All The Claims

1. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in communication with a processor circuit and configured to determine a representative temperature of the PCB, the PCB comprising:
a first temperature sensor embedded within a first integrated circuit (IC) directly measuring a first temperature of the first integrated circuit (IC);
a second temperature sensor embedded within a second integrated circuit (IC) directly measuring a second temperature of the second IC;
a component; and
wherein the processor circuit is configured to:
receive the first temperature and the second temperature,
run a simulation program stored on a memory circuit to establish a temperature gradient, based upon the first temperature and the second temperature, across the PCB, and
perform a remedial action to the component based upon the temperature gradient.
2. The PCB as recited in claim 1, wherein the remedial action comprises deactivating the component to define a sleep mode of the component.
3. The PCB as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor circuit, the memory circuit, first IC, and the second IC are disposed on the PCB.
4. The PCB as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
a third temperature sensor embedded within a third integrated circuit (IC) directly measuring a third temperature of the third IC disposed on the PCB, wherein the processor circuit is configured to run the simulation program stored on the memory circuit to establish the temperature gradient based upon the first temperature, the second temperature, and the third temperature.
5. The PCB as recited in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first IC, the second IC, or the third IC comprises a power amplifier used for a radio frequency antenna.
6. The PCB as recited in claim 5, wherein when the processor circuit runs the simulation program to establish the temperature gradient, the processor circuit does not use a temperature from one or more inactive integrated circuits.
7. The PCB as recited in claim 6, wherein the component comprises a battery.
8. A portable electronic device configured to perform a remedial action in response to a thermal flux within the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB);
a temperature sensor embedded within an IC disposed on the PCB and that directly measures a temperature of the first IC;
a processor circuit that receives multiple temperature readings of the PCB from the temperature sensor embedded within the IC to establish a simulated temperature gradient across the PCB based upon the multiple temperature readings;
a memory circuit that sends to the processor circuit a simulation program to establish the simulated temperature gradient; and
a component disposed on the PCB, the component receiving the remedial action based upon the simulated temperature gradient.
9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:
a second temperature sensor embedded in a second IC disposed on the PCB;
a third temperature sensor embedded in a third IC disposed on the PCB; and
wherein the multiple temperature readings are determined by the temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the third temperature sensor.
10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 8, wherein the processor circuit processes a statistical operation of the multiple temperature readings to determine the simulated temperature gradient.
11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein the statistical operation comprises an average of the multiple temperature readings only from a first temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor.
12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the first temperature sensor is closer to the component than the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor.

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 barrier arrangement, such as for the control of traffic, said arrangement comprising:
an elongate and generally tubular housing mounted in a generally vertical manner within the ground so that an upper end thereof is substantially flush with the ground surface;
an elongate post disposed generally coaxially within said housing and telescopingly movable relative thereto between an uppermost position wherein said post extends upwardly from said upper end of said housing and above the ground surface and a lowermost position wherein said post is disposed substantially completely within said housing and beneath the ground surface; and
a remotely-actuable drive mechanism for moving said post between said uppermost and lowermost positions, said drive mechanism including an elongate and generally vertically oriented rotatable drive shaft having a smooth outer surface, and a block-like member disposed in clamping engagement with said smooth outer surface and non-movably fixed to said post, wherein rotation of said drive shaft causes displacement of said block-like member and said post relative to and along said drive shaft to move said post into one of said uppermost and lowermost positions.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said drive shaft defines an axis of rotation and is disposed generally coaxially within a hollow interior of said post and said block-like member mounts thereon a plurality of roller bearings which contactingly engage said outer surface of said drive shaft, wherein upon application of an abrupt and downwardly directed axial force to an upper end of said post during upward movement thereof, said roller bearings slip relative to said drive shaft to permit downward movement of said post and said block-like member relative thereto.
3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said block-like member includes a pair of blocks disposed in opposed relation with one another along opposite sides of said drive shaft, said blocks being fastened to one another in an adjustable manner to permit variation of the clamping force by said block-like member on said drive shaft.
4. The arrangement of claim 1 including an annular plate-like cover mounted on said upper end of said housing which is substantially flush with the ground surface and having an inner periphery which defines an opening through which said post passes during movement into or out of said housing, and an annular seal member mounted adjacent said inner periphery and in a surrounding manner relative to said post to prevent entry of water and debris into said housing.
