Software loading system for a currency scanner

An apparatus and method for loading software changes into a currency discrimination machine. In one embodiment, a flash card having a memory remotely programmed with a second software code is adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the currency discrimination machine. Insertion of the flash card causes the initial code in the resident memory of the machine to become erased and replaced with the second software code. The flash card may thereafter be removed from the machine and used to load software changes into other machines. In another embodiment, the flash card is adapted to be inserted and remain electrically coupled to the currency discrimination machine. Insertion of the flash card causes the machine to execute the second software code, but the initial code is not erased or replaced. Upon removal of the flash card, the machine does not retain the second software code but will revert to execution of the initial code.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of currency handling 
machines and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus that permits 
quick and efficient loading of software or software upgrades into currency 
handling machines. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A variety of techniques and apparatus have been used to satisfy the 
requirements of automated currency handling machines. At the upper end of 
sophistication in this area of technology are machines which are capable 
of rapidly identifying, discriminating and counting multiple currency 
denominations. This type of currency discrimination machine typically 
employs either magnetic sensing or optical sensing for discriminating 
between different currency denominations. Magnetic sensing is based on 
detecting the presence or absence of magnetic ink in portions of the 
printed indicia on the currency by using magnetic sensors, usually ferrite 
core-based sensors, and using the detected magnetic signals, after 
undergoing analog or digital processing, as the basis for discrimination. 
The more commonly used optical sensing technique, on the other hand, is 
based on detecting and analyzing variations in light reflectance or 
transmissivity characteristics occurring when a currency bill is 
illuminated and scanned by a strip of focused light. The subsequent 
currency discrimination is based on the comparison of sensed optical 
characteristics with prestored parameters for different currency 
denominations, while accounting for adequate tolerances reflecting 
differences among bills of a given denomination. An example of a currency 
handling machine using an optical scanning technique is described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,295,196, issued Mar. 15, 1994 to Raterman et al. and assigned 
to Cummins-Allison Corporation, incorporated herein by reference. 
Whether employing magnetic or optical sensing techniques, currency handling 
machines known in the art typically include a system memory for storing 
operating parameters including control software and the optical or 
magnetic characteristics of the different currency denominations to be 
evaluated. Although these parameters may remain fixed for relatively long 
periods of time, they must be updated periodically in order to reflect the 
most recent control software or optical or magnetic characteristics of the 
various currency denominations to be evaluated. Currency handling machines 
heretofore known in the art have employed memory devices such as erasable 
programmable read only memory (EPROMs) for this purpose because they are 
unalterable by a user but are capable of being erased and electrically 
reprogrammed. 
However, in order to erase an EPROM chip, it must be removed from its 
position within the machine and exposed to an ultraviolet light for about 
20 minutes. Because EPROM chips are sensitive to mechanical and 
electrostatic damage, the removal, erase process, reprogramming and 
replacement of the chips can generally be accomplished only by trained 
service personnel. In particular, mechanical damage to the chip is likely 
to occur during the removal process unless special tools are used to pry 
the chip from its socket within the machine. Once removed from the 
machine, EPROM chips are typically shipped to an off-site service center 
to be erased. Because of their sensitivity to damage, they must be shipped 
in special containers to protect them from mechanical and electrostatic 
damage. The chips are erased and reprogrammed at the service center and 
delivered to the customer, where they are reinstalled in the machines by 
trained service personnel. 
