Author: claimsbot

1. A system platform comprising:
a GNSS receiver, wherein the GNSS receiver device includes internal on-chip memory;
a memory external to the GNSS receiver, wherein the memory is on a separate chip from the GNSS receiver; and
a data transfer module for transferring data between the internal memory of the GNSS receiver and the external memory.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer module comprises a DMA controller associated with correlators of the GNSS receiver and the DMA controller is configured to transfer correlation values from the correlators to the external memory.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer module comprises a DMA controller associated with a match filter of the GNSS receiver and the DMA controller is configured to transfer the correlation values from the match filer to the external memory.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared memory stores PN sequences for different satellites, the data transfer module comprises a DMA controller associated with a PN code generator of the GNSS receiver, and the DMA controller is configured to transfer a PN sequence from the external memory to the PN code generator of the GNSS receiver.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer module comprises a DMA controller associated with a digital signal processor (DSP) of the GNSS receiver, and the DMA controller is configured to transfer data and programs between an internal memory of the DSP and the external memory.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer module comprises a DMA controller associated with an FFT engine of the GNSS receiver, and the DMA controller is configured to transfer input data to the FFT engine from the external memory and transfer output results from the FFT engine to the external memory.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein memory space of the external memory used by the GNSS receiver depends on a signal strength of a received signal.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein memory space of the external memory used by the GNSS receiver depends on a required Time to First Fix.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein memory space of the external memory used by the GNSS receiver depends on the dynamics of the GNSS receiver.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein memory space of the external memory used by the GNSS receiver depends on a number of consecutive 30-second data frames needed to be downloaded to decode navigation data bits.
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one device, wherein the memory external to the GNSS receiver is also external to and on a separate chip from the at least one device; and
a data transfer module for transferring data between the at least one device and the external memory.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one device comprises an audio player, a video player, an Internet device, or other wireless communication or multimedia device.
13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a scheduler for dynamically assigning memory space in the external memory to the GNSS receiver and the at least one device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the scheduler assigns more memory space in the external memory to the GNSS receiver when a weak signal condition is detected.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the scheduler assigns more memory space in the external memory to the GNSS receiver when a high dynamic condition is detected.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the GNSS receiver and at least one device can share the external memory with different portions.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer module comprises a DMA controller configured to transfer signal samples from an RF section of the GNSS receiver to the external memory when a baseband section of the GNSS receiver is bypassed.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for severing and retaining a polyp in a patient comprising:
A) a catheter means extending between a distal end tip and a proximal end, for positioning proximate a polyp;
B) a self-expansible severing and capturing means for retrieving a polyp, said means being extensible from said distal end of said catheter in an expanded form and retractable into said distal end in a compacted form; and
C) control means at the proximal end of said catheter for selectively extending and retracting said severing and capturing means relative to said distal end of said catheter means.
2. Apparatus for severing and grasping a polyp as recited in claim 1 wherein said severing and capturing means includes a continuous wire lying in said expanded condition in a substantially open form in a first plane to receive a polyp therethrough and a collar portion disposed distally from said first portion and lying in a second plane such that retraction of said continuous wire urges the closing of said open area to sever a polyp extending therethrough and to urge such severed polyp into said collar portion.
3. Apparatus for severing and grasping a polyp as recited in claim 2 wherein said collar portion is elongated to receive therein and retain a plurality of polyps severed by sequentially positioning said continuous wire in the open form area portion over ones of the polyps and retracting said continuous wire.
4. Apparatus for severing and grasping a polyp as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means includes an axially stiff, radially flexible cable extending through said catheter means and said severing and capturing means includes a continuous wire supported at a distal end of said cable, said wire defines in an open form a first plane and a plurality of legs, distally extending and generally lying outside the first plane.
5. Apparatus for severing and grasping a polyp as recited in claim 3 wherein said legs connect to the distal end of said cable.
