Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sending and retrieving location relevant information to a user by selecting and designating a point of interest that is displayed on a graphical user interface and sending the location information associated with that point of interest to a receiver that is also selected using the graphical user interface. The location relevant information may also include mapped routes, waypoints, geo-fenced areas, moving vehicles etc. Updated location relevant information may also be continuously sent to the user while generating updated mapping information on the graphical user interface. The present invention may be practiced by using communication devices such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistance, in-vehicle navigation systems, or a mobile telephone.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, control system and computer program product are provided for controllably positioning the solar concentrator. The method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine the respective errors generated by more and different error sources than prior techniques, including error sources selected from the group consisting of a gravitational residue error, an elevation transfer function error and an error attributable to atmospheric refraction. Based upon the respective errors, the method, apparatus, control system and computer program product determine an elevation command and an azimuth command to compensate for the vertical error and the horizontal error between the centerline of the solar concentrator and the sun reference vector such that the solar concentrator can be more precisely positioned, thereby improving the efficiency with which the solar concentrator collects solar energy.

Abstract: A position display system for displaying a position of a device, the system including a device, a position measuring device that measures a position of the device and a host readout device that is mounted at a first location. The host readout device receives a signal from the position measuring device that is representative of a position of the device, wherein the host readout device includes a display that displays an image representative of the position of the device. A remote readout device that is mounted at a second location, wherein the remote readout device includes a display that displays the image.

Abstract: A method of recording aligned images on two sides of a printed circuit board substrate, including: recording an image of an electrical circuit pattern on a first side of a printed circuit board substrate; forming an alignment pattern on a side of the printed circuit board substrate, wherein the alignment pattern has a known spatial relationship to said image of an electrical circuit pattern; determining a location of the alignment pattern on the printed circuit board substrate; and recording an image of an electrical circuit pattern on a second side of the printed circuit board substrate in response to the determined location of the alignment pattern.

Abstract: A positioning system including a sensor, a drive sequencer and an actuator. The sensor senses the actuator position and provides position signals to drive the sequencer which responsively computes and drives the actuator in open loop moves containing dwell intervals of position. The actuator positions a mirror or other load means to reflect an optical beam as desired. Either preprogrammed or non-repeating sequences of actuator stopping positions can be synchronized with a laser. During dwell times, mirror position accuracy better than 10 microradians is suitable for tuning CO2 pulse burst or CW lasers.

Abstract: Control data is efficiently serially transferred to a drive device for driving a motor without involving the CPU. Data buffers are allocated at specific memory addresses. An address decoder decodes a memory address output to the address bus and applies a write enable signal to the corresponding data buffer to write data to that data buffer by DMA transfer. When data is written to a data buffer, a sequencer circuit compiles control data, based on data in that data buffers, in a shift register, and serially transfers the control data one bit at a time on a serial transfer line synchronized to a clock.

Abstract: A single channel reformatter having a syringe that is movable along a z-axis by a z-positioner. A x-y positioner is capable of positioning any well of a source plate having a plurality of wells, and of positioning any well of a destination plate having a plurality of wells, beneath the syringe. Liquid from a well of the source plate is aspirated by the syringe and dispensed into one or more wells of the destination plate. Since the syringe does not move in the x-y plane, it is advantageously integrated into a wash system that cleanses it between liquid transfer operations. The drive element that actuates the syringe to aspirate and dispense during liquid transfer operations is advantageously used to drive the wash cycle. In a method according to present invention for controlling the reformatting operation, well-to-well links are specified, a preferred execution order for executing the specified links is determined, and the specified links are executed in the preferred order.

Abstract: The subject of the invention relates to a positioning system having a control that integrates a GPS receiver for determining the system's operating coordinates. The control can interface with either radio or cellular telephone transceivers, or receivers for receiving GPS coordinate data via remote radio or cellular transceivers or senders, in order to process the local GPS coordinate data using logarithms for solving triangles with various geometrical propositions to establish and control the sensor positioner and to automatically maintain a sensor fix on remote objects or vehicles transmitting their GPS coordinates. The positions control is configured with a target operating mode that permits an operator to manually steer the positioner to desired positions at which information is desired, and to engage the control to make use of, at targeted time, positioner angular data stemming from the positions dive assemblies encoders to automatically maintain a sensor fix on desired targeted positions.

Abstract: A position measuring device that includes a first element having a material measure and a temperature measuring unit with a sensor, the temperature measuring unit is unable to be displaced relative to the material measure. A second element having a scanning head, and an electronic correction device that determines a temperature-corrected position value, wherein the first element is displaced in relation to the second element.

Abstract: A method for controlling a mechanism through the use of higher-dimensional n-curves is disclosed. An electronically-controlled mechanism is provided. Electronic communication is established between a computer and the electronically-controlled mechanism. A controller is running or executing on the computer to send mechanism commands to the electronically-controlled mechanism. Process control software is used to control the electronically-controlled mechanism. The process control software uses higher-dimensional n-curves to control the electronically-controlled mechanism.

Abstract: The control unit sets up the center and an insensitive zone of a zoom seesaw switch provided in a drive unit of an ENG lens by an electrical processing. The control unit is capable of dispensing with a mechanical adjustment of the center and the insensitive zone of the zoom seesaw switch in assembling the product, and the assembly of the product is thus simplified. On turning on a center setting switch while the zoom seesaw switch is released from the operation, an operational position of the zoom seesaw switch at that time is accurately set as the center that brings the moving rapidity of the zoom lens to zero. On setting an insensitive zone size by an insensitive zone setup device, the moving rapidity of the zoom lens becomes zero whenever the operational position of the zoom seesaw switch is within the insensitive zone. Any of these settings is carried out by a processing of a CPU.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the position of an actuating element (1) which prevent damage to the actuating element by a collision with at least one stop (25, 30) and simultaneously ensure good dynamic characteristics. The position of the actuating element (1) tracks a desired value within a displacement range. The displacement range is limited for the actuating element (1) by at least one stop (25, 30). A check is made as to whether the distance between the desired value for the position of the actuating element (1) and the at least one stop (25, 30) drops below a pregiven value (S1). Only in this case is a change of the desired value limited.

Abstract: A position control system includes a PID controller for generating a current target value of a linear motor from a difference between a positional detected value and a positional command value, and a disturbance observer. The disturbance observer includes a signal processing unit comprising a filter for filtering a torque command value for a motor drive and an input torque estimating filter carrying out estimation for obtaining an estimated input load torque from the detected positional value. An inverse model of a motor torque constant calculates an estimated disturbance load torque from the difference between the filtered torque command value and the estimated input load torque and generates a correction value for the current target value so as to cancel a disturbance torque on the basis of the estimated disturbance load torque being calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an estimation system that can provide a highly reliable estimation result when the estimation system estimates person-hours required to prepare a film pattern for a circuit to be printed on a board. Upon receiving design conditions from a cline machine, a reference pin calculator of the estimation system calculates a number of reference pins on the basis of a total number of pins extending from parts to be integrated on the printed circuit board and a special specification requirement to be applied to the printed circuit. An additional pin calculator calculates a number of additional pins on the basis of a signal line wiring method. A total estimated pin calculator corrects a sum of the reference pins and the additional pins on the basis of design difficulty, which is determined from a number of signal layers to be made in the printed circuit, a number of signal lines arrangeable between adjacent pins and a pin density, to calculate a total estimated number of pins.

Abstract: A system and method 100 of using residual feedback in a control loop in a manner that substantially eliminates the steady state error in the predicted states that results from the mismatch in gain between the plant and the model. The control effort used by the estimator to predict the next position is modified to compensate for this difference in gain. By integrating the residual, and modifying the apparent control effort accordingly, the residual is driven to have a mean value of zero. When the residual goes to zero, by definition, the steady state error in the position state goes to zero; and to the extent that the model matches the plant, the velocity state also approaches zero such that the steady state error in the predicted states are substantially eliminated, allowing for improved control.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising an arithmetic logic unit; a memory comprising a pre-computed table of target pulse widths, changes in pulse width, and pulse counts distributed according to a constrained semi-logarithmic distribution, said memory connected to said arithmetic logic unit via a pipeline mechanism; and a state machine adapted to load each of said target pulse widths and changes in pulse width from said memory into said arithmetic logic unit at pre-determined intervals of pulse count while maintaining control of a pulse width generated by said arithmetic logic unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring and fixing the three-dimensional location of medical instrument that can be easily placed at a desired location by a user.

Abstract: A control system (102) operates within a dynamic range, and a follow-up system (104) is commanded to reduce a positional error between the follow-up system and the control system when the dynamic range is exceeded. A linear follow-up command may be initially provided once a dead band value (208) is exceeded. The follow-up system (104) is driven relative to its base mount (103) in a direction to reduce the positional error to within a null value range (214). The follow-up command may also implement a decay function to control the follow-up system (104). A control variable transfer function may also be utilized to gradually subtract the dead band value from the follow-up system position error command as a function of time. The decaying function may include linear as well as non-linear decaying functions. In one embodiment, a figure eight-type hysteresis control function may be implemented to control the inertial position of an inertial element.

Abstract: An improved control method that constrains the operation of a manipulator in a control system is provided. Modifying a conventional control system to conform to this new method requires the selection of a preferred or desired direction of adjustment for the manipulator and the selection of a reset value for the manipulator. The conventional control system, which normally adjusts the manipulator as necessary to achieve a desired value for a system variable, is constrained by this new method so that the system variable achieves the desired value as a final or direct result of using manipulator adjustments that are in the selected desired direction of adjustment.

Abstract: A wireless handheld device such as a Palm computer configured to download G-code instructions to a Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machine is disclosed. The G-code instructions can be edited and loaded onto the handheld device from a stationary PC. The handheld device communicates with the CNC machine using a specialized serial cable.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing products and a method of controlling such an apparatus, having a programmable logic controller—PLC—an axis control system, for controlling axes, and a visualization system for displaying processes and/or process parameters. In known apparatus of this type, the PLC, the axis control system and the visualization system are implemented in physically self-contained appliances. Linking these components requires a great deal of effort both during construction and during operation of the apparatus. The data interchange between the components requires an “overhead” in order to ensure the communication between the components. This is disadvantageous. The invention therefore seeks to improve such manufacturing apparatus and control methods in that the PLC, the axis control system and the visualization system run on a common physical appliance.

Abstract: A control device for the position (x) of a valve slide (3), with a d.c. voltage (UB) operated set point transmitter (11), which produces a set point value (Uw) proportional to the position (w) of a control lever (10) and the operating d.c. voltage (UB), with an actual value transmitter (15) operated with the same d.c. voltage (UB) as the set point transmitter (11), which produces an actual value signal (Ux) proportional to the position (x) of the valve slide (3) and the operating d.c. voltage (UB), the proportionality factors (k1, k2) being equal to the dependence of the set point and actual value signals (Uw, Ux) on the position (x) of the valve slide (3) or the position (w) of the control lever (10), respectively, and on the operating d.c.

Abstract: In a master unit, clock signals from a clock are counted by a counter, and clock data is generated. This clock data is outputted to a slave unit by a driver, and stored in clock data storage memory. The slave unit stores clock data received by a receiver in the clock data storage memory. A processor for a program controller of the master and slave units starts up, and executes the synchronized operation of an operating program of axes that are synchronized on the basis of clock data stored in the clock data storage memory. It is also possible to commence operation of an axis under other conditions without relying on clock data. If override is applied to clock data, override will apply only to an axis that is synchronized and operated in accordance with clock data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a machine with a position feedback system and a method for use thereof. The machine includes at least one movable element mounted for movement on a path and at least one programmable controller. The machine further includes at least two absolute or magnetostrictive sensors or the machine includes an absolute sensor and a non-absolute sensor. The programmable controller uses positional information from the sensors to determine the position of the movable elements on the path and control the movable elements. The method includes determining a known position for the movable elements, linking at least two magnetostrictive sensors into one virtual sensor, and/or performing commutation alignment for the movable elements. Determining the position and commutation alignment can occur when the movable elements are stationary or moving.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a first co-ordinate frame of a robot and effector in a second frame of reference of a sensor when the sensor is substantially rigidly attached to the robot and effector, including the steps of measuring first positions of a plurality of first light sources relative to the sensor, with the first positions corresponding to a first absolute position of the robot and effector, moving the robot and effector, measuring second positions of the plurality of first light sources, which second positions correspond to the desired second absolute position of the robot and effector and the sensor, repeating the measurement of and movement from the first to second positions so as to provide at least two sets of measurements of first and second positions corresponding to at least two movements, each of which at least two movements is a known, unique transform, combining the at least two sets of measurements of first and second positions so as to calibrate the first co-ordinate frame in the second fra

Abstract: A control method for removing scanning discontinuity in scanners. The relationship between a driving motor and an elastic body such as a leather belt or a steel cable linked to the chassis inside a scanner is investigated so that time constants for achieving system stability are found. Through setting the time constants, the forwarding and reversing motion of the chassis is controlled so that scanning discontinuity due to stopping and restarting is reduced.

Abstract: A hybrid stabilization system for isolating a pointing vector of a gimbal from the motion of a vehicle base is provided. The hybrid stabilization control system includes a rate feedback loop generating a rate feedback compensation value in response to a measured rate difference between a pointing vector rate of motion and a vehicle base rate of motion, a rate feedforward loop generating a rate feedforward compensation value in response to a measured inertial vehicle base rate of motion, a position feedback loop generating a position feedback compensation value in response to a measured position difference between a pointing vector angular position and a vehicle base angular position, a position feedforward loop generating a position feedforward compensation value in response to a measured inertial vehicle base angular position.

Abstract: A machining program is read in and interpreted and a determination is made as to whether the amount of movement called for by a block of commands is larger or smaller than a minimum amount of movement that is established by a feed speed and a one sampling period of a numerical control apparatus. If the amount of movement called for is greater than the minimum amount of movement, feed control is performed in accordance with the current block. If the amount of movement called for by the current block of commands is smaller than the minimum movement amount, an immediate subsequent block of commands is concatenated with the current block, and this concatenation of command blocks is continued until a synthesized block calling for an amount of movement greater than the minimum amount of movement is obtained, this synthesized block then being used to perform feed control.

Abstract: A communication robot includes a speaker. By generating a sound or voice through the speaker, the human is requested to cause a robot to make a certain action. When the human makes an action to the robot, the movement of the robot head or arm assists for the action.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for path planning are presented. Path planning involves propagating cost waves in a configuration space representation of a task space. A space variant metric and budding are used for cost wave propagation. The disclosed method and apparatus are readily adaptable to robots with n degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A system and method for previewing a sequence of motion control operations. A user may utilize a motion control prototyping environment application to easily and efficiently develop/prototype a motion control sequence. For example, the environment may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to develop/prototype the motion control sequence at a high level, by selecting from and configuring a sequence of motion control operations using the GUI. The graphical user interface of the motion control prototyping environment may enable the user to preview various aspects of the motion performed by a motion control sequence in one or more preview windows, e.g., a velocity profile, an acceleration profile, position plots, etc., in advance before commanding the motor to perform the sequence of moves.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a variable of a device by an end element is disclosed. The control system has as its input a magnetostrictive position sensing probe for measuring the value of the variable of the device at time intervals and a digital controller reading the value from the magnetostrictive position sensing probe and having an output and means for calculating control output from the updated value of the variable during the time interval. The digital controller is close coupled to the magnetostrictive position sensing probe to permit time intervals that are very short, such as 500 microseconds to 1 millisecond.

Abstract: A method for the incremental position determination of two objects, which are movable in relation to each other. The method including generating at least one pair of position-dependent incremental scanning signals during a position determination between two objects, which have a defined phase offset from each other. Passing the at least one pair of position-dependent incremental scanning signals on to a transformation table in which one or several output signal values with respect to each pair of the at least one pair of position-dependent incremental scanning signals have been stored. Transferring the one or several output signals from the transformation table to an evaluation unit wherein position determination between the two objects is performed. Dynamically updating the transformation table during the position determination between the two objects.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for recreating illumination conditions in a slave bonder, prepared to attach connecting bonds onto bond pads of a slave integrated circuit. First, images of illuminated alignment references of a master circuit on a master bonder are defined; these data are analyzed to construct relationships between reference images and bond locations; data and relationships are stored in a master file. Secondly, on a slave bonder, the master reference image data are regenerated so that the illumination conditions of the slave bonder, as based on images, are recreated. Thirdly, images of the slave circuit references are produced under the newly created illumination conditions, and the alignment references are compensated. Finally, the bonding locations of the slave circuit and the bonding program of the slave bonder are corrected so that connecting bonds can be attached onto the recomputed correct bond locations.

Abstract: A measurement probe is carried by a carriage movable in a first direction to cause the measurement probe to traverse a measurement path across a surface of an object received by a support surface to provide measurement data representing variations in a second direction different from the first direction of surface features along the measurement path. The support surface is movable in a third direction different from the first and second directions. Measurement of a surface area is effected by controlling the carriage to cause the measurement probe to traverse a plurality of measurement paths across an area of the surface of an object mounted on the support surface and by controlling the support surface to move in the third direction after each measurement path traverse. Measurement data thus obtained for a reference sphere of previously known radius is used to determine the relative orientation of the first and third directions.

Abstract: A modular process platform system comprises a frame, a machine base mounted to the frame and an input/output panel mounted to the frame. The input/output panel has a plurality of mappable input/output connectors configured for receiving mating connectors from a machine capable of being mounted to the machine base and from a controller for controlling operation of the machine. The system is configurable for accommodating any of a plurality of different machines having different input/output configurations, without requiring input/output wiring customized to a particular input/output configuration.

Abstract: A method for the onboard locating and tracking of remotely located targets from a search vehicle. These functions are accomplished by first receiving two separate location signals onboard the search vehicle. The first location signal corresponds to the location of the target and is transmitted by way of a transmitter to a transceiver positioned onboard the search vehicle. The second location signal corresponds to the location of the search vehicle itself, and is received by way of a receiver located onboard the search vehicle. These first and second location signals are processed together by a control processor to determine a relative location between the target and the search vehicle. The control processor then moves an image acquisition device, which includes a camera, in accordance with the relative location, and then visually captures the target with the camera. Visual contact is then maintained by continuously repeating the above described process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for synchronizing processes which are executed on a plurality of units (2a, 2b, 2c), in particular, in paper-processing machines, the units (2a, 2b, 2c) being connected to a central control unit (1) via a data bus (6). The present invention is characterized in that the central control unit (1) is designed for distributing movement commands via a data bus (6) to a plurality of units (2a, 2b, 2c), the movement commands containing the instant at which these commands are executed, and that provision is made for the units (2a, 2b, 2c) which keep available the absolute time to synchronously execute these commands at the instant communicated via the commands.

Abstract: A location programming apparatus and method according to the present invention generates operation control information consisting of a locating control parameter and a locating program for a controller for controlling a motor for operating a subject which must be controlled, the location programming apparatus including: locating control type setting means (control S/W) for setting locating control type for controlling the operation of the subject which must be controlled; graphical data generating means (control S/W) for graphically generating graph data of the locating program on a work memory in accordance with the set locating control type; and operation control information generating means (control S/W) for generating operation control information on a parameter memory and a locating program memory in accordance with graph data stored in the work memory.

Abstract: A position control system includes a PID controller for generating a current target value of a linear motor from a difference between a positional detected value and a positional command value, and a disturbance observer. The disturbance observer includes a signal processing unit comprising a filter for filtering a torque command value for a motor drive and an input torque estimating filter carrying out estimation for obtaining an estimated input load torque from the detected positional value. An inverse model of a motor torque constant calculates an estimated disturbance load torque from the difference between the filtered torque command value and the estimated input load torque and generates a correction value for the current target value so as to cancel a disturbance torque on the basis of the estimated disturbance load torque being calculated.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of radio navigation and, more specifically, it relates to methods of determining the current values of the orbital position of the artificial satellite of the Earth which is used in a satellite radio navigation system (SRNS), by the ephemeredes and can be used when performing the radio navigation measurements in the equipment of the consumers of the SRNS signals.

