Patent Application
20240096221
The present disclosure relates to a ship monitoring device, a ship monitoring method, and a program.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying, in a PPI (Plan Position Indicator) radar image, an image of other ships which exist around a ship concerned, together with a hazardous area where a danger of a collision with another ship may occur if the ship concerned enters.
Meanwhile, since a ship object indicative of another ship is often displayed separately from a collision risk area indicative of a risk of a collision with the another ship, it is difficult to grasp to which ship object the collision risk area is related, when a plurality of ship objects are displayed in the image.
The present disclosure is made in view of the problem described above, and one main purpose thereof is to provide a ship monitoring device, a ship monitoring method, and a program, which make it easier to grasp a relationship between a ship object and a collision risk area.
In order to solve the above-described problem, a ship monitoring device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a specification accepting part, a first data acquiring part, a second data acquiring part, a risk area calculating part, and a display controlling part. The specification accepting part accepts a specification of a position in an image displayed on a display unit. The first data acquiring part acquires first ship data indicative of a position and a velocity of a first ship. The second data acquiring part acquires a plurality of second ship data indicative of positions and velocities of a plurality of second ships. The risk area calculating part calculates a collision risk area where a risk of the first ship colliding each of the second ships becomes more than a given value, based on the first ship data and the plurality of second ship data. The display controlling part displays a plurality of ship objects indicative of the plurality of second ships, and the collision risk area disposed at corresponding positions in the image, and when a specification of the collision risk area is accepted, displays the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area so as to be discriminated from other ship objects. According to this configuration, it becomes easier to grasp the relationship between the ship object and the collision risk area.
In the above-described aspect, the display controlling part may perform the discriminating indication by displaying an information indication object including ship information so as to be associated with the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area. According to this configuration, it becomes easier to identify the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area, and it becomes possible to grasp the ship information.
In the above-described aspect, the display controlling part may perform the discriminating indication by using a different display mode of the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area from other ship objects. According to this configuration, it becomes easier to identify the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area.
In the above-described aspect, the display controlling part may perform one of the discriminating indication of the ship object corresponding to the collision risk area, and given processing accompanying specification of another object, that is determined beforehand, when a position at which the collision risk area overlaps with the another object is specified. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to prevent a processing conflict.
In the above-described aspect, the display controlling part may perform given processing accompanying specification of another object, without performing the discriminating indication of the ship object corresponding to the collision risk area, when a position at which the collision risk area overlaps with the another object is specified. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to prioritize the specification of another object rather than the collision risk area which can be displayed in a comparatively larger area and can also be specified at other positions.
In the above-described aspect, the another object may be the ship object. The given processing accompanying the specification of the another object may be processing to display an information indication object including ship information so as to be associated with the specified ship object. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to prevent a processing conflict when a position where the collision risk area and the ship object overlap is specified.
In the above-described aspect, the display controlling part may display in the image an echo object indicative of an area where an echo intensity is more than a given value, based on echo data generated by a radar mounted on the first ship. The another object may be the echo object, and the given processing accompanying the specification of the another object may be processing to register the specified echo object as a tracking target. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to prevent a processing conflict when a position where the collision risk area and the echo object overlap is specified.
In the above-described aspect, the display controlling part may perform the discriminating indication of the ship object corresponding to the collision risk area when a position at which the collision risk area overlaps with another object is specified in a first specifying mode, and perform given processing accompanying specification of the another object when a position at which the collision risk area overlaps with the another object is specified in a second specifying mode. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to perform both processings by changing the specifying mode.
In the above-described aspect, when a position at which a plurality of the collision risk areas overlap with each other is specified, the display controlling part may discriminatingly display one of the plurality of ship objects that is determined based on a degree of a collision risk, a distance from the specified position, a distance from the first ship, or a degree of interference with traveling of the first ship. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to discriminatingly display one ship object determined based on a given condition.
In the above-described aspect, when a position at which a plurality of the collision risk areas overlap with each other is specified, the display controlling part may discriminatingly display the plurality of ship objects corresponding to the plurality of specified collision risk areas. According to this configuration, it becomes possible to discriminatingly display all ship objects related.
