Patent Application
20250160766
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2023 211 466.6, filed Nov. 17, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
One or more example embodiments is based on an operating method for a medical device, wherein, in a normal mode of the medical device, a control apparatus moves a moving element of the medical device in a controlled manner via a drive when corresponding movement commands are issued to the control apparatus of the medical device.
The drive is usually position-controlled. However, this is not absolutely necessary. In individual cases, speed control or torque control can also be used. In the normal mode, the control apparatus receives signals characteristic of the movement of the moving element from a sensor element (for example from a position encoder or speed encoder of the drive) during the controlled movement of the moving element and takes them into account in the actuation of the drive.
One or more example embodiments is further based on a medical device having a moving element, a drive and a control apparatus, wherein, in a normal mode of the medical device, the control apparatus moves the moving element in a controlled manner via the drive when corresponding movement commands are issued to the control apparatus.
Properties, features and advantages and the manner in which they are achieved will become clearer and more plainly comprehensible in conjunction with the following description of the exemplary embodiments explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. These show in schematic representation:
An example of such devices are C-arm systems that can be moved around a patient table. In this case, the moving element can, for example, be the C-arm or an element of the C-arm. It can also be a medical imaging system. In this case, the moving element can, for example be a patient couch of the medical imaging system. Another example is medical devices that are moved as a whole on the floor, wherein wheels of the medical device are driven in such a way that the movement is effected or at least supported via an electric drive. In this case, the moving element can, for example, be a driven wheel. Other medical devices are also conceivable.
The medical sector is increasingly using medical devices that have moving elements powered via an electric drive. The increasing electrification of movement also increases the risk of causing damage, in particular personal injury. Due to the increasingly complex degrees of freedom of movement, it is not always possible, or not possible to a sufficient extent, for staff to monitor the movement. Therefore, reliable collision detection is required to minimize the risk of damage.
In the prior art, various sensors are used to detect a collision. Examples of such sensors are so-called bumpers, movable covers equipped with micro keys, and force sensors. In the prior art, the signals from these sensors are detected and evaluated via fail-safe industrial control systems. These should then initiate a stop to the movement in the event of a collision.
The use of fail-safe industrial control systems is not common in the medical sector. In the medical sector, it is more common to implement first-fault safety for moving axes of a medical device according to IEC 60601 using a C-path and a parallel P-path. Here, “C” stands for control and “P” stands for protection or monitoring. Therefore, in contrast to a safe industrial control system in which all signals are processed in parallel on at least two channels including parallel first-fault-safety actuation, there is only a single path available for actuating the drive (namely the C-path). In this case, first-fault safety is ensured by the parallel P-path, but this does not actuate the drive and can only execute a safety-related action in the event of a fault; this typically entails triggering a brake or switching off the electrical power supply to the drive.
One or more example embodiments creates possibilities via which first-fault-safety collision detection can be implemented in a simple manner even in the case of a C-path and a parallel P-path as commonly implemented in the medical sector.
According to one or more example embodiments, an operating method of the type mentioned in the introduction is embodied in that,
The monitoring apparatus is a pure monitoring apparatus (according to IEC 60601). Therefore, there is no parallel safety-related actuation of the drive by the control apparatus and the monitoring apparatus. Therefore, the monitoring apparatus does not have to receive any signals characteristic of the movement of the moving element. It merely prevents the drive from acting on the moving element in the event of a normal collision signal being transmitted to it or in the absence of an expected special collision signal. The waiting time is determined by the conditions of the medical device. It is usually (slightly) longer than the time required by the drive to stop the moving element. The type of action taken by the monitoring apparatus can vary. For example, the monitoring apparatus can actuate a brake that is arranged in the drive train from the drive to the moving element. Alternatively, the monitoring apparatus can actuate a clutch so that the power transmission from the drive to the moving element is interrupted. It is likewise possible for the monitoring apparatus to switch off the electrical power supply to the drive.
Depending on the individual case, the control apparatus can, in addition to ending the movement of the moving element (i.e., setting the corresponding actuation of the drive), additionally actuate a (possibly further) brake. However, this is not necessary in all cases. This is in particular not necessary if the kinematic chain from the drive to the moving element has a self-blocking effect in the absence of actuation.
