Patent Application
20250140491
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure generally relates to assembly of a keyboard structure for an information handling system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the sustainable assembly and repair of a user-repairable keyboard structure with stacking user-replaceable components for decreasing waste caused by disposal of an entire keyboard assembly due to failure or breakage of single components housed therein.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to clients is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing clients to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling may vary between different clients or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific client or specific use, such as e-commerce, financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. The information handling system may include one or more connectors for peripheral input/output devices that may also include a keyboard, for example.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings herein, in which:
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings may indicate similar or identical items.
The following description in combination with the Figures is provided to assist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The description is focused on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings, and is provided to assist in describing the teachings. This focus should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of the teachings.
Keyboard assemblies for information handling systems undergo wear and tear throughout their life cycles that may result in failure or breakage of individual components of the keyboard, such as individual keys, the rubber dome layer disposed directly beneath these keys for detection of keystrokes, the electrical keystroke detection membrane disposed beneath the rubber dome layer for detecting and communicating detected keystrokes to a keyboard controller, the keyboard controller itself, or a battery for the keyboard. For example, dropping the keyboard or dropping a heavy object on the keyboard may cause breakage of individual plastic keys, or may jar the battery or keyboard controller loose and disconnect them from other components. As another example, spilling liquids on the surface of the keyboard may irreparably damage the rubber dome layer, the electrical keystroke detection membrane, the keyboard controller, or the battery. Finally, wear and tear and overly forceful pressing or overuse of commonly used keys may cause tearing or fracture of portions of the rubber dome layer.
In existing systems, these internal components of a keyboard assembly may be difficult or impossible to access without risking further damage to the keyboard assembly. Such attempted access may, for example, crack the outer casing of the keyboard assembly housing these components, damage electrical coupling between various components, or result in misalignment between the various layers, causing inaccurate or failed keystroke registration. As such, when any one of these individual internal components fail or break in such a way in existing systems, users often opt to replace the entire keyboard assembly, rather than attempt to repair such damage. This may result in significant waste and have a negative impact on the environment. A system is needed that allows for easy user access and repair of these various internal keyboard assembly components to deter such unnecessary waste.
The sustainable and user-repairable keyboard structure in embodiments of the present disclosure address this issue by incorporating a plurality of user-replaceable keyboard component layers. A plurality of the user-replaceable keyboard component layers have housing guide magnetic gaskets for aligning and magnetically coupling to another of the keyboard component layers, and each being separable from one another by a user exerting force to overcome a magnetic coupling between two or more of the plurality of guide magnetic gaskets. These replaceable layers may be housed within a keyboard bottom case fixed to a keyboard top case via a plurality of user-removable fasteners, such as snaps, slide latches, or screws. This may allow the user to easily separate the top and bottom cases, and detaching the various layers from one another by separating the magnetic gaskets to expose one or more damaged components in need of replacement with little or no need for tools to do so. Upon such a separation, the user may replace damaged components such as a dry cell battery, a rechargeable battery, a keyboard controller, an electrical key press detection membrane, a rubber dome layer, or any one of the keys, on an individual basis. Following such replacement, the user may easily reassemble each of the layers by magnetically coupling the gaskets for each layer to the gasket for another layer, then reattaching the top and bottom cases through replacement of the fasteners. In such a way, the sustainable and user-repairable keyboard structure in embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an easy way for user to access and repair each of these various internal keyboard assembly components, rather than disposing of the entire keyboard assembly, thus deterring unnecessary waste.
