U.S. patent application number 14/277213 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for pill cartridge for medication packaging apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to INFOPIA CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is INFOPIA CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Byeong-Woo Bae, Keun-Young Kim.
Application Number | 20140339252 14/277213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50693535 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140339252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bae; Byeong-Woo ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
PILL CARTRIDGE FOR MEDICATION PACKAGING APPARATUS
Abstract
A pill cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus, and more
specifically, the pill cartridge with a stopper whose height can be
freely adjusted to a shape of a pill and be installed therein. An
exemplary embodiment may include a rotor to have a plurality of
gear members protruding at regular intervals along a circumference
of the rotor and have insertion grooves formed between the gear
members to thereby accommodate a pill; a case to include a
collection chamber to accommodate the pill therein; a rotor housing
portion at a lower portion of the collection chamber to house the
rotor; and a dispensing opening formed on a lower portion of the
rotor housing portion.
Inventors: |
Bae; Byeong-Woo; (Anyang-si,
KR) ; Kim; Keun-Young; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INFOPIA CO., LTD. |
Anyang-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
INFOPIA CO., LTD.
Anyang-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
50693535 |
Appl. No.: |
14/277213 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/277 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/0092 20130101;
B65D 83/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/277 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 14, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0054607 |
Claims
1. A pill cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus, the pill
cartridge comprising: a rotor to have a plurality of gear members
protruding at regular intervals along a circumference of the rotor
and to have an insertion groove formed between the plurality of
gear members to thereby accommodate a pill; and a case to comprise
a collection chamber to accommodate the pill therein, a rotor
housing portion at a lower portion of the collection chamber to
house the rotor, and a dispensing opening formed on a lower portion
of the rotor housing portion, wherein a stopper of a planar shape
is further provided to be additionally disposed above the
dispensing opening to close a top of the insertion groove, wherein
the case comprises an installation opening of a size that allows a
height of the stopper to be adjustable when the stopper is inserted
in the case, wherein the installation opening is formed by an
opening portion on one side of the case, and wherein a stopper
cover is further provided, which is coupled to the opening portion
and comprises a plurality of slits that is formed in a longitudinal
direction and into which one side of the stopper is inserted and
fixed so as to dispose the stopper in the installation opening.
2. The pill cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises: a
stopper body to close a top of the insertion groove positioned to
be connected to the dispensing opening; first extension ends to
extend from each side of the stopper body toward the stopper cover;
and second extension ends that are bent inward and extend from the
respective first extension ends, wherein the stopper cover
comprises: a cover body to be coupled to the case so as to close
the opening portion, and a height adjustment portion that is formed
on an inner surface of the cover body, and comprises: guide
grooves, into which the second extension ends are inserted and
which are formed to be concavely inserted in a longitudinal
direction on both sides; and the plurality of slits formed in a
longitudinal direction toward the guide grooves to support the
second extension ends.
3. The pill cartridge of claim 2, wherein the stopper is made of an
elastic material, and a width of the respective guide grooves that
is smaller than a depth of the respective second extension
ends.
4. The pill cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises: a
stopper body to close a top of the insertion groove positioned to
be connected to the dispensing opening; a third extension end to
extend from a middle of one side of the stopper body toward the
stopper cover; and fourth extension ends to extend from the third
extension end to protrude from both sides of the third extension
end, wherein the stopper cover comprises: a cover body to be
coupled to the case so as to close the opening portion, and a
height adjustment portion that is formed on an inner surface of the
cover body, and comprises: a vertical groove, into which the third
extension end is inserted; and a horizontal groove, into which the
fourth extension ends are inserted, wherein the horizontal groove
is formed to be concavely inserted in a longitudinal direction on a
surface toward the stopper; and the plurality of slits formed in a
longitudinal direction toward guide grooves to support the fourth
extension ends.
5. The pill cartridge of claim 4, wherein the stopper is made of an
elastic material, and a width of the horizontal groove is smaller
than a depth of the respective fourth extension ends.