In the event of a normal collision signal or in the absence of an expected special collision signal, the monitoring apparatus and the control apparatus can further additionally output a corresponding message, for example to a higher-level apparatus. As an alternative to or in addition to transmission to a higher-level apparatus, the message can also be output to an operator of the medical device, for example via a visual signal (for example, a flashing alarm light), via an acoustic signal (for example a beep) or via a haptically detectable signal (for example, the extension of a pin).
The check command is output by either the control apparatus or the monitoring apparatus. The apparatus that outputs the check command is automatically aware that a special collision signal is expected. The other apparatus in each case can be aware of the corresponding facts due to other circumstances. It is, for example, conceivable that the apparatus that outputs the check command informs the other apparatus in each case that it has output the check command. However, preferably, the other apparatus can deduce from other facts that a special collision signal is expected. This will be discussed in more detail below.
In one possible embodiment of the operating method, the evaluation apparatus is embodied as a first-fault-safety evaluation apparatus. In this case, the checking condition can consist in the fact that the medical device is in a special mode in which actuation of the drive is blocked by the control apparatus.
The fact that the medical device is in a special mode can also be known automatically to the other apparatus in each case, i.e., the apparatus that does not transmit the check command to the evaluation apparatus.
For example, in the event that the control apparatus generates the check command, a timer can be started within the monitoring apparatus due to the occurrence of the special mode (i.e., at the start of the special mode), wherein the timer runs for a certain time period, for example 30 seconds. During this time period, the control apparatus does not actuate the drive. If a collision signal is transmitted to the monitoring apparatus via the lines during this time period, the monitoring apparatus can automatically interpret this collision signal as a special collision signal.
Conversely, if the monitoring apparatus generates the check command, a timer can be started within the control apparatus due to the occurrence of the special mode, wherein the timer runs for a certain time period, for example 30 seconds. During this time period, the control apparatus does not actuate the drive. If a collision signal is transmitted to the control apparatus via the lines during this time period, the control apparatus can automatically interpret this collision signal as a special collision signal.
If the checking condition consists in the medical device being in a special mode, it must be ensured that the time period between immediately successive checks is shorter than the MFOT (multiple fault occurrence time). This can always be guaranteed in practice. However, this requires the evaluation apparatus to be embodied as a first-fault-safety evaluation apparatus so that a single fault does not lead to an unsafe state.
The special mode can, for example, consist in a power supply of the medical device having been switched on shortly beforehand, or in a command for transition to a special mode having been issued by a higher-level apparatus.
When the power supply is switched on, the medical device (or its entire electronics) is in a ramp-up phase. In the ramp-up phase, no drives are actuated. Thus, immediately after the power supply is switched on, the special mode is established automatically. The higher-level apparatus can request the transition to a special mode, for example, in each case after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, every 8 hours).
In addition, it is possible for a normal collision signal to have a minimum duration and for a special collision signal to have a duration that is considerably shorter than the minimum duration.
This procedure represents a further possibility for distinguishing between a normal collision signal and a special collision signal. For example, it can be known from the actual conditions of the specific medical device that, in the event of an actual collision, a collision signal has a duration of at least 500 ms. In this case, the special collision signal can be made to have a very short duration of, for example, 1 ms (or less), either by an appropriate design of the evaluation apparatus or by an appropriate embodiment (in particular duration) of the check command. Such a short duration cannot occur at all for the specific medical device in the case of a normal collision signal. This enables a safe and reliable distinction to be made between a normal collision signal and a special collision signal. The numerical values given are examples only. They can vary according to the type of medical device and the type of possible collision.
As an alternative to checking during a special mode, it is possible for the checking condition to consist in the expiration of a predetermined monitoring period, for a normal collision signal to have a minimum duration and for a special collision signal to have a duration that is considerably shorter than the minimum duration.
In this case, the control apparatus or the monitoring apparatus repeatedly transmits a check command to the evaluation apparatus after the predetermined monitoring period has elapsed in each case.
