Abstract:
An illumination system including a light guide element and at least one light source device is provided. The light source device includes a first light combination module disposed near the light guide element and having a first filter film, a second light combination module having a second filter film, at least one first light source, at least one second light source and at least one third light source. There is a gap between the first and second light combination modules. A first light from the first light source is reflected to the light guide element by the first filter film, and a second light from the second light source and a third light from the third light source pass through the first filter film. The second light is reflected to the light guide element by the second filter film, and the third light passes through the second filter film.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 95118065, filed May 22, 2006. All disclosure of the Taiwan application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an illumination system, and more particularly, to an illumination system adaptable to a projection device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional illumination system  100  comprises an integration rod  110 , two dichroic mirrors  120 ,  125  and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) arrays  130 ,  140  and  150 . The dichroic mirrors  120 ,  125  are disposed adjacent to a light incident surface  112  of the integration rod  110 , and the dichroic mirror  120  is crossed with the dichroic mirror  125 . The LED arrays  130 ,  140 ,  150  are disposed adjacent to the dichroic mirrors  120 ,  125 . The LED array  150  is opposite to the light incident surface  112  of the integration rod  110 , and the LED arrays  130 ,  140  are located at one opposite side of the dichroic mirror  120  respectively. In addition, the LED array  130  is suitable for providing a red light  132 , the LED array  140  is suitable for providing a blue light  142  and the LED array  150  is suitable for providing a green light  152 . 
         [0006]    In view of the above, the red light  132  is reflected by the dichroic mirror  120 , and the blue light  142  and the green light  152  pass through the dichroic mirror  120 . The blue light  142  is reflected by the dichroic mirror  125 , and the red light  132  and the green light  152  pass through the dichroic mirror  125 . Thus, the red light  132 , blue light  142  and green light  152  provided by the LED arrays  130 ,  140 ,  150  are blended into a white light within the integration rod  110 , and then emitted from a light exit surface  114  of the integration rod  110 . 
         [0007]    However, a part of the red light provided by the LED array  130  (such as, a light beam  133 ) directly enters the integration rod  110  without being reflected by the dichroic mirror  120 , and thus, the emitting angle of the light beam  133  at the light exit surface  114  of the integration rod  110  is excessively large. Similarly, a part of the blue light provided by the LED array  140  has a similar problem, and the light beams with an excessively large emitting angle are unable to be utilized effectively. In addition, a part of the blue light (such as, a light beam  143 ) provided by the LED array  140  is reflected back to the LED array  140  by the dichroic mirror  125  and thus is unable to be used. Likewise, a part of the red light provided by the LED array  130  also has a similar problem. Therefore, the light use efficiency of the conventional illumination system  100  is poor. 
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another conventional illumination system. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a conventional illumination system  200  comprises an integration rod  210  and a plurality of LEDs  220 . The LEDs  220  are directly disposed on the inner wall of the integration rod  210 . A light beam  222  emitted by the LEDs  220  is blended within the integration rod  210 , and then emitted from a light exit surface  212  of the integration rod  210  for forming an illumination beam. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, in the illumination system  200 , as the emitting angle of a part of the light beams (such as, light beams  223 ,  224 ) at the light exit surface  212  of the integration rod  210  is excessively large, the light beams are unable to be used effectively. Moreover, a light beam with a small emitting angle of the LED  220  has relatively high energy, and the light beams  223 ,  224  with an excessively large emitting angle when being emitted from the light exit surface  212  are generally those with a small emitting angle of the LED  220 , so a relatively high light energy is lost, thereby resulting in a low light use efficiency of the conventional illumination system  200 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An objective of the present invention is to provide an illumination system, thereby improving the light use efficiency. 
