Embodiments described herein relate generally to a light-emitting element, a detection device, and a processing apparatus.
There is technology that detects a biological signal by irradiating light radiated from a light-emitting element onto a living body. In particular, it is desirable to develop a light-emitting element more suited to the detection of a pulse wave having a faint output signal.
According to one embodiment, a light-emitting element includes a substrate, a first electrode, a first layer, a second electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a second layer. The substrate is light-transmissive. The first layer has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the substrate. The first layer is light-transmissive. At least a portion of the first layer is provided between the first electrode and a portion of the substrate. The second electrode is provided between the first electrode and at least a portion of the first layer. The second electrode is light-transmissive. The light-emitting layer is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second layer is light-transmissive. The second layer is configured to modify a travel direction of light incident on the second layer. At least a portion of the second layer is provided between the first electrode and at least a portion of the first layer.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
The drawings are schematic or conceptual; and the relationships between the thicknesses and widths of portions, the proportions of sizes between portions, etc., are not necessarily the same as the actual values thereof. The dimensions and/or the proportions may be illustrated differently between the drawings, even in the case where the same portion is illustrated.
In the drawings and the specification of the application, components similar to those described thereinabove are marked with like reference numerals, and a detailed description is omitted as appropriate.
A direction from the second electrode 32 toward the first electrode 31 is taken as a first direction. For example, the first direction corresponds to a Z-direction illustrated in
At least a portion of the first layer 11 is provided between at least a portion of the substrate 1 and a portion of the first electrode 31 in the first direction. The second electrode 32 is provided between the first electrode 31 and at least a portion of the first layer 11 in the first direction.
At least a portion of the second layer 12 is provided between the first electrode 31 and at least a portion of the first layer 11 in the first direction. As an example, a portion of the second layer 12 is provided between the second electrode 32 and a portion of the first layer 11 in the first direction as illustrated in
The refractive index of the first layer 11 is lower than the refractive index of the substrate 1. The refractive index of the second layer 12 is higher than the refractive index of the first layer 11. The refractive index of the second layer 12 is, for example, the same as or higher than the refractive index of the substrate 1. More favorably, the refractive index of the second layer 12 is the same as or higher than the refractive index of the second electrode 32 or the refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41. Compared to the case where the refractive index of the second layer 12 is lower than the refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41, the proportion of the light radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 that reaches the second layer 12 can be increased if the refractive index of the second layer 12 is the same as or higher than the refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41. This is because if the refractive index of the second layer 12 is lower than that of the light-emitting layer 41, the critical angle that is determined by the refractive index of the second layer 12 and the refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41 exists between the second layer 12 and the light-emitting layer 41. The second layer 12 is configured to modify the travel direction of the light incident on the second layer 12 inside the layer of the second layer 12. By providing the light-transmitting layer 21, for example, the unevenness of the surface of the second layer 12 is planarized. Thereby, the likelihood of an electrical disconnection of the second electrode 32, etc., occurring is reduced. It is sufficient for the light-transmitting layer 21 to be provided as necessary; and the light-transmitting layer 21 is not essential in the light-emitting element 100.
Light is radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 by carriers being injected into the light-emitting layer 41 from the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32. The light-emitting layer 41 includes, for example, an organic substance. The noise is smaller for the light radiated from a light-emitting element using a light-emitting layer including an organic substance than for the light radiated from a light-emitting element using a light-emitting layer including an inorganic compound. Therefore, the light that is radiated from the light-emitting element using the light-emitting layer including the organic substance is suited to applications that detect a detection object such as a pulse wave, etc., in which the signal that is output is faint.
The substrate 1, the first layer 11, the second layer 12, the light-transmitting layer 21, and the second electrode 32 may transmit the light radiated from the light-emitting layer 41. In other words, the substrate 1, the first layer 11, the second layer 12, the light-transmitting layer 21, and the second electrode 32 are light-transmissive. The first electrode 31 may be light-reflective and may reflect the light radiated from the light-emitting layer 41.
The light that is radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 is, for example, visible light. In other words, the light that is radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 may be one of red, orange, yellow, green, or blue light or a combination of such light. The light that is radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 may be ultraviolet light or infrared light.
