Author: claimsbot

1. A tissue penetrating system, comprising:
a housing member;
a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member,
a plurality of sample chambers, each of a sample chamber associated with a penetrating member, each of a sample chamber including non-optical electrode analyte detecting members and having a volume no greater than 1 \u03bcL and, the sample chamber being positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by a penetrating member and determine a concentration of an analyte in the fluid using a sample of less than 1 \u03bcL of the fluid, wherein when the penetrating member is removed from the sample chamber, the electrodes remain in the sample chamber and a volume of the sample chamber is less than 1 \u03bcL;
a penetrating member driver coupled to and for driving each of the plurality of penetrating members;
a penetrating member transport device for moving each of the plurality of penetrating members into a position for alignment with the penetrating member driver;
a processor configured to control the penetrating member driver and the penetrating member transport device to drive the plurality of penetrating members and determine that a penetrating member has contacted a skin surface, and in response the processor adjusting a speed of the penetrating member or the power delivered to the penetrating member for skin penetration to maintain a desired penetration velocity of the penetrating member, the processor determining whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth to achieve a desired final penetration depth of the penetrating member, wherein the processor uses a determination of skin contact by the penetrating member as a consideration of skin tenting by the penetrating member, wherein skin tenting is used as a consideration factor for brake depth, wherein the processor determines whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth based on an amount of said skin tenting, the brake depth being either pre-determined and programmed into the processor or the processor dynamically determines the brake depth during actuation and the processor causes a braking force to be applied to penetrating member and provide for a reduction in pain; and
a tissue stabilizing member coupled to the housing and configured to enhance spontaneous fluid flow from the target tissue to the sample chamber and provide a volume of fluid flow of about no more than 1 \u03bcL.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tissue stabilizer member is configured to apply a force to a target tissue and cause the target tissue to press in an inward direction relative to the housing member.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tissue stabilizer member creates a stretching of a skin surface.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tissue stabilizer member includes a plurality of protrusions.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tissue stabilizing device applies a stimulation to a target tissue.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein in a first direction the penetrating member moves toward the target tissue at a speed that is different than a speed at which the penetrating member moves away from the target tissue.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein in the first direction the penetrating member moves toward the target tissue at a speed that is greater than a speed at which the penetrating member moves away from the target tissue.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 0.05 to 60 msec.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 0.1 to 20.0 msec.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 1.0 to 10.0 msec.
11. The system of claim 6, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 3.0 to 8.0 msec.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 1 microsecond to 2 seconds.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 500 milliseconds to 1.5 second.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 100 milliseconds to 1 second.
15. A tissue penetrating system, comprising:
a housing member;
a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member,
a plurality of sample chambers, each of a sample chamber associated with a penetrating member, each of a sample chamber including non-optical electrode analyte detecting members and having a volume no greater than 1 \u03bcL and, the sample chamber being positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by a penetrating member and determine a concentration of an analyte in the fluid using a sample of less than 1 \u03bcL of the fluid, wherein when the penetrating member is removed from the sample chamber, the electrodes remain in the sample chamber and a volume of the sample chamber is less than 1 \u03bcL;
a penetrating member driver coupled to and for driving each of the plurality of penetrating members;
a penetrating member transport device for moving each of the plurality of penetrating members into a position for alignment with the penetrating member driver;
a processor coupled to a position sensor for controlling the penetrating member driver and the penetrating member transport device to drive the plurality of penetrating members and for determining that a penetrating member has contacted a skin surface, and in response the processor adjusts a speed of the penetrating member or the power delivered to the penetrating member for skin penetration to maintain a desired penetration velocity of the penetrating member, the processor determining whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth to achieve a desired final penetration depth of the penetrating member, wherein the processor uses a determination of skin contact by the penetrating member as a consideration of skin tenting by the penetrating member, wherein skin tenting is used as a consideration factor for brake depth, wherein the processor determines whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth based on an amount of said skin tenting, the brake depth being either pre-determined and programmed into the processor or the processor dynamically determines the brake depth during actuation and the processor causes a braking force to be applied to penetrating member and provide for a reduction in pain;
the final penetration depth being selected to provide that a sample volume of less than 1 \u03bcL is received in a sample chamber with a spontaneous flow of sample.
