Abstract:
This invention features an absorptive tunable bandstop filter with wide tuning range including first and second branches of all-pass filter networks, an input power divider for splitting the input signal and passing approximately half of the input signal power through each said branch of said all-pass filter networks, and an output power divider for recombining the signal power from each said branch of said all-pass filter networks, at least one of said branches of said all-pass filter networks being electrically tunable to provide an approximately 180° phase difference with similar amplitudes of the split said signal power to be recombined at said output power divider for rejecting but substantially absorbing selected frequencies.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to an absorptive tunable bandstop filter with wide tuning range and to an electrically tunable all-pass filter useful therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the explosive growth of wireless technology, there are many instances where the signal from a nearby wireless transmitter tends to overwhelm an adjacent receiver. Thus, it is ideal to remove the interfering transmitted frequencies by placing a bandstop, or notch, filter at the output of the transmitter to eliminate harmonic and spurious signals due to nonlinearity of active components such as a power amplifier. Bandstop filters can also be placed at the receiver front-ends to remove interferences due to adjacent receive bands and jammers. It is desirable for a bandstop filter to absorb the rejected signals rather than reflect them back to the previous stage, since at low RF power levels, the reflected signals could interact with the transmitted signals to create interferences known as intermodulation distortion products. At high RF power levels, the reflected energy could even physically damage the transmitter. It is also desirable to electronically tune the rejection frequency more than an octave bandwidth, since the strongest harmonics are usually two or three times higher than the transmitted signal frequency. In addition it is a very desirable attribute for the bandstop filter to have the flexibility to tune the rejection bandwidth as well. 
         [0003]    There are many YIG based tunable bandstop filters that are commercially available, which can be tuned over a wideband with minimal insertion loss. However, YIG based tunable bandstop filters are bulky and their tuning speed is very slow (compared to electronic tuning). These drawbacks limit the usage of YIG based bandstop filters in current wireless applications where high integration and high speed are demanding. There have been many published methods in achieving planar bandstop filters but none have reported the ability to deliver an absorptive bandstop filter that can be electronically tuned over an octave bandwidth or greater, and none have the capability to tune both the rejection frequency and the rejection bandwidth. 
         [0004]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,304, entitled “Tunable Microwave Notch Filter”, Klein, Jul. 15, 1975, discloses quadrature hybrid devices to steer transmitted and reflected energy to provide an absorptive bandstop filter. This approach, however, uses a phase shifter, and therefore is inherently narrow band. Also, it does not provide the bandwidth tuning ability. 
         [0005]    U.S. Patent Publication No. US20040183624A1, Electrically Tunable Notch Filters, Liang et al, Sep. 23, 2004, discloses a bandstop filter including a main transmission line and at least one electrically tunable resonator coupled to the transmission line. However, this device requires a large number of resonators to provide a reasonable level of rejection or wider stop band resulting in higher insertion loss over the pass-band. Also a length of ¼ wavelength is required between each two resonators leading to a relatively narrow frequency tuning solution that is physically large. 
         [0006]    U.S. Patent Publication No. US20060273869A1, Narrow-band Absorptive Bandstop Filter with Multiple Signal Paths, Jachowski, Dec. 7, 2006, discloses bandstop filtering using directional couplers to steer signals as well as band pass filters to add and subtract signals to create the notch characteristic. While this approach provides a good absorptive characteristic, it uses a microstrip delay line phase shifter which is narrow band in nature. Also, the rejection bandwidth tuning option is not available. 
