Patent Application
20110063224
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which may be subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Further, no references to third party patents, to articles or to manufacturer model numbers made herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such material by virtue of prior invention.
This invention relates to input devices and methods, in particular, systems and methods for inputting data in and transmitting commands for Multimedia Services, Applications and Devices.
It is known to use input devices such as a mouse and a keyboard to input data into a personal computer (PC) or multimedia system (such as a television, Set-top box, Game console, or other computer processing device), connected via data buses, data interfaces, wireless RF, infrared, “BLUETOOTH”™, Wi-Fi™, via a data hub to a PC, to name a few.
Virtual keyboards, integrated on the devices themselves, are also known which allow inputs without actually having to touch the device. Further, user input while wearing data gloves is known.
Monotouch and multitouch keyboards or input devices are known, and allow, as the case may be, single or multiple inputs from a user. In other words, monotouch interfaces read one input at a time, while multitouch can read/sense two or more inputs at a time.
Recently, now, multi-touch technologies are emerging for application in mobile phone technology. Companies such as Stantum S.A. in France, STMicroelectronics in Switzerland, Cypress Semiconductor in the US, Avago Technologies in the US and Synaptics Inc. in the US are developing multi-touch technologies in response to mobile phone customer demands. Examples of technologies used by such multitouch input devices include resistive, inductive, thermal, capacitive or electromagnetic touch and/or proximity sensing to sense or image the presence of an object within its detection field.
The I-PHONE® by Apple, Inc, of Cupertino, Calif., provides a display which responds to a proximity sensor which deactivates the display and touchscreen when the device is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user's face and ears.
Companies like Atracsys in Switzerland are developing touch-less interfaces where one or multiple users can interact with the device screen with multitouch gesture nearby the display but without actually touching it.
Other known techniques exist such as via capacitive sensing techniques and other electromagnetic techniques in which a user's body need not actually touch the multi-touch sensing device, but rather need only be placed in sufficient proximity to the multi-touch sensing device so as to be interpreted as a touch input. For example, SIDESIGHT™, by Microsoft Research of Redmond, Wash., allows manipulation of images on a small screened multitouch mobile device by finger movements to the sides of the device, without touching the unit. See article “SideSight: Multi-“touch” Interaction Around Small Devices, by Alex Butler et al, with a claimed publication date of Oct. 19, 2008, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. Nevertheless, such technology is looking for a practical application, and otherwise does not appear to have been implemented in a product in any significant way.
Known prior art devices integrate the touch screen in the screen of the primary display device itself. This necessitates that the user be physically proximate the primary display device. Such proximity can be undesirable where the user's hands or fingers obstruct the view of the display device to an audience. Further, larger display devices may give off unwanted electromagnetic radiation. In such a case, the user may not wish to be proximate such a device when interfacing therewith. Still further, the user may wish to assume a comfortable body position which is not necessarily conducive to interaction with a large display device. Using prior art devices, it is likely that the user would not be able to interface with such a device in his chosen position of personal comfort. Further still, when multiple users are viewing the same display device, it is convenient for a user-presenter to be able to control the presentation remotely from the display device.
What is needed therefore is an apparatus, system and method offering to the user a way to remotely touch a screen using a remote input device which is portable and separate from the display device. What is needed is an apparatus, system and method which provides the user with the ability to input text as he or she would have performed directly on a display having an integrated multitouch surface thereon without physically touching the display. In addition, what is needed is an apparatus, system and method which allows the user to observe a virtual keyboard and a virtual representation of his or her fingers positioned at the correct location relative to the virtual keyboard on the display device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a peripheral data input device (PDID or peripheral device) for use in remote, virtual on screen data input includes a proximity sensor and data communications means. The proximity sensor is adapted to dynamically recognize the movement of a target in the proximity of the peripheral device. The data connection device is adapted to transmit signals from the proximity sensor to a processor communicatively coupled to a remote display. The processor constructs a representation of input fields on the display, and, when detected, overlays a real-time, virtual representation of the target over the representation of the input fields.
