Diagnostic camera apparatus and method for inspection of an enclosed tube system

The present disclosure relates in general to a diagnostic device for inspection of an enclosed tube system, and more particular, to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while the diagnostic device is attached to a moveable member and traveling through the enclosed tube system. A diagnostic apparatus including camera housing configured to include a camera assembly, battery housing configured to hold a battery assembly, and a main housing configured to be detachably secured to a moveable member, wherein the camera housing and battery assembly are secured to the main housing, and wherein the main housing includes at least one light.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates in general to a diagnostic device for inspection of an enclosed tube system, and more particular, capability to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while a diagnostic camera apparatus is attached to a moveable member and traveling through the enclosed tube system.

Description of the Related Art

Inspecting an enclosed tube system with a camera is a useful technology. The use of a camera for inspection allows its user to identify potential or actual problems within the interior of the system. Occasionally, there will be a problem in the system that causes the system not to work properly, and a repair will need to be made quickly to prevent downtime. As such, a camera for inspection allows direct identification of debris or system defects, as well as the location of the debris or defects in the system.

Currently, obtaining such information from the enclosed tube system requires that a generic low-cost camera is attached to a cable and fed through an enclosed tube system. However, there are issues when using this technique. One issue is the cameras utilized in such inspections do not provide adequate frame rate relative to the speed of movement of the camera. Also, cameras utilized in such inspections do not provide clear imaging of the interior of the enclosure due to the poor quality of the captured images. Another issue is that the light used by the camera to illuminate the enclosure is a single un-diffused illumination light-emitting diode (LED), which does not provide consistent illumination and contributes to the difficulty in providing clear images of the enclosure tube interior for debris location identification or enclosure tube defect recognition. Another issue is that current cameras utilize small size coin cell batteries and the camera run time is limited. These batteries are also difficult to replace because they are soldered or insecurely clipped in place. Another issue is that the cameras utilized in such inspections are secured using multiple parts, fasteners, and a tool, meaning that switching the unit to another enclosed tube system is time-consuming and cumbersome. Finally, the cameras utilized in such inspections build up internal heat during operation, initiating thermal shut down until the camera is able to be cooled, which severely limits the runtime and therefore the number of images captured.

Accordingly, there is a need for a diagnostic camera apparatus to help diagnose problems in an enclosed tube system that provides high-quality images, proper illumination, long battery life, easy installation and removal process, and defense against building up internal heat during operation.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are systems, methods and devices for a diagnostic device for inspection of an enclosed tube system, and more particular, capability to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while a diagnostic camera apparatus is attached to a moveable member and traveling through the enclosed tube system.

One aspect includes a diagnostic apparatus including, a camera housing configured to include a camera assembly, a battery housing configured to hold a battery assembly, and a main housing configured to be detachably secured to a moveable member, where the camera housing and battery assembly are secured to the main housing, and where the main housing includes at least one light.

Another general aspect includes a method of diagnostic inspection of an enclosed tube system, the method including, attaching a diagnostic apparatus to a moveable member of the enclosed tube system. The method of diagnostic inspection also includes moving the diagnostic apparatus through the enclosed tube system. The method of diagnostic inspection also includes capturing images or video of an interior of the enclosed tube system. The method of diagnostic inspection also includes where the diagnostic apparatus includes a camera housing configured to include a camera assembly, a battery housing configured to hold a battery assembly, and a main housing configured to be detachably secured to a moveable member, where the camera housing and battery assembly are secured to the main housing, and where the main housing includes at least one light.

Other aspects, features, and techniques will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art in view of the following detailed description of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One aspect of this disclosure relates in general to a diagnostic device for inspection of an enclosed tube system, and more particular, to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while a diagnostic camera apparatus is attached to a moveable member and traveling through the enclosed tube system.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “an embodiment,” or similar term means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner on one or more embodiments without limitation.

Referring now to the figures,FIG. 1depicts a frontal graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. Diagnostic camera apparatus100can be configured for inspection of an enclosed tube system, and more particularly, to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while the diagnostic camera apparatus100is attached to a moveable member801(FIG. 8A-8B) and traveling through the enclosed tube system. By way of example, diagnostic camera apparatus100includes a main housing101and a camera housing102.