6. The pill cartridge of claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises, at
regular intervals, a plurality of coupling grooves, which is
concavely inserted into an inner surface along the circumference
thereof, and gear members are fixed to the coupling grooves
according to a shape of the pill accommodated in the collection
chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0054607,
filed on May 14, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference
for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The following description relates to a pill cartridge for a
medication packaging apparatus, and more specifically, to a pill
cartridge with a stopper whose height can be freely adjusted to the
shape of a pill and be installed therein.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In order to solve a well-known problem of pharmacists
manually packaging pills, a medication packaging apparatus is
provided. In general, the medication packaging apparatus has
multiple pill cartridges, which are arranged in multiple layers at
an upper portion to contain various types of pills. The pills
contained in the pill cartridges may be selectively discharged
under the user's control by use of a computer interfaced with the
pill cartridges, and the pills discharged from the pill cartridges
are collected in a hopper, and then packaged in a packaging unit
located in a lower portion of the medication packaging
apparatus.
[0006] The pill cartridge has an opening for dispensing pills at a
lower portion of a case, and a cylindrical rotor above the
dispensing opening with a plurality of "guide-teeth" and pill
insertion grooves along its circumference. The rotor is connected
to a rotator placed under the dispensing opening. The rotor rotates
along with the rotator, which is rotated by a rotation motor.
[0007] A large number of pills are contained in the case of the
pill cartridge, and a single pill or a predetermined number of
pills are stored in each pill insertion groove between the
guide-teeth of the rotor disposed below the case. In this state, as
the rotor rotates, the pill insertion grooves change positions, and
each is sequentially brought into line with the dispensing opening,
such that the pills in the pill insertion grooves are discharged
through the dispensing opening. At this time, a pill stopper is
provided at the top of the dispensing opening. The pill stopper
closes the top of the pill insertion grooves that are placed in
line with the dispensing opening, so as to prevent other pills
contained in another pill insertion groove from being discharged
through the dispensing opening.
[0008] According to conventional methods, an installation of a pill
stopper in a case is difficult to perform. To address this problem,
Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0438560 (published on Feb.
22, 2008) discloses a coupling projection unit on one side of a
pill case to allow for the installation of a pill separation plate,
which is equivalent to a pill stopper. The coupling projection unit
includes inserting projections on each side. The pill case has an
insertion hole at a position corresponding to the center of the
coupling projection unit. The pill separation plate with fixed
projections is inserted into the insertion hole. A cover having
inserting grooves formed on both sides thereof is attached to the
coupling projection unit.
[0009] If the type of pills to be contained in the case changes, a
rotor needs to be replaced by another one having a width and height
suitable for the different pills. According to the related art, an
insertion hole has to be altered in accordance with the width and
height of pill insertion grooves of the new rotor, so as to allow
the pill separation plate to be inserted through the case, and thus
difficulties in efficiently adapting to the rotor replacement
occur.
SUMMARY
[0010] To address the problem mentioned above, provided is a pill
cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus with a stopper
capable of being flexibly and conveniently adjusted corresponding
to different shapes of pills.
[0011] In one general aspect, a pill cartridge for a medication
packaging apparatus, the pill cartridge includes: a rotor to have a
plurality of gear members protruding at regular intervals along a
circumference of the rotor and to have an insertion groove formed
between the plurality of gear members to thereby accommodate a
pill; and a case to comprise a collection chamber to accommodate
the pill therein, a rotor housing portion at a lower portion of the
collection chamber to house the rotor, and a dispensing opening
formed on a lower portion of the rotor housing portion, wherein
further comprises a stopper of a planar shape to be additionally
disposed above the dispensing opening to close a top of the
insertion groove, wherein the case comprises an installation
opening of a size that allows a height of the stopper to be
adjustable when the stopper is inserted in the case, wherein the
installation opening is formed by an opening portion on one side of
the case, and wherein further comprises a stopper cover, which is
coupled to the opening portion and comprises a plurality of slits
that is formed in a longitudinal direction and into which one side
of the stopper is inserted and fixed so as to dispose the stopper
in the installation opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pill
cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
example of a stopper cover and a stopper of a pill cartridge
illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side-sectional view illustrating an example of
FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a transverse-sectional view illustrating an
example of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5 is another exploded perspective view illustrating an
example of a stopper cover and a stopper of a pill cartridge for a
medication packaging apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0017] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that a pill is discharged by a pill
cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus according to
exemplary embodiments.
