Abstract:
A compact faucet attachment with an adjustable aerator that monitors water usage and encourages positive water-saving behaviors. The attachment replaces an existing faucet aerator and allows users to change the pressure and pattern of the water flowing through their faucet. It has a thread adapter to ensure that it fits most common faucets. Additionally, on a display screen, numerical data and icons show users statistics regarding how much water they use compared to a daily recommended amount. The device&#39;s battery is rechargeable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/339,865, entitled “Water Monitoring System with Adjustable Aerator”, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 21, 2016, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0002]    Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to water conservation devices, and more particularly, to a water monitoring system with adjustable aerator. 
       Background 
       [0003]    Drought is a problem that affects many areas around the world. Even in areas of the world where drought is not common, maximizing use of water is important for such reasons as increase in population and use in agriculture. Currently there are many devices that help reduce water use directly, such as low-flush toilets or low-flow shower heads. However, many of these device do not actually change consumer attitudes and behaviors about overall water use. In fact, in some cases consumer behavior may be changed for the worse. For example, users of low-flush toilets may flush the toilet multiple times, resulting in more water actually being wasted. In another example, users of low-flow shower heads may take longer showers, which also results in a net water waste. 
         [0004]    Conventional water saving devices may also cause frustration for consumers, thereby reinforcing negative attitudes towards conservation of this precious resource. For example, faucet attachments that aim to conserve water use manifest themselves as low-flow faucet heads. In kitchens, the low-flow rates of these faucet heads make filling of large containers such as pots or pitchers extremely time consuming Thus, the user may simply leave the kitchen while leaving the faucet running, which results in water being wasted when the water overflows. Even when water does not overflow the container, water is similarly wasted when the user does not come back to the faucet in time to turn off the faucet when the container is filled to a desired level because the user then will pour out the excess water. Furthermore, some users may elect to not install water saving devices or even remove existing water saving components such as flow restrictors included in many faucets and showerheads to avoid the perceived nuisance related to limited water flow. 
         [0005]    Consequently, a device that can save water as well as change consumer attitudes and behavior long-term is desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the disclosed water monitoring system with adjustable aerator in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0007]    In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator is implemented as a water-flow adjustment device that includes a compact digital water meter with an adjustable water dispensing device. The adjustable water dispensing device may include flow rate settings configured to allow a flow rate and/or pattern of water dispensed through the adjustable water dispensing device to be changed. 
         [0008]    The water-flow adjustment device may also include a display to provide users information about how much water has been used as compared to a baseline consumption (amount, rate, etc.), including a notification when a particular threshold has been exceed. Electronics in the water-flow adjustment device may be used to control the adjustable water dispensing device. 
         [0009]    The water-flow adjustment device may be attached to an existing faucet in place of the aerator of the existing faucet. Thus, the water-flow adjustment device may act as a replacement aerator. The water-flow adjustment device may also be configured to replace an existing faucet, where the water-flow adjustment device would include one or more valves to control water from the water supply. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of the disclosure will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other sample aspects of the disclosure will be described in the detailed description that follow, and in the accompanying drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example implementation of a water monitoring system with adjustable aerator. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded parts diagram illustrating a water monitoring and control device configured in accordance with various aspects of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a water monitoring and control system configured in accordance with various aspects of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a network in which the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator of  FIG. 1  may be used. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a direct connection of water monitoring and control system in which the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator of  FIG. 1  may be used. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an exploded parts diagram of another water monitoring and control device configured in accordance with various aspects of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram describing an operation of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0019]    In accordance with common practice, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., device) or method. Finally, like reference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout the specification and figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations of a water monitoring system with adjustable aerator and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts. 
         [0021]    Conventionally, faucet attachments that aim to conserve water manifest themselves as low-flow faucet heads and aerators. However, because they are simple aerators, these devices have a fixed flow setting or, at best, an on/off setting. Other apparatuses measure the volume of water flowing through a faucet, but do not adjust the flow of the water. None of the aforementioned devices provides a display that has the ability to compare water use through the faucet, such as to a recommended baseline. 