Main housing101can be designed to accommodate an assortment of enclosed tube systems. For example, the main housing101can be circular or another shape to accommodate different enclosed tube shape, size, or length. In another aspect of the present disclosure main housing101can be configured to accommodate a complex enclosed tube system with multiple bends within the enclosed tube system.

Main housing101can include a main housing body109and a main housing door107. Main housing101is a structure with main housing body109and main housing door107that forms a channel105that can be secured around a moveable member801. The main housing door107can be opened to allow the moveable member801to be inserted into the channel105of diagnostic camera apparatus100. The main housing door107can then be closed around moveable member801to secure it in channel105. The moveable member801can be secured against an inner wall110that surrounds channel105as main housing body109and main housing door107are enclosed around the moveable member801. In one aspect, inner wall110can be of a structural design to secure the moveable member801tightly against the inner wall110that surrounds channel105to prevent the moveable member801from slipping during operation. In another aspect, the inner wall110can be smooth material, elastomeric material, or rough material depending on how secure the diagnostic camera apparatus100needs to be secured to the moveable member801. In another aspect, inner wall110can be designed to be a variety of shapes with multiple inner wall110surfaces to accommodate a variety of moveable members801. For example, an elastomeric material can provide a range of pressure to keep diagnostic camera apparatus100from rotating on moveable member801or the inner wall110can be designed to mirror the design of a coupler802(FIG. 8B) which is attached to moveable member801. In one aspect, a moveable member801can be a cable, chain, rope, flexible device, or combination thereof that can travel through an enclosed tube system. In another aspect, a moveable member801can be a coupler802or other device which is attached to a cable or chain that can travel through an enclosed tube system. Also, main housing101will be secured to the moveable member801in such a way as to not rotate with respect to the moveable member801. In another aspect, main housing101can mirror the shape of the moveable member801so that camera lens202(FIG. 2) axis is determined in respect to a moveable member801to center the camera lens202on the enclosed tube system's center axis for better imaging.

Main housing101can also include a detector106within the inner wall110. In one aspect, a detector106can be depressed when a moveable member801is secured against the inner wall110. When the detector106is depressed by the moveable member801, it can activate the power to lights of main housing101. In another aspect, detector106can be a sensor to sense contact of a moveable member801to the inner wall. In another aspect, detector106can be a plunger, magnetic, optical, inductive, or capacitive device to sense contact of a moveable member801to the inner wall. In another aspect, detector106can also be depressed manually to allow a user to confirm main housing101has adequate power or the lights are operating properly before installation on moveable member801. In another aspect, detector106and related main housing101is designed to seal around the detector106plunger to reduce the possibility of any residual material within the enclosed tube system from entering the interior of the main housing101. This material could potentially contaminate the diagnostic camera apparatus100for a future diagnostic inspection with diagnostic camera apparatus100. For example, allergen in one enclosed tube system may contaminate another enclosed tube system if the allergen were to enter the interior of the main housing101. In another aspect, main housing101and camera housing102of diagnostic camera apparatus100is constructed of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliant material for use in an assortment of environments including food contact. In another aspect, if detector106is a non-contact sensor, magnetic, capacitive, or a combination thereof, there is no need to have a hole for detector106because diagnostic camera apparatus100is constructed of FDA compliant material which will cover detector106.

Main housing101can also include a plurality of lights. In one aspect, the lights can be included on main housing body109to illuminate the enclosed tube system during operation of diagnostic camera apparatus100. In another aspect, the lights can be included on main housing body109, main housing door107, or the combination thereof to increase proper illumination of the enclosed tube system with minimal to no shadows while capturing images or video. In one aspect, lights can be on the same hemisphere vertically as the camera to block or minimize viewable shadows of a moveable member801during operation. In one aspect, the light can be LED104a, LED104b, or a combination thereof which can have a LED window214covering LEDs104a-104bfor protection from debris in enclosed tube system. In another aspect, additional LEDs can be used with LED104aand LED104bto illuminate a larger diameter enclosed tube system. In another aspect, additional LEDs can be at positions or angles to illuminate a larger diameter enclosed tube system. In another aspect, a lensing or collimators design of LED104aand LED104bcan be used to illuminate a larger diameter enclosed tube system. In another aspect, LED104aand LED104bcan also be diffused LEDs for illumination of the interior of the enclosed tube system or conveyor system