[0018] Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless
otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be
understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.
The relative size and depiction of these elements may be
exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description is provided to assist the reader
in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods,
apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various
changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods,
apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be suggested to
those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of
well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased
clarity and conciseness.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pill
cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus according to an
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view
illustrating an example of a stopper cover and a stopper of a pill
cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 according to an exemplary
embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side-sectional view illustrating an example
of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is a
transverse-sectional view illustrating an example of FIG. 1
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0021] An exemplary embodiment may include a rotor 100 to have a
plurality of gear members 110 protruding at regular intervals along
a circumference of the rotor 100 and have insertion grooves 120
formed between the gear members 110 to thereby accommodate a pill;
and a case 200 to include a collection chamber 210 to accommodate
the pill therein, a rotor housing portion 220 at a lower portion of
the collection chamber 210 to house the rotor 100, and a dispensing
opening 230 formed on a lower portion of the rotor housing portion
220.
[0022] The rotor 100 may be connected with a rotator (not shown) at
a lower portion thereof. The rotor 100 rotates along with the
rotator that is driven by a motor, such as a rotation motor. The
rotator and the rotation motor may be provided in a cartridge base
mounted on a lower portion of the case 200. The width and height of
each insertion groove 120 may be determined to conform to the shape
of a pill 10 contained in the case 200.
[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment, a planar stopper 300
may be additionally disposed above the dispensing opening 230 to
close a top of insertion grooves 120. Also, the case 200 includes
an installation opening 240 with a size that allows a height of the
stopper 300 to be adjustable when the stopper 300 is inserted in
the case 200, wherein the installation opening 240 is formed by an
opening portion 250 on one side of the case 200. Furthermore, the
exemplary embodiment further includes a stopper cover 400, which is
coupled to the opening portion 250 and includes a plurality of
slits 422 and 425, which is formed in a longitudinal direction and
into which one side of the stopper 300 is inserted and fixed so as
to dispose the stopper 300 in the installation opening 240.
[0024] The stopper 300 is disposed to close a top of insertion
grooves 120 positioned to be connected to the dispensing opening
230. A portion of the stopper 300 that covers the top of insertion
grooves 120 may be larger than a top opening of the insertion
grooves 120. The stopper 300 may be designed to adapt to virtually
all widths of the insertion grooves 120, which may vary depending
on the types of pills.
[0025] In another exemplary embodiment, a pusher may be
additionally provided. The pusher may rotate above the stopper 300
and push the pill mounted above the stopper 300 while being fixed
in the rotor 100 so as to keep the pill from remaining above the
stopper 300. Also, an inclined plane, which is either straight or
curved, may be formed above the stopper 300, so that the pill above
the stopper 300 may automatically slide and free-fall.
[0026] The case 200 may include a collection chamber 210 to
accommodate the pills. The case 200 may include a rotor housing
portion 220 at a lower portion of the collection chamber 210 so as
to house the rotor 100. The case 200 may have a dispensing opening
230 formed on a lower portion of the rotor housing portion 220,
corresponding to a position of the stopper 300.
[0027] The case 200 may include a case body 201 and a case cover
202. The case body 201 includes the collection chamber 210, the
rotor housing portion 220, and the dispensing opening 230. The case
body 201 is configured to have a top opening allowing the pills to
pass therethrough. The case cover 202 is hinged to a top edge of
the case body 201 in such a manner to open and close the top
opening of the case body 201.