6. Apparatus for severing and grasping a polyp as recited in claim 1 wherein said control device includes a manually actuated slider at a proximal end of said catheter means and an axially stiff, radially flexible cable extending through said catheter means connecting said slider and said severing and capturing means such that displacement of said slider urges like displacement of said severing and capturing means.
7. Apparatus for grasping and severing a polyp as recited in claim 1 wherein said severing and grasping device comprises a self-expanding continuous wire connected to a distal end of a proximally extending cable disposed in a first lumen in said catheter means and a plurality of spaced legs connected to a distal end of a second proximally extending cable disposed in a second lumen of said catheter means.
8. Apparatus for grasping and severing a polyp as recited in claim 1 wherein said severing and grasping device comprises a self-expanding continuous wire connected at a distal end of a proximally extending cable disposed in a first lumen in said catheter means and a combination needle forceps apparatus supported at a distal end of a second proximally extending cable disposed in a second lumen of said catheter means.
9. Apparatus for grasping and severing a polyp as recited in claim 1 wherein said severing and grasping device comprises a self-expanding continuous wire connected at a distal end of a proximally extending cable disposed in a first lumen in said catheter means and a needle supported at a distal end of a second proximally extending cable disposed in a second lumen of said catheter means.
10. Apparatus for grasping and severing a polyp as recited in claim 9 wherein said needle includes a surface feature on an outer surface of a distal portion thereof for retaining a portion of a polyp into which said distal portion of said needle is inserted.
11. A surgical instrument for severing a polyp in a patient and capturing the severed portion of such polyp, said instrument comprising:
A) an elongated tubular member extending proximally from a distal end;
B) means carried by said tubular member for encompassing a selected polyp proximate the base of the polyp and for severing the polyp thereat; and
C) means carried by said tubular member independent of said encompassing and severing means and selectively extensible relative to said distal end of said tubular member for holding the polyp proximate a free end and spaced from the base thereof such that upon severing the polyp by said encompassing and severing means said holding means retains the severed portion of said polyp.
12. An instrument as recited in claim 11 wherein said encompassing and severing means includes a snare and a proximally extending cable such that retraction of said snare into said distal end tends to sever a polyp encompassed by said snare.
13. An instrument as recited in claim 12 wherein said holding means includes a plurality of generally axially extending spaced legs with inwardly extending radial projections, said legs normally being positioned in said tubular member in a compact condition and upon extension therefrom assuming an expanded condition such that relative retraction of said legs into said distal end of said tubular member urges said projection proximate one another so as to grip a polyp disposed therebetween.
14. An instrument as recited in claim 13 wherein said holding means further includes an injection means associated therewith for enabling the selective swelling of polyps into which said injecting means is inserted.
15. An instrument as recited in claim 12 wherein said holding means includes injection means supported at a distal end thereof for selective insertion into a polyp and selective injection of such polyp with a solution for swelling such polyp.
16. An instrument as recited in claim 15 wherein said injection means comprises a needle.
17. An instrument as recited in claim 16 wherein said needle includes a surface feature on a distal end thereof for retaining a portion of a polyp into which said distal portion of said needle is inserted.
18. Apparatus for grasping and severing a polyp as recited in claim 16 wherein said holding means further includes a plurality of distally extending legs selectively spaced so as to enable gripping of a desired portion of a polyp.
19. Apparatus for grasping and severing a polyp as recited in claim 11 wherein said holding means and said severing means are supported at a distal end of a first and a second axially stiff, radially flexible cable.
20. In a surgical instrument for severing and capturing a polyp having an elongated tubular member proximally extending from a distal end, a snare plane supported by said tubular member for extension in an enlarged condition from and retraction in a compact condition into said distal end in a first plane, and control means for selectively extending said snare relative to said distal end so as to enable positioning said snare to encompass a polyp and for selectively retracting said snare relative to said distal end so as to sever such polyp, the improvement comprising a capturing device connected to said control means such that said capturing device is extended with said snare in substantially a second plane and upon retraction of the snare by said control means said capturing device grasps the polyp outside the first plane so that upon severing of the polyp by said snare said capturing device retains the severed portion of the polyp.
