Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus for alternative pouring of ingots, the apparatus comprising:
a main hearth defining a melting cavity therein with a first and a second opposed overflows;
a first and a second molds aligned respectively with the first and second overflow to be in fluid communication therewith;
at least one torch overhead of the main hearth for selective heating of the contents of the main hearth; and
at least one supplemental torch overhead of each of the molds for selectively heating of the contents of molds.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main hearth tilts to pour contents selectively through one of the opposed overflows.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a trunnion on which the main hearth is mounted to provide for tilting of the main hearth.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first and a second refining hearth, each refining hearth positioned between the main hearth and one of the first and second molds.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each refining hearth includes a refining overflow whereby the main hearth selectively pours through the first and second overflows into the first and second refining hearths, respectively, and the first refining hearth selectively pours through the overflow therein into the first mold and the second refining hearth selectively pours through the overflow therein into the second mold.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the refining hearths each tilt to pour contents selectively through its overflow.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the main hearth selectively pours through the first and second overflows into the first and second molds.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the molds are one of casting molds shaped to create an ingot, and direct molds shaped in the configuration of a desired end product.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the molds are one of casting molds shaped to create an ingot, and direct molds shaped in the configuration of a desired end product.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 furtherr comprising a lift system on which the molds set, the lift system in communication with a melting environment in which the main hearth, molds, and torches reside.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lift system includes a lift cylinder on which the mold sets, and an ingot removal chamber with a flap therein selectively closing the communication between the melting environment and the ingot removal chamber whereby the ingots as they are made are moved into the ingot removal chamber.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing defining a melting environment in which the main hearth, molds, and torches reside, and wherein the housing further includes a vibratory feed chute selectively extendable into communication with the main hearth while selectively retractable out of communication with the main hearth whereby the feed chute further includes a hopper aligned with a rotary feeder.
13. A method for alternating molten material pouring comprising:
melting of the contents within a main hearth with a first and a second opposed overflows to define a molten material;
pouring of molten material from the main hearth into a first mold adjacent a first end of the main hearth to define aafirst molded body; and
pouring of molten material from the main hearth into a second mold adjacent a second end of the main hearth to define a second molded body.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the melting of the contents within the main hearth includes igniting at least one of a plasma torch and a direct arc electrode.
15. The method of claim 14 whereinthe pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the first mold and the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the second mold occur sequentially.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the main hearth is tilted a first direction to cause the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the first mold and tilted a second direction to cause the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the second mold.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of a plasma torch and direct arc electrode is ignited over the first mold to cause the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the first mold and at least one of a plasma torch and direct arc electrode is ignited over the second mold to cause the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the second mold.
18. A method for alternating ingot pouring comprising:
melting of the contents within a main hearth with a first and a second opposed overflows to define a molten material;
pouring of molten material from the main hearth into a first refining hearth adjacent a first end of the main hearth;
pouring of molten material from the first refining hearth into a first mold adjacent an end of the refining hearth to define a first molded body;
pouring of molten material from the main hearth into a second refining hearth adjacent a second end of the main hearth; and pouring of molten material from the-second refining hearth into a second mold adjacent an end of the second refining hearth to define a second molded body.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the first refining hearth, the pouring of molten material from the first refining hearth into the first mold, the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the second refining hearth, and the pouring of the molten material from the second refining hearth into the second mold are all performed sequentially.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the main hearth is tilted a first direction to cause the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the first refining hearth and tilted a second direction to cause the pouring of molten material from the main hearth into the second refining hearth.

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 video information recording method for recording on a medium video data comprising a plurality of video units which each include an intra coded I-picture, a predictive coded P-picture including a group of blocks predicted from one picture and a bidirectionally-predictive coded B-picture including a group of blocks predicted from two pictures, said method comprising steps of:
coding an access point P-picture by motion compensation prediction using an I-picture located at the beginning of a video unit or a selected preceding P-picture;
coding said P-picture or said B-picture by motion compensation prediction using a closest access point P-picture preceding said P-picture or said B-picture as a reference picture, wherein said P-picture or said B-picture is coded without referring to any picture located before said closest access point P-picture;
creating an entry point map used for accessing access point P-pictures, said entry point map including a list of data for identifying a location of said video information units designated as access units on said medium; and
recording on said medium said video data comprising said video units and said entry point map.
