Patent Application
20160290611
The present invention is directed generally to uniform surface illumination. More particularly, various inventive methods and apparatus disclosed herein relate to the illumination of a surface using overlapping illumination patterns having controlled non-uniformity.
Digital lighting technologies, i.e. illumination based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offer a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional advantages and benefits of LEDs include high energy conversion and optical efficiency, durability, lower operating costs, and many others. Recent advances in LED technology have provided efficient and robust full-spectrum lighting sources that enable a variety of lighting effects in many applications. Some of the fixtures embodying these sources feature a lighting module, including one or more LEDs capable of producing different colors, e.g. red, green, and blue, as well as a processor for independently controlling the output of the LEDs in order to generate a variety of colors and color-changing lighting effects, for example, as discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,038 and 6,211,626, incorporated herein by reference.
It is often desirable to illuminate a wall or other surface in a manner that appears visually uniform to an observer. A uniform light distribution is generally a pleasing and non-distracting type of surface lighting. However, gaps between multiple light sources result in a non-uniform illumination pattern with adjoining brighter and darker regions. A related problem is non-uniform illumination in the vertical direction resulting in further non-uniform illumination. As a result, part of the surface typically has a bright “hot spot” that runs along the horizontal length of the surface being illuminated. One solution is to use a wider illumination beam angle, but any improvement is typically not sufficient to result in uniform luminance.
It has previously been discovered that uniform illumination is achieved on a flat surface when the light's intensity distribution is proportional to cos−3(•), where • is the angle of the light measured relative to the surface normal. However, because most installations of lighting units involve more than one light source, it is difficult to align all of the light sources to meet the mathematical requirement for uniform illumination. For example, even if a lighting unit is properly installed, the fixtures/light sources will likely not ideally align, and manufacturing tolerances create a further practical limitation on ideal alignment. Accordingly, perfect alignment and uniformity is not a feasible solution for uniform luminance of a surface.
Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an illumination pattern to achieve a visually pleasing luminance over an extended object surface, such as a wall, when using multiple light sources or multiple fixtures that are not ideally or perfectly aligned.
The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for achieving a uniform luminance from a surface being illuminated by a plurality of light sources. For example, at least two light sources may be used to illuminate a surface wherein it is desired to provide the appearance to an observer that the surface has a uniform (or uniformly appearing) luminance. In view of the foregoing, various embodiments and implementations of the present invention are directed to an illumination pattern created by a plurality of light sources, each of which emits a beam having vertical and horizontal properties. In the vertical direction, the emitted light beam is largely uniform with a short region of controlled non-uniformity at the top and bottom of the light beam. In the horizontal region, the emitted light beam has a small uniform region at the center surrounded by large regions of controlled non-uniformity at the right and left sides of the light beam. Adjacent light beams are configured to overlap in the regions of controlled non-uniformity at the right and left sides of the emitted light beam.
Generally, in one aspect, a lighting system is configured to illuminate a surface with an illumination pattern. The lighting system includes a plurality of lighting units configured for positioning in spatially distributed relation to one another, wherein each of the plurality of lighting units emits a light beam with a vertical illumination distribution and a horizontal illumination distribution, and further wherein the emitted light beams yield the illumination pattern. The intensity of each of the light beams vary along the length of said horizontal illumination distribution, said intensity being largely uniform in a central region of the horizontal illumination distribution, and largely non-uniform at each end of the horizontal illumination distribution. Further, the intensity of each of said light beams vary along the length of said vertical illumination distribution, said intensity being largely uniform in a central region of the vertical illumination distribution, and largely non-uniform at each end of the vertical illumination distribution. Each of the plurality of lighting units comprises a plurality of LED-based light sources.
In some embodiments, the length of the central region of uniform intensity along said horizontal illumination distribution is shorter than the combined lengths of non-uniform intensity at the two ends of the horizontal illumination distribution.
In some embodiments, the length of the central region of uniform intensity along said vertical illumination distribution is greater than the combined lengths of non-uniform intensity at the two ends of the vertical illumination distribution.