Of course, this procedure can also be implemented if the evaluation apparatus is embodied as a first-fault-safety evaluation apparatus. In contrast to a check only in a special mode of the medical device, however, this procedure can also provide sufficient fault safety if the evaluation apparatus is not embodied as a first-fault-safety evaluation apparatus. It is only necessary to select a sufficiently short monitoring period, for example to set it to a value of 100 ms. In general, the criterion is that the monitoring period must be shorter than the so-called FTT (fault tolerance time). In this case, the distinction between a normal collision signal and a special collision signal can be made on the part of the other control apparatus and monitoring apparatus based on the duration of the collision signal. On the one hand, the duration of the special collision signal must be considerably shorter than the monitoring period and, on the other, also considerably shorter than the minimum duration of a normal collision signal.
According to one or more example embodiments, a medical device of the type mentioned in the introduction is embodied such
In one possible embodiment, the evaluation apparatus is embodied as a first-fault-safety evaluation apparatus. In this case, the control apparatus, the evaluation apparatus and the monitoring apparatus can interact according to a correspondingly embodied operating method in which the evaluation apparatus must be embodied as a first-fault-safety evaluation apparatus. Here, once again, the advantages achieved thereby correspond to those of the corresponding operating method.
Furthermore, as before, it is possible for the control apparatus, the evaluation apparatus and the monitoring apparatus to interact with one another according to an operating method in which the checking condition consists in the expiration of a predetermined monitoring period, a normal collision signal has a minimum duration and a special collision signal has a duration that is considerably shorter than the minimum duration. Here, once again, the advantages achieved correspond to those of the corresponding operating method.
According to
The medical device 1 furthermore has a control apparatus 4. In a normal mode of the medical device 1, movement commands V can be issued to the control apparatus 4 from outside, for example by a higher-level control apparatus (not depicted) or by an operator (likewise not depicted). In the normal mode, in response to the issue of movement commands V, the control apparatus 4 moves the moving element 2 in a controlled manner via the drive 3. Therefore, a sensor system 5 is assigned to the drive 3 (alternatively to the moving element 2) via which sensor signals characteristic of the moving element 2 can be detected and fed to the control apparatus 4. The control apparatus 4 takes the sensor signals into account when ascertaining the actuation of the drive 3. Position control is usually used, but in some cases speed control or alternatively torque control is also used.
The medical device 1 furthermore has a first-fault-safety contact element 6. Possible embodiments of the contact element 6 are known to those skilled in the art. The contact element 6 is arranged on the medical device 1. In some cases, the contact element 6 can be arranged on the moving element 2. In other cases, as depicted in
The medical device 1 also has an evaluation apparatus 7. The evaluation apparatus 7 is connected to the control apparatus 4 via a line 8 and to a monitoring apparatus 10 via a further line 9. The evaluation apparatus 7 monitors the contact element 6 for actuation. In the event of actuation, the evaluation apparatus 7 transmits a collision signal C to the control apparatus 4 via the line 8 and a collision signal C to the monitoring apparatus 10 via the further line 9. The collision signals C will be referred to as normal collision signals C in the following. The reason for this designation will become clear later.
The following describes the basic operating principles of the evaluation apparatus 7, the control apparatus 4 and the monitoring apparatus 10 in conjunction with
According to
The present explanation of the operating principle of the evaluation apparatus 7 corresponds in the way it is presented to the execution of a program by a microprocessor or the like. However, this is not usually the case. As a rule, the evaluation apparatus 7 is implemented purely in terms of circuitry.
According to
The monitoring apparatus 10 of the medical device 1 is a different device from the control apparatus 4. According to
In step S23, the monitoring apparatus 10 checks whether a (normal) collision signal C has been transmitted to it by the evaluation apparatus 7. If this is the case, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the monitoring apparatus 10 prevents the drive from acting on the moving element 2 at the latest after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive 3 as such, thereby blocking further movement of the moving element 2. In step S25, the monitoring apparatus 10 then waits for a release signal. Only after the release signal has been issued does the monitoring apparatus 10 return to step S21.