2. A video information recording method according to claim 1, wherein said entry point map includes a start address of said video information units designated as access units.
3. A video information recording apparatus for recording on a medium video data comprising a plurality of video units which each include an intra coded I-picture, a predictive coded P-picture including a group of blocks predicted from one picture and a bidirectionally-predictive coded B-picture including a group of blocks predicted from two pictures, said apparatus comprising:
a first coding unit for coding an access point P-picture by motion compensation prediction using an I-picture located at the beginning of a video unit or a selected preceding P-picture;
a second coding unit for coding said P-picture or said B-picture by motion compensation prediction using a closest access point P-picture preceding said P-picture or said B-picture as a reference picture, wherein said P-picture or said B-picture is coded without referring to any picture located before said closest access point P-picture;
a map creating unit for creating an entry point map used for accessing access point P-pictures, said entry point map including a list of data for identifying a location of said video information units designated as access units on said medium; and
a recording unit for recording on said medium said video data comprising said video units and said entry point map.
4. A video information recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said entry point map includes a start address of said video information units designated as access units.
5. A video information encoding method for producing coded data comprising a plurality of video units which each include an intra coded I-picture, a predictive coded P-picture including a group of blocks predicted from one picture and a bidirectionally-predictive coded B-picture including a group of blocks predicted from two pictures, said method comprising steps of:
coding an access point P-picture by motion compensation prediction using an I-picture located at the beginning of a video unit or a selected preceding P-picture;
coding said P-picture or said B-picture by motion compensation prediction using a closest access point P-picture preceding said P-picture or said B-picture as a reference picture, wherein said P-picture or said B-picture is coded without referring to any picture located before said closest access point P-picture; and
creating an entry point map used for accessing access point P-pictures, said entry point map including a list of data for identifying a location of said video information units designated as access units.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said entry point map includes a start address of said video information units designated as access units.
7. An encoder for producing coded data comprising a plurality of video units which each include an intra coded I-picture, a predictive coded P-picture including a group of blocks predicted from one picture and a bidirectionally-predictive coded B-picture including a group of blocks predicted from two pictures, said encoder comprising:
a first coding unit for coding an access point P-picture by motion compensation prediction using an I-picture located at the beginning of a video unit or a selected preceding P-picture;
a second coding unit for coding said P-picture or said B-picture by motion compensation prediction using a closest access point P-picture preceding said P-picture or said B-picture as a reference picture, wherein said P-picture or said B-picture is coded without referring to any picture located before said closest access point P picture; and
a map creating unit for creating an entry point map used for accessing access point P-pictures, said entry point map including a list of data for identifying a location of said video information units designated as access units.
8. An encoder according to claim 7, wherein said entry point map includes a start address of said video information units designated as access units.

1. A method for processing data in a programmed manner, comprising:
coupling a standard processor and a reconfigurable coprocessor, the coupling forming a processor-coprocessor arrangement;
executing, by the standard processor, at least one of a program and a task of the program;
during the executing of the at least one of the program and the task of the program, the standard processor providing to the reconfigurable coprocessor configuration related information in accordance with which the reconfigurable coprocessor reads the configuration from a configuration memory and configures the read configuration onto the reconfigurable processor;
writing the configuration related information into a link list, wherein:
the configuration is determined based on the link list; and
the link list includes termination information regarding termination of the configuration;

processing data, by the reconfigurable coprocessor, in accordance with the at least one configuration;
during the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor, parallelly processing data by the standard processor by one of (a) continuing the executing of the at least one of the program and the task of the program and (b) executing at least one of a different program and a different task of one of the program and the different program, wherein the continuing the executing is performed if an end of the at least one of the program and the task of the program has not yet been reached and the continuing the executing is performable independent of unavailable output of the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor, and the executing the at least one of the different program and the different task is otherwise performed;
transferring synchronization signals between the standard processor and the reconfigurable coprocessor to synchronize the data processing by the standard processor and the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor; and
to synchronize the data processing by the standard processor and the data processing by the reconfigurable coprocessor:
using the termination information;
providing the link list with information indicating an execution progress of the configuration that is configured onto the reconfigurable coprocessor; and
polling the link list.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining, by a scheduler, which of the (a) continuing the execution and the (b) execution of the at least one of the different program and the different task is to be performed; and
controlling the standard processor, by the scheduler, in accordance with the determination.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein:
the determining by the scheduler includes determining whether (a) the continuing the execution is dependent on an output of the reconfigurable coprocessor and (b) the output is available to the standard processor at the moment of the determination; and
if the end of the program has not yet been reached, the scheduler controls the standard processor to execute the at least one of the different program and the different task responsive to a determination that (a) and not (b).
