Patent Application
20240136609
The present disclosure relates to the field of battery technology and energy cells and discloses solutions for determining a position of a battery cell within a battery system comprising a plurality of battery cells. In particular, embodiments of the disclosure relate to a method and a system for determining a position of a battery cell within a battery system comprising a plurality of battery cells.
Battery systems, comprising a plurality of battery cells, are used in a wide range of modern electric power applications. For example, they are used to power electric vehicles, they are used in industrial power applications, in transportation, and in commercial applications such as powering of modern electronic devices. Given the relatively high-power demands of such applications, a battery system often comprises a plurality of battery cells coupled together to achieve the required power output. The battery cells may be coupled together to form a battery pack, and the battery system may comprise one or more battery packs.
It is common to connect a battery system to a battery management system (BMS), configured to ensure that the battery system operates within its safe operating area. The safe operating area is defined as the voltage and current conditions under which the battery system is expected to operate without self-damage. For further details, the interested reader is directed to the following Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_management_system.
In certain known applications, performance characteristics of the battery cells within the battery system may be monitored, to identify potentially faulty operation of cells within the battery system before a catastrophic fault occurs. The severity of the potential fault may be dependent on the position of the associated cell within the battery system. This is particularly true where the fault is associated with overheating, or a leak of battery fluids or gas. Depending on the position of the cell within the battery system, the fault may potentially provoke a catastrophic chain reaction. For example, an overheating cell located centrally within a battery system, in contact with adjacent cells on all its surfaces, poses a greater risk of causing a chain reaction, than an overheating cell located near a corner of the battery system in physical contact with a single cell. It is therefore important to know the relative positions of the battery cells comprised within a battery system, to better assess the gravity of an identified potential fault in a battery cell.
As a safety precaution, since it is not always known how to determine the position of individual cells in a battery system, and the position of a faulty cell, it is common to replace the entire battery system, when a fault is identified in a battery cell within the battery system. This often also results in some individual cells within the battery system, which are otherwise functional, and operating normally, to be discarded. This results in significant waste of functional cells, due to the inability to determine the locations of individual cells within the battery system.
In the prior art systems of
A shortcoming of the prior art system of
It is an object of at least some embodiments of the present disclosure to address one or more shortcomings of the prior art systems, and in particular to provide an improved solution for determining the position of individual battery cells within battery packs and systems.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of determining a position of a battery cell within a battery system comprising a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell may comprise a unique identifier (ID) and each battery cell may be configured to emit a first signal when in a first state. The first signal enables the battery cell in the first state to be distinguished from the plurality of other battery cells comprised in the battery system. The method may comprise: receiving a first signal associated with a battery cell in the first state; obtaining the unique ID associated with the battery cell in the first state; and determining the position of the battery cell in the first state within the battery system. The position of the battery cell in the first state may be determined based on the received first signal associated with the battery cell in the first state. The determined position may be associated with the received unique ID of the battery cell in the first state.
The present method may be used to determine the position of a battery cell within a battery system irrespective of any pre-existing communication hierarchy. In accordance with some embodiments, determined battery cell position information may be used to complement existing battery fault detection systems, and to assist identifying positions of faulty cells for replacement.
One or more battery cells within the battery system may comprise an indicator configured to emit the first signal when the associated battery cell is in the first state. The first signal may comprise an electro-magnetic (EM) signal. The method may further comprise receiving an image of the battery system captured from an image capture device, the image comprising an image of the indicator emitting the EM signal associated with the battery cell in the first state. The position of the battery cell in the first state relative to one or more other battery cells comprised within the battery system may be determined from the received image, based on a position of the indicator emitting the EM signal comprised in the received image.