In the light-emitting element 100 according to the embodiment as described above, at least a portion of the first layer 11 is provided between the first electrode 31 and a portion of the substrate 1; and at least a portion of the second layer 12 is provided between the first electrode 31 and at least a portion of the first layer 11. By employing such a configuration, it is possible to increase the amount of the light radiated into the space overlapping the light-emitting layer 41 in the first direction. In other words, according to the embodiment, a light-emitting element is provided that is suited to an application detecting a biological signal such as a pulse wave, etc., in which it is desirable to irradiate light into a designated region.
Examples of the components will now be described.
The substrate 1 includes, for example, glass. The refractive index of the substrate 1 is, for example, not less than 1.4 and not more than 2.2. A thickness T1 along the first direction of the substrate 1 is, for example, 0.05 to 2.0 mm.
The refractive index of the first layer 11 may be, for example, 1.4 or less. In the case where the refractive index of the first layer 11 is 1.4 or less, the first layer 11 includes, for example, a polymer. More desirably, the refractive index of the first layer 11 is 1.1 or less. In the case where the refractive index of the first layer 11 is 1.1 or less, the first layer 11 includes, for example, a silica aerogel.
A thickness T2 of the first layer 11 may be 0.01 to 100 μm. Another layer may be provided between the substrate 1 and the first layer 11. For example, a light-transmitting layer that includes SiO2 may be provided between the substrate 1 and the first layer 11. For example, the light-transmitting layer that includes SiO2 is provided to reduce the unevenness of the surface of the substrate 1.
When viewed from the first direction, the configuration of the first electrode 31, the configuration of the light-emitting layer 41, and the configuration of the second electrode 32 are, for example, squares as illustrated in
The material of the first electrode 31 may include, for example, at least one of aluminum, silver, or gold. The first electrode 31 includes, for example, an alloy of magnesium and silver.
The material of the second electrode 32 may include, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). The material of the second electrode 32 may include, for example, a conductive polymer such as PEDOT:PSS, etc. The material of the second electrode 32 may include, for example, a metal such as aluminum, silver, etc. In the case where the material of the second electrode 32 includes a metal, it is favorable for the thickness of the second electrode 32 to be 5 to 20 nm.
The light-emitting layer 41 includes, for example, a material of at least one of Alq3 (tris(8-hydroxyquinolinolato)aluminum), F8BT (poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole)), or PPV (polyparaphenylene vinylene).
Or, the light-emitting layer 41 may include a mixed material containing a host material and a dopant added to the host material. The host material includes, for example, at least one of CBP (4,4′-N,N′-bis dicarbazolyl-biphenyl), BCP (2,9-dimethyl-4,7 diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), TPD (2,9-dimethyl-4,7 diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), PVK (polyvinyl carbazole), or PPT (poly(3-phenylthiophene)). The dopant material includes, for example, at least one of Flrpic (iridium(III)-bis(4,6-di-fluorophenyl)-pyridinate-N,C2′-picolinate), Ir(ppy)3 (tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium), or Flr6 (bis(2,4-difluorophenylpyridinato)-tetrakis(1-pyrazolyl)borate-iridium(III)).
The third layer 43 functions as, for example, an electron injection layer. The third layer 43 may function as an electron transport layer. Or, the third layer 43 may include a layer that functions as an electron injection layer and a layer that functions as an electron transport layer.
The material of the third layer 43 may include, for example, Alq3, BAlq, POPy2, Bphen, 3TPYMB, etc. In the case where these materials are used, the third layer 43 functions as an electron transport layer.
Or, the material of the third layer 43 may include, for example, LiF, CsF, Ba, Ca, etc. In the case where these materials are used, the third layer 43 functions as an electron injection layer.
The fourth layer 44 functions as, for example, a hole injection layer. The fourth layer 44 may function as a hole transport layer. Or, the fourth layer 44 may include a layer that functions as a hole injection layer and a layer that functions as a hole transport layer.
The material of the fourth layer 44 may include, for example, α-NPD, TAPC, m-MTDATA, TPD, TCTA, etc. In the case where these materials are used, the fourth layer 44 functions as a hole transport layer.