In some embodiments, the largely non-uniform intensity of at least one end of the horizontal illumination distribution of a light beam emitted by a first lighting unit overlapswith the largely non-uniform intensity of at least one end of the horizontal illumination distribution of a light beam emitted by an adjacent lighting unit. The intensity of light within the region of overlap is similar to the intensity of the central region of the horizontal illumination distribution emitted by said first lighting unit, and similar to the intensity of the central region of the horizontal illumination distribution emitted by said adjacent lighting unit.
In some embodiments, the length of the central region of uniform intensity along said vertical illumination distribution is approximately 70%to 90% of the total vertical illumination distribution.
In some embodiments, the length of the central region of uniform intensity along said horizontal illumination distribution is approximately 40% to 80% of the total horizontal illumination distribution.
Generally, in one aspect, a lighting unit is configured to illuminate a surface with an illumination pattern. The lighting unit includes a plurality of LED-based light sources positioned in spatially distributed relation to one another, wherein each of plurality of light sources emits a light beam having a vertical illumination distribution and a horizontal illumination distribution (30), and further wherein the emitted light beams yield said illumination pattern. The intensity of each of said light beams vary along the length of said horizontal illumination distribution, said intensity being largely uniform in a central region of the horizontal illumination distribution, and largely non-uniform at each end of the horizontal illumination distribution. Further, the intensity of each of said light beams vary along the length of said vertical illumination distribution, said intensity being largely uniform in a central region of the vertical illumination distribution, and largely non-uniform at each end of the vertical illumination distribution.
Generally, in one aspect, a method for illuminating a surface with an illumination pattern includes the step of providing a plurality of lighting units configured for positioning in spatially distributed relation to one another, wherein each of plurality of lighting units emits a light beam having a vertical illumination distribution and a horizontal illumination distribution, and further wherein the emitted light beams yield the illumination pattern. The intensity of each of said light beams vary along the length of said horizontal illumination distribution, said intensity being largely uniform in a central region of the horizontal illumination distribution, and largely non-uniform at each end of the horizontal illumination distribution. Further, the intensity of each of said light beams vary along the length of said vertical illumination distribution, said intensity being largely uniform in a central region of the vertical illumination distribution, and largely non-uniform at each end of the vertical illumination distribution.
In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of spatially distributing two or more of said plurality of lighting units in relation to one another.
As used herein for purposes of the present disclosure, the term “LED” should be understood to include any electroluminescent diode or other type of carrier injection/junction-based system that is capable of generating radiation in response to an electric signal. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures that emit light in response to current, light emitting polymers, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent strips, and the like. In particular, the term LED refers to light emitting diodes of all types (including semi-conductor and organic light emitting diodes) that may be configured to generate radiation in one or more of the infrared spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, and various portions of the visible spectrum (generally including radiation wavelengths from approximately 400 nanometers to approximately 700 nanometers). Some examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, various types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange LEDs, and white LEDs (discussed further below). It also should be appreciated that LEDs may be configured and/or controlled to generate radiation having various bandwidths (e.g., full widths at half maximum, or FWHM) for a given spectrum (e.g., narrow bandwidth, broad bandwidth), and a variety of dominant wavelengths within a given general color categorization.
For example, one implementation of an LED configured to generate essentially white light (e.g., a white LED) may include a number of dies which respectively emit different spectra of electroluminescence that, in combination, mix to form essentially white light. In another implementation, a white light LED may be associated with a phosphor material that converts electroluminescence having a first spectrum to a different second spectrum. In one example of this implementation, electroluminescence having a relatively short wavelength and narrow bandwidth spectrum “pumps” the phosphor material, which in turn radiates longer wavelength radiation having a somewhat broader spectrum.
