Author: claimsbot

1. A drive apparatus of a vibration-type actuator comprising:
an alternate current signal generation unit configured to generate a first alternate current signal applied to a first electrode of an electric-mechanical energy conversion element of a vibrator and a second alternate current signal applied to a second electrode of the electric-mechanical energy conversion element; and
a control unit configured to set a voltage amplitude of the first alternate current signal and a voltage amplitude of the second alternate current signal such that when the vibrator is in a non-movement state, the voltage amplitudes are set to be greater than 0 and to be in a dead zone,
wherein the dead zone is a range of the voltage amplitudes of the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal applied to the electric-mechanical energy conversion element, within which no driving force on a driven element is generated.
2. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal such that a driven state of the vibrator and the non-movement state of the vibrator appear alternately.
3. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the alternate current signal generation unit includes a drive signal generation unit configured to generate pulse signals, and a voltage up-converter configured to generate the first alternate signal and the second alternate signal corresponding to the pulse signals.
4. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the voltage amplitudes of the first alternate signal and the second alternate signal by controlling pulse duty ratios of the pulse signals.
5. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the pulse duty ratio such that the pulse duty ratios of the pulse signals each are equal to an maximum value of the dead zone during a non-driven period of the vibration-type actuator.
6. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines an ellipticity ratio of an elliptic motion occurring on the vibrator and determines a phase difference of the first and second alternate signals based on the ellipticity.
7. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1, wherein the driven element is relatively moved by a combination of a first vibration mode that occurs on the vibrator when the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal are equal in phase and a second vibration mode that occurs on the vibrator when the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal are opposite in phase.
8. An interchangeable lens comprising:
a focus lens;
a vibration-type actuator configured to drive the focus lens; and
the driving apparatus configured to drive the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1.
9. An image pickup apparatus comprising:
a lens;
a vibration-type actuator configured to drive the lens;
the driving apparatus configured to drive the vibration-type actuator according to claim 1; and
an image sensor disposed on an optical axis of the lens.
10. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the non-movement state is one state of the vibrator in which the vibrator is when the lens is in focus.
11. A drive apparatus of a vibration-type actuator comprising:
an alternate current signal generation unit configured to generate a first alternate current signal applied to a first electrode of an electric-mechanical energy conversion element of a vibrator and a second alternate current signal applied to a second electrode of the electric-mechanical energy conversion element; and
a control unit configured to set a phase difference between the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal

such that when the vibrator is in a non-movement state, the phase difference is set to a value in a dead zone other than 0,
wherein the dead zone is a range of the phase difference between the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal applied to the electric-mechanical energy conversion element, within which no driving force on a driven element is generated.
12. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11, wherein
the control unit is configured to set the phase difference to a particular value that is not equal to 0 and that is within the dead zone, and
wherein the particular value is set within a range between 0 and a selected one of a minimum value and a maximum value of the dead zone such that the selected one of the minimum value and the maximum value is closer, than the other one is, to a phase difference that occurs when driving is performed after the non-movement state.
13. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to control the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal such that a driven state of the vibrator and the non-movement state of the vibrator appear alternately.
14. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11, wherein the alternate current signal generation unit includes
a drive signal generation unit configured to generate pulse signals, and
a voltage up-converter configured to generate the first alternate signal and the second alternate signal corresponding to the pulse signals.
15. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11, wherein the control unit sets the phase difference such that during a non-driving period in which the vibration-type actuator is not driven, the phase difference has a value equal to a minimum value or a maximum value of the dead zone depending on a moving direction.
16. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11, wherein the control unit determines an ellipticity ratio of an elliptic motion occurring on the vibrator and determines a phase difference of the first and second alternate signals based on the ellipticity.
17. The drive apparatus of the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11, wherein the driven element is relatively moved by a combination of a first vibration mode that occurs on the vibrator when the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal are equal in phase and a second vibration mode that occurs on the vibrator when the first alternate current signal and the second alternate current signal are opposite in phase.
18. An interchangeable lens, comprising:
a focus lens;
a vibration-type actuator configured to drive the focus lens; and
the driving apparatus configured to drive the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11.
19. An image pickup apparatus comprising:
a lens,
a vibration-type actuator configured to drive the lens;
the driving apparatus configured to drive the vibration-type actuator according to claim 11; and
an image sensor disposed on an optical axis of the lens.
20. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the non-movement state is one state of the vibrator in which the vibrator is when the lens is in focus.