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signals include an interrupt request.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the standard processor is one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro-controller, and a central processing unit (CPU); and
the reconfigurable coprocessor includes a plurality of coarse granular runtime reconfigurable elements.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration related information includes a pointer to at least one location in the configuration memory from which the configuration is read, and a pointer to at least one memory location which stores at least one of operand and result data of the processing performed by the reconfigurable coprocessor.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable coprocessor is runtime reconfigurable.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in an instance where the execution of the at least one of the program and the task of the program being executed requires the reconfigurable coprocessor as a resource, checking, by the reconfigurable coprocessor, an availability of the reconfigurable coprocessor;
wherein the at least one of the different program and the different task is selected for execution on the standard processor if the reconfigurable coprocessor is unavailable.

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 system for accessing a surgical target site, comprising:
a retractor assembly having a plurality of primary blades releasably coupled to a handle assembly, said plurality of primary blades adapted to be advanced simultaneously to said surgical target site while in a closed position and thereafter selectively opened to create a customized operative corridor to said surgical target site; and
a supplemental retractor blade assembly including at least one supplemental retractor blade, an elongate support member with first and second ends, a mating extension extending transversely from the second end of said support member, an expansion track extending transversely from said first end of said support member, and a migrating member moveably mounted on said expansion track and having an elongated protrusion extending therefrom and configured to receive the at least one supplemental retractor blade thereon, said mating extension being slidably receivable within a slot formed along a face of a first of said primary blades to releaseably couple said supplemental retractor blade assembly to said first primary blade.
2. The system of claim 1, further including a distraction assembly for creating a distraction corridor to said surgical target site prior to advancing said primary retractor blades to said surgical target site.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said distraction assembly includes an initial distraction assembly including a K-wire and at least one dilator capable of being slidably passed over said K-wire to perform said initial distraction.
4. The system of claim 3, including a secondary distraction assembly for distracting said initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor, said primary retractor blades being advanced through said secondary distraction corridor to said surgical target site.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said distraction assembly and at least one of said primary retractor blades includes at least one stimulation electrode.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a control unit capable of electrically stimulating said at least one stimulation electrode, sensing a response of a nerve depolarized by said stimulation, determining a direction from at least one of said distraction system and at least one of said primary retractor blades to the nerve based upon the sensed response, and communicating said direction to a user.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an electrode configured to sense a neuromuscular response of a muscle coupled to said depolarized nerve, the electrode being operable to send the response to the control unit.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one stimulation electrode is positioned near a distal end of at least one of the distraction assembly and at least one of said primary retractor blades.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein said system for establishing an operative corridor to a surgical target site is configured to access a spinal target site.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein said system for establishing an operative corridor to a surgical target site is configured to establish said operative corridor via a lateral, trans-psoas approach.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said primary and secondary retractor blades are constructed from a material that is at least partially radiolucent.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a blade extender and a blade shim configured to be releasably coupled to at least one from said plurality of primary retractor blades and said secondary retractor blade.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein said elongated protrusion includes a blade mount configured to mate with the supplemental retractor blade to secure the supplemental retractor blade to said migrating member.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein said expansion track includes a plurality of engagement features along at least one side.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said engagement features comprise tooth-like protrusions having generally triangular cross-sections.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein said migrating member includes an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture dimensioned to receive said expansion track.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said migrating member further includes an expansion knob having a handle portion adapted for manual operation and a lower portion extending into said aperture therefrom, said lower portion configured to interact with said engagement features of said expansion track.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein manual operation of said knob causes said migrating member to migrate along said expansion track at least one of toward and away from said support.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said migrating member further includes a migration inhibitor attached thereto, said migration inhibitor moveable from a first position to a second position and adapted to engage with said engagement features of said expansion track while in said first position to prevent migration of said migrating member toward said support.
20. The system of claim 1, wherein said elongated protrusion contains a pivot joint such that said at least one supplemental retractor blade is capable of pivoting relative to said migrating member.