21. An instrument as recited in claim 20 wherein said control means includes a cable supporting said snare at a distal end thereof.
22. An instrument as recited in claim 21 wherein said capturing device includes a plurality of spaced legs extending distally from opposed portions of said snare intermediate a distal end of said snare and said distal end of said cable.
23. An instrument as recited in claim 22 further comprising a clip portion joining the distal ends of said spaced legs such that said legs are adapted for receiving and holding therebetween a portion of a polyp.
24. An instrument as recited in claim 21 wherein upon extension said snare defines a first plane and a portion of said capturing device defines a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane.
25. An instrument as recited in claim 21 wherein said capturing device includes a plurality of spaced legs extending from said distal end of said cable, each of said legs having inwardly directed fingers proximate distal ends of said legs.
26. An instrument as recited in claim 21 further comprising a handle supporting the proximal end of said tubular member wherein said control means includes an actuator slidably disposed in said handle for enabling displacement along the axis of said tubular member to selectively extend and retract said snare relative to said distal end of said tubular member.
27. An instrument as recited in claim 21 wherein said capturing device comprises a closed distal end clip structure with proximally extending spaced legs secured to said snare intermediate a distal end of said snare and said cable.
28. An instrument as recited in claim 27 wherein each of said legs comprising a first generally planar extending portion proximate said closed distal end of said clip structure and a second generally vertically extending portion remote from said closed distal end of said clip structure such that said first generally planar extending portion of said clip structure define the second plane that is generally parallel to said first plane.
29. A method for managing polyps in a patient comprising the steps of:
A) inserting a catheter within the patient with a distal end disposed proximate a selected polyp;
B) extending in a first plane a self-expansive severing device from the catheter and positioning the severing device so as to encompass the selected polyp proximate the polyp’s base;
C) extending a holding device in a second plane from the distal end of the catheter;
D) positioning and manipulating the holding device so as to engage the polyp proximate a free end thereof; and
E) retracting the severing device into the catheter to sever the selected polyp proximate the polyp’s base such that the holding device retains a severed portion including the free end of the selected polyp.
30. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein said steps of extending include extending a tubular member to pierce the polyp such that the severed portion is retained by the tubular member.
31. A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising repeating said steps of extendings, positioning and manipulating, and retracting to thereby collect a plurality of severed polyp portions.
32. A method as recited in claim 31 further comprising the step of removing the catheter after collection of a plurality of severed polyp portions wherein said repeating of said steps of extending, positioning and manipulating, and retracting causes the severed polyps portions to be retained by the holding device in an order corresponding to the order of severing.
33. The method as recited in claim 29 wherein said step of positioning and manipulating the holding device comprises orienting the catheter so that upon said step of extending including extending a needle from the distal end of the catheter to pierce the selected polyp.
34. A method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of injecting fluid through the needle into the pierced polyp to enlarge the polyp prior to said step of retracting the severing device.
35. A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising the step of swelling the selected polyp to promote the ease of positioning of the severing device to encompass the selected polyp proximate its base and to promote the ease of manipulating the holding device to engage the selected polyp.
36. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein said step of retracting the severing device also retracts the holding device such that the engagement of the holding device with the portion of the selected polyp is promoted thereby.
37. A method as recited in claim 29 further comprising removing said tubular member from the lumen of the patient after said retracting step to remove the retained, severed portion of the selected polyp from the body of the patient and selectively repeating said steps B) through E) to retain a plurality of severed portions of a plurality of severed polyps prior to said step or removing.
38. A method for managing polyps in a patient comprising the steps of:
A) inserting a catheter within the patient with a distal end disposed proximate a selected polyp;
B) extending a severing and holding device with a holding portion of the swing and holding device in a plane offset from the severing device;
C) orienting the severing and holding device with a severing portion of the severing and holding device encompassing the polyp and the holding portion engaging the polyp proximate a free end thereof; and
D) retracting the severing portion to sever the polyp with the holding portion retaining a severed portion including the free end of the selected polyp.
