All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1 A logical partition (LPAR) computer system running a plurality of logical partitions, comprising:
console means coupled to the computer system for displaying a plurality of operator panels corresponding to each of the logical partitions;
a buffer for each of the logical partitions,
means for writing the status code from each logical partition directly to the corresponding buffer, and
means for sending the status codes from each of the buffers to the operator panel of the corresponding logical partition for display.
2 The LPAR system of claim 1 wherein each other buffers comprise a circular buffer that contain a plurality of positions for storing status codes.
3 The LPAR system of claim 2 wherein each of the circular buffers is provided with a pair of pointers, a read pointer and a write pointer.
4 The LPAR system of claim 3 wherein the write pointer is used as an index to a current write position within the circular buffer when a status code needs to be written into one of the circular buffers.
5 The LPAR system of claim 4 wherein the write pointer is incremented after the status code is written into the current write position within the circular buffer.
6 The LPAR system of claim 5 wherein the write pointer is incremented equal to the number of status codes written into the buffer if more than one status code is written into the circular buffer during a write operation.
7 The LPAR system of claim 6 wherein when a status code is to be read from the circular buffer, the read and write pointer is for the buffer are compared, and if the read and write pointers are equal, then it is determined that the last status code written into the circular buffer has already been read from the circular buffer, and wherein if the write and read pointers are not equal, then the status codes written into positions between the write and read pointers in the circular buffer are read.
8 A method for providing a computer system having a plurality of logical partitions with a virtual operator panel for displaying status information from each of the logical partitions, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying a plurality of operator panels on a single console corresponding to each of the logical partitions;
(b) providing a buffer for each logical partition;
(c) writing status codes from each of the logical partitions directly to the corresponding buffer; and
(d) sending the status codes from each of the buffers to the operator panel of the corresponding logical partition for display.
9 The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) further includes the step of providing a circular buffer for each of the logical partitions in nonvolatile memory, each of the circular buffers including a plurality of positions for storing status codes.
10 The method of claim 9 wherein step (b) further includes the step of providing each of the circular buffers with a pair of pointers, a read pointer and a write pointer.
11 The method of claim 10 wherein step (c) further includes the step of:
when a status code needs to be written into one of the circular buffers, using the write pointer as an index to a current write position within the circular buffer.
12 The method of claim 11 wherein step (c) further includes the step of incrementing the write pointer after the status code is written into the current write position within the circular buffer.
13 The method of claim 12 wherein step (c) further includes the step of: if more than one status code is written to the circular buffer during the write operation, then incrementing the write pointer equal to the number of status codes written into the buffer.
14 The method of claim 13 wherein step (d) further includes the steps of:
(i) comparing the read and write pointers for the buffer,
(ii) determining that the last status code written into the circular buffer has already been read the circular buffer when the write and read pointers are equal, and
(iii) if the write and read pointers are not equal, then reading the status codes written into positions between the write and read pointers from the buffer.
15 A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for providing a computer system having a plurality of logical partitions with a virtual operator panel for displaying status information from each of the logical partitions, the instructions for:
(a) displaying a plurality of operator panels on a single console corresponding to each of the logical partitions;
(b) providing a buffer for each logical partition;
(c) writing status codes from each of the logical partitions directly to the corresponding buffer; and
(d) sending the status codes from each of the buffers to the operator panel of the corresponding logical partition for display.
16 The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of providing a circular buffer for each of the logical partitions in nonvolatile memory, each of the circular buffers including a plurality of positions for storing status codes.
17 The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein instruction (b) further includes the instruction of providing each of the circular buffers with a pair of pointers, a read pointer and a write pointer.
18 The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein instruction (c) further includes the instruction of: when a status code needs to be written into one of the circular buffers, using the write pointer as an index to a current write position within the circular buffer.
19 The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein instruction (c) further includes the instruction of incrementing the write pointer after the status code is written into the current write position within the circular buffer.
20 The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein instruction (c) further includes the instruction of: if more than one status code is written to the circular buffer during the write operation, then incrementing the write pointer equal to the number of status codes written into the buffer.
21 The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein instruction (d) further includes the instructions of:
(i) comparing the read and write pointers for the buffer,
(ii) determining that the last status code written into the circular buffer has already been read the circular buffer when the write and read pointers are equal; and
(iii) if the write and read pointers are not equal, then reading the status codes written into positions between the write and read pointers from the buffer.