         [0007]    U.S. Patent Publication No. US20090289744A1, Electronically Tunable, Absorptive, Low-loss Notch Filter, Miyashiro, Nov. 26, 2009, discloses a tunable absorptive bandstop filter using a four port quadrature hybrid coupler connected to a matched pair of band pass resonators and resistive terminations. While it shows low loss and high power handling capacity, the level of isolation between the first and fourth terminals became a limiting factor to the rejection level of the bandstop filter. Also relying on the quadrature hybrid coupler made it relatively large size and limited bandwidth. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved, versatile, absorptive tunable bandstop filter with an extremely wide tuning range and to tunable all-pass filter used therein. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved, versatile, absorptive tunable bandstop filter with an extremely wide tuning range and to tunable all-pass filter used therein in which the stop band frequency can be tuned over more than 3.5:1 tuning ratio. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved, versatile, absorptive tunable bandstop filter with broadband match, non-reflective, characteristics in the stop band. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved, versatile, absorptive tunable bandstop filter in which the tuning range is set by the difference between center frequencies of all-pass filters and is not limited by the capacitance tuning ratio. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved, versatile, absorptive tunable bandstop filter in which the tuning range may be further increased with addition of all-pass filter sections. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved, versatile, absorptive tunable bandstop filter in which the filter may be implemented on a planar monolithic substrate and the substrate may be mounted on a surface mount package. 
         [0014]    The invention results from the realization that a truly improved absorptive bandstop filter with wide tuning range can be achieved with a pair of power dividers joined by two branches of all-pass filter networks. Signals are split by the first power divider which also improves the power handling capability. Half the power passes through the upper branch all-pass network(s) and the other half passes through the lower branch all-pass networks. Both signals are recombined at the second power divider. Tuning of the bandstop frequency is achieved by electrically controlling the upper or lower all-pass filter branches, to provide 180° of phase difference with similar amplitude when signals join at the second power divider thereby providing a rejection center frequency tuning ratio of more than 3.5:1, with the flexibility to control the rejection bandwidth as well and having relatively low insertion loss, high power handling, and being readily implementable as a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC). 
         [0015]    This invention features an absorptive tunable bandstop filter with wide tuning range including first and second branches of all-pass filter networks, an input power divider for splitting the input signal and passing approximately half of the input signal power through each the branch of the all-pass filter networks, and an output power divider for recombining the signal power from each the branch of the all-pass filter networks, at least one of the branches of the all-pass filter networks being electrically tunable to provide an approximately 180° phase difference with similar amplitudes of the split the signal power to be recombined at the output power divider for rejecting but substantially absorbing selected frequencies. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the absorptive tunable bandstop filter may include at least first and second all-pass filters and the second branch includes at least a third all-pass filter. The first and second all-pass filters may have a relatively lower center frequency and the other a higher center frequency and the third all-pass filter may have a center frequency corresponding to the higher center frequency. Each of the branches of all-pass filter networks may include a plurality of all-pass filters. The electrically tunable all-pass filter networks may be voltage tunable. The power divider may include a 3 dB coupling device. The 3 dB coupling device may include a Wilkinson divider. The 3 dB coupling device may include a quadrature hybrid. The 3 dB coupling device may include a 180° hybrid. The 3 dB coupling device may include a Lange coupler. The 3 dB coupling device may include a directional coupler. The all-pass filter may include first and second series connected inductors connected in parallel with first and second series connected electrically tunable variable capacitors; a shunt electrically tunable variable capacitor may beconnected to the junction of the first and second inductors, and a shunt bias network may be connected to the junction of the first and second variable capacitors. The absorptive tunable bandstop filter may include an input bias network which connects an electrical tuning voltage to the variable capacitors. The shunt bias network and input bias network may be similar. The shunt bias network and input bias network each may include a series connected bias resistance and bias inductor. The shunt bias network and the shunt variable capacitor may be connected to ground. Each of the electrically tunable variable capacitors may include a varactor. Each of the varactors may include a diode. At least one of the varactors may include two diodes with like electrodes coupled together. Each of the varactors may include a pn junction. Each of the varactors may include a field effect transistor. The electrically tunable variable capacitor may include a ferroelectric capacitor. The electrically tunable variable capacitor may include a MEMS based capacitor. The all-pass filter networks may be implemented on a planar monolithic substrate. The planar monolithic substrate may be selected from the group of GaAs and SiGe. The planar monolithic substrate may be mounted on a surface-mount package. 