In another aspect of the diagnostic camera apparatus100, camera housing102can be secured to main housing101. In one aspect, camera housing102can be detached from main housing101to be repaired or serviced. In another aspect, camera housing102also includes a lens cover103. The lens cover103provides protection to the camera lens within the camera housing102. In one aspect, lens cover103is positioned on camera housing102to protect the camera from debris as LED104a-104billuminate the enclosed tube system while capturing images or video. In another aspect, camera housing102can include a storage medium access door108. The storage medium access door108can be used to access a storage medium within camera housing102. In one aspect, the storage medium can be secured to a camera assembly201or be removable through the storage medium access door108. In another aspect, camera housing102can include a connector door which can be used to access the camera assembly201(shown inFIG. 2) to transfer data between the camera assembly201and an external device. In one or more aspects, the connector associated with the camera assembly201can be a Universal Serial Bus (USB), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Ethernet, or the like to transfer data to and from the camera assembly201and an external device.

In another aspect, camera assembly201can include a communication device with a transceiver to receive and transmit signals wirelessly to an external device. In another aspect, the communication device can accommodate wireless communication to transfer obtained images or video during a diagnostic inspection of the enclosed tube system with an external device. In another aspect, camera assembly201can receive a signal from an external device to activate diagnostic camera apparatus100or initiate capturing images or video wirelessly. Wireless communication of diagnostic camera apparatus100has a significant benefit of integration with the standard lock-out/tag-out practice in relation to personnel access to the enclosed tube system or conveyor system. Lock-out/tag-out procedures may be a lengthy process. In one aspect, lock-out/tag-out procedures could be started, then the diagnostic camera apparatus100installed in enclosed tube system or conveyor system, and then lock-out/tag-out procedures are completed. At this point, an external device can be used to communicate with diagnostic camera apparatus100to activate operation wirelessly. A benefit is that the captured images or video length and battery power is conserved by only capturing video when the conveyor is moving, not recording when there is no conveyor motion during lock-out/tag-out procedures. In another aspect, sensors on the camera assembly210could detect motion of conveyor and automatically turn on LED104aand LED104band activate operation of the diagnostic camera apparatus100. A benefit is that the image capture operation would be simplified for the users.

FIG. 2depicts an exploded graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In one aspect, camera housing102holds a camera assembly201. The camera assembly201can include camera lens202and a camera assembly body210. The camera lens202is configured to be directed towards the exterior through the sealed lens cover103of camera housing102. In one aspect, camera lens202can include multiple lenses and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) subassembly. The camera lens202is connected to the camera assembly body210with a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit allows for the camera lens202and the camera assembly body210to be positioned within the camera assembly201to save space and provide optimal operation while capturing images or video of an enclosed tube system. Camera assembly201is configured to provide a faster frame rate when capturing images or video of an enclosed tube system. A faster frame rate of camera assembly201allows faster speed while diagnostic camera apparatus100is traveling through enclosed tube system without missing images or video and reducing overall inspection time. Also, the faster frame rate can allow for more images and video to be captured at a given speed for more accurate debris or enclosed tube system defect recognition with a higher number of frames per distance traveled. Finally, a better quality image allows for smaller debris or enclosed tube system defect to be detected.

