Abstract:
A battery module includes a first battery cell, a second battery cell, and a terminal connection member connecting the first and second terminal portions together, and including: a first contact portion, the first contact portion having a first facing portion contacting the first terminal portion, a second contact portion, the second contact portion having a second facing portion contacting the second terminal portion, the second facing portion being spaced apart from the first facing portion in a first direction, an outermost portion of the first contact portion being spaced apart in the first direction from an outermost portion of the second contact portion by a first distance, and a support portion, the support portion extending in the first direction between the first contact portion and the second contact portion, the support portion having an overall length in the first direction that is greater than the first distance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/754,019, filed on Jan. 18, 2013, and entitled: “BATTERY MODULE,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Embodiments relate to a battery module. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A high-power battery module using a non-aqueous electrolyte with high energy density has been developed. The high-power battery module is configured as a large-capacity battery module manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series so as to be used for driving devices, e.g., motors of electric vehicles and the like, which require high power. The battery cells provide energy to an external device or load, e.g., a motor vehicle, electronic device, etc., through an electrochemical reaction. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments are directed to a battery module, including a first battery cell, the first battery cell having a first terminal portion, a second battery cell, the second battery cell having a second terminal portion, and a terminal connection member connecting the first and second terminal portions together, the terminal connection member including: a first contact portion, the first contact portion having a first facing portion contacting the first terminal portion, a second contact portion, the second contact portion having a second facing portion contacting the second terminal portion, the second facing portion being spaced apart from the first facing portion in a first direction, an outermost portion of the first contact portion being spaced apart in the first direction from an outermost portion of the second contact portion by a first distance, and a support portion, the support portion extending in the first direction between the first contact portion and the second contact portion and electrically and physically connecting the first and second contact portions, the support portion having an overall length in the first direction that is greater than the first distance. 
         [0007]    The support portion may include respective c-shaped sections connecting the support portion to the first and second contact portions, each c-shaped section including a first leg connected to the support portion, a second leg connected to the respective contact portion, and a joining portion connected between the first leg and the second leg. 
         [0008]    Each c-shaped section may be in the shape of a continuous curve. 
         [0009]    Each c-shaped section may be in the shape of a trilateral member. 
         [0010]    The contact portions may be connected to a side of the respective c-shaped sections of the support portion, such that the contact portions are connected at about a midpoint of the respective second legs. 
         [0011]    The first facing portion and the second facing portion may face towards one another, the first and second facing portions contacting the respective terminal portions with the respective terminal portions interposed between the first facing portion and the second facing portion. 
         [0012]    The first facing portion and the second facing portion may face away from one another, the first and second facing portions contacting the respective terminal portions with the first and second facing portions interposed between the respective terminal portions. 
         [0013]    The first and second facing portions may be roughened. 
         [0014]    The terminal connection member may be elastically deformable in the first direction, the terminal connection member being configured to press the first and second facing portions against the first and second terminal portions, respectively. 
         [0015]    The first and second facing portions may be welded to the first and second terminal portions, respectively. 
         [0016]    The terminal portions may project away from the battery cells and the terminal connection member may be installed from an end of the terminal portions, such that the terminal portions are interposed between the support portion and a case of the battery cells. 
         [0017]    The terminal portions may project away from the battery cells and the terminal connection member may be installed from a side of the terminal portions, such that the support portion is alongside the terminal portions. 
         [0018]    The first battery cell may include a third terminal portion, the third terminal portion being spaced apart from the first terminal portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the second battery cell may include a fourth terminal portion spaced apart from the second terminal portion in the second direction, and the support portion may be between the first terminal portion and the third terminal portion, and between the second terminal portion and the fourth terminal portion. 
         [0019]    Embodiments are also directed to a battery module, including a first battery cell having a first terminal portion, the first terminal portion including a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being connected, a second battery cell having a second terminal portion, the second terminal portion including a third side and a fourth side, the third and fourth sides being connected, and a terminal connection member, the terminal connection member including a first contact portion that contacts the first side, a second contact portion that contacts the third side, and a support portion that connects the first and second contact portions, the support portion overlapping the second and fourth sides. 