5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said opening has a diameter which is substantially greater than an outer diameter of said post such that a gap is defined therebetween which is traversed by said-seal member, said seal member being flexible and maintaining contact with said post at substantially all times.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said housing includes outer and inner elongate and generally coaxially oriented tubes, said post being disposed generally coaxially within said inner tube when in said lowermost position, and said post is tubular and said drive shaft is disposed substantially coaxially therewithin.
7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said post has a lower end mounting a hub thereon, said block-like member being fixed to a lower surface of said hub, said drive mechanism including an electric motor disposed within a lower end of said inner tube and said drive shaft having a lower end which is non-rotatably coupled to an output shaft of said motor.
8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said hub mounts thereon a permanent magnet, and a pair of Hall-effect switches are mounted on said inner tube which sense the magnetic field emitted by said magnet when said post is in said uppermost and lowermost positions.
9. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein an annular wiper is fixed to said post in surrounding relation with said outer surface of said drive shaft to remove debris accumulated on said outer surface during movement of said post relative thereto.
10. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said post defines a generally hollow interior and said drive shaft is disposed within said interior, said post moving in a telescoping manner relative to drive shaft during travel between said uppermost and lowermost positions so that an upper end of said drive shaft is oriented at a base of said post when in said uppermost position, said upper end of said drive shaft mounting thereon a lighting arrangement which when energized illuminates said post from within said hollow interior thereof when in said uppermost position.
11. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said post defines a generally hollow interior and said drive shaft is disposed within said interior, said post moving in a telescoping manner relative to said drive shaft during travel between said uppermost and lowermost positions so that an upper end of said drive shaft is oriented within and adjacent a top end of said post in said lowermost position and adjacent said upper end of said housing, said upper end of said drive shaft mounting thereon a heating unit which when energized prevents seizure of said post within said housing during harsh weather conditions.
12. A retractable pylon arrangement comprising:
an elongate and generally upright cartridge embedded within an opening in the ground so that an uppermost end thereof is substantially level with the ground surface;
an elongate and generally cylindrical pylon disposed in a telescoping manner within said housing and movable between an extended position wherein said pylon is cantilevered upwardly from the ground and a retracted position wherein said pylon is disposed within said cartridge and beneath the ground surface;
a remotely-controlled drive mechanism for moving said post between said extended and retracted positions;
an annular and plate-like flange which closes off said uppermost end of said cartridge, said flange having an inner terminal periphery disposed in surrounding relation with said pylon which defines an opening to permit movement of said pylon between said extended and retracted positions, said opening having a diameter which is substantially greater than an outer diameter of said pylon such that a gap is defined therebetween; and
a flexible annular seal member mounted on said inner periphery and extending inwardly therebeyond a substantial distance so as to traverse said gap and maintain contact with an outer surface of said pylon during movement thereof between said extended and retracted positions.
13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said flange is a first flange and said cartridge includes a second annular plate-like flange spaced vertically downwardly from a lower surface of said first flange to define a space therebetween, said seal member including a pair of annular seals which are sandwiched between said first and second flanges in vertically stacked relation with one another within said space.
14. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said inner periphery of said flange has a straight configuration when viewed in transverse cross-section, and said seal member is mounted on a lower surface of said flange so as to project generally sidewardly beyond said inner periphery and toward said pylon for contact therewith at substantially all times to prevent water and debris from entering said housing through said opening.
15. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said gap defined between said flange and said pylon compensates for angular or axial misalignments between said pylon and said flange.
16. A pylon arrangement for controlling vehicular traffic, said arrangement comprising:
an elongate and generally hollow housing structure fixed within the ground in a generally upright manner;
an elongate pylon defining a generally hollow interior and being mounted for movement into said housing structure into a retracted storage position and for movement out of said housing structure into an extended position for controlling traffic, an upper terminal end of said pylon being substantially flush with the surface of the ground when in said retracted position; and
a heating unit disposed within said hollow interior of said pylon which when energized provides heat therewithin to effectively heat an outer wall of said pylon and prevent seizure of said pylon due to ice build-up at least adjacent the ground surface.
17. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein said heating unit is mounted within said hollow interior of said pylon a short vertical distance beneath the ground surface.