Or, the material of the fourth layer 44 may include, for example, PEDPOT:PSS, CuPc, MoO3, etc. In the case where these materials are used, the fourth layer 44 functions as a hole injection layer.
As illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The support portion 121 includes, for example, at least one of a polymer or a resin. Polysiloxane, polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate, etc., may be used as the polymer. The particles 122 include, for example, fine particles of at least one of silica, polystyrene, zirconium oxide, or titanium oxide. Voids may be provided instead of the particles 122.
It is desirable for the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index of the support portion 121 and the refractive index of at least one of the particles 122 to be 0.1 or more. More desirably, the absolute value of the difference of these refractive indexes is 0.2 or more. By setting the absolute value of the difference of these refractive indexes to be 0.1 or more, a sufficient scattering property for the light incident on the second layer 12 is obtained. The scattering probability due to the particles 122 increases as the difference of the refractive indexes increases. A high scattering ability is obtained more easily at a lower density as the difference of the refractive indexes increases.
Or, as illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The first portion 124 spreads along the first plane. Each of the second portions 125 is surrounded with the first portion 124 along the first plane. The second portions 125 have hemispherical configurations. Therefore, the thickness along the first direction of the first portion 124 changes periodically and continuously in the second direction.
Or, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The substrate 1 is a square of which one side is 24 mm. The second layer 12 is a square of which one side is 24 mm. The first electrode 31, the second electrode 32, and the light-emitting layer 41 are squares of which one side is 2 mm. The material of the first electrode 31 is aluminum. The thickness of the first electrode 31 is 150 nm. The refractive index of the second electrode 32 is 1.8. The thickness of the second electrode 32 is 100 nm. The refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41 is 1.8. The thickness of the light-emitting layer 41 is 100 nm. In the second layer 12, the particles 122 having a particle size 1 μm and a refractive index of 2.5 are dispersed at a density 1.0×1012 cm−3 in the support portion 121 having a refractive index of 1.8. A Mie scattering model is used as the light scattering model of the second layer 12.
In the first reference example, the surface area of a light detector 50 is the same as the surface area of the substrate 1. As a result of the simulation performed for the first reference example, the light extraction efficiency was calculated to be 38.7%. Here, the light extraction efficiency illustrates the proportion of the light radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 that is incident on the light detector 50.
In the second reference example, the surface area of the light detector 50 is the same as the surface area of the light-emitting layer 41. As a result of the simulation performed for the second reference example, the light extraction efficiency was calculated to be 21.0%. Even though the light-emitting element according to the second reference example has the same structure as the light-emitting element according to the first reference example, the light extraction efficiency of the second reference example is lower than the light extraction efficiency of the first reference example. From this result, in the first reference example and the second reference example, it can be seen that the light that is emitted to the outside from the substrate 1 includes much light emitted outside the region overlapping the light-emitting layer 41 in the first direction.
Compared to the light-emitting element 100b according to the second reference example, the light-emitting element 100 according to the first embodiment further includes the first layer 11. The refractive index of the first layer 11 is 1.1. One side of the first layer 11 was set to 24 mm. As a result of the simulation performed for the light-emitting element 100, the light extraction efficiency was calculated to be 29.9%. Comparing with the second reference example, it can be seen that the proportion of the light emitted to the outside from the substrate 1 that is emitted in the region overlapping the light-emitting layer 41 in the first direction is increased by providing the first layer 11.
In the light-emitting element 100b, the light 411 passes through the second layer 12 and is incident on the substrate 1. When the light 411 is incident on the lower surface of the substrate 1 at an angle that is larger than the critical angle of the total internal reflection determined using the refractive index of the substrate 1, the light 411 is reflected at the lower surface.
The light 411 that is reflected at the lower surface is incident on the second layer 12 and is scattered in the interior of the second layer 12. A portion of the scattered light again travels toward the substrate 1. The angle of the travel direction of the light with respect to the lower surface of the substrate 1 is changed by the light being scattered by the second layer 12. If the angle of the travel direction of the light with respect to the lower surface of the substrate 1 is smaller than the critical angle, the light travels outside without being reflected at the lower surface of the substrate 1.
