is obtained from the difference between VO+ and VO−, it is free of the noise present at the level of reference potential GND with respect to which VIN is referenced. Further, voltage VIN generally arrives onto the gate of the MOS transistor or the base of a bipolar transistor, according to the technology used to form operational amplifier 12. Amplifier 10 thus has a very high input impedance.
A disadvantage of such an amplifier is that it is not perfectly linear. Indeed, there generally exists a slight delay between VO− and VO+. Further, voltage VO− may be disturbed by specific noise, due to the resistances and to the different components of operational amplifier 14 which are present at the level of VOUT. Further, such an amplifier does not have a common mode control for both outputs OUT+ and OUT−. Finally, operational amplifier 14 generally introduces an additional phase and amplitude distortion of VO− with respect to VO+. As an example, the total harmonic distortion (THD) may be greater than 30 decibels for a maximum frequency smaller than 100 MHz. The linearity properties of such an amplifier may thus be insufficient for certain applications, for example, for a digital versatile disk (DVD) reader or for liquid crystal display control circuits.

Differential amplifier with two outputs and a single input of improved linearity


With the blasting apparatus in which the injection nozzle is disposed to inject the blast material against the work pieces from the outside of the tubular barrel formed of the mesh net for accommodation of the work pieces and rotatable about the center axis, the work pieces can be stirred homogenously and efficiently without excessive occurrence of the collision of the work pieces against one another and without occurrence of the collision of the work pieces against one another and with a strong shock force. Therefore, the treating efficiency is enhanced and, it is possible to inhibit the occurrence of the cracking and breaking of the work pieces. Further, with the blasting apparatus in which the tubular barrel is supported circumferentially outside the center axis of the support member rotatable about the center axis, it is possible to more inhibit the occurrence of the cracking and breaking of the work pieces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blasting apparatus suitable for carrying out a surface treatment of sintered products such as rare earth metal-based permanent magnets and ceramics.
2. Description of the Related Art
A blasting apparatus is conventionally used for a surface treatment of, for example, rare earth metal-based permanent magnets, i.e., a treatment for removing an oxide layer formed on the surface, a treatment for cleaning the surface or a shot peening for finishing a film formed on the surface.
There are various types of blasting apparatus. For example, in a tumbler-type blasting apparatus, work pieces are placed into a drum within the apparatus, and an injection nozzle is disposed so as to inject a blast material against the work pieces through an opening in the drum, while stirring the work pieces by rotating the drum (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.11-347941).
A blasting apparatus as described above is capable of mass-treatment of work pieces and excellent in productivity. In such apparatus, however, the injection of the blast material against the work pieces can be conducted only through the opening in the drum, and hence, there is, of course, a limit in respect of the treating efficiency. When an attempt is made to stir the work pieces as homogenously as possible by prolonging the treating period of time or by increasing the rotational speed of the drum in order to enhance the treating efficiency, the collision of the work pieces against one another occur frequently and with a strong shock force. For this reason, a cracking and breaking is produced in many of the work pieces. The stirring of the work pieces must be carried out, so that they are not dropped out through the opening and hence, the setting of the stirring condition is accompanied by a limitation. Further, it is necessary to place and remove the work pieces into and out of the drum before and after the treatment and hence, during the placing and removal, a cracking and breaking may be caused in the work pieces.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a blasting apparatus, which is excellent in treating efficiency of work pieces, and in which the occurrence of the cracking and breaking of the work pieces can be inhibited.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a blasting apparatus, comprising a tubular barrel formed of a mesh net for accommodation of work pieces and rotatable about a center axis, and an injection nozzle disposed to inject a blast material against the work pieces from the outside of the tubular barrel.
According to a second aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the inside of the tubular barrel is divided into two or more accommodating sections.
According to a third aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the second feature, the inside of the tubular barrel is divided radiately from the center axis into two or more accommodating sections.
According to a fourth aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the tubular barrel is detachably mounted.
According to a fifth aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a blasting apparatus, comprising a tubular barrel formed of a mesh net for accommodation of work pieces and supported circumferentially outside a center axis of a support member rotatable about the center axis, for rotation about the center axis, so that the tubular barrel can be rotated about the center axis of the support member by rotating the support member, and an injection nozzle disposed to inject a blast material against the work pieces from the outside of the tubular barrel rotated about the center axis.
According to a sixth aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the fifth feature, a plurality of the tubular barrels are supported in an annular shape circumferentially outside the center axis of the support member.
According to a seventh aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the fifth feature, the tubular barrel and/or the support member for supporting the tubular barrel is detachably mounted.
According to an eighth aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a process for blasting surfaces of work pieces using a blasting apparatus according to the first or fifth feature.
According to a ninth aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the eighth feature, the work pieces are rare earth metal-based permanent magnets.
According to a tenth aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a process for treating the surfaces of rare earth metal-based permanent magnets, comprising the steps of removing an oxide layer formed on the surface of each of the rare earth metal-based permanent magnets using a blasting apparatus according to the fourth or seventh feature, removing the tubular barrel containing the rare earth metal-based permanent magnets with the oxide layers removed therefrom, or the support member for supporting the tubular barrel from the blasting apparatus, and attaching the tubular barrel or the support member to a vapor deposited film forming apparatus, where a metal film is formed on the surface of each of the rare earth metal-based permanent magnets by a vapor deposition process.
According to an eleventh aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the tenth feature, the process further includes a step of removing the tubular barrel containing the rare earth metal-based permanent magnets having the metal films formed thereon, or the support member for supporting the tubular barrel from the vapor deposited film forming apparatus, and attaching the tubular barrel or the support member again to the blasting apparatus according to the fourth or seventh feature, where the metal films are subjected to a shot peening.
With the blasting apparatus according to the first feature of the present invention (a first embodiment of the present invention) in which the injection nozzle is disposed to inject the blast material against the work pieces from the outside of the tubular barrel formed of the mesh net for accommodation of the work pieces and rotatable about the center axis, the work pieces can be stirred homogenously and efficiently without excessive occurrence of the collision of the work pieces against one another and without occurrence of the collision of the work pieces against one another with a strong shock force. Therefore, the treating efficiency is enhanced and moreover, it is possible to inhibit the occurrence of the cracking and breaking of the work pieces. Since the tubular barrel is formed of the mesh net, the blast material can be injected from all directions. Therefore, any number of injection nozzles for injecting the blast material can be disposed at any locations in any manner, so that the blast material can be injected uniformly and efficiently against the work pieces.
With the blasting apparatus according to the fifth feature of the present invention (a second embodiment of the present invention) in which the tubular barrel formed of the mesh net for accommodation of the work pieces and supported circumferentially outside the center axis of the support member rotatable about the center axis, for rotation about the center axis, so that the tubular barrel can be rotated about the center axis of the support member by rotating the support member, and the injection nozzle is disposed to inject the blast material against the work pieces from the outside of the tubular barrel rotated about the center axis, it is possible to more inhibit the occurrence of the cracking and breaking of the work pieces, in addition to the effect provided in the blasting apparatus according to the first feature of the present invention.


The present invention relates to an automotive headlamp construction in which chromatic aberation is substantially eliminated. The headlamp includes an elliptic reflector, a light source disposed at a first focal point of the elliptic reflector, a condenser lens which is focused generally at a second focal point of the elliptic reflector, and an outer lens provided in front of the condenser lens. In accordance with the invention, the radius of curvature of the outer lens is reduced at a vertically middle portion thereof to form an angled portion through which light from the light source passes. The angled portion acts as a lens having a focal length such that chromatic aberration of the condenser lens is canceled out.

The present invention relates to an automotive headlamp construction in which chromatic aberration is substantially eliminated.
An automotive headlamp converts light from a light source (bulb) into parallel rays so as to illuminate the road in front of the vehicle. Headlamps may be divided into two types: one in which the light from the light source is converted into generally parallel rays by a parabolic reflector, and another in which the light from the light source is converted into parallel rays by the combination of an elliptic reflector and a condenser lens.
The condenser lens used in the latter type tends to develop chromatic aberration since the rays incident upon a portion remote from the optical axis of the lens are subjected to higher refractive indices than in other areas. This chromatic aberration arises due to the fact that the light from the light source includes a variety of wavelengths (colors) for which the refractive index differs slightly. This in turn results in slightly different focal lengths of the lens for the different colors.
There have been a variety of conventional headlamps free from chromatic aberration, including a type in which a shade for diffusing light is disposed near the focal point of the reflector (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 53-23180) and a type in which a member for causing the light to refract or diffuse is directly fixed onto the surface of a condenser lens through an adhesive (Japanese Patent Preliminary Publication No. 60-62001).
However, these headlamps require the provision of, for example, a shade (mask) for diffusing and refracting the light to eliminate chromatic aberration, which shade must be specially worked or a powerful light source provided for overcoming the decrease in light transmissivity resulting from the members fixed to the condenser lens.

