Author: claimsbot

1. Method for improving a time discrete control of an continuous quantity (I1), said method comprising introducing an artificial, varying disturbance to at least one signal involved in said time discrete control.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said artificial, varying disturbance is introduced to at least one of a signal representing a measured value of said continuous quantity (I1), a signal representing a reference value (Iref) which is used for detecting a deviation of a value of said continuous quantity (I1) from a desired value, and a signal used for adjusting said continuous quantity (I1) to a desired value.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said artificial, varying disturbance is introduced by adding a varying disturbing signal to at least one signal involved in said time discrete control.
4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said varying disturbing signal is generated by means of one of a noise generator or a pseudo-noise generator (21).
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said artificial, varying disturbance is introduced by delaying at least one signal involved in said time discrete control with a varying time delay (n1tc, n2tc).
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said artificial disturbance is synchronized with an operating frequency of said time discrete control.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said time discrete control comprises switching at least one switching element (S1,S2) for controlling said continuous quantity (I1), and wherein said at least one artificial, varying disturbance is derived from a frequency division of a switching frequency of said at least one switching element (S1,S2).
8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said time discrete control comprises switching at least one switching element (S1,S2) providing a current (I1) to a low pass filter (L1,Cfilt), which current (I1) constitutes said continuous quantity controlled by said time discrete control, wherein a characteristic frequency of said artificial, varying disturbance is set to be higher than a cut-off frequency of said low pass filter (L1,Cfilt) and wherein said characteristic frequency of said at least one artificial disturbing signal is set to be lower than a switching frequency of said at least one switching element (S1,S2).
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said artificial, varying disturbance has an average value of zero.
10. Control circuit comprising components (10-14) adapted to perform a time discrete control of a continuous quantity (I1), and at least one component (20,21) adapted to introduce an artificial, varying disturbance to at least one signal in said control circuit.
11. Device comprising a control circuit according to claim 10.
12. Device according to claim 11, wherein said device is a power supply module (S1, S2, L1, Cfilt, 10-14, 20, 21) for providing a predetermined current to a load (R), and wherein said continuous quantity controlled by said control circuit is a current (I1) provided by said power supply module (S1, S2, L1, Cfilt, 10-14, 20, 21).
13. Apparatus comprising a control circuit according to claim 10.
Time discrete control of a continuous quantity

