Patent Application
20240007782
The present description relates generally to acoustic devices including vented liquid-resistant microphone and speaker assemblies.
Electronic devices such as computers, media players, cellular telephones, and other electronic equipment are often provided with acoustic components such as microphones. It can be challenging to integrate acoustic components into electronic devices, such as in compact devices including portable electronic devices.
Certain features of the subject technology are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several implementations of the subject technology are set forth in the following figures.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology can be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and can be practiced using one or more other implementations. In one or more implementations, structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology.
Electronic devices such as desktop computers, televisions, set top boxes, internet-of-things (IoT) devices, and portable electronic devices including mobile phones, portable music players, smart watches, tablet computers, smart speakers, remote controllers for other electronic devices, headphones, earbuds, and laptop computers often include one or more acoustic transducers for converting between an electric signal and acoustic signals such as sound. An acoustic transducer may generate an electronic input signal from a sensor that responds to air movement and/or acoustic signals such as sound (e.g., sound originating from outside a housing of the device) to transduce the electronic input signal; or an acoustic transducer may convert an electronic output signal into sound via a speaker. Sensors may include, as examples, acoustic sensors, which may include microphones for sound input to the device, pressure sensors, and/or ultrasonic sensors.
Acoustic transducers may include volumes of air that are sealed in some way. For example, an acoustic transducer may include a front or back volume of air adjacent to an acoustic diaphragm, a Helmholtz resonator (HHR) volume, other types of resonators, or any combination of such volumes. These volume(s) may be enclosed such that air movement between the volume(s) and air outside an electronic device housing the acoustic transducer may be restricted. Aspects of these disclosure provides techniques, including vents of various sorts, for allowing airflow between enclosed volumes and ambient air outside of the device. Performance of an acoustic transducer may be improved by allowing air pressure to be substantially equalized between the interior of these enclosed volumes and ambient air pressure outside the device. In some aspects, these vents may include both a gas-permeable attribute and a water-impermeable attribute. Vents with gas-permeable (or air-impermeable) and water-impermeable attributes may allow for equalizing of air pressure while simultaneously preventing water from entering the vent. Venting may be useful at various locations including across a diaphragm between a front and back volume, at boundaries of other resonant chambers such as Helmholtz resonator (HHR) volume, at a port between an interior and exterior of and electronic device, and/or along any sound path within or around an acoustic transducer.
For example, an acoustic transducer may include a diaphragm composed of at least a first lamina and a second lamina, and the diaphragm may include a front surface and includes a back surface formed at least in part by the first lamina, and where the second lamina has a gas-permeable attribute. A front volume may be adjacent to the front surface, and a back volume may be adjacent to the back surface. The first lamina may include a first plurality of apertures, each aperture exposing a corresponding inner surface of the second lamina to the back volume. In an aspect, the diaphragm may include a side surface at an edge of the diaphragm, the side surface formed at least in part by the second lamina, and wherein the diaphragm comprises at least one airflow path between the front volume and the back volume, the airflow path extending through at least a portion of the second lamina via the side surface and the first plurality of apertures in the first lamina. In other aspects, the acoustic transducer may include drive electronics and operate as a speaker and/or mic, and the diaphragm may be mounted to a driver support at a portion of the back surface formed at least in part by the first lamina of the diaphragm.
In another example, an acoustic transducer may include a diaphragm composed of at least a first lamina, a second lamina, a third lamina, and a fourth lamina, where the second and fourth lamina are layered between the first and third lamina, and the diaphragm includes a front surface formed at least in part by the third lamina and a back surface formed at least in part by the first lamina. A front volume maybe adjacent to the front surface and a back volume may be adjacent to the back surface. The first lamina may include a first plurality of apertures, the second lamina may include a second plurality of apertures co-located with the first plurality of apertures in the first lamina, and the third lamina may include a third plurality of apertures co-located with the second plurality of apertures in the second lamina. The fourth lamina of the diaphragm may possess gas-permeable and water-impermeable attributes, and the fourth lamina may extend across the second plurality of apertures in the second lamina.