16. A tissue penetrating system, comprising:
a housing member;
a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member,
a plurality of non-optical analyte sensors;
a tissue stabilizing member coupled to the housing and configured to enhance spontaneous fluid flow from the target tissue to a sample chamber;
a penetrating member driver coupled to and for driving each of the plurality of penetrating members;
a penetrating member transport device for moving each of the plurality of penetrating members into a position for alignment with the penetrating member driver;
a processor coupled to a position sensor for controlling the penetrating member driver and the penetrating member transport device to drive the plurality of penetrating members and for determining that a penetrating member has contacted a skin surface, and in response the processor adjusts a speed of the penetrating member or the power delivered to the penetrating member for skin penetration to maintain a desired penetration velocity of the penetrating member, the processor determining whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth to achieve a desired final penetration depth of the penetrating member, wherein the processor uses a determination of skin contact by the penetrating member as a consideration of skin tenting by the penetrating member, wherein skin tenting is used as a consideration factor for brake depth, wherein the processor determines whether a distal end of the penetrating member has reached a brake depth based on an amount of said skin tenting, the brake depth being either pre-determined and programmed into the processor or the processor dynamically determines the brake depth during actuation and the processor causes a braking force to be applied to penetrating member and provide for a reduction in pain;
the final penetration depth being selected to provide that a sample volume of less than 1 \u03bcL is received in a sample chamber.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tissue stabilizer member is configured to apply a force to a target tissue and cause the target tissue to press in an inward direction relative to the housing member.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the tissue stabilizer member creates a stretching of a skin surface.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the tissue stabilizer member includes a plurality of protrusions.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein the tissue stabilizing device applies a stimulation to a target tissue.
21. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor includes a memory for storage and retrieval of a set of penetrating member profiles utilized with the penetrating member driver.
22. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is utilized to monitor position and speed of a penetrating member as the penetrating member moves in a first direction.
23. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is utilized to adjust an application of force to a penetrating member to achieve a desired speed of the penetrating member.
24. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is utilized to adjust an application of force to a penetrating member when the penetrating member contacts a target tissue so that the penetrating member penetrates the target tissue within a desired range of speed.
25. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is utilized to monitor position and speed of a penetrating member as the penetrating member moves in the first direction toward a target tissue, wherein the application of a launching force to the penetrating member is controlled based on position and speed of the penetrating member.
26. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is utilized to control a withdraw force to the penetrating member so that the penetrating member moves in a second direction away from the target tissue.
27. The system of claim 16, wherein in a first direction the penetrating member moves toward the target tissue at a speed that is different than a speed at which the penetrating member moves away from the target tissue.
28. The system of claim 16, wherein in the first direction the penetrating member moves toward the target tissue at a speed that is greater than a speed at which the penetrating member moves away from the target tissue.
29. The system of claim 16, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 0.05 to 60 msec.
30. The system of claim 16, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 0.1 to 20.0 msec.
31. The system of claim 16, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 1.0 to 10.0 msec.
32. The system of claim 16, wherein a speed of a penetrating member in the first direction is the range of 3.0 to 8.0 msec.
33. The system of claim 16, wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 1 microsecond to 2 seconds.
34. The system of claim 16, wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 500 milliseconds to 1.5 second.
35. The system of claim 16, wherein a dwell time of the penetrating member in the target tissue below a skin surface is in the range of 100 milliseconds to 1 second.