In the light-emitting element 100 according to the embodiment, the light 412 passes through the second layer 12 and travels toward the first layer 11. At this time, the light 412 is reflected at the upper surface of the first layer 11 if the light 412 is incident on the upper surface of the first layer 11 at an angle that is larger than the critical angle of the total internal reflection. The travel direction of the reflected light 412 is modified by the second layer 12. In other words, the light 412 is scattered inside the second layer 12. A portion of the scattered light travels toward the light detector 50 by passing through the substrate 1.
The refractive index of the first layer 11 is lower than the refractive index of the substrate 1. Accordingly, the light that is radiated from the light-emitting layer 41 and travels toward the light detector 50 at an angle that will be reflected at the lower surface of the substrate 1 is reflected toward the second layer 12 at the interface between the first layer 11 and the second layer 12. In other words, the light that cannot pass through to the outside from the substrate 1 is reflected at the interface between the first layer 11 and the second layer 12 before being incident on the substrate 1.
By providing the first layer 11, the optical path when the light is radiated from the light-emitting layer 41, reflected, and subsequently incident on the second layer 12 can be shortened. In particular, by shortening the distance of the optical path along directions perpendicular to the first direction, it is possible to reduce the amount of the light traveling toward the region outside the region overlapping the light-emitting region in the first direction.
In the example illustrated in
In other words, the likelihood of the light 411 traveling toward somewhere other than the light detector 50 is high in the case where a length X2 along the second direction of the light-emitting region, the thickness T1 along the first direction of the substrate 1, and a refractive index n of the substrate 1 satisfy the following Formula (1).
Accordingly, the embodiment is particularly effective in the case where the length X2 satisfies Formula (1).
It is favorable for the thickness T2 of the first layer 11 to be thinner than the thickness T1 of the substrate 1. This is because in the case where the thickness T2 is thicker than the thickness T1, even if the optical path of the light 411 is modified by the first layer 11, the distance that the light 411 moves inside the layer of the first layer 11 in directions perpendicular to the first direction increases; and the amount of the light traveling toward the region outside the region overlapping the light-emitting region in the first direction increases.
The thickness T2 of the first layer 11 is, for example, thicker than 10 nm. More favorably, the thickness T2 of the first layer 11 is thicker than the wavelength of the light. This is because the amount of the light of which the optical path is not sufficiently modified by the first layer 11 increases in the case where the thickness T2 is thinner than the wavelength of the light. The light of which the optical path is not modified becomes an evanescent wave inside the first layer 11 and passes through the first layer 11 toward the substrate 1.
In the simulation, the position of the light detector is set so that a portion of the substrate 1 is positioned between the light detector and the first electrode 31. A light-emitting region S of the light-emitting layer 41 positioned between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 was set to be a square having one side of 2 mm. The light detector was set to have the same configuration and surface area as the light-emitting region S. The light detector detects the light amount of the light emitted from the substrate 1 in the region S that is incident on the light detector. In the simulation, the conditions are set as follows.
The refractive index of the support portion 121 is 1.8. The particle size of the particle 122 is 1 μm. The refractive index of the first layer 11 is 1.1. The refractive index of the substrate 1 is 1.5. The thickness of the substrate 1 is 0.7 mm. The first electrode 31 is aluminum. The thickness of the first electrode 31 is 150 nm. The refractive index of the second electrode 32 is 1.8. The thickness of the second electrode 32 is 100 nm. The refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41 is 1.8. The thickness of the light-emitting layer 41 is 100 nm.
In each of the graphs of
The amplification factor is calculated by taking the light amount detected by the light detector for the light-emitting element of the light-emitting element 100 according to the first embodiment without the first layer 11 to be 1. The light amount that is detected by the light detector is calculated using ray tracing.
From
The characteristic of the light-emitting element 100 according to the first embodiment when the particle size of the particle 122 is 1 μm is described using
For example, the particle size of the particle 122 may have a maximum of 100 μm. In the case where the second layer 12 is made by spin coating, the thickness of the support portion 121 has a maximum of about 10 μm due to the constraints of the viscosity of the material. Accordingly, in the case of such a support portion 121, it is favorable for the particle size of the particle 122 to have a maximum of 10 μm. It is desirable for the particle size of at least one particle 122 of the multiple particles 122 to be greater than 1/10 of the peak wavelength of the light. In the case where the particle size is greater than 1/10 of the peak wavelength of the light, the scattering follows a Mie scattering model.