In an aspect, the diaphragm may include a side surface at an edge of the diaphragm and adjacent to the front volume, the side surface formed at least in part by the second lamina. A first airflow path may pass between the front volume and the back volume via the first plurality of apertures, the second plurality of apertures, the third plurality of apertures and through the fourth lamina. A second airflow path may pass between the front volume and the back volume, the second airflow path extending through at least a portion of the second lamina via the side surface and the first plurality of apertures in the first lamina.
In other aspects, the acoustic transducer may include a driver support on which the diaphragm is mounted at a portion of the back surface formed in part by the first lamina of the diaphragm.
In the example of
In aspects, opening 104 may be an open port or may be completely or partially covered with an air-permeable membrane and/or a mesh structure that allows air and sound to pass through the openings. Such a membrane or mesh covering may tend to prevent physical objects, such as dust, and/or liquids, such as water, from entering the device via the opening 104. Although one opening 104 is shown in
Housing 106, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. In one example, housing 106 may be formed from a metal peripheral portion that runs (e.g., continuously or in pieces) around the periphery of electronic device 100 to form a top edge, a bottom edge, and sidewalls running therebetween, and/or a metal or glass rear panel mounted to the metal peripheral portion. In this example, an enclosure may be formed by the metal peripheral portion, the rear panel, and display 110, and device circuitry such as a battery, one or more processors, memory, application specific integrated circuits, sensors, antennas, acoustic components, and the like are housed within this enclosure.
However, it should be appreciated that the configuration of electronic device 100 of
For example, in some implementations, housing 106 may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all of housing 106 is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). Although housing 106 of
In some implementations, electronic device 100 may be provided in the form of a wearable device such as a smart watch. For example, in some implementations, housing 106 may include one or more interfaces for mechanically coupling housing 106 to a strap or other structure for securing housing 106 to a wearer. In some implementations, electronic device 100 may be a mechanical or other non-electronic device in which a microphone can be mounted within the housing, such as a pen or a support structure such as a monitor stand for a computer monitor. In any of these exemplary implementations, housing 106 includes an opening 104 associated with acoustic transducer. In some implementations, electronic device 100 may be provided in the form of a computer integrated into a computer monitor and/or other display, such as a television. Display 110 may be mounted on a front surface of housing 106 and optionally a stand may be provided to support the housing 106 (e.g., on a desktop) and/or housing 106 may be mounted on a surface, such as a wall.
Transducer module 206 may also include a diaphragm 250 and top wall 210. A front volume 214 may be defined, at least in part, by diaphragm 250 and top wall 210. Similarly, a back volume 216 may be defined, at least in part, by diaphragm 250 and back wall 212. Diaphragm 250 may be suspended by driver support 220. Driver circuitry 294, such as a voice coil, may be attached to diaphragm 250 and may interact with processor 290 via electronic connection 292. Alternately, or in addition to driver circuitry 294, sensor circuitry (not depicted) may interact with processor 290 via electronic connection 292.
In aspects, diaphragm 250 may be composed of a laminate structure, such as those depicted in
In an aspect, the series of apertures 420 and/or 422 may be distributed uniformly across diaphragm 401, or may be distributed in a repeating two-dimensional pattern. In another aspect, the series of apertures 420 and/or 422 may be distributed over a sub-portion of diaphragm 401, such as central portion 302, or apertures 420 and/or 422 may be distributed over substantially all of diaphragm 401. In other aspects, the shape and dimensions of the apertures in lamina of this disclosure, such as laminae 402 and 406, may vary to produce different attributes of an aperture or attributes of a lamina with the aperture. For example, see the variety of apertures in
In an aspect of the example diaphragm 401 depicted in
Arrangement of laminae material attributes and apertures may enable multiple airflow paths through diaphragm 401. An optional first airflow path 430 flows vertically through diaphragm 401 through corresponding co-located apertures 420, 422.