Automotive headlamp having reduced chromatic aberration


An airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag wall (14) having a gas outlet opening (26), and a control strap (16) extending through an interior of the airbag along an airbag depth (y) that is defined by a distance between two airbag wall areas (27, 28), the airbag wall areas (27, 28) being situated opposite to each other and the airbag wall areas (27, 28) being joined to one another by the control strap (16). A wall section (20) is turned one of inside and outside relative to the inflated airbag (10), depending on the airbag depth (y), such that, in response to a displacement of the control strap (16), the airbag (10) can be moved from a first outer contour, in which the airbag depth (y) is large and the wall section (20) is turned into the interior of the airbag, to a second outer contour, in which the airbag depth (y) is smaller and the wall section (20) is turned outside. The airbag (10) has a closure (18) for the gas outlet opening (26) that is joined, on the one hand, to the control strap (16) and, on the other hand, to the wall section (20). The closure (18) can be actively moved in opposite directions respectively by the control strap (16) and the wall section (20), in order to open and close the gas outlet opening (26) to one of a greater and lesser extent.

Such an airbag has already been disclosed in the generic German patent application DE 102 36 859 A1 in which the wall section that can be turned inside or outside is a tube-like wall section that has a gas outlet opening. A first end of the control strap is fastened to the tube-like wall section near the gas outlet opening and a second, opposite end of the control strap is attached to the airbag wall. The length of the control strap and the attachment point of the second end of the control strap are selected such that the control strap is tensioned while the airbag unfolds largely unhindered, and the tube-like wall section along with the gas outlet opening is pulled into the interior of the airbag. As a result of the pressure prevailing inside the airbag, the tube-like wall section is compressed such that the gas outlet opening is closed. Consequently, in the case of an optimal restraint position of the vehicle occupant and thus under good airbag unfolding conditions, undesired gas loss is minimized. In contrast, if the vehicle occupant is situated in an unfavorable restraint position, for example too close to the airbag, the unfolding of the airbag is hindered. In this case, the control strap does not become tensioned, so that the tube-like wall section is turned outside and the gas outlet opening is released. In this manner, an excessive airbag hardness is prevented when the vehicle occupant is in an unfavorable restraint position.
A drawback of the described airbag is that the opening cross section of the gas outlet opening cannot be varied or adapted. The opening is either essentially completely closed or completely open. However, an adaptation of the outflow cross section that can be regulated, preferably passively regulated, would be desirable in order to improve the restraint values of the airbag.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to create an airbag with a gas outlet opening, the gas outlet opening providing an outflow cross section being controllable, preferably reversibly and path-dependently controllable, by a passive regulation device.

Airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system


A system for producing control data for controlling a laser so as to produce at least one cutting surface in a cornea of an eye of a patient includes a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for establishing a geometry of a lenticule cut, establishing a geometry of a cap cut running substantially parallel to a surface of the cornea, establishing a geometry of an external opening cut arranged outside an optical zone of the eye of the patient, and establishing a geometry of an access cut to connect the cap cut to the external opening cut.

In the prior art, a wide range of treatment methods having the purpose of refraction correction in the human eye are known. In this context, the purpose of the operation methods is to alter the cornea selectively so as to influence the light refraction in the eye. A plurality of operation methods are used for this purpose. At present, what is known as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, also known as LASIK for short, is the most widespread. In this context, a cornea lamella is initially detached from the cornea surface on one side and folded to the side. This lamella can be detached by means of a mechanical microkeratome, or also by means of what is known as a laser keratome, such as is marketed for example by Intralase Corp., Irvine, USA. After the lamella has been detached and folded to the side, the LASIK operation provides the use of an excimer laser, which removes, by ablation, the corneal tissue which is exposed under the lamella in this manner. After the volume present under the cornea surface has been vaporised in this manner, the cornea lamella is folded back onto the original spot again.
The use of a laser keratome to expose the lamella is advantageous compared to a mechanical blade, since the geometric precision is improved and the frequency of clinically significant complications is reduced. In particular, the lamella can be produced with a much more constant thickness if laser radiation is used. The cut edge is also precisely formed, and this reduces the risk of healing difficulties as a result of this boundary surface which remains even after the operation. However, a drawback of this method is that two different treatment devices have to be used, specifically on the one hand the laser keratome for exposing the lamella and on the other hand the laser which vaporises the corneal tissue.
These drawbacks are eliminated in a method which was implemented very recently by Carl Zeiss Meditec. In this lenticule extraction method, a cutting geometry which separates a cornea volume (known as a lenticule) in the cornea is formed in the cornea of the eye by means of a short-pulse laser, preferably a femtosecond laser. This is then removed manually by the operator. One advantage of this method is that the cutting quality is further improved by the use of the femtosecond laser.
Moreover, only one treatment device is now necessary; the excimer laser is no longer used.
A development of the method is referred to in the literature as the SMILE method, in which instead of producing a flap, merely a small opening cut provides access to the lenticule positioned under what is known as the cap. The separated lenticule is removed through this small opening cut, damaging the biomechanical integrity of the anterior cornea less than in LASIK, FLEX or PRK. In addition, fewer nerve fibres in the cornea are cut up in this manner, and this has a demonstrably favourable effect on the restoration of the original sensitivity of the cornea surface. The symptom of dry eyes, which often has to be treated after LASIK, is thus reduced in intensity and duration. Other complications following LASIK, which generally relate to the flap (for example folding, epithelial ingrowth in the flap bed), occur more rarely with no flap.
When producing cutting surfaces in the cornea by means of laser radiation, the optical radiation effect is usually exploited in that an optical aperture is produced by means of individual optical pulses, the duration of which may be between 100 fs and 100 ns. It is also known to introduce individual pulses, the energy of which is below a threshold for an optical aperture, into the tissue or material with an overlap, in such a way that material or tissue separation is achieved in this way too. This idea for producing a cut in the corneal tissue makes a large number of cuts possible.
It is also part of the prior art to increase the depth of field of a human eye in order to overcome the loss of accommodation of age-related farsightedness (presbyopia) (compensation for presbyopia). Another possibility consists in introducing an implant (also known as an inlay) into the cornea of at least one eye of an affected patient. In this case, the implant can be of an artificial nature, e.g. a ring or lens made of a plastics material (e.g. KAMRA®, Flexivue®), or a correspondingly shaped implant made of a biomaterial or a transplant made of human corneal tissue.
It is also conventional for the currently available implants to produce a pocket-like cutting geometry in the cornea by means of a femtosecond laser keratome, which cutting geometry is determined for receiving the implant and simultaneously facilitates the introduction of the implant by the doctor.
In this case, it is helpful for the affected eye to have a far point in the range of between 0.3 m and infinity. If this is not the case, the refractive power of the eye must additionally be corrected by means of an optical aid (glasses or contact lenses). It is already possible to use surgical correction methods (PRK or LASIK using an excimer laser) to refractively correct affected eyes again before or after implanting an inlay (post-correction).
If the correction takes place after implanting an inlay, the interaction between the treatment method and the inlay poses a largely incalculable risk to the efficacy and safety of the method overall.
If the correction takes place before implanting an inlay, the conditions created by the previous refractive correction are not suitable for ensuring optimal implantation. In this case, there is therefore great potential for improving the efficacy and safety of the overall method of the compensation for presbyopia.
As lenticular extraction methods, the methods consolidated under the trade names ReLEx®, namely ReLEx® flex and ReLEx® smile of the company Carl Zeiss Meditec, are both fundamentally suitable for being combined with an implantation method in which, after the lenticule has been removed, an implant is placed in the cornea. The method ReLEx smile additionally makes it possible to use the pocket-like cutting geometry created as a result of the method to receive the implant and thereby offer a certain amount of mechanical stability. In any case, the known cutting geometry allows the inlay to substantially slip out of place after the operation, thereby disrupting the visual impression.