In accordance with an embodiment, receipt anchor emission of radio-frequency (RF) signals from and/or to battery cells may be used to distinguish a cell from the plurality of other battery cells within the battery system. The position of the cell relative to the other cells within the battery system may be determined on the basis of received RF signal strengths.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a processor for determining a position of a battery cell within a battery system comprising a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell having a unique ID, and each battery cell being configured to emit a first signal when in a first state. The first signal enables the battery cell in the first state to be distinguished from the plurality of other battery cells comprised in the battery system. The processor may be configured to: receive a first signal associated with a battery cell in the first state receive the unique ID associated with the battery cell in the first state; determine the position of the battery cell in the first state within the battery, based on the received first signal associated with the battery cell in the first state; and associate the determined position with the received unique ID of the battery cell in the first stale. In accordance with some embodiments the processor may comprise any one or more of: a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a battery management system comprising the afore-mentioned processor for determining a position of a battery cell within a battery system comprising a plurality of battery cells.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided a computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed on a processor configure the processor to carry out the afore-mentioned method.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory storage device comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed on a process configure the processor to carry out the afore-mentioned method.
In the succeeding sections of the disclosure, specific embodiments of the disclosure will be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
In the following illustrative description of embodiments, like numbered reference numerals appearing in different figures will be used to refer to shared features.
Different embodiments of the present disclosure provide different solutions enabling one or more battery cells comprised within a battery system comprising a plurality of cells, to be distinguished from other battery cells within the system. Once individual cells are distinguishable from adjacent cells within the battery system, then the individual positions of the cells may be determined.
The general method of
The method of
The ensuing embodiments disclosed herein provide different methods for distinguishing one or more battery cells within a battery system, for the purposes of determining cell position. In certain embodiments, the first signal may be associated with an electro-magnetic (EM) signal emitted by the battery cell in the first state. Illustrative, non-limiting examples of the EM signal comprise any one or more of: an optical signal, an infra-red signal, or a radio-frequency signal (RF). In certain embodiments, the first signal may be associated with a change in the electrical state of the battery cell, such as a voltage change, or a power change. Further details regarding the different embodiments ensue below.
Each electronic device 315 may comprise indicator 330 configured to emit an EM signal when in the first state, on instruction from controller 350, received via the shared communications means. The instruction may be received via wireless communication where battery cell 310 and controller 350 communicate wirelessly. The instruction may cause the battery cell 310 to activate the first state. In certain embodiments, indicator 330 may comprise a lightbulb or LED configured to emit an optical signal. The optical signal may be comprised in the visible light spectrum. By selectively controlling activation of a battery cell's indicator 330, the controller enables individual battery cells 310 to be distinguishable from adjacent cells.
Apparatus 300 further comprises image capture device 340 configured to capture images of battery system 305, including the battery cell 310 in the first state emitting the EM signal. Image capture device 340 is operatively connected to processor 360 configured to receive images captured by image capture device 340, via shared communication channel 345. Processor 360 is additionally operatively connected to controller 350 via shared communication channel 355. Shared communication channels 345, 355 may be wired or wireless communication channels. Controller 350 may be pre-configured with the unique IDs associated with each cell 310 comprised in battery system 305, albeit it does not know the positions of each cell 310. Processor 360 is configured to receive information from controller 350 associated with the unique ID of the battery cell 310 in the first state emitting the EM signal. In certain embodiments the information associated with the unique ID may comprise the unique ID itself. In this way, processor 360 is able to determine the identity of the battery cell 310 in the first state emitting the EM signal.
Processor 360 is configured to determine a position of the battery cell 310 in the first state emitting the EM signal within battery system 305, from the captured image data received from image capture device 340. The determined position of the battery cell in the first state may subsequently be associated with the received unique ID of the battery cell 310 emitting the FM signal. In this way, processor 360 is able to determine the position and identity of the battery cell 310 in the first state.
In certain embodiments, processor 360 may be comprised in a BMS operatively connected to the plurality of battery cells 310. In some embodiments, processor 360 may be located locally to one or more of the electronic devices 315 on battery cells 310, and electronic devices 315 may be arranged in a master-slave configuration. In other embodiments, controller 350 and/or image capture device 340 may relay data to a cloud server (or other external memory device) accessible by processor 360. In case of the latter, shared communication channels 345 and 355 may be routed via the cloud server.
Controller 350 comprises communication device 365 configured to send instructions to electronic device 315 located on each of the plurality of battery cells 310, using the known unique ID of the associated cell 310. In
In some non-limiting illustrative embodiments, indicator 330 may comprise any one of: an infrared LED configured to emit an optical infrared signal; a heating device configured to emit an infrared thermal signal; an electrical load configured to emit an infrared signal when current is run through it. In such embodiments image capture device 340 may include an infrared or thermal imaging camera. In other embodiments, indicator 330 may be configured to emit an ultraviolet optical signal, in which case image capture device 340 may be configured to image ultraviolet light.