As depicted in the figures, airflow paths, such as 430, 432, flow from front volume 214 to back volume 216, which may occur when front volume pressure is higher than back volume pressure. In other situations where the pressure differential is reversed, air may flow along the same path 430, 432, but in opposite directions as depicted in the figures.
In some aspect of this disclosure, one or more vertical airflow paths 430 via upper apertures 422 may coexist with one or more partly horizontal air flow paths 432 via side surface 428. In other aspects, only one type of airflow path, either airflow path 423 via a side surface such as 428 or air flow path 430 via an upper lamina aperture such as 422, may exist in some implementations.
It some situations, it may be particularly advantageous to include both vertical and partly horizontal types of airflow paths. While in some cases, vertical airflow path 430 may be enable faster pressure equalization (when corresponding apertures 422 are not blocked) as compared to partly horizontal airflow path 432, for example due to the comparative length of the paths through middle layer lamina 404. The existence of the partly horizontal path, even though it is slower, may be helpful if apertures 422 become blocked. For example, referring to
Modern mobile and miniaturized devices may benefit from combining both vertical an partly horizontal airflow paths. Some modern design constrains for acoustic transducers require perennially shrinking device dimensions, including, for example, shrinking dimensions of front volume 214. This may lead to a small distance between diaphragm 250 and top wall 210, and hence an increased in likelihood of contact between them as the design distance between them is reduced. In such miniaturized acoustic transducer designs, an airflow design via a side surface such as side surface 428 of lamina 404 may be particularly beneficial.
In an aspect of this disclosure, a shape of apertures and/or dimensions of apertures, such as apertures 420, 422, and other apertures depicted in other figures, may provide a gas-permeable and water-impermeable attribute to a lamina layer. For example, apertures may be sized large enough to enable gas to pass, but also small enough to discourage fluid such as water from passing through the aperture. Apertures may have straight sides through the thickness of a lamina, such as aperture 422 are depicted in
In another aspect, a water-impermeable attribute may be created or enhanced by application of hydrophobic treatments to a surface of a diaphragm or a surface of a lamina of the diaphragm. Hydrophobic treatments may include hydrophobic coatings, hydrophobic platings, and/or hydrophobic laser etchings. For example, one or more of such hydrophobic treatments may be applied to a top surface of lamina 402 that is adjacent to the front volume 214. Hydrophobic treatments may also be applied to other lamina surfaces in
Unlike diaphragm 401 of
In the example of
In the example of
In the example of
In the example of
Similar to
Unlike
In an aspect, port cover 754 and/or path cover 752 may be made of a solid material such as metal with apertures formed by laser cutting, chemical etching, and/or stamping. Port cover 704 and/or path cover 725 may be insert molded by positioning a metal cover over port 704 and/or an acoustic path of resonant chamber 718 which is held in place by its surrounding walls defining front volume 714. In another aspect, the port cover and/or path cover 752 may be created by adding apertures to an existing wall such as the wall defining front volume 214, such as top wall 710.
In other implementations (not depicted), a path cover in top wall 710 may cover a path to a resonant chamber positioned above top wall 710. In an aspect of this implementation, the top cover in the top wall 710 may be composed of the top wall 710 itself with apertures as described elsewhere herein.
Acoustic covers described herein, such as path cover 752 and port cover 754, may provide advantages over alternate designs such as covers composed of a die cut adhesive and mesh stack. For example, tolerances for die cutting mesh and tolerances for manufacturing placement mesh may not be as good as solid covers described here. Furthermore, design and manufacturing processes for tuning resonant chambers may be simplified by adjusting size, shape, or placement of apertures instead of swapping meshes with different opening sizes from different manufactures.
In other aspects, a water-impermeable attribute of port cover 754, path cover 752, or a solid or single layer diaphragm such as diaphragm 651 (
The various shapes depicted in
In an aspect, conical apertures 840 may be configured with the narrower aperture of each conical shape on exposed to the front volume, such as 214 (
In the example of
In the Example of
The bus 1008 collectively represents all system, peripheral, and chipset buses that communicatively connect the numerous internal devices of the electronic system 1000. In one or more implementations, the bus 1008 communicatively connects the one or more processing unit(s) 1012 with the ROM 1010, the system memory 1004, and the permanent storage device 1002. From these various memory units, the one or more processing unit(s) 1012 retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of the subject disclosure. The one or more processing unit(s) 1012 can be a single processor or a multi-core processor in different implementations.