Accordingly, there is a need for a software loading system that enables 
users of currency discrimination machines to more quickly and easily 
update the system memory of their machines. The system should enable users 
to update their system software without any special training and without 
requiring trained service personnel to remove, erase, reprogram and 
replace the system memory from the machine. The present invention is 
directed to providing a software loading system for a currency 
discrimination machine that overcomes or at least reduces the effects of 
one or more of the problems set forth above. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided 
an apparatus and method for loading software into a currency 
discrimination machine. A resident memory within the machine contains an 
initial software code to be executed by the central processing unit. The 
resident memory may be housed in a ZIF-type socket or equivalent to 
facilitate installation and removal of the resident memory. The initial 
software code includes operational control software and a first set of 
master characteristic patterns corresponding to the different 
denominations of bills to be evaluated by the currency discrimination 
machine. A flash card remote from the machine is programmed with an 
updated software code including a second set of master characteristic 
patterns corresponding to updated parameters of the different 
denominations of bills to be evaluated. The flash card containing the 
updated software code is adapted to be removably plugged into the currency 
discrimination machine. In response to the flash card being plugged into 
the machine, the initial software code in the resident memory of the 
machine is erased and replaced with the updated software code from the 
flash card. When the flash card is subsequently removed from the machine, 
the resident memory retains the updated software code. The flash card may 
thereafter be plugged into and removed from a series of additional 
machines to upgrade the software of the additional machines. 
In accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention, there 
is provided another method and apparatus for loading software into a 
currency discrimination machine. A resident memory within the machine 
contains an initial software code to be executed by the central processing 
unit. The resident memory may be housed in a ZIF-type socket or equivalent 
to facilitate installation and removal of the resident memory. The initial 
software code includes operational control software and a first set of 
master characteristic patterns corresponding to the different 
denominations of bills to be evaluated by the currency discrimination 
machine. A flash card remote from the machine is programmed with an 
updated software code including a second set of master characteristic 
patterns corresponding to updated parameters of the different 
denominations of bills to be evaluated. The flash card containing the 
updated software code is adapted to be plugged into the currency 
discrimination machine. In response to the flash card being plugged into 
the machine, the resident memory of the machine executes the updated 
software code from the flash card, but the initial software code is not 
erased or replaced. Upon removal of the flash card from the machine, the 
resident memory reverts to execution of the initial software code.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative 
forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the 
drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be 
understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the 
particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all 
modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and 
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, there is 
shown a functional block diagram illustrating the prior art currency 
discrimination machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,196, issued to 
Raterman et al. and assigned to Cummins-Allison Corporation, incorporated 
herein by reference. The currency discrimination machine 10 includes a 
bill accepting station 12 where stacks of currency bills that need to be 
identified and counted are positioned. Accepted bills are acted upon by a 
bill separating station 14 which functions to pick out or separate one 
bill at a time for being sequentially relayed by a bill transport 
mechanism 16, according to a precisely predetermined transport path, 
across an optical scanhead 18 where the currency denomination of the bill 
is scanned, identified and counted. The scanned bill is then transported 
to a bill stacking station 20 where bills so processed are stacked for 
subsequent removal. The scanhead 18 functions to detect light reflected 
from the bill as it moves across the illuminated light strip 24 and to 
provide an analog representation of the variation in light so reflected 
which, in turn, represents the variation in the dark and light content of 
the printed pattern or indicia on the surface of the bill. This variation 
in light reflected from the scanning of the bills serves as a measure for 
distinguishing among a plurality of currency denominations with a high 
degree of confidence. 
A series of master characteristic patterns for each denomination of 
currency that is to be detected is stored within an EPROM 34 which serves 
as the system memory. When U.S. currency is to be detected, for example, 
characteristic patterns may be stored in the EPROM 34 representing the 
seven different denominations of U.S. currency, i.e. $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, 
$50 and $100. Additionally, several sets of characteristic patterns may be 
stored for each denomination of bill so that the currency discrimination 
machine is able to recognize the denomination of the bill in several 
orientations. When it becomes necessary to upgrade or update the master 
characteristic patterns, the EPROM chips are typically removed from the 
machine by skilled personnel and replaced with upgraded chips which have 
previously been erased and updated. The removed EPROM chips are thereafter 
sent to a service center to be erased by a process which includes exposure 
to ultraviolet light for about 20 minutes. After the EPROM chips are 
erased, they become available to be reprogrammed and reinstalled in other 
machines. 
Once the master characteristic patterns have been stored, the pattern 
generated by scanning a bill under test is compared by the CPU 30 with 
each of the prestored master characteristic patterns to generate, for each 
comparison, a correlation number representing the extent of correlation of 
the bill with the characteristic patterns. The CPU 30 is programmed to 
identify the denomination of the scanned bill as corresponding to the 
highest degree of correlation with the stored characteristic patterns. 