In a networked deployment, the information handling system 100 may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client computer in a server-client network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In a particular embodiment, the information handling system 100 may be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication. The information handling system 100 may include a memory 102, (with computer readable medium 186 that is volatile (e.g. random-access memory, etc.), nonvolatile memory (read-only memory, flash memory etc.) or any combination thereof), one or more hardware processing resources, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a Visual Processing Unit (VPU) or a Hardware Accelerator, any one of which may be the hardware processor 101 illustrated in
The user-repairable keyboard structure 190 of the wired or wireless keyboard 154 in an embodiment may further include one or more user-replaceable internal components. For example, the user-repairable keyboard structure 190 in an embodiment may include the replaceable keyboard battery 153, which may function as a dry cell battery or a rechargeable battery. The user-repairable keyboard structure 190 in another embodiment may include a replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 140 operatively coupled to the replaceable keyboard battery 153 or receiving power from the PMU 104 of the information handling system 100. In an embodiment, the user-repairable keyboard structure 190 may further include a replaceable keyboard controller 151 that is operatively coupled to the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 140 and either the replaceable keyboard battery 153 or the PMU 104. The user-repairable keyboard structure 190 in another embodiment may include a replaceable rubber dome layer 130 that is operatively connected to the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 140 and provides for the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 140 to detect key presses and provide rebound of the pressed key. As described in greater detail herein, other user-repairable components of the sustainable and replaceable keyboard assembly 190 may include replaceable keys, replaceable keyboard microcontroller board that may include the replaceable keyboard controller, a wireless radio, port connector hardware (not shown), or other structures and components. The replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 140 in various embodiments herein, may communicate a detected keystroke to the replaceable keyboard controller 151, which may include a microcontroller or other microprocessor, for further communication via bus 108, or via a wireless link such as a Bluetooth® wireless link to hardware processor 101.
In an embodiment, the replaceable keyboard battery 153 may be inserted into a battery port housed within a keyboard bottom case of the user-repairable keyboard structure. This battery port in an embodiment may be operatively coupled (e.g., via a conductive wire or electrical lead) to a controller port also housed within the keyboard bottom case for insertion of the replaceable keyboard controller 151, and for operative coupling between the replaceable keyboard battery 153 and the replaceable keyboard controller 151. The replaceable keyboard controller 151 in an embodiment may be formed with conductive contacts for operative coupling to the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 140, a portion of which may be placed into electrical contact with the conductive contacts during the assembly process for the user-repairable keyboard structure 190.
The information handling system 100 may execute code instructions 187, via one or more hardware processing resources, that may operate on servers or systems, remote data centers, or on-box in individual client information handling systems 100 according to various embodiments herein. In some embodiments, it is understood any or all portions of code instructions 187 may operate on a plurality of information handling systems 100.
The information handling system 100 may include a hardware processor 101 such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a Visual Processing Unit (VPU), or a hardware accelerator, embedded controllers or hardware control logic or some combination of the same. Any of the hardware processing resources may operate to execute code that is either firmware or software code. Moreover, the information handling system 100 may include memory such as main memory 102, static memory 103, containing computer readable medium 186 storing instructions 187. In other embodiments the information handling system 100 may represent a server information handling system executing operating system (OS) software, application software, BIOS software, or other software applications or drivers detectable by hardware processor type 101. The disk drive unit 107 and static memory 103 may also contain space for data storage in a computer readable medium 186. The instructions 187 in an embodiment may reside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 102, the static memory 103, and/or within the disk drive 107 during execution by the hardware processor 101.
The wireless adapter and network interface device 160 may provide connectivity of the information handling system 100 to wireless peripheral devices such as keyboard 154 or to the network 170 via a network access point (AP) in an embodiment. The network 170 in some embodiments may be a wired local area network (LAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN) including a Bluetooth® or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) WPAN, a public Wi-Fi communication network, a private Wi-Fi communication network, a public WiMAX communication network, or other non-cellular communication networks. In other embodiments, the network 170 may be a wired wide area network (WAN), a 4G LTE public network, or a 5G communication network, or other cellular communication networks. Connectivity to any of a plurality of networks 170, one or more APs for those networks, or to a docking station in an embodiment may be via wired or wireless connection. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the network interface device 160 may operate two or more wireless links. In other aspects of the present disclosure, the information handling system 100 may include a plurality of network interface devices, each capable of establishing a separate wireless link to network 170, such that the information handling system 100 may be in communication with network 170 via a plurality of wireless links.