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 comprising:
providing first and second n-type well (NW) regions on a substrate;
providing first and second active (RX) regions on the first and second NW regions, respectively;
providing a contact on the substrate connecting the first and second RX regions;
providing a dummy gate (PC) on the substrate connecting the first and second RX regions,
wherein the contact and dummy PC extend along a horizontal direction;
providing a plurality of PC segments on the substrate, each PC segment extending along the horizontal direction on one of a plurality of vertical positions; and
providing the first and second RX regions with first and second tap regions, respectively, the first and second tap regions being connected by the dummy PC and the contact.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
providing on the substrate first and second bitcell regions, each having PC segments on the vertical positions, the vertical positions within the first and second bitcells being separated; and
providing on the substrate a strap region separating the first and second bitcell regions.
3. The method according to claim 1, comprising providing a p-type well (PW) region separating the first and second NW regions, and providing a gate contact in the PW region, wherein the first and second tap regions and gate contact are connected by the dummy PC and by the contact.
4. The method according to claim 3, comprising providing a PW tap in the PW region separated from the dummy PC and the contact.
5. The method according to claim 1, comprising
providing a PW region on the substrate separating the first and second NW regions;
providing a third RX region in the PW region having a vertical position different from vertical positions of the first and second RX regions;
providing an implant mask over an entire upper surface of the third RX region and a portion extending vertically beyond a horizontal edge of the third RX region; and
providing a second dummy PC on the horizontal edge.
6. The method according to claim 5, comprising providing the second dummy PC overlapping a rectangular portion of the third RX region.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second dummy PC extends along the horizontal direction, the method further comprising providing a plurality of PC segments on the substrate, each PC segment extending along the horizontal direction on one of a plurality of vertical positions.
8. The method according to claim 7, comprising:
providing a second PW region on the substrate, the second NW region separating the first and second PW regions;
providing a fourth RX region in the second PW region having a vertical position identical to the third RX region and having a second horizontal edge aligned with the horizontal edge of the third RX;
providing the implant mask over an entire upper surface of the fourth RX region and a portion extending vertically beyond the second horizontal edge of the fourth RX region, the implant mask extending across a horizontal width of the second NW region; and
providing the second dummy PC on the second horizontal edge.
9. The method according to claim 8, comprising:
providing a first bitcell region having two PC segments active with different vertical positions;
providing a second bitcell region having two PC segments active with different vertical positions; and
providing a strap region vertically separating the first and second bitcell regions, the implant mask and the third and fourth RX regions being in the strap region.
10. The method according to claim 1, comprising providing the first and second RX regions by:
printing first and second RX regions on a substrate, each including an extended portion in a vertical direction; and
providing an RX cut mask region over the extended portions.
11. The method according to claim 10 comprising providing on the substrate a third RX region having a vertical position different from the first and second RX regions by:
printing the third RX region on the substrate including a second extended portion in a second vertical direction opposite to the first vertical direction; and
providing the RX cut mask region over the second extended portion.
12. A method comprising:
determining an active (RX) region of an integrated circuit (IC) design;
determining a P+ implant mask region extending along a horizontal direction and being on an entire upper surface of the RX region;
determining a n-type well (NW) region extending along a vertical direction and separated from the RX region; and
comparing an area of an overlap of the NW region and P+ implant mask region to a threshold value.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:
determining a p-type well (PW) region of the IC design, the RX region being in the PW region;
determining a second NW region, separated from the first NW region by the PW region, the P+ implant mask region extending into the first and second NW regions and across a horizontal width of the PW region; and
determining a horizontal endpoint of the P+ mask region extending into the first NW region based on a predefined separation distance between endpoints of the RX region and the P+ implant mask region.
14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising modifying the P+ implant mask region to reduce the overlap area to less than or equal to the threshold value prior to a data preparation step for the IC design.