In accordance with some embodiments, wireless transmitter 320 may be configured to operate in the radio frequency spectrum. Similarly, wireless transmitter 320 may be configured for short-range communication such as near-field communication (NFC), or Bluetooth®. The use of short-range communication reduces the potential of signal interference occurring between different battery cells 310 located in close proximity, such as may occur within a battery pack.
In
Where the indicators 330 of battery cells 310 are not all visible to image capture device 340, a plurality of different image capture devices positioned at different locations relative to the battery pack 305 may be used to capture the required images of battery cells 310 and their associated indicators 330. Configuring a plurality of different image capture devices at different locations around the battery pack ensures that each indicator may be visible to at least one of the plurality of image capture devices.
When the battery cell 310 in the first state emits the EM signal, image capture device 340 captures an image of battery pack 305 comprising the battery cell in the first state emitting the EM signal. Processor 360 receives the captured image from image capture device 340 at step 420. Processor 360 determines the position of the battery cell in the first state emitting the EM signal from the captured image, at step 440. This may comprise analysing the captured image to identify the battery cell emitting the EM signal. In some embodiments, this may comprise comparing the captured image with a reference image of the battery system 305 in which none of battery cells 310 are in the first state. In other words, in which none of the battery cells are emitting an EM signal, Determining the position of the battery cell in the first state emitting the EM signal may comprise analysing the captured image using object detection techniques to identify the battery cell emitting the EM signal in the captured image.
Processor 360 subsequently matches the determined battery cell position with the cell's unique ID, at step 450. This may comprise mapping the determined battery cell position to a predefined schematic of battery system 305. Processor 360 now knows the position of the battery cell in the first state and the cell's identity from its unique ID. At step 460 it is determined if the position within the battery system 305 of additional battery cells 310 is required, in which case steps 410 through 460 are repeated for each required additional battery cell 310. In certain embodiments, method steps 410 through 460 may be repeated for each battery cell 310 comprised in battery system 305, until processor 360 has determined and associated the position of each cell 310 within the battery system 305 to its associated unique ID.
In certain embodiments, the EM signal emitted by each battery cell 310 in the first state is unique to the specific cell. For example, each battery cell 310 may emit a different wavelength or frequency of EM signal, or the emitted EM signal may be modulated in a way which uniquely identifies the associated cell. For example, when operating in the visible light spectrum, each cell may emit a different colour of visible light. Information associating the unique EM signal to the associated cell's unique ID may be stored in a predefined mapping table, or database. Processor 360 may obtain the unique ID of the battery cell in the first state, from the predefined mapping table, on the basis of the characteristics of the unique EM signal captured by image capture device 340, e.g. on the basis of the colour of the imaged signal. Alternatively, and as mentioned above, the EM signal may be modulated in a way that encodes the unique ID, and which may be determined from receipt of the EM signal.
The embodiments illustrated in
Controller 550 is configured to selectively instruct any one or more of battery cells 510 to activate their associated first state and to emit an associated RF signal, via wireless communication device 530. Wireless communication device 530 may itself comprise an RF transmitter, configured to emit RF control signals to selected battery cells 510, to activate their first state.
When a battery cell, such as cell C1 in
In accordance with an embodiment, two or more different battery cells C1 and C2, for example, each emit an RF signal of equal intensity from their respective transmitters 520. This may be done sequentially on instruction from controller 550. The strength of the RF signal received by RF receiver 540 is dependent on the distance of separation of the cell in the first state emitting the RF signal from RF receiver 540—in other words, it is dependent on the distance of separation of respectively cell C1 from RF receiver 540, and the distance of separation of cell C2 from RF receiver 540. For example, the expected signal strength received by RF receiver 540 will be proportional to the emitted RF signal strength in dBm minus the path loss (also commonly referred to as path attenuation) L, given by:
where L is the path loss in dBm, d is the distance of separation between the emitting cell and RF receiver 540, λ is the emitted RF signal wavelength.