Depending on the needs of the user, the currency discrimination machine 10 
may be operated in either of several modes, including a mixed mode, a 
stranger mode, a sort mode, a face mode, and a forward/reverse orientation 
mode. 
In the mixed mode, the currency discrimination machine 10 is designed to 
accept a stack of bills of mixed denomination, total the aggregate value 
of all the bills in the stack and display the aggregate value. Information 
regarding the number of bills of each individual denomination in a stack 
may also be stored in denomination counters. 
In the stranger mode, the currency discrimination machine 10 is designed to 
accommodate a stack of bills all having the same denomination, such as a 
stack of $10 bills. The currency discrimination machine 10 will determine 
the denomination of the first bill in the stack and then flag any 
subsequent bills not having the same denomination. Alternatively, the 
stranger mode permits the operator to designate the denomination against 
which bills will be evaluated with those of a different denomination being 
flagged. Assuming the first bill in the stack determines the relevant 
denomination and assuming the first bill is a $10 bill, then provided al 
the bills in the stack are $10 bills, the currency discrimination machine 
10 will indicate the aggregate value of the bills in the stack and/or the 
number of $10 bills in the stack. However, if a "stranger" bill having a 
denomination other than $10 is included in the stack, the discrimination 
machine 10 will temporarily stop evaluating the stack of bills. The 
stranger bill may then be removed from the machine and the machine 
restarted to evaluate the remainder of the stack of bills. 
In the sort mode, the currency discrimination machine 10 is designed to 
accommodate a stack of bills wherein the bills are separated by 
denomination. For example, all the $1 bills may be placed at the beginning 
of the stack, followed by all the $5 bills, followed by all the $10 bills, 
etc. The operation of the sort mode is similar to that of the stranger 
mode in that the machine will temporarily stop evaluating the stack of 
bills upon detection of a different denomination bill, to permit the 
operator to remove the previously evaluated bills. For example, assuming 
the first bill in the stack determines the relevant denomination and 
assuming the first bill is a $1 bill, the discrimination machine 10 will 
process the bills in the stack until the first non-$1 bill is detected, 
which perhaps may be a first $5 bill. At this point, the discrimination 
machine 10 will temporarily stop evaluating the bills in the stack and may 
display the aggregate value or number of $1 bills. The operator may then 
place the stack of $1 bills in a separate stack apart from the other 
denominations of bills. The machine may thereafter be restarted to 
continue cycling through the remainder of the stack of bills and the above 
process is repeated upon the machine encountering different denominations 
of bills. Upon the completion of processing the entire stack, the machine 
may indicate the aggregate value of all the bills in the stack and/or the 
number of bills of each denomination in the stack. 
In the face mode, the currency discrimination machine 10 is designed to 
accommodate a stack of bills all faced in the same direction, e.g. "face 
up" or "face down" and to detect any bills facing the opposite direction. 
In such a mode, the currency discrimination machine 10 will determine the 
face orientation of the first bill in the stack and flag subsequent bills 
if they do not have the same orientation. Alternatively, the 
discrimination machine 10 may be designed to permit designation of the 
face orientation to which bills will be evaluated with those having a 
different face orientation being flagged. Assuming the first bill in a 
stack determines the relevant face orientation and assuming the first bin 
is face up, then provided all the bills in the stack are face up, the 
machine will indicate the aggregate value of the bills in the stack and/or 
the number of bills of each denomination in the stack. However, if a bill 
faced in the opposite direction (i.e., face down in this example), is 
included in the stack, the discrimination machine 10 will temporarily stop 
evaluating the bills and permit the operator to remove the reverse-faced 
bill from the machine. The machine may thereafter be restarted to continue 
cycling through the remainder of the stack of bills until encountering 
other reverse-faced bills, upon which the above process is repeated. The 
ability to detect and correct for reverse-faced bills is important as the 
Federal Reserve Bank requires currency it receives to be faced in the same 
direction. 