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 is:

1. A lead insertion tool adapted for use with a lead introducer having an elastomeric hemostasis valve with a self-closing aperture, said tool comprising:
(a) a tubular sheath having a relatively thin wall at least one longitudinal groove formed inwardly thereof to facilitate rupture of the sheath along said groove and a lumen sized to receive a medical lead therethrough; and
(b) a tool dilator having a generally rigid shaft which when inserted through the lumen of the tubular sheath renders the sheath sufficiently rigid to allow insertion of the sheath and dilator through the self-closing aperture of the lead introducer.
2. The lead insertion tool as in claim 1 wherein the elastomeric hemostasis valve is contained in a plastic hub on a proximal end of said lead introducer and said plastic hub includes a side port located distal of the elastomeric hemostasis valve and the tubular sheath is of a length sufficient to pass through the self-closing aperture without blocking said side port.
3. The lead insertion tool as in claim 1 wherein said sheath includes a Luer fitting on a proximal end thereof.
4. The lead insertion tool as in claim 3 wherein the sheath includes a pair of wings extending generally perpendicularly from a longitudinal axis of the sheath to facilitate gripping and rupture of the sheath along said longitudinal groove and to serve as a stop preventing passage of the sheath fully beyond the hemostasis valve.
5. The lead insertion tool as in claim 3 wherein said tool dilator includes a Luer fitting for mating with the Luer fitting on the sheath.
6. The lead insertion tool as in any one of claims 1-5 wherein the shaft of the dilator is sized to substantially occlude the lumen of the tubular sheath.
7. The lead insertion tool as in claim 6 wherein the generally rigid shaft of the tool dilator includes a lumen adapted to receive a guidewire therethrough.
8. A lead insertion tool adapted for use with a lead introducer having an elastomeric hemostasis valve with a self-closing aperture formed therethrough, said tool comprising:
(a) a tubular sheath having a relatively thin wall with at least one longitudinally groove formed inwardly thereof to facilitate rupture of the sheath along said groove and a lumen sized to receive a lead body therethrough with a predetermined clearance fit, the tubular sheath being sufficiently rigid to be insertable through the self-closing aperture of the hemostasis valve.
9. The lead insertion tool of claim 8 wherein the elastomeric hemostasis valve is contained in a plastic hub on a proximal end of said lead introducer and said plastic hub includes a side port located distal of the elastomeric hemostasis valve and the tubular sheath is of a length sufficient to pass through the self-closing aperture without blocking said side port.
10. A method for facilitating insertion of a relatively limp medical lead through a self-closing aperture in an elastomeric hemostasis valve of a lead introducer comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a lead insertion tool having a tubular sheath with a wall defining a lumen, the wall having at least one longitudinal groove formed inwardly thereof to facilitate rupture of the sheath along said groove, said lumen sized to receive a lead body therethrough with a predetermined clearance fit, said tubular sheath being sufficiently rigid when surrounding a lead to allow insertion through the self-closing aperture of the hemostasis valve;
(b) inserting a distal end portion of a medical lead into the lumen of the tubular sheath;
(c) inserting the tubular sheath containing the distal end portion of the medical lead through the self-closing aperture of the elastomeric hemostasis valve;
(d) sliding the tubular sheath in a proximal direction along the lead body and out from the self-closing aperture leaving the lead body in place; and
(e) removing the tubular sheath by tearing same along the longitudinal wall.
11. A method for facilitating insertion of a relatively limp medical lead through a self-closing aperture in an elastomeric hemostasis valve of a lead introducer comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a lead insertion tool having a tubular sheath with a wall defining a lumen, the wall having at least one longitudinal groove formed inwardly thereof to facilitate rupture of the sheath along said groove, said lumen sized to receive a lead body therethrough with a predetermined clearance fit, said tubular sheath being sufficiently rigid when surrounding a lead to allow insertion through the self-closing aperture of the hemostasis valve;
(b) providing a tool dilator having a generally rigid shaft of a predetermined length and diameter;
(c) inserting the tool dilator into the lumen of the tubular sheath;
(d) passing the tubular sheath with the tool dilator through the self-closing aperture of the hemostasis valve;
(e) removing the tool dilator from the lead insertion tool; and
(f) inserting a distal end of the medical lead through the lumen of the lead insertion tool.
12. The method of claim 11 and further including the steps of:
(a) withdrawing the lead insertion tool from the self-closing aperture; and
(b) splitting the lead insertion tool along the longitudinal groove to remove the lead insertion tool from surrounding relation with respect to the medical lead.