In another aspect, camera assembly201can include a camera circuit204. The camera circuit204provides an interface for operation with the camera assembly201, main housing101and a battery assembly212. In one aspect, the camera assembly201can provide an operation signal to the camera circuit204and the camera circuit204distributes the signal to the battery assembly212or main housing101. In one aspect, the signal from the camera assembly201can initiate power to the LEDs104a-104bto illuminate and enclosed tube system. In another aspect, the signal from the camera assembly can activate or deactivate the power supply from the battery to camera assembly201. In another aspect, camera assembly201can include a heat sink203. The heat sink203can be secured to camera assembly201to remove and dissipate heat from camera assembly body210which can produce a majority of the heat source, camera lens202which can produce some of the heat sources, and camera circuit204which can produce a small amount of the heat source during operation. The heat sink203can be a type of material to remove heat such as an aluminium alloy, copper, or the like. In another aspect heat sink203can also be secured to other aspects of the diagnostic camera apparatus100such as the main housing101. However, heat sink203is not limited to only being secured to camera assembly201or main housing101to remove heat from diagnostic camera apparatus100during operation.

In another aspect, camera housing102can include a membrane panel200. The membrane panel200can include a plurality of operation buttons301(FIG. 3), and when operation buttons301are depressed they operate the camera assembly201. The membrane panel200can include a plurality of operation lights500a-500b(FIG. 5) to signal to a user if specific functions of diagnostic camera apparatus100are operating or not.

In another aspect, camera assembly201can include display213which is displayed through the display window300(FIG. 3) of camera housing102. Display213can display information regarding the diagnostic camera apparatus100during operation such as battery power, available memory, LED status, and current operational settings. In another aspect, display213can be used in viewing settings and options when operating operation button301of the membrane panel200are depressed to operate camera assembly201. In another aspect, a simple user interface can be implemented for user operation. For example, camera settings can be hard-coded into diagnostic camera apparatus100for easy user operation such as push button once, LED's turn on, and the camera starts recording, then push the button again, LED's turn off and video recording stops.

In another aspect, main housing101of diagnostic camera apparatus100includes main housing body109that is attached to main housing door107by a hinge206. In another aspect, hinge206can also be a pivot joint. In another aspect, hinge206can be molded into main housing body109and main housing door107and joined by a pin. The hinge206allows for main housing door107to open or swing outwards away from the main housing body109to allow a moveable member801to be inserted into channel105. After a moveable member801has been inserted into channel105, main housing door107rotates closed by the hinge206where main housing door107is resting against main housing body109again. A fastener205is attached to the main housing door107on the opposite side of the main housing door107from the hinge206. At this point the fastener205can be secured to main housing body109on the opposite side on the main housing body109from the hinge206with a receiving device to secure the main housing body109and main housing door107together. As a result, moveable member801is tightly secured against inner wall110to provide a proper inspection position of the diagnostic camera apparatus100. Diagnostic camera apparatus100is now properly installed on a moveable member801of an enclosed tube system for diagnostic inspection. Upon completion of the diagnostic inspection, diagnostic camera apparatus100can be removed from moveable member801in a similar method as it was secured to the moveable member801for inspection. In one aspect, fastener205can be molded into main housing body109and main housing door107to secure the main housing body109and main housing door107together. In another aspect, fastener205can be a latch clamp, pin, magnetic mechanism, Velcro, set screws, or a combination thereof to secure the main housing body109and main housing door107together.

Diagnostic camera apparatus100can also include a battery housing211integrated into main housing101. In one aspect, the battery housing211can be an open cavity of the main housing101and can be covered by a battery access door207. In one aspect, the battery access door207closes over the cavity of the battery housing211of the main housing101to prevent contaminants or debris from entering the battery housing211. In another aspect, the battery access door207can be secured to main housing101by a hinge where the battery access door207can swing outward away from main housing101. In another aspect, the hinge of the battery access door207can be molded into the main housing101and the battery access door207and joined by a pin. In one aspect, the battery housing211can be detached from main housing101to be repaired or serviced. In one aspect, the battery housing211can be configured to hold the battery assembly212. The battery assembly212is configured to include a battery208and a battery circuit209. In one aspect, the battery housing211can hold the battery assembly212. Battery access door207to cover the battery housing211can be removed from main housing101to be easily replaced, repair, or service the battery208. The battery208can be a large alkaline battery, lithium-ion battery, or similar to provide power to diagnostic camera apparatus100. In one aspect, the battery208can provide at least 60 minutes of operational run time during a diagnostic inspection of an enclosed tube system. The battery circuit209provides an interface for operation with the camera assembly201and main housing101. In one aspect, the battery208is connected to the battery circuit209to provide power from the battery208to camera circuit204then to camera assembly201. The battery208is connected to the battery circuit209to provide power from the battery208to main housing101LED's104a-104b. In another aspect, power from the battery208could be provided to the battery circuit209, and then to the main housing101LED's104a-104b.