On the other hand, if no (normal) collision signal C was transmitted to the monitoring apparatus 10 by the evaluation apparatus 7, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds from step S23 to step S26. In step S26, the monitoring apparatus 10 checks whether the movement command V is no longer issued. If this is the case, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S27. In step S27, the monitoring apparatus 10 prevents the drive 3 from acting on the moving element 2, at the latest after the predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive 3 as such. The monitoring apparatus 10 then returns to step S21. On the other hand, if the movement command V continues to be issued, the monitoring apparatus 10 returns from step S26 to step S22 (alternatively to step S23).
A check command B (see
The check command B is transmitted to the evaluation apparatus 7 on the occurrence of a checking condition. The following explains various possibilities for the checking condition in conjunction with the other FIGS. However, as depicted in
In situations in which they expect a special collision signal C′ based on a check command B, the control apparatus 4 and the monitoring apparatus 10 check whether a special collision signal C′ is actually transmitted to them by the evaluation apparatus 7. If the special collision signal C′ is transmitted to them, the normal mode of the medical device 1 is started or continued. On the other hand, if the special collision signal C′ is not received, the control apparatus 4 immediately blocks a movement of the moving element 2, at least in the current direction of travel. Therefore, the control apparatus 4 does not start moving the moving element 2 at all or ends the movement of the moving element 2. Likewise, the monitoring apparatus 10 prevents the drive 3 from acting on the moving element 2 at the latest after the predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive 3.
The following explains a possible procedure for implementing this procedure in conjunction with
As far as
In the special mode, the monitoring apparatus 10 can, for example, implement a procedure such as that explained below in conjunction with
In a similar way, in the special mode, the control apparatus 4 can, for example, implement a procedure such as that explained below in conjunction with
In step S43, the control apparatus 4 starts a timer 12 (see
If the evaluation apparatus 7 does not transmit the special collision signal C′, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S46. In step S46, the control apparatus 4 checks whether the timer 12 has expired. If this is not the case, the control apparatus 4 returns to step S44. On the other hand, if the timer 12 has expired, the procedure in
The evaluation apparatus 7 likewise executes a slightly modified method compared to
In the case of the procedure according to
Possibilities for a first-fault-safety embodiment of the evaluation apparatus 7 are generally known to those skilled in the art and so no further explanations are necessary in this regard.
Other ways of distinguishing between a normal collision signal and a special collision signal C, C′ are also possible. In particular, the duration of a collision signal C, C′ can be used to distinguish whether it is a normal collision signal C or a special collision signal C′. For example, according to
As just mentioned, if the duration t2 is suitably determined, a distinction between a normal collision signal C and a special collision signal C′ is also possible when the control apparatus 4 and the monitoring apparatus 10 are in the normal mode. Alternatively to the procedure in
According to
If the monitoring apparatus 10 does not detect a collision signal C, C′ in step S62, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S67. In step S67, the monitoring apparatus 10 checks whether the timer 16 has expired. If this is the case, there is a malfunction of the evaluation apparatus 7 because a special collision signal C′ was requested but not transmitted. Therefore, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S65.
If the timer 16 has not yet expired, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S68. In step S68, the monitoring apparatus 10 checks whether the timer 15 has expired. If this is the case, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S69 in which it transmits a check command B to the evaluation apparatus 7 and thus requests a special collision signal C′. Otherwise, the monitoring apparatus 10 skips to step S69.
In step S70, the monitoring apparatus 10 checks whether the movement command V is also issued to it. If the movement command V is issued, the monitoring apparatus 10 releases the movement of the moving element 2 in step S71. Otherwise, the monitoring apparatus 10 skips step S71.
The monitoring apparatus 10 then checks in step S72 whether the movement command V is not issued to it. If this is the case, the monitoring apparatus 10 proceeds to step S73. In step S73, the monitoring apparatus 10 prevents the drive 3 from acting on the moving element 2, at the latest after the predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive 3 as such. Otherwise, the monitoring apparatus 10 skips step S73. In both cases, i.e., both with and without execution of step S73, the monitoring apparatus 10 then returns to step S62.
According to
If a collision signal C, C′ was transmitted to the control apparatus 4 in step S83, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S84. In step S84, the control apparatus 4 checks whether the transmitted collision signal C, C′ has (exactly or at least approximately) the duration t2. If this is the case, the transmitted collision signal C, C′ is a special collision signal C′. Therefore, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S85 in which it resets the timer 12 so that the time period T2 starts to run again.
