Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus for processing tissue to release cells from the tissue, comprising:
a first housing having an outer wall that has a selected shape, the first housing adapted to receive a tissue sample and the outer wall being sufficiently porous to allow passage therethrough of material including cells derived from the tissue;
a second housing that at least substantially encloses the first housing and has an outer wall having a selected shape and being spaced apart from the outer wall of the first housing so as to define a gap therebetween, the gap between the outer wall of the first housing and the outer wall of the second housing having either a uniform width or varying continuously in width; and
at least one of the first and second housings being movable to assist in processing of tissue in the first housing and passage of material including cells derived from the tissue through the porous outer wall of the first housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housings are adapted to fit into a base.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base is adapted to move the first housing relative to the second housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the base is adapted to rotate the first housing relative to the second housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base is adapted to hold the first and second housings at an angle of less than 90\xb0 relative to a surface on which the base rests during processing.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second housing outer wall is substantially rigid.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the respective outer walls of said first and second housings are of a substantially cylindrical shape.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the first housing is sufficiently porous to allow passage therethrough of material including cells having a diameter of from about 5 to about 3000 \u03bcm.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall of the first housing is sufficiently porous to allow passage therethrough of material including cells having a diameter of about 200 \u03bcm.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing outer wall further comprises a mesh panel.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first housing is removable from the second housing.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is adapted to be linked to a system for processing cells.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housings are adapted to receive a tissue-releasing agent in communication with the tissue sample.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the tissue-releasing agent is an enzyme.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tissue sample is adipose tissue.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the material including cells further comprises stem cells.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an agitator movably disposed within the first housing.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the agitator comprises an auger rotatable relative to the first housing.
19. An apparatus for processing tissue to release cells from the tissue, comprising:
a first housing having an outer wall that has a selected shape, the first housing adapted to receive a tissue sample and the outer wall being sufficiently porous to allow passage therethrough of material including cells derived from the tissue;
a second housing that at least substantially encloses the first housing and has an outer wall having a selected shape that is substantially the same shape as the selected shape of the outer wall of the first housing or that varies continuously relative to the selected shape of the outer wall of the first housing; and
the first and second housings being disposed at an angle of less than 90\xb0 relative to a horizontal plane and the first housing being movable relative to the second housing to assist in moving a fluid over the tissue in the first housing and passing material including cells derived from the tissue through the porous outer wall of the first housing.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the housings are adapted to fit into a base.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the base is adapted to move the first housing relative to the second housing.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the base is adapted to rotate the first housing relative to the second housing.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the second housing outer wall is substantially rigid.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the respective outer walls of the first and second housings are of a substantially cylindrical shape.
25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first housing outer wall further comprises a mesh panel.
26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first housing is removable from the second housing.
27. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the apparatus is adapted to be linked to a system for processing cells.
28. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the fluid is a tissue-releasing agent.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the tissue-releasing agent is an enzyme.
30. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the tissue sample is adipose tissue.
31. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the material including cells further comprises stem cells.
32. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an agitator movably disposed within the first housing.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the agitator comprises an auger rotatable relative to the first housing.
34. A method for processing tissue to release cells from the tissue, comprising:
a. inserting a tissue sample containing cells into a first housing wherein the first housing has an outer wall having a selected shape and being sufficiently porous to allow passage therethrough of material including cells derived from the tissue sample and wherein the first housing is at least substantially enclosed by a second housing having an outer wall having a selected shape that is substantially similar to the selected shape of the outer wall of the first housing or that varies continuously relative to the selected shape of the outer wall of the first housing;
b. introducing tissue-releasing agents into at least one of the housings; and
c. moving at least one of the first and the second housings to process the tissue sample and to pass material including cells derived from the tissue sample through the porous outer wall of the first housing.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein the tissue-releasing agent is added to the first housing.
36. The method of claim 34 wherein the tissue-releasing agent is added to the second housing.
37. The method of claim 34 wherein the tissue-releasing agent is collagenase.
38. The method of claim 34 wherein the tissue sample is adipose tissue.
39. The method of claim 34 wherein the cells derived from the tissue sample include stem cells.
40. The method of claim 34 further comprising flowing the cells derived from the tissue sample out of the second housing to a collection device.