In another embodiment, a system and method are provided which include (a) the PDID with a proximity sensing subsystem (PSS), a transmitter and interface device adapted to connect to, communicate with and transmit data and commands to a processor typically of a PC or multimedia system (such as a television, set-top box, or game console); and (b) instructions executable on the processor for receiving data inputs from the PDID, the instructions, when data is transmitted from the proximity sensing subsystem, (i) displaying a virtual representation of an input field on a remote display along with a virtual representation of the target, in a typical case, a finger of the user, positioned on the display relative to the representation of the input field in an orientation which recreates, in 2D plan view, the real world relative position of the target with an input field on the real world PDID, and (ii) receiving data inputs from the PDID and processing such in an manner appropriate to the class of data transmitted, whether representative of an alphanumeric, word, or command input.
Although not necessary to gain the benefits of the invention, various embodiments of the present invention can be used both with display devices having integrated touch screens, as well as with devices that do not include a touch screen.
An object of the invention is to give a user a touch screen experience on a display device that does not necessarily include an integrated touch screen. This elimination of the need for touch screen hardware in the display screen itself either significantly reduces hardware costs compared to a large screen display that integrates touch screen sensors or increases user choice in selecting a display device and peripheral combination suitable to his needs.
Another object of the invention is to allow a user to input data into a virtual keyboard remotely from a displayed virtual representation of the keyboard. In this manner, a user is provided with the user experience of using a distant (relative to the user) touch screen display device without having to physically touch the display device.
Another object of the invention is to permit a user to be able to input data without having to glance down at a remote input device but rather enabling the user to maintain his or her visual focus on the display device.
Another object of the invention is to permit a user more comfort and flexibility in interacting with a PC or multimedia device, such as a multimedia player.
Another object of the invention is to permit the user to gesticulate to an audience with his hands or arms, for example, overlaid on a presentation screen which is physically distant from the user, but nonetheless the focus of the audience's attention.
Another object of the invention is, through the use of a virtual keyboard, to avoid the need of physically printing a keyboard layout on the peripheral device of the invention in the one of several accepted standards generally based on language (US, French, German, Spanish, number pad keys) as such layouts are region, language, or function dependent, thereby avoiding the logistical complexity of having to manufacture, stock and deliver printed keyboards specific to a user's usually geographically dependent needs.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, dimensions may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the invention and its embodiments. Furthermore, when the terms ‘first’, ‘second’, and the like are used herein, their use is intended to distinguish between similar elements and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. Moreover, relative terms like ‘front’, ‘back’, ‘top’ and ‘bottom’, and the like in the description and/or in the claims are not necessarily used for describing exclusive relative position. Those skilled in the art will therefore understand that such terms may be interchangeable with other terms, and that the embodiments described herein are capable of operating in other orientations than those explicitly illustrated or otherwise described.
The following description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way as they are exemplary in nature and serve to describe the best mode of the invention known the inventors as of the filing date hereof. Consequently, changes may be made in the arrangement and/or function of any of the elements described in the disclosed exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Suitable enabling technology for aspects of this invention, namely, underlying hardware components suitable for some of the features described herein, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,653,883, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/314,639, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING HAND ANNOTATIONS, filed on 17 Mar. 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Referring to
Optionally, as shown in the figure, the multi-touch input surface 44 of the PDID 20 is integrated onto a housing 46 which is separable from a principle input device 38 permitting keying.
The target 36, mentioned above, although typically a user's finger or fingers, can also be various other things such as, but not limited to, a user's hand or hands, arm or arms, identifiers on gloves, rings, etc., a stylus or styluses, pencil or pencils, pen or pens, and a pointer or pointers.
Referring to
In one input example, the user 34 types information into the input device 20 in the normal way. In another input example, as shown in
In one embodiment, the PDID 20, 20′ incorporating functionality of emerging touch data input devices such as those available from Stantum in France, STMicroelectronics in Switzerland, Cypress Semiconductor in the US, Avago Technologies in the US and Synaptics in the US. In one embodiment, the PDID 20 includes a touch surface 40 providing a keyboard input field 42, as well as a touch surface 44 for use on the housing 46 of an auxiliary pointing or number input device 48, at the selection of the user 34. Separate touch surfaces 40 and 44 allow the use of a lesser expensive single touch surface for touch surface 40, through which text inputs may be entered, whereas the more expensive multi-touch surface 44 is minimized, yet can control the modes of operation of the single touch surface 40, by allowing multi-touch inputs to be toggled between key overlays, for example. Optionally, the input device 48 may be readily removable while being in wireless contact with the hub 22 and/or communication device (not shown) integrated in the PDID 20.
