1. A modular pillbox which comprises a base unit and a plurality of modules that can be interchangeably coupled to the base unit,
the base unit comprises:
a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall;
openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments;
one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments; and
an opening in a front portion of the base unit,
the plurality of modules comprise:
a cover plate that couples to the base unit and covers the opening; and
an electronic package that couples to the base unit and covers the opening.
2. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronic package comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording and playing messages.
4. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package comprises a timer and an alarm which is activated by the timer.
5. A modular pillbox according to claim 4, wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a mechanical alarm.
6. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package comprises means for sensing when doors of the plurality of compartments have been opened.
7. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package comprises a data transfer device for transferring data between the pillbox and an auxiliary device.
8. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, wherein the electronics package includes a program for converting spoken information into data that can be displayed as an image or transmitted.
9. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, in combination with a storage magazine which storage magazine is configured to receive a plurality of said modular pillboxes and transfer data between said plurality of modular pillboxes and a remote terminal.
10. A modular pillbox according to claim 1, in combination with a loading tray for loading pills in the compartments of a plurality of the modular pillboxes, the loading tray being configured to couple to a plurality of the modular pillboxes so as to present all of the one-way passages in an array so that pills can be pushed through selected ones of the one-way passages.
11. An electronic interactive pillbox which comprises a base unit and a replaceable electronics module that can be removable coupled to the base unit,
the base unit comprises:
a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall;
openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments;
one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments; and
an opening in a front portion of the base unit,
the electronics module comprises:
an electronic package that removably couples to the base unit within the opening so that close the opening and define a front face of the resulting electronic interactive pillbox,
the electronic package coupling the electronic interactive pillbox to a remote terminal at which a healthcare provider can monitor, manage, evaluate and maintain a periodic record of the healthcare of a user of the electronic interactive pillbox.
12. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronic package comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording and playing messages.
13. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package comprises a timer and an alarm which is activated by the timer.
14. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 13, wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a mechanical alarm.
15. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package comprises means for sensing when doors of the plurality of compartments have been opened.
16. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package comprises a data transfer device for transferring data between the pillbox and the remote terminal.
17. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronics package includes a program for converting spoken information into data that can be displayed as an image andor transmitted.
18. electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, wherein the electronic package receives symptom input information from a user and transfers the inputted symptom information to the remote terminal to allow the healthcare provider to monitor symptom information.
19. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, in combination with a storage magazine which storage magazine is configured to receive a plurality of said electronic interactive pillboxes and transfer data between said plurality of electronic interactive pillboxes and a remote terminal.
20. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 11, in combination with a loading tray for loading pills in the compartments of a plurality of the electronic interactive pillboxes, the loading tray being configured to couple to a plurality of the electronic interactive pillboxes so as to present all of the one-way passages in an array so that pills can be pushed through selected ones of the one-way passages.
21. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 16, wherein the electronics package transmits information wirelessly or via a wired connection to either one of a computer terminal or telephone.
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 solar cell electrode wire before being soldered to a solar cell, comprising:
a core material composed of pure Cu having a Cu content of not less than 99.9 mass %, having a volume resistivity of not greater than about 2.3 \u03bc\u03a9\xb7cm, and having a proof stress in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 85 MPa; and
a hot-dip solder plating layer having a melting point of about 130\xb0 C. to about 300\xb0 C. and disposed on a surface of the core material.
2. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 1, wherein the core material is composed of an annealed pure copper material having an oxygen content of not greater than about 20 ppm.
3. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 1, wherein the core material has a recessed portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the core material for storing molten solder and the hot-dip solder plating layer is located in the recessed portion.
4. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 3, wherein an opening width of the recessed portion as measured transversely of the core material is not less than about 90% of a width of the core material.
5. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 1, wherein the proof stress of the core material is in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 49 MPa.
6. A solar cell electrode wire before being soldered to a solar cell comprising:
a core material made of a clad material including an interlayer and first and second surface layers disposed on opposite surfaces of the interlayer; and
a hot-dip solder plating layer having a melting point of about 130\xb0 C. to about 300\xb0 C. and disposed on a surface of the core material; wherein
the first surface layer and the second surface layer are composed of pure Cu having a Cu content of not less than 99.9 mass %;
the interlayer is composed of pure Al having an Al content of not less than 99.0 mass %; and
the core material has an average volume resistivity of not greater than about 2.3 \u03bc\u03a9\xb7cm and has an average proof stress in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 85 MPa.
7. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the first surface layer and the second surface layer are composed of the same material and have the same thickness.
8. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the first surface layer and the second surface layer are composed of an annealed pure copper material having an oxygen content of not greater than about 20 ppm.
9. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 8, wherein the interlayer has a thickness in a range of about 10% to about 50% of an entire thickness of the clad material.
10. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the core material has a recessed portion arranged along a longitudinal direction of the core material for storing molten solder and the hot-dip solder plating layer is located in the recessed portion.
11. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 10, wherein an opening width of the recessed portion as measured transversely of the core material is not less than about 90% of a width of the core material.
12. A solar cell electrode wire according to claim 6, wherein the average proof stress of the core material is in a range of about 36.3 MPa to about 49 MPa.