We claim
1. An image sensing and processing apparatus that comprises an image sensor that is capable of generating signals carrying data relating to an image sensed by the image sensor; and
a microcontroller that comprises
a wafer substrate;
VLIW processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate;
image sensor interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the VLIW processor circuitry and the image sensor, the image sensor interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the VLIW processor circuitry and the image sensor; and
bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the image sensor interface circuitry and is connected to the VLIW processor circuitry so that the VLIW processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the image sensor via a bus.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the interface circuitry defines a state machine that is configured to provide the image sensor with control information generated by the VLIW processor.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microcontroller includes buffer memory and queuing circuitry intermediate the interface circuitry and the VLIW processor to control delivery of information to the VLIW processor.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the image sensor is in the form of a CMOS-based image sensor.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the image sensor is in the form of an active pixel sensor (APS).
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the image sensor is in the form of a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the interface circuitry defines an analogdigital converter (ADC) to convert an analog signal generated by the image sensor into a digital signal and to convert a digital signal carrying control information generated by the VLIW processor into a suitable analog signal that is readable by the image sensor.
8. A microcontroller for an image sensing and processing apparatus, the microcontroller comprising
a wafer substrate;
VLIW processor circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate;
image sensor interface circuitry that is positioned on the wafer substrate and is connected between the VLIW processor circuitry and the image sensor, the image sensor interface circuitry being configured to facilitate communication between the VLIW processor circuitry and the image sensor; and
bus interface circuitry that is discrete from the image sensor interface circuitry and is connected to the VLIW processor circuitry so that the VLIW processor circuitry can communicate with devices other than the image sensor via a bus.
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 actuator mechanism for use in conjunction with a folding tool that facilitates the pivotal movement of an implement of the folding tool between a closed position wherein the implement is at least partially contained within a handle of the folding tool and an open position wherein the implement is extended from the handle in a position for use, the actuator mechanism comprising:
a tang at the base of the implement, the tang (i) having a longitudinal axis, (ii) including a bore extending therein along the longitudinal axis with an axis of the bore being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and (iii) being pivotally coupled with the handle along a pivot axis for movement between the open and closed positions, the pivot axis being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a pushing element with opposing first and second ends, the pushing element being adapted to slide partially in and out the bore along the bore axis as the implement is moved from its open and closed positions;
a shaft, the shaft (i) being pivotally coupled with the pushing element and (ii) extending longitudinally in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
at least one generally arcuate slot with at least a portion of the shaft extending through the slot, the slot having a front end and a rear end;
whereby the actuator moves the implement between the open and closed positions in reaction to the sliding of the shaft along the at least one arcuate slot from one of the front and rear ends to the other of the front and rear ends.
2. The actuator mechanism of claim 1, wherein the tang is substantially cylindrical and said bore extends longitudinally.
3. The actuator of claim 2, wherein the bore is substantially cylindrical.
4. An actuator mechanism for use in conjunction with a folding tool that facilitates the pivotal movement of an implement of the folding tool between a closed position wherein the implement is at least partially contained within a handle of the folding tool and an open position wherein the implement is extended from the handle in a position for use, the actuator mechanism comprising:
a tang at the base of the implement, the tang having a longitudinal axis and being pivotally coupled with the handle along a pivot axis for movement between the open and closed positions, the pivot axis being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a pushing element with opposing first and second ends, the pushing element being slidably coupled to the tang;
a shaft, the shaft (i) being pivotally coupled with the pushing element and (ii) extending longitudinally in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and at least one generally arcuate slot with at least a portion of the shaft extending through the slot, the slot having a front end and a rear end;
whereby the actuator moves the implement between the open and closed positions in reaction to the sliding of the shaft along the at least one arcuate slot from one of the front and rear ends to the other of the front and rear ends;
wherein (i) the tang is substantially cylindrical and includes a bore extending longitudinally therein from a proximal end of the tang, (ii) the pushing element is slidably received into the bore, and (iii) a coil spring resides in a bore between the a bore end and the first end of the pushing element.
5. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a button end adapted for actuation by the finger of a user.
6. The actuator of claim 1, wherein arcuate slot is formed in the handle of the folding tool.
7. The actuator of claim 1 wherein the arcuate slot extends: (a) along a first portion from a front end linearly and downwardly a first distance at an angle of about 5\u201325 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis when the implement is in either an open or closed position; (b) from the first
portion along a second linear portion downwardly a second distance at an angle of about 20\u201340 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis when the implement is in either an open or closed position; (c) from the second portion along a third portion for a third distance along a circular arc having an arc angle of about 45\u201375 degrees; (d) from the third portion along a linear fourth portion upwardly a fourth distance at an angle of about 20\u201340 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis when the implement is in either an open or closed position; and (e) from the fourth portion along a fifth portion to the rear end linearly and upwardly at an angle of about 5\u201325 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis when the implement is in either an open or closed position.
8. The actuator of claim 1, wherein a hypothetical linear line passing through both the pivot axis and either a nadir or apex of the generally arcuate slot depending on the orientation of the folding tool is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the implement when the implement is in either an open or closed position.
9. The actuator mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanism is further adapted to move the implement outwardly and away from a user when being held in a hand of the user when the user slides the shaft along the slot in a generally rearwardly direction towards a body of the user.
10. The actuator mechanism of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the shaft is substantially the same as a width of the generally arcuate slot.
11. The actuator mechanism of claim 1, wherein: (i) tang is pivotally coupled to the handle by a pivot pin, the pivot pin extending along the pivot axis; (ii) the pushing element further includes a pushing element slot, the pushing element slot adapted to permit movement of the pushing element relative to the pivot pin along the longitudinal axis.
12. An actuator mechanism for use in conjunction with a folding tool that facilitates the pivotal movement of an implement of the folding tool between a closed position wherein the implement is at least partially contained within a handle of the folding tool and an open position wherein the implement is extended from the handle in a position for use, the actuator mechanism comprising:
a tang at the base of the implement, the tang (i) having a longitudinal axis, (ii) including a bore having a bore axis with the bore axis extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis therein from a proximal end of the tang and (iii) being pivotally coupled with the handle along a pivot axis for movement between the open and closed positions, the pivot axis being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a pushing element with opposing first and second ends, the pushing element being slidably received in the bore and adapted for movement along the bore axis;
a shaft, the shaft (i) being pivotally coupled with the pushing element and (ii) extending longitudinally in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
at least one generally arcuate slot with at least a portion of the shaft extending through the slot, the slot having a front end and a rear end;
whereby the actuator moves the implement between the open and closed positions in reaction to the sliding of the shaft along the at least one arcuate slot from one of the front and rear ends to the other of the front and rear ends and
wherein the handle is of monolithic construction.
13. The actuator mechanism of claim 12, wherein the bore is substantially cylindrical.
14. A folding tool including the actuator mechanism of claim 12 wherein the implement is a knife blade.
15. The folding tool of claim 14, further including a handle with a cavity, the pivot axis being either (i) coincident with a plane of the knife blade or (ii) parallel to the plane of the knife blade, wherein the knife blade is movable about the pivotal axis between a closed position with the blade substantially contained within the cavity and an open position with the knife blade extending outwardly from an end of the handle and being generally longitudinally aligned with the handle.
16. The folding toot of claim 12, wherein the shaft is adapted to slide towards a user’s wrist to move the knife blade to the open position wherein it extends outwardly of a hand of the user when the folding knife is held in its normal position.
17. The folding tool of claim 12, wherein the slot is formed in the handle of the knife.
18. The folding tool of claim 12, further including a belt clip coupled to the handle.
19. The folding tool of claim 12, wherein a coil spring resides in the bore.