All The Claims

1. A signalling pocket device to signal the set administering time point of medicines for a user, comprising:
a house (10);
a data input unit (40) placed in a wall of the house (10), the data input unit (40) including switching elements, in particular push buttons, directly operateable at the signalling pocket device by the user;
a multi-line display unit (60) contained in the house (10);
a memory unit (30) contained in the house (10);
an alarm part-unit (50) contained in the house (10);
a control unit (20) contained in the house (10) and in connection with the data input unit (40), the display unit (60), the memory unit (30) and the alarm part-unit (50); and
a power supply (70) contained in the house (10);
wherein the control unit (20) has a counting part-unit (21) and a comparison part-unit (22);
wherein the memory unit (30) includes a basic storage register (31) being pre-programmed on manufacture with instructions, letters and numbers, a personal data storage register (32) for storing the user, s personal data and a time data storage register (33) for storing administering data for the user’s medicines, the personal data storage register (32) and the time data storage register (33) being random access memories;
wherein the switching elements of the data input unit (40) include a function select component (41), a scrolling component (42) and an acknowledgement component (43), and wherein the data input unit (40) is adapted to program the personal data storage register (32) and the time data storage register (33) on basis of the instructions, letters and numbers stored in the basic storage register (31) and input by the user via the switching elements;
wherein the alarm part-unit (50) has a sound signalling component (51), a warning light signalling component (52) and a vibrational signalling component (53), and is settable for an operation of the sound signalling component (S1), the warning light signalling component (52) and the vibrational signalling component (53) independently of each other or at the same time;
wherein the alarm part-unit (50) and the display unit (60) are controlled by the control unit (20), when the set administering time point of a medicine is reached, to give alarm for a predetermined period and to display a previously programmed record about the medicines to be taken, respectively; and
wherein the alarm part-unit (50) and the display unit (60) are controlled by the control unit (20), if the set administering time point of medicines for the user is not acknowledged via the acknowledgement component (43) and when a predetermined number of repetitions of warning signals appeared, to operate the sound signalling component (51) at its highest volume and the warning light signalling component (S2) and the vibrational signalling component (53) simultaneously as a general alarm, and to display the personal data of the user stored in-the personal data storage register (32), respectively.
2. The signalling pocket device according to claim 1, characterised in that the power source (70) is coupled to a supplementary energy store (71) contained in the house (10) for supplying power to the signalling pocket device even if the power source (70) is empty to guarantee that the user is safely signalled.
3. The signalling pocket device according to claim 1, characterized in that the house (10) is fitted with a fixing component (80), and the fixing component (80) is connected to the alarm part-unit (50) for signalling unauthorized removal of the signalling pocket device.
4. The signalling pocket device according to claim 2, characterized in that the house (10) is fitted with a fixing component (80), and the fixing component (80) is connected to the alarm part-unit (50) for signalling unauthorized removal of the signalling pocket device.
5. The signalling pocket device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching elements of the data input unit (40) further include a delete component (44), a data fetching component (45) and a start component (46).
6. The signalling pocket device according to claim 2, characterized in that the switching elements of the data input unit (40) further include a delete component (44), a data fetching component (45) and a start component (46).
7. The signalling pocket device according to claim 3, characterized in that the switching elements of the data input unit (40) further include a delete component (44), a data fetching component (45) and a start component (46).
8. The signalling pocket device according to claim 4, characterized in that the switching elements of the data input unit (40) further include a delete component (44), a data fetching component (45) and a start component (46).

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 digitally controlled oscillator comprising:
a ring oscillator;
a parallel resistor bank connected to a first terminal of the ring oscillator and having a resistance that varies according to a digital code; and
a serial resistor bank connected to a second terminal of the ring oscillator and having a resistance that varies according to the digital code,
wherein a frequency of the ring oscillator linearly varies with a variation in the resistance of the parallel resistor bank and the resistance of the serial resistor bank according to the digital code.
2. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 1, wherein the parallel resistor bank comprises a plurality of transistors that are connected in parallel, and wherein an onoff state of the plurality of transistors is controlled by the digital code.
3. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 2, wherein the onoff state of the plurality of transistors is controlled by respective signal bits of the digital code.
4. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 3, wherein the plurality of transistors includes N+1 transistors, and the digital code includes N+1 signal bits which are respectively applied to the N+1 transistors, and wherein a channel width of each (n+1)-th transistor is twice the channel width of each n-th transistor, where N is an integer of at least one, and n=1 to N+1.
5. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 1, wherein the serial resistor bank comprises:
a plurality of resistors connected in series; and
a plurality of transistors respectively connected across the plurality of resistors, wherein an onoff state of the plurality of transistors is controlled by the digital code.
6. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 5, wherein the onoff state of the plurality of transistors is controlled by respective signal bits of the digital code.
7. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 6, wherein the plurality of transistors includes N+1 transistors respectively connected across N+1 resistors, and the digital code includes N+1 signal bits which are respectively applied to the N+1 transistors, and wherein a resistance of each (n+1)-th resistor is twice the resistance of each n-th transistor, where N is an integer of at least one, and n=1 to N+1.
8. The digitally controlled oscillator of claim 1, wherein the parallel resistor bank comprises a plurality of first transistors that are connected in parallel, and wherein the onoff state of the plurality of first transistors is controlled by respective signal bits of the digital code; and
wherein the serial resistor bank comprises a plurality of resistors connected in series, and a plurality of second transistors respectively connected across the plurality of resistors, wherein the onoff state of the plurality of second transistors is controlled by the respective signal bits of the digital code.
9. A digitally controlled oscillator comprising:
a ring oscillator;
a resistor bank connected to a first terminal of the ring oscillator and having a resistance that varies according to a digital code; and
a capacitor bank connected to a second terminal of the ring oscillator and having an impedance that varies according to the digital code,
wherein a frequency of the ring oscillator linearly varies with a variation in the resistance of the resistor bank and the impedance of the capacitor bank according to the digital code.

1. A bone anchoring element comprising:
a shaft for anchoring in a bone, the shaft having a tubular body defined by a peripheral wall having a thickness, the peripheral wall defining an interior space of the tubular body extending along a shaft axis from a first end to a second end of the tubular body, wherein said shaft comprises a plurality of barb elements, wherein each barb element is formed as a continuous one-piece part with the tubular body;
wherein each barb element is moveable between a first position adjacent to a surface of the tubular body and a second position farther from the surface of the tubular body than the first position to define an opening completely through the peripheral wall to the interior space of the tubular body;
wherein each barb element comprises a base being a continuous one-piece part with the tubular body, opposing side walls extending from the base, and a free cutting edge opposite to the base relative to the side walls and extending between the side walls; and
wherein the free cutting edges of the barb elements are inclined at an angle corresponding to a helical angle that extends for at least one full turn around the shaft axis such that after insertion of the shaft into a core hole, turning of the shaft in a first direction causes the shaft to be moved in an insertion direction deeper in the core hole, and turning of the shaft in a second direction causes the shaft to be moved in the core hole opposite to the insertion direction.
2. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, wherein said barb elements are cut out of the wall of said tubular body, and wherein each barb element has a thickness equal to the thickness of the peripheral wall.
3. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, wherein said tubular body forms a hollow part of said shaft.
4. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, wherein said tubular body is placed onto an essentially cylindrical shaft part.
5. The bone anchoring element of claim 4, further comprising a tip which is fixedly connectable to the cylindrical shaft part.
6. The bone anchoring element of claim 4, further comprising means for preventing said tubular body from rotating relative to the cylindrical shaft part.
7. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, further comprising a tip which is fixedly connectable to said tubular body.
8. The bone anchoring element of claim 7, wherein a connection for fixedly connecting the tip to the tubular body comprises any one of a press-fit and a threaded connection.
9. The bone anchoring element of claim 7, further comprising a head, which is connectable to said tubular body.
10. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, further comprising a head, which is connectable to said tubular body.
11. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, wherein said tubular body is formed of a shape memory alloy.
12. The bone anchoring element of claim 11, wherein said tubular body is formed from nitinol.
13. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, wherein said tubular body includes two longitudinally opposing open ends.
14. The bone anchoring element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of barb elements are cut out of the tubular body with laser cutting.
15. A bone anchoring element comprising:
a shaft for anchoring in a bone, the shaft having a tubular body defined by a peripheral wall having a thickness, the peripheral wall defining an interior space of the tubular body extending along a shaft axis from a first end to a second end of the tubular body, wherein said shaft comprises a plurality of barb elements, wherein each barb element is formed as continuous one-piece part with the tubular body and includes opposing side walls extending from the base and a free cutting edge opposite to the base relative to the side walls and extending between the side walls;
a head connectable to the shaft;
a tip connectable to the shaft;
wherein each barb element is moveable between a first position adjacent to a surface of the tubular body and a second position farther from the surface of the tubular body than the first position to define an opening completely through the peripheral wall to the interior space of the tubular body; and
wherein the free cutting edges of the barb elements are inclined at an angle corresponding to a helical angle that extends for at least one full turn around the shaft axis such that after insertion of the shaft into a core hole, turning of the shaft in a first direction causes the shaft to be moved in an insertion direction deeper in the core hole, and turning of the shaft in a second direction causes the shaft to be moved in the core hole opposite to the insertion direction.
16. The bone anchoring element of claim 15, wherein the barb elements are cut out of a wall of the tubular body.
17. The bone anchoring element of claim 15, wherein said tubular body is placed onto an essentially cylindrical shaft part.
18. The bone anchoring element of claim 17, further comprising means for preventing said tubular body from rotating relative to the cylindrical shaft part.
19. The bone anchoring element of claim 15, wherein said tubular body is formed of a shape memory alloy.
20. The bone anchoring element of claim 19, wherein said tubular body is formed from nitinol.
21. The bone anchoring element of claim 15, wherein said tubular body includes two longitudinally opposing open ends.

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 knob assembly comprising:
a rotatable knob having an under surface and a top surface;
a notched plate rotatable with said rotatable knob and arranged proximate to said under surface of said rotatable knob;
a magnetic detent assembly disposed substantially stationary proximate to said notched plate, wherein said magnet detent assembly includes a base member having at least one sealed enclosure, said at least one enclosure including a magnetically attractable member and a magnet;
wherein rotation of said rotatable knob and said notched plate over said magnetic detent assembly provides a user with an audible indicator of rotation.
2. The knob assembly of claim 1 wherein said magnetically attractable member is a sphere.
3. The knob assembly of claim 2 wherein said sphere is a steel ball.
4. The knob assembly of claim 1 wherein said base member includes a first recess for receiving said magnet.
5. The knob assembly of claim 4 wherein said first recess includes a second recess therein, said second recess dimensioned for receiving said magnetically attractable member.
6. The knob assembly of claim 1 wherein said magnetic detent assembly has a central area and a leg extending from each end thereof, thereby defining a generally U-shaped configuration.
7. A magnetic detent assembly for generating audible feedback during relative movement past a magnetizable structure, comprising:
a base member having a top surface and a bottom surface;
at least one magnetically attractable member disposed in a recess in said base member, said recess being elongated between a pair of opposite sides formed within said base member; and
at least one magnet disposed in said base member between said recess and said botton surface;
wherein said at least one magnetically attractable member is movably contained in said recess between said top surface of said base member and said at least one magnet, and wherein said at least one magnetically attractable member strikes at least one of said opposite sides during movement of said magnetizable structure past said top surface to generate said audible feedback.
8. The magnetic detent assembly of claim 7 wherein said recess is formed in a bottom surface of a magnet receiving recess in said base member.
9. The magnetic detent assembly of claim 7 wherein said at least one magnetically attractable member comprises a sphere.
10. The magnetic detent assembly of claim 7 where said at least one magnetically attractable member is formed from steel and said base member is formed from a plastic material.