In the above-described aspect, the first data may include a position of the first ship detected by a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver mounted on the first ship. Further, the second data may include a position and a velocity of the second ship that are detected by a radar mounted on the first ship. Further, the second data may include a position and a velocity of the second ship that are detected by an AIS (Automatic Identification System) mounted on the first ship.
Further, a ship monitoring method according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes generating, by a first data generating part, first ship data indicative of a position and a velocity of a first ship, generating, by a second data generating part, a plurality of second ship data indicative of positions and velocities of a plurality of second ships, calculating a collision risk area where a risk of the first ship colliding each of the second ships becomes more than a given value, based on the first ship data and the plurality of second ship data, displaying, by a display unit, an image where a plurality of ship objects indicative of the plurality of second ships, and the collision risk area are disposed at corresponding positions, and, when the collision risk area is specified, displaying the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area so as to be discriminated from other ship objects. According to this configuration, it becomes easier to grasp the relationship between the ship object and the collision risk area.
Further, a program according to another aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute processing which includes acquiring first ship data indicative of a position and a velocity of a first ship, acquiring a plurality of second ship data indicative of positions and velocities of a plurality of second ships, calculating a collision risk area where a risk of the first ship colliding each of the second ships becomes more than a given value, based on the first ship data and the plurality of second ship data, displaying on a display unit a plurality of ship objects indicative of the plurality of second ships, and the collision risk area disposed at corresponding positions in an image, and, when the collision risk area is specified, displaying the ship object corresponding to the specified collision risk area so as to be discriminated from other ship objects. According to this configuration, it becomes easier to grasp the relationship between the ship object and the collision risk area.
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings.
The ship on which the ship monitoring system 100 is mounted is one example of a first ship, and is referred to as “the ship” in the following description. Further, ship(s) which exists around “the ship” is one example of second ship(s), and is referred to as “another ship” or “other ships” in the following description.
Further, in the following description, a “velocity” is a vector quantity (so-called “ship velocity vector”) indicative of a speed and a direction, and a “speed” is a scalar quantity.
The ship monitoring system 100 may include c, a display unit 2, a radar 3, an AIS 4, a GNSS receiver 5, a gyrocompass 6, an ECDIS 7, and an alarm 8. These apparatuses may be connected, for example, with a network N, such as a LAN, so that mutual network communications are possible.
The ship monitoring device 1 may be a computer including processing circuitry, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a nonvolatile memory, and an input/output interface. The CPU of the ship monitoring device 1 may perform information processing according to a program loaded to the RAM from the ROM or the nonvolatile memory.
The program may be supplied, for example, via an information storage medium, such as an optical disc or a memory card, or may be supplied, for example, via a communication network, such as the Internet or the LAN. The display unit 2 may be a display device with a touch sensor, for example. The touch sensor may detect an instructed position in a screen which is instructed by a finger etc. The instructed position may be inputted not only by the touch sensor but also by a trackball etc.
The radar 3 may transmit a radio wave around the ship, receive a reflection wave thereof, and generate echo data based on a reception signal. Further, the radar 3 may discriminate a target object from the echo data, and generate Target-object Tracking data (TT data) indicative of a position and a velocity of the target object.
The AIS (Automatic Identification System) 4 may receive AIS data from other ship(s) or land controls which exist around the ship. A VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) may also be used, instead of the AIS. The AIS data may include a position, a velocity, etc. of another ship.
The GNSS receiver 5 may detect the position of the ship based on the radio waves received from a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). The gyrocompass 6 may detect a direction (heading or bearing) of the ship. A GPS compass may also be used, instead of the gyrocompass.
The ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) 7 may acquire the position of the ship from the GNSS receiver 5, and display the position of the ship on an electronic nautical chart. Further, the ECDIS 7 may also display a scheduled route of the ship on the electronic nautical chart. A GNSS plotter may also be used, instead of the ECDIS.
The alarm 8 may issue an alert when there is a risk of the ship colliding with another ship. For example, the alarm 8 may issue the alert by indication, or may issue the alert by sound or light. The alert by indication may be performed by the display unit 2. That is, the display unit 2 may also serve as the alarm 8.
Although in this embodiment the ship monitoring device 1 is an independent device, it may be integrated with another device, such as the ECDIS 7. That is, the functional parts of the ship monitoring device 1 may be realized by other devices.