It should be noted that other proximity sensors are suitable for use with the invention. Sensors which work by emitting an electromagnetic or electrostatic field, or a beam of electromagnetic radiation (infrared, for instance), and looks for changes in the field or return signal may be used. The types of suitable sensors available include but are not limited to inductive, capacitive, capacitive displacement, eddy-current, magnetic, electromagnetic, photocell, laser rangefinding, sonar, radar, Doppler effect, passive thermal infrared, passive optical, ionizing radiation reflective sensors, reed switch, hall effect, resistive variation, conductive variation, echo (e.g. sound be it ultrasonic or radar), optical pattern recognition technologies and micro air flux change (detections of air current variations between sensors as opposed to macro flux changes). For example, a capacitive or photoelectric sensor might be suitable for a plastic target while an inductive proximity sensor requires a metal target and a Hall Effect sensor a magnetic target.
Optical sensing using, for example, infrared proximity sensing, involves using an optical sensing circuit to pulse light, e.g., infrared light, emitted from an emitter which, should an object such as a user's finger be present in front of or above the emitter (e.g., a laser diode or LED), reflects off of the user's finger and back toward an infrared detector (e.g., a photodiode, a type of photodetector capable of converting light into either current or voltage, depending upon the mode of operation), generally adjacent or concentric with the emitter and configured to detect changes in light intensity. If reflected infrared light is detected, it is assumed that an object is present, proximate the infrared emitter. If not, then it is assumed no object is present. When a threshold of light is detected that corresponds to touch, at distance of 0 mm, then touch is indicated and whatever action that is to be executed upon touch is initiated. In such a case, the touch parameter is a parameter of sufficient proximity, which is typically contact, at which proximity a touch signal indicating touch is sent to the processor 12, thereby allowing traditional keypad use with the benefits of touch pad use. As an example of a suitable infrared proximity sensor, Avago Technology's proximity sensors are reflective, non-contact sensors in a small form factor SMT package that offer detection ranges from near zero to 60 mm with analogue-output. Suitable for use in mobile applications and industrial control systems, their model APDS-9101 is a low cost, integrated reflective sensor incorporating infrared LED and a phototransistor designed to provide object detection and non-contact proximity sensing in the detection range of near 0 mm to 12 mm. The proximity sensors described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/418,832, entitled OPTICAL SLIDER FOR INUT DEVICES, the content of which is incorporated by reference hereto, available from Logitech, Inc. of Fremont, Calif., are also suitable for this purpose. Note that an embodiment of this invention using an infrared sensor is described in more detail in connection with
Capacitive proximity sensing, a preferred means of proximity sensing, takes advantage of the fact of a measurable change in capacitance over a sensor when a target is and is not present within its sensing range. If a change from a nominal or initial state is detected, then it is assumed that a target is present. Another suitable capacitive proximity sensor system for use in the invention is available from Freescale Semiconductor, Inc of Austin, Tex. Freescale's proximity controller model MPR08X controls multiple proximity sensors thereby allowing control of several different applications from one sensor. By multiplexing the electrodes, a single sensor is able to detect at multiple points. For example, proximity capacitive-touch sensors manage multiple configurations of touch pads, sliders, rotary positions and mechanical keys for user interfaces.
In addition, other proximity sensors (e.g., Freescale's model no MC33794) may be used which rely on interruption of an electric field, using a low frequency sine wave with very low harmonic content whose frequency is adjustable by an external resistor. Electromagnetic proximity sensing scans a region around an antenna adjacent the input interface, constantly monitoring electromagnetic field changes in the vicinity of the antenna. A self-diagnostic function detects when there is a field change which corresponds to the presence of an object, e.g., a user's finger, near the antenna. In order to allow more discrete detection, multiple antennae can be used.
Still further, a video camera with a defined focus can be used, in which images seen by the video camera are recognized using pattern recognition technology which itself may use artificial intelligence techniques to classify a sensed object. Here, for proximity detection, neural network technology identifies the pattern of an object, classifying the same as a hand, finger, stylus, pointer or an anomaly, for each sensor. Touch may then be defined as the absence of light detected by the sensor, as a finger covers a camera node entirely. One example of such an embodiment is described in more detail in connection with
Ultrasonic proximity sensing uses technology found in nature and used by bats to identify and avoid proximate objects in flight. Adaptation of the invention to use ultrasonic proximity sensing is considered within the capacity of someone of ordinary skill in the art when using the present disclosure as a guide.