The network interface device 160 may operate in accordance with any cellular wireless data communication standards. To communicate with a wireless local area network, standards including IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards, IEEE 802.15 WPAN standards, WiMAX, or similar wireless standards may be used. Utilization of radiofrequency communication bands according to several example embodiments of the present disclosure may include bands used with the WLAN standards which may operate in both licensed and unlicensed spectrums. For example, WLAN may use frequency bands such as those supported in the 802.11 a/h/j/n/ac/ax/be including Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6e, and the emerging Wi-Fi 7 standard. It is understood that any number of available channels may be available in WLAN under the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz bands which may be shared communication frequency bands with WWAN protocols or Bluetooth® protocols in some embodiments.
In some embodiments, hardware executing software or firmware, dedicated hardware implementations such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices may be constructed to implement one or more of some systems and methods described herein. Applications that may include the hardware processing resources executing systems of various embodiments may broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that may be communicated between and through the hardware modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present embodiments encompass hardware processing resources executing software or firmware, or hardware implementations.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented by firmware or software programs executable by a hardware controller, a hardware processor system, or other hardware processing resources. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations may include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing may be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionalities as described herein. Various software modules comprising application instructions 187 may be coordinated by an operating system (OS), and/or via an application programming interface (API). An example operating system may include Windows®, Android®, and other OS types. Example APIs may include Win 32, Core Java API, or Android APIs. Application instructions 187 may also include any application processing drivers, or the like executing on information handling system 100.
Main memory 102 may contain computer-readable medium (not shown), such as RAM in an example embodiment. An example of main memory 102 includes random access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM), or the like, read only memory (ROM), another type of memory, or a combination thereof. Static memory 103 may contain computer-readable medium (not shown), such as NOR or NAND flash memory in some example embodiments. The instructions, parameters, and profiles 187 may be stored in static memory 103, or the drive unit 107 on a computer-readable medium 186 such as a flash memory or magnetic disk in an example embodiment.
While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single-medium or multiple-media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a hardware processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein.
In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium may include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium may be a random-access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium may include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to store information received via carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. Furthermore, a computer readable medium may store information received from distributed network resources such as from a cloud-based environment. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives may be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.
In some embodiments, dedicated hardware implementations such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices may be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments may broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that may be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations.
When referred to as a “system”, a “device,” a “module,” a “controller,” or the like, the embodiments described herein may be configured as hardware, or as software or firmware executing on a hardware processing resource. For example, a portion of an information handling system device may be hardware such as, for example, an integrated circuit (such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a structured ASIC, or a device embedded on a larger chip), a card (such as a Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) card, a PCI-express card, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, or other such expansion card), or a system (such as a motherboard, a system-on-a-chip (SoC), or a stand-alone device). The hardware system, hardware device, hardware controller, or hardware module may execute software, including firmware embedded at a device, such as an Intel® brand hardware processor, ARM® brand hardware processors, Qualcomm® brand hardware processors, or other hardware processors and chipsets, or other such device, or software capable of operating a relevant environment of the information handling system. The hardware system, hardware device, hardware controller, or hardware module may also comprise a combination of the foregoing examples of hardware, or hardware processors executing firmware or software. In an embodiment an information handling system 100 may include an integrated circuit or a board-level product having portions thereof that may also be any combination of hardware and hardware executing software. Hardware devices, hardware modules, hardware resources, or hardware controllers that are in communication with one another need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, hardware devices, hardware modules, hardware resources, or hardware controllers that are in communication with one another may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