39. A method as recited in claim 38 further comprising:
E) removing the catheter from the patient to retrieving the retained polyp.
40. A method as recited in claim 39 wherein said steps of B) through D) are repeated so as to retain a plurality of polyp prior to step E).
41. A method as recited in claim 40 wherein said step of retracting retains polyps in an ordering corresponding to the order in which each polyp is retained thereby upon repetition of said steps B) through D).

1. A sheet processing device comprising:
a stacking unit configured to stack thereon one or more conveyed sheets;
a staple unit configured to staple a bundle of sheets stacked on the stacking unit;
a moving unit configured to move the staple unit to a staple position; and
a projecting and retrieving unit configured to project and retrieve the stacking unit in a space overlapped with a motion space for the staple unit to move therein, wherein:
the stacking unit includes a fixed tray and a movable tray,
the projecting and retrieving unit projects and retrieves the movable tray along the fixed tray,
the projecting and retrieving unit retrieves the movable tray from the motion space, in order to move the staple unit by the moving unit, and
the moving unit as well as the projecting and retrieving unit are driven by the same drive source.
2. The sheet processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first alignment unit configured to align the delivered sheets in a sheet conveying direction by abutting with an end of sheets stacked on the stacking unit; and
an abut member configured to move the delivered sheets to abut with the first alignment unit, wherein
the abut member abuts with the sheet on a surface of the fixed tray to move the same.
3. The sheet processing device according to claim 2, further comprising
a second alignment unit including a movable portion configured to move toward a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction in order to align the sheets, wherein
the position which corresponds to the first staple position is set on the basis of a fixed portion of the second alignment unit.
4. The sheet processing device according to claim 1, wherein a level of stacked sheets on the movable tray is the same as that of the fixed tray.
5. The sheet processing device according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit disposes the staple unit at a position which corresponds to a first staple position located outside of the motion space, while the sheet is stacked on the stacking unit.
6. An image forming system comprising:
a sheet processing device; and
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, wherein the sheet processing device includes:
a stacking unit configured to stack thereon one or more conveyed sheets;
a staple unit configured to staple a bundle of sheets stacked on the stacking unit;
a moving unit configured to move the staple unit to a staple position; and
a projecting and retrieving unit configured to project and retrieve the stacking unit in a space overlapped with a motion space for the staple unit to move therein, wherein:
the stacking unit includes a fixed tray and a movable tray,
the projecting and retrieving unit projects and retrieves the movable tray along the fixed tray,
the projecting and retrieving unit retrieves the movable tray from the motion space, in order to move the staple unit by the moving unit, and the moving unit as well as the projecting and retrieving unit are driven by the same drive source.
7. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the sheet processing device is arranged in a space of the image forming apparatus.
8. The image forming system according to claim 6, further comprising:
a first alignment unit configured to align the delivered sheets in a sheet conveying direction by abutting with an end of sheets stacked on the stacking unit; and
an abut member configured to move the delivered sheets to abut with the first alignment unit, wherein
the abut member abuts with the sheet on a surface of the fixed tray to move the same.
9. The image forming system according to claim 8, further comprising
a second alignment unit including a movable portion configured to move toward a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction in order to align the sheets,
wherein the position which corresponds to the first staple position is set on the basis of a fixed portion of the second alignment unit.
10. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein a level of stacked sheets on the movable tray is the same as that of the fixed tray.
11. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the moving unit disposes the staple unit at a position which corresponds to a first staple position located outside of the motion space, while the sheet is stacked on the stacking unit.
