阅读说明：本技术 用于移动放射摄影部署的系统和方法 (System and method for mobile radiographic deployment ) 是由 M·R·斯佩斯 A·迪里西奥 D·J·奥迪 J·K·亚历山大 于 2020-03-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种移动放射摄影系统包括传感器,所述传感器用以检测该系统的倾侧角和或俯仰角,以如果倾侧角或俯仰角超过预设界限,则防止可延伸吊杆和/或柱的展开和/或防止电机驱动器的启动。(A mobile radiography system includes sensors to detect roll and or pitch angles of the system to prevent deployment of an extendable boom and/or column and/or to prevent activation of a motor drive if the roll or pitch angle exceeds preset limits.)

1. A mobile radiography system, comprising:

a base including wheels and a transport drive system for driving the wheels to transport the mobile radiography system;

a movable support arm attached to the base of the pulley;

an X-ray assembly attached to the movable support arm;

an electronic control system configured to receive operator input to selectively operate the transport drive system;

a detector to sense either or both of a roll angle and a pitch angle of the mobile radiography system; and

a stored control program executable by the electronic control system to receive one or both of the roll angle and the pitch angle sensed by the detector, the stored control program configured to automatically disable at least a portion of the transport drive system or at least a portion of the support arm or both if the received roll angle or pitch angle exceeds a preset threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery to provide power to the transport drive system and the X-ray assembly, wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically power down at least a portion of one or more of the transport drive system and the X-ray assembly if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically lock the wheel if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically disable the movable support column to prevent rotation of the support column if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a telescopic boom attached to the movable support column, wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically disable the telescopic boom to prevent the telescopic boom from extending if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a 2D or 3D accelerometer.

7. An on-wheel mobile radiography system, the system comprising:

a base attached to the wheel, the base having a handle to steer the mobile digital radiography system to a desired imaging position;

a support arm attached to the base;

an X-ray assembly attached to the support arm, the X-ray assembly comprising an X-ray source;

an electronic control system configured to receive operator input to selectively operate the mobile digital radiography system;

a detector to sense either or both of a roll angle and a pitch angle of the mobile radiography system; and

a stored control program executable by the electronic control system to receive one or both of the roll angle and the pitch angle sensed by the detector, the stored control program configured to, if the received roll angle or pitch angle exceeds a preset threshold: automatically locking at least one of the wheels to prevent further movement of the mobile radiography system, or locking the support arm to prevent spatial positioning of the X-ray source, or both.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the support arm comprises a rotatable vertical column, and wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically disable the vertical column to prevent rotation of the vertical column if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the support arm comprises an extendable horizontal boom, and wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically disable the horizontal boom to prevent the horizontal boom from extending if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the support arm comprises an extendable horizontal boom attached to the vertical column, and wherein the stored control program is configured to automatically disable the horizontal boom to prevent the horizontal boom from extending if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds the preset threshold.

11. A method of operating a mobile radiography system having a base with wheels, the method comprising:

electronically sensing a pitch or roll angle of a wheeled base of the mobile radiography system;

preventing rotation of the wheels of the base in response to determining that the sensed pitch or roll angle exceeds a preset threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising locking or disabling a drive system of the wheels of the base.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing a undocked position of an X-ray support arm attached to the wheeled base prior to preventing rotation of the wheel of the base.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising docking the X-ray support and, in response thereto, allowing the wheel of the base to rotate, thereby enabling or unlocking the drive system of the wheel of the base.

Background

The present invention relates generally to the field of ambulatory medical radiographic imaging systems, and more particularly to a system and method for managing mobility and X-ray tube head deployment.