It should also be understood that the term LED does not limit the physical and/or electrical package type of an LED. For example, as discussed above, an LED may refer to a single light emitting device having multiple dies that are configured to respectively emit different spectra of radiation (e.g., that may or may not be individually controllable). Also, an LED may be associated with a phosphor that is considered as an integral part of the LED (e.g., some types of white LEDs). In general, the term LED may refer to packaged LEDs, non-packaged LEDs, surface mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, T-package mount LEDs, radial package LEDs, power package LEDs, LEDs including some type of encasement and/or optical element (e.g., a diffusing lens), etc.
The term “light source” should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, and luminescent polymers.
A given light source may be configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Hence, the terms “light” and “radiation” are used interchangeably herein. Additionally, a light source may include as an integral component one or more filters (e.g., color filters), lenses, or other optical components. Also, it should be understood that light sources may be configured for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, indication, display, and/or illumination. An “illumination source” is a light source that is particularly configured to generate radiation having a sufficient intensity to effectively illuminate an interior or exterior space. In this context, “sufficient intensity” refers to sufficient radiant power in the visible spectrum generated in the space or environment (the unit “lumens” often is employed to represent the total light output from a light source in all directions, in terms of radiant power or “luminous flux”) to provide ambient illumination (i.e., light that may be perceived indirectly and that may be, for example, reflected off of one or more of a variety of intervening surfaces before being perceived in whole or in part).
The term “spectrum” should be understood to refer to any one or more frequencies (or wavelengths) of radiation produced by one or more light sources. Accordingly, the term “spectrum” refers to frequencies (or wavelengths) not only in the visible range, but also frequencies (or wavelengths) in the infrared, ultraviolet, and other areas of the overall electromagnetic spectrum. Also, a given spectrum may have a relatively narrow bandwidth (e.g., a FWHM having essentially few frequency or wavelength components) or a relatively wide bandwidth (several frequency or wavelength components having various relative strengths). It should also be appreciated that a given spectrum may be the result of a mixing of two or more other spectra (e.g., mixing radiation respectively emitted from multiple light sources).
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “color” is used interchangeably with the term “spectrum.” However, the term “color” generally is used to refer primarily to a property of radiation that is perceivable by an observer (although this usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term). Accordingly, the terms “different colors” implicitly refer to multiple spectra having different wavelength components and/or bandwidths. It also should be appreciated that the term “color” may be used in connection with both white and non-white light.
The term “color temperature” generally is used herein in connection with white light, although this usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term. Color temperature essentially refers to a particular color content or shade (e.g., reddish, bluish) of white light. The color temperature of a given radiation sample conventionally is characterized according to the temperature in degrees Kelvin (K) of a black body radiator that radiates essentially the same spectrum as the radiation sample in question. Black body radiator color temperatures generally fall within a range of from approximately 700 degrees K (typically considered the first visible to the human eye) to over 10,000 degrees K; white light generally is perceived at color temperatures above 1500-2000 degrees K.
Lower color temperatures generally indicate white light having a more significant red component or a “warmer feel,” while higher color temperatures generally indicate white light having a more significant blue component or a “cooler feel.” By way of example, fire has a color temperature of approximately 1,800 degrees K, a conventional incandescent bulb has a color temperature of approximately 2848 degrees K, early morning daylight has a color temperature of approximately 3,000 degrees K, and overcast midday skies have a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K. A color image viewed under white light having a color temperature of approximately 3,000 degree K has a relatively reddish tone, whereas the same color image viewed under white light having a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K has a relatively bluish tone.
The term “lighting fixture” is used herein to refer to an implementation or arrangement of one or more lighting units in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. The term “lighting unit” is used herein to refer to an apparatus including one or more light sources of same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given lighting unit optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled to and/or packaged together with) various other components (e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the light source(s). An “LED-based lighting unit” refers to a lighting unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as discussed above, alone or in combination with other non LED-based light sources. A “multi-channel” lighting unit refers to an LED-based or non LED-based lighting unit that includes at least two light sources configured to respectively generate different spectrums of radiation, wherein each different source spectrum may be referred to as a “channel” of the multi-channel lighting unit.