41. The method of claim 40 wherein a pump is used to flow the cells derived from the tissue sample out of the second housing to a collection device.
42. The method of claim 34 further comprising flowing the cells derived from the tissue sample to an apparatus for further processing.
43. The method of claim 34 wherein moving at least one of the first and second housings further comprises moving the first housing relative to the second housing.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein moving the first housing relative to the second housing includes rotating the first housing relative to the second housing.
45. The method of claim 43 wherein moving the first housing relative to the second housing includes shaking the first housing relative to the second housing.
46. The method of claim 34 further comprising an agitator placed within the first housing.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein the agitator rotates in one direction and the first housing rotates in an opposite direction.
48. The method of claim 34 wherein the respective outer walls of said first and second housings are of a substantially cylindrical shape.

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 providing image data:
receiving a rendering command;
rendering an image based upon the rendering command, wherein the image is to be stored at a first memory location of a single frame buffer;
determining a second memory location representative of a raster location;
enabling, by a write behind controller in a video graphics adapter, storage of the image at the first memory location when the second memory location indicates the raster has accessed data at the first memory location; and
preventing, by the write behind controller, storage of the image at the first memory location when the second memory location indicates the raster has not accessed data at the first memory location.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a rendering command, includes receiving a rendering command from a system processor.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are representative of a specific bytes of data.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fist memory location and the second memory location are representative of a unique groups of data.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique groups of data includes data to be displayed as at least a portion of a line of videographics.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second memory location indicates a data accessed by a display device controller.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second memory location indicates a data to be accessed by a display device controller.
8. A method of providing image data:
defining a graphics primitive having a first portion at X and a second portion at Y, wherein X and Y are indicative of address locations;
providing the graphics primitive to a rendering engine when the rendering engine is storing data to a single frame buffer being accessed by a display device controller providing a current image, where the display device controller is yet to access an address location Z having data associated with the current image and the location Z is between X and Y; and
preventing tearing of the current image.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the address locations include display line numbers.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the address locations include one of physical and logical address locations.
11. A method of providing image data:
accessing a first portion of videographics data from a first portion of a single frame buffer for display on a display device;
storing a first portion of an image primitive to the first portion of the single frame buffer after the step of displaying the first portion of videographics data; and
prohibiting, by a write behind controller in a video graphics adapter, a second portion of the image primitive from being stored to a second portion of the single frame buffer after the step of storing the first portion, wherein the second portion of the single frame buffer is adjacent to the first portion of the single frame buffer.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
accessing a second portion of videographics data from the second portion of the single frame buffer for display on the display device after the step of prohibiting; and
storing the second portion of the image primitive to the second portion of the single frame buffer after the step of accessing the second portion of videographics data.
13. A system for storing videographics data, the system comprising:
a rendering engine to render images; and
a write behind raster controller in a video graphics adapter coupled to the rendering engine to prohibit write access to memory locations in a single frame buffer that have not been displayed.
14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a display device controller coupled to the write behind raster to indicate a raster location.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the rendering engine further includes:
a rendering engine location register, wherein the rendering engine location register is to store a first memory location to be accessed by the rendering engine; and
an over-run detect portion coupled to the rendering engine location register, and coupled to receive a raster location indicator, and to provide an over-run detect indicator, wherein the rate location indicator indicates a second memory location relative to a location currently accessed by the rendering engine, and the over-run detect indicator to prohibit the rendering engine from write accessing to memory locations.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the write behind raster includes:
a multiplexor having a first input, a second input, and an output;
a latch having an input coupled to the output of the multiplexor, and an output;
a comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the latch, a second input, and an output; and
an incrementor having a first input coupled to the output of the latch, and an output coupled to the first input of the multiplexor.