[0028] A large number of pills may be contained in the collection
chamber 210 of the case 200, and a single pill or a predetermined
number of pills may be stored in each insertion groove 120 of the
rotor 100. As the rotor 100 rotates, the insertion grooves 112
change positions and each is sequentially brought into line with
the dispensing opening 230, such that the pills in the insertion
groove 120 are discharged through the dispensing opening 230. In
this state, the stopper 300 closes the top opening of the insertion
groove 120 placed in a line with the dispensing opening 230, and
hence only the pills contained in the insertion groove 120 in the
position can be discharged through the dispensing opening 230.
[0029] The case body 201 of the case 200 has an installation
opening 240 with a length that allows for the stopper 300 to adjust
its height while being inserted into the installation opening 240
which is formed by the opening portion 250 on one side of the case
200. The stopper cover 400 is attached to the case 200 to close the
opening portion 250, and the plurality of slits 422 is formed on an
inner side of the stopper cover 400 where the stopper 300 is
inserted and fixed at an adjusted height. The plurality of slits
422 may be used as space where one side of the stopper 400 is
supported by being inserted into the slits or put thereon.
[0030] As such, even when the height of the insertion grooves 112
changes as the types of pills to be contained in the case 200 are
changed, the height of the stopper 300 is able to be adjusted
within the installation opening 240 to correspond to the changed
height of the insertion grooves 120. The stopper 300 is coupled to
the stopper cover 400 at the adjusted height. Therefore, it is
possible to flexibly and conveniently deal with the change of the
height of the insertion hole 120 for different types of pills.
[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, one side of the stopper 300,
which faces the rotor 100, may be concave in form with a curved
line so as to have a curvature similar or identical to a
circumference curvature of the rotor 100. In such a case, the
stopper 300 may adhere to a surface of the circumference of the
rotor 100, so that the pill accommodated in the collection chamber
210 may not be lost through a gap between the rotor 100 and the
stopper 300.
[0032] The stopper 300 may include: a stopper body 310 to close the
top of insertion grooves 120 positioned to be connected to the
dispensing opening 230; first extension ends 320 to extend from
each side of the stopper body 310 toward the stopper cover 400;
second extension ends 330 that are bent inward and extend from the
respective first extension ends 320. The stopper cover 400 may
include: a cover body 410 to be coupled to the case 200 so as to
close the opening portion 250; and a height adjustment portion 420.
The height adjustment portion 420 is formed on an inner surface of
the cover body 410, and includes: guide grooves 421, into which the
second extension ends 330 are inserted and which are formed to be
concavely inserted in a longitudinal direction on both sides; and
the plurality of slits 422 formed in a longitudinal direction
toward the guide grooves 421 to support the second extension ends
330.
[0033] The stopper body 310 may have a size large enough to close
the top of insertion grooves 120 positioned to be connected to the
dispensing opening 230. The first extension ends 320 extend from
each side of the stopper body 310 toward the stopper cover 400. The
second extension ends 330 are bent inward and extend from the
respective first extension ends 320. The first extension ends 320
and the second extension ends 330 may together form an "L"
shape.
[0034] The stopper cover 400 may include the cover body 410 and the
height adjustment portion 420. The cover body 410 is coupled with
the case 200 to close and open the opening portion 250. The height
adjustment portion 420 is formed along an inner surface of the
cover body 410. Guide grooves 421 may be formed to be concavely
inserted in a longitudinal direction into the stopper cover 400 on
both sides of the height adjustment portion 420, and guide the
movement of the second extension ends 330. The first extension ends
320 move along both sides of the height adjustment portion 420 when
the second extension portion 330 moves inside the stopper cover
400. The plurality of slits 422 is formed in a longitudinal
direction to be concavely inserted into inner surfaces on both
sides, where the guide grooves 421 of the height adjustment portion
420 are formed. As the plurality of slits 422 are formed in the
height adjustment portion 420, the stopper 300 may be fixed to the
stopper cover 400, either in a manner in which the second extension
ends 330 moving along the guide grooves 421 are inserted to the
plurality of slits 422 at positions corresponding to a size of a
pill, or in which some parts of the second extension ends 330 are
supported by the slits 422.