The ROM 1010 stores static data and instructions that are needed by the one or more processing unit(s) 1012 and other modules of the electronic system 1000. The permanent storage device 1002, on the other hand, may be a read-and-write memory device. The permanent storage device 1002 may be a non-volatile memory unit that stores instructions and data even when the electronic system 1000 is off. In one or more implementations, a mass-storage device (such as a magnetic or optical disk and its corresponding disk drive) may be used as the permanent storage device 1002.
In one or more implementations, a removable storage device (such as a floppy disk, flash drive, and its corresponding disk drive) may be used as the permanent storage device 1002. Like the permanent storage device 1002, the system memory 1004 may be a read-and-write memory device. However, unlike the permanent storage device 1002, the system memory 1004 may be a volatile read-and-write memory, such as random-access memory. The system memory 1004 may store any of the instructions and data that one or more processing unit(s) 1012 may need at runtime. In one or more implementations, the processes of the subject disclosure are stored in the system memory 1004, the permanent storage device 1002, and/or the ROM 1010. From these various memory units, the one or more processing unit(s) 1012 retrieves instructions to execute and data to process in order to execute the processes of one or more implementations.
The bus 1008 also connects to the input and output device interfaces 1006 and 1014. The input device interface 1006 enables a user to communicate information and select commands to the electronic system 1000. Input devices that may be used with the input device interface 1006 may include, for example, alphanumeric keyboards and pointing devices (also called “cursor control devices”). The output device interface 1014 may enable, for example, the display of images generated by electronic system 1000. Output devices that may be used with the output device interface 1014 may include, for example, printers and display devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a flat panel display, a solid state display, a projector, a speaker or speaker module, or any other device for outputting information. One or more implementations may include devices that function as both input and output devices, such as a touchscreen. In these implementations, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
Finally, as shown in
Implementations within the scope of the present disclosure can be partially or entirely realized using a tangible computer-readable storage medium (or multiple tangible computer-readable storage media of one or more types) encoding one or more instructions. The tangible computer-readable storage medium also can be non-transitory in nature.
The computer-readable storage medium can be any storage medium that can be read, written, or otherwise accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computing device, including any processing electronics and/or processing circuitry capable of executing instructions. For example, without limitation, the computer-readable medium can include any volatile semiconductor memory, such as RAM, DRAM, SRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM, and TTRAM. The computer-readable medium also can include any non-volatile semiconductor memory, such as ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, NVRAM, flash, nvSRAM, FeRAM, FeTRAM, MRAM, PRAM, CBRAM, SONOS, RRAM, NRAM, racetrack memory, FJG, and Millipede memory.
Further, the computer-readable storage medium can include any non-semiconductor memory, such as optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, magnetic tape, other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of storing one or more instructions. In one or more implementations, the tangible computer-readable storage medium can be directly coupled to a computing device, while in other implementations, the tangible computer-readable storage medium can be indirectly coupled to a computing device, e.g., via one or more wired connections, one or more wireless connections, or any combination thereof.
Instructions can be directly executable or can be used to develop executable instructions. For example, instructions can be realized as executable or non-executable machine code or as instructions in a high-level language that can be compiled to produce executable or non-executable machine code. Further, instructions also can be realized as or can include data. Computer-executable instructions also can be organized in any format, including routines, subroutines, programs, data structures, objects, modules, applications, applets, functions, etc. As recognized by those of skill in the art, details including, but not limited to, the number, structure, sequence, and organization of instructions can vary significantly without varying the underlying logic, function, processing, and output.
While the above discussion primarily refers to microprocessor or multi-core processors that execute software, one or more implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs. In one or more implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuit itself.