         [0020]    The first contact portion may have a first facing portion contacting the first terminal portion, the second contact portion may have a second facing portion contacting the second terminal portion, the second facing portion being spaced apart from the first facing portion in a first direction, an outermost portion of the first contact portion being spaced apart in the first direction from an outermost portion of the second contact portion by a first distance, and the support portion may have an overall length in the first direction that is greater than the first distance. 
         [0021]    The first and second contact portions may be interposed between the first side and the third side. 
         [0022]    The support portion may include respective c-shaped sections connecting the support portion to the first and second contact portions, the c-shaped sections overlapping the second and fourth sides. 
         [0023]    The first battery cell may include a third terminal portion spaced apart from the first terminal portion, the second battery cell may include a fourth terminal portion spaced apart from the second terminal portion, and the support portion may be between the first terminal portion and the third terminal portion, and between the second terminal portion and the fourth terminal portion. 
         [0024]    The first terminal portion and the first contact portion may be welded together from a side opposite the second side, and the second terminal portion and the second contact portion may be welded together from a side opposite the fourth side. 
         [0025]    A first weld may be formed where the first terminal portion and the first contact portion are welded together, and a second weld may be formed where the second terminal portion and the second contact portion are welded together, and the support portion may have an overall length sufficient to extend beyond the first and second weld areas such that outermost portions of the support portion overlap the first and second weld areas. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a battery module according to an example embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the battery module of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of a terminal connection member according to an example embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4A  illustrates an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view schematically showing a terminal connection member and a terminal portion according to another example embodiment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a terminal connection member according to still another example embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view schematically showing a terminal connection member and a terminal portion according to still another example embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a terminal connection member according to still another example embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey example implementations to those skilled in the art. 
         [0038]    In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity of illustration. It will also be understood that when a layer or element is referred to as being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. Further, it will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “under” another layer, it can be directly under, and one or more intervening layers may also be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a battery module  100  according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    In the present example embodiment, the battery module  100  includes a plurality of battery cells  10  aligned in a first direction and each having respective first and second terminal portions  11  and  12  on a first surface  14  thereof; a terminal connection member  150  connecting terminal portions  11  and  12  of first and second battery cells  10  adjacent to each other; and a housing  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  accommodating the plurality of battery cells  10  therein. The terminal connection member  150  includes a pair of contact portions  151  provided in parallel while being spaced apart from each other, and a support portion  152  connecting the contact portions  151  to each other. The pair of contact portions  151  may contact the terminal portions  11  and  12  of the first and second battery cells  10 , respectively. 
         [0041]    The battery cell  10  may include a battery case having the first surface  14 , and an electrode assembly and an electrolyte accommodated in the battery case. The electrode assembly and the electrolyte generate energy through an electrochemical reaction therebetween. The first surface  14  of the battery cell  10  is provided with the terminal portions  11  and  12  electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a vent  13  that is a passage along which gas generated inside the battery cell  10  is exhausted. For example, the terminal portions  11  and  12  may be positive and negative electrode terminals  11  and  12  having different polarities from each other. The terminal portions  11  and  12  of the adjacent battery cells  10  may be electrically connected in series or parallel by the terminal connection member  150 . A gasket  15  made of an electrical insulation material may be provided on the first surface  14  of the battery cell  10 . The terminal portions  11  and  12  are protruded to the outside of the gasket  15 . The terminal portions  11  and  12  of the adjacent battery cells  10  may be connected by the terminal connection member  150  on the gasket  15 . 
         [0042]    The plurality of battery cells  10  may be aligned in the first direction so that wide surfaces of the battery cells  10  face each other. The aligned battery cells  10  may be fixed by the housing  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140 . The housing  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and  140  may include a pair of end plates  110  and  120  facing the wide surfaces of the battery cells  10 , and side and bottom plates  130  and  140  connecting the pair of end plates  110  and  120  to each other. The side plate  130  may support side surfaces of the battery cells  10 , and the bottom plate  140  may support bottom surfaces of the battery cells  10 . The pair of end plates  110  and  120 , the side plate  130 , and the bottom plate  140  may be connected by members such as bolts  20 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a terminal connection member  150  according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4B  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 4A . 
         [0044]    Referring to the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A and  4 B, the terminal connection member  150  may include a pair of contact portions  151  and a support portion  152  connecting the pair of contact portions  151  to each other. In the present example embodiment, the pair of contact portions  151  are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and the terminal portions  11  and  12  of first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  that are adjacent battery cells  10  may contact the contact portions  151 , respectively. The support portion  152  may maintain the spacing distance between the pair of contact portions  151  and adjust the interval between the pair of contact portions  151 . For example, the pair of contact portions  151  and the support portion  152  may be connected perpendicular to each other. 