A device for piercing a nut comprising a first member having a receptacle for receiving the nut and a first handle section. A second member is also provided having a handle section and a cover section for the receptacle. The cover section has an opening formed therein. A third member is provided having a handle section shorter than the first and second handle sections and a piercing device for extending through the opening and into the receptacle for piercing the nut. The first, second, and third members have a common hinge point for pivoting the second and third members relative to the first member to pierce the nut in the receptacle. The first and second handle sections cooperate to form a gripping handle for the user to grip while pivoting the third member and piercing device to safely pierce the nut.

The present invention relates to an improved nut piercer having a receptacle for receiving nuts. The nut is placed in the receptacle and is set in place by pressing a movable cover member downwardly, and subsequently piercing the nut by pressing the cutting blade downwardly through an opening in the cover member. The cutting blade is removed from the nut by pulling the movable member upward.
Most nutcrackers lack the ability to pierce nuts in preparation for roasting. Also, it is often difficult and dangerous to attempt to manually pierce the hard shell of certain nuts, such as chestnuts, with a knife. Thus, there is a need for a safe and efficient device to pierce nuts in preparation for roasting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient and safe nut piercer that can be used to easily set a nut in place and pierce it at a regulated depth of penetration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,272 issued to Samuelson shows the use of a spring and a retractable element for removing the piercing element or cutter from the nut after piercing.
The present invention provides an improved nut piercer comprising a first member having a receptacle for receiving a nut and a first handle section. A second member is provided which has a handle section and a cover section for the receptacle in which the cover has an opening in order to hold the nut in place for easy removal of the blade. A third member is also provided which has a piercing device or blade for extending through the opening of the second member and into the receptacle for piercing the nut. The aforementioned third member also has a handle section which is shorter than the first and second handle sections. The first, second, and third members have a common hinge point for pivoting the second and third members relative to the first member in order to pierce the nut in the receptacle. The first and second handle sections cooperate to form a handle for the user to grip while pivoting the third member and piercing device to pierce the nut.
In an alternate embodiment, the third handle section is at an angle relative to the first and second handle sections.


A wedge-type breechblock is disposed at the breech end of a gun. A cartridge chamber having a length L1 in the wedge-type breechblock accommodates propellant igniters, with obturation being effected by the respective propellant igniters. A firing mechanism operatively disposed at the wedge-type breechblock detonates propellant igniters loaded into the cartridge chamber from a magazine. A propellant igniter magazine is disposed adjacent the wedge-type breechblock and includes a guide chute and individual propellant igniters lined up in a row in the guide chute. The propellant igniters each have a casing and a length L2 which is greater than the length L1 of the cartridge chamber so that when a propellant igniter is loaded in the cartridge chamber in a firing position, a rear portion of the propellant igniter remains within the casing.

The present invention relates to a wedge-type breechblock arrangement for a gun, with a propellant igniter magazine disposed adjacent the wedge-type breechblock and including a guide chute and individual propellant igniters lined up in a row in the guide chute.
Wedge-type gun breechblock arrangements of this type are disclosed, for example, in German Patent No. DE 3,233,749.A1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,626. The igniter magazine disclosed in this patent includes a linear magazine chute to accommodate the propellant igniters so that it is necessary to exchange magazines after a small number of rounds are fired. Other significant drawbacks are that, for example, in order to be ignited, each propellant igniter must be pushed completely out of the magazine into the cartridge chamber of the breechblock wedge and, in addition, the magazine must then be moved transversely in order to perform the ignition process. It is further necessary to provide a relatively complicated extractor and ejector device for the extraction and ejection of the casing of an ignited propellant igniter from the cartridge chamber. Further, in this prior art breechblock, obturation is provided by the propellant igniter itself.
German Patent No. 3,921,767.A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,365, discloses a propellant igniter magazine for a wedge-type breechblock that has an enlarged cartridge holding capacity by providing the magazine with an endless chute in which the propellant igniters can be stored in significantly larger numbers. The propellant igniters are stored within the guide chute in a row of casings. The interior of each casing is configured as the charge chamber for a received propellant igniter and is disposed in a firing position within the propellant igniter magazine. In this arrangement, the breechblock includes only the firing channel. A separate cartridge chamber is not necessary.
A drawback of this wedge-type breechblock is that an additional sealing means is required for obturation between the breechblock and the respective casing. This sealing means must be monitored constantly and exchanged relatively frequently.


A pixel set may include the following elements: a first diode for emitting first light of first color in a first time period; a second diode for emitting second light of second color in a second time period not overlapping the first time period; a first driving transistor for controlling electrical connection between a first power supply line and the first diode; a second driving transistor for controlling electrical connection between a second power supply line and the second diode; and a data transistor for transmitting a data voltage to a gate electrode of the first driving transistor and a gate electrode of the second driving transistor in response to a scan signal.

1. Field
The technical field relates to a pixel, an organic light emitting display device including the pixel, and a method of driving the organic light emitting display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern display devices include liquid crystal display devices, field emission display devices, plasma display panel devices, and organic light emitting display devices. A display device may include pixels that collectively display an image according to a set of input signals.

Pixel, organic light emitting display device including pixel, and method of driving organic light emitting display device


A real-time network-analysis system comprises a network appliance and a plurality of management devices. The network appliance continuously monitors an object network and synthesizes a current network image comprising contemporaneous indicators of connectivity, occupancy, and performance of the object network. A management-client device may gain access to the network image for timely control and for use in producing long-term network-evolution plans. To enable the creation of a real-time network image, optimized topology synthesis algorithms are devised to minimize the computational effort. The real-time network-analysis system is adapted for use with an object network employing a variety of routing protocols, such as link-state protocols, and network-management protocols, such as the Simple-Network-Management protocol.

Modern Society has grown to be heavily dependent on telecommunications and, hence, intolerant to service degradation or temporary service disruption. Telecommunications networks are dynamic systems that need be adapted to accommodate temporal and spatial variation of traffic demand. The increasing versatility of network-elements motivates structural changes and the introduction of new services which, in turn, influence the volume and distribution of traffic.
In its simplest form, a telecommunications network comprises nodes interconnected by links. A node may be a traditional switching node handling rigid connections, a packet router handling irregular packet streams, or a versatile router-switch handling both connections and irregular packet streams. A node may support a large number of traffic sources and sinks and due to the typical non-uniformity of source-sink traffic patterns the placement of nodes is a major network-design consideration. The nodal layout and inter-nodal connectivity have a significant effect on the efficiency, reliability, and overall performance of a network.
An accurate image of a network's layout is of paramount importance in resolving service disruption as well as in planning network enhancement. The layout of a rapidly changing network is difficult to determine by manual means. As the number of nodes increases, the number of alternative inter-nodal connection patterns increases rendering network-design rather challenging. Detecting, diagnosing and correcting localized malfunctions also become more intricate as the number of interconnected nodes increases.
In addition to real-time control, there is a need for a comprehensive and efficient network design and provisioning system. Conventional network-planning systems are semi-automated, fragmented, strenuous, and inefficient, and may not be adequate for modern fast-changing networks. Over the past four decades, analytical network design models had been developed and mechanized in software tools. Such tools rely heavily on acquisition of accurate traffic-demand data, which can be determined from operational measurements provided at the switching nodes. For provisioning an existing network, a description of a current-connectivity of the network is needed. The traffic-demand data, together with the current network-connectivity data, specified routing rules, and objective performance indices are used to determine the need, or otherwise, of new links or link-capacity changes. With the fast pace of modern-network evolution, the network-planning process need be revisited.
There is therefore a need for effective automated means for real-time network monitoring and analysis to expedite diagnostics and trouble-shooting and, hence, ensure service quality and continuity. Such means may also be exploited to influence long-term network structure and operation.