         [0017]    The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an absorptive tunable bandstop filter with wide tuning range according to this invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an electrically tunable all-pass filter of this invention useable in the absorptive tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the relative phase response of all-pass sections AP 1  and AP 2  in 
           [0022]      FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the insertion loss of the novel tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode I; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the phase-frequency characteristics of path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  under mode I; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows the amplitude balance between signal path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  under mode I; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows the phase difference between path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  under mode I; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows the insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode II; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows the amplitude balance between signal path  1  and path  2  under mode II of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  shows the phase difference between path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  shows the insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode III; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  shows the amplitude balance between signal path  1  and path  2  under mode III of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  shows the phase difference between path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  shows the insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode IV of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  shows the amplitude balance between signal path  1  and path  2  under mode IV of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  shows the phase difference between path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  shows the typical return loss at input and output ports of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  at various control voltages; 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  shows the generalized topology of the tunable bandstop filter of this invention; and. 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  shows the layout of the MIMIC die for the tunable bandstop filter and electrically tunable all-pass filters of this invention and the bonding diagram showing how the MMIC die is assembled into a surface mount package. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer. 
         [0040]    There is shown in  FIG. 1  a preferred embodiment of a tunable bandstop filter  10  in accordance with the present invention. It includes a first input 3 dB power divider P 1   12  and lower path  1   14  and upper path  2   16  branches of all-pass filter networks AP 1   18 , AP 2   20 , AP 3   22  and a second output 3 dB power divider P 2   24 . The preferred 3 dB power dividers P 1   12  and P 2   24  may be further specified as three stage Wilkinson power dividers to ensure wideband performance. More stages may be added if a wider operation band is desired. The input signal at input terminal  26  is split roughly in half by power divider P 1   12  into signals of approximately equal amplitude and phase. The signal then goes through all-pass filters AP 1   18 , and AP 2   20  along path  1   14  and through all-pass filter AP 3   22  along path  2   16 . All-pass filters AP 2   20  and AP 3   22  are designed to have the same frequency-phase response and reside at a higher center frequency, f H , than the center frequency, f L , of all-pass filter AP 1   18 . It is the frequency difference between f H  and f L  that determines the tuning range of the bandstop filter. Theoretically, f H  can be many times higher than f L . Thus the bandstop filter can achieve extremely wide tuning range. Voltages V t   1 , V t   2 , and V t   3  are the tuning voltages to control the phase response of all-pass filters AP 1   18 , AP 2   20 , and AP 3   22 , respectively, in order to provide the approximately 180° phase difference with similar amplitude between path  1   14  and path  2   16  for the frequencies that are desired to be rejected. The bandstop response is created when the signals from the upper and lower branches or paths combine and are absorbed by the output power divider P 2   24 . 
         [0041]    Tunable bandstop filter  10  provides four operation modes by simply setting the tuning voltages V t   1 , and V t   2  as listed in table 1 below where V t   3  is tied to a low potential such as ground. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Four operation modes and their control conditions 
               
             
          
           
               
                 mode 
                 Vt1 
                 Vt2 
                 Vt3 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 I 
                 tuned* 
                 tuned, = Vt1 
                 0 V 
                 Full band frequency tuning 
               
               
                 II 
                 tuned 
                 0 V 
                 0 V 
                 Low band frequency tuning, with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 narrower rejection bandwidth 
               
               
                 III 
                 +13 V 
                 tuned 
                 0 V 
                 High band frequency tuning, with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 narrower rejection bandwidth 
               
               
                 IV 
                 0 V 
                 tuned 
                 0 V 
                 Rejection bandwidth tuning 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *“tuned” means adjusting the tuning voltage from 0 V to +13 V. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0042]    By joining a pair of power dividers such as Wilkinson power dividers by two branches of all-pass filter networks as has been done in  FIG. 1  and properly controlling the all-pass networks, the stop band frequency can be tuned over an extremely wide bandwidth, e.g. more than 3.5:1 tuning ratio. The achieved wider tuning range compared to the prior art is due to the use of all-pass networks in both branches or paths where the tuning range is not limited by the tuning capacitance ratio. The tuning range of the inventive approach of this invention is extended as a function of f H /f I  of the all-pass networks, and f H /f I  can be increased by adding more filter sections. This inventive approach also has the flexibility to operate under different modes to tune the rejection bandwidth. As shown in the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  one branch or path has one all-pass filter section AP 3   22  and the other branch or path has all-pass filter sections AP 1   18  and AP 2   20 . They can provide 180° of phase difference with similar amplitude when the signals are joined at the second power divider P 2   24 . A small loss resistance may be inserted into the branch with fewer all-pass sections to improve the amplitude balance as indicated by the phantom resistance  28  shown in upper branch or path  2   16  of tunable bandstop filter  10 . 