         [0022]    The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a broad variety of water dispensing devices. By way of example and not limitation, a water-flow adjustment device implemented as a water-saving faucet attachment for a kitchen faucet is used to describe various aspects of the disclosure. Thus, the water-saving faucet attachment may replace existing an aerator on the kitchen faucet. However, it should be apparent that the various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in other types of water dispensing devices such as shower heads, bath faucets, and sprinklers. The water-flow adjustment device may be used to encourage water saving directly at the source of where the water is dispensed. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , as an illustrative example without limitation, various aspects of the present disclosure for the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator are first illustrated with reference to a water monitoring and control device  104  that is mounted to a supply pipe  102  of a sink  106 . As further described herein, the water monitoring and control device  104  is a water-flow adjustment device that may include a digital water meter, a way to control dispensing a set amount of water per period of time, and a different spray pattern for each use. The water monitoring and control device  104  may replace an aerator of an existing faucet of the supply pipe  102 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates components of the water monitoring and control device  104  from  FIG. 1  that is configured in accordance with one aspect of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator to implement a water-flow adjustment device with an adjustable water dispensing device. The water monitoring and control device  104  includes a rotator  202 , an adapter  204 , a snap on (adapter mount)  206 , a selection disk  208 , an aerator  210 , an O-ring  212 , a shell  214 , and a finger grip  216 . 
         [0025]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 2 , the rotator  202 , also referred to as a faucet adapter retainer, is snapped into the snap on  206 , securing the adapter  204  in place. The snap on  206  screws on to the shell  214  and the adapter  204  will screw onto a supply line such as the supply pipe  102  of  FIG. 1 . A gasket (not shown) may be used to prevent water leakage from the seal between the adapter  204  and the supply line. The shell  214  holds the selection disk  208 , the aerator  210 , and the O-ring  212 . The selection disk  208  directs the water in a steady stream into the aerator  210 , where the water flow is then altered. The O-ring  212  help prevent overflow leakage in the shell  214 . Lastly, the water monitoring and control device  104  may be switched to the different settings described herein using the finger grip  216  that allows water flowing from the aerator  210  to be provided with different flow patterns. 
         [0026]    In various aspects of the disclosed approach, the water monitoring and control device  104  may be adjusted to provide different amounts of water output. For example, if a person wants to wash their dishes by hand, the water monitoring and control device  104  may be adjusted to a first setting to dispense the largest amount of water that may be provided from the supply pipe  102 , as supplied by the water monitoring and control device  104 . Similarly, if the person is simply washing their hands, the water monitoring and control device  104  may be adjusted to a second setting that dispenses less water than the first setting. 
         [0027]    In various aspects of the disclosed approach, the water monitoring and control device  104  may dispense water in a variety of flow patterns. For example, the water monitoring and control device  104  may provide a lighter, almost sprinkler-like flow pattern. The specific flow pattern of the water being dispensed may correspond to the flow setting of the water monitoring and control device  104 . For example, the sprinkler-like flow pattern provided may be provided when the water monitoring and control device  104  is adjusted to the second setting that dispenses less water than the first setting. 
         [0028]    Consequently, when the user wishes to use the water monitoring and control device  104 , the user may easily select from several flow rate settings that will change the amount of water flow. Each flow rate setting may also affect a pattern of the water flow. The settings will range from a light, wide spray to a heavy, straight, concentrated stream for different tasks like hand and produce washing to dishwashing or filling a large pot, respectively. Thus, the user may easily select which setting is preferred once the water is running to obtain the optimal flow for what the user is doing. When the user is finished with using the sink, the water-saving faucet will reset to the lowest pressure after each use. This will ensure that users never use water at a higher rate than is needed, but will always be able to easily change flow as desired. 
         [0029]    In one aspect of the disclosed approach, the water monitoring and control device  104  may also include one or more displays to provide a visual signal of which usage setting is in effect. For example, one or more LED lights may be used as the display and the user would be able to tell which setting is currently in use through the visual signal that would be visible through changing the color of the one or more LED lights, which in turn would change the color of the illumination of the water being dispensed. In other aspects of the disclosed approach, other types of displays, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) display with numerical and/or graphical displays, audible, visual indicators (such as lights, color wheels), or other such systems known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be implemented in the water monitoring and control device  104 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates the various functional blocks that may be used to implement the water monitoring and control device  104 , including a faucet thread adapter  302  that may be used to attach the water monitoring and control device  104  to the supply line  102  of  FIG. 1 , from which water may flow through a turbine/waterwheel with magnets  304  to exit from an adjustable aerator  322 . 