In step S86, the control apparatus 4 then receives the sensor signals from the sensor system 5. In step S87, the control apparatus 4 ascertains actuation commands for the drive 3. In step S88, the control apparatus 4 outputs the ascertained actuation commands to the drive 3. The control apparatus 4 then returns to step S82 or, as indicated by the dashed line in
If the transmitted collision signal C, C′ does not have the duration t2, the transmitted collision signal C, C′ is a normal collision signal C. Therefore, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S89. In step S89, the control apparatus 4 immediately ends the active actuation of the drive 3, at least in the current direction of travel, and thus the movement of the moving element 2 in this direction of travel. Step S89 corresponds to step S13 in
If the control apparatus 4 does not detect a collision signal C, C′ in step S83, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S90. In step S90, the control apparatus 4 checks whether the timer 12 has expired. If this is the case, there is a malfunction of the evaluation apparatus 7 because a special collision signal C′ was expected but not transmitted. Therefore, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S89. On the other hand, if the timer 12 has not yet expired, the control apparatus 4 proceeds to step S86.
The procedure in
In summary, the present invention relates to the following:
In a normal mode of a medical device 1, a control apparatus 4 moves a moving element 2 of the medical device 1 in a controlled manner via a drive 3 when corresponding movement commands V are issued. In the normal mode, an evaluation apparatus 7 monitors a first-fault-safety contact element 6 arranged on the medical device 1 for actuation and, in the event of actuation, transmits a normal collision signal C via lines 8, 9 to the control apparatus 4 and a monitoring apparatus 10. In the event of a normal collision signal C being transmitted to it, the control apparatus 4 immediately ends the movement of the moving element 2, at least in the current direction of travel, and, at the latest after the predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive 3 as such, the monitoring apparatus 10 prevents the drive 3 from acting on the moving element 2. Either the control apparatus 4 or the monitoring apparatus 10 transmits a check command B to the evaluation apparatus 7 on the occurrence of a checking condition. In this case, the evaluation apparatus 7 transmits a respective special collision signal C′ to the control apparatus 4 and the monitoring apparatus 10 via the lines 8, 9. In the absence of a special collision signal C′ expected on the basis of a check command B, the control apparatus 4 blocks movement of the moving element 2, at least in the current direction of travel, and, at the latest after the predetermined waiting time has elapsed without actuation of the drive 3 as such, the monitoring apparatus 10 prevents the drive 3 from acting on the moving element 2.
The present invention has many advantages. In particular, division into a control path (C-path) and a monitoring path (P-path), which is common and proven in medical devices,
Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by example embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived herefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
Independent of the grammatical term usage, individuals with male, female or other gender identities are included within the term.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The phrase “at least one of” has the same meaning as “and/or”.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below,” “beneath,” or “under,” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below” and “under” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In addition, when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, the element may be the only element between the two elements, or one or more other intervening elements may be present.
Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules) are described using various terms, including “on,” “connected,” “engaged,” “interfaced,” and “coupled.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the disclosure, that relationship encompasses a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, and also an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly” on, connected, engaged, interfaced, or coupled to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “and/or” and “at least one of” include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. Also, the term “example” is intended to refer to an example or illustration.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
It is noted that some example embodiments may be described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations (e.g., in the form of flow charts, flow diagrams, data flow diagrams, structure diagrams, block diagrams, etc.) that may be implemented in conjunction with units and/or devices discussed above. Although discussed in a particular manner, a function or operation specified in a specific block may be performed differently from the flow specified in a flowchart, flow diagram, etc. For example, functions or operations illustrated as being performed serially in two consecutive blocks may actually be performed simultaneously, or in some cases be performed in reverse order. Although the flowcharts describe the operations as sequential processes, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently or simultaneously. In addition, the order of operations may be re-arranged. The processes may be terminated when their operations are completed, but may also have additional steps not included in the figure. The processes may correspond to methods, functions, procedures, subroutines, subprograms, etc.
Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.