12. A sheet processing method capable of realizing one-position parallel stapling, one-position slanted stapling, and two-position stapling, implemented by a sheet processing device which includes: a stacking unit configured to stack thereon one or more conveyed sheets; a staple unit configured to staple a bundle of sheets stacked on the stacking unit; a moving unit configured to move the staple unit to a staple position; and a projecting and retrieving unit configured to project and retrieve the stacking unit in a space overlapped with a motion space for the staple unit to move therein, wherein the stacking unit includes a fixed tray and a movable tray, the projecting and retrieving unit projects and retrieves the movable tray along the fixed tray, the projecting and retrieving unit retrieves the movable tray from the motion space, in order to move the staple unit by the moving unit, and the moving unit as well as the projecting and retrieving unit are driven by the same drive source, the method comprising:
projecting maximally the stacking unit by the projecting and retrieving unit, and disposing the staple unit at a first staple position located outside of the motion space, when stacking the sheets on the stacking unit;
stapling the bundle of sheets at the first staple position, after projecting maximally the stacking unit and disposing the staple unit at the first staple position, if the one-position parallel stapling is to be performed;
rotating the staple unit by an angle corresponding to a staple angle for the slanted stapling, retrieving the stacking unit by the projecting and retrieving unit to a position where the stacking unit does not hinder a rotation of the staple unit, and stapling the bundle of sheets at a second staple position, after projecting maximally the stacking unit and disposing the staple unit at the first staple position, if the one-position slanted stapling is to be performed;
rotating the staple unit to a position where a staple needle of the staple unit becomes parallel to a rear end of the bundle of sheets, retrieving the staple unit maximally by the projecting and retrieving unit to a position where the stacking unit does not hinder the motion of the staple unit, and stapling the bundle of sheets at a third staple position and a fourth staple position, after projecting maximally the stacking unit and disposing the staple unit at the first staple position, if the two-position stapling is to be performed.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-10. (canceled)
11. A dishwasher comprising:
a washing container for receiving items to be washed by the dishwasher;
a circulatory pump for circulating a rinsing liquid into contact with items received in the washing container; and
a comminution device for comminuting rinsing residue, the comminution device and the circulatory pump being operatively interconnected in a manner such that the communition device is at least temporarily driven by the circulatory pump.
12. The dishwasher according to claim 11, and further comprising a safety-friction clutch, wherein a drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump is made by means of the safety-friction clutch.
13. The dishwasher according to claim 11, wherein the comminution device and the circulatory pump are operatively interconnected such that the drive of the comminution device is effected by means of an impeller of the circulatory pump.
14. The dishwasher according to to claim 11, wherein the comminution device and the circulatory pump are operatively interconnected such that a drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump is made by means of a connecting shaft that is a selected one of axial displaceable and non-axially displaceable.
15. The dishwasher according to claim 14, wherein the connecting shaft is selectively axially displaceable into engagement with the circulatory pump such that a drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump is made by means of an axial displacement of the connecting shaft into engagement with the circulatory pump and a drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump is broken as desired by means of an axial displacement of the connecting shaft out of engagement with the circulatory pump.
16. The dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein the connecting shaft between the comminution device and the circulatory pump is selectively couplable to the hub of the impeller of the circulatory pump.
17. The dishwasher according to according to claim 14, wherein the comminution device and the circulatory pump are operatively interconnected by means of a coupling regulator operable to selectively effect a drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump and to break a drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump, wherein the coupling regulator includes a selected one of a combination of a positive temperature coefficient and an actuating element consisting of a shape memory alloy and the absence of a combination of a positive temperature coefficient and an actuating element consisting of a shape memory alloy.
18. The dishwasher according to claim 17, wherein the coupling regulator includes an actuating elemnt and further comprising at least two radial projections provided at the connecting shaft between the comminution device and the circulatory pump, the actuating element of the coupling regulator being located between the at least two radial projections for engaging the at least two radial projections to effect the axial displacement of the connecting shaft.
19. The dishwasher according to claim 14, wherein the drive coupling between the comminution device and the circulatory pump can be made or broken by an electromagnetic switch which effects the axial displacement of the connecting shaft between the comminution device and the circulatory pump by action of electromagnetic force.
20. The dishwasher according to claim 17, wherein the comminution device is disposed inside and the coupling regulator is disposed outside the washing container of the dishwasher.