A temperature control device includes a first heat source, a second heat source configured to heat a controlled object subjected to temperature control, a first temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of heat from the first heat source, a second temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the controlled object, a heat transfer member configured to transfer heat produced by the first heat source to the controlled object, a heat-transfer-amount changing unit configured to change the amount of heat transferred to the controlled object by the heat transfer member, and a controller configured to control a transfer state of the heat-transfer-amount changing unit on the basis of an output from the first temperature detector and an output from the second temperature detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature control device that controls the temperature of a heated object with a heat transfer member for transferring heat from a heat source, and to an image forming apparatus including the temperature control device.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an increasing demand for energy saving. In image forming apparatuses, including a heating-type fixing device such as a copying machine and a printer, it is most effective to utilize waste heat from the fixing device. Various techniques of utilizing waste heat from the fixing device have been proposed.
As one technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-061580 discloses that waste heat from a fixing device is transferred by a heat pipe having excellent heat transfer performance so as to warm sheets stored in a sheet feeding device.
Unfortunately, the above-described technique has some disadvantages. In consideration of turn-off of the fixing device, a heater for warming sheets in the sheet feeding device is provided. In this case, the fixing device is driven and heated, and heat is transferred from the fixing device to the sheet feeding device. However, when heating of the fixing device is stopped, the temperature of the fixing device gradually falls, and sometimes falls below the temperature in the sheet feeding device. In this case, heat is transferred from a higher-temperature portion to a lower-temperature portion in the structure using the heat pipe, that is, heat is transferred from the sheet feeding device to the fixing device. For this reason, the heater for maintaining a fixed temperature of the sheet feeding device heats not only the sheet feeding device, but also the fixing device. Consequently, power consumed by the heater increases as the temperature of the fixing device decreases.

Temperature control device and image forming apparatus


A method of forming a porous structure involves mixing a solvent with a curable material which disperses in the solvent such that the mixture has greater than 50% solvent content. The mixture is deposited on a substrate and viscosity of the mixture is increased. The curable material in the mixture is cured while a shape of the curable material is maintained by the solvent. After curing, the solvent is removed from the structure.

Porous polymer structures are widely used in many industrial areas, such as packaging, insulation, impact protection, biomedical, membranes, and catalysts. Porous biologically compatible scaffolds play a crucial part in tissue engineering, and must meet key requirements such as excellent biocompatibility, large surface area for cell adhesion, high porosity, interconnected open pores for nutrient transport, and good mechanical properties for structural stability.

Processes for formation of porous biologically compatible scaffold structures


A compound of the formula I: R-A-Gly-His-B (I) wherein: A and B are independently of each other a L-lysine residue, a D-lysine residue, or a L- or D-lysine residue in which the NH2 group of the side chain comprises a modification, where-in said modification is (i) a replacement with a hydrogen, (ii) an acetylation, (iii) a benzoylation, or (iv) a palmitoylation; GIy is a glycine residue; His is a L- or D-histidine residue; R is CH3—(CH2)n—CO—, wherein n=2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; R′ is a group of formula (II): N(Z)(Z′) (II) wherein: Z and Z′ is hydrogen, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a phenyl group, an hexyl group, a decyl group or an hexadecyl group; or a racemate, an enantiomer or a diastereomer thereof, or mixtures thereof, or a salt thereof.

The epidermis and the dermis, separated by the basal membrane, constitute the cutaneous covering on the hypoderm. The epidermis is the most superficial layer of the skin and provides its resistance and impermeability.
Although different types of cells coexist in the epidermis, keratinocytes make up the majority of this layer and play a role in the resistance provided by the mucocutaneous barrier. The core activity of these cells is the synthesis of keratins, which represent close to 90% of all the protein in the epidermis.
The dermis, the internal layer of the skin, is conjunctive tissue composed of cells (essentially fibroblasts) dispersed in a complex medium called the extracellular matrix (ECM). This matrix consists of collagen and elastin fibres, glycoproteins (fibronectin and laminin) and proteoglycans. The extracellular matrix serves as a structure for the cells, allowing tissues and organs to cohere in pluricellular organisms.
Interactions between the cells of the epidermis and the fibres of the dermis play a significant role in controlling cellular behaviour, such as in healing, for example, but also provide stability to the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ), which anchors the epidermis to the dermis and forms a protective barrier. The DEJ acts at several levels. First, it serves as a mechanical support, using the collagen IV network to solidly anchor the epidermis to the dermis. It also plays a biological role by establishing direct relationships with the basal cells of the epidermis. It further serves as a significant reservoir for growth factors. Finally, it supports keratinocytes during the healing process.
The DEJ consists of two laminae: (A) The basal lamina, to which epidermal cells adhere. The basal lamina is itself composed of two layers: the lamina lucida and the lamina densa. This is where is found type IV collagen, proteoglycans and glycoproteins, components that are organized in the anchoring filaments that create the laminae. Laminins are glycoproteins that allow the keratinocytes to adhere to the basal lamina. Many laminins are present in the basal lamina, among which the most common are laminin-5, laminin-6 and laminin-7, and laminin-1. Laminin-5 (also known as laminin 332), a multi-purpose matrix protein, is the most commonly found laminin in the skin's basal membrane. It is the most common adherence protein for cells in the epidermis. Laminin-5 serves a double purpose: it can induce a strong and strategic cellular adherence or, on the contrary, it can produce a weak, temporary adherence for cellular migration. This property is well illustrated in the skin, since, although laminin-5 anchors the epidermis, it also plays a role in the migration of keratinocytes during the healing process. Studies of skin healing in vivo have shown greater expression of pre-laminin-5 in the ECM of keratinocytes located in the wound's colonization zone, indicating that the absence of proteolytic maturation fosters cellular migration. Laminin-5 further plays a key role in cellular restructuring and scar formation.
(B) The reticular lamina: Also known as the sub-lamina densa, it is connected to the dermis and consists of a dense matrix formed in part of collagen VII, III and I filaments and basic substances. Collagen VII, synthesized mainly by keratinocytes, is the major component of the sub-lamina densa and represents an essential anchoring fibre. Connected to the laminin-5 or collagen IV of the lamina densa, the anchoring fibril protein collagen VII reaches down into the dermal matrix. Anchoring fibres form solid structures whose functional role is to tie the lamina densa to the papillary dermis, where they attach to dermal collagen fibres made of types I, III and V collagen. At its N-terminal extremity, each triple helix of collagen VII is flanked by a globular NC1 domain. Two of these chains link at their C-terminal ends to form a dimer. These dimers are short striated fibrils that combine laterally to form anchoring fibrils. The collagen VII interacts with the other components of the extracellular matrix through its NC1 domain, attaching to the laminin-5 and anchoring the basal membrane to the dermis where it connects to the other types of collagen (I and III). It would appear that some genetic and orphan diseases may be due to an absence of collagen VII. Any molecule found in either one of the basal lamina and/or the reticular lamina such as collagen, proteoglycans and glycoproteins including laminins is called herein a DEJ molecule.
Aging of the skin results from two processes: (1) an intrinsic process, corresponding to chronological aging, and (2) an extrinsic process resulting mainly from the deleterious effect of exposure to the sun and environmental pollution.
Upon aging, major changes within connective components of the dermis can be seen: collagen looses its regular and fascicular appearance, while ground substance increases, elastic material decreases and the fibroblast cell population becomes "at rest". Also, during the skin aging process, the DEJ progressively loses its ability to fulfill its mechanical function, resulting in a weakening of the epidermis-dermis interface. The resulting dermal aging is different according to individuals and is related to genetic background and exposition to multiple aggressions.
One of the objectives in cosmetological research is to control or prevent skin aging. Traditional approaches based on the supply of keratinocytes and the metabolism of fibroblasts are now known to be inadequate, particularly in light of recent data on the DEJ.
Therefore, this is a need to develop new approaches for the prevention and/or treatment of skin condition such as the aging of the skin.