In the forward/reverse orientation mode ("orientation mode"), the currency 
discrimination machine 10 is designed to accommodate a stack of bills all 
oriented in a predetermined forward or reverse orientation direction. The 
forward direction may be defined as the direction in which the top edge of 
the bill is fed first into the machine, while the reverse direction may be 
defined as the direction in which the bottom edge of the bill is fed first 
into the machine. In such a mode, the currency discrimination machine 10 
will determine the forward/reverse orientation of the first bill in the 
stack and flag subsequent bills if they do not have the same orientation. 
Alternatively, the discrimination machine 10 may be designed to permit the 
operator to designate the forward/reverse orientation against which bills 
will be evaluated with those having a different forward/reverse 
orientation being flagged. Assuming the first bill in a stack determines 
the relevant forward/reverse orientation and assuming the first bill is 
fed in the forward direction, then provided all the bills in the stack are 
also fed in the forward direction, the machine will indicate the aggregate 
value of the bills in the stack and/or the number of bills of each 
denomination in the stack. However, if a bill having the opposite 
forward/reverse direction is included in the stack, the discrimination 
machine 10 will temporarily stop evaluating the bills and permit the 
operator to remove the reverse-oriented bill from the machine. The machine 
may thereafter be restarted to continue cycling through the remainder of 
the stack of bills until encountering other opposite forward/reverse 
oriented bills, upon which the above process is repeated. The ability to 
detect and correct for reverse-oriented bills is important inasmuch as the 
Federal Reserve Bank may soon require currency it receives to be oriented 
in the same forward/reverse direction. 
Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a representation, in block diagram 
form, of a currency discrimination machine in a preferred embodiment in 
which its resident memory is of the type known as a "flash memory" 36, 
which is capable of being rapidly erased and reprogrammed electrically. 
The electrical signals required to erase and reprogram the flash memory 
are provided by means of a flash card 40, which will be described in 
greater detail hereinafter. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the 
art, the resident memory need not be comprised of a flash memory but may 
be comprised of any of several alternative types of memorys known in the 
art, including electrically eraseable programmable read only memorys 
(EEPROMs) or random access memorys (RAMs). Nevertheless, flash memorys are 
preferred because they are nonvolatile (e.g. their data content is 
preserved without requiring connection to a power supply), they may be 
electrically erased and reprogrammed within fractions of a second by 
simply sending electrical control signals to the flash memory while it 
remains within the machine, and they are less expensive than EEPROMs. 
Preferably, the resident flash memory 36 will be electrically programmable 
in sectors so that portions of the memory can be erased and reprogrammed 
individually. An example of a specific type of flash memory which may be 
used in the currency discrimination machine is product number Am29F010, 
commercially available from Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ("AMD") of 
Sunnyvale, Calif. and described in detail in AMD's publication entitled 
"Flash Memory Products--1996 Data Book/Handbook", incorporated herein by 
reference. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other 
types of flash memorys may be utilized, depending on the system memory 
requirements and desired operating characteristics. 
For added flexibility, according to one embodiment of the present 
invention, means for quickly and easily installing or removing the 
resident memory from the currency discrimination machine may be provided. 
As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, several devices may be 
utilize to accomplish this purpose. One solution is to house the resident 
memory chip in a zero insertion force ("ZIF") socket, in which movable 
contacts can be opened to facilitate insertion or removal of the memory 
chip in the socket without damaging the lead pins of the memory chip. 
Typically, the movable contacts of the ZIF socket may be opened by simply 
depressing a lever or button on the surface of the socket. 
Although the embodiment described in relation to FIG. 2 utilizes a flash 
memory 36 as a resident memory, the resident memory of the currency 
discrimination machine may be comprised of any of several other types of 
memorys known in the art. The ZIF-type socket described above may be used 
in combination with any of these alternate types of resident memorys, and 
accordingly is not limited to use with a flash memory. Examples of 
ZIF-type sockets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,213 ('213 patent), 
incorporated herein by reference and designated herein as FIGS. 3a and 3b, 
respectively. 