18. The arrangement of claim 16 including a drive mechanism for moving said pylon between said extended and retracted positions and including a rotatable drive shaft, said pylon being movable relative to said drive shaft in a telescoping manner and when in said retracted position, said drive shaft is disposed generally coaxially within said hollow interior and an upper end of said drive shaft is disposed adjacent an upper end of said pylon, said arrangement further including an annular plate-like cover disposed on an upper end of said housing structure and oriented in substantially flush relation with the ground surface, said pylon passing through an opening defined within said cover during movement between said extended and retracted positions, and said heating unit is mounted generally adjacent an upper end of said drive shaft to minimize ice formation adjacent said cover.
19. The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said drive shaft has a smooth outer surface and is oriented in a generally upright manner within said housing structure, said drive mechanism further including an actuator engaged with said smooth outer surface of said drive shaft and non-movably fixed to said pylon, wherein upon rotation of said drive shaft said actuator converts the rotary motion thereof into linear motion and translates upwardly or downwardly relative thereto to move said post into either said extended or retracted position.
20. The arrangement of claim 19 wherein said drive mechanism further includes an electric motor mounted within said housing structure which when actuated rotates said drive shaft, and said actuator includes a pair of block-halves which clampingly engage said drive shaft therebetween, said block-halves being positionally adjustable relative to one another to adjust the clamping force on said drive shaft.

1. A method of ultrasound imaging comprising:
accessing a first cross-plane image of a first plane;
identifying a first region including a structure in the first cross-plane image,
wherein said identifying the first region comprises implementing a segmentation algorithm to identify a contour of the structure;
accessing a second cross-plane image of a second plane, where the second plane intersects the first plane;
identifying a second region including the structure in the second cross-plane image;
automatically configuring acquisition parameters based on at least one of the first region and the second region, wherein said automatically configuring the acquisition parameters comprises calculating a center of mass of the structure in the first cross-plane image based on the contour;
implementing the acquisition parameters to acquire data of the structure;
generating an image from the data; and
displaying the image.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said implementing the acquisition parameters comprises acquiring two-dimensional data through the center of mass, where the two-dimensional data is parallel to the second plane.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically configuring the acquisition parameters comprises automatically configuring the acquisition parameters based on both the first region and the second region.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said implementing the acquisition parameters comprises implementing the acquisition parameters to acquire volumetric data of the structure.
5. A method of ultrasound imaging comprising:
accessing a first cross-plane image of a first plane;
accessing a second cross-plane image of a second plane, where the second plane intersects the first plane;
identifying a first contour of a structure in the first cross-plane image;
identifying a second contour of the structure in the second cross-plane image;
automatically calculating size data and position data for the structure based on the first contour and the second contour, wherein said automatically calculating the position data comprises calculating a 3D location of a center of the structure based on both the first contour and the second contour;
automatically positioning a 3D region-of-interest (ROI) around the structure using the size data and the position data;
acquiring volumetric data of the 3D region-of-interest (ROI) after said automatically position the 3D region-of-interest (ROI) around the structure;
generating an image from the volumetric data; and
displaying the image.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said identifying the first contour comprises implementing an algorithm to automatically identify the first contour.
7. The method of ultrasound imaging of claim 5, wherein the 3D region-of-interest (ROI) does not exceed the size of the structure by more than 10 percent in length, width, or height.
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising automatically providing a warning if either the size data or the position data indicate that the structure is outside of a field-of-view (FOV).
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising automatically providing an indication for how to adjust a position of a probe in order to capture all of the structure within a new field-of-view (FOV).
10. The method of ultrasound imaging of claim 5, wherein said automatically positioning the 3D region-of-interest around the structure comprises centering the 3D region-of-interest on the 3D location of the center of the structure.
11. An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
a probe adapted to scan a volume of interest;
a display device; and
a processor in electronic communication with the probe and the display device, wherein the processor is configured to:
control the probe to acquire a first cross-plane image of a first plane;
control the probe to acquire a second cross-plane image of a second plane;
implement a segmentation algorithm on the first cross-plane image to identify a first contour of a structure;
calculate a first center of mass of the structure based on the first contour;
implement a segmentation algorithm on the second cross-plane image to identify a second contour of the structure;
automatically configure acquisition parameters based on at least one of the first contour and the second contour;
implement the acquisition parameters to acquire data of the structure;
generate an image from the data; and
display the image on the display device.
12. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a second center of mass of the structure based on the second contour.