[0035] The stopper 300 is made of an elastic material, and width W1
of each guide groove 421 is smaller than depth D1 of each second
extension end 330. As mentioned above, the stopper 300 may be made
of an elastic material so that a gap between each of the first
extension ends 320 of the stopper 300 can be restored after the gap
is changed wider by an external force, which is then removed. For
example, the stopper 300 may be made of silicon, soft resin,
rubber, etc., which have elasticity. As such, in a case where the
stopper 300 is made of an elastic material, even though the width
W1 of each guide groove 421 is smaller than the depth D1 of each
second extension end 330, the depth D1 is capable of moving along
the guide grooves 421 while becoming smaller. In this case, the
second extension ends 330 may also be extended to the original
shape at positions where the plurality of the slits 422 is formed,
so that the second extension ends 300 may be fixed to the plurality
of slits 422 by being pressed and inserted.
[0036] FIG. 5 is another exploded perspective view illustrating an
example of a stopper cover and a stopper of a pill cartridge for a
medication packaging apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that a pill is discharged by a
pill cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus according to
exemplary embodiments.
[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, a stopper 300 may include: a
stopper body 310 to close a top of insertion grooves 120 positioned
to be connected to a dispensing opening 230; a third extension end
340 to extend from a middle of one side of the stopper body 310
toward the stopper cover 400; and fourth extension ends 350 that
extend from the third extension end 340 to protrude from the both
sides of the third extension end 340. The stopper cover 400 may
include: a cover body 410 to be coupled to a case 200 so as to
close an opening portion 250; and a height adjustment portion 420.
The height adjustment portion 420 is formed on an inner surface of
the cover body 410, and includes: a vertical groove 423, into which
the third extension end 340 is inserted, and a horizontal groove
424, into which the fourth extension ends 350 are inserted, wherein
the horizontal groove 424 is formed to be concavely inserted in a
longitudinal direction on a surface toward the stopper 300; and a
plurality of slits 425 formed in a longitudinal direction toward
the horizontal groove 424 to support the fourth extension ends
350.
[0038] As mentioned above, the stopper body 310 may have a size
large enough to close the top of insertion grooves 120 positioned
to be connected to a dispensing opening 230. The third extension
end 340 extends from a middle of one side of the stopper body 310
toward the stopper cover 400. The fourth extension ends extend from
the third extension end 340 to protrude from the both sides of the
third extension end 340. The third extension end 340 and the fourth
extension ends 350 may together form a "T" shape.
[0039] The stopper cover 400 may include the cover body 410 and the
height adjustment portion 420. The cover body 410 is coupled to the
case 200 to close and open an opening portion 250. The height
adjustment portion 420 is formed along an inner surface of the
cover body 410. The height adjustment portion 420 may include the
vertical groove 423 in the middle thereof to be concavely inserted
in a longitudinal direction into an inner surface on a side toward
the stopper 300, and the vertical groove 423 may guide the movement
of the third extension portion 340. In addition, the vertical
groove 423 and the horizontal groove 424 may together form a "T"
shape on both sides of the vertical groove 423, and the horizontal
groove 424 may guide the movement of the fourth extension portion
350.
[0040] The plurality of slits 425 is formed in a longitudinal
direction to be concavely inserted into inner surfaces on the side,
where the horizontal groove 424 of the height adjustment portion
420 is formed. In response to the plurality of slits 425 formed in
the height adjustment portion 420, the stopper 300 may be fixed to
the stopper cover 400, in a manner that the fourth extension ends
350 moving along the horizontal groove 424 are inserted to the
plurality of slits 425 at positions corresponding to a size of a
pill, or in a manner that some parts of the fourth extension ends
350 are supported by the slits 425.