Further, although the display unit 2 is also an independent device, a display unit of another device, such as the ECDIS 7, may be used as the display unit 2 which displays an image for indication generated by the ship monitoring device 1.
In this embodiment, the GNSS receiver 5 and the ECDIS 7 are examples of a first data generating part which generates “the-ship data” indicative of a position and a velocity of the ship. In detail, the GNSS receiver 5 may detect the position of the ship, and the ECDIS 7 may detect the velocity of the ship based on a temporal change of the position of the ship.
Alternatively, the velocity of the ship may be detected based on the direction of the ship detected by the gyrocompass 6, and a speed of the ship detected by a ship speed meter (not illustrated).
Further, the radar 3 or the AIS 4 is one example of a second data generating part, which generates “other-ships data” indicative of a position and a velocity of another ship. In detail, the TT data generated by the radar 3 may correspond to “other-ships data.” The AIS data generated by the AIS 4 may also correspond to “other-ships data.”
Other-ships management database may include fields, such as an “other-ships identifier,” a “position,” a “speed,” and a “direction.” Note that the position and the direction of another ship which are detected by the radar 3 may be converted into a coordinate system which is the same as the GNSS.
These functional parts may be realized by the CPU of the ship monitoring device 1 performing information processing according to the program. The coordinate information accumulating part 15 may be stored in the memory of the ship monitoring device 1 as an area holding the image for indication which is displayed on the display 2.
The-ship data acquiring part 11 may acquire the-ship data indicative of the position and the velocity of the ship from the GNSS receiver 5 etc. The-ship data acquiring part 11 is one example of a first data acquiring part, and the-ship data is one example of first ship data.
Other-ships data acquiring part 12 may acquire other-ships data indicative of the position and the velocity of another ship from the radar 3 or the AIS 4. Other-ships data acquiring part 12 is one example of a second data acquiring part, and other-ships data is one example of second ship data.
The risk area calculating part 13 may calculate a risk of the ship colliding with each of other ships based on the-ship data and a plurality of other-ships data, and calculate a collision risk area where the risk of a collision becomes more than a given value. The collision risk area may be an OZT (Obstacle Zone by Target), for example.
Although one example in which the OZT is calculated as the collision risk area will be described below, a PAD (Predict Area of Danger) or a DAC (Dangerous Area of Collision) may be used instead of the OZT, for example.
The calculation of the estimated position of the ship CS may be performed under an assumption that the ship CS travels after it changed the course in an arbitrary direction at the current position, while maintaining the speed. That is, it may be assumed that the ship CS changes the direction of the-ship velocity vector to an arbitrary direction at a reference timing, while the magnitude of the-ship velocity vector is constant, and, after that, the ship CS continues the travel from the ship position at the reference timing in the fixed direction. Therefore, the estimated position of the ship CS at each timing may exist on a concentric circle centering on the ship position at the reference timing. The radius of the circle can be expressed by a product of a lapsed time from the reference timing and the magnitude of the-ship velocity vector.
The estimated position of the ship CS at each timing can be expressed by a plurality of concentric circles calculated at a plurality of discrete timings, respectively. Alternatively, the estimated position of the ship CS at each timing may be expressed by a formula of a circle taking the lapsed time from the reference timing into consideration.
Although in this embodiment the estimated position of the ship CS is calculated under the assumption that the speed of the ship CS is constant, the speed of the ship CS may be treated as a variable which changes with time. That is, the speed of the ship CS may not be constant, as long as the estimated position of the ship CS according to the lapsed time from the reference timing can be obtained. For example, the speed of the ship CS may gradually increase or decrease with progress of time.
The calculation of the estimated position of another ship CO may be performed under an assumption that another ship CO travels from the current position, while maintaining the velocity. That is, it may be assumed that another ship CO continues the travel from an another-ship position at a reference timing, where the magnitude and the direction of the another-ship velocity vector are constant. Therefore, the estimated position of another ship CO at each timing may exist on a straight line which is an extension of the another-ship velocity vector passing through the another-ship position at the reference timing.
The estimated positions of another ship CO at the timings can be expressed by a plurality of discrete points lined up on the straight line, which are calculated for the plurality of discrete timings. Alternatively, the estimated position of another ship CO at each timing may also be expressed by a linear function which passes through the another-ship position at the reference timing.
