1. A circuit for compensating a temperature measurement range of a semiconductor memory apparatus, comprising:
a counter enable signal generating unit configured to input a temperature pulse having a pulse width proportional to temperature and output the temperature pulse as a counter enable signal in response to a control signal;
a counter configured to count an oscillator signal when the counter enable signal is enabled, output a counting signal corresponding to a counting result of the oscillator signal and be reset when the counter enable signal is disabled; and
an output controlling unit configured to generate the control signal in response to the counting signal and the temperature pulse and configured to output a temperature information code signal proportional to the counting signal when the control signal is enabled and to output the temperature information code signal at a fixed level corresponding to a maximum value of the counting signal by inverting an output of the counter which is reset when the control signal is disabled.
2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the counter enable signal generating unit is configured to output of the counter enable signal which corresponds to the temperature pulse when the control signal is enabled and configured to disable outputting the counter enable signal when the control signal is disabled.
3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the output controlling unit includes:
a control signal generator configured to disable outputting of the control signal when the received counting signal reaches the maximum value and enable outputting of the control signal when the received counting signal is below the maximum value; and
an output unit configured to output the temperature information code signal proportional to the counting signal when the control signal is enabled and configured to output the temperature information code signal at the fixed level when the control signal is disabled.
4. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the control signal generator includes:
a disable pulse generating unit configured to generate a disable pulse when the temperature information code signal is at the maximum value;
an enable pulse generating unit configured to generate an enable pulse in response to receiving the temperature pulse; and
a pulse combining unit configured to disable the control signal when the disable pulse is inputted and enable the control signal when the enable pulse is inputted.
5. The circuit of claim 4, wherein the disable pulse generating unit includes:
a comparison portion configured to receive the counting signal and to enable a comparison signal as the disable pulse when the received counting signal is equal to a predetermined value; and
a pulse generating portion configured to delay output of the comparison pulse as the disable pulse.
6. The circuit of claim 4, wherein the enable pulse generating unit comprises a second delayer, a fourth and fifth inverters, and a third NAND gate.
7. The circuit of claim 4, wherein the pulse combining unit includes:
an output node voltage controlling portion configured to apply external voltage to an output node when the disable pulse is enabled and configured to apply external voltage to apply the output node to a ground terminal when the enable pulse is enabled; and
a latch portion configured to latch a voltage level of the output node and to output the latched voltage level as a voltage level of the control signal.
8. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a temperature variable pulse generating unit coupled to the counter enable signal generating unit and to the output controlling unit.
9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the temperature variable pulse generating unit configured to generate the temperature pulse having a pulse width dependent on temperature variation.
10. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the temperature variable pulse generating unit configured to generate the temperature pulse having a pulse width that increases as temperature increases.
11. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising an oscillator coupled to the counter.
12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the oscillator is configured to generate an oscillator signal having a predetermined frequency which is substantially independent of temperature variations.
13. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the output unit of the output circuit unit comprises a plurality of NAND gates, a plurality of inverters and a plurality of multiplexers.
14. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the output unit of the output circuit unit comprising a plurality of subunit outputs, in which each subunit output is configured to input the control signal and to input only a single corresponding bit of the counting signal through a corresponding NAND gate, two inverters and a multiplexer so that each subunit outputs only a single bit of the temperature information code signal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An obstruction detection system for a robotic catheter system including a robotic catheter manipulator assembly including at least one catheter manipulation base and at least one sheath manipulation base, each manipulation base being generally linearly movable on at least one track relative to the robotic catheter manipulator assembly, the obstruction detection system comprising:
at least one obstruction detection sensor disposed on the track or on at least one of the manipulation bases to detect an obstruction along a path of motion of at least one of the manipulation bases.
2. An obstruction detection system according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction detection sensor is an ultrasonic sensor or a light-emitting sensor.
3. An obstruction detection system according to claim 1, further comprising obstruction detection sensors located at both ends of the track.
4. An obstruction detection system according to claim 1, further comprising obstruction detection sensors located at both longitudinal ends of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
5. An obstruction detection system according to claim 4, wherein the obstruction detection sensors enable maintenance of a predetermined distance between the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
6. An obstruction detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a software system for monitoring at least one of movement of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases, and a sensor status of at least one of the obstruction detection sensors.