22 A logical partition (LPAR) computer system, comprising:
a plurality of logical partitions, each running independently from the other logical partitions;
a nonvolatile memory accessible by each of the logical partitions; and
a console coupled to the computer system for displaying a plurality of operator panels corresponding to each of the logical partitions for displaying status codes from each of the logical partitions by,
providing a buffer in the nonvolatile memory for each of the logical partitions,
writing the status code from each logical partition directly to the corresponding buffer in the nonvolatile memory, and
sending the status codes from each of the buffers to the operator panel of the corresponding logical partition for display.
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 printed circuit board, comprising:
a signal layer comprising a connecting area; and
a voltage source layer comprising an isolation area corresponding to the connecting area, the isolation area configured for preventing interference caused by a pulsing current in the connecting area from affecting the voltage source layer.
2. The printed circuit board of claim 1, wherein the connecting area is positioned to be confined within the isolation area.
3. The printed circuit board of claim 1, wherein the voltage source layer further comprises an isolation line, the isolation line encircles the isolation area.
4. The printed circuit board of claim 1, wherein the voltage source layer is divided into a plurality of voltage areas by a plurality of isolation lines according to different voltages for the signal layer.
5. The printed circuit board of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a ground layer, the ground layer comprising an isolation area corresponding to the connecting area.
6. The printed circuit board of claim 1, further comprising an electronic component capable of receiving pulse signals, the electronic component is positioned in the connecting area of the signal layer.
7. The printed circuit board of claim 6, wherein the electronic component is a switch element.
8. A printed circuit board, comprising:
a signal layer comprising a connecting area and an electronic component positioned in the connecting area, the electronic component capable of receiving pulse signals; and
a voltage source layer comprising an isolation area corresponding to the connecting area;
wherein the connecting area is positioned to be confined within the isolation area.
9. The printed circuit board of claim 8, wherein the voltage source layer further comprises an isolation line, the isolation line encircles the isolation area.
10. The printed circuit board of claim 8, wherein the voltage source layer is divided into a plurality of voltage areas by a plurality of isolation lines according to different voltages for the signal layer; the isolation area is defined in one of the plurality of voltage areas.
11. The printed circuit board of claim 8, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a ground layer, the ground layer comprising an isolation area corresponding to the connecting area.
12. The printed circuit board of claim 8, wherein the electronic component is a switch element.

1. A simultaneous electrochemical assay device comprising a cell adapted to receive a sample, said cell having a surface having a plurality of analyte binding areas, each of said analyte binding areas having a different specific analyte binding substrate; and a plurality of working electrodes adapted to quantitatively measure enzymatic reaction product, each working electrode adjacent to one analyte binding area and separated from the nearest adjacent analyte binding area by a distance and a common reference electrode for said plurality of working electrodes wherein said device does not have means to mix a sample in said cell.
2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said binding substrates each comprise a plurality of different analyte specific proteins.
3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said binding substrates each comprise a different antigen.
4. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said binding substrate comprises a different antibody.
5. The device claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one auxiliary electrode in said cell.
6. The assay device claimed in claim 1 wherein said device has a common reference electrode for said plurality of working electrodes.

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

1. A method for determining clinical stress of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a probe of a pulse oximeter on the subject;
acquiring plethysmographic signal data from the pulse oximeter associated with a subject;
deriving a first measurement signal in a control and processing unit, the first measurement signal being indicative of a predetermined feature of respiration modulation appearing in the plethysmographic signal data, wherein the deriving step includes deriving the first measurement signal indicative of the predetermined feature, in which the predetermined feature is the respiration rate;
forming an index signal in the control and processing unit based on the first measurement signal, wherein the forming step includes a sub-step of generating a second measurement signal indicative of variability in the first measurement signal; and
employing the index signal as an index indicative of the clinical stress of the subject.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the forming step further includes applying a second normalization transform to the second measurement signal, the second normalization transform being dependent on predetermined second history data, whereby a second normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained, the second normalized measurement signal being the index signal.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the forming step includes forming the index signal, in which the index signal is indicative of a change in the second measurement signal.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the forming step further includes a sub-step of calculating a weighted average of the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, the weighted average forming the index signal.