         [0043]    This inventive approach also has a benefit of broad band match, that is, non-reflective characteristics in the stop band compared with certain prior art approaches. The values of the fixed inductors and variable capacitors of the all-pass filters are selected so that the all-pass filters AP 2   20  and AP 3   22  have the phase frequency response centered at f H  while all-pass filter AP 1   18  is centered at f L . The difference between the f H  and f L  frequencies sets the tuning range of the bandstop filter. Whereas in certain prior art approaches the tuning range is limited by the capacitance tuning ratio. The inventive approach can be generalized by increasing the number of all-pass sections along the two branches. The tuning range could be further increased with added sections and amplifiers could be added to compensate for losses. The power splitting device may be a three dB coupling device and may take the form as indicated of a Wilkinson divider, or a quadrature hybrid, a 180° hybrid, a Lange coupler, a directional coupler, etc. or any other suitable device. 
         [0044]    One embodiment of an all-pass filter  18   a ,  FIG. 2 , according to this invention includes two fixed inductors L 1   40  and L 2   42  in parallel with two variable capacitors e.g. varactor diodes with a tuning capacitance ratio of 4:1 D 1   44  and D 2   46 . A shunt variable capacitor D 3   48  is inserted between the junction of inductor L 1   40  and inductor L 2   42 . Varactor diodes D 1   44  and D 2   46  are identical in size and roughly half of the size of varactor diode D 3   48 . A shunt bias network comprised of resistance R bias    52  and inductor L bias    54  in series with RF choke L bias    54  is connected between the anodes of diodes D 1   44  and D 2   46  and ground  56  to provide a DC return path for the diodes. Control voltage Vt is fed through a bias network  58 , having the same topology as shunt bias network  50 , to the cathodes of diodes D 1   44 , D 2   46  and D 3   48 . Resistance R bias    60  is similar to resistance R bias    52  and inductor L bias    62  is similar to inductor L bias    54 . A fixed capacitor Cb  64  is set at the input  66  and a similar capacitor  68  is set at the output  70  for the purpose of DC blocking. For this implementation the values of the varactor diodes D 1   44 , D 2   46 , D 3   48  and the inductors L 1   40 , L 2   42  are set at a higher frequency f H  while the values of varactor diode and inductors for all-pass filters AP 1  are set at a lower frequency f L . In one implementation diodes D 1   44 , D 2   46 , and D 3   48  may be implemented with varactor diodes having tuning ratio of 4:1. Input and output DC blocking capacitors C b    64  and  68  may have the value of 18 pF, R bias  resistors  52  and  60  may have a value of 1000 Ohm and L bias  inductors  54  and  62  may have a value of 4 nH providing an f H  equal to approximately 10 GHz and an f L  equal to approximately 5 GHz. 
         [0045]    The electrically tunable capacitors may each include a varactor as indicated. Each varactor may include one diode or it may include two diodes coupled together in an anode to anode or cathode to cathode configuration in a conventional way. Each of the varactors may include a pn junction. Each of the varactors may include a field effect transistor (FET) and use the capacitance between the gate and source of the FET. Each electrically tunable capacitor may include a ferroelectric base capacitor each electrically tunable tunable capacitor may include a MEMs based capacitor. 
         [0046]    The relative phase response of all-pass filters AP 1   18  and AP 2   20  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen the phase increases with the increase of the tuning voltage Vt for all-pass filter AP 1   80  and all-pass filter AP 2   82 . All-pass filter AP 1   18  is designed to operate at a lower frequency f L , and all-pass filter AP 2   20  as well as all-pass filter AP 3   22  is designed to operate at a higher frequency f H . The ratio of f H /f L  determines the bandstop tuning range which is not limited by the tuning capacitor ratio as with certain prior art approaches. 