1. A method, comprising:
defining at least two transmit queues for a priority level group;
receiving at least two transmit requests substantially simultaneously, the at least two transmit requests corresponding to at least one packet, the at least one packet having a priority designation corresponding to the priority level group;
processing the at least two transmit requests in parallel to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a first one of the at least two transmit requests in a first available one of the at least two transmit queues, and to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a second one of the at least two transmit requests in a next available one of the at least two transmit queues; and
indicating a queue location corresponding to a next packet to be transmitted by setting an indicator associated with the at least one packet to identify one of the at least two transmit queues, the identified one of the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the next packet to be transmitted.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority level group corresponds to at least one communication protocol priority level.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the priority level group comprises a single priority level.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority level group comprises at least two priority levels.
5. A method, comprising:
defining at least two transmit queues to correspond to at least one priority level;
receiving at least two transmit requests at a send packet function of a device driver substantially simultaneously, each of the at least two transmit requests corresponding to at least one packet;
assigning the at least one packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests to a queue group in response to a priority designation, the queue group including the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the at least one priority level;
queuing the at least one packet corresponding to a first one of the at least two transmit requests in a first available one of the at least two transmit queues; and
queuing the at least one packet corresponding to a second one of the at least two transmit requests in a next available one of the at least two transmit queues;
wherein assigning the at least one packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests to a queue group comprises correlating the priority designation with at least one priority level associated uniquely with the queue group.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the priority designation corresponds to a communication protocol priority level.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising indicating a queue location corresponding to a next packet to be transmitted.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein indicating a queue location includes setting an indicator associated with the at least one packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests to identify one of the at least two transmit queues, the identified one of the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the next packet to be transmitted.
9. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a processing system-accessible medium including data that, if accessed by a processing system, cause the processing system to,
define at least two transmit queues for a priority level group;
receive at least two transmit requests substantially simultaneously, the at least two transmit requests corresponding to at least one packet, respectively, the at least one packet having a priority designation corresponding to the priority level group;
process the at least two transmit requests in parallel to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a first one of the at least two transmit requests in a first available one of the at least two transmit queues, and to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a second one of the at least two transmit requests in a next available one of the at least two transmit queues; and
indicate a queue location that includes data that, if accessed by the processing system, cause the processing system to set an indicator associated with the at least one packet to identify one of the at least two transmit queues, the identified one of the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the next packet to be transmitted.
10. The article of manufacture of claim 9, further including data that, if accessed by the processing system, cause the processing system to indicate a queue location corresponding to a next packet to be transmitted.
11. The article of manufacture of claim 9, wherein the priority level group corresponds to at least one communication protocol priority level.
12. The article of manufacture of claim 9, wherein the priority level group comprises a single priority level.
13. The article of manufacture of claim 9, wherein the priority level group comprises at least two priority levels.
14. A article of manufacture, comprising:
a processing system-accessible medium including data that, if accessed by a processing system, cause the processing system to,
define at least two transmit queues to correspond to at least one priority level;
receive at least two transmit requests at a send packet function of a device driver substantially simultaneously, each of the at least two transmit requests corresponding to at least one packet, respectively;
assign the at least one packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests to a queue group in response to a priority designation, the queue group including the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the at least one priority level;
queue the at least one packet corresponding to a first one of the at least two transmit requests in a first available one of the at least two transmit queues;
queue the at least one packet corresponding to a second one of the at least two transmit requests in a next available one of the at least two transmit queues; and
assign the at least one packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests to a queue group comprises data that, if accessed by the machine, cause the machine to correlate the priority designation with at least one priority level associated uniquely with the queue group.
15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the priority designation corresponds to a communication protocol priority level.
16. The article of manufacture of claim 14, further including data that, if accessed by the processing system, cause the processing system to indicate a queue location corresponding to a next packet to be transmitted.
17. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the data that, if accessed by the processing system, cause the processing system to indicate a queue location that includes data that, if accessed by the processing system, cause the processing system to set an indicator associated with the at least one packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests to identify one of the at least two transmit queues, the identified one of the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the next packet to be transmitted.
18. A system, comprising:
a plurality of processors to receive at least two transmit requests substantially simultaneously, each of the at least two transmit requests corresponding to at least one packet having a priority designation corresponding to a priority level group;
a communications interface, communicatively coupled to the plurality of processors, to transmit packets on a network; and
a memory, communicatively coupled to the plurality of processors, to store data and to provide at least two transmit queues accessible to the communications interface, the at least two transmit queues defined to correspond to the priority level group, and
in response to receipt of the at least two transmit requests substantially simultaneously at the plurality of processors, the plurality of processors process the at least two transmit requests in parallel to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a first one of the at least two transmit requests in a first available one of the at least two transmit queues and to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a second one of the at least two transmit requests in a next available one of the at least two transmit queues;
wherein the plurality of processors indicate the queue location by setting an indicator associated with the at least one packet to identify one of the at least two transmit queues, the identified one of the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the next packet to be transmitted via the communications interface.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the priority level group corresponds to at least one communication protocol priority level.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of processors indicate a queue location, corresponding to a next packet to be transmitted via the communications interface, in conjunction with each packet corresponding to each of the at least two transmit requests.
21. A system, comprising:
a processor to receive at least two transmit requests substantially simultaneously, each of the at least two transmit requests corresponding to at least one packet having a priority designation corresponding to a priority level group;
a communications interface, communicatively coupled to the processor, to transmit packets on a network; and
a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor, to store data and to provide at least two transmit queues accessible to the communications interface, the at least two transmit queues defined to correspond to the priority level group, and
in response to receipt of the at least two transmit requests substantially simultaneously at the processor, the processor processes the at least two transmit requests in parallel via a plurality of process threads to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a first one of the at least two transmit requests in a first available one of the at least two transmit queues and to queue the at least one packet corresponding to a second one of the at least two transmit requests in a next available one of the at least two transmit queues;
wherein the processor indicates the queue location by setting an indicator associated with the at least one packet to identify one of the at least two transmit queues, the identified one of the at least two transmit queues corresponding to the next packet to be transmitted via the communications interface.

