Abstract: A process control method for adjusting chemical application in response to the pulp brightness and/or lignin content is realized by utilizing a coupled control feedforward, feedback or combination feedforward/feedback control system, wherein brightness measurements are made between successive lignin content measurements and adjustments made to the chemical application in response to a comparison value.

Abstract: A process control for adjusting bleaching agent application in response to the pulp brightness and/or K number is realized by utilizing a coupled control feedforward and/or feedback control system or combination thereof wherein brightness measurements are made between successive K number measurements and adjustments made to the bleaching agent application in response to a comparison value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an alarm in a patient monitoring system during the transient period which occurs after performing a procedure that intentionally alters the patient's state. The patient monitoring system executes the steps of initiating a target mode when the user sets target limits of a physiological parameter, establishing dynamic limits that vary with time, comparing measured parameter values with the dynamic limits, and generating an alarm when any of the measured parameter values falls outside the dynamic limits. The target mode is terminated when any of the measured parameter values falls within the target limits. The dynamic limits ensure that the physiological parameter is monitored during the transient period after an intervention procedure, without generating false alarms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an alarm in a patient monitoring system. The patient monitoring system executes the steps of measuring values representative of a physiological parameter of a patient, determining whether the parameter values are within safe zone limits, initiating calculation of a trend vector that is a function of changes in the parameter values, when the parameter values go outside the safe zone limits, comparing the trend vector with an alarm limit function and issuing an alarm when the trend vector exceeds the alarm limit function. The alarm limit function typically varies with time after initiating calculation of the trend vector. The trend vector is calculated for each measured value until an alarm is issued or the parameter value returns to within the safe zone limits.