What is claimed is:
1. A body fluid sampling device for extracting bodily fluid from an anatomical feature, said device comprising:
a penetrating member driver for driving a penetrating member to create a wound to extract said bodily fluid;
a light source positioned to indicate a point of sampling where said wound will be created, said light source indicating said point of sampling with a beam of light.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source is selected from one of the following: an LED, incandescent, fluorescent, or electroluminescent light source.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises at least a first light source and a second light source.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises at least a first light source projecting a first color and at least a second light source projecting a second color.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source provides a first color and a second color, wherein said second color is used when the device is aimed at a desired position, said first color being used during other conditions.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source provides a first color and a second color when the device is aimed at a desired position, only said first color being used during other conditions.
7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a cartridge having a plurality of penetrating members, said cartridge adapted for use with the penetrating member driver.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein said driver comprises an electromechanical driver.
9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for receiving scattered light reflected from tissue at the point of sampling.
10. The device of claim 1 further comprising an optical train for directing light from the light source towards the point of sampling.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source is configured to provide a plurality of individual beams or a continuous ring or other shape of light.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source projects a continuous ring or other shape of light.
13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing containing said driver wherein a portion of said housing is made of a clear material.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein said light source is also used provide illumination for analyte measurement.
15. A method comprising:
providing a penetrating member driver;
using a light source to project a beam which indicates a point of sampling of a penetrating member actuated by said driver;
aiming said driver to position said point of sampling at a desired location;
actuating said driver to advance said penetrating member and create a wound in tissue at the point of sampling.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said driver comprises an electromechanical driver.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said light source projects a beam which shows one of the following at the point of sampling: an X, a cross, a logo, an icon, a circle, an smiley face, a dot, or an arrow.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein said light source projects a beam having one of the following colors: red, green, blue, gold, yellow, pink, purple or white.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising using the beam of light to indicate readiness for service to the operator.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising using the beam of light to indicate proximity of an anatomical structure.
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. A method for automatically testing a railroad signal system interlocking, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a control point interface corresponding to a predetermined function of an interlocking and having an isolated section and a control section,
(b) connecting the isolated section of said interface to a current source in said interlocking having an electrical characteristic representing the status of said predetermined function,
(c) coupling the control section of said interface to the isolated section of the interface,
(d) commanding said isolated section of said interface to assume an electrical state indicative of the status of said predetermined function,
(e) determining the electrical state of said isolated section, and
(f) reporting the status of said predetermined function in response to said state.
2. A method for automatically testing a railroad signal system interlocking having a plurality of components, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of control point interfaces, each corresponding to a predetermined function of an associated interlocking component and having an isolated section and a control section,
(b) connecting the isolated section of each of said interfaces to a current source in the associated interlocking component having an electrical characteristic representing the status of the corresponding function executed by the interlocking component, and in each of said interfaces,
(c) coupling the control section thereof to the isolated section of the interface,
(d) commanding the isolated section to assume an electrical state indicative of the status of said corresponding function,
(e) determining the electrical state of said isolated section, and
(f) reporting the status of said corresponding function in response to the determined state.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step (d) includes the steps of;
(d1) providing a model object corresponding to each of said interlocking components of said railroad signal system interlocking,
(d2) configuring each of said model objects according to the operational characteristics of the corresponding interlocking component,
(d3) defining an interface between predetermined model objects corresponding to adjacent interlocking components,
(d4) defining signal routes through said model objects and interfaces to determine model information,
(d5) deriving a signal aspect chart from said model information to define logical relationships of said interlocking components,
(d6) generating test procedures from said model information and said logical relationships, and
(d7) testing said railroad signal system interlocking according to said test procedures.
4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step (d7) includes automatically testing a switch of said interlocking.
5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said step (d7) further comprises the steps of:
(d7a) visually verifying that said switch is in a normal position,
(d7b) measuring system indications to validate that said switch is in said normal position,
(d7c) commanding said switch to move to a reverse position,
(d7d) visually verifying that said switch is in said reverse position,
(d7e) measuring system indications to validate that said switch is in said reverse position, and
(d7f) commanding the switch to move to said normal position.
6. The method as set forth in claim 5 further comprising the step of repeating steps d7a-d7f for each switch in said interlocking.
7. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step (d7) includes automatically testing a track section of said interlocking.
8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step (d7) further comprises the steps of:
(d7a) shunting said track section with a predetermined track shunt,
(d7b) determining the effect of said track shunt,
(d7c) activating the associated control point interface to apply a CPI shunt to said track section,
(d7d) determining the effect of said CPI shunt, and
(d7e) deactivating said control point interface to remove said CPI shunt from said track section.
9. The method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of repeating steps d7a-d7e for each track section in said interlocking.
10. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said step (d7) includes automatically testing a signal lamp of said interlocking.
11. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
(d7a) verifying that said signal lamp is illuminated,
(d7b) measuring an electrical current to said signal lamp,
(d7c) verifying that said current is above a predetermined threshold,
(d7d) deactivating the associated control point interface to extinguish said signal lamp,
(d7e) verifying that said signal lamp is extinguished,
(d7f) measuring said current to said signal lamp, and
(d7g) verifying that said current is below a predetermined threshold.
12. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of repeating steps d7a-d7g for each signal lamp in said interlocking.
13. In a system for automatically testing a railroad signal system interlocking:
a control point interface corresponding to a predetermined function of an interlocking component and having an isolated section and a control section,
said isolated section having a normal, inactivated state during operation of the interlocking component, and an activated state for testing the interlocking component by detecting an electrical characteristic representing the status of the predetermined function executed by the interlocking component,
a server having a processor, a computer-readable medium and an interface to said control point interface,
a configuration program stored on said computer-readable medium and executed by said processor to define a model object and interfaces corresponding to said interlocking component,
a model compiler stored on said computer-readable medium and executed by said processor to determine legal routes through said interlocking and said model object on said routes, and to define logical relationships of said interlocking component in response to said determination, and store said definition as a model file, and
a test compiler stored on said computer-readable medium and executed by said processor to read said model file and generate a test procedure and control commands to test said interlocking component,
said control section of said control point interface responsive to control commands received from said processor of said server for driving said isolated section to its activated state in accordance with the test procedure executed by said processor and sending a signal to said processor indicative of the status of said predetermined function.
14. A method for automatically testing a railroad signal system interlocking having a plurality of interlocking components, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plurality of model objects, each of which corresponds to a respective interlocking component of said railroad signal system interlocking,
(b) configuring said model objects according to the operational characteristics of the respective interlocking components,
(c) defining an interface between predetermined model objects corresponding to adjacent interlocking components,
(d) defining signal routes through said model objects and interfaces to determine model information,
(e) deriving a signal aspect chart from said model information to define logical relationships of said interlocking components,
(f) generating test procedures from said model information and said logical relationships, and
(g) testing said railroad signal system interlocking according to said test procedures.
15. A method for setting up automatic testing of a switch of a railroad signal system interlocking comprising the steps of:
(a) visually verifying that a switch is in a normal position,
(b) measuring system indications to validate that the switch is in said normal position,
(c) commanding the switch to move to a reverse position,
(d) visually verifying that the switch is in said reverse position,
(e) measuring system indications to validate that the switch is in said reverse position, and
(f) commanding the switch to move to said normal position.
16. A method for setting up automatic testing of a track section of a railroad signal system interlocking comprising the steps of:
(a) shunting a track section with a predetermined track shunt,
(b) determining the effect of said track shunt,
(c) activating a control point interface to apply a CPI shunt to said track section,
(d) determining the effect of said CPI shunt, and
(e) deactivating said control point interface to remove said CPI shunt from said track section.
17. A method for automatically testing a signal lamp of a railroad signal system interlocking comprising the steps of:
(a) activating a control point interface to illuminate a signal lamp,
(b) verifying that said signal lamp is illuminated,
(c) measuring a first electrical current to said signal lamp,
(d) verifying that said first current is above a predetermined threshold,
(e) deactivating said control point interface to extinguish said signal lamp,
(f) verifying that said signal lamp is extinguished,
(g) measuring a second electrical current to said signal lamp, and
(h) verifying that said second current is below a predetermined threshold.
18. In a system for automatically testing a railroad signal system interlocking:
a control point interface corresponding to a predetermined function of an interlocking and having an isolated section and a control section,
said isolated section being connected with the interlocking and having a normal, inactivated state during operation of the interlocking, and an activated state for testing the interlocking by detecting an electrical characteristic representing the status of the predetermined function executed by the interlocking,
said control section having a controller for driving said isolated section to its activated state and receiving an output from said isolated section in response to said detected electrical characteristic, and for delivering a status report to a central hub of the automatic testing system.
19. In the system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said isolated section includes a switching component responsive to said controller and presenting said inactivated and activated states.
20. In the system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said isolated section further includes a sensor responsive to a change of state of said switching component for providing said output from the isolated section.
21. In the system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said sensor includes an inductor responsive to said change of state, and wherein said controller includes circuitry responsive to said output for reducing nonlinearity, and an analog to digital converter responsive to said circuitry for providing said status report in a digital form.
22. In a system for automatically testing a railroad signal system interlocking:
a plurality of control point interfaces each corresponding to a predetermined function of an interlocking component and having an isolated section and a control section,
said isolated section having a normal, inactivated state during operation of the corresponding interlocking component, and an activated state for testing the interlocking component by detecting an electrical characteristic representing the status of the predetermined function executed by the interlocking component, and
a server computer having an interface to said control point interfaces,
said control section of each of said control point interfaces responsive to control commands received from said server computer for driving the associated isolated section to its activated state in accordance with a test procedure executed by said server computer and sending a signal to said server computer indicative of the status of said predetermined function.
23. The system as set forth in claim 22 further comprising:
a plurality of remote control point interfaces each corresponding to a predetermined function of a remote interlocking component and having an isolated section and a control section, and
a client computer having an interface to said remote control point interfaces and an interface to said server computer,
said control section of each of said remote control point interfaces responsive to control commands received from said client computer for driving said isolated section to its activated state and sending a signal to said client computer indicative of the status of the predetermined function,
said client computer responsive to commands received from said server computer to control said remote control point interfaces and send said signals received from said remote control point interfaces to said server computer.