Mobile X-ray systems are particularly valuable in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and other patient care environments where timely acquisition of radiographic images is important. Because the mobile X-ray system can be wheeled around an ICU or other hospital area and brought directly to the patient's bedside, the mobile X-ray system allows the attending physician or clinician to have recent information about the patient's condition and helps to reduce the risk caused by moving the patient to stationary equipment in the radiological imaging department.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a mobile radiography system 100 that may be employed for Computed Radiography (CR) and/or Digital Radiography (DR). The mobile radiography system 100 on a wheel 102 enables transport of the mobile radiography system 100 by rolling the wheel 102 over a surface such as a floor. The base frame 104 includes a top surface 108 visible to an operator. The top surface 108 may include a display screen for displaying captured radiographic images, an interactive graphical user interface, and other alphanumeric data relating to system status and readiness and/or instructions to an operator using the mobile radiographic system 100. The top surface 108 may include a control panel to allow data to be entered by an operator, such as via a keyboard, a touch-sensitive display screen, and a mouse. As described herein, an operator may use the control panel 108 to control the firing of the X-ray sources 110 and related functions (such as storage, processing, emission, modification, and printing of radiographic images captured by the mobile radiography system 100) or to set numerical thresholds for controlling mobility and X-ray head deployment. The wheel 102 may be free-wheeling or controlled by an electric motor in response to operator input via the handle lever 109, or a combination thereof. The handle lever 109 may also include a lever to engage an electronically controlled wheel brake located at the wheel 102Squeeze the handle or button. The support arm (which includes a vertical base section 36 mounted to the base frame 104, an extendable column section 118 that is vertically extendable relative to the base section 36, and a horizontal telescoping boom 70) is used to support an X-ray head 116 attached to the end of the horizontal boom 70. The vertical base section 36, along with the extendable column section 118, may be about a vertical axisVRotates relative to the base frame 104. The extendable column section 118 may be telescopically movable along an axis relative to the base section 36VVertically to raise or lower the X-ray head 116. The raising and lowering of the extendable section 118 may be performed manually, such as by gripping the boom 70 and raising/lowering the boom 70, or by motor controls.

A central processing system 114 in the base frame 104 provides an electronic control system that performs programmed logic functions for the mobile radiography system 100, including motorized control of the mobile radiography system 100 movement, such as control of a transport drive system 117 for driving the wheels 102. The central processing system 114 may include electronic memory for storing programmable functions as described herein, which may include stored preset values (presets) that are selectively input by an operator. Positioning of the X-ray head 116 may be performed manually, such as with the extendable column 118 about a vertical axisVRotating, raising and lowering the boom 70, and bringing the telescopic boom 70 along a horizontal axisHAnd (4) extending. The column sensor 121 may detect data indicative of the vertical distance that the extendable column section 118 extends relative to the base section 36 and report the data to the central processing system 114. The base sensor 120 may transmit data to the processing system 114 indicative of the angular position of the base section 36 and the extendable section 118 relative to the base frame 104. The central processing system 114 may use these vertical extension and angular rotation data to determine whether the support arm is in the fully undocked (fig. 1) or fully docked (fig. 2) position, or a position therebetween.

The X-ray head 116, which may include the X-ray source 110 and the attached collimator 68, may include an X-ray source 110116 may be attached to the extendable boom 70 and may be about a horizontal axisHAnd (4) rotating. The extendable column section 118 may also be axially extendableVThe height is adjusted telescopically. Electronic controls provided by processing system 114 are in signal communication with X-ray head 116 for controlling the actuation and firing of X-ray source 110 therein and adjusting the aperture size of collimator 68. The mobile radiography system 100 is shown in an undocked position in fig. 1, whereby the support arm, including the base section 36, the extendable column section 118 and the boom 70, is undocked and the X-ray head 116 is deployed to the maximum extension of the support arm.