         [0011]    To achieve the above or other objectives, the present invention provides an illumination system, which comprises a light guide element and at least one light source device. The light guide element has a light incident surface and a light exit surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light source device is disposed adjacent to the light incident surface of the light guide element. The light source device comprises a first light combination module disposed adjacent to the light incident surface of the light guide element, a second light combination module disposed adjacent to the first light combination module, at least one first light source disposed adjacent to the first light combination module, and at least one second light source disposed adjacent to the second light combination module and at least one third light source. In addition, the first light combination module has a first top surface adjacent to the light incident surface, a first bottom surface opposite to the first top surface, a plurality of first side surfaces connecting between the first top surface and the first bottom surface, and a first filter film disposed between the first top surface and the first bottom surface. The second light combination module has a second top surface adjacent to the first bottom surface, a second bottom surface opposite to the second top surface, a plurality of second side surfaces connecting between the second top surface and the second bottom surface, and a second filter film disposed between the second top surface and the second bottom surface, a gap is disposed between the second top surface and the first bottom surface. The first light source is suitable for emitting a first color light beam toward the first filter film, and the first filter film is suitable for reflecting the first color light beam to the light guide element. The second light source is suitable for emitting a second color light beam towards the second filter film, the second filter film is suitable for reflecting the second color light beam to the light guide element, and the first filter film is suitable for allowing the second color light to penetrate. The third light source is suitable for emitting a third color light beam to the second light combination module through the second bottom surface. The second filter film and first filter film are suitable for allowing the third color light beam to penetrate and be transmitted to the light guide element. 
         [0012]    In the present invention, as a gap is disposed between the first light combination module and the second light combination module, besides the first top surface, the second bottom surface and the first and second side surfaces being used as total reflection surfaces, the first bottom surface and the second top surface are also used as total reflection surfaces, thereby preventing the light beams emitted from the first light source, the second light source and the third light source from having an excessively large emitting angle at the light guide element, so as to improve the light use efficiency of the illumination system. 
         [0013]    Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the further technology features disclosed by the present invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional illumination system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another conventional illumination system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an illumination system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of another illumination system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 5A˜5B  are schematic views of yet another two illumination systems according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an illumination system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of another illumination system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of yet another illumination system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an illumination system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an illumination system  300  in this embodiment comprises a light guide element  310  and a light source device  400 . The light guide element  310  has a light incident surface  312  and a light exit surface  314  opposite to the light incident surface  312 , and the light source device  400  is disposed adjacent to the light incident surface  312  of the light guide element  310 . The light source device  400  comprises a first light combination module  410 , a second light combination module  420 , a first light source  430 , a second light source  440  and a third light source  450 . The first light combination module  410  is disposed between the light incident surface  312  of the light guide element  310  and the second light combination module  420 . The first light source  430  is disposed adjacent the first light combination module  410 , and the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  are disposed adjacent to the second light combination module  420 . In addition, the first light combination module  410  has a first top surface  411  adjacent to the light incident surface  312 , a first bottom surface  412  opposite to the first top surface  411 , a plurality of first side surfaces  413  connecting between the first top surface  411  and the first bottom surface  412 , and a first filter film  414  disposed between the first top surface  411  and the first bottom surface  412 . The second light combination module  420  has a second top surface  421  adjacent to the first bottom surface  412 , a second bottom surface  422  opposite to the second top surface  421 , a plurality of second side surfaces  423  connecting between the second top surface  421  and the second bottom surface  422 , and a second filter film  424  disposed between the second top surface  421  and the second bottom surface  422 . A gap is disposed between the second top surface  421  and the first bottom surface  412 . 
         [0024]    The first light source  430  is suitable for emitting a first color light beam  432  toward the first filter film  414 , and the first filter film  414  is suitable for reflecting the first color light beam  432  to the light guide element  310 . The second light source  440  is suitable for emitting a second color light beam  442  toward the second filter film  424 , and the second filter film  424  is suitable for reflecting the second color light beam  442  to the light guide element  310 , and the first filter film  414  is suitable for allowing the second color light beam  442  to penetrate. The third light source  450  is, for example, disposed adjacent to the second bottom surface  422  of the second light combination module  420 , and suitable for emitting a third color light beam  452 . The third color light beam  452  enters the second light combination module  420  through the second bottom surface  422 , and the second filter film  424  and the first filter film  414  are suitable for allowing the third color light beam  452  to penetrate and be transmitted to the light guide element  310 . 
         [0025]    In this embodiment, the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  are all, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs). The first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  are respectively, for example, one of the red LED, the green LED and the blue LED. In addition, the light guide element  310  is, for example, a hollow integration rod, however, other appropriate optical elements (such as, fly eye lens, solid integration rod) is also used as the light guide element. In addition, the first color light beam  432 , the second color light beam  442  and the third color light beam  452  are blended within the light guide element  310  and then emitted from the light exit surface  314  for forming an illumination beam. 