The term “controller” is used herein generally to describe various apparatus relating to the operation of one or more light sources. A controller can be implemented in numerous ways (e.g., such as with dedicated hardware) to perform various functions discussed herein. A “processor” is one example of a controller which employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform various functions discussed herein. A controller may be implemented with or without employing a processor, and also may be implemented as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions. Examples of controller components that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media (generically referred to herein as “memory,” e.g., volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, perform at least some of the functions discussed herein. Various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller so as to implement various aspects of the present invention discussed herein. The terms “program” or “computer program” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more processors or controllers.
The term “addressable” is used herein to refer to a device (e.g., a light source in general, a lighting unit or fixture, a controller or processor associated with one or more light sources or lighting units, other non-lighting related devices, etc.) that is configured to receive information (e.g., data) intended for multiple devices, including itself, and to selectively respond to particular information intended for it. The term “addressable” often is used in connection with a networked environment (or a “network,” discussed further below), in which multiple devices are coupled together via some communications medium or media.
In one network implementation, one or more devices coupled to a network may serve as a controller for one or more other devices coupled to the network (e.g., in a master/slave relationship). In another implementation, a networked environment may include one or more dedicated controllers that are configured to control one or more of the devices coupled to the network. Generally, multiple devices coupled to the network each may have access to data that is present on the communications medium or media; however, a given device may be “addressable” in that it is configured to selectively exchange data with (i.e., receive data from and/or transmit data to) the network, based, for example, on one or more particular identifiers (e.g., “addresses”) assigned to it.
The term “network” as used herein refers to any interconnection of two or more devices (including controllers or processors) that facilitates the transport of information (e.g. for device control, data storage, data exchange, etc.) between any two or more devices and/or among multiple devices coupled to the network. As should be readily appreciated, various implementations of networks suitable for interconnecting multiple devices may include any of a variety of network topologies and employ any of a variety of communication protocols. Additionally, in various networks according to the present disclosure, any one connection between two devices may represent a dedicated connection between the two systems, or alternatively a non-dedicated connection. In addition to carrying information intended for the two devices, such a non-dedicated connection may carry information not necessarily intended for either of the two devices (e.g., an open network connection). Furthermore, it should be readily appreciated that various networks of devices as discussed herein may employ one or more wireless, wire/cable, and/or fiber optic links to facilitate information transport throughout the network.
The term “user interface” as used herein refers to an interface between a human user or operator and one or more devices that enables communication between the user and the device(s). Examples of user interfaces that may be employed in various implementations of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, switches, potentiometers, buttons, dials, sliders, a mouse, keyboard, keypad, various types of game controllers (e.g., joysticks), track balls, display screens, various types of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), touch screens, microphones and other types of sensors that may receive some form of human-generated stimulus and generate a signal in response thereto.
It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.
In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Applicants have recognized and appreciated that it would be beneficial to provide uniform illumination of a surface being illuminated by a plurality of light sources. For example, at least two light sources may be used to illuminate a surface wherein it is desired to provide the appearance to an observer that the surface has a uniform (or uniformly appearing) illumination.
In view of the foregoing, various embodiments and implementations of the present invention are directed to a uniformly appearing illumination pattern created by a plurality of light sources, each of which emits a beam having vertical and horizontal properties. In the vertical direction, the emitted light beam is largely uniform with a short region of controlled non-uniformity at the top and bottom of the light beam. In the horizontal region, the emitted light beam has a small uniform region at the center surrounded by large regions of controlled non-uniformity at the right and left sides of the light beam. Adjacent light beams are configured to overlap in the regions of controlled non-uniformity at the right and left sides of the emitted light beam.
