1. An eye-mountable device comprising:
a transparent polymeric material having a concave surface and a convex surface, wherein the concave surface is configured to be removably mounted over a corneal surface of an eye and the convex surface is configured to be compatible with eyelid motion when the concave surface is so mounted;
an antenna at least partially embedded in the transparent polymeric material;
an expandable member at least partially embedded in the transparent polymeric material and configured to expand and apply a force to the corneal surface;
a sensor at least partially embedded in the transparent polymeric material configured to detect a resistance to deformation of the cornea in response to the force applied by the expandable member; and
control electronics at least partially embedded in the transparent polymeric material, wherein the control electronics are configured to: (i) use the sensor to measure the resistance to deformation of the cornea; and (ii) use the antenna to communicate data indicative of the measured resistance to deformation of the cornea to an external reader, wherein the resistance to deformation of the cornea in response to the force applied by the expandable member is indicative of intraocular pressure of the eye.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member comprises at least one vacuum de-gassed reservoir disposed at least partially within the transparent polymeric material and having an opening, wherein the at least one expandable member is configured to expand by drawing a volume of tear fluid through the opening and into the reservoir upon equilibrating to atmospheric pressure with the concave surface mounted over the corneal surface.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transparent polymeric material comprises a silicon-based porous organic polymer.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member comprises a layer of electroactive polymer configured to expand in a direction substantially perpendicular to the corneal surface in the presence of an electric field.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the electroactive polymer is chosen from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline, and polyacetylene.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the expandable member comprises a chamber disposed at least partially within the transparent polymeric material and containing a solid material configured to undergo a phase change from a solid to a gaseous state upon exposure to an electrical signal.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the solid material is chosen from the group consisting of sodium azide, potassium azide, and lithium azide.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the data comprises one or more of measured displacement, deformation or deflection of the expandable member against the corneal surface in response to applying said force to the corneal surface.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the data comprises one or more of measured displacement, deformation or deflection of the corneal surface in response to applying said force to the corneal surface.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the data comprises one or more of a measured change in volume of the expandable member or rate of change in volume of the expandable member.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a mechanical, optical, acoustical, pneumatic, or electrical measurement device.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the strain gauge comprises one or more resistive elements.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the strain gauge comprises one or more interdigitated electrodes.
15. The device of claim 12, wherein the strain gauge comprises one or more electrodes configured to measure a change in capacitance.
16. The device of claim 12, wherein the strain gauge comprises one or more electrodes configured to measure a change in conductance.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for the production of ethanol comprising:
receiving a temperature of a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system;
receiving a pH of the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system;
receiving information identifying amounts of components of a fermented mash generated by the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system;
generating, based at least in part on the temperature, the pH, and the information identifying amounts of components of the fermented mash, values for temperature, pH, and enzyme dosage for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system; and
outputting the values to one or more controllers of the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system wherein the generating and outputting values are based at least in part on a saccharification model that predicts concentrations of fermented mash or a fermentation model that predicts yeast metabolism, the one or more controllers allowing for the production of ethanol.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating the generating and outputting each time a change in conditions in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system is detected.
3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the change in conditions comprises a change in temperature in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system.
4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the change in conditions comprises a change in pH in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system.
5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein repeating the generating and outputting comprises:
receiving system state information from a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation model that includes the saccharification model and the fermentation model, and that models the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system; and
repeating the generating and outputting each time the system state information changes.
6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating comprises generating the values for temperature, pH, and enzyme dosage based at least in part on a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation model of the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system.
7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation model includes the saccharification model that predicts sugar concentration in a fermentation mash, and the fermentation model that simulates yeast metabolism.
8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein generating the values for temperature, pH, and enzyme dosage comprises calculating new set point values repeatedly until a change in a cost function for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system is less than a threshold amount.