         [0026]    In view of the above, the first light combination module  410  comprises a first triangular prism  416 , a second triangular prism  418  and a first coating layer  419 . The second triangular prism  418  forms a cubic prism with the first triangular prism  416 . The first top surface  411  is one surface of the first triangular prism  416 , and the first bottom surface  412  is one surface of the second triangular prism  418 . The first coating layer  419  is disposed at a junction surface between the first triangular prism  416  and the second triangular prism  418 , thereby forming the first filter film  414 . The second light combination module  420  comprises a third triangular prism  426 , a fourth triangular prism  428  and a second coating layer  429 . The fourth triangular prism  428  forms a cubic prism with the third triangular prism  426 . The second top surface  421  is one surface of the third triangular prism  426 , and the second bottom surface  422  is one surface of the fourth triangular prism  428 . The second coating layer  429  is disposed at a junction surface between the third triangular prism  426  and the fourth triangular prism  428 , thereby forming the second filter film  424 . 
         [0027]    In the above illumination system  300 , the first top surface  411  and the first side surfaces  413  of the first light combination module  410  and the second bottom surface  422  and the second side surfaces  423  of the second light combination module  420  all are used as total reflection surfaces. In addition, since a gap is disposed between the first bottom surface  412  of the first light combination module  410  and the second top surface  421  of the second light combination module  420 , the first bottom surface  412  and the second top surface  421  both are also used as total reflection surfaces. 
         [0028]    When the first light source  430  emits lights, a part of the first color light beam (such as light beams  433 ,  434 ) is reflected between the total reflection surface of the first light-emitting module  410  and the first filter film  414 , and not emitted from the first triangular prism  416  until the incident angle for the light beams  433 ,  434  to enter the first top surface  411  is smaller than the total reflection angle. Therefore, the divergence angle of the first color light beam  432  provided by the first light source  430  after being emitted from the first triangular prism  416  is relatively small, such that the divergence angle of the first color light beam  432  after being emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  is also relatively small. Similarly, the divergence angle of the second color light beam  442  and the third color light beam  452  provided by the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  after being emitted from the second top surface  421  is relatively small, such that the divergence angle of the second color light beam  442  and the third color light beam  452  after being emitted from the first top surface  411  and the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  is also relatively small. In other words, the divergence angle of the illumination beam after being emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  is relatively small, such that the illumination system  300  in this embodiment achieves relatively high light use efficiency. 
         [0029]    In addition, the bonding between the first triangular prism  416  and the second triangular prism  418  and the bonding between the third triangular prism  426  and the fourth triangular prism  428  both are achieved through an adhesive method for manufacturing an internal total reflection prism (TIR prism). Furthermore, no gap is required between two adhered triangular prisms, thus the manufacturing process is relatively simple, thereby saving the manufacturing cost. In addition, the material of the first triangular prism  416 , the second triangular prism  418 , the third triangular prism  426  and the fourth triangular prism  428  is glass or plastic. When the first triangular prism  416 , the second triangular prism  418 , the third triangular prism  426  and the fourth triangular prism  428  are too small to be manufactured by glass, these prisms are able to be directly formed by plastic through injection molding. 
         [0030]    It should be noted that a number of the first light sources  430  is more than one, a number of the second light sources  440  is more than one, and a number of the third light sources  450  is more than one. The first light sources  430 , the second light sources  440  and the third light sources  450  are arranged into arrays, thereby further enhancing the intensity of the illumination beam provided by the illumination system  300 . In addition, the light source device  400  further comprises a plurality of heat sinks (not shown) respectively connecting to the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450 , for dissipating heat of the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450 . Furthermore, a collimator  470  is respectively disposed (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) in front of the light exit surfaces of the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  additionally in order to reduce the divergence angle of the first color light beam  432 , the second color light beam  434  and the third color light beam  436 . 