In some embodiments, RF receiver 540 may be positioned relative to battery system 505 such that each one of cells C1 and C2 is located at a different distance of separation from RF receiver 540. This may ensure that the RF signal strength received at RF receiver 540 differs for each different emitting cell C1 and C2. Using the differing RF signal strengths received by RF receiver 540 from each one of cells C1 and C2, it is possible to determine the relative positions of cells C1 and C2 within battery system 505.
Whilst the foregoing example was described with reference to determining the relative position of at least two cells C1 and C2 within battery system 505, the method may be extended to determine the relative position of any plurality of battery cells 510 in battery system 505, as further described below.
Returning to the specific configuration illustrated in
Processor 560 may be configured to determine the relative cell positions of two or more of the plurality of battery cells 510 within battery system 510, from the RF signal strengths emitted by the two or more cells and received at RF receiver 540, in the manner described above. In common with the preceding embodiment of
In the preceding description reference has been made to received RF signal strength. It is to be appreciated that this may relate to Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), which is the measure of signal strength commonly used in wireless networks.
In certain embodiments where the location of RF receiver 540 is known relative to battery system 505, then the received RF signal strength information may be used to determine the location of the two or more battery cells with respect to RF receiver 540. For example, this may be achieved by determining the distance of separation of the cell emitting the RF signal from RF receiver 540.
It is to be appreciated that whilst RF receiver 540 and controller 550 are illustrated as separate devices in
In accordance with some embodiments, the position of RF receiver 540 relative to battery system 505 may be varied. This may be particularly useful where battery cells 510 and their associated RF transmitters 520 are configured to emit short range RF signals such as those used in near-field communication (NFC) protocols. In such embodiments, emitted RF signals are only detectable in the vicinity of the emitting RF transmitter. Accordingly, as the cell in the first state emits the short range RF signal, the position of RF receiver 540 is varied relative to battery system 505 until RF receiver 540 is within range and the emitted short range RF signal is received by RF receiver 540. The position of RF receiver 540 relative to battery system 540 when the short range RF signal is measured, may be used to infer the relative position of the cell in the first state. The relative position of RF receiver 540 may be varied manually, in which case RF receiver 540 may comprise a wand; or the relative position may be varied along an external rig placed around battery system 505, comprising tracks extending around the rig enabling the position of RF receiver 540 to be manipulated relative to battery system 505.
In accordance with certain embodiments a plurality of RF receivers may be used to receive the RF signals emitted by the plurality of battery cells. This is particularly useful where the arrangement of battery cells within the battery system is such that there does not exist a unique distance of separation between each cell and a single RF receiver, as illustrated in
The RF signal emitted by a battery cell in the first state may be received by each one of the plurality of RF receivers 640, 640′, 640″. The signal strength received by each one of the plurality of RF receivers 640, 640′, 640″ may be determined. This may occur locally to each RF receiver 640, 640′, 640″ or may occur at processor 560. The unique ID of the cell in the first state emitting the received RF signal may be obtained in the manner described previously. This process may be repeated for two or more of the plurality of cells 610, and ensures processor 560 knows the identity and the RF signal strength received from each one of the two or more cells 610. The RF signal strength information may be compared by processor 560, and used to determine the relative positions of the two or more cells. The determined relative positions may subsequently be associated with the unique IDs of the associated battery cells, in a similar manner as described in relation to the embodiment of
In accordance with some embodiments, the RF signal strength data measured by each one of the plurality of RF receivers 640, 640′, 640″ may be aggregated and processed by processor 560 to generate a relative signal strength map, and the relative positions of the cells may be determined from the map. This may be advantageous where it is necessary to determine the positions of a large number of different battery cells comprised within a battery system.