7. An obstruction detection system according to claim 6, wherein the software system includes code for:
determining if a relative distance between the catheter and sheath manipulation bases is less than a predetermined distance,
if the relative distance is less than the predetermined distance, then indicating an obstruction status of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases as obstructed, and stopping motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases,
if the relative distance is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, then indicating the obstruction status of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases as unobstructed, and allowing motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
8. An obstruction detection system according to claim 7, further comprising at least one of a LED, a visual signal, an audible signal, and haptic feedback to a user input device, for indicating the obstruction status of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
9. An obstruction detection system according to claim 6, wherein the software system includes code for:
determining a relative distance between the catheter and sheath manipulation bases by determining an amount of rotation of motors that drive the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
10. An obstruction detection system according to claim 6, wherein the software system includes code for:
stopping motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases if the sensor status of at least one of the obstruction detection sensors is obstructed; and
allowing motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases if the sensor status of all obstruction detection sensors is unobstructed.
11. An obstruction detection system according to claim 6, wherein the software system includes code for:
determining a direction of travel of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases; and
allowing motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases if the sensor status of one of the obstruction detection sensors is obstructed, only if the direction of travel is away from the obstruction.
12. An obstruction detection system according to claim 6, wherein the software system includes code for:
determining a direction of travel of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases by determining a direction of rotation of motors that drive at least one of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
13. An obstruction detection system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one of a LED, a visual signal, an audible signal, and haptic feedback to a user input device, for indicating the sensor status of the obstruction detection sensor.
14. An obstruction detection system according to claim 6, wherein the software system monitors the manipulation bases and the obstruction detection sensors by means of a CANOpen protocol standard.
15. An obstruction detection system for a robotic catheter system including a robotic catheter manipulator assembly including at least one catheter manipulation base and at least one sheath manipulation base, each manipulation base being generally linearly movable on at least one track relative to the robotic catheter manipulator assembly, the obstruction detection system comprising:
detection means disposed on the track or on at least one of the manipulation bases to detect an obstruction along a path of motion of at least one of the manipulation bases; and
monitoring means for monitoring at least one of movement of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases, and a detection status of the detection means.
16. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the detection means is an ultrasonic sensor or a light-emitting sensor.
17. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the detection means includes obstruction detection sensors located at both ends of the track.
18. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the detection means includes obstruction detection sensors located at both longitudinal ends of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
19. An obstruction detection system according to claim 18, wherein the obstruction detection sensors enable maintenance of a predetermined distance between the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
20. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means is a software system including code for:
determining if a relative distance between the catheter and sheath manipulation bases is less than a predetermined distance,
if the relative distance is less than the predetermined distance, then indicating an obstruction status of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases as obstructed, and stopping motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases,
if the relative distance is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, then indicating the obstruction status of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases as unobstructed, and allowing motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
21. An obstruction detection system according to claim 20, further comprising means for indicating the obstruction status of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
22. An obstruction detection system according to claim 20, wherein the means for indicating is at least one of a LED, a visual signal, an audible signal, and haptic feedback to a user input device.
23. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means is a software system including code for:
determining a relative distance between the catheter and sheath manipulation bases by determining an amount of rotation of motors that drive the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
24. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means is a software system including code for:
stopping motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases if the detection status of at least one of the obstruction detection sensors is obstructed; and
allowing motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases if the detection status of all obstruction detection sensors is unobstructed.
25. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means is a software system including code for:
determining a direction of travel of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases; and
allowing motion of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases if the detection status of one of the obstruction detection sensors is obstructed, only if the direction of travel is away from the obstruction.
26. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means is a software system including code for:
determining a direction of travel of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases by determining a direction of rotation of motors that drive at least one of the catheter and sheath manipulation bases.
27. An obstruction detection system according to claim 24, further comprising means for indicating the detection status of the obstruction detection sensor.
28. An obstruction detection system according to claim 27, wherein the means for indicating is at least one of a LED, a visual signal, an audible signal, and haptic feedback to a user input device.
29. An obstruction detection system according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring means monitors the manipulation bases and the detection means by means of a CANOpen protocol standard.