For magnetic sensors, it is contemplated to include the use of a metal ring or a user glove having metal, magnetic, or plastic parts strategically located to optimize the function of the interface with such sensors resulting in advantageous features such as more accuracy in movement detection, etc. Further, some sensors have adjustments of the nominal range of detection or means to report a graduated detection distance. For such detectors, it is contemplated to enable a user to change parameters (through interaction with a user interface on the computer or peripheral) such that the proximity sensing touch interface detects the target sooner, or later, depending on the user's preferences. Such proximity detectors are disclosed in IEC 60947-5-2, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission, the content of which is incorporated by reference thereto.
Referring to
Optionally, a grid 50 of delineations of key input fields or zones 52 can be pre-printed on the touch surface 40 or 45, or the touch surface can be an integrated touch display screen which displays the delineations of the key input fields or zones. The capacitive touch screen 45 is printed so as to define key fields 52 which, if touched within the field, trigger the registration of the corresponding letter, symbol or command selected. In addition to printing, such fields 52 can be defined by displaying the fields on a liquid crystal touch screen.
Referring now to
Referring to
In such an embodiment, the touchpad module 60 has proximity sensors 62 integrated on a surface 64 in a tight array or cluster 68. A thin film backlight 70 (thickness approximately 0.3-0.4 mm available from Modilis “FLEXFILM”™ of Finland) is added on top of the array 68 of proximity sensors 62, followed by a glass panel 72 (thickness approximately 0.6-0.8 mm), optionally with paint masking to mark input areas, which seals the assembly in a housing (not shown).
Referring to
In
The processor 12 interprets the touch or hover information as shown in the grids 76, 76′ above the schematics of the approaching or touching action in the figures. From the grid location, the processor 12 is able to read location, determine whether touch has occurred, discern how many targets 36 are involved as well as estimate the distance d from touch interface that target is and, when a touch is indicated (by the filled circles 80), determine how large a surface is being touched.
Where the PDID 20, 20′ includes a multitouch module 60 therein, data input and the visualization thereof may be performed as described in a number of prior art patents. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,703 entitled ACTIVATING VIRTUAL KEYS OF A TOUCH-SCREEN VIRTUAL KEYBOARD, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference hereto, describe in more detail a method of operating a touch screen to activate one of a plurality of virtual keys. A touch location is determined based on location data pertaining to touch input on the touch screen, wherein the touch input is intended to activate one of the plurality of virtual keys. Each of the plurality of virtual keys has a set of at least one key location corresponding to it. For each of the virtual keys, a parameter (such as physical distance) is determined for that virtual key that relates the touch location and the set of at least one key location corresponding to that virtual key. The determined parameters are processed to determine one of the virtual keys. For example, the determined one virtual key may be the virtual key with a key location (or more than one key location, on average) being closest to the touch location. A signal is generated indicating activation of the determined one of the virtual keys. A signal is generated indicating activation of the identified virtual key. Referring again to
Referring to
It should be noted that the inputs made to the PDID 20, 20′ can have any meaning defined by any suitable protocol, and may even be combined with inputs to other input devices (e.g. from standard keyboard inputs to eyelid wink detection, for example) to create new more complex meanings.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,701 entitled OPERATION OF A COMPUTER WITH A TOUCH-SCREEN INTERFACE, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, describes use of a touch screen to detect various user inputs which trigger the display of a virtual keyboard. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964 entitled GESTURES FOR TOUCH SENSITIVE INPUT DEVICES, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto, describes the detection of gestures for more complex user inputs, which, depending on the gesture, display a selected virtual keyboard. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,693 entitled VIRTUAL INPUT DEVICE PLACEMENT ON A TOUCH SCREEN USER INTERFACE, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference hereto, describes the generation of a display on a touch screen of a computer. In the context of this application, the touch screen is analogous to the display of the display device and, using similar hardware and processing steps, can be used to generate the virtual input device display described herein as the virtual representation of the PDID or virtual keyboard.