         [0031]    In one aspect of the disclosure, a flow-rate of water dispensed from the water monitoring and control device  104  may be adjusted by the user to either be increased or decreased. This flow-rate may remain between each operation of the water monitoring and control device  104 , or may be reset to a predetermined flow-rate. This predetermined flow-rate may be set by the user. In another aspect of the disclosure, the flow-rate may be reset to the lowest flow-rate setting after every operation of the water monitoring and control device  104 . 
         [0032]    In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the water monitoring and control device  104  may include a timer that helps to conserve water by providing an alert when water has been dispensing for a period of time. In other words, the water monitoring and control device  104  may include a shut-off timer to provide an alert if water has been running for longer than a prescribed period. The alert may be provided to the user as an audible beep or a visual signal. The alert may also be sent as a message to the user to alert the user that the water flow has exceeded the time allotted. For example, the user may receive a SMS message on a mobile device, or a notification in a smartphone app. 
         [0033]    The turbine/waterwheel with magnets  304  is coupled to a generator  306 , to which a meter  308  is attached to determine an amount of water being supplied. In one aspect of the disclosed approach, a CPU/logic module  312  may be used to determine the amount of water being supplied by measuring the electricity generated by the generator  306 . The generator may generate electricity using current induction or could also use other generation technologies such as piezoelectric or charge pump technology as well as mechanical means. 
         [0034]    A storage/memory  314  may be used by the CPU/logic module  312  to store programming and data. The data may include water usage data and how the water monitoring and control device  104  has been used. For example, the position of the adjustable aerator  322 , as adjusted by an aerator setting control  324 , such as a knob/button, may be sensed by an aerator position sensor  318 . The position information may be stored along with how much water was dispensed by the water monitoring and control device  104  when the adjustable aerator  322  was in that position. 
         [0035]    A display  320 , which may include LEDs or LCDs, may be used to display information about the water monitoring and control device  104 . A usage setting control  316 , such as a knob/button, may be used to control the operation of the water monitoring and control device  104 . For example, the usage setting control  316  may be coupled to the CPU/logic module  312  to control the operation of the water monitoring and control device  104 . 
         [0036]    The CPU/logic module  312  as well as other components of the water monitoring and control device  104  may be powered by a rechargeable battery  310 . The rechargeable battery  310  may be recharged by the generator  306 . In one aspect of the disclosure, the rechargeable battery  310  may be directly recharged by the generator  306 . In another aspect of the disclosure, charging of the rechargeable battery  310  may be controlled by the CPU/logic module  312 . 
         [0037]    In one aspect of the disclosure, the water monitoring and control device  104  may include a transmitter to provide data or information using wireless communication. In another aspect of the disclosure, the water monitoring and control device  104  may include a receiver to receive data or information using wireless communication. For example, the water monitoring and control device  104  may be able to communicate with other devices within the household, such as other water-saving faucets, in order to display the cumulative water usage in the house at any moment in time. The water monitoring and control device  104  may also communicate with a smartphone app made for both iOS and Android operating systems in order to send data to the user&#39;s smartphone. This will allow the user to become aware of the amount of water being used in their house by checking the app. 
         [0038]    In one aspect of the disclosure, the water monitoring and control device  104  may communicate with other devices through the use of a network, such as through a wireless network. A scenario  450  of wireless network connectivity is shown in  FIG. 4 ., where the water monitoring and control device  104  is represented as a water meter (sink)  400 , which connects to the wireless network through a router  408 . The router  408  transmits data received from the water meter (sink)  400  to a server  410 , a phone  412 , and a personal computer (PC)  414 . Thus, the water meter (sink)  400  may connect to the router  408  and accesses the network  406  to transmit data to the server  410 , the phone  412 , or the PC  414 . The water meter (sink)  400  may send or receive data through the server  410  for analysis, storage, reporting. A water meter (shower)  402  or a utility meter  404  may also connect to the router  408  to access the network  406 . The data from the water meter (shower)  402  and the utility meter  404  may also send data transmissions through the router  408  to the server  410 , from which the server  410  may analyze, store and report all data. 