13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to automatically control the probe in order to implement the acquisition parameters.
14. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to implement the acquisition parameters in order to acquire two-dimensional data.
15. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to automatically configure the acquisition parameters based on both the first contour and the second contour.
16. A method of ultrasound imaging comprising:
accessing a first cross-plane image of a first plane;
identifying a first region including a structure in the first cross-plane image, wherein said identifying the first region comprises implementing a segmentation algorithm to identify a first contour of the structure;
accessing a second cross-plane image of a second plane, where the second plane intersects the first plane;
identifying a second region including the structure in the second cross-plane image, wherein said identifying the second region comprises implementing a segmentation algorithm to identify a second contour of the structure;
calculating a center of the structure based on the first contour and the second contour;
automatically configuring acquisition parameters based on the center of the structure;
implementing the acquisition parameters to acquire data of the structure;
generating an image from the data; and
displaying the image.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said calculating the center of the structure comprises calculating a location of a 3D center of the structure.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein said calculating the center of the structure comprises calculating a center of mass of the structure in the first cross-plane image.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein said automatically configuring the acquisition parameters based on the center of the structure comprises centering a 3D region-of-interest on the center of the structure.

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. An array management function (AMF) apparatus involved in implementing hierarchical distributed cache coherence in a storage network having a first local AMF access group (LAAG) and a second LAAG, the first LAAG including first AMF devices and a first proxy agent, and the second LAAG including second AMF devices and a second proxy agent, the AMF apparatus comprising circuitry which is constructed and arranged to:
receive a write update from a host server, the write update identifying a set of storage blocks;
in a first send operation, send a first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG, each first write invalidate command directing a respective first AMF device of the first LAAG to locally invalidate the set of storage blocks identified by the write update;
in a second send operation, send a proxy agent write invalidate command to the first proxy agent of the first LAAG, the proxy agent write invalidate command directing the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to the second proxy agent of the second LAAG for distribution of a second write invalidate command to all of the second AMF devices of the second LAAG, each second write invalidate command directing a respective second AMF device of the second LAAG to locally invalidate the set of storage blocks identified by the write update;
in a first receive operation, receive a first write invalidate acknowledgement from all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG, each first write invalidate acknowledgement indicating that a respective first AMF device of the first LAAG has successfully locally invalidated the set of storage blocks identified by the write update;
in a second receive operation, receive a proxy agent write invalidate acknowledgement from the first proxy agent of the first LAAG, the proxy agent write invalidate acknowledgement indicating that all of the second AMF devices of the second LAAG have acknowledged successful local invalidation of the set of storage blocks identified by the write update; and
upon completion of the first and second receive operations, send a write update acknowledgement to the host server.
2. An AMF apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first AMF devices and the first proxy agent are constructed and arranged to communicate with each other through a high bandwidth communications medium;
wherein the first and second proxy agents are constructed and arranged to communicate with each other through a low bandwidth communications medium, the high bandwidth communications medium having a bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium; and
wherein the circuitry, when sending the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG, is constructed and arranged to transmit the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG at the bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium.
3. An AMF apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the circuitry, when transmitting the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG at the bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium, is constructed and arranged to broadcast the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG.
4. An AMF apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the first LAAG resides at a first location;
wherein the second LAAG resides at a second location;
wherein the first and second locations are different and remotely separated from each other; and
wherein the circuitry, when sending the proxy agent write invalidate command to the first proxy agent of the first LAAG, is constructed and arranged to direct the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to the second proxy agent of the second LAAG via a point-to-point communications protocol.
5. An AMF apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the second AMF devices and the second proxy agent are constructed and arranged to communicate with each other through another high bandwidth communications medium having a bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium; and
wherein the circuitry, when directing the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to the second proxy agent of the second LAAG, is constructed and arranged to direct the second proxy agent of the second LAAG to broadcast the second write invalidate command to all of the second AMF devices of the second LAAG.
6. An AMF apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the proxy agent write invalidate command further directs the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to a third proxy agent of a third LAAG for distribution of a third write invalidate command to all of the third AMF devices of the third LAAG, each third write invalidate command directing a respective third AMF device of the third LAAG to locally invalidate the set of storage blocks identified by the write update.
7. An AMF apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the write update identifies, as the set of storage blocks, a block range of consecutive storage blocks; and
wherein local invalidation of the set of storage blocks identified by the write update includes invalidating a local cache for the block range of the consecutive storage blocks.