         [0045]    The terminal connection member  150  may further include round or c-shaped sections  153 , which may be at one and the other ends of the support portion  152 , respectively. The c-shaped sections may include a first leg  153   c  connected to the support portion  152 , a second leg  153   d  connected to the respective contact portion  151 , and a joining portion  153   e  connected between the first leg  153   c  and the second leg  153   d . The contact portion  151  may be connected to the c-shaped section  153  at an end of the c-shaped section  153 . For example, the c-shaped section  153  may be formed in a U-shape to connect between the support portion  151  and the contact portion  151 . A first end  153   a  of the c-shaped section  153  formed in the U-shape may be connected in parallel to the support portion  152 , and a second end  153   b  of the c-shaped section  153  may be connected perpendicular to the contact portion  151 . The second end  153   b  of the c-shaped section  153  and the contact portion  151  may be connected perpendicular to each other at a corner of the terminal portion  11  or  12 . 
         [0046]    The terminal portions  11  and  12  may be made of, e.g., aluminum, copper, etc., and the terminal connection member  150  may be made of, e.g., aluminum. The battery cell  10  may generate high current. Thus, the terminal portions  11  and  12  and the terminal connection member  150  may be provided with a predetermined strength so that the high current stably flows therethrough. Thus, the terminal connection member  150  may have a firm structure so as to have a predetermined strength, but may also have some flexibility provided by the c-shaped section  153 . For example, the c-shaped sections  153  may facilitate the bending of the terminal connection member  150 , and may have elasticity to facilitate the reciprocating movement of the pair of contact portions  151  connected to the support portion  152 . Thus, contact between the terminal portions  11  and  12  and the terminal connection member  150  may be improved while providing assembling tolerance to facilitate the connection between the terminal portions  11  and  12  and the terminal connection member  150 . 
         [0047]    When one of the adjacent battery cells  10  is referred to as a first battery cell  10   a  and the other of the adjacent battery cells  10  is referred to as a second battery cell  10   b , the terminal portions  11  and  12  of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  may be electrically connected to each other by the terminal connection member  150 . The terminal portion  11  of the first battery cell  10   a  may include a first facing portion  11   a , and the terminal portion of the second battery cell  10   b  may include a second facing portion  12   a  facing the first facing portion  11   a . The first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  may be aligned so that the first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a  face each other, and the first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a  may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. According to the present example embodiment, the pair of contact portions  151  of the terminal connection member  150  are pressed inward to be forcibly inserted between the first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a . The pair of contact portions  151  may thus firmly contact the first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a , respectively. 
         [0048]    As described above, the terminal connection member  150  may be provided with an ability to bend by the c-shaped sections  153  while having a predetermined strength. The pair of contact portions  151  may be bent by an external force so as to be inserted between the first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a . After the external force is removed, the elasticity of the terminal connection member  150  may restore the pair of contact portions  151  to contact the respective first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a.    
         [0049]    In the present example embodiment, one or more portions of each of the terminal portions  11  and  12  may be formed as a hexahedron in which the first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a  have a quadrangular shape. The section of the contact portion  151  may be provided to correspond to the first or second facing portion  11   a  or  12   a  contacting the contact portion  151 . The first and second facing portions  11   a  and  12   a  and the contact portions  151  may contact each other through their wide surfaces, and thus current may efficiently flow between the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b.    
         [0050]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of  FIG. 4A . 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the terminal portions  11  and  12  of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  and the terminal connection member  150  may be connected while being adhered closely to each other without being spaced apart. In the present example embodiment, the terminal connection member  150  forms overlaps S where the terminal portions  11  and  12  are overlapped by the c-shaped sections  153 . The width of the overlap S may be, e.g., 0.2 to 0.6 mm. The terminal connection member  150  and the terminal portions  11  and  12  may be physically firmly fixed by the fixing force of the housing, fixing the aligned battery cells  10  by pressing inward the aligned battery cells  10 , and the elastic restoring force between the contact portions  151  of the terminal connection member  150 , forcibly inserted between the first and second facing portions. 