         [0039]    The water meter (sink)  400 , the water meter (shower)  402 , and the utility meter  404  may be direct connected to the phone  412  for communication. An example of this direct connectivity scenario  550  is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates components of the water monitoring and control device  104  from  FIG. 1  that is configured in accordance with another aspect of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator, which includes a rotator  602 , an adapter  604 , a snap on (adapter mount)  606 , a selection disk  608 , an aerator  610 , an O-ring  612 , a shell  614 , and a finger grip  616 .  FIG. 6  also illustrates an O-ring  652 , a flow director  654 , a turbine  656 , and turbine retainer  658  to provide an example of the turbine mechanism that may be used in the water monitoring and control device  104 . Moreover,  FIG. 6  illustrates a display  672 , a battery  674 , a switch  676 , and a housing cover  678  as an example of the electronics that may be used in the water monitoring and control device  104 . It should be noted that these should be taken as examples and nothing in the description should limit the scope of the claims, other than the claim language, as to what may be used to implement the various aspects of the disclosure. 
         [0041]    The rotator  602 , also referred to as a faucet adapter retainer, is snapped into the snap on  606 , securing the adapter  604  in place. The snap on  606  screws on to the shell  614 . The adaptor  604  includes threads that may be screwed onto threads that are on a supply line such as the supply pipe  102  of  FIG. 1 . Thus, to secure the water monitoring and control device  104  to the supply pipe  102 , the adapter  604  may be screwed onto the supply pipe  102 . A gasket (not shown) may be used to prevent water leakage from the seal between the adapter  604  and the supply line. 
         [0042]    The O-ring  652  help prevent leakage from the shell  614  as water enters into the shell  614  and is directed by the flow director  654  to turn the turbine  656 . The turbine  656  may be secured by holes in the flow director  654  and the seletion disk  608  while contained in the turbine retainer  658 . The shell  614  also holds the selection disk  608 , the aerator  610 , and the O-ring  612 . The selection disk  608  directs the water in a steady stream into the aerator  610 , where the pattern and/or amount of water flow is then altered. The O-ring  612  help prevent overflow leakage in the shell  614 . 
         [0043]    In addition to containing the various mechanisms used to control water flow, the shell  614  also houses the display  672 , the battery  674 , and the switch  676 , as enclosed by the housing cover  678 . The display  672  includes a circuit board on which the CPU/logic module discussed herein may be integrated. As discussed, the turbine may contain magnets to cause an induction of current in a coil, which acts as the generator of electricty. This induced current may be used to recharge the battery  674  that powers the display  672 . The switch  678  may be used to interact with the display  672  and, in general the CPU/logic module, to control the water monitoring and control device  104 . 
         [0044]    To provide manual control by the user, the water monitoring and control device  104  may be switched to the different settings described herein using the finger grip  616  that allows water flowing from the aerator  610  to be provided with different flow patterns and/or rates. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  illustrates a process  700  by which various aspects of the operation of the the water monitoring and control device  104  may be described where, at  702 , a current use session may begin when the user turns on the faucet and supplies the water monitoring and control device  104  with water. 
         [0046]    At  704 , the water monitoring and control device  104  acquires current flow data, which may include a rate of water flow, or a flow of water over a period of time. 
         [0047]    At  706 , where the water continues to flow, a total session water use total may be augmented, or updated, with the total amount used in the session. 
         [0048]    At  708 , it is determined if the current session water use is greater than a threshold, which may be set by the user or a default amount. For example, the threshold may be one gallon, one liter, or any amount. If the total amount of water used so far in this session exceeds the threshold, then ooperation may continue to  720 . Otherwise, operation continues with  710 . 