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. An applicator for dispensing a fluid for use during a medical procedure, comprising;
a dispensing body for containing the fluid, the dispensing body including a conduit; and
a mixing tip operatively connected to the conduit for receiving the fluid from the dispensing body, the mixing tip including:
a tip body having an interior passage extending along a length, the interior passage including an inlet at a first end fluidly connected to the conduit for receiving the fluid from the conduit, and an outlet in a distal wall at a second end opposite to the first end;
an insert body positioned within the interior passage,
a first passage positioned between the insert body and the tip body and fluidly coupling the interior passage with the outlet in the distal wall; and
a mixing chamber positioned between the insert body and the distal wall, the mixing chamber including a static mixing element.
2. The applicator of claim 1 wherein the static mixing element includes a first channel, and the first channel extends from the first passage to the mixing chamber for introducing a first flow of the fluid into the mixing chamber.
3. The applicator of claim 2 wherein:
the static mixing element includes a second passage and a second channel, the second passage fluidly coupling the interior passage with the outlet in the distal wall for receiving the fluid from the conduit, and the second channel extending from the second passage to the mixing chamber for introducing a second flow of the fluid into the mixing chamber.
4. The applicator of claim 3 wherein the insert body at least partially defines an annular channel proximate to the distal wall, the annular channel fluidly connecting the first and second channels for balancing pressure therein.
5. The applicator of claim 3 wherein:
the static mixing element includes a third passage, the third passage fluidly coupling the interior passage with the outlet in the distal wall for receiving the fluid from the conduit, and a third channel extending from the third passage to the mixing chamber for introducing a third flow of the fluid into the mixing chamber, the first, second, and third channels being radially spaced about the tip body approximately equidistance from each other.
6. The applicator of claim 5 wherein the insert body and the tip body have a radial alignment relative to each other, and the mixing tip further comprises:
a pair of first passages, a pair of second passages, and a pair of third passages, the pair of first, second, and third passages fluidly connected to the inlet for receiving approximately equal portions of the first, second, and third flows from the inlet regardless of the radial alignment between the insert body and the tip body.
7. The applicator of claim 6 wherein the tip body has an inner surface and the insert body has an outer surface, the inner surface being circular and the outer surface being hexagonal.
8. The applicator of claim 1 further comprising:
a pair of ridges longitudinally extending along the insert body and further defining the first passage,
wherein the pair of ridges abut the tip body to center the insert body within the interior passage coaxially within the inlet.
9. A mixing tip for discharging a fluid from a dispensing body for use during a medical procedure, comprising;
a tip body having an interior passage extending along a length, the interior passage including an inlet at a first end configured for fluidly connecting the dispensing body for receiving the fluid from the dispensing body and an outlet in a distal wall at a second end opposite to the first end;
an insert body positioned within the interior passage, a first passage positioned between the insert body and the tip body and fluidly coupling the interior passage with the outlet in the distal wall; and
a mixing chamber positioned between the insert body and the distal wall, the mixing chamber including a static mixing element.
10. The mixing tip of claim 9 wherein the static mixing element includes a first channel, and the first channel extends from the first passage to the mixing chamber for introducing a first flow of the fluid into the mixing chamber.
11. The mixing tip of claim 10 wherein:
the static mixing element includes a second passage and a second channel, the second passage fluidly coupling the interior passage with the outlet in the distal wall for receiving the fluid from the dispensing body, and the second channel extends from the second passage to the mixing chamber for introducing a second flow of the fluid into the mixing chamber.
12. The mixing tip of claim 11 wherein the insert body at least partially defines an annular channel proximate to the distal wall, the annular channel fluidly connecting the first and second channels for balancing pressure therein.
13. The mixing tip of claim 11 wherein:
the static mixing element includes a third passage and a third channel, the third passage fluidly coupling the interior passage with the outlet in the distal wall for receiving the fluid from the dispensing body, and the third channel extends from the third passage to the mixing chamber for introducing a third flow of the fluid into the mixing chamber, the first, second, and third channels being radially spaced about the tip body approximately equidistance from each other.
14. The mixing tip of claim 13 wherein the insert body and the tip body have a radial alignment relative to each other, and the mixing tip further comprises:
a pair of first passages, a pair of second passages, and a pair of third passages, the pair of first, second, and third passages fluidly connected to the inlet for receiving approximately equal portions of the first, second, and third flows from the inlet regardless of the radial alignment between the insert body and the tip body.
15. The mixing tip of claim 14 wherein the tip body has an inner surface and the insert body has an outer surface, the inner surface being circular and the outer surface being hexagonal.
16. The mixing tip of claim 9 further comprising:
a pair of ridges longitudinally extending along the insert body and further defining the first passage,
wherein the pair of ridges abut the tip body to center the insert body within the interior space coaxially within the inlet.
17. A method of dispensing a mixed fluid during a medical procedure with a mixing tip, the mixing tip having an insert body positioned within a tip body, comprising:
introducing a first fluid and a second fluid into an interior passage of the tip body;
directing the first and second fluids through a passage between the tip body and the insert body;
directing the first and second fluids from the passage into a mixing chamber located between the insert body and a distal wall of the tip body;
mixing the first and second fluids within the mixing chamber; and
discharging the mixed fluids from the mixing tip.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
generating a vortex with the first and second fluids to mix the first and second fluid into a mixed fluid.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein discharging the mixed fluid further includes forming the mixed fluids into a plurality of droplet.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the insert body includes at least two ridges further defining the channel, the method further comprising;
abutting the at least two ridges against an inner surface of the interior passage to center the insert body coaxially within the interior passage.
21. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:
securing the tip body to a dispensing body; and
capturing the insert body within the tip body.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein the first fluid is thrombin and the second fluid is blood, the method further comprising:
directing the mixed blood and thrombin onto an anatomical site of a patient to promote blood coagulation at the anatomical site.

1. Apparatus for presenting real-time event recommendations in the form of a list to a user, the apparatus comprising:
at least one user interface mechanism adapted to interact with the user; and
a processing device adapted to perform the following operations:
choosing at least one real-time event based upon at least one criterion, wherein the at least one criterion of the at least one real-time event is additionally weighted by multiple factors, a first factor being based on when the real time event is set to begin and to end relative to the user’s current time, a second factor being based on a specific penalty per unit time for causing said user to wait until a real time event starts, and a same or different penalty per unit time for an accumulated time a user misses a real-time event, to yield a list of real-time event recommendations; and
presenting the list of real-time event recommendations to the user at the user interface mechanism.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion is a function of a user profile.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion is a function of a user-selected category.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion and the weighted factor is a function of:
a minimum recommendation value for a show,
a maximum recommendation value of the show,
a current time,
a start time of the show, and
an end time of the show or a duration of the show.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a remote and the processing device is internal to the remote.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time event comprises broadcast or transmitted content.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time event is located at an assembly location external to a present locus of user activity.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein presenting occurs via a surf ring in which only recommended real-time events are assigned to the surf ring.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein presenting occurs via a graphical user interface including an EPG.
10. A remote control device for use with a consumer electronics device, comprising:
a display adapted to provide user interface elements to the user;
a communication outlet adapted to communicate with the consumer electronics device; and
a processor adapted to:
choose via the consumer electronics device at least one real-time event based upon at least one criterion, wherein the at least one criterion of the at least one real-time event is additionally weighted by multiple factors, a first factor being based on when the real time event is set to begin and to end relative to the user’s current time, a second factor being based on a specific penalty per unit time for causing said user to wait until a real time event starts, and a same or different penalty per unit time for an accumulated time a user misses a real-time event, to yield a list of real-time event recommendations; and
cause the display to communicate the list of real-time event recommendations to the user.
11. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein the real-time event is a television show and the consumer electronics device is a television.
12. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein the real-time event is a real-time Internet event and the consumer electronics device is an Internet browsing device.
13. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein the list of real-time event recommendations comprises an electronic program guide.
14. A content experiencing apparatus for real-time events of interest, comprising:
at least one user interface mechanism adapted to perform the following operations:
provide real-time events of interest to the user; and
receive input from the user as to the user’s selection of the real-time events provided;