Although in this embodiment the estimated position of another ship CO is calculated under the assumption that the velocity of another ship CO is constant, at least one of the speed and the direction of another ship CO may be treated as a variable which varies with time. That is, the velocity of another ship CO may not be constant, as long as the estimated position of another ship CO according to the lapsed time from the reference timing can be obtained. For example, the speed of another ship CO may increase or decrease gradually with progress of time. Further, another ship CO may change the course to a given direction, or it may turn at a given ROT (Rate of Turn).
The risk area calculating part 13 may calculate a separated distance between the estimated position of the ship CS and the estimated position of another ship CO at each timing, and calculate the risk of a collision based on the separated distance and the ship size. As described above, since the estimated position of the ship CS at a certain timing can be expressed by a circle, the risk area calculating part 13 may calculate the separated distance by extracting the position nearest to the estimated position of another ship CO at this timing, from the circle indicative of the estimated positions of the ship CS at the certain timing.
The risk area calculating part 13 may identify the risk area L where the risk of a collision is more than the threshold, for example, while assuming that the risk of a collision is more than the threshold when a cautious area P set within the area of the ship CS or around the ship CS overlaps with a point indicative of the estimated position of another ship CO. For example, a rear end LR of the risk area L may become a position at which a front end of the cautious area P of the ship contacts the point indicative of the estimated position of another ship CO. The front end LF of the risk area L may become a position at which a rear end of the cautious area P of the ship contacts the point indicative of the estimated position of another ship CO.
Alternatively, the risk area calculating part 13 may determine that the risk of a collision is more than the threshold, for example, when the cautious area P set within the area of the ship CS or around the ship CS overlaps with a cautious area set within the area of another ship CO or around another ship CO. Alternatively, the risk area calculating part 13 may determine that the risk of a collision is more than the threshold, for example, when the separated distance between the point indicative of the estimated position of the ship CS and the point indicative of the estimated position of another ship CO is below a threshold.
Returning to
For example, among other-ships objects OS1 and OS2, other-ships object OS1 based on the AIS 4 may be displayed as a triangle, and other-ships object OS2 based on the radar 3 may be displayed as a circle. Further, vector lines VS, V1, and V2 indicative of the velocity vectors may be added to the-ship object SS and other-ships objects OS1 and OS2.
In the indication image DM, the estimated courses R1 and R2 of other ships calculated based on other-ships data may be displayed, and on the estimated courses R1 and R2, OZT1 and OZT2 which are calculated by the risk area calculating part 13 may be displayed as the collision risk areas. In the illustrated example, the estimated course R1 and the OZT1 may be associated with other-ships object OS1, and the estimated course R2 and the OZT2 may be associated with other-ships object OS2.
The OZT1 and OZT2 may be displayed in the risk area L which is identified by the risk area calculating part 13 (see
In the indication image DM, an echo object E based on the echo data acquired from the radar 3 may also be displayed. The echo object E may indicate an area where the echo intensity is more than a given value. That is, the echo object E may illustrate the existence of a target-object candidate, such as another ship. Alternatively, in the indication image DM, the scheduled route of the ship acquired from the ECDIS 7, and the nautical chart around the scheduled route may further be displayed.
First, the specification accepting part 17 may determine whether it received the specification of the position in the indication image DM (S11). The position in the indication image DM can be expressed by two-dimensional coordinates. The specification of the position in the indication image DM may be performed by an input from a touch sensor provided to the display unit 2, or may be an input from a trackball or a mouse for operating a cursor in the screen of the display unit 2.
If the specification of the position in the indication image DM is accepted (S12: YES), the coordinate information acquiring part 18 may acquire coordinate information of the specified position in the indication image DM from the coordinate information accumulating part 15 (S12). The coordinate information may include information on the type of an object which exists at the specified position etc.
Next, the processing selecting part 19 may determine whether the object exists at the specified position (S13), and further determine whether there are a plurality of objects (S14). If only one object exists at the specified position (S13: YES and S14: NO), the display controlling part 14 may perform given processing accompanying the specification of the single object, and display it (S16).