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 is:

1. A method of securely accessing information over a network, comprising:
storing information in a secure storage area in a remote network node;
transmitting an application link in a web page; and
receiving an initiation of said application link to access to said secure storage area.
2. The method of securely accessing information over a network according to claim 1, further comprising:
invoking an application on said remote network node in response to said initiation of said application link, wherein said application is configured to determine access to said secure storage area.
3. The method of securely accessing information over a network according to claim 2, further comprising:
accessing a user configuration database to determine access to said secure storage area.
4. The method of securely accessing information over a network according to claim 3, further comprising:
transmitting said information over said network to a requestor in response to said user configuration database permitting access to said secure storage area.
5. The method of securely accessing information over a network according to claim 4, wherein said information is transmitted according to a hypertext transfer protocol.
6. The method of securely accessing information over a network according to claim 4, wherein said application link includes a common gateway interface program link.
7. The method of securely accessing information over a network according to claim 4, wherein said user configuration database is constructed using a extensible mark-up language.
8. A system for securely accessing information over a network, said system comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to said at least one processor;
a management information portal residing in said memory and executed by said at least one processor, wherein said management information portal is configured to store information in a secure storage area in a remote network node, transmit an application link in a web page, and receive an initiation of said application link to access to said secure storage area.
9. The system for securely accessing information over a network according to claim 8, wherein said management information portal is configured to determine access to said secure storage area in response to an invocation of an application on said remote network node.
10. The system for securely accessing information over a network according to claim 8, wherein said management information portal is further configured to access a user configuration database to determine access to said secure storage area.
11. The system for securely accessing information over a network according to claim 10, wherein said management information portal is further configured to transmit said information over said network to a requestor in response to said user configuration database permits access to said secure storage area.
12. The system for securely accessing information over a network according to claim 11, wherein said information is transmitted according to a hypertext transfer protocol.
13. The system for securely accessing information over a network according to claim 11, wherein said application link includes a common gateway interface program.
14. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for securely accessing information over a network, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:
storing information in a secure storage area in a remote network node;
transmitting an application link in a web page; and
receiving an initiation of said application link to access to said secure storage area.
15. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 14, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:
invoking an application on said remote network node in response to said initiation of said application link, wherein said application is configured to determine access to said secure storage area.
16. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:
accessing a user configuration database to determine access to said secure storage area.
17. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 16, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:
transmitting said information over said network to a requester in response to said user configuration database permits access to said secure storage area.
18. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 17, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions, wherein said information is transmitted according to a hypertext transfer protocol.
19. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 17, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions, wherein said application link includes a common gateway interface program link