In the case where the particle size of the particle 122 is sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of the light, the spatial resolution between the support portion 121 and the particles 122 disappears from the perspective of the light. In other words, in such a case, from the perspective of the light, the second layer 12 is a layer having the average refractive index of the refractive index of the support portion 121 and the refractive index of the particle 122; and the scattering ability of the second layer 12 for the light decreases.
In
In
In the light-emitting elements used in the simulation, the particle size of the particle 122 is set to 1 μm; the refractive index of the particle 122 is set to 2.5; the density of the particles 122 is set to 1.0×1012 cm−3; the thickness along the first direction of the second layer 12 is set to 1.0 μm; and the length along the second direction of the substrate 1 is set to 200 mm.
In the simulation illustrated in
In the simulation illustrated in
The first electrode 31 is aluminum. The thickness of the first electrode 31 is 150 nm. The refractive index of the second electrode 32 is 1.8. The thickness of the second electrode 32 is 100 nm. The refractive index of the light-emitting layer 41 is 1.8. The thickness of the light-emitting layer 41 is 100 nm.
In
In
From
EF=1.0: X2 (mm)=53.16×T2 (mm)−0.23
EF=1.1: X2 (mm)=15.03×T2 (mm)+0.24
EF=1.2: X2 (mm)=8.21×T2 (mm)+0.21
EF=1.3: X2 (mm)=4.95×T2 (mm)+0.19
EF=1.4: X2 (mm)=2.80×T2 (mm)+0.11
In other words, in the simulation results illustrated in
From the simulation results illustrated in
As illustrated in
Or, as illustrated in
Because the light-emitting element 100 is included in the detection device 1000, the amount of the light irradiated on the detection object 60 and incident on the light detector 50 can be increased; and it is possible to increase the detection sensitivity and the detection precision of the detection device 1000.
As illustrated in
The light-emitting layers 41 are provided respectively between the first electrodes 31 and the second electrodes 32. The first layer 11 may be divided into a plurality in the second direction. In other words, the first layer 11 may be multiply provided in the second direction so that the first layers 11 are positioned respectively between a portion of the substrate 1 and the first electrodes 31.
In the detection device 2000, for example, the first layer 11, the multiple second layers 12, the light-transmitting layer 21, the multiple second electrodes 32, the multiple light-emitting layers 41, and the multiple first electrodes 31 are provided between at least a portion of the substrate 1 and at least a portion of the light detector 50.
For example, the detection object 60 is disposed so that at least a portion of the light-emitting element 200 is positioned between the light detector 50 and the detection object 60 as illustrated in
In the case where the second layer 12 is provided on the entire surface of the first layer 11, the light that is reflected or scattered by the detection object 60 toward the light detector 50 is undesirably scattered by the second layer 12. Conversely, by providing the second layer 12 to be divided, a portion of the light traveling toward the light detector 50 is incident on the light detector 50 by passing through the region where the second layer 12 is not provided. Therefore, it is possible to increase the light amount incident on the light detector 50.
According to the embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, a light-emitting element and a detection device that are suited to the detection of a faint signal such as a pulse wave, etc., are provided.
The light emitter 901 includes the light-emitting element 100 according to the first embodiment or the light-emitting element 200 according to the second embodiment. The light receiver 902 includes a light detector detecting the light emitted from the light emitter 901. The light emitter 901 that receives an input signal from the controller 900 emits light. The light that is emitted passes through the detection object 60 or is reflected or scattered by the detection object 60, and is detected by the light receiver 902. The light receiver 902 may receive a bias signal from the controller 900 to increase the detection sensitivity.
The signal that is detected by the light receiver 902 is output to the signal processor 903. The signal processor 903 receives the signal from the light receiver 902 and performs processing of the signal such as, for example, AC detection, signal amplification, noise removal, etc., as appropriate. To perform the appropriate signal processing, the signal processor 903 may receive a synchronization signal from the controller 900. A feedback signal for adjusting the light amount of the light emitter 901 may be transmitted to the controller 900 from the signal processor 903. The signal that is generated by the signal processor 903 is stored in the recording device 904; and the information is displayed by the display device 909.