17. A system for storing videographics data, the system comprising:
a rendering engine for rendering a primitive image and writing data representing the primitive image into a single frame buffer;
a display device controller for reading data from the single frame buffer for display; and
a write prohibit means coupled to the display device controller to receive an indication of data read by the display device controller, and coupled to the rendering device to prevent a first portion of the primitive image from being written to the frame engine, while allowing a second portion of the primitive image to be written to the single frame buffer.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first portion is prevented from being written by stalling the rendering device.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the write prohibit means further allows the first portion of the primitive image to be written to the single frame buffer based on an updated status of the indication of data read by the display device.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the indication of data read indicates the access status of a line of videographics data.
21. A method of providing image data:
accessing a first portion of videographics data from a first portion of a single frame buffer for display on a display device;
storing a first portion of an image primitive to the first portion of the single frame buffer in response to accessing the first portion of videographics data for display; and
prohibiting, by a write behind controller in a video graphics adapter, a second portion of the image primitive from being stored to a second portion of the single frame buffer in response to storing the first portion of the image primitive and until the first portion of the image primitive is displayed, wherein the second portion of the single frame buffer is adjacent to the first portion of the single frame buffer.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:
accessing a second portion of videographics data from the second portion of the single frame buffer for display on the display device after the step of prohibiting; and
storing the second portion of the image primitive to the second portion of the single frame buffer after the step of accessing the second portion of videographics data.
23. A system for storing videographics data, the system comprising:
a rendering engine to render images to a plurality of memory locations in a single frame buffer; and
a write behind raster controller in a video graphics adapter coupled to the rendering engine to prohibit write access to the plurality of memory locations in a single frame buffer when at least one of the memory locations has not been displayed.
24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:
a display device controller coupled to the write behind raster to indicate a raster location.

1. A system, comprising:
an inputoutput (IO) module;
a functionality feature of the IO module, wherein the functionality feature is configured to perform one or more specific functions, locally within the IO module, on signals communicated through a base portion of an IO device to which the IO module is physically and communicatively coupled and to provide an output based on the signals; and
an activation feature of the IO module, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature based on an identification mechanism of the base portion.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the functionality feature comprises one or more algorithms stored on a memory of the IO module, and wherein the one or more algorithms include machine-readable instructions for performing the one or more specific functions.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the activation feature comprises activation software for determining whether to activate or disable the functionality feature based on the identification mechanism.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the functionality feature comprises circuitry configured to perform one or more of the specific functions when the circuitry is communicatively completed by the activation feature, wherein the activation feature comprises a switch configured to be activated by coupling with the base portion.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable a functionality feature of the base portion.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature based on a key that is physically inserted into the IO module.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the key comprises an additional functionality feature to be activated for the IO module.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature based on a key that is electronically communicated to the IO module.
9. A system, comprising:
a base portion of an inputoutput (IO) device;
a functionality feature of the base portion, wherein the functionality feature is configured to perform one or more specific functions, locally within the base portion, on signals communicated through the base portion and to provide an output based on the signals; and
an activation feature of the base portion, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature based on an identification mechanism of an IO module that is physically and communicatively coupled to the base portion.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the functionality feature comprises one or more algorithms stored on a memory of the base portion, and wherein the one or more algorithms include machine-readable instructions for performing the one or more specific functions.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the activation feature comprises activation software for determining whether to activate or disable the functionality feature based on the identification mechanism.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the functionality feature comprises circuitry configured to perform one or more of the specific functions when the circuitry is communicatively completed by the activation feature, wherein the activation feature comprises a switch configured to be activated by coupling with the IO module.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable a functionality feature of the IO module.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature based on a key that is physically inserted into the base portion.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the key comprises an additional functionality feature to be activated for the base portion.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature based on a key that is electronically communicated to the base portion.
