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| 20090132841 | Processor Accessing A Scratch Pad On-Demand To Reduce Power Consumption - The present invention provides processing systems, apparatuses, and methods that access a scratch pad on-demand to reduce power consumption. In an embodiment, an instruction fetch unit initiates an instruction fetch. When a scratch pad is enabled, an instruction is retrieved from the scratch pad in parallel with a translation of a virtual address to a physical address. If the physical address is associated with the scratch pad, the retrieved instruction is provided to an execution unit. Otherwise, the scratch pad is disabled to reduce power consumption and the instruction fetch is re-initiated. When the scratch pad is disabled, an instruction is retrieved from another instruction source, such as an instruction cache, in parallel with the translation of the virtual address to the physical address. If the physical address is associated with the scratch pad, the scratch pad is enabled and the instruction fetch is re-initiated. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090157981 | COHERENT INSTRUCTION CACHE UTILIZING CACHE-OP EXECUTION RESOURCES - A multiprocessor system maintains cache coherence among processors in a coherent domain. Within the coherent domain, a first processor can receive a command to perform a cache maintenance operation. The first processor can determine whether the cache maintenance operation is a coherent operation. For coherent operations, the first processor sends a coherent request message for distribution to other processors in the coherent domain and can cancel execution of the cache maintenance operation pending receipt of intervention messages corresponding to the coherent request. The intervention messages can reflect a global ordering of coherence traffic in the multiprocessor system and can include instructions for maintaining a data cache and an instruction cache of the first processor. Cache maintenance operations that are determined to be non-coherent can be executed at the first processor without sending the coherent request. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158078 | Clock ratio controller for dynamic voltage and frequency scaled digital systems, and applications thereof - The present invention provides a clock ratio controller for dynamic voltage and frequency scaled digital systems, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, a digital system is provided that includes a first digital circuit that operates at a first rate determined by a first clock signal and a second digital circuit that operates at a second rate determined by a second clock signal. The first digital circuit is coupled to the second digital circuit by a bus that is used for communications between the first digital circuit and the second digital circuit. A clock ratio controller is used to adjust the frequency of the first clock signal and/or the second clock signal in response to a power management signal without causing a loss of synchronization between the first digital circuit and the second digital circuit. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090198900 | Microprocessor Having a Power-Saving Instruction Cache Way Predictor and Instruction Replacement Scheme - Microprocessor having a power-saving instruction cache way predictor and instruction replacement scheme. In one embodiment, the processor includes a multi-way set associative cache, a way predictor, a policy counter, and a cache refill circuit. The policy counter provides a signal to the way predictor that determines whether the way predictor operates in a first mode or a second mode. Following a cache miss, the cache refill circuit selects a way of the cache and compares a layer number associated with a dataram field of the way to a way set layer number. The cache refill circuit writes a block of data to the field if the layer number is not equal to the way set layer number. If the layer number is equal to the way set layer number, the cache refill circuit repeats the above steps for additional ways until the block of memory is written to the cache. | 08-06-2009 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090320721 | LOW-PROFILE X-Y TABLE - An X-Y table includes a platform and a frame which has an X and Y-truck trough. An X-drive motor interfaced to an X-drive gear. A Y-drive motor interfaced to a Y-drive gear. Both motors are affixed to the platform. An X-drive linear gear slideably held within an X-direction slot communicates with the X-drive gear whereas rotation of the X-drive gear results in linear movement of the X-drive linear gear. A Y-drive linear gear, slideably held within a Y-direction slot communicates with the Y-drive gear. An X-plane truck attached to the X-drive linear gear is slideably held in the X-truck trough. A Y-plane truck attached to the Y-drive linear gear is slideably held in the Y-truck trough. The frame moves in an X-direction responsive to rotation of the X-drive motor and in a Y-direction responsive to rotation of the Y-drive motor. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090321465 | METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS - A method of dispensing pills includes (a) inputting a request and (b) loading a cassette having a first pill type into position then (c) positioning a target container beneath that cassette. (d) The cassette is energized to drop one pill. (f) If a pill dropped and there are still more of the current pill to drop, the method continues at step d. (g) If a pill dropped and the number of the current pill has satisfied the request, the method ends. (h) If a pill dropped and a number of the current pill already dispensed type has not satisfied the request, the method continues with step d. (i) If no pill dropped, an operator is informed. (k) If the operator indicates the cassette is empty and another cassette has a same pill, the other cassette is moved to the target location and the method continues from step d. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090321469 | PILL DISPENSER WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PLATEN HAVING ELECTRONICALLY READABLE IDENTIFICATION - A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. Several platens are provided, each of the plurality of platens having a machine-readable platen identifier. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is adapted to move in both an X axis and a Y axis and adapted to accept and hold a selected platen of a set of platens whereas the selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited and the machine-readable platen identifier is read by the device for dispensing pills to determine which of the plurality of platens is the selected platen. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090321470 | PILL DISPENSER WITH CANISTERS HAVING ELECTRONICALLY READABLE IDENTIFICATION - A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters, each having a machine-readable canister identifier. The device for dispensing pills further includes a reader adapted to read the machine-readable canister identifier and a selector interfaced to the reader. An active pill canister from the plurality of pill canisters is selected by the selector using data from the reader to determine which of the plurality of pill canisters is at a target location. A control is provided for releasing a desired quantity of pills from the selected pill canister at a target location into a target package. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090321472 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS USING INTERCHANGEABLE PLATENS - A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is adapted to accept and hold a selected platen of a set of platens and to move the selected platen in both an X axis and a Y axis. The selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20110094327 | LOW-PROFILE X-Y TABLE - An X-Y table includes a platform and a frame which has an X and Y-truck trough. An X-plane truck is slideably held in the X-truck trough. A Y-plane truck is slideably held in the Y-truck trough. As the motor/actuator with drive mechanisms moves the frame in an X-direction the Y-truck moves through the Y-trough and as the motor/actuator with drive mechanisms moves the frame in a Y-direction the X-truck moves through the X-trough, thereby moving the frame in both the X-direction and the Y-direction. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110208352 | PILL DISPENSER WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PLATEN HAVING ELECTRONICALLY READABLE/WRITABLE IDENTIFICATION - A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. Several platens are provided; each of the platens has a platen identifier. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is controlled to move in both an X axis and/or a Y axis and the frame holds a selected platen of a set of platens. The selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited. The platen identifier is read by the device for dispensing pills to determine which of the plurality of platens is in the frame. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110278319 | PILL DISPENSER CANISTER HAVING DUAL RESERVOIRS - A dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills includes a dispensing reservoir and a backup reservoir. Pills (solid medications such as pills, capsules and caplets) are stored in both reservoirs but dispensed only from the dispensing reservoir until the dispensing reservoir is empty, at which time, the dual-reservoir canister is tilted to pour the pills from the backup reservoir into the dispensing reservoir. An access door is provided to refill the backup reservoir and, in some embodiments, the access door includes an extension that prevents pills from accidentally falling into the dispensing reservoir while the backup reservoir is refilled. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110288883 | COOPERATIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FULFILLING PRESCRIPTIONS - A method of fulfilling prescription includes a plurality of cooperating pharmacies, each pharmacy having a base inventory and a cooperative inventory of medications. The base inventory is the same or substantially the same across all pharmacies while the cooperative inventory contains unique medications (only available in one cooperative inventory) or substantially unique medications (available in more than one or less than all of the cooperative inventories). When a prescription is received at an originating pharmacy, it is fulfilled from the base inventory or cooperative inventory at the originating pharmacy. If the medication of the prescription is not available in the base inventory or cooperative inventory at the originating pharmacy, then it is located in a cooperative inventory of one of the pharmacies and the prescription is transferred to that pharmacy where it is fulfilled and either provided to the customer at that pharmacy, mailed to the customer or sent to the originating pharmacy where it is picked up by the customer. | 11-24-2011 |