A replaceable keyboard controller PCB 251 in an embodiment may be formed for operatively coupling the replaceable keyboard controller PCB 251 with a replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240. A new or replacement keyboard controller PCB 251 may be inserted within the controller port of the keyboard bottom case 250 and installed via the plastic hooks in an embodiment. The keyboard controller PCB 251 and its components is operatively coupled to the replaceable keyboard battery 253 via a conductive wire, PCB trace or other conductive path. A new or replacement replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240 may be placed within the keyboard bottom case 250, such that the outer perimeter of the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240 is inserted or disposed entirely inside the bottom case guide magnetic gasket 252. In an embodiment, upon such an insertion of the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240, the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240 may be disposed beneath a planar surface of the bottom case guide magnetic gasket 252, as described in greater detail below with respect to
In an embodiment, the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240 may be placed in at least partial contact with conductive contacts for the replaceable keyboard controller PCB 251 to operatively couple the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240 and the replaceable keyboard controller PCB 251, as described in greater detail below with respect to
A replaceable rubber dome layer 230 may be formed in an embodiment for actuating keys (e.g., 221) of the keyboard top case 220. In an embodiment, the replaceable rubber dome layer 230 may include a rubber dome guide magnetic gasket 231 for alignment and operative coupling to the replaceable electrical key detection membrane 240. A new or replacement replaceable rubber dome layer 230 in an embodiment may be situated above the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane. The replaceable rubber dome layer 230 in such an embodiment may be aligned with and operatively coupled to the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 240 via magnetic coupling of the rubber dome guide magnetic gasket 231 and an electrical membrane guide magnetic gasket (e.g., as described in greater detail below with respect to 441 in
A keyboard top case 220 may be formed in an embodiment with removeable and replaceable keys 221. The keyboard top case 220 may be situated above, aligned with, and operatively coupled to the replaceable rubber dome layer 230, via magnetic coupling of the inner guide magnetic gasket of the keyboard top case 220 (e.g., as described in greater detail below with respect to 422 in
The replaceable keyboard controller PCB 351 in an embodiment may be formed with bottom case post openings through which the keyboard controller PCB posts 354 may be inserted, and conductive contacts 356 for operatively coupling the replaceable keyboard controller PCB 351 to a replaceable electrical key press detection membrane. The replaceable electrical key press detection membrane may be placed in contact with conductive contacts 356 for the replaceable keyboard controller PCB 351 to operatively couple the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane and the replaceable keyboard controller PCB 351. The replaceable keyboard controller PCB 351 is also operatively coupled to a power source, such as a replaceable battery, to power the keyboard controller and other components on the keyboard controller PCB 351 via a wire or other conductive path to the replaceable battery (not shown).
A replaceable rubber dome layer 430 in an embodiment may be formed for actuating keys (e.g., 221 of
A keyboard top case 420 in an embodiment may be formed with an outer guide magnetic gasket 423 for guiding alignment and operative coupling of the keyboard top case 420 and the keyboard bottom case 450, and an inner guide magnetic gasket 422 for alignment and operative coupling to the rubber dome guide magnetic gasket 422 of the replaceable rubber dome layer 430. The keyboard bottom case 450 in an embodiment may be further operatively coupled to the keyboard top case 420 via top and keyboard bottom case fasteners. Such fasteners may include sliding latches, screws, or other fasteners disposed within the openings 455a and 455b, as described in greater detail below with respect to
A replaceable electrical key press detection membrane 640 may be formed with an electrical membrane guide magnetic gasket for alignment and operative coupling to the replaceable rubber dome layer 630 (e.g., as described in greater detail with respect to
A replaceable rubber dome layer 630 be formed in an embodiment for actuating keys (e.g., 621) of the keyboard top case 620, including a rubber dome guide magnetic gasket for alignment and operative coupling of the replaceable rubber dome layer 630 to the replaceable electrical key detection membrane 640, as described in greater detail below with respect to
In an embodiment, a keyboard top case 620 may be formed with removeable and replaceable keys 621, an outer guide magnetic gasket for guiding alignment and operative coupling of the keyboard top case 620 and the keyboard bottom case 650 (e.g., as described in greater detail with respect to
The keyboard top case 620 may be formed with an inner guide magnetic gasket 622 for alignment and operative coupling to the replaceable rubber dome layer 630. The keyboard top case 620 in an embodiment may be aligned with and attached to the replaceable rubber dome layer 630 via magnetic coupling of the inner guide magnetic gasket 622 of the keyboard top case 620 and the rubber dome guide magnetic gasket 631.