5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
applying a first normalization transform to the first measurement signal, the first normalization transform being dependent on predetermined first history data, whereby a first normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained; and
applying a second normalization transform to the second measurement signal, the second normalization transform being dependent on predetermined second history data, whereby a second normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the forming step further comprises a sub-step of calculating a weighted average of the first normalized measurement signal and the second normalized measurement signal, the weighted averave forming the index signal.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of producing at least one further measurement signal from the plethysmographic signal data, wherein the at least one further measurement signal belongs to a group of signals including a first signal indicative of respiration amplitude, a second signal indicative of variability in the respiration amplitude, a third signal indicative of pulse amplitude in the plethysmographic signal data, a fourth signal indicative of pulse-to-pulse interval in the plethysmographic signal data, and a fifth signal indicative of variability in one of the third and fourth signals.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the forming step includes calculating a weighted average of the first measurement signal, the second measurement signal, and the at least one further measurement signal, the weighted averave forming the index signal.
9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
applying a first normalization transform to the first measurement signal, the first normalization transform being dependent on predetermined first history data, whereby a first normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained;
applying a second normalization transform to the second measurement signal, the second normalization transform being dependent on predetermined second history data, whereby a second normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained; and
applying a dedicated normalization transform to each of the at least one further measurement signal, each dedicated normalization transform being dependent on predetermined history data specific to the dedicated normalization transform concerned, whereby at least one further normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the forming step includes calculating a weighted average of the first normalized measurement signal, the second normalized measurement signal, and the at least one further normalized measurement signal, the weighted averave forming the index signal.
11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the acquiring step includes measuring the plethysmographic signal data from an ear and from a finger of the subject, whereby the plethysmographic signal data comprises ear originated signal data and finger originated signal data.
12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
comparing the ear originated signal data with the finger originated signal data; and
selecting whether the ear originated signal data or the finger originated signal data is to be employed for the first measurement signal and whether the ear originated signal data or the finger originated signal data is to be employed for at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth signals.
13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of determining a transit time difference indicative of the time difference between corresponding signal peaks in the ear originated signal data and in the finger originated signal data.
14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of controlling administration of at least one drug to the subject, wherein the controlling step is performed based on the index signal and the at least one drug is selected from a group of drugs including at least one analgesic drug and at least one sedative drug.
15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of producing at least one further measurement signal from the plethysmographic signal data, wherein the at least one further measurement signal belongs to a group of signals including a first signal indicative of respiration amplitude, a second signal indicative of variability in the respiration amplitude, a third signal indicative of pulse amplitude in the plethysmographic signal data, a fourth signal indicative of pulse-to-pulse interval in the plethysmographic signal data, and a fifth signal indicative of variability in one of the third and fourth signals.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the acquiring step includes measuring the plethysmographic signal data from an ear and from a finger of the subject, whereby the plethysmographic signal data comprises ear originated signal data and finger originated signal data.
17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:
comparing the ear originated signal data with the finger originated signal data; and
selecting whether the ear originated signal data or the finger originated signal data is to be employed for the first measurement signal and whether the ear originated signal data or the finger originated signal data is to be employed for at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth signals.
18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of determining a transit time difference indicative of the time difference between corresponding signal peaks in the ear originated signal data and in the finger originated signal data.
19. A method for determining clinical stress of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a probe of a pulse oximeter on the subject;
acquiring plethysmographic signal data from the pulse oximeter associated with a subject;
deriving a first measurement signal in a control and processing unit, the first measurement signal being indicative of a predetermined feature of respiration modulation appearing in the plethysmographic signal data;
producing at least one further measurement signal in the control and processing unit from the plethysmographic signal data, wherein the at least one further measurement signal belongs to a group of signals including a first signal indicative of respiration amplitude, a second signal indicative of variability in the respiration amplitude, a third signal indicative of pulse amplitude in the plethysmographic signal data, a fourth signal indicative of pulse-to-pulse interval in the plethysmographic signal data, and a fifth signal indicative of variability in one of the third and fourth signals;
forming an index signal in the control and processing unit based on the first measurement signal; and
employing the index signal as an index indicative of the clinical stress of the subject.