On the other hand, if a plurality of objects exist at the specified position (S13: YES and S14: YES), the processing selecting part 19 may select one processing defined beforehand from the given processings accompanying the specification of the plurality of objects (S15), and the display controlling part 14 may perform the selected processing, and display it (S16).
For example, as illustrated in
In detail, the display controlling part 14 may display an information indication object IF including ship information so as to be associated with other-ships object OS1 corresponding to the OZT1 specified. By using a display mode of other-ships object OS1 which is different from the different other-ships object OS2, the other-ships object OS1 can be discriminatingly displayed. Alternatively, the discriminating display may be performed only by one of the indication of the information indication object IF, and the change in the display mode of other-ships object OS1.
The information indication object IF may include information, such as an identification sign, a ship's name, a position, a course or heading, a speed, and a destination. These information may be extracted from the AIS data, for example.
The display mode of other-ships object OS1 may be changed, for example, to more noticeable color or brightness (so-called “highlighted indication”). Further, in addition to other-ships object OS1, the OZT1, the estimated course R1, and the vector line V1 may be similarly changed in the display mode to exaggerate the relevance of the specified OZT1 and other-ships object OS1.
The cursor position C4 may be a position at which only OZT1 exists, and when this position is specified, the display controlling part 14 may perform an other-ships discriminating indication. That is, as illustrated in
The cursor position C5 may be a position at which only the echo object E exists, and when this position is specified, the display controlling part 14 may perform an echo tracking and acquisition. In detail, the display controlling part 14 may register the specified echo object E as a tracking target, and in connection with this, it may display a new circular other-ships object at the specified position.
The cursor position C6 may be a position at which only other-ships object OS2 exists, and when this position is specified, the display controlling part 14 may perform a ship information indication. In detail, the display controlling part 14 may display the information indication object IF (see
The cursor position C1 may be a position at which the echo object E overlaps with the OZT2, and when this position is specified, the display controlling part 14 may perform one of the echo tracking and acquisition, and the other-ships discriminating indication, which is determined beforehand. Although in this example the echo tracking and acquisition is performed, the other-ships discriminating indication may instead be performed. Alternatively, both the echo tracking and acquisition and the other-ships discriminating indication may be performed in parallel.
The cursor position C2 may be a position at which the echo object E, the OZT1, and the OZT2 overlap with each other, and when this position is specified, the display controlling part 14 may perform one of the echo tracking and acquisition and the other-ships discriminating indication, which is determined beforehand. Although in this example the echo tracking and acquisition is performed, the other-ships discriminating indication may instead be performed. The other-ships discriminating indication when the position at which the two OZT1 and OZT2 overlap with each other is specified will be described later. Alternatively, both the echo tracking and acquisition and the other-ships discriminating indication may be performed in parallel. The cursor position C3 may be a position at which other-ships object OS3 and the OZT2 overlap with each other, and when this position is specified, the display controlling part 14 may perform one of the ship information indication and the other-ships discriminating indication, which is determined beforehand. Although in this example the ship information indication is performed, the other-ships discriminating indication may instead be performed.
Alternatively, both the ship information indication and the other-ships discriminating indication may be performed in parallel.
Since the OZT1 and the OZT2 are often displayed in a larger area compared with the other-ships object OS3 or the echo object E, and it is easy to specify the position at which the other-ships object OS3 or the echo object E does not overlap, it may be preferred to prioritize the processing according to the other-ships object OS3 or the echo object E at the position where the OZT1 or the OZT2 overlaps with the other-ships object OS3 or the echo object E.
Instead of the example of
At the cursor position C4, nothing may be performed when clicked, but the other-ships discriminating indication may be performed when a cursor over is made. At the cursor position C5, the echo tracking and acquisition may be performed when clicked, and nothing may be performed when a cursor over is made. At the cursor position C6, the ship information indication may be performed when clicked, and nothing may be performed when a cursor over is made.
Note that, as illustrated in
As for the degree of the collision risk, for example, one of other-ships objects OS1 and OS2 which is higher in the collision risk at the specified position ZL may be selected. The collision risk may be calculated so that it becomes higher as another ship CO gets closer to the ship CS, when performing the calculation illustrated in
As for the distance from the specified position ZL, for example, one of other-ships objects OS1 and OS2 of which the distance from the specified position ZL is closer may be selected. Alternatively, one with a more distance from the specified position ZL (that is, one with a faster ship speed) may be selected. As for the distance from the-ship object SS, for example, one of other-ships objects OS1 and OS2 of which the distance from the-ship object SS is closer may be selected.