         [0047]    The insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode I is shown in  FIG. 4 . There it can be seen that the stop band can be continuously tuned from 3.5 GHz to 13 GHz, a 3.7:1 tuning ratio, when Vt  1  and Vt  2  are tuned together and the rejection level is better than minus 30 dB across the tuning range. The phase frequency characteristics of path  1  and path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  are shown in  FIG. 5  where the voltage before the condition in which the voltages Vt  1  equals Vt  2  varies from zero volts to 13 volts. The amplitude balance between signal path  1  and signal path  2  of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode  1  is shown in  FIG. 6 . There the loss of path  1  is slightly higher than the loss of path  2  since two all-pass filters are connected in series in path  1 . A loss resistance can be inserted in path  2  to achieve a better amplitude balance and a deeper rejection level which is a trade off with the insertion loss over the pass band.  FIG. 7  shows the phase difference between path  1  and path  2  in the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 . The frequencies at which the phase difference crosses the 180° line of  FIG. 7  are where the signals cancel and the rejection band is formed.  FIG. 8  shows the insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode II. Compared to mode I operation mode II provides narrower rejection bandwidth and better pass band insertion loss with a tuning range of from 3.5 
         [0048]    GHz to 7.5 GHz. Under this mode, only Vt  1  is tuned and both Vt  2  and Vt  3  are connected to low voltage potential such as ground.  FIG. 9  shows the amplitude balance between signal paths  1  and  2  under mode II of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  shows the phase difference between path  1  and path  2 .  FIG. 11  shows the insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode III. Compared to mode I, operation mode III provides narrower rejection bandwidth and better pass band insertion loss, with a tuning range from 7.5 GHz to 13 GHz. Under this mode only Vt  2  is tuned; Vt  1  is tied to high voltage potential (plus 13 V) and Vt  3  is connected to low potential (0 V).  FIG. 12  shows the amplitude balance between signal paths  1  and  2  under mode III of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1 , while  FIG. 13  shows the phase difference between those paths.  FIG. 14  shows the insertion loss of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  operating under mode IV. In this mode only Vt  2  is tuned; both Vt  1  and Vt  3  are connected to low voltage potentials such as ground. The bandwidth of the −20 dB rejection band, for example, is continuously tunable from 0.5 GHz to 7.5 GHz. The amplitude balance between paths  1  and  2  under mode IV of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 15 , while  FIG. 16  shows the phase difference between paths  1  and  2 . Here the wider range of rejection bandwidth comes from the wider portion of the phase difference close to 180° when Vt  2  is increased. 
         [0049]    The typical return loss at input and output ports of the tunable bandstop filter of  FIG. 1  at various control voltage is shown in  FIG. 17 . The return loss is better than −10 dB across the rejection band, a good illustration of its absorptive nature. The useful bandwidth of the bandstop filter is determined by the bandwidth of the Wilkinson power divider which can be further extended by increasing the number of the divider stages at the expense of larger size and higher insertion loss. 
         [0050]    A more generalized embodiment of the tunable bandstop filter of this invention,  FIG. 18 , uses three dB power dividers, P 1   12   a  and P 2   24   a , which can include a wide variety of circuits such as a Wilkinson power divider, Lange coupler, quadrature hybrid, 180° hybrid, etc. The number of all-pass filter sections  18   a ,  20   a ,  22   a  may be increased e.g. all-pass filters  100  and  102  and optimized based on the bandstop range requirement. For example, by putting extra all-pass filter sections centered at f 1 , f 2 , and f 3  (with f 1  less than f 2  less than f 3 ) along path  1  and path  2 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , the tuning range can be further extended. Also amplifiers  104 ,  106  may be added to path  1  and path  2  to compensate for losses and the balancing resistor  28   a  once again may be used. 
         [0051]    The implementation according to this invention of the layout of the tunable bandstop filter and electrically tunable all-pass filters of this invention may be implemented in MMIC die  110 ,  FIG. 19 , which is a bonding diagram showing how the MMIC die  110  is assembled onto a surface mount package  112 . 
         [0052]    Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. 
         [0053]    In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended. 
         [0054]    Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.