17. A system, comprising:
a first IO device component comprising a first functionality feature, wherein the first functionality feature is configured to perform one or more specific functions locally within the first IO device component; and
a second IO device component comprising a second functionality feature, wherein the second functionality feature is configured to perform one or more specific functions locally within the second IO device component;
wherein the first and second functionality feature are activated or disabled based on identification mechanisms of the first and second IO device component.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second functionality features comprise one or more algorithms stored on a memory, and wherein the one or more algorithms include machine-readable instructions for performing the one or more specific functions.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second functionality features comprise circuitry configured to perform one or more of the specific functions when the circuitry is communicatively completed an activation feature, wherein the activation feature comprises a switch configured to be activated by coupling between the first and second IO device components.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the activation feature comprises a first conductive connector of the first IO device component, which is configured to couple with a second conductive connector of the second IO device component.
21. The system of claim 17, wherein an activation feature of the first IO device component is configured to activate or disable the first and second functionality features based on the identification mechanisms.
22. The system of claim 17, wherein a first activation feature of the first IO device component is configured to activate or disable the first functionality feature based on an identification mechanism of the second IO device component, and a second activation feature of the second IO device component is configured to activate or disable the second functionality feature based on an identification mechanism of the first IO device component.
23. The system of claim 17, comprising a key configured to be physically inserted into the first IO device component, wherein the first and second functionality features are activated or disabled based on the key when the key is inserted into the first IO device component.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the key comprises an additional functionality feature to be activated for the first IO device component when the key is physically inserted into the first IO device component.
25. The system of claim 17, comprising a key configured to be electronically communicated to the first IO device component, wherein the first and second functionality features are activated or disabled based on the key when the key is electronically communicated to the first IO device component.
26. The system of claim 17, wherein the identification mechanisms comprise variable resistance values, values stored in a memory, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, or a combination thereof.
27. A system, comprising:
an inputoutput (IO) device component;
a functionality feature of the IO device component, wherein the functionality feature is configured to perform one or more specific functions, locally within the IO device component, on signals communicated through the IO device component and to provide an output based on the signals; and
an activation key feature of the IO device component, wherein the activation key feature is configured to activate or disable the functionality feature.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the activation key feature is configured to be physically inserted into the IO device component.
29. The system of claim 27, wherein the activation key feature is configured to be electronically communicated to the IO device component.

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. Method for electrical heating of furnaces for heat treating of metallic workpieces, especially vacuum furnaces usable for plasma carburizing or nitriding in which the heating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) of a furnace are supplied with a heating voltage that is generated on the secondary circuit of a three phase transformer (6) connected to a three phase power network, characterized in that the primary coil windings of the three phase transformer (6) are switched in the delta connection in a first heating phase and in the star connection in a second heating phase, whereby the switchover time (tum) from the delta connection to the star connection is determined as a function of operating parameters characteristic for the heating process.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the switchover point (tum) from delta to the star connection is determined as a function of a specifiable manipulated magnitude.
3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the switchover point (tum) from the delta connection to the star connection is determined as a function of a specifiable output factor (cos ).
4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that upon reaching or undershooting an output factor cos of 0.80, the switchover from the delta connection to the star connection takes place.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switchover point (tum) from the delta connection to the star connection is determined as a function of furnace temperature.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the switchover from the delta connection to the star connection occurs as a function of a change in furnace temperature over time.
7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the switchover time (tum) from the delta connection to the star connection is determined as a function of charge temperature.
8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the switchover from the delta connection to the star connection takes place as a function of the change of batch temperature over time.
9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the furnace is heated up to a certain temperature during the first heating phase and is maintained at a processing temperature necessary for the requisite heat treatment during the second heating phase.
10. Method according to cone of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the switchover from the delta connection to the star connection takes place using a contactor (4b, 4c).
11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that heating elements (8a, 8b, 8c) with a comparatively high ohmic resistance are used.
12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a variably adjustable reactance transformer (6) is used as a three phase transformer.
13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the heating voltage for the first and second heating phase is adapted by varying the manipulated variable of the reactance transformer (6).
14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that during the first heating phase, a heating voltage of less than 60 volts V, preferably about 50 volts V, and during the second heating phase, a heating voltage of less than 35 volts V, preferably about 30 volts V, is applied to the heating elements.
15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by a three phase power grid with a voltage of about 400 volts V.