Whilst the arrangement of
In accordance with some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of RF receivers may be comprised in one or more battery cells. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, RF receivers 540 of
Alternatively, the plurality of cells may each simultaneously receive the transmitted RF signal, and may subsequently transmit the subsequent first signal comprising information associated with the received RF signal strength to controller 550, for subsequent processing by processor 560. To facilitate cell identification, the first signal transmitted by each cell may either comprise information enabling the unique ID associated with the cell to be determined, or may comprise the unique ID itself (e.g. the signal may be uniquely modulated). Accordingly, for the purposes of the present disclosure it is immaterial whether the signal strength of an RF signal emitted by each battery cell is used to determine cell position, or whether the RF signal strength received by each battery cell is used to determine cell position—both solutions fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the apparatus may additionally comprise a physical transmission line located between the RF receiver and each one of the plurality of battery cells. For example, a bus antenna, providing a transmission path between the electronic devices of each cell and the controller. Use of a physical transmission line may reduce signal interference between cells, by enabling low power transmitters to be used, which incidentally may also reduce overall power consumption. An example of such an embodiment is disclosed in relation to
The provision of a plurality of bus antennas 730, 740 as shown in
The received RF signal strength information may be received by processor 560, at step 820. In accordance with some embodiments, and as previously described, this may relate to the strength of an RF signal received by a battery cell, either emitted from an RF transmitter located externally to the battery system, or comprised on another battery cell. Similarly, in accordance with other embodiments described above, the RF signal strength may relate to the strength of an RF signal emitted by a battery cell received by an RF receiver either located externally from the battery system, or comprised in another battery cell within the battery system. The RF signal strength information may be received from controller 550. In certain embodiments, processor 560 may determine the RF signal strength, at step 820, from RF signal information received from controller 550.
To determine the relative positions of at least two cells in the first state, requires information regarding the RF signal strengths associated with the two cells in the first state. Accordingly, at step 830, it is determined if RF signals associated with at least two different battery cells in the first state have been received, and their associated unique IDs obtained. This may be determined by processor 560. If it is determined that an RF signal associated with only a single battery cell has been received, then steps 810 through 830 are repeated, until it is determined that RF signals associated with at least two different battery cells in the first state have been received.
Once RF signals associated with at least two different battery cells in the first state have been received, processor 560 determines the relative cell positions of the at least two battery cells in the first state, based on the received RF signal strength information associated with each one of the at least two cells in the first state, at step 840. For example, this may comprise comparing the RF signal strengths associated with the at least two different battery cells in the first state, and determining the positions of the two cells relative to each other. To illustrate this, consider battery system 505 of
Once the relative cell positions have been determined, processor 560 may associate the determined cell positions to the unique IDs of the battery cells in the first state, at step 850. At step 860 it is determined if the relative positions of additional battery cells need to be determined, and if so, steps 810 through 860 are repeated until all required battery cell positions have been determined. The battery cell position information along with the associated unique ID may be stored in a memory or non-transitory storage medium for subsequent use, for example, by a fault detection system.
In some embodiments, method 800 may comprise sequentially determining the position of the battery cells positioned in each row within the battery system. For example, in
In common with previously disclosed embodiments, controller 550 of
In accordance with some embodiments, a single bus antenna may be used which extends along a plurality of different rows (or stacks of rows) of battery cells. For example, turning to
Processor 560 may obtain the unique ID associated with the cell in the first state, at step 1010. In common with previous embodiments, controller 550 may control which cell is in the first state, and processor 560 may obtain the unique ID of the cell in the first state from controller 550. Processor 560 may receive the RF signal strength associated with the cell in the first state, as measured by each cell in the listen mode, at step 1020. In this way, the processor may receive the RF signal strength measured by each cell in the listen mode associated with the cell in the first state.
At step 1030 it may be determined if all cells in the battery system have been in the first state and emitted an RF signal. This may be determined by controller 550 or processor 560. If it is determined that some cells have not yet been in the first state, then controller 550 may instruct a new cell which has not yet been in the first state, to be in the first state, at step 1035, and steps 1010 through 1030 may be repeated, until it is determined, at step 1030, that all cells comprised in the battery system have been in the first state and emitted an RF signal. This may help to ensure that each battery cell within the battery system receives RF signals emitted from each other battery cell in the battery system.
The RF signal strength information associated with the RF signals received by each one of the plurality of cells in the listen mode, may be collated, at step 1040. The collated RF signal strength information may subsequently be used by processor 560 to determine the relative positions of each one of the plurality of cells, in a similar manner as described above in relation to the preceding embodiments. Once the relative position of each cell has been determined, processor 560 may proceed to associate the unique ID of each cell with its determined relative position, at step 1060, in a similar manner as described previously.