As for the degree of interfering the traveling of the ship, for example, one of other-ships objects OS1 and OS2 with a higher occupancy ratio of the OZT1 and the OZT2 within the 360° range centering on the-ship object SS may be selected. Alternatively, this angle range may be a given angle range forward of the ship, instead of 360°. Alternatively, the display controlling part 14 may discriminatingly
display other-ships objects OS1 and OS2 corresponding to all the specified OZTs (OZT1 and OZT2), when the position ZL at which the plurality of OZTs (OZT1 and OZT2) overlap with each other is specified.
Although one embodiment of the present disclosure is described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, and it is needless to say for the person skilled in the art that various changes are possible.
It is to be understood that not necessarily all objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain embodiments may be configured to operate in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of the processes described herein may be embodied in, and fully automated via, software code modules executed by a computing system that includes one or more computers or processors. The code modules may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. Some or all the methods may be embodied in specialized computer hardware.
Many other variations than those described herein will be apparent from this disclosure. For example, depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or functions of any of the algorithms described herein can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the algorithms). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events can be performed concurrently, e.g., through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially. In addition, different tasks or processes can be performed by different machines and/or computing systems that can function together.
The various illustrative logical blocks and modules described in connection with the embodiment disclosed herein can be implemented or performed by a machine, such as a processor. A processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, combinations of the same, or the like. A processor can include electrical circuitry configured to process computer-executable instructions. In another embodiment, a processor includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable device that performs logic operations without processing computer-executable instructions. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Although described herein primarily with respect to digital technology, a processor may also include primarily analog components. For example, some or all of the signal processing algorithms described herein may be implemented in analog circuitry or mixed analog and digital circuitry. A computing environment can include any type of computer system, including, but not limited to, a computer system based on a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, a portable computing device, a device controller, or a computational engine within an appliance, to name a few.
Conditional language such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might” or ‘may,’ unless specifically stated otherwise, are otherwise understood within the context as used in general to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
Any process descriptions, elements or blocks in the flow diagrams described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures should be understood as potentially representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or elements in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments described herein in which elements or functions may be deleted, executed out of order from that shown, or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved as would be understood by those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as “a” or “an” should generally be interpreted to include one or more described items. Accordingly, phrases such as “a device configured to” are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one or more recited devices can also be collectively configured to carry out the stated recitations. For example, “a processor configured to carry out recitations A, B and C” can include a first processor configured to carry out recitation A working in conjunction with a second processor configured to carry out recitations B and C. The same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce embodiment recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced embodiment recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).
For expository purposes, the term “horizontal” as used herein is defined as a plane parallel to the plane or surface of the floor of the area in which the system being described is used or the method being described is performed, regardless of its orientation. The term “floor” can be interchanged with the term “ground” or “water surface”. The term “vertical” refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as just defined. Terms such as “above,” “below,” “bottom,” “top,” “side,” “higher,” “lower,” “upper,” “over,” and “under,” are defined with respect to the horizontal plane.
As used herein, the terms “attached,” “connected,” “mated,” and other such relational terms should be construed, unless otherwise noted, to include removable, movable, fixed, adjustable, and/or releasable connections or attachments. The connections/attachments can include direct connections and/or connections having intermediate structure between the two components discussed.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated, numbers preceded by a term such as “approximately”, “about”, and “substantially” as used herein include the recited numbers, and also represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, unless otherwise explicitly stated, the terms “approximately”, “about”, and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of the stated amount. Features of embodiments disclosed herein preceded by a term such as “approximately”, “about”, and “substantially” as used herein represent the feature with some variability that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result for that feature. It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may
be made to the above-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-088608 | May 2021 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part application of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2022/009935, which was filed on Mar. 8, 2022, and which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-088608 filed on May 26, 2021, the entire disclosures of each of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2022/009935 | Mar 2022 | US |
| Child | 18518694 | US |