FIG. 3depicts a perspective graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As discussed above, the diagnostic camera apparatus100includes a main housing101and a camera housing102.

Camera housing102can include a membrane panel200and a display window300. The display window300is a sealed viewing window to allow viewing of display213of camera assembly201. The display window300also is used to prevent contaminants from entering the interior of the camera housing102. Display213can display information regarding the diagnostic camera apparatus100during operation such as battery power, available memory, LED status, and current operational settings or errors through the display window300. In another aspect, display213and display window300can be used in viewing settings and options when operating operation button301of membrane panel200are depressed to operate camera assembly201.

FIG. 4depicts a perspective graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As discussed above, the diagnostic camera apparatus100includes a main housing101and a camera housing102.

Main housing101of the diagnostic camera apparatus100includes main housing body109that is attached to main housing door107by a hinge206. In one aspect, main housing body109can include a label401which can specify information about the diagnostic camera apparatus100or even the model number, hardware number, serial number, or the like.

A fastener205is attached to the main housing door107on the opposite side of the main housing door107from the hinge206. At this point, the fastener205can be secured to main housing body109on the opposite side on the main housing body109from the hinge206with a receiving device402to secure the main housing body109and main housing door107together. As a result, moveable member801is tightly secured against inner wall110.

In one aspect, inner wall110can be on the same plane from the front of the device to the back of the device. In another aspect, inner wall110can have a different diameter or shape depending on the type of movable member. For example, inner wall110can be configured to fit a coupler802on a moveable member801in a conveyor system. However, inner wall110of the main housing is not limited to only fitting couplers and can be applied to a moveable member801such as a cable, chain, rope, flexible device, or combination thereof.

FIG. 5depicts a top-down graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As discussed above, the diagnostic camera apparatus100includes a main housing101and a camera housing102. Camera housing102can include a membrane panel200. Membrane panel200can include a plurality of operation buttons301and when operation buttons301are depressed they operate the camera assembly201and main housing101. In another aspect, the operation buttons301can include a variety of operational function such as to toggling wireless communication on and off with a wireless button501, initiating recording of video or image capture with a capture/record button502, or toggling diagnostic camera apparatus100power on an off signal with a power on/off button503. However, the operation buttons301are not limited to the previous examples and can also include a menu button, operation setting buttons, or a combination thereof.

In another aspect, membrane panel200can include a plurality of operation lights500a-500bto signal to a user if diagnostic camera apparatus100is operating or not. Membrane panel200is not limited to only having operation lights500a-500b. Operation lights500a-500bcan include a variety of operational function such as the operation light500acan indicate whether diagnostic camera apparatus100is recording video or capturing images, the operation light500bcan indicate whether diagnostic camera apparatus100is powered on or off, or a combination of the operation light500aand the operation light500bcan indicate an error has occurred during operation or the storage medium is at or near storage capacity. However, the operation lights500a-500bare not limited to the previous examples and can also include diagnostic camera apparatus100malfunction, battery208is low in power, camera housing102, battery access door207, and battery assembly212are not properly secured to main housing101, main housing door107fastener205is not properly secured to main housing body109, or a combination thereof.

In another aspect, all the operation buttons301and operation light500a-500bfunctions can also be displayed on display213of the camera assembly201through the display window300of the camera housing102.

FIG. 6depicts a side graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As previously discussed, main housing101of diagnostic camera apparatus100includes main housing body109that is attached to main housing door107by a hinge206. In another aspect, hinge206can also be a pivot joint. Hinge206allows for main housing body109to open or swing outwards away from the main housing door107to allow a moveable member801to be inserted into channel105. After a moveable member801has been inserted into channel105, main housing door107rotates closed by hinge206where main housing door107is resting against main housing body109again. Fastener205is attached to the main housing door107on the opposite side of the main housing door107from hinge206. At this point, fastener205can be secured to main housing body109on the opposite side on the main housing body109from the hinge206with a receiving device to secure the main housing body109and main housing door107together. As a result, moveable member801is tightly secured against inner wall110. Diagnostic camera apparatus100is now properly installed on a moveable member801of an enclosed tube system for diagnostic inspection. Upon completion of the diagnostic inspection, diagnostic camera apparatus100can be removed from moveable member801in a similar method as it was secured to the moveable member801for inspection.