In addition, or alternative, to that discussed above, units and/or devices according to one or more example embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, and/or a combination thereof. For example, hardware devices may be implemented using processing circuitry such as, but not limited to, a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SOC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, or any other device capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner. Portions of the example embodiments and corresponding detailed description may be presented in terms of software, or algorithms and symbolic representations of operation on data bits within a computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the ones by which those of ordinary skill in the art effectively convey the substance of their work to others of ordinary skill in the art. An algorithm, as the term is used here, and as it is used generally, is conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of optical, electrical, or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
It should be borne in mind that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, or as is apparent from the discussion, terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” of “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device/hardware, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical, electronic quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
In this application, including the definitions below, the term ‘module’ or the term ‘controller’ may be replaced with the term ‘circuit.’ The term ‘module’ may refer to, be part of, or include processor hardware (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code and memory hardware (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor hardware.
The module may include one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces that are connected to a local area network (LAN), the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), or combinations thereof. The functionality of any given module of the present disclosure may be distributed among multiple modules that are connected via interface circuits. For example, multiple modules may allow load balancing. In a further example, a server (also known as remote, or cloud) module may accomplish some functionality on behalf of a client module.
Software may include a computer program, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, for independently or collectively instructing or configuring a hardware device to operate as desired. The computer program and/or program code may include program or computer-readable instructions, software components, software modules, data files, data structures, and/or the like, capable of being implemented by one or more hardware devices, such as one or more of the hardware devices mentioned above. Examples of program code include both machine code produced by a compiler and higher level program code that is executed using an interpreter.
For example, when a hardware device is a computer processing device (e.g., a processor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a microprocessor, etc.), the computer processing device may be configured to carry out program code by performing arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations, according to the program code. Once the program code is loaded into a computer processing device, the computer processing device may be programmed to perform the program code, thereby transforming the computer processing device into a special purpose computer processing device. In a more specific example, when the program code is loaded into a processor, the processor becomes programmed to perform the program code and operations corresponding thereto, thereby transforming the processor into a special purpose processor.
Software and/or data may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual equipment, or computer storage medium or device, capable of providing instructions or data to, or being interpreted by, a hardware device. The software also may be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the software is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. In particular, for example, software and data may be stored by one or more computer readable recording mediums, including the tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage media discussed herein.
Even further, any of the disclosed methods may be embodied in the form of a program or software. The program or software may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and is adapted to perform any one of the aforementioned methods when run on a computer device (a device including a processor). Thus, the non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium, is adapted to store information and is adapted to interact with a data processing facility or computer device to execute the program of any of the above mentioned embodiments and/or to perform the method of any of the above mentioned embodiments.
Example embodiments may be described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations (e.g., in the form of flow charts, flow diagrams, data flow diagrams, structure diagrams, block diagrams, etc.) that may be implemented in conjunction with units and/or devices discussed in more detail below. Although discussed in a particular manner, a function or operation specified in a specific block may be performed differently from the flow specified in a flowchart, flow diagram, etc. For example, functions or operations illustrated as being performed serially in two consecutive blocks may actually be performed simultaneously, or in some cases be performed in reverse order.
According to one or more example embodiments, computer processing devices may be described as including various functional units that perform various operations and/or functions to increase the clarity of the description. However, computer processing devices are not intended to be limited to these functional units. For example, in one or more example embodiments, the various operations and/or functions of the functional units may be performed by other ones of the functional units. Further, the computer processing devices may perform the operations and/or functions of the various functional units without sub-dividing the operations and/or functions of the computer processing units into these various functional units.
Units and/or devices according to one or more example embodiments may also include one or more storage devices. The one or more storage devices may be tangible or non-transitory computer-readable storage media, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a permanent mass storage device (such as a disk drive), solid state (e.g., NAND flash) device, and/or any other like data storage mechanism capable of storing and recording data. The one or more storage devices may be configured to store computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, for one or more operating systems and/or for implementing the example embodiments described herein. The computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may also be loaded from a separate computer readable storage medium into the one or more storage devices and/or one or more computer processing devices using a drive mechanism. Such separate computer readable storage medium may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive, a memory stick, a Blu-ray/DVD/CD-ROM drive, a memory card, and/or other like computer readable storage media. The computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or the one or more computer processing devices from a remote data storage device via a network interface, rather than via a local computer readable storage Additionally, the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be loaded into the one or more storage devices and/or the one or more processors from a remote computing system that is configured to transfer and/or distribute the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, over a network. The remote computing system may transfer and/or distribute the computer programs, program code, or instructions, some combination thereof, via a wired interface, an air interface, and/or any other like medium.