Compounds, use thereof in cosmetic and cosmeceutic applications, and compositions comprising same


The present invention provides a planar antenna having a scalable multi-dipole structure for receiving, and transmitting high-frequency signals, including a plurality of opposing layers of conducting strips disposed upon either side of an insulating (dielectric) substrate. The dipoles are bifurcated between sides of a substrate on which the dipoles are disposed. A feed line is balanced to a co-axial cable and feeds one half of the bifurcated dipoles, and an independent feed line is connected to the other half of the bifurcated dipoles. Sets of the dipoles are arranged symmetrically around a center axis of the feed lines. The sets of dipoles are in series with other sets of dipoles. The antenna is ideally suited for operation in the 5.15-5.35 GHz RF band.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of high frequency antennas, and more particularly to the field of high-gain, multi-dipole array antennas constructed using inexpensive manufacturing techniques.
2. Discussion of Background
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocates a certain number of frequency bands where a license is not required for use. For example, many garage-door openers operate in the unlicensed 49 MHz band. Similarly, the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency band has become popular for connecting computers to a wireless LAN.
Unfortunately, the 2.4 GHz band available in the U.S. and worldwide hosts a myriad of devices and competing communications standards that have led to increasing interference and degraded performance in the wireless networking world. Devices operating at 2.4 GHz include common household items such as microwave ovens, cordless phones and wireless security cameras, in addition to the myriad computing devices that are wirelessly networked together. To add to the confusion, the industry has deployed multiple standards for wireless networking at 2.4 GHz. The IEEE 802.11b standard is, as of the filing date hereof, most commonly used for enterprise wireless LANs. The Home RF standard also exists for wireless LANs in the home, and Bluetooth has been developed as a short-distance wireless cable replacement standard for short-range, low-rate applications.
The interference and performance issues at 2.4 GHz have the wireless LAN industry headed for the open 5.15 to 5.35 GHz frequency band, where the opportunity exists for a much cleaner wireless networking environment. The allocated unlicensed 5 GHz band is devoid of interference from microwave ovens and, in the U.S., provides more than twice the available bandwidth of the allocated unlicensed 2.4 GHz band, thereby allowing for higher data throughput and more simultaneous users, and the potential for multimedia application support. This open 5 GHz spectrum provides an opportunity for the potential creation of a unified wireless protocol that will support a broad range of devices and applications. Everything from cordless phones to high-definition televisions and personal computers can communicate on the same multipurpose network under a single unified protocol. As a result, an antenna operating in the unlicensed frequency band above 5 GHz would encourage the creation and support of a wide range of low and high data rate devices that could all communicate on a single wireless network.
As to antenna design to take advantage of the above described opportunity for high-frequency wireless communication, the industry""s foremost objective is to provide antennas having (1) the lowest possible manufacturing costs with consistently uniform performance, (2) high gain, (3) high directivity when desired, and (4) design characteristics that can be applied in both the current majority-used frequency bands (such as 2.4 GHz) and the newly utilized bands (particularly between 5 GHz and 6 GHz).
Conventional dipole antennas (also commonly known as Franklin antennas), in which each member of a pair of fractional wavelength radiators are fed in anti-phase, produce a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern in a plane normal to the axis of the radiators. However, providing such an omni-directional structure on a substantially planar (and inexpensively produced) surface, such as a printed circuit board substrate, has proven a challenge. Existing attempts to achieve such planarity and performance rely on vias that penetrate the substrate to interconnect a plurality of conducting planes, thereby adding substantially to the cost of the antenna.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,446 discloses an antenna that attempts to provide substantially omni-directional radiation pattern in a plane normal to the axis of the radiators. The patent discloses a corner reflector antenna array capable of being driven by a coaxial feed line. The antenna array comprises a right-angle corner reflector having first and second reflecting surfaces. A dielectric substrate is positioned adjacent the first reflective surface and contains a first and second opposing substrate surfaces and a plurality of dipole elements, each of the dipole elements including a first half dipole disposed on the first substrate surface and a second half dipole disposed on the second substrate surface. A twin line interconnection network, disposed on both the first and second substrate surfaces, provides a signal to the plurality of dipole elements. A printed circuit balun is used to connect the center and outer conductors of a coaxial feed line to the segments of the interconnection network disposed on the first and second substrate surfaces, respectively.
However, in order to connect the coaxial cable to the interconnection network, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,446 requires a via to be constructed through the substrate. This via""s penetration through the substrate requires additional manufacturing steps and, thus, adds substantially to the cost of the antenna.
Furthermore, other attempts require branched feed structures that further increase the number of manufacturing steps and thereby increase the cost of the antenna. A need exists to use fewer parts to assemble the feed so as to reduce labor costs. Present manufacturing processes rely on a substantial amount of human skill in the assembly of the feed components. Hence, human error enters the assembly process and quality control must be used to ferret out and minimize such human error, which adds to the cost of the feed.
Such human assembled feeds also provide inconsistent performance. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,911 discloses a phased array antenna comprising a dielectric substrate, a plurality of dipole means, each comprising a first and a second element, the first elements being printed on the front face and pointing in a first direction and the second elements being printed on the back face, and a metal strip means comprising a first line printed on the front face and coupled to the first element and a second line printed on the back face and coupled to the second element. A reflector means is also spaced to and parallel with the back face of the dielectric substrate and a low loss material is located between the reflector means and the back face, whereby the first and second lines respectively comprise a plurality of first and second line portions and the first and second line portions respectively being connected to each other by T-junctions. However, in order to provide a balanced, omni-directional performance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,911 requires a branched feed structure through the utilization of T-junctions. These T-junctions add complexity to the design and, again, increase the cost of the antenna.
To address the shortcomings of the available art, the present invention provides a planar antenna having a scalable multi-dipole structure for receiving, and transmitting high-frequency signals, including a plurality of opposing layers of conducting strips disposed upon either side of an insulating (dielectric) substrate.
In one embodiment, the present invention is an antenna in which each dipole is bifurcated along a horizontal axis, with one half of a dipole disposed on one side of a substantially planar insulating layer and the other half disposed on the other side of the insulating layer. Additionally, each dipole half is in electrical communication with a feed structure independent of its other half, and a plurality of dipoles are preferably dispersed symmetrically along the feed structure.
In another embodiment, the present invention is an antenna that is optimized to function between 5.15 and 5.35 GHz, preferably with a center frequency of 5.25 GHz. In an alternative, higher gain embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of dipoles is vertically integrated along the feed structure to create a serial, co-linear antenna.
Advantages of the present invention include: provision of a highly effective dipole structure in an inexpensive, printed implementation (printed radiating elements on opposing sides of a planar, insulating substrate); the integration of a balun with an antenna feed on a planar substrate; and, provision of a feed line and feed line branches to each of a plurality of radiating elements such that an excellent impedance match is obtained over a wide frequency range. Also, the inventive antenna""s lack of vias and inclusion of balanced, independent feed structures significantly reduces system design time, manufacturing costs and utilized materials. Preferably, cost is further minimized through the use of standard manufacturing processes and eliminating the introduction of human error.


A method of making an encapsulated plasma sensitive device. The method comprises: providing a plasma sensitive device adjacent to a substrate; depositing a plasma protective layer on the plasma sensitive device using a process selected from non-plasma based processes, or modified sputtering processes; and depositing at least one barrier stack adjacent to the plasma protective layer, the at least one barrier stack comprising at least one decoupling layer and at least one barrier layer, the plasma sensitive device being encapsulated between the substrate and the at least one barrier stack, wherein the decoupling layer, the barrier layer, or both are deposited using a plasma process, the encapsulated plasma sensitive device having a reduced amount of damage caused by the plasma compared to an encapsulated plasma sensitive device made without the plasma protective layer. An encapsulated plasma sensitive device is also described.