         [0052]    In the present example embodiment, a process may be performed to improve adhesion between the terminal connection member  150  and the terminal portions  11  and  12 . For example, the terminal connection member  150  and the terminal portions  11  and  12  may be welded to each other by a laser beam L. In the present example embodiment, the laser beam L is provided in parallel with the surfaces of the contact portions  151  and the terminal portions  11  and  12 , which face each other, so as to connect the terminal connection member  150  and the terminal portions  11  and  12 . For example, in  FIG. 5 , the laser beam may be directed substantially parallel to the top surface of the battery cell in the direction indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0053]    For example, the terminal portions  11  and  12  may include a positive electrode terminal  11  made of aluminum and a negative electrode terminal  12  made of copper, and the terminal connection member  150  may include a bus-bar made of aluminum. The positive electrode terminal  11  and the terminal connection member  150  may be made of the same metal, so as to be easily adhered closely to each other. In case of the negative electrode terminal  12  and the terminal connection member  150 , the laser beam L may be provided adjacent to the negative electrode terminal  12 , and accordingly, the interface of the terminal connection member  150  contacting the negative electrode terminal  12  may be melted so that the terminal connection member  150  can be adhered closely to the negative electrode terminal  12 . Thus, even when the positive and negative electrode terminals  11  and  12  are made of different metals from each other, the terminal connection member  150  and the terminal portions  11  and  12  may be connected using relatively low power without forming the terminal connection portion  150  with clad metal (because the laser beam L is not provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the terminal portions  11  and  12  and the terminal connection member  150  contact each other). 
         [0054]    In the terminal connection member  150 , the width of the overlap S may be, e.g., 0.2 to 0.6 mm. In the present example embodiment, the overlap S is provided perpendicular to the direction in which the laser beam L is provided, so as to block the transmission of the laser beam L beyond the weld area. Accordingly, it may be possible to prevent the battery cell  10 , e.g., the electrode assembly and the electrolyte from being damaged by the laser beam L and heat generated by the laser beam L. The laser beam L may be provided in the form of a beam to a target material by amplified laser and locally heat the target material with a high energy density for a short period of time. As such, it may be possible to minimize the thermal deformation and cooling time of the target material and to effectively perform welding even in a narrow area. In a case where the width of the overlap S is less than 0.2 mm, a portion of the laser beam L may be transmitted even though there is some overlap S, and therefore, the battery cell  10  may be damaged. In a case where the width of the overlapping portion S exceeds 0.6 mm, the size of the terminal connection member  150  may be unnecessarily enlarged, and therefore, a short circuit between adjacent terminal connection members  150  may be possible. Thus, the width of the overlap S may be about 0.2 to about 0.6 mm. 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view schematically showing a terminal connection member  260  and a terminal portion according to another example embodiment. 
         [0056]    Referring to example embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the terminal connection member  260  may connect the terminal portions  11  and  12  respectively provided to the first surfaces  14  of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b . The terminal connection member  250  may include a pair of contact portions  251  provided in parallel with each other, a support portion  252  provided approximately perpendicular to the contact portions  251 , and a c-shaped section  253  provided to be bent between the contact portion  251  and the support portion  252 . 
         [0057]    In the terminal connection member  250 , the pair of contact portions  251  may be provided to come in surface contact with the terminal portions  11  and  12 , respectively. Thus, the terminal portion  11  of the first battery cell  10   a  and the terminal portion  12  of the second battery cell  10   b  may face each other while being spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. The terminal connection member  250  may be inserted into the interval between the terminal portions  11  and  12  in a direction perpendicular to the first surface  14 . In the present example embodiment, the c-shaped sections  253  adjacent to the contact portions  251  contact upper surfaces of the terminal portions  11  and  12 , respectively, so as to guide the distance at which the contact portions  251  are inserted between the terminal portions  11  and  12 , acting as stops. The terminal connection member  250  is inserted between the terminal portions  11  and  12  above the terminal portions  11  and  12 . Thus, the terminal connection member  250  may be easily inserted between the terminal portions  11  and  12  even when the size of the battery cells  10  is small. 
         [0058]    Hereinafter, other example embodiments will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 9 . Contents of these example embodiments, except the following contents, are similar to those of the example embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , and therefore, their details will not be repeated. 