The one or more hardware devices, the one or more storage devices, and/or the computer programs, program code, instructions, or some combination thereof, may be specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the example embodiments, or they may be known devices that are altered and/or modified for the purposes of example embodiments.
A hardware device, such as a computer processing device, may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications that run on the OS. The computer processing device also may access, store, manipulate, process, and create data in response to execution of the software. For simplicity, one or more example embodiments may be exemplified as a computer processing device or processor; however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a hardware device may include multiple processing elements or processors and multiple types of processing elements or processors. For example, a hardware device may include multiple processors or a processor and a controller. In addition, other processing configurations are possible, such as parallel processors.
The computer programs include processor-executable instructions that are stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium (memory). The computer programs may also include or rely on stored data. The computer programs may encompass a basic input/output system (BIOS) that interacts with hardware of the special purpose computer, device drivers that interact with particular devices of the special purpose computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc. As such, the one or more processors may be configured to execute the processor executable instructions.
The computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (hypertext markup language) or XML (extensible language), markup (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler, (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter, (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time compiler, etc. As examples only, source code may be written using syntax from languages including C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, JavaR, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript®, HTML5, Ada, ASP (active server pages), PHP, Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, and Python®.
Further, at least one example embodiment relates to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including electronically readable control information (processor executable instructions) stored thereon, configured in such that when the storage medium is used in a controller of a device, at least one embodiment of the method may be carried out.
The computer readable medium or storage medium may be a built-in medium installed inside a computer device main body or a removable medium arranged so that it can be separated from the computer device main body. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium is therefore considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of the non-transitory computer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, rewriteable non-volatile memory devices (including, for example flash memory devices, erasable read-only memory devices, or a mask read-only programmable memory devices); volatile memory devices (including, for example static random access memory devices or a dynamic random access memory devices); magnetic storage media (including, for example an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive); and optical storage media (including, for example a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc). Examples of the media with a built-in rewriteable non-volatile memory, include but are not limited to memory cards; and media with a built-in ROM, including but not limited to ROM cassettes; etc. Furthermore, various information regarding stored images, for example, property information, may be stored in any other form, or it may be provided in other ways.
The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and/or objects. Shared processor hardware encompasses a single microprocessor that executes some or all code from multiple modules. Group processor hardware encompasses a microprocessor that, in combination with additional microprocessors, executes some or all code from one or more modules. References to multiple microprocessors encompass multiple microprocessors on discrete dies, multiple microprocessors on a single die, multiple cores of a single microprocessor, multiple threads of a single microprocessor, or a combination of the above.
Shared memory hardware encompasses a single memory device that stores some or all code from multiple modules. Group memory hardware encompasses a memory device that, in combination with other memory devices, stores some or all code from one or more modules.
The term memory hardware is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium is therefore considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of the non-transitory computer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, rewriteable non-volatile memory devices (including, for example flash memory devices, erasable programmable read-only memory devices, or a mask read-only memory devices); volatile memory devices (including, for example static random access memory devices or a dynamic random access memory devices); magnetic storage media (including, for example an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive); and optical storage media (including, for example a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc). Examples of the media with a built-in rewriteable non-volatile memory, include but are not limited to memory cards; and media with a built-in ROM, including but not limited to ROM cassettes; etc. Furthermore, various information regarding stored images, for example, property information, may be stored in any other form, or it may be provided in other ways.
The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks and flowchart elements described above serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.
Although described with reference to specific examples and drawings, modifications, additions and substitutions of example embodiments may be variously made according to the description by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different with that of the methods described, and/or components such as the described system, architecture, devices, circuit, and the like, may be connected or combined to be different from the above-described methods, or results may be appropriately achieved by other components or equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 211 466.6 | Nov 2023 | DE | national |