The present invention relates generally to encapsulated devices, and more particularly to encapsulated plasma sensitive devices, and to methods of making encapsulated plasma sensitive devices.
Many devices are subject to degradation caused by permeation of environmental gases or liquids, such as oxygen and water vapor in the atmosphere or chemicals used in the processing of the electronic product. The devices are usually encapsulated in order to prevent degradation.
Various types of encapsulated devices are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,695, entitled "Environmental Barrier Material For Organic Light Emitting Device And Method Of Making," issued Jul. 31, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,067, entitled "Environmental Barrier Material For Organic Light Emitting Device And Method Of Making," issued Feb. 18, 2003; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,325, entitled "Environmental Barrier Material For Organic Light Emitting Device And Method Of Making", issued May 27, 2003, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, describe encapsulated organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,652, entitled "Encapsulated Display Devices", issued Jun. 3, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes encapsulated liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), light emitting polymers (LEPs), electronic signage using electrophoretic inks, electroluminescent devices (EDs), and phosphorescent devices. U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,912, entitled "Semiconductor Passivation Using Barrier Coatings," issued Apr. 15, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes encapsulated microelectronic devices, including integrated circuits, charge coupled devices, light emitting diodes, light emitting polymers, organic light emitting devices, metal sensor pads, micro-disk lasers, electrochromic devices, photochromic devices, microelectromechanical systems, and solar cells.
Generally, encapsulated devices can be made by depositing barrier stacks adjacent to one or both sides of the device. The barrier stacks typically include at least one barrier layer and at least one decoupling layer. There could be one decoupling layer and one barrier layer, there could be multiple decoupling layers on one side of one or more barrier layers, or there could be one or more decoupling layers on both sides of one or more barrier layers. The important feature is that the barrier stack has at least one decoupling layer and at least one barrier layer.
One embodiment of an encapsulated display device is shown in FIG. 1. The encapsulated display device 100 includes a substrate 105, a display device 110, and a barrier stack 115. The barrier stack 115 includes a barrier layer 120 and a decoupling layer 125. The barrier stack 115 encapsulates the display device 110, preventing environmental oxygen and water vapor from degrading the display device.
The barrier layers and decoupling layers in the barrier stack can be made of the same material or of a different material. The barrier layers are typically about 100-400 Å thick, and the decoupling layers are typically about 1000-10,000 Å thick.
Although only one barrier stack is shown in FIG. 1, the number of barrier stacks is not limited. The number of barrier stacks needed depends on the level of water vapor and oxygen permeation resistance needed for the particular application. One or two barrier stacks should provide sufficient barrier properties for some applications. The most stringent applications may require five or more barrier stacks.
The barrier layers can be deposited using a vacuum process, such as sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), evaporation, sublimation, electron cyclotron resonance-plasma enhanced vapor deposition (ECR-PECVD), and combinations thereof. Suitable barrier materials include, but are not limited to, metals, metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal oxynitrides, metal oxyborides, and combinations thereof.
The decoupling layers can be deposited using a vacuum process, such as flash evaporation with in situ polymerization under vacuum, or plasma deposition and polymerization, or atmospheric processes, such as spin coating, ink jet printing, screen printing, or spraying. Suitable materials for the decoupling layer include, but are not limited to, organic polymers, inorganic polymers, organometallic polymers, hybrid organic/inorganic polymer systems, and silicates.
As an example, an OLED can be encapsulated with a barrier stack including one or more polymeric decoupling layers and one or more barrier layers. The polymeric decoupling layers can be formed from acrylate functional precursors which are deposited using flash evaporation and polymerized by ultraviolet (UV) exposure. The barrier layers can be reactively sputtered aluminum oxide.
Depositing multi-layer barrier stacks on relatively insensitive substrates such polymer films does not typically result in damage to the substrate. In fact, several patents disclose the use of plasma treatment to improve properties for a multi-layer barrier on a substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,628 discloses plasma treatment of polymeric film substrates and polymeric layers from acrylates deposited using a flash evaporation process as a means of improving properties. U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,466 similarly discusses plasma treatment of substrates and acrylate layers to improve properties.
However, we have found that some of the devices being encapsulated have been damaged by the plasma used in depositing the barrier and/or decoupling layers. Plasma damage has occurred when a substrate with a plasma sensitive device on it, such as an OLED, is encapsulated with a multi-layer barrier stack in which a plasma based and/or assisted process is used to deposit a barrier layer or decoupling layer. For example, plasma damage has occurred when reactively sputtering a barrier layer of AlOx under conditions suitable for achieving barrier properties, sputtering a barrier layer of AlOx onto the top surface of a plasma sensitive device, and/or sputtering a barrier layer of AlOx on a vacuum deposited, acrylate based polymeric layer. The damage observed when depositing a barrier layer onto a previously deposited decoupling layer is distinct, and is the subject of co-pending application Ser. No. 60/711,136 (VIT 0062 MA).
Plasma damage associated with deposition of a barrier layer, a decoupling layer, or another layer essentially has a negative impact on the electrical and/or luminescent characteristics of a device resulting from encapsulation. The effects will vary by the type of device, the manufacturer of the device, and the wavelength of the light emitted. It is important to note that plasma damage is dependent on the design of the device to be encapsulated. For example, OLEDs made by some manufacturers show little to no plasma damage while OLEDs made by other manufacturers show significant plasma damage under the same deposition conditions. This suggests that that there are features within the device that affect its sensitivity to plasma exposure.
One way to detect plasma damage is to measure the voltage needed to achieve a specified level of luminescence. Another way is to measure the intensity of the luminescence. Plasma damage results in higher voltage requirements to achieve the same level of luminescence (typically 0.2 to 0.5 V higher for an OLED), and/or lower luminescence.
Although not wishing to be bound by theory, plasma damage that is observed when a decoupling layer employing plasma, a sputtered AlOx, or another layer employing plasma is formed (deposited) directly on an OLED or other sensitive device is believed to be due to an adverse interaction with one or more components of the plasma, including charged or neutral species, UV radiation, and high thermal input.
Thus, there is a need for a method of preventing the damage caused by processes utilizing plasma in the encapsulation of various devices.

Method of making an encapsulated plasma sensitive device


Disclosed is a method and system to avoid traffic accident by waking up, without false alarm, a sleeping or completely inactive motor vehicle driver. The method and the system utilizes simultaneously at least four different specified detections with so arranged thresholds for wake-up alarm, that the driver after waking up without false alarm has the possibility to avoid an impending traffic accident by evasive maneuver and other vehicle control.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method to wake up a sleeping motor vehicle driver.
The present invention is included in the concept of active safety systems for motor vehicles. More specifically the invention provides a quick and safe way to prevent, without false alarm, traffic accidents, which are caused by the driver having fallen asleep at the wheel or behaves like a sleeping driver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Much research has been devoted to examine drowsiness of motor vehicle drivers and to develop suitable detection ways and alarm arrangements in order to warn the driver of the increasing risks, which are combined with driver fatigue.
In spite of such research, no method or system has been produced, by means of which it is possible to predict, with wanted accuracy, at which coming point in time the driver would fall asleep. It is known that falling asleep occurs abruptly, but the exact point in time cannot be predicted due to variations between different individuals and variations for one and the same individual at different moments.
Accessible or otherwise described systems in this area may include different types of warnings, when drowsiness has been verified through camera studies of the driver's eyes or by assembling different parameters and executing certain calculations. Warnings may be shown optically on instruments, be given acoustically with buzzer or with recorded voice warnings or be made haptically with vibrations, for instance in the safety belt, in the driver's seat or in the steering wheel.
The driver's behavior and activity degree constitutes another known basis for evaluating if a dangerous traffic situation is developing. It is for instance well-known to let inactivity at the steering wheel constitute a sign, that the driver may be falling asleep, as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,019,653 B2, in which it is recommended an acoustic alarm at a point in time, when no steering wheel movements have occurred during a certain time period, as a sign of the fact that the driver has fallen asleep. This method, however correct, may involve two different drawbacks, namely (a) that an accident may very well occur prior to the alarm, or (b) that a false alarm occurs, if the driver is still awake.
Another group of alarm systems emanates from the vehicle's departure from its intended lateral position in the driving lane, which might be due to the driver falling asleep. Several different systems of this kind are known. As detecting means, utilized to assess the lateral position of the vehicle is chiefly noticed camera based systems, which track the lane markings and calculate the vehicle's lateral position in real time. If the system predicts or establishes that the vehicle crosses the lane marking a warning may be issued to the driver. Other detecting means may involve laser systems, colour camera technique and graphical data processing to determine the road limits. Still other detecting means have been described, such as the use of GPS for determining position combined with digital road maps and similar, combined or not with more advanced camera systems and picture analysis techniques.
US patent no. 2007/0024430 A1 describes a method which not only takes into account the lateral position of the vehicle, but also the driver's activity level, which may include the driver being asleep. The object of the described invention is to be able to distinguish between intended and unintended lane departures in order to avoid false alarm, when an intended lane crossing occurs.
The description in WO 2007/136338 A1 refers to a method to alarm a vehicle driver, which method is expected to be particularly effective by simultaneously triggering the two existing types of vibration sensitive sensors in the human skin.
A successful existing method to decrease traffic accidents in situations, when a driver's steering of the vehicle fails, which may be caused by drowsiness or falling asleep at the steering wheel, are rumble strips in the sides of the lane or the roadway, which generate a vibration and sound when the vehicle's tires during the ride reach the rumble strips. Side rumble strips are, however, not everywhere, which underlines the need of a vehicle-based safety system. The same is true for dividing fences between opposite lanes, which also successfully may reduce traffic accidents.