         [0049]    At  710 , it is determined if the flow of water has been stopped. If so, then operation continues with  712 . Otherwise, operation returns to  704 , where the current flow data is collected again, as described above. 
         [0050]    At  712 , the total water use for this session augments, or modifies, the period usage total so that the period usage total is updated. The period usage total may include usage totals for more than one span of time, including hours, days, weeks, months, etc. 
         [0051]    At  714 , the aerator may be reset to its lowest flow setting. Thus, the user does not have to remember to try and conserve water by using the lowest setting because it will automatically be selected by the water monitoring and control device  104  after each use. The user may choose to disable this feature. 
         [0052]    At  716 , the water monitoring and control device  104  may display usage information about the current session, including usage summary and a comparison between the amount of water used with a baseline. 
         [0053]    In one aspect of the disclosure, a faucet equipped with the water monitoring and control device  104  allows a user to compare the user&#39;s water use to one or more baselines, which, for example, may be recommended usage totals or other appropriate metrics. Measurements and comparisons may be performed over one or more use types, and one or more time periods. For example, the baseline may be a per-session, daily, weekly, or monthly amount. In addition, the baseline may be linked to the aerator setting or user behavior a inferred algorithmically or indicated directly by the user. The units of measurement may be selected by the user. For example, measurements may be expressed in such units as liters, gallons or cups. The baselines may also be preset or adjusted by the user to account for various conservation targets and usage scenarios. For example, baselines may be adjusted based on the number of persons expected to be using the device in the location where it is installed such as the count of members of a household or guests staying in a hotel room. Adjustment of baselines may be accomplished through direct interaction with the device through a button such as the switch  676  described above, touch screen in the display  672 , or other such mechanism or through communication with another device either directly or via a network as disclosed in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 4  respectively. Furthermore, such adjustment may be controlled by the end user or by another entity. For example, a water utility or building manager may establish baseline values for the devices at installation or afterwards. 
         [0054]    Returning to  FIG. 7  at  720 , if the current water use is greater than the threshold, it is determined is the aerator at the lowest setting. If the aerator is at the lowest setting, then operation continues with  704 . Otherwise, operation continues with  722 . 
         [0055]    At  722 , where the current water use exceeds the threshold, the user may be notified, such as by an alert on the display or an audible alarm. In addition, the aerator may be reset to the lowest setting to limit the amount of water being dispensed in case the user has forgotten to shut off the faucet, thus also limiting the amount of water being wasted. For example, if the user starts to fill a pot on the full flow setting but leaves the kitchen, the water monitoring and control device  104  will be able to alert the user when the threshold has been exceeded by the amount of water used in the current session. The notification may also be useful to remind the user how much water has been dispensed in the current session, such as when the user is washing dishes and leaves the water running 
         [0056]    Those of skill would further appreciate that any of the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with various aspects of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of the two, which may be designed using source coding or some other technique), various forms of program or design code incorporating instructions (which may be referred to herein, for convenience, as “software” or a “software module”), or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0057]    The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented within or performed by an integrated circuit (“IC”). The IC may comprise a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, electrical components, optical components, mechanical components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein, and may execute codes or instructions that reside within the IC, outside of the IC, or both. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
         [0058]    It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in any disclosed process is an example of a sample approach. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented. 
         [0059]    The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module (e.g., including executable instructions and related data) and other data may reside in a data memory such as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable storage medium known in the art. A sample storage medium may be coupled to a machine such as, for example, a computer/processor (which may be referred to herein, for convenience, as a “processor”) such the processor can read information (e.g., code) from and write information to the storage medium. A sample storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in user equipment. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in user equipment. Moreover, in some aspects any suitable computer-program product may comprise a computer-readable medium comprising codes (e.g., executable by at least one computer) relating to one or more of the aspects of the disclosure. In some aspects, a computer program product may comprise packaging materials. 
         [0060]    Although the various aspects of the water monitoring system with adjustable aerator disclosed herein has been described in detail in connection with the various examples shown in the figures, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that other embodiments may provide the same results. Variations and modifications to the provided examples should be discernable to those skilled in the art and should be considered to fall within the scope of any claims recited herein. 
         [0061]    The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. A phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”