In certain embodiments, an RSSI map may be generated from the collated RF signal strengths. For example, measured RF signal strengths may be superimposed on a known schematic of the battery system. The RSSI map may take the form of a contour map, in which the different contour lines represent measured signal strengths associated with the unique IDs of different cells. Contour lines associated with the greatest measured signal strengths may be located closer to the RF receiver, than weaker signal strengths. The order of the contour lines may be indicative of the relative positions of the cells emitting the RF signals.
In some embodiments, rather than a plurality of the cells each being in the listen mode whilst simultaneously a single cell is in the first mode, only a single cell may be in the listen mode whilst a single other cell is simultaneously in the first state emitting the RF signal. In such embodiments, for any given cell in the listen mode, steps 1010 through 1030 are sequentially repeated for each other cell emitting an RF signal in the first state. For example, with reference to
In some embodiments, the RSSI graph measured for transmissions between the cells may be used to determine a distance between the cells. In some embodiments, the distance between cells may be determined using a pre-determined mapping table mapping received signal strength as a function of transmission distance for a given signal. This reduces processor and/or controller processing overhead associated with determining a distance of separation based on received signal strength.
Depending on the configuration of the cells within a battery system, in some embodiments a single RSSI graph may suffice to determine the positional relationships for all cells within the battery system. For example, this may be the case for simple configurations, such as the linear configuration of cells of
In accordance with some embodiments, RSSI data and associated RSSI graphs may be generated from a statistical analysis of received signal strengths, captured over an extended period of time. This may help to mitigate for any signal strength fluctuation inherent to the transmitters, and may ensure more accurate cell positions are determined.
The electronic devices 315, 515 of any of the above embodiments may comprise any of the following additional features.
Electronic device 315, 515 may be electrically coupled to contact terminals (not shown) on its associated battery cell 310, 510, 610, 710, enabling electronic device 315, 515 to be electrically powered by battery cell 310, 510, 610, 710, and obviating the need for a separate power source. Electrical coupling may occur by any means that establishes an electrical path between the contact terminals of battery cell 310, 510, 610, 710 and electronic device 315, 515. In accordance with some embodiments this may be provided by wired connections between the electronic device and the contact terminals of battery cells 310, 510, 610, 710.
Electronic device 315, 515 may additionally be configured to determine at least one physical characteristic of its associated battery cell. The at least one physical characteristic may relate to a physical or electrical characteristic of the battery cell.
In accordance with some embodiments the transmission frequencies of emitted RF signals may range from around 400 MHz to around 5 GHz. In some embodiments the transmission frequencies may relate to those used for Short Range Devices (e.g. around 434 MHZ and 860 MHz), and/or those used for ISM bands (e.g. 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz, 5.875 GHz).
In accordance with some embodiments, determined battery cell positions may be stored in a non-transitory memory. The non-transitory memory may be operatively coupled to processor 360, 560, and/or to controller 350, 550. In some embodiments, the non-transitory memory may be comprised in one or more electronic devices 315, 515 associated with one or more cells. This ensures that the associated battery cell has a record of its position in a locally accessible memory, accessible by a BMS if required.
The disclosed embodiments are not limited to particular software programs or devices configured to perform dedicated tasks. For example, the memory 1120 may store a single program, that performs the functions associated with the disclosed embodiments, or may comprise multiple software programs. Memory 1120 may include one or more storage devices configured to store data for use by processor 1110.
Some embodiments may comprise a memory including, but not limited to a hard drive, a solid state drive, a CD-ROM drive, a peripheral storage device (e.g., an external hard drive, a USB drive, etc.), a database, a network drive, a cloud storage device, or any other storage device.
In accordance with some embodiments, electronic device 515 may take the firm of, but is not limited to, a microprocessor, embedded processor, or the like, or may be integrated in a system on a chip (SoC). Furthermore, according to some embodiments, electronic device 515 may be from the family of processors manufactured by Intel®, AMD®, Qualcomm®, Apple®, NVIDIA®, or the like. The electronic device 515 may also be based on the ARM architecture, a mobile processor, or a graphics processing unit, etc. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to any specific type of processor.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the herein disclosed embodiments, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The terminology used herein to disclose the embodiments of the disclosure was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.
Although the disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21159782.8 | Feb 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/054898 | 2/25/2022 | WO |