The mobile radiography system 100 may include a rechargeable internal battery or other power source 115, the rechargeable internal battery or other power source 115 being disposed within the base frame 104 or coupled to the base frame 104 and used to provide power to the various components of the mobile radiography system 100, including a transport drive system 117 having an electro-mechanically connected motor to drive the wheels 102 so as to facilitate motorized rolling movement of the mobile radiography system 100 to different sections or departments located within the medical facility. Typically, the power source 115 is provided as a set of multiple battery cells (such as lead-acid batteries). The processing system 114 may include a dedicated logic processor for controlling various functions and displays, providing operator interface utilities and displaying imaging results, controlling wireless transmitters and detectors, adjustable columns, booms, and other positioning facilities (including collimator 68 lamps, X-ray source 110), and other functions. The handle 109 may be used for motorized steering control of the mobile radiography system 100 and may be coupled to the transport drive system 117 via the processing system 114. The handle 109 may be touch sensitive, such as detecting an operator pressure at the right/left side of the handle 109 to enable manually controlled motorized steering by electrically signaling the processing system 114 to direct the transport drive system 117 to provide appropriate driving force to the left and/or right wheels 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates the mobile radiography system in a fully docked configuration for transporting the mobile radiography system 100 to a desired location within a medical care facility100. A fully docked configuration may be defined as rotating the base section 36 such that the boom 70 extends over the top surface 108 of the base frame 104, the extendable section 118 being along an axisVThe boom 70 is lowered until the boom 70 is proximate the top surface 108 and the boom 70 is fully telescopically collapsed (collapse) to shorten it. To facilitate operation under varying conditions, an operator should be able to easily manually position and orient the X-ray source 110 for imaging or for transport without requiring additional tools and without assistance from additional personnel. This includes moving the X-ray source 110 from the undocked imaging configuration (fig. 1) to the docked configuration (fig. 2) and vice versa. The structure that provides ease of positioning is due to the weight of the X-ray source 110 and due to the X-ray source 110 being from a vertical axisVAlong an axisHAnd extend outward to complicate matters. The docked transport position helps to protect the X-ray source 110 from damage or causing obstructions during movement of the mobile radiography system 100. It also places the boom 70 and X-ray source 110 at the center of gravity of the mobile radiography system 100 for improved stability. In particular, when the mobile radiography system 100 is wheeled onto a skewed, inclined, or otherwise uneven surface, the likelihood of the system 100 tipping over may be minimized by disabling, locking, disabling, or preventing portions of the mobile radiography system 100 from being activated, deployed, or moved.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a mobile digital radiography system has a base with pulleys for a transport drive system for driving wheels. The X-ray head is attached to the wheeled base using an adjustable support arm. An electronic control system receives operator input to selectively operate the radiography system. The detector senses either or both of a roll angle and a pitch angle of the mobile radiography system. A stored control program executable by the electronic control system receives one or both of the roll and pitch angles sensed by the detector and then automatically disables, locks or disables the transport drive system or the support arm or both if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds a preset threshold.

In one embodiment, a mobile digital radiography system (having a wheeled base, a transport drive system, an X-ray assembly having an X-ray source and a movable support arm attached to the wheeled base, an electronic control system configured to receive operator inputs to selectively operate the radiography system) includes a detector to sense either or both of a roll angle and a pitch angle of the mobile radiography system. A stored control program executable by the electronic control system receives one or both of the roll angle and the pitch angle sensed by the detector. The stored control program is configured to automatically disable, disable or lock the transport drive system or the support arm or both if the received roll or pitch angle exceeds a preset threshold.

In one embodiment, a method of operating a mobile radiography system having a base with wheels is disclosed. The step of sensing the roll or pitch angle of the wheeled base of the mobile radiography system is performed and the wheels of the base are prevented from turning, such as by locking the wheels or deactivating the drive system, if the sensed roll or pitch angle exceeds a preset threshold.

This brief description of the invention is intended only to provide a brief overview of the subject matter disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more illustrative embodiments, and does not serve as a guide for interpreting the claims or defining or limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. This brief description is provided to introduce an illustrative selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

Drawings

Detailed description of the inventionreference may be made to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile radiography system having a segmented telescopic vertical column and boom in an undocked imaging position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile radiography system of FIG. 1 in a docked position configured for travel;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for operating the mobile radiography system of FIGS. 1-2; and

fig. 4 is a flow chart for determining and reporting the tilt status of the mobile radiography system of fig. 1-2.

Detailed Description

This application claims priority from U.S. patent application serial No. 62/827,890 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOBILE radio radar level product" filed on 2019, 4, month 2, in the name of Spaeth et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Fig. 2 further illustrates additional features useful for implementing embodiments of the present invention. An inclination detection device 119, such as an accelerometer, is provided in the base frame 104 to detect the inclination of the mobile radiography system 100. The accelerometer may comprise a two-dimensional or three-dimensional accelerometer to detect the horizontal front-to-back dimension of the mobile radiography system 100 from the horizontal planexAnd on the horizontal plane withxHorizontal left-right dimension of dimension-vertical horizontal planeyAnd reports the detected angular deviation measurement data to the processing system 114.