Method for wakening up a driver of a motor vehicle

SVENSKA UTVECKLINGS ENTREPRENOREN SUSEN AB


It is provided a method for determining a content pose of a piece of virtual content. The method is performed in a pose determiner and comprises the steps of: acquiring a first anchor pose of the anchoring device; determining a first content pose, being a pose of a piece of virtual content, in relation to the first anchor pose; storing the first content pose in relation to the first anchor pose; determining that a user device needs to determine a content pose of the piece of virtual content; acquiring a second anchor pose of the anchoring device; retrieving the stored first content pose; determining a second content pose of the piece of virtual content based on the first content pose and the second anchor pose; and rendering the piece of virtual content in the second content pose on a user device comprising a display.

Mixed reality (MR) is foreseen to become an integral technology in the networked society and potently disrupt the consumer electronics market. Mixed reality encompasses Augmented Reality (AR) and Augmented Virtuality (AV).
AR is here used to denote the concept of presenting a combination of real-world objects and computer-rendered content to a user. Specifically, one implementation of AR implies layering one or more virtual objects in front of reality, on a user's view of the world via a see-through Head Mounted Display (HMD). One application of AR is to allow users to see and interact remotely and in 3D (three dimensions), as if each participant share the same physical space. Hence, remote communication and interaction could become as natural as face-to-face communication. In AV, the user sees real-world objects as captured by an HMD camera, and subsequently presented on the display together with computer-rendered content. Hence, in AV, the display is non see-through.
In 2016, Microsoft launched Hololens, a mobile AR HMD. Several other HMDs are being launched by other companies including Meta and Magic Leap, which are set to improve the AR technology even further.
In Virtual reality (VR) a user is immersed in a virtual environment where all content is virtual. Some of VR applications are gaming, 360 degree live video consumption of concerts, sports, etc., educational and training purposes, among others. VR content is displayed via a non-see-through HMD as, e.g., the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Google Daydream or Samsung GearVR.
When a piece of virtual content for MR or VR is to be placed in view for a user, this piece of virtual content is placed in a content pose. Pose defines both position (in three dimensions) and orientation (in three dimensions).
In the prior art, in devices such as the Microsoft HoloLens or Google Tango, the virtual content is stored and attached to certain visual features (spatial anchors) that the devices can detect using a camera of the device. When the user returns to the same location, a visual search and matching is performed to relate the current visual features observed by the device's camera and the previously stored visual features. A problem with such a solution is that it is very computationally intensive, as the device must inspect the environment (using several cameras as is the case with the Hololens), and perform detailed image analysis to infer specific visual features and perform the matching, which comprises content from all previously visited locations. This requires a significant amount of processing power and thus battery drain.

Determining a content pose of a piece of virtual content


A charge-neutralization system is provided. The charge-neutralization system includes a reservoir, a plasma generator and a flow-restricting transfer line. The reservoir is configured to hold matter to be ionized under pressure. The plasma generator is configured and arranged to create a neutral energy plasma on a vehicle from the matter to be ionized. The flow-restricting transfer line provides a fluid communication between the reservoir and the plasma generator.

Spacecraft that are in space are subject to a number of processes that result in a significant electrostatic charging. In the case of rendezvous and proximity operations of one or more spacecraft with one or more other bodies in space, a potential difference can exist between objects, which results in variable levels of electrostatic attractions and repulsions that can result in an electrostatic discharge. Electrostatic attraction and repulsion will result in non-linear forces that will increase the difficulty of the rendezvous and proximity operations. The electrostatic discharge due to the net charge difference between the spacecraft and the other body may or may not result in a larger discharge driven by the electrical system of one or more of the spacecraft. In either case, electrostatic discharge can result in problems with the spacecraft's electronics. Through operations on the ground, virtually all spacecraft quality assurance and safety requirements include protection against electrostatic discharge to prevent electrostatic discharge damage. In the case of the International Space Station, this issue was identified in a subsequent study that was carried out to investigate the risk to astronauts carrying out extra-vehicle activities. The result was that under certain conditions, the discharge of up to 10,000 Amps at 160 V was possible. In the testing of the impact of the size of discharge, an entire spacesuit was melted into a puddle on the bottom of the test chamber. As a result of this test, triply redundant microwave driven xenon plasma charge couplers were installed on the space station.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an effective and efficient system for spacecraft to mitigate the charge differences between spacecraft, the surrounding plasma and another body.

Passive charge neutralization system for mitigating electrostatic discharge in space


This invention relates to anti-OX40L antibodies and, in particular, to anti-OX40L antibodies and variants thereof that contain a Fc part derived from human origin and do not bind complement factor C1q. These antibodies have new and inventive properties causing a benefit for a patient suffering from inflammatory diseases.

Human OX40L (gp34, SwissProt P23510) is expressed on activated B cells and dendritic cells upon CD40/CD40L ligation, and on endothelial cells in inflammatory tissues (Review: Weinberg, A. D., Trends Immunol. 23 (2002) 102-109). It has first been isolated from HTLV-1 infected human leukemic cells (immortalization of these T-cells by generation of an autokrine loop with OX40). OX40L and antibodies against are mentioned e.g. in WO 95/12673; WO 95/21915; WO 99/15200; Baum, P. R., et al., EMBO J. 13 (1994) 3992-4001; Imura, A., et al., Blood 89 (1997) 2951-2958; Imura, A., et al., J. Exp. Med. 183 (1996) 2185-2195; Kjaergaard, J., et al., J. Immunol. 167 (2001) 6669-6677; Lane, P., J. Exp. Med. 191 (2000) 201-206; Mallett, S., and Barclay, A. N., Immunol. Today 12 (1991) 220-223; Mallett, S., et al., EMBO J. 9 (1990) 1063-1068; Ndhlovu, L. C., et al., J. Immunol. 167 (2001) 2991-2999; Ohshima, Y., et al., J. Immunol. 159 (1997) 3838-3848; Rogers, P. R., et al., Immunity 15 (2001) 445-455; Stüber, E., and Strober, W., J. Exp. Med. 183 (1996) 979-989; Stüber, E., et al., Gastroenterology 115 (1998) 1205-1215; Takahashi, Y., et al., J. Virol. 75 (2001) 6748-6757; Takasawa, N., et al., Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 92 (2001) 377-382; Taylor, L., and Schwarz, H., J. Immunol. Meth. 255 (2001) 67-72; Weinberg, A. D., et al., Nature Medicine 2 (1996) 183-189; Weinberg, A. D., et al., Semin. Immunol. 10 (1998) 471-480; Weinberg, A. D., Trends Immunol. 23 (2002) 102-109; Wu, T., et al., Transplant. Proc. 33 (2001) 217-218; Higgins, L. M., et al., J. Immunol. 162 (1999) 486-493; and Yoshioka, T., et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 30 (2000) 2815-2823. Human OX40L is the ligand for human OX40 (CD134) which is transiently expressed on activated CD4+ T cells. Engagement of OX40 by its ligand leads to a costimulatory signal for T cell activation. OX40/OX40L interaction is described to create a bidirectional signal (Matsumura, Y., et al., J. Immunol. 163 (1999) 3007-3011; Kotani, A., et al., Immunol. Lett. 84 (2002)1-7). Further OX40/OX40L interaction mediate adhesion of activated T-cell to endothelial cells in inflammatory tissues. As OX40L is only transiently expressed on activated B cells, DC and endothelial cells, antibodies to OX40L should selectively block T cell activation and endothelial cell adhesion during an inflammatory response but leave unactivated, peripheral T cells unaffected. Yoshioka, A., et al. (Eur. J. Immunol. 30 (2000) 2815-2823) demonstrated the therapeutic potential of a neutralizing anti-mOX40L mAb in a mouse model for rheumatoid arthritis. Administration of it dramatically ameliorated the disease severity. This antibody showed similar activities in other related disease models, e.g. inflammatory skin disease, experimental autoimmune disease (EAE), GVHD, urine inflammatory bowel disease (Yoshioka, A., et al., Eur. J. Immunol 30 (1999) 2815-2823; Salek-Ardakani, S., et al., J. Exp. Med. 198 (2003) 315-324; Burgess, J. K., et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 113 (2004) 683-689; Hoshino, A., et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 33 (2003) 861-869; Arestides, R. S., et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 32 (2002) 2874-2880; Nohara, C., et al., J. Immunol. 166 (2001) 2108-2115; Weinberg, A. D., et al., J. Immunol. 162 (1999) 1818-1826; Higgins, L. M., et al., J. Immunol. 162 (1999) 486-493; Humphreys, I. R., et al., J. Exp. Med. 198 (2003) 1237-1242; Akiba, H., et al., J. Exp. Med. 191 (2000) 375-380; Ishii, N., et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 33 (2003) 2372-2381; Blazar, B. R., et al., Blood 101 (2003) 3741-3748; Tsukada, N., et al., Blood 95 (2000) 2434-2439; Akiba, H., et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 251 (1998) 131-136.
Antibodies against OX40L have been investigated for their anti-inflammatory effects in various disease models (Sugamura, K., et al., Nat. Rev. Immunol. 4 (2004) 420-431). Tanaka, Y., et al, Int. J. Cancer 36, (1985) 549-555; Tozawa, H., et al., Int. J. Cancer 41 (1988) 231-238; and Miura, S., et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 11 (1991) 1313-1325 describe mouse monoclonal antibodies named TARM-34 and TAG-34 that react with surface antigens of lines of human lymphocytes bearing a human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I). TAG-34 antibody is commercially available from MBL International Corporation. TAG-34 binds also to OX40L.