At block 702, a keyboard bottom case may be formed with keyboard controller PCB posts and keyboard controller PCB hooks, openings for top and bottom case fasteners, a bottom case guide magnetic gasket, a battery port for operative coupling of replaceable battery to power the keyboard, and a controller port and area for insertion of a keyboard controller PCB. The bottom case guide magnetic gasket in an embodiment may guide alignment and operative coupling of top and keyboard bottom cases in an embodiment. The battery port in an embodiment may be operatively coupled to the keyboard controller PCB and controller port within the keyboard bottom case to provide for recharging of the battery installed there. For example, in an embodiment described with respect to
In another example embodiment described with reference to
A replaceable keyboard controller PCB with a replaceable keyboard controller and other components in an embodiment may be formed at block 704 with bottom case post openings and conductive contacts for operatively coupling the replaceable keyboard controller and a replaceable electrical key press detection membrane in the keyboard. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
At block 706, a keyboard top case may be formed in an embodiment with removeable and replaceable keys, an outer guide magnetic gasket for guiding alignment and operative coupling of top and keyboard bottom cases, and an inner guide magnetic gasket for alignment and operative coupling to a replaceable rubber dome layer and replaceable electrical key press detection membrane. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
In an embodiment described with reference to
A replaceable rubber dome layer be formed in an embodiment at block 708 for actuating keys of the keyboard top case, including a rubber dome guide magnetic gasket for alignment and operative coupling to a replaceable electrical key detection membrane. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
At block 710, a replaceable electrical key press detection membrane may be formed with an electrical membrane guide magnetic gasket for alignment and operative coupling to the replaceable rubber dome layer. The electrical membrane guide magnetic gasket in an embodiment may include a notched gasket portion for alignment with the keyboard controller PCB housed within the keyboard bottom case. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
In such a way, the sustainable and user-repairable keyboard structure in embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an easy way for user to access and repair each of these various internal keyboard assembly components, rather than disposing of the entire keyboard assembly, thus deterring unnecessary waste. The method for forming a plurality of stackable user-replaceable internal components of a repairable keyboard structure may then end.
At block 802, a new or replacement dry cell or rechargeable battery may be inserted into the battery port of the keyboard bottom case that will be used to power the keyboard and keyboard controller PCB. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
A new or replacement keyboard controller PCB in an embodiment at block 804 may be inserted with a port connector and components in the keyboard bottom case such that the bottom case posts insert through the keyboard controller PCB post openings and keyboard controller PCB hooks or fasteners operatively couple the keyboard controller PCB in the keyboard bottom case. In an embodiment described with reference to
At block 806, the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane may be placed in contact with conductive contacts for the keyboard controller such that the notched gasket portion of the electrical membrane guide magnetic gasket partially encloses one or more sides of the keyboard controller PCB to operatively couple the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane and the keyboard controller PCB. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
The replaceable rubber dome layer in an embodiment at block 808 may be aligned with and operatively coupled to the replaceable electrical key press detection membrane via magnetic coupling of the rubber dome guide magnetic gasket and the electrical membrane guide magnetic gasket. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
At block 810, the keyboard top case may be aligned with and operatively coupled to the replaceable rubber dome layer via magnet connection of the inner guide magnetic gasket of the keyboard top case and the rubber dome guide magnetic gasket. The keyboard top case in an embodiment may also be aligned with and operatively coupled to the keyboard bottom case via magnetic coupling of the keyboard top case outer guide magnetic gasket and the bottom case guide magnetic gasket. For example, in an embodiment described with reference to
In an embodiment described with respect to
The keyboard bottom case in an embodiment at block 812 may be further fixed to the keyboard top case via top and keyboard bottom case fasteners. For example, in an embodiment described with respect to
In such a way, the sustainable and user-repairable keyboard structure in embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an easy way for user to access and repair each of these various internal keyboard assembly components, with limited or no tools, rather than disposing of the entire keyboard assembly, thus deterring unnecessary waste. The method for assembling a repairable keyboard structure comprising a plurality of stackable user-replaceable internal components may then end.
The blocks of the flow diagram of
Devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication with one another need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication with one another may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.
The subject matter described herein is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any and all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