Referring now to the drawings, in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Although
Further, although
In order to achieve a uniformly appearing illumination pattern 12 on surface 16, lighting unit 14 is configured to emit a light beam 15 with a vertical illumination distribution or direction 40 and a horizontal illumination distribution or direction 30 to create an illumination footprint 22, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, as illustrated in the graph in
In the embodiment illustrated in
In some embodiments, as illustrated in the graph in
In the embodiment illustrated in
In some embodiments, adjacent light beams are configured to overlap in the regions of controlled non-uniformity at the right and left sides of the emitted light beam. For example, as shown in
However, as shown in
As an example of overlapping, Table 1 illustrates the overlap of the illumination footprint 22 of lighting units 14a with 14b, 14b with 14c, and 14c with 14d in a simulated lighting system with a surface 16 being illuminated. In the region of surface 16 where there is a desire to have a uniform illumination pattern (between 1.0 and 3.5 meters), the total intensity of light beams striking the surface adds up to a normalized value of 1. At each location, the light beams striking surface 16 are composed of either a light beam entirely from a single lighting unit, or a composite of light beams from two overlapping lighting units. Although Table 1 illustrates a lighting system with four lighting units, the lighting system may include fewer than four or more than four lighting units.
In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in
where illumination “E” has units of lumens per square meter, intensity “I” has units of lumens per steradians, and the distance “d” has units of meters. The angle “•” is measured from the surface's surface normal and the distance “d” is measured as projected along the surface's normal vector. If the angles are measured in terms of orthogonal horizontal and vertical components, •h and •v, then the total linear angle, •, is:
θ=arccos(cos(θh)*cos(θv))
As a result, for example, illustrated in
In some embodiments, the illumination footprint 22 created by a lighting unit 14 may vary slightly within the vertical direction 40 and/or the horizontal direction 30. This variation can result from manufacturing errors or tolerances, from misalignment, or other inadvertent or unavoidable circumstances. In some cases, the variation may be as much as 0.6 (relative to a normalized maximum value of 1.0). However, the human eye and brain often will not detect these variations, especially in the central region of the vertical direction 40 and/or the horizontal direction 30 of illumination footprint 22.
In some embodiments, the lighting system 10 is composed of a plurality of LED-based light sources 18 within a single lighting unit 14. In this embodiment, the LED-based light sources 18 each emit a light beam that has a vertical illumination distribution (40) and a horizontal illumination distribution (30). As described above, the intensity of each of the light beams can vary along the length of the horizontal illumination distribution, with the intensity of the light beam being largely uniform in a central region and largely non-uniform at each end. Further, the intensity of each of the light beams can vary along the length of the vertical illumination distribution, with the intensity being largely uniform in the central region and largely non-uniform at each end.
According to another aspect, as depicted in the flow chart in
Further, in some embodiments as described above, the horizontal illumination distribution varies along its length with a central region of uniform intensity that is shorter than the combined lengths of non-uniform intensity at the two ends of the horizontal illumination distribution. Similarly, the vertical illumination distribution varies along its length with a central region of uniform intensity that is greater than the combined lengths of non-uniform intensity at the two ends of the vertical illumination distribution.
In some embodiments of the method, in order to improve the uniform appearance of the lighting system the non-uniform intensity of one end of the horizontal illumination distribution of a light beam overlaps with the non-uniform intensity of one end of the horizontal illumination distribution of a light beam emitted by an adjacent lighting unit. As a result, the combined intensity of the light within this region of overlap is similar to the intensity of the central region of the horizontal illumination distribution emitted by each adjacent lighting unit, thereby resulting in uniform appearance.
In step 110 of the method, two or more of the plurality of lighting units are activated to create the illumination pattern 12. In step 120, depending on the uniformity or non-uniformity of the illumination pattern, one or more lighting units 14 within the system can be rotated, angled, or otherwise adjusted in relation to another lighting unit in order to improve the uniformity of the illumination pattern. As another example, the intensity, angle, or color of the light beam 15 emitted by the lighting unit can similarly be adjusted.
While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
Reference numerals appearing between parentheses in the claims, if any, are provided merely for convenience and should not be construed as limiting in any way.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, asset forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2014/066014 | 11/13/2014 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61906463 | Nov 2013 | US |