A safety clutch for an electric drive which includes an electric motor and a shaft which is driven thereby. A transmission of torque between the electric motor and the shaft can be brought about by at least one connecting element. A controllable locking device via which an interruption in the transmission of torque between the electric motor and the shaft can be brought about, is assigned to the connecting element. The use of the safety clutch in an electric drive for a wheeled vehicle is disclosed, a controller evaluating the transmission of torque between the electric motor and the shaft using a vehicle state, and when a fault state is detected the controller transmitting a control signal to the controllable locking device, as a result of which an interruption is brought about in the transmission of torque between the electric motor and the shaft.

German Utility Model Publication No. DE 20 2009 014 490 U1 discloses a drive system for a non-railbound vehicle including an electric drive. The electric drive is a combination of at least one non-permanent magnet electric motor and at least one permanent magnet synchronous motor. A mechanical decoupling unit is arranged downstream of the latter at the drive end. In the event of a fault, said mechanical decoupling unit allows the synchronous motor to be disconnected from the unit to be driven. The decoupling unit is designed, in particular, as a one-way clutch which transmits torque to the driven unit in one direction only.
When electric motors are used for driving a machine, a short circuit in the electric motor can result in braking forces acting on the rotor of the electric motor. The shaft initially driven by the motor transmits such braking forces to the drive end, causing an abrupt change in the behavior of the machine, as a result of which problems can occur. If, in particular, the machine is a wheeled vehicle, and the electric motor drives at least one wheel of the wheeled vehicle, then a short circuit in the electric motor ultimately results in a braking torque acting on the wheel. This impairs the driving stability of the wheeled vehicle and poses a significant problem in terms of road safety. This problem is particularly serious in the case of vehicles in which an electric motor having permanent magnets is used, because a permanent magnet cannot be turned off; which means that, according to Lenz's law, its magnetic field, together with the conductor windings of the motor, produces a braking torque on the rotor which ultimately cannot be uncontrolled from outside the motor.
One remedy is to decouple the motor from the drive end in the event of a short circuit, so that the braking torque generated cannot be transmitted to the drive end and, in the case of a wheeled vehicle, can therefore not act on a wheel. In cited Utility Model Publication No. DE 20 2009 014 490 U1, this problem is solved specifically in that the permanent magnet synchronous motors used act on the drive shaft via freewheels which, by design, never transmit torques in an undesired direction, such as in the case of a braking torque. This has the disadvantage that in situations where a torque in such direction is required, this torque cannot be provided directly by the synchronous motors.

Safety clutch for an electric drive and use of the safety clutch in a wheeled vehicle


A system and method to diffuse optimized libraries via a network. An optimized library including at least one optimized routine is received by a processing system via a network. The optimized routine is provided for use by an application executing on the processing system to interact with a hardware entity of the processing system.

The high-technology boom of recent years has delivered new and exciting technologies to the market place with increasing frequency. As advancements continue to march forward, research and development has intensified and product cycles compressed. In the case of processors, each iteration of a processor provides the consumer with new features to perform novel tasks or old tasks in a faster and more efficient manner. Often, a release of a new processor is coupled with the release of new software packages to leverage the new features. One such software packet may include a new compiler designed to compile applications to gamer the benefit of the new processor features. Upon issue of a new compiler specially tailored for a new processor, software vendors often re-release old software applications re-compiled with the new compiler. Doing so allows the old software to execute in a more efficient manner on the new processor by leveraging the new features.
Modem operating systems ("OS's") often have access to optimized instruction sets (or routines) for execution on a particular hardware entity. For example, the Intel Pentium III processor includes an instruction set called SSE (Streaming SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data) Extensions). SSE is a set of microprocessor instructions that allow software to tell the processor to carry out specific operations. By using these microprocessor instructions optimized for the Pentium III, OS's and software applications can leverage the full capabilities of the Pentium III. Optimized instructions can reduce the overall number of instructions required to execute a particular program task or otherwise execute the particular program task in a more efficient manner, resulting in an overall performance increase of the OS and/or application.
However, OS and application source code is compiled with specific processors in mind and without platform-specific knowledge. For example, software written and complied for an SSE processor may not be able to leverage advantages flowing from new instructions of an SSE2 processor. Optimized routines for other hardware entities, such as chipsets, may also be provided that cannot be fully anticipated at the time of software production. As such, software releases may substantially lag behind hardware developments leaving new features unused for substantial periods of time.

System and method to enable seamless diffusion of platform-based optimized routines via a network


The invention relates to systems and methods for optimizing a peritoneal dialysate prescription based on one or more fluid characteristics sensed from a filtrate removed from a patient. The systems and methods include sensors, flow paths, and processors to adjust a peritoneal dialysate prescription and deliver peritoneal dialysis therapy to a patient based on the adjusted prescription. The method can include the steps of removing fluid from a peritoneal cavity of a patient; sampling one or more characteristics of the removed fluid; and adjusting a peritoneal dialysate prescription based on the one or more characteristics of the removed fluid. The system can include a peritoneal dialysate effluent line; at least one concentrate source fluidly connectable to the peritoneal dialysate flow path; and at least one sensor positioned in the peritoneal dialysate effluent line.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), including Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD), is a dialysis treatment that can be performed at home, either by a patient alone or with a care-giver. PD differs from Hemodialysis (HD) in that blood is not removed from the body and passed through a dialyzer, but rather a catheter is placed in the peritoneal cavity and dialysate introduced directly into the peritoneal cavity. Blood is cleaned inside the patient using the patient's own peritoneum as a type of dialysis membrane.
The effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis therapy depends on several factors, unique to specific patients. Known systems do not provide any mechanism for optimizing a peritoneal dialysate prescription based on characteristics of peritoneal dialysate filtrate removed from a patient. Solute concentrations, dwell times, cycle number, and other parameters affecting the patient during therapy cannot be controlled with known systems. Further, known systems do not provide any mechanism of adjusting solute concentrations in the dialysate to specific values based on the needs of the patient, and instead only allow a small number of peritoneal dialysate compositions to be used.
Hence, there is a need for systems and methods that can sample peritoneal dialysate filtrate from a patient and determine whether adjustments to a peritoneal dialysate prescription should be made. There is also a need for systems and methods to generate peritoneal dialysate in accordance with any adjusted dialysate prescription. The need includes providing a personalized peritoneal dialysis therapy based on the peritoneal dialysate generated in accordance with the adjusted dialysate prescription.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Peritoneal dialysis filtrate sampling and adaptive prescription