The boom lock 122, which is in electrical communication with the processing system 114, may be configured to prevent telescopic extension of the boom 70 when the boom lock is activated. A boom lock 122 (such as a solenoid lock) may be electronically controlled by the processing system 114 via a signal transmitted to the boom lock 122 to engage a folded portion of the telescopic boom 70, such as by positioning a plunger through an aligned hole in the telescopic section, thereby preventing the boom 70 from telescopically extending.

Similarly, a boot 123 in electrical communication with the processing system 114 may be configured to be electronically controlled by the processing system 114 via signals transmitted to the boot 123 to forcibly engage the wheel brakes, thereby preventing the wheel 102 from rotating. If the mobile radiography system 100 does not include a motor-driven wheel, but a wheel with free play, a wheel lock 123, such as a solenoid lock, may be electronically controlled by the processing system 114 via signals transmitted to the wheel lock 123 to engage the rim of the wheel 102, such as by positioning a plunger through an opening in the rim, thereby preventing the wheel 102 from rotating. In one embodiment, if a motorized transport system 117 is used, the central processing system 114 may be programmed to power down the transport drive system 117 to prevent the wheels 102 from rotating.

Similarly, a cylinder lock 124 in electrical communication with the processing system 114 may be configured to be electronically controlled by the processing system 114 via signals transmitted to the cylinder lock 124 to engage the base section 36 and the extendable section 118, such as by positioning a plunger through aligned holes in the base section 36 and the extendable section 118, thereby preventing the base section 36 and the extendable section 118 from rotating relative to the base frame 104 and preventing the extendable section 118 from being raised or lowered.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart that may be embodied in a computer program executable by the mobile radiography system 100, the mobile radiography system 100 using an electronic control system or processing system 114 housed in the mobile radiography system 100 to control mobility and boom 70 deployment based on whether the tilt angle of the mobile radiography system 100 is greater than a preset threshold, such as three (3) degrees off horizontal orientation in the horizontal plane. At step 301, the detector 119 detects whether the mobile radiography system is positioned on an inclined portion (such as an inclined or tilted floor) by determining the angle of inclination and transmitting the detected angle data to the central processing system 114, which central processing system 114 compares the received angle data to a preset threshold value (such as a three (3) degree threshold deviation from the horizontal orientation of the horizontal plane). Other numerical preset values may be selected by the operator and stored in the processing system 114 as a deviation threshold instead of three (3) degrees. In the example operation described herein, an example preset value of three (3) degrees will be used.

In one embodiment, the tilt angle may be in two horizontal dimensions by detector 119xAnd the vertical dimensionyIs determined. For example, the accelerometer 119 may be disposed within the mobile radiography system 100 to determine the anterior-posterior axis along the mobile radiography system 100xDrift of the tilt angle of, or along the left and right axes of the mobile radiography system 100yPitch drift, or both. At step 301, if the detector 119 does not detect drift beyond a preset roll or pitch threshold, the detector 119 transmits a signal ("N") to the control or processing system 114 indicating that the mobile radiography system 100 is on a satisfactory horizontal surface.

At optional step 302, the mobile radiography system may use the signals from the base sensor 120 and the column sensor 121 to determine whether the support arm is docked or undocked, and if undocked, the central processing system may limit the drive speed of the mobile radiography system 100 at step 303, such as by electronically limiting the transport drive system 117 to half speed or some other reduced maximum speed. In the absence of optional step 302, then after determining in step 301 that the mobile radiography system 100 is not on an incline, the processing system 114 may allow the mobile radiography system 100 to be driven in a normal course in step 304, and if the mobile radiography system 100 is not in motion as a result of being driven, the support arm may be allowed to undock in step 304 by not activating the column lock 120 and the boom lock 122. In step 301, if the detector 119 is atxyDrift beyond a preset three degree threshold is sensed in either of the (roll, pitch) dimensions, it transmits a deviation signal ("Y") to the control or processing system 114. In step 305, if it is determined that the boom is to be solvedExcept docked ("N"), the mobile radiography system 100 will be prevented from being driven, such as by disabling the transport drive system 117, forcibly applying brakes to the wheels, or locking the wheels 102 by actuating the wheel locks 123, as described herein, at step 306. In this case, the mobile radiography system 100 may be rolled or driven each time the support arm is returned to the docked position. If, at step 305, it is determined that the boom 70 is docked ("Y"), then, at step 307, the mobile radiography system 100 will prevent the boom 70 from being undocked, such as by actuating the column lock 124 and/or the boom lock 122, and the mobile radiography system 100 may be driven or rolled. In the latter case, the mobile radiography system may be undocked whenever the system is ultimately driven or rolled onto a surface whose slope is detected to be no more than three (3) degrees. The flow chart of fig. 3 may be repeated at a variety of programmable cycle times (ranging from several times per second to once every few seconds). As illustrated in fig. 3, the shorter cycle time enables the mobile radiography system 100 to respond quickly to a change in state.