         [0059]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a terminal connection member according to still another example embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view schematically showing a terminal connection member and a terminal portion according to still another example embodiment. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the battery module according to this example embodiment may include a plurality of battery cells  10  and a terminal connection member  350  electrically connecting the battery cells  10  to each other. The battery cells  10  include adjacent first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b , and terminal portions  11  and  12  respectively provided to the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  may be coupled to the terminal connection member  350 . 
         [0061]    The terminal portions  11  and  12  of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  face each other. The terminal portions  11  and  12  may be formed in the shape of a hexahedron, so that the quadrangular sections of the terminal portions  11  and  12  face each other. The terminal connection member  350  may include a pair of contact portions  351  provided in parallel with each other, and a support portion  352  maintaining the spacing distance between the pair of contact portions  351 . The terminal connection member  350  may further include c-shaped sections  353 . In the present example embodiment, the c-shaped sections  353  are provided at one and the other ends of the support portion  352 , respectively, and the contact portion  351  may be connected to an end of the c-shaped section  353 . 
         [0062]    The support portion  352  and the contact portion  351  are provided perpendicular to each other, and the contact portion  351  may have a stepped portion  355  recessed inwardly. The stepped portions  355  are respectively provided to the surfaces of the pair of contact portions  351 , which face each other. Therefore, the stepped portions  355  respectively provided to the pair of contact portions  351  may also face each other. 
         [0063]    The terminal portions  11  and  12  of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  may be electrically connected by the terminal connection member  350 . The terminal portions  11  and  12  may be inserted between the pair of contact portions  351 . In the present example embodiment, the stepped portions  355  may be provided to have shapes corresponding to the terminal portions  11  and  12 , respectively. Therefore, after the terminal portions  11  and  12  are mounted in the respective stepped portion  355 , each of the terminal portions  11  and  12  may be provided to form the approximately same plane as peripheral portions of the stepped portion  355 . Accordingly, the stepped portion  355  guides the position at which the terminal portion  11  or  12  is provided, and thus the terminal connection member  350  may be easily coupled to the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b.    
         [0064]    The terminal connection member  350  according to this example embodiment may electrically connect the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  and simultaneously fix the positions of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b . The terminal portions  11  and  12  of the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  may be forcibly inserted between the pair of contact portions  351  of the terminal connection member  350 , which have a predetermined strength. Thus, the first and second battery cells  10   a  and  10   b  may be physically fixed to each other by the terminal connection member  350 , and may not easily be moved by an external impact, thereby helping efficiently perform the assembly of the battery module. Accordingly, the terminal connection member  350  may maintain the alignment of the battery cells  10  even when the housing fixing the battery cells  10  is omitted. 
         [0065]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a terminal connection member according to still another example embodiment. 
         [0066]    The terminal connection member  450  according to this example embodiment may be coupled to terminal portions of adjacent battery cells so that the battery cells are electrically connected to each other. The terminal connection member  450  may have a fastening portion  455  provided to a surface contacting the terminal portion. The terminal connection member  450  may include a pair of contact portions  451  directly contacting the respective terminal portions of the battery cells, a support portion  452  maintaining the spacing distance between the pair of contact portions  451 , and c-shaped sections  453  facilitating the reciprocating movement of the pair of contact portions  451 . In the present example embodiment, the pair of contact portions  415  may be provided to face each other, and the fastening portion  455  may be provided to any one surface of each of the pair of contact portions  451 . For example, the fastening portion  455  may include surface roughness. 
         [0067]    The terminal connection member  450  may be inserted between the terminal portions of the adjacent battery cells. The terminal connection member  450  and the terminal portion may be implemented as an electrical conductor, and may be made of metal or the like. The fastening portion  455  may increase the frictional force between the terminal connection member  450  and the terminal portion of the battery cell, so as to help improve the coupling between the terminal connection member  450  and the fastening portion  455 . 
         [0068]    As described above, a battery module may be configured with a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells being fixed in a housing so as to be used as a single power source. The battery cells may be electrically connected to one another by bus-bars or the like. It is of interest to stably and efficiently maintain high current flowing between the battery cells. 
         [0069]    By way of summation and review, embodiments relate to a battery module configured to enhance insulation property and safety. Embodiments may provide a battery module having a terminal connection member. Embodiments may also provide a battery module configured to improving efficiency and safety of current flow. 
         [0070]    Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.