Various functions described above can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, in computer software, firmware or hardware. The techniques can be implemented using one or more computer program products. Programmable processors and computers can be included in or packaged as mobile devices. The processes and logic flows can be performed by one or more programmable processors and by one or more programmable logic circuitry. General and special purpose computing devices and storage devices can be interconnected through communication networks.
Some implementations include electronic components, such as microprocessors, storage and memory that store computer program instructions in a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (alternatively referred to as computer-readable storage media, machine-readable media, or machine-readable storage media). Some examples of such computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, read-only compact discs (CD-ROM), recordable compact discs (CD-R), rewritable compact discs (CD-RW), read-only digital versatile discs (e.g., DVD-ROM, dual-layer DVD-ROM), a variety of recordable/rewritable DVDs (e.g., DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.), flash memory (e.g., SD cards, mini-SD cards, micro-SD cards, etc.), magnetic and/or solid state hard drives, ultra density optical discs, any other optical or magnetic media, and floppy disks. The computer-readable media can store a computer program that is executable by at least one processing unit and includes sets of instructions for performing various operations. Examples of computer programs or computer code include machine code, such as is produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level code that are executed by a computer, an electronic component, or a microprocessor using an interpreter.
While the above discussion primarily refers to microprocessor or multi-core processors that execute software, some implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In some implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuit itself.
As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms “computer”, “processor”, and “memory” all refer to electronic or other technological devices. These terms exclude people or groups of people. For the purposes of the specification, the terms “display” or “displaying” means displaying on an electronic device. As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms “computer readable medium” and “computer readable media” are entirely restricted to tangible, physical objects that store information in a form that is readable by a computer. These terms exclude any wireless signals, wired download signals, and any other ephemeral signals.
Many of the above-described features and applications are implemented as software processes that are specified as a set of instructions recorded on a computer readable storage medium (also referred to as computer readable medium). When these instructions are executed by one or more processing unit(s) (e.g., one or more processors, cores of processors, or other processing units), they cause the processing unit(s) to perform the actions indicated in the instructions. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, CD-ROMs, flash drives, RAM chips, hard drives, EPROMs, etc. The computer readable media does not include carrier waves and electronic signals passing wirelessly or over wired connections.
In this specification, the term “software” is meant to include firmware residing in read-only memory or applications stored in magnetic storage, which can be read into memory for processing by a processor. Also, in some implementations, multiple software aspects of the subject disclosure can be implemented as sub-parts of a larger program while remaining distinct software aspects of the subject disclosure. In some implementations, multiple software aspects can also be implemented as separate programs. Finally, any combination of separate programs that together implement a software aspect described here is within the scope of the subject disclosure. In some implementations, the software programs, when installed to operate on one or more electronic systems, define one or more specific machine implementations that execute and perform the operations of the software programs.
A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.
Those of skill in the art would appreciate that the various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application. Various components and blocks may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order, or partitioned in a different way) all without departing from the scope of the subject technology.
It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes may be rearranged, or that all illustrated blocks be performed. Any of the blocks may be performed simultaneously. In one or more implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components (e.g., computer program products) and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.
As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms “base station”, “receiver”, “computer”, “server”, “processor”, and “memory” all refer to electronic or other technological devices. These terms exclude people or groups of people. For the purposes of the specification, the terms “display” or “displaying” means displaying on an electronic device.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the term “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” does not require selection of at least one of each item listed; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.
The predicate words “configured to”, “operable to”, and “programmed to” do not imply any particular tangible or intangible modification of a subject, but, rather, are intended to be used interchangeably. In one or more implementations, a processor configured to monitor and control an operation or a component may also mean the processor being programmed to monitor and control the operation or the processor being operable to monitor and control the operation. Likewise, a processor configured to execute code can be construed as a processor programmed to execute code or operable to execute code.
Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some implementations, one or more implementations, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” or as an “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include”, “have”, or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for”.
The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the subject disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63356971 | Jun 2022 | US |