To prevent the transport drive system 117 from driving or rolling the mobile radiography system, to disable or deactivate the transport drive system 117, the processing system 114 may be electrically coupled to electronic motor controls of the transport drive system 117 configured to be disabled by a signal from the processing system 114. In one embodiment, where the wheels 102 are in free play, the processing system 114 may be coupled to an electronically actuatable brake or to a wheel lock 123 attached to one or more of the wheels, whereby the one or more wheels may be prevented from rotating. Similarly, to prevent the boom 70 from extending, a signal from the processing system 114 may be used to activate the boom lock 122. To prevent the extendable column section 118 from moving, a signal from the processing system 114 may be used to activate the column lock 124. To prevent the base section 36 and the extendable column section 118 from rotating relative to the base frame 104, a signal from the processing system 114 may be used to activate the column lock 124. After each of steps 303, 304, 306 and 307, the flow chart returns to step 301 to repeat the step of checking the inclination of the mobile radiography system 100 as described hereinabove. The method of the flowchart of fig. 3 may be performed while the mobile radiography system 100 is powered on and being operated (such as being driven on a surface), and while the mobile radiography system 100 is stationary.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart that may be embodied in a computer program executable by the mobile radiography system 100, the mobile radiography system 100 using an electronic control system or processing system 114 housed in the mobile radiography system 100 to determine whether the tilt angle of the mobile radiography system 100 is greater than a preset threshold, such as three (3) degrees from a horizontal plane horizontal orientation, which then provides a Y (yes) or N (no) output to step 301 of the flow chart of fig. 3. In step 401, a grade detector 119 (such as an accelerometer) monitors, detects at least in two detected dimensionsxyRoll/pitch data and report the data to the processing system 114. At step 402, the processing system 114 receives accelerometer data from the detector 119. At step 403, roll is selectedxThe angle data and, at step 404, the roll angle x data is compared to a preset roll threshold to determine if the roll angle exceeds the roll threshold. If the roll angle is not equal to or exceeds the preset roll threshold, then the roll flag is set to (false) at step 405. If the roll angle equals or exceeds the preset roll threshold, then the roll flag is set (true) at step 406.

Returning to step 402, after the processing system 114 receives the accelerometer data from the detector 119, the processing system 114 also selects a pitch at step 408yAngle data and, at step 409, pitch angleyThe data is compared to a preset pitch threshold to determine if the pitch angle exceeds the pitch threshold. If the pitch angle equals or exceeds the preset pitch threshold, then the pitch flag is set (true) at step 410. If the pitch angle is not equal to or exceeds the preset pitch threshold, then the pitch flag is set to (false) in step 411. If the roll flag or pitch flag is set to true, then the cart ramp status is set to Y (YES) at step 407. If both the tilt flag and the pitch flag are setIf false, the cart ramp state is set to N (NO) at step 412. At step 413, the determined cart ramp status is sent to step 301 of the flowchart of fig. 3.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "service," circuit, "" circuitry, "" module, "and/or" system. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media (having computer-readable program code embodied therein).

Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code and/or executable instructions embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C + + or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the processing system 114 of the mobile radiography system, partly on the processing system 114, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the processing system 114 and partly on a remote computer or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the mobile radiography system 100 through any type of network, including a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet service provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing system, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable system provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.