15. An apparatus comprising:
a first n-type well (NW) region on a substrate having a first NW tap;
a second NW region on the substrate having a second NW tap;
a p-type well (PW) region separating the first and second NW regions and having a PW tap and a gate contact, the gate contact and the first and second NW taps having identical vertical positions and the PW tap having a different vertical position from the gate contact and the first and second NW taps;
a drainsource contact extending along a horizontal direction on the substrate and connecting the gate contact and the first and second NW taps, the drainsource contact being separated from the PW tap;
a plurality of gate (PC) segments on the substrate, each PC segment extending along the horizontal direction on one of a plurality of separated vertical positions; and
a dummy PC on the substrate extending along the horizontal direction on the substrate and connecting the gate contact and the first and second NW taps, the dummy PC having a vertical position different from a vertical position of the drainsource contact.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, comprising:
an active (RX) region in the PW region vertically separated from the first and second NW taps;
an RG block over an entire upper surface of the RX region and a portion extending vertically outside of a horizontal edge of the RX region; and
a second dummy PC extending in the horizontal direction and overlapping a rectangular portion of the RX region including the horizontal edge.
17. The apparatus according to claim 15, comprising:
a first bitcell region having two PC segments active with different vertical positions;
a second bitcell region having two PC segments active with different vertical positions; and
a strap region vertically separating the first and second bitcell regions, the RG block and the RX region being in the strap region.

1. A locking mechanism for a reverse shift rail of a transmission, the reverse shift rail being configured to move axially in a first direction from a neutral position to activate a drive gear range, and in a second direction from the neutral position to activate a reverse gear range, the transmission including a rail selector with a wing configured to engage with the reverse shift rail, and a reverse inhibitor configured to selectively dampen the reverse shift rail from moving in the second direction, the locking mechanism comprising:
a main body positionable and operatively rotatable around at least a portion of the reverse shift rail; and
an arm extending from the main body, the arm being configured to engage with the wing to enable the main body to rotate from a first position;
wherein the arm is configured to come into contact with the reverse inhibitor when the reverse shift rail disengages from the drive gear range to the neutral position.
2. The locking mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a spring operatively attached to the main body, the spring being configured to bias the main body to the first position.
3. The locking mechanism of claim 2 wherein the spring is positionable between the main body and the reverse shift rail.
4. The locking mechanism of claim 2 wherein the spring is a torsion spring.
5. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the reverse shift rail has a shift lug having an axial portion aligned substantially parallel to the reverse shift rail, and a transverse portion aligned substantially perpendicular to the reverse shift rail, and wherein the arm is positionable between the reverse inhibitor and the transverse portion of the shift lug in the neutral position.
6. The locking mechanism of claim 1 wherein the reverse inhibitor has a tabbed extension, the arm being configured to engage with the tabbed extension to selectively inhibit axial movement of the reverse shift rail in the second direction.
7. A transmission comprising:
a reverse shift rail configured to move axially in a first direction from a neutral position to activate a drive gear range, and in a second direction from the neutral position to activate a reverse gear range;
a main shift rail aligned substantially parallel to the reverse shift rail and being configured to move in an axial direction and to rotate around an axis, the main shift rail having a rail selector with a laterally extending wing configured to selectively engage with the reverse shift rail to enable the axial movement of the reverse shift rail;
a reverse inhibitor configured to selectively dampen the reverse shift rail from moving in the second direction; and
a locking mechanism having:
a main body disposed around and operatively rotatable around at least a portion of the reverse shift rail; and
an arm extending from the main body, the arm being configured to engage with the wing to enable the main body to rotate from an original position;

wherein the arm is configured to come into contact with the reverse inhibitor when the reverse shift rail disengages from the drive gear range to the neutral position.
8. The transmission of claim 7 wherein the drive gear range is fifth gear.
9. The transmission of claim 7 further comprising a spring operatively attached to the main body, the spring being configured to bias the main body to the first position.
10. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the spring is positioned between the main body and the reverse shift rail.
11. The transmission of claim 8 wherein the spring is a torsional spring.
12. The transmission of claim 7 wherein the reverse shift rail has a shift lug having an axial portion aligned substantially parallel to the reverse shift rail, and a transverse portion aligned substantially perpendicular to the reverse shift rail, the axial portion being configured to receive the laterally extending wing of the rail selector.