The processing apparatus 3000 may not include the recording device 904 and the display device 909. In such a case, the signal that is generated by the signal processor 903 is output to, for example, a recording device and a display device outside the processing apparatus 3000.
The processing apparatus 3000 will now be described more specifically with reference to
The signal that is output from the signal synchronizer 903c is input to a signal shaper 903d. The processing apparatus 3000 may not include the signal synchronizer 903c. In such a case, the signal that is output from the filter portion 903b is input to the signal shaper 903d without going through the signal synchronizer 903c.
In the signal shaper 903d, the signal is shaped into the desired signal so that the appropriate signal processing is performed by a signal calculator 903e. For example, the signal shaping is performed by time averaging, etc. In the signal processor 903, the order of the AC detection and the processing performed by the processors is modifiable as appropriate. A calculated value 904a from the signal calculator 903e of the signal processor 903 is output to a recording device and a display device.
As illustrated in
Or, as illustrated in
In the processing apparatus 4001, the light emitter 901 is provided on a support substrate 901S; and the light receiver 902 is provided on a support substrate 902S. The processing apparatus 4001 has a configuration in which the light emitter 901, the light receiver 902, and the controller/signal processor 910 are provided independently from each other.
In the processing apparatus 4002, the light emitter 901 and the light receiver 902 are provided on a common support substrate 901S. In the processing apparatus 4003, the light emitter 901, the light receiver 902, and the controller/signal processor 910 are provided on a common support substrate 901S. The controller/signal processor 910 and one of the light emitter 901 or the light receiver 902 may be provided on a common support substrate.
Thus, various configurations are employable as the configuration of the processing apparatus.
In the example illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
For example, the processing apparatuses 5001 to 5005 transmit the measured data to a device 5010 such as a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a tablet terminal, etc., by a wired or wireless method. Or, the processing apparatuses 5001 to 5005 may transmit the data to a network 5020.
The data that is measured by the processing apparatuses can be monitored by utilizing the device 5010 or the network 5020. Or, monitoring or statistical processing may be performed by analyzing the measured data by using an analysis program, etc. In the case where the measured data is a pulse or an oxygen concentration of blood, the summary of the data may be performed at any time interval. For example, the data that is summarized is utilized for health care. At a hospital, for example, the data is utilized for continuous monitoring of the health condition of a patient.
According to the embodiments recited above, a light-emitting element, a detection device, and a processing apparatus that are suited to the detection of a faint signal such as a pulse wave, etc., can be provided.
In the specification of the application, “perpendicular” and “parallel” refer to not only strictly perpendicular and strictly parallel but also include, for example, the fluctuation due to manufacturing processes, etc. It is sufficient to be substantially perpendicular and substantially parallel.
Hereinabove, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to specific examples. However, the invention is not limited to these specific examples. For example, one skilled in the art may similarly practice the invention by appropriately selecting specific configurations of components included in the light-emitting element, the detection device, and the processing apparatus such as the substrate 1, the light-transmitting layer 21, the first electrode 31, the second electrode 32, the light-emitting layer 41, the third layer 43, the fourth layer 44, the support portion 121, the particle 122, the controller 900, the light receiver 902, the signal processor 903, the recording device 904, and the display device 909, etc., from known art; and such practice is within the scope of the invention to the extent that similar effects can be obtained.
Further, any two or more components of the specific examples may be combined within the extent of technical feasibility and are included in the scope of the invention to the extent that the purport of the invention is included.
Moreover, all light-emitting elements, all detection devices, and all processing apparatuses practicable by an appropriate design modification by one skilled in the art based on the light-emitting elements, the detection devices, and the processing apparatuses described above as embodiments of the invention also are within the scope of the invention to the extent that the spirit of the invention is included.
Various other variations and modifications can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the invention, and it is understood that such variations and modifications are also encompassed within the scope of the invention.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2015/061695, filed on Apr. 16, 2015; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2015/061695 | Apr 2015 | US |
Child | 15706030 | US |