[0041] The stopper 300 is made of an elastic material, and width W2
of the horizontal groove 424 is smaller than depth D2 of each
fourth extension end 350.
[0042] As mentioned above, the stopper 300 may be made of an
elastic material so that gaps between the third extension end 340
and the fourth extension ends 350 can be restored after the gaps
are changed wider by an external force, which is then removed. For
example, the stopper 300 may be made of silicon, soft resin,
rubber, etc. As such, in a case where the stopper 300 is made of
elastic material, even though the width W2 of the horizontal groove
424 is smaller than the depth D2 of the fourth extension ends 350,
the depth D2 is capable of moving along the horizontal groove 424
while becoming smaller. In this case, the fourth extension ends 350
may also be extended to the original shape at positions where the
plurality of the slits 425 is formed, so that the fourth extension
ends 350 may be fixed to the plurality of slits 425.
[0043] The rotor 100 may form, at regular intervals, a plurality of
coupling grooves 130 which are concavely inserted into an inner
surface along the circumference thereof, and gear members 110 are
fixed to the coupling grooves 130 according to a size corresponding
to a shape of a pill accommodated in a collection chamber 210.
[0044] A size of the insertion groove 120 may be adjusted according
to the shape of the pill contained in the case 200. Conventionally,
as a type of a pill accommodated in the case 200 changes, the rotor
100 is changed to another rotor with a size of an insertion groove
corresponding to the different types of pills. However, exemplary
embodiments of a pill cartridge for a medication packaging
apparatus are capable of adjusting the size of the insertion groove
120 to the changed pill without changing the rotor 100. According
to the exemplary embodiment, if the coupling grooves 130 are formed
along the circumference of the rotor 100, one end on one side of
each gear member 110 is inserted and fixed to each coupling groove
130. In this case, the gear members 110 may be inserted and fixed
by selecting the coupling grooves 130 according to the shape of the
pill and the corresponding position. There may be the plurality of
the gear members 110. In addition, the desired number of the gear
members 110 may be fixed to each of the coupling grooves 130 of
various heights, and a size of the insertion groove 120 may be
readily adjusted according to the width and height of the fixed
gear members 100. Moreover, the gear members 110 and the rotor 100
may be fixed to or separated from each other by using various
well-known coupling elements that are detachable. For example, the
gear members 110 may include snap projections, and the rotor 100
may include snap grooves at regular intervals along the
circumference.
[0045] As mentioned above, the exemplary embodiments of a pill
cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus is capable of
immediately changing the stopper 300 according to the shape of the
changed pill in a case where the type of the pill contained in the
case 200 is changed. Although the accommodated pill is changed, the
exemplary embodiments may adjust the size of the insertion groove
120 corresponding to the shape of the changed pill without the
replacement of the rotor 100, so that the exemplary embodiments
have advantages of flexibly and conveniently dealing with different
pill sizes.
[0046] The methods and/or operations described above may be
recorded, stored, or fixed in one or more computer-readable storage
media that includes program instructions to be implemented by a
computer to cause a processor to execute or perform the program
instructions. The media may also include, alone or in combination
with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the
like. Examples of computer-readable storage media include magnetic
media, such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical
media such as CD ROM disks and DVDs; magneto-optical media, such as
optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured
to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory
(ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like.
Examples of program instructions include machine code, such as
produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that
may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described
hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software
modules in order to perform the operations and methods described
above, or vice versa. In addition, a computer-readable storage
medium may be distributed among computer systems connected through
a network and computer-readable codes or program instructions may
be stored and executed in a decentralized manner.
[0047] A number of examples have been described above.
Nevertheless, it should be understood that various modifications
may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the
described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if
components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit
are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented
by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other
implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *