In this section, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
"variable" (as a noun) means a feature or property (e.g., a dimension, a physical condition such as temperature, a quality such as density or colour) which, in respect of a particular entity (e.g., an object, a quantity of a substance, a beam of light) and at a particular instant, is capable of being measured; the variable may change, so that its numerical expression may assume different values at different times, in different conditions or in individual cases, but may be constant in respect of a particular entity in certain conditions or for practical purposes (e.g., the length of a bar may be regarded as constant for many purposes).
Attention is drawn to the definitions of terms or expressions used, appearing in the notes of several of the classes in this section, in particular those of "measuring" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01 and "control" and "regulation" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05.
Classification in this section may present more difficulty than in other sections, because the distinction between different fields of use rests to a considerable extent on differences in the intention of the user rather than on any constructional differences or differences in the manner of use, and because the subjects dealt with are often in effect systems or combinations, which have features or parts in common, rather than "things", which are readily distinguishable as a whole. For example, information (e.g., a set of figures) may be displayed for the purpose of education or advertising (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09), for enabling the result of a measurement to be known (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01), for signalling the information to a distant point or for giving information which has been signalled from a distant point (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08). The words used to describe the purpose depend on features that may be irrelevant to the form of the apparatus concerned, for example, such features as the desired effect on the person who sees the display, or whether the display is controlled from a remote point. Again, a device which responds to some change in a condition, e.g., in the pressure of a fluid, may be used, without modification of the device itself, to give information about the pressure (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01L) or about some other condition linked to the pressure (another subclass of class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01, e.g., Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01K for temperature), to make a record of the pressure or of its occurrence (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G07C), to give an alarm (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08B), or to control another apparatus (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05).
The classification scheme is intended to enable things of a similar nature (as indicated above) to be classified together. It is therefore particularly necessary for the real nature of any technical subject to be decided before it can be properly classified.
In this subclass, the following terms are used with the meaning indicated: [8]
"storage element" is an element which can hold at least one item of information and is provided with means for writing-in or reading-out this information; [8]
"memory" is a device, including storage elements, which can hold information to be extracted when desired. [8]
Input/output (I/O) data interface arrangements, e.g. I/O data control circuits, I/O data buffers (level conversion circuits in general Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...H03K 19/0175) [7]
using a sequential addressing device, e.g. shift register, counter (using first in first out (FIFO) registers for changing speed of digital data flow Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G06F 5/06; using last in first out (LIFO) registers for processing digital data by operating upon their order Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G06F 7/00) [5]
Digital stores characterised by arrangements of cells having volatile and non-volatile storage properties for back-up when the power is down [5]
P:20
G11C 15/00
Digital stores in which information comprising one or more characteristic parts is written into the store and in which information is read-out by searching for one or more of these characteristic parts, i.e. associative or content-addressed stores (in which information is addressed to a specific location Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G11C 11/00) [2]
in which contents are determined by selectively establishing, breaking or modifying connecting links by permanently altering the state of coupling elements, e.g. PROM [5]
Digital stores characterised by movement of mechanical parts to effect storage, e.g. using balls; Storage elements therefor (storing by actuating contacts Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G11C 11/48)
P:80
G11C 25/00
Digital stores characterised by the use of flowing media; Storage elements therefor
P:110
G11C 27/00
Electric analogue stores, e.g. for storing instantaneous values
P:0
G11C 29/00
Checking stores for correct operation; Testing stores during standby or offline operation [1,8]
G11C 29/02
·
Detection or location of defective auxiliary circuits, e.g. defective refresh counters [8]
G11C 29/04
·
Detection or location of defective memory elements [8]
G11C 29/52
·
Protection of memory contents; Detection of errors in memory contents [8]
G11C 29/54
·
Arrangements for designing test circuits, e.g. design for test (DFT) tools [8]
G11C 29/56
·
External testing equipment for static stores, e.g. automatic test equipment (ATE); Interfaces therefor [8]
P:150
G11C 99/00
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass [8]