Abstract: A discrete Kalman filter 12 and a disturbance estimating unit 13 are added to a feedback loop for feeding back a detected value of position from a position detector 6. The Kalman filter estimates position and velocity of an object to be controlled, thereafter outputting an estimated value of position and an estimated value of velocity. The disturbance estimating unit estimates from a command value of current and the estimated value of velocity the disturbance that is added to a load 5. The estimated value of position is fed back to a position controller 1, and the estimated value of velocity is fed back to a velocity controller 2. Further, a difference between a target value of current outputted from the velocity controller and the estimated value of disturbance is output as the command value of current.

Abstract: A control software system for generating and distributing motion media for operating a target motion device. The control software system generates the motion media based on a motion program generated at a content server. The control software system distributes the motion media to a client browser associated with the target motion device.

Abstract: The control system includes a microprocessor based radio frequency receiver module and a radio frequency handset transmitter module. The microprocessor receives a specific input from the remote transmitter. The handset transmitter module contains two joysticks. Two different sets of eight peripheral initiating positions are located in a circular formation with one of the joysticks at the center of each circular formation. Each initiating position activates a switch. Each switch activates a different radio frequency (RF) signal that activates a particular vehicle actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for proposing bending sequences and bending tools for a metal plate part includes system for storing a development plan of the metal plate part; system for detecting a plurality of bending sequence proposals which make it possible to manufacture the metal plate part based on the development plan, and bending tool proposals used in each bending process of each bending sequence proposal; and system for displaying the plurality of bending sequence proposals. Such display includes information showing the stage numbers in each bending sequence proposal.

Abstract: A method for compensating signals from an absolute angular position sensor assembly is used in conjunction with an absolute angular position sensor assembly having an input gear coupled to a rotating shaft. The input gear is meshed with an output gear that rotates as the input gear and the shaft rotate. The sensor assembly includes an input gear sensor and an output gear sensor placed in proximity to the input gear and output gear, respectively. The gears are configured so as to be sensed by the sensors. The method includes determining an angular position compensation value that is used to adjust an absolute position of the input gear, which in turn is used to compute the absolute position of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: In NC data creating device and method, a data input portion separates part data of a part to be mounted and mount coordinate data indicating the mount position of the part from design information of a board input and stores the production time of the board input, a feeding means characteristic management portion creates and manages feeding means characteristic data indicating the relationship between the part and the part feeding means on the basis of the part data, a recognizing method management portion creates and manages recognizing method data indicating the relationship between the part and a method of recognizing the part on the basis of the part data, a mount time management portion creates and manages the mount time data indicating the mount time required for mounting onto the board every part type on the basis of the part data, and numerical control data creating means creates numerical control data on the basis of the data of each storage portion and each management portion.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an actuator controller for use in an actuator assembly. The actuator controller includes a processor for controlling an actuator associated with the actuator controller. A communication device is in communication with the processor. The communication device receives control commands from a master controller and is capable of communicating in multiple languages. A memory is accessible by the processor and the processor determines the language of the control commands and retrieves a control program from the memory corresponding to the language.

Abstract: A robot is provided, wherein it is possible to reduce incorrect identification in the case of executing face identification in a place where lighting variations are large such as in a house and in a place where there exists a lighting environment that is bad for identification. A face area of a person is detected from an image picked up at an imaging device and stored, and a face detecting and identifying device identifies a person using face image information stored before then. An identification result reliability calculating device calculates, using information from the imaging device, whether or not a present lighting state is suitable for face identification. When the result of calculation indicates that the lighting state is not suitable for face identification, the robot is moved by a moving means. Thereby, incorrect identification can be reduced.

Abstract: A system for motion control in which an application is developed that is independent from the actual motion control hardware used to implement the system. The system comprises a software system that employs an application programming interface comprising component functions and a service provider interface comprising driver functions. A system programmer writes an application that calls the component functions. Code associated with the component functions relates these functions to the driver functions. A hardware designer writes driver code that implements the driver functions on a given motion control hardware product. The driver functions are separated into core and extended driver functions. All software drivers implement the core driver functions, while the software drivers need not contain code for implementing the extended driver functions.