a communication facility adapted to receive the real-time events of interest from an external provider;
a tuning facility for selecting the real-time events of interest to be received via the communication facility; and
a processor adapted to perform the following operations:
calculating at least one recommended piece of real-time event of interest from amongst a plurality of available real-time events based upon at least one criterion, wherein the at least one criterion of the at least one real-time event is additionally weighted by multiple factors, a first factor being based on when the real time event is set to begin and to end relative to the user’s current time, a second factor being based on a specific penalty per unit time for causing said user to wait until a real time event starts, and a same or different penalty per unit time for an accumulated time a user misses a real-time event, to yield a list of real-time event recommendations, and
in response to a user input that does not contain either a specific tuning specification or a request for recommendation, automatically tuning the tuning facility to receive the recommended piece of real-time event.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein
the apparatus is a TV;
the communication facility comprises at least one of an antenna or a cable connection; and
the user interface mechanism comprises a television screen.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user input is a channel up button actuation, but the automatic tuning does not go to the next channel up in sequence from a current channel.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user input is a channel down button actuation, but the automatic tuning does not go to the next channel down in sequence from a current channel.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user input is a power on actuation and the automatic tuning goes neither to a last channel previously viewed nor to a default channel.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

We claim:

1. A support device for a sample container, the device comprising:
a holder including shelf structure and associated frame structure at least partially defining a support area for supporting a sample container;
wherein the holder has a central opening that permits analysis of a sample to be carried out from below the holder; and
wherein the holder has an open end that permits a transfer device to enter the support area through a side of the holder, the transfer device being configured to transfer the sample container to the holder.
2. The support device of claim 1, wherein the sample container is a microplate.
3. The support device of claim 1, wherein the support area is generally rectangular.
4. The support device of claim 3, further comprising the transfer device, where the transfer device, after moving into the support area, can move down relative to the holder, thereby placing the sample container into the generally rectangular area of the holder.
5. The support device of claim 1 further comprising a removable connector portion configured to close the open end.
6. The support device of claim 1 further comprising a first releasable clamp mechanism that applies a force against a first side of the sample container, thereby securing the sample container in the holder.
7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a second releasable clamp mechanism that applies a force against a second side of the sample container, thereby securing the sample container in the holder from two sides.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second releasable clamp mechanisms operate in series.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first and second releasable clamp mechanisms include releasable arm members.
10. The support device of claim 1 further comprising a first drive mechanism that moves the holder along an X-axis between a docking station outside an analyzer and an examination site inside the analyzer.
11. The support device of claim 10 further comprising a second drive mechanism that moves the holder along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis when the holder is at the examination site, so that the holder can function both as a sample delivery device in and out of the analyzer, and as a moveable stage for supporting the sample container at the examination site.
12. A support device for a sample container, the device comprising:
a holder;
a first drive mechanism that moves the holder along an X-axis between a docking station outside an analyzer and an examination site inside the analyzer; and
a second drive mechanism that moves the holder along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis when the holder is at the examination site, so that the holder can function both as a sample delivery device in and out of the analyzer, and as a moveable stage for supporting the sample container at the examination site.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the holder includes shelf structure and associated frame structure at least partially defining a generally rectangular area for supporting a microplate, the generally rectangular area having a central opening so that analysis can be carried out from below the holder when the holder is functioning as a stage at the examination site.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the first and second drive mechanisms are capable of optimizing the accelerationdeceleration profiles of the sample container to minimize shaking of samples contained within the sample container.
15. A method of automatically feeding sample containers in and out of an analyzer, the method comprising:
automatically delivering a sample container just outside an opening to the analyzer;
moving a gripping device from inside the analyzer, through the opening, to a location immediately below the sample container; and
placing the sample container onto the gripping device.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sample container is a microplate.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising clamping the sample container in the holder by applying a first force against a first side of the sample container.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising clamping the sample container in the holder by applying a second force against a second side of the sample container.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising serially performing the clamping steps.
20. The method of claim 15, the gripping device having a central aperture and an open end, wherein the step of placing the sample container onto the gripping device includes the steps of entering the central aperture through the open end and moving down relative to the gripping device until the sample container is supported by the gripping device above the central aperture.