Referring to
Referring now to
In order to perform tracking as herein described, a triangulation algorithm is solved based on the corresponding inputs d1 to d4, thus locating the point 116 of the target in 3D space.
Referring to
Other embodiments capable of tracking a target 36 as it approaches a touch surface 40, 44, 74 use known technology for in tracking moving objects of differing sizes ranging from that of a hockey puck to an airplane. Essentially, these known technologies use proximity sensors in the form of radars which measure distance between the sensor and the target. Where a sufficient number of sensors are used in a cluster, the distance information transmitted can be resolved, using an algorithm running on a processor, to a single target or a minimum set of possible targets. Such suitable tracking technologies are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,665, to Cavallaro et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,650 to MacDonald, WO2005/077466 to Bickert et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,322 to Nuttall, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,130 to Cavallaro et al, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. The components described therein need only be miniaturized and adapted for use in tracking targets as they approach a touch surface or keyboard.
In a further embodiment, movement detection technology in video images, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,061, to Nestor, Inc, the content of which is incorporated by reference, may be used to recognize an object by tracking changes in luminescence in defined tiles across the video image taken of the user's hand above the input device, whereas selection of particular keys is sensed by traditional capacitive touch sensors. Consequently, a single video camera 138 embedded in the PDID 20″ can sense the position and movement of targets 36 above the PDID which, together with a processor 12 and instructions 26′ operating thereon, are first inverted (e.g., step 154 of the method 140 below described in connection with
Referring to
In another embodiment, the processor 12 includes instructions in an instruction set for automatic system activation when the proximity sensor 54, 62, 114, 124 detects a target 36 in appropriate proximity to the PDID 20, 20′. Upon automatic system activation, a representation 32 of the target 36 is displayed on the display 16. Further, optionally, upon automatic system activation, a representation 33 of the input field 40, 44 is displayed on the display 16. Sensing of proximity of a target 36 to the PDID 20, 20′ triggers the display of a virtual representation 33 of at least the input field 40, 44, 45 of the PDID on the display 16. Where the proximity sensor 54, 62, 114, 124 remains active even in sleep mode, such sensing can be used to power up the PDID 20, 20′, or to activate otherwise power consuming functionality (such as an illumination feature, a backlighting module or a local display), in a system ready mode. Further, when a user 34 sees his virtual finger 32 appear on the display 16, then he can adjust the position of his virtual finger relative to the virtual input field 33 without ever having to glance at the physical PDID 20, 20′ or his own finger.
In another embodiment suitable for allowing a presenter to virtually gesticulate before an audience with his hands or arms, the proximity sensing subsystem 54 detects multiple targets 36 and transmits relative location data dynamically, in real time to the OS 24 of the PC 14, for display of multiple fingers of one or more hands over the virtual PDID 33, so as to further allow a user to focus their eyes only on the display 16 in order to better understand and correct his or her finger motions so as to improve his or her input throughput into the system of the invention. This ability of focusing only on the computer display should reduce eye fatigue usually caused by having to glance at the physical input device and then refocus on the more distant computer display. In addition, such an embodiment overlays the detected hands or arms on the display 16 which although physically distant from the user 34, is nonetheless the focus of the audience's attention, thereby facilitating communication for such presentations.
In another embodiment, the system 10 and method 30, 140 of the invention permits sizing, relocation and hiding of the virtual representation 33 of the PDID 20, 20′ on the display 16 in a conventional manner, such as clicking to close, resize or move a window.
In another embodiment, the virtual representation 32 of the target 36 is displayed on the display 16 in a 2D plan view using various cues such as distance/depth cue such as: variation of the target size, variation of the target color and/or transparency, variation of the target shadow relative position, variation of the target shadow color and/or transparency, variation of the target shadow blur and displaying arrows encoding the distance between the target and the touch input device surface. Sound may also be used, where the sound varies as the target approaches or retreats from the PDID 20, 20′.
Such virtual representation 32 of the target 36 may be a simple abstraction thereof, such as a mouse cursor but may also be any other shape such as a simplified representation of a human finger. A suitable virtual representation 32 of a human finger may be an elongated rectangle (not shown), with a rounded or pointed input end, which, for simplicity is projected on the display 16 in a vertical orientation. In such an embodiment, the relative location of end of the rectangle corresponding to the input end of the target is of importance. The opposite end is presented for visual comprehension only (i.e., that such representation is that of a finger).