FIG. 3a shows an example of a conventional ZIF-type socket. As described in 
the '213 patent, the socket has holes 2 on the surface of a socket body 1. 
Lead pins of an IC device are inserted into the holes 2 as indicated with 
arrows A. After being inserted through the holes 2, the lead pins 
encounter contacts positioned beneath the holes 2 for receiving the lead 
pins. Each of the contacts is made up of a first contact element 3 that is 
fixed and a second contact element 4 that is elastically deformable. Lead 
pins are inserted between the first and second contact elements 3 and 4, 
and then locked. An actuator 5 is installed to open or close the contacts. 
In the example shown in FIG. 3a, the actuator 5 is formed with a movable 
plate arranged on the surface of the socket body 1, and has engaging means 
6 that engage with the tops of the second contact elements 4. When lead 
pins are inserted, the actuator 5 is moved left. Then, the second contact 
elements 4 are moved left accordingly. Thereby, openings are created 
between the second contact elements 4 and the first contact elements 3. 
The lead pins are inserted smoothly without being subject to applied force 
by the contacts. When the lead pins are inserted into the contacts, the 
actuator 5 is moved right. Then, the second contact members are moved 
right and reset to the original positions. Eventually, the lead pins are 
held between the first and second contact elements 3 and 4. 
FIG. 3b shows another example of a conventional ZIF-type socket. As 
described in the '213 patent, the socket has holes 2 on the surface of a 
socket body 1. Lead pins of an IC device are inserted into the holes 2 as 
indicated with arrows A. After being inserted through the holes 2, the 
lead pins encounter contacts positioned beneath the holes 2 for receiving 
the lead pins. Each of the contacts includes a first contact element 3 
that is fixed and a second contact element 4 that is elastically 
deformable. The lead pins are inserted and held between the first and 
second contact elements 3 and 4. An actuator 5 is provided to open or 
close the contacts. In the example shown in FIG. 3b, the actuator 5 is 
arranged inside the socket body 1 and includes an engaging means 6 for 
pressing the second contact elements 4 toward the first contact elements 
3. The actuator 5 is pressed leftward by a cam 7. When lead pins are 
inserted, the actuator 5 lies at a position as illustrated. Openings are 
created between the second contact element 4 and the first contact 
elements 3. The lead pins are inserted smoothly without being subject to 
applied forces by the contacts. When the lead pins are inserted into the 
contacts, the cam 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow B to move the 
actuator 5 to the left. Then, the second contact elements 4 are moved 
toward the first contact elements 3. The lead pins are held between the 
first and second contact elements 3 and 4. In FIGS. 3a and 3b, the first 
and second contact elements 3 and 4 are connected to a circuit board. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a currency discrimination 
machine 10 having an external slot 38 for receiving a flash card according 
to one embodiment of the invention. A removable flash card 40 is adapted 
to be inserted by a user through the external slot 38 and into a mating 
socket 42 located inside the machine adjacent the slot 38. Upon insertion 
of the flash card 40 into the socket 42, an electrical connection is 
formed between the flash card 40 and the resident memory, which preferably 
is a flash memory 36. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, 
the flash card 40 may be electrically coupled to the resident memory by 
any of several alternative means other than a socket. The flash card 40 
contains its own memory which is adapted to be pre-programmed with updated 
software reflecting, for example, the most recent magnetic or optical 
characteristics of the currency denominations to be evaluated, the most 
recent operating code for the currency discrimination machine 10, or an 
operating code associated with one of the modes of operation of the 
currency discrimination machine 10 described in relation to FIG. 1. 
Similar to the resident memory, the flash card memory need not be a flash 
memory but may be comprised of any of several other types of memorys known 
in the art, including electrically eraseable programmable read only 
memorys (EEPROMs) or one-time programmable read-only memorys. 
Nevertheless, a flash memory is preferred because it offers a high degree 
of versatility at a relatively low cost. 
The flash card 40 should be small and lightweight, sturdy enough to 
withstand multiple uses, and adapted to be easily insertable into the slot 
40 and corresponding socket 42 of the currency discrimination machine 10 
by users not having any special training. Further, the flash card 40 
should not require any special electrostatic or physical protection to 
protect it from damage during shipping and handling. One type of flash 
card that has been found to satisfy these criteria is the FlashLite.TM. 