8. An AMF apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the circuitry is further constructed and arranged to perform array management functions as part of the first LAAG.
9. An AMF apparatus as in claim 8 wherein each AMF device couples to a set of storage devices to form a redundancy group; and
wherein each AMF device, including the AMF apparatus, operates as a front-end interface between a set of host servers and the redundancy group.
10. An AMF apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the circuitry and the first proxy agent are disposed within an AMF device of the first LAAG.
11. In an array management function (AMF) apparatus, a method to facilitate hierarchical distributed cache coherence in a storage network having a first local AMF access group (LAAG) and a second LAAG, the first LAAG including first AMF devices and a first proxy agent, and the second LAAG including second AMF devices and a second proxy agent, the method comprising:
receiving a write update from a host server, the write update identifying a set of storage blocks;
in a first send operation, sending a first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG, each first write invalidate command directing a respective first AMF device of the first LAAG to locally invalidate the set of storage blocks identified by the write update;
in a second send operation, sending a proxy agent write invalidate command to the first proxy agent of the first LAAG, the proxy agent write invalidate command directing the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to the second proxy agent of the second LAAG for distribution of a second write invalidate command to all of the second AMF devices of the second LAAG, each second write invalidate command directing a respective second AMF device of the second LAAG to locally invalidate the set of storage blocks identified by the write update;
in a first receive operation, receiving a first write invalidate acknowledgement from all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG, each first write invalidate acknowledgement indicating that a respective first AMF device of the first LAAG has successfully locally invalidated the set of storage blocks identified by the write update;
in a second receive operation, receiving a proxy agent write invalidate acknowledgement from the first proxy agent of the first LAAG, the proxy agent write invalidate acknowledgement indicating that all of the second AMF devices of the second LAAG have acknowledged successful local invalidation of the set of storage blocks identified by the write update; and
upon completion of the first and second receive operations, sending a write update acknowledgement to the host server.
12. A method as in claim 11 wherein the first AMF devices and the first proxy agent are constructed and arranged to communicate with each other through a high bandwidth communications medium;
wherein the first and second proxy agents are constructed and arranged to communicate with each other through a low bandwidth communications medium, the high bandwidth communications medium having a bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium; and
wherein sending the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG includes transmitting the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG at the bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium.
13. A method as in claim 12 wherein transmitting the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG at the bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium includes broadcasting the first write invalidate command to all of the first AMF devices of the first LAAG.
14. A method as in claim 12 wherein the first LAAG resides at a first location;
wherein the second LAAG resides at a second location;
wherein the first and second locations are different and remotely separated from each other; and
wherein sending the proxy agent write invalidate command to the first proxy agent of the first LAAG includes directing the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to the second proxy agent of the second LAAG via a point-to-point communications protocol.
15. A method as in claim 14 wherein the second AMF devices and the second proxy agent are constructed and arranged to communicate with each other through another high bandwidth communications medium having a bandwidth which is higher than that of the low bandwidth communications medium; and
wherein directing the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to the second proxy agent of the second LAAG includes directing the second proxy agent of the second LAAG to broadcast the second write invalidate command to all of the second AMF devices of the second LAAG.
16. A method as in claim 12 wherein the proxy agent write invalidate command further directs the first proxy agent of the first LAAG to forward the proxy agent write invalidate command to a third proxy agent of a third LAAG for distribution of a third write invalidate command to all of the third AMF devices of the third LAAG, each third write invalidate command directing a respective third AMF device of the third LAAG to locally invalidate the set of storage blocks identified by the write update.
17. A method as in claim 12 wherein the write update identifies, as the set of storage blocks, a block range of consecutive storage blocks; and
wherein local invalidation of the set of storage blocks identified by the write update includes invalidating a local cache for the block range of the consecutive storage blocks.
18. A method as in claim 12, further comprising:
performing a set of array management functions as part of the first LAAG.
19. A method as in claim 18 wherein each AMF device couples to a set of storage devices to form a redundancy group; and
wherein performing a set of array management functions as part of the first LAAG includes operating as a front-end interface between a set of host servers and the redundancy group.
20. A method as in claim 18, further comprising:
co-locating the AMF apparatus and the first proxy agent within an AMF device of the first LAAG.