Referring now to
In another embodiment, instead of an infrared proximity sensor 160, the input device having a single, multiple or an array of pressure activated keys 160 (prior art keys such as dome switch keys or scissor keys) has a capacitive sensor 62, 114, 124 integrated therein, preferably underneath each key. In this embodiment, no transparent cover is required because the capacitive sensor will essentially see through the key and be able to detect an approaching target as if the key itself were not there (i.e., the key is transparent to the sensor).
In still another embodiment, instead of using proximity sensors, a pressure sensing touch surface, such as the multitouch input surface available from Stantum S.A. of France, allows the simulation of finger “hovering” over the surface by equating the “hovering” action as hereinbefore described, to the sliding of a user's finger over the touch surface using a light pressure below a certain threshold. Pressure exerted by the user's finger above a certain threshold of pressure is equated to touch and so the input associated with the touch location is registered. This embodiment allows for a low cost version of the invention, which in most other ways, allows for a user experience that is as described in the other embodiments mentioned herein.
In a feature of the invention, a user experience is created of using a touch screen display device remotely from such device, without requiring that the user touch the display and further not requiring a touch screen display device.
In another feature of the invention, the invention allows the creation of a one to one copy of the real world in the virtual world, providing a user with flexibility of location, relative orientation, etc that the virtual world provides (e.g., allowing typing while reclining in a comfortable chair while watching information on a TV type large display screen in a living room type scenario, while standing and working at a distance from a large screen, while presenting information on a large screen to others or collaborating in real time with others while interacting with a computing device having a large screen display).
In another feature, the invention allows a user to input data into a virtual keyboard remotely from a displayed virtual representation of the keyboard.
In another feature, the invention permits a user more comfort and flexibility in interacting with a PC or personal entertainment device, such as a multimedia player.
The invention is intended to comprise a system or method substantially as hereinbefore described having reference to the accompanying drawings.
Moreover, the system and method of the invention contemplates the use, sale and/or distribution of any goods, services or information having similar functionality described herein.
The mentioning of a supplier herein of a system or element adaptable for use in the invention should not be taken as an admission that the cited technology antedates the invention of the instant invention, but rather as an indication of a source of a suitable component, the knowledge of which may have been gained after the priority date claimed for the instant invention. In other words, the citation of a suitable component herein should not be taken as an admission that such is prior art to the instant invention.
The specification and figures are to be considered in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all modifications described herein are intended to be included within the scope of the invention claimed, even if such is not specifically claimed at the filing of the application. For example, use of the term “virtual keyboard” should be construed as encompassing any input field or array or cluster of input fields such as icons, menus, or drop down menus displayed on a display for virtual interaction with a target. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims appended hereto or later amended or added, and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described above. For instance, steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in any claim. Further, the elements and/or components recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations to produce substantially the same result as the present invention. Consequently, the invention is not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims and may be augmented, for example, by features disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/314,639, filed 17 Mar. 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions mentioned herein are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any variation thereof, are intended to refer to a non-exclusive listing of elements, such that any process, method, article, composition or apparatus of the invention that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements described in this specification. The use of the term “consisting” or “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the enumerated elements named thereafter, unless otherwise indicated. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described elements, materials or structures used in the practice of the present invention may be varied or otherwise adapted by the skilled artisan to other design without departing from the general principles of the invention.
The patents and articles mentioned above are hereby incorporated by reference herein, unless otherwise noted, to the extent that the same are not inconsistent with this disclosure.
Other characteristics and modes of execution of the invention are described in the appended claims.
Further, the invention should be considered as comprising all possible combinations of every feature described in the instant specification, appended claims, and/or drawing figures which may be considered new, inventive and industrially applicable.
Multiple variations and modifications are possible in the embodiments of the invention described here. Although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described here, a wide range of modifications, changes, and substitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of one or another preferred embodiment thereof. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the foregoing description be construed broadly and understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the claims which ultimately issue in this application.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/227,485, filed Jul. 22, 2009, the content of which is incorporated by reference thereto and relied upon.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61227485 | Jul 2009 | US |