13. The transmission of claim 12 wherein the arm is positioned between the reverse inhibitor and the transverse portion of the shift lug in the neutral position.
14. The transmission of claim 12 further comprising an inhibitor shaft aligned substantially parallel with the reverse shift rail and positioned within the transverse portion of the shift lug, the reverse inhibitor being disposed around and rotatable around the inhibitor shaft.
15. The transmission of claim 7 wherein the reverse inhibitor has a tabbed extension configured to engage with the arm of the locking mechanism to selectively inhibit axial movement of the reverse shift rail in the second direction.

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 programmable apparatus for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions, the apparatus comprising:
a. a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions, the items including, for each function:
i. at least one procedure for performing a plurality of actions associated with the control function;
ii. a specification of at least one state associated with each procedure;

b. means facilitating selection of a procedure in the database;
c. means responsive to the selection for accessing the database and causing performance of the selected procedure to achieve the states specified therein; and
d. means for monitoring at least one resource associated with the actions of the procedure and, based thereon, determining whether the specified states have been achieved.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the performance means is responsive to executable instructions causing it to respond, in causing performance of the action, to the state determined by the monitoring means.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the items further include a list of resources associated with the action, the performance means being configured to establish control connections to the listed action resources to perform the action.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the items further include a list of resources associated with the state, the monitoring means being configured to establish monitoring connections to the listed state resources to determine the state.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 comprising:
a. an inputoutput module for connection to at least one inputoutput point on a controlled machine; and
b. a computer memory comprising a plurality of registers and flags for containing data associated associated with the action, the state resources including the at least one inputoutput point and the registers and flags.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means facilitating selection and the means responsive to the selection comprise:
a. compiler;
b. a series of high-level instructions including instructions invoking the at least one procedure; and
c. a database manager, responsive to procedure-invoking instructions, for locating the at least one procedure;
the compiler compiling the high-level instructions and the procedure into a machine-executable run-time program.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising memory means for storing the run-time program.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the run-time program accesses, during execution, at least one state item by means of the database manager.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the items further include a template specifying at least one performance characteristic, the monitoring means evaluating the resource against the at least one performance characteristic during performance of the action, the run-time program accessing, during execution, at least one performance-characteristic item by means of the database manager.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a programming interface for accepting the high-level instructions and the items, the programming interface communicating with the database manager so as to cause storage of the items in the database.
11. A programmable apparatus for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions the apparatus comprising:
a. a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions, the items including, for each function:
i. at least one procedure for performing an action associated with the control function;
ii. a specification of at least one state associated with the control function; and
iii. a template specifying at least one performance characteristic, the monitoring means evaluating the resource against the at least one performance characteristic during performance of the action;

b. means facilitating selection of an action in the database;
c. means responsive to the selection for accessing the database and causing performance of the selected action; and
d. means for monitoring a resource associated with the action and, based thereon, determining the state specified in the database.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
a. the performance characteristic comprises a plurality of parameter limit value ranges; and
b. the template specifies a limit procedure associated with at one of the limit value ranges, the performance means causing performance of the limit procedure if the parameter value falls within the limit value range.
13. An apparatus having a programmable processor and a memory for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions, the apparatus comprising:
a. a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions, the items including, for each function:
i. at least one procedure for performing an action associated with the control function;
ii. a specification of at least one state associated with the control function;

b. a first software routine stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor for facilitating selection of a procedure in the database;
c. a second software routine stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor that responds to the selection for accessing the database and causing performance of the selected procedure to achieve the state specified therein; and
d. a third software routine stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor for monitoring at least one resource associated with the action of the procedure and, based thereon, determining whether the specified state has been achieved.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the items further include historical parameter values associated with completions of the action or performances of the limit procedure.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the monitoring means is configured to dynamically update the historical parameter values upon completion of an action or performance of the limit procedure.