Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysate regenerator, including: a purification means; at least one reversible retainer including an ion reservoir; a dialysate flow path including a dialysate inlet for receiving a dialysate, a dialysate outlet for dispensing the dialysate, the purification means and the at least one reversible retainer: a pump connected to the dialysate flow path and configured to generate a flow of the dialysate from the dialysate inlet via the reversible retainer and the purification means to the dialysate outlet, wherein a direction of the dialysate flow path through the reversible retainer is reversible.

Abstract: A multi-loop error amplifier circuit for generating an error amplification signal includes: a first operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) including a first current output stage which generates a first transconductance amplification current in a predetermined current direction according to a first voltage difference between a positive terminal and a negative input terminal of the first OTA; a second OTA including a second current output stage which generates a second transconductance amplification current in the predetermined current direction according to a second voltage difference between a positive terminal and a negative input terminal of the second OTA. The first and the second current output stages are coupled in series to generate a first error output current. The error amplification signal is generated according to the first error output current which is equal to the smaller one of the first and the second transconductance amplification currents.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysate regenerator for connecting to a dialysis apparatus, the dialysate regenerator including a regenerator inlet for receiving dialysate; a regenerator outlet for dispensing regenerated dialysate; a hydraulic circuit connected between the regenerator inlet and the regenerator outlet, and further including a fluid portioning system to divide a dialysate flow into uniform portions for sequential regeneration An aspect of the disclosure relates to a dialysis system including a dialysis apparatus including: a fresh dialysate input; a spent dialysate output; and the dialysate regenerator, wherein the regenerator inlet may be coupled to the spent dialysate output for receiving spent dialysate, and wherein the regenerator outlet may be coupled to the fresh dialysate input for dispensing regenerated dialysate.

Abstract: A constant time buck-boost switching converter includes: a power switch circuit for switching a first terminal of an inductor between an input voltage and a ground, and for switching a second terminal of the inductor between an output voltage and the ground; and a modulation control circuit for generating a buck ramp signal and a boost ramp signal and for controlling the inductor according to comparisons of these two ramp signals with an error amplification signal, so as to convert the input voltage to the output voltage. The average levels of the buck ramp signal and the boost ramp signal are both equal to a product of the output voltage multiplied by a predetermined ratio. The upper limit of the buck ramp signal and the lower limit of the boost ramp signal are both equal to a product of the input voltage multiplied by the predetermined ratio.

Abstract: There is provided a flow system of a dialysis device including a dialysate conduit which is capable of being in fluid communication with the peritoneal cavity of a patient's body and of being in fluid communication with a flow path, the flow path allowing dialysate to flow from a patient's body to a sorbent capable of removing contaminants within the dialysate in an outflow mode and in an inflow mode returning the dialysate substantially free of contaminants to the patient's body. The device also includes a pump for moving the dialysate along the flow path in both the outflow mode and inflow mode and a plurality of valves disposed along the flow path. There is also provided a portable dialysis device.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a disk with data written onto a plurality of tracks, a spindle motor that rotates the disk, and a head that is coupled to the disk. The disk drive also includes a circuit that writes data onto a first writable shingle band of tracks if the first writable shingle band is adjacent to a guard band of tracks. The first writable shingle band includes a number of tracks that is a function of a head width. The guard band of tracks is capable of becoming a writable shingle band. Changing the designation of a shingle band between guard and writable creates floating guard bands. The creation of floating guard bands allows for the writing of a single band without having to move and restore adjacent tracks until reaching a fixed guard band as required in the prior art.

Abstract: There is provided a flow system of a dialysis device including a dialysate conduit which is capable of being in fluid communication with the peritoneal cavity of a patient's body and of being in fluid communication with a flow path, the flow path allowing dialysate to flow from a patient's body to a sorbent capable of removing contaminants within the dialysate in an outflow mode and in an inflow mode returning the dialysate substantially free of contaminants to the patient's body. The device also includes a pump for moving the dialysate along the flow path in both the outflow mode and inflow mode and a plurality of valves disposed along the flow path. There is also provided a portable dialysis device.

Abstract: A balun includes a first, second, and third metallic layers, a first dielectric layer disposed between the second and third metallic layers, and a dielectric substrate. The second metallic layer includes a first spiral line having sequentially connected first line segments and a second spiral line having sequentially connected second line segments. A first distance between each two opposite sides of a first region encircled by the innermost first line segments is greater than a second distance between each two adjacent parallel first line segments. A third distance between each two opposite sides of a second region encircled by the innermost second line segments is greater than a fourth distance between each two adjacent parallel second line segments. The third metallic layer includes a third and a fourth spiral lines. The first metallic layer and other elements as a whole are disposed on an opposite surface of the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: A balun includes a first, second, and third metallic layers, a first dielectric layer disposed between the second and third metallic layers, and a dielectric substrate. The second metallic layer includes a first spiral line having sequentially connected first line segments and a second spiral line having sequentially connected second line segments. A first distance between each two opposite sides of a first region encircled by the innermost first line segments is greater than a second distance between each two adjacent parallel first line segments. A third distance between each two opposite sides of a second region encircled by the innermost second line segments is greater than a fourth distance between each two adjacent parallel second line segments. The third metallic layer includes a third and a fourth spiral lines. The first metallic layer and other elements as a whole are disposed on an opposite surface of the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming a metal layer having a predetermined thickness on an underlying material is disclosed. According to the method, the underlying material is electroplated to form the metal layer having a fraction of the predetermined thickness thereon. The step of electroplating is interrupted for a predetermined period of time. The step of electroplating is then resumed to form the metal layer having the predetermined thickness on the underlying material, thereby improving planarity of the metal layer.

Abstract: A filter circuit that includes a thin film layer supported on a substrate serving as a medium layer for a capacitor formed between a top electrode layer and a bottom electrode layer formed above and below the thin film layer. The top electrode layer is patterned into microstrips for functioning as an inductor for the filter circuit.