         [0031]    First, referring to  FIG. 5A , the illumination system  300   b  differs from the illumination system  300  shown in  FIG. 3  only in that the light source device  400   b  of the illumination system  300   b  further comprises a housing  460  having the first light combination module  410  and the second light combination module  420  disposed therein. The housing  460  has a first opening  462 , a second opening  464  and a third opening  466 . The first light source  430  is disposed at the first opening  462 , the second light source  440  is disposed at the second opening  464 , and the third light source  450  is disposed at the third opening  466 . Furthermore, the housing  460  and the light guide element  310  are also made integrated (as shown in  FIG. 5B ). 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the illumination system  300   d  in this embodiment is similar to the illumination system  300  in the first embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), except that the light source device  400   d  of the illumination system  300   d  further comprises a fifth triangular prism  480  and a third coating layer  485 . The fifth triangular prism  480  is disposed adjacent to the second bottom surface  422  of the second light combination module  420 . The fifth triangular prism  480  has a first rectangular surface  481 , a second rectangular surface  482  and a third rectangular surface  483  connecting between the rectangular surface  481  and the second rectangular surface  482 . The first rectangular surface  481  is adjacent to the second bottom surface  422 , and a gap is disposed between the first rectangular surface  481  and the second bottom surface  422 , such that the second bottom surface  422  and the first rectangular surface  481  both are used as total reflection surfaces. In addition, the third light source  450  is disposed adjacent to the second rectangular surface  482 , and the third coating layer  485  is disposed on the third rectangular surface  483 . The third light source  450  is suitable for emitting a third color light beam  452  toward the third coating layer  485 , and the material of the third coating layer  485  is, for example, silver, which is applicable for reflecting the third color light beam  452  to the second light combination module  420 . 
         [0033]    Similar to that described in the first embodiment, when the third light source  450  emits light beams, a part of the third color light beam (such as, light beams  453 ,  454 ) is reflected between each surface of the fifth triangular prism  480  and the third coating layer  485 , and not emitted from the fifth triangular prism  480  until the incident angle for the light beam  453 ,  454  to enter the first rectangular surface  481  is smaller than the total reflection angle. Therefore, the divergence angle of the third color light beam  452  provided by the third light source  450  after being emitted from the fifth triangular prism  480  is relatively small, such that the divergence angle of the third color light beam  452  after being emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  is reduced. In addition, since the divergence angle of the first color light beam  432 , the second color light beam  442  and the third color light beam  452  after being emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  is relatively small (that is, the divergence angle for the illumination beam provided by the illumination system  300   d  is relatively small), the illumination system  300   d  in this embodiment achieves a preferred light use efficiency. 
         [0034]    In the illumination system  300   d , a number of the first light sources  430  is more than one, a number of the second light sources  440  is more than one, and a number of the third light sources  450  is more than one. A collimator  470 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is also respectively disposed in front of the light exit surfaces of the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450 . In addition, similar to the illumination system  300   b , the first light combination module  410 , the second light combination module  420  and the fifth triangular prism  480  are disposed within a housing (not shown), and the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  are disposed at the openings of the housing respectively. Of course, the housing and the light guide element  310  are also made integrated. Furthermore, in the illumination system  300   d , a plurality of heat sinks (not shown) is also disposed additionally and used to dissipate heat for the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , different from the light source device  400   d  (shown in  FIG. 6 ), the first light source  430 , the second light source  440  and the third light source  450  are all located at the same side of the second light combination module  420 . In the illumination system  300   e , the first light source  430  and the third light source  450  of the light source device  400   e  are located at the same side of the second light combination module  420 , and the first light source  430  and the second light source  440  are located at opposite sides of the second light combination module  420  respectively. With this architecture, each of the heat sinks  490  is not interfered with each other, thus the volume of the light source device  400   d  is further reduced. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the illumination system  300   f  in this embodiment differs from the illumination system  300   d  in  FIG. 6  in that the illumination system  300   f  comprises a plurality of light source devices  400   d  disposed, for example, within a housing  460   a . The lights provided by each of the light source devices  400   d  are blended within the light guide element  310 , and then emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  for forming an illumination beam. The illumination system  300   f  comprises a plurality of light source devices  400   d , thereby the intensity of the illumination beam is enhanced. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the illumination system  300   g  in this embodiment is similar to the illumination system  300  in  FIG. 3 , except the following aspects. In the illumination system  300   g , the light source device  400   g  first light sources  430  and second light sources  440 . A number of the first light sources  430  is more than one and a number of the second light sources  440  is more than one. The first light sources  430  are disposed at opposite side of the first light combination module  410   g , and the second light sources  440  are disposed at opposite side of the second light combination module  420   g . Furthermore, the first light combination module  410   g  comprises a sixth triangular prism  512 , a seventh prism  514  and a first coating layer  516 . The sixth triangular prism  512  has three rectangular surfaces, and the first bottom surface  412  of the first light combination module  410   g  is one of the rectangular surfaces. The seventh prism  514  forms a cubic prism by joining with the other two rectangular surfaces of the sixth triangular prism  512  to, and the first light sources  430  are disposed at opposite side of the seventh prism  514 . The first coating layer  516  is disposed at the junction surface between the sixth triangular prism  512  and the seventh prism  514  for forming the first filter film  414 . 