Memory Card available from AMP, Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa. However, it is 
envisioned that other suitable types of flash cards will become available 
from other manufacturers. The FlashLite.TM. card has a thickness of 3.3 mm 
(1/8 inch), a width of approximately 45 mm (1.8 inches) and a 68-pin 
connector interface compatible with the Personal Computer Memory Card 
International Association (PCMCIA) industry standards. Its length may be 
varied to suit the needs of the user. In one embodiment, two sizes of 
flashcards (designated "half size" and "full size") have lengths of 2.1 
inches (53 mm) and 3.3 inches (84 mm), respectively, but other sizes of 
flash cards may also be utilized. 
Turning now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a circuit board assembly 41 
including a socket 42 adapted to receive the flash card 40 according to 
one embodiment of the invention. Upon insertion of the flash card 40 into 
the socket 42, electrical signals are communicated from the flash card 40 
to the resident memory of the machine. In one embodiment, the socket 42 
comprises a PCMCIA-compatible 68-position receptacle for receiving a flash 
card such as the FlashLite.TM. card described above. One type of socket 
that may be used for this purpose is AMP, Inc. product number 146773-1, 
which is adapted to extend vertically from the circuit board assembly 41 
within the currency discrimination machine 10. However, it will be 
appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of sockets may be 
utilized, including those positioned horizontally in relation to the 
circuit board assembly 41, or those including a lever or button which may 
be depressed to eject the flash card 40 from the socket 42. 
Upon insertion of the flash card 40 into its socket 42, the CPU 30 is 
capable of electrically detecting the presence of the card. If the 
FlashLite.TM. card is used, this is accomplished by means of two specially 
designated connector pins CD.sub.1 and CD.sub.2 (assigned to pin numbers 
36 and 67, respectively) being shorted to ground. The CPU 30 then compares 
the contents of the flash card memory with the contents of the resident 
flash memory 36. If the contents of the memorys are the same, an audible 
or visual message is provided to the user indicating that the process is 
concluded. If the contents of the memorys are different, the required 
sectors in the resident flash memory 36 are erased and the new code is 
copied from the flash card 40 to the resident flash memory 36. Upon 
successful completion of the memory transfer, an audible or visual message 
is provided to the user indicating that the process is concluded. The 
flash card 40 can thereafter be removed from the currency discrimination 
machine 10 and plugged into any other currency discrimination machine 
requiring a software update. In the event of an unsuccessful memory 
transfer, the machine will automatically re-attempt the transfer until, 
after multiple unsuccessful attempts, the user will be advised that there 
is a hard system failure and to call for service. Optionally, the flash 
card 40 may include a counter for limiting the number of times that a 
given flash card may be copied into the resident flash memory of 
additional machines. For example, the flash card 40 may include a cycle 
count byte which is preset to a designated number and decrements upon each 
copy cycle. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a block diagram of an alternate 
embodiment of a software loading system for a currency discrimination 
machine. In this embodiment, the currency discrimination machine 10 
contains a resident memory 34 which is not a flash memory. In the 
embodiment shown, the resident memory is an EPROM, but it may be comprised 
of alternate types of non-flash memorys. The currency discimination 
machine 10 is provided with a socket 42 adapted to receive a flash card 40 
therein substantially as described above. Upon insertion of a flash card 
40 into the socket 42, the CPU 30 electrically detects the presence of the 
card as described in relation to FIG. 5, and thereafter executes the code 
directly from the flash card memory as long as the flash card 40 remains 
inserted in the socket 42. If the flash card 40 were to be removed from 
the socket 42, the CPU 30 would revert to executing the old code from the 
resident memory 34. In this embodiment, because the flash card 40 must 
remain inserted in the socket 42 in order to execute the updated code, 
each currency discrimination machine 10 must be equipped with its own 
dedicated flash card 40. 
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or 
more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that 
many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious 
variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope 
of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.