         [0038]    In addition, the second light combination module  420   g  comprises an eighth triangular prism  522 , a ninth prism  524  and a second coating layer  526 . The eighth triangular prism  522  has three rectangular surfaces, and the second bottom surface  422  of the second light combination module  420   g  is one of these rectangular surfaces. The ninth prism  524  forms a cubic prism by joining with the other two rectangular surfaces of the eighth triangular prism  522 , and the second light sources  440  are disposed at opposite side of the ninth prism  524 . The second coating layer  526  is disposed at the junction surface between the eighth triangular prism  522  and the ninth prism  524  for forming the second filter film  424 . 
         [0039]    In addition, the light source device  400   g  further comprises a third light combination module  530  having a third top surface  531  adjacent to the second bottom surface  422 , a third bottom surface  533  opposite to the third top surface  531  and a plurality of third side surfaces  535  connecting between the third top surface  531  and the third bottom surface  533 . A gap is disposed between the second bottom surface  422  and the third top surface  531 , such that both the second bottom surface  422  and the third top surface  531  are able to be used as a total reflection surface. In addition, a plurality of third light sources  450  of the light source device  400   g  is disposed at opposite side of the third light combination module  530 . 
         [0040]    In view of the above, the third light combination module  530  comprises a tenth triangular prism  532 , an eleventh prism  534  and a third coating layer  536 . The tenth triangular prism  532  has three rectangular surfaces, and the third bottom surface  533  is one of the three rectangular surfaces. The eleventh prism  534  forms a cubic prism by joining with the other two rectangular surfaces of the tenth triangular prism  532 , and the third light sources  450  are disposed at opposite side of the eleventh prism  534 . In addition, the material of the third coating layer  536  is, for example, silver, and the third coating layer  536  is disposed at the junction surface between the tenth triangular prism  532  and the eleventh prism  534 . Each of the third light sources  450  is suitable for emitting a third color light beam  452  toward the third coating layer  536 , and the third coating layer  536  is suitable for reflecting the third color light beam  452  to the second light combination module  420   g.    
         [0041]    Similar to the first embodiment, in the illumination system  300   g , the first light combination module  410   g  allows the divergence angle of the first color light beam  432  after being emitted from the first top surface  411  to be reduced, the second light combination module  420   g  allows the divergence angle of the second color light beam  442  after being emitted from the second top surface  421  to be reduced, and the third light combination module  530  allows the divergence angle of the third color light beam  452  after being emitted from the third top surface  531  to be reduced. Therefore, the divergence angles of the first color light beam  432 , the second color light beam  442  and the third color light beam  452  after being emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  are relatively small. In other words, the divergence angle of the illumination beam after being emitted from the light exit surface  314  of the light guide element  310  is relatively small, thus, the light use efficiency of the illumination system  300   g  is desirable. Furthermore, a plurality of first light sources  430 , second light sources  440  and third light sources  450  are disposed, such that the illumination system  300   g  provides an illumination beam with higher intensity. It should be noted that, the above seventh prism  514 , the ninth prism  524  and the eleventh prism  534  are also composed by two triangular prisms respectively. 
         [0042]    To sum up, the illumination system of the present invention at least has the following advantages. 
         [0043]    1. Each surface of the first light combination module and that of the second light combination module are able to be used as a total reflection surface, thus avoiding the circumstance that the divergence angles of the lights from the first light source, the second light source and the third light source after being emitted from the light guide element are excessively large, thereby enhancing the light use efficiency of the illumination system. 
         [0044]    2. In the light source device of the illumination system, a number of first light source, second light source and third light source is more than one respectively, thus enhancing the intensity of the illumination beam. 
         [0045]    3. A number of light source device is more than one, thus providing an illumination beam with higher intensity. 
         [0046]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the present invention” or the like is not necessary limited the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.