FIG. 7depicts a perspective graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As previously discussed, diagnostic camera apparatus100can also include a battery housing211integrated into main housing101.

Battery housing211can be covered by battery access door207. In one aspect, battery access door207closes over the cavity of the battery housing211of the main housing101to prevent contaminants or debris from entering the battery housing211. In another aspect, battery access door207can be secured to main housing101by a hinge where the battery access door207can swing outward away from main housing101. In another aspect, the hinge of battery access door207can be molded into the main housing101and battery access door207and joined by a pin. In another aspect, the hinge of battery access door207can slide open to access the battery208. In one aspect, battery housing211can be detached from main housing101to be repaired or serviced. However, securing the battery access door to main housing101is not limited to the previous example.

FIGS. 8A-8Bdepicts a frontal and rear perspective graphical representation of a diagnostic apparatus attached to a moveable member801according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure. As previously discussed, main housing101can include a main housing body109and main housing door107.

Main housing101is a structure that can be secured around a moveable member801with main housing body109and main housing door107to form channel105. Main housing door107can be opened to allow the moveable member801to be inserted into channel105of diagnostic camera apparatus100. Main housing door107can then be closed around moveable member801to secure it in channel105. Moveable member801can be secured against the inner wall110as main housing body109and main housing door107are enclosed around moveable member801. In one aspect inner wall110can be of a structural design to secure the moveable member801tightly against the inner wall110to prevent moveable member801from slipping during operation. In another aspect, the inner wall110can be smooth material or rough material depending on how secure the diagnostic camera apparatus100needs to be secured to the moveable member801. In one aspect, a moveable member801can be a cable, chain, rope, flexible device, or a combination thereof to travel through an enclosed tube system. In another aspect, a moveable member801can also be a coupler802or another device which is attached to a cable or chain to travel through an enclosed tube system. Also, main housing101will be secured to moveable member801in such a way to not rotate with respect to the moveable member801.

Any methods and/or data of the present disclosure, such as the diagnostic apparatus or methods for inspection of an enclosed tube system to obtain images or video of the interior of the enclosed tube system while the diagnostic camera apparatus is attached to a moveable member and traveling through the enclosed tube system as discussed herein, may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable and/or writable storage medium used commonly, such as, but not limited to, one or more of a hard disk (e.g., the hard disk, a magnetic disk, etc.), a flash memory, a CD, an optical disc (e.g., a compact disc (“CD”) a digital versatile disc (“DVD”), a Blu-ray™ disc, etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a random-access memory (“RAM”), a DRAM, a read only memory (“ROM”), a storage of distributed computing systems, a memory card, or the like (e.g., other semiconductor memory, such as, but not limited to, a non-volatile memory card, a solid state drive, SRAM, etc.), an optional combination thereof, a server/database, etc. may be used to cause a processor, such as, the processor or CPU of the aforementioned computer to perform the steps of the methods disclosed herein. The computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and/or the computer-readable medium may comprise all computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal. The computer-readable storage medium may include media that store information for predetermined or limited or short period(s) of time and/or only in the presence of power, such as, but not limited to Random Access Memory (RAM), register memory, processor cache(s), etc. Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure may also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a “non-transitory computer-readable storage medium”) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s).

The above described devices, systems, and methods can be implemented by supplying one or more computer-readable media having stored therein computer-executable instructions for realizing the above described operations to one or more computer devices that are configured to read the computer-executable instructions and execute them. In this case, the system or devices perform the operations of the above-described embodiments when executing the computer-executable instructions. Also, an operating system on the one or more systems or devices may implement the operations of the above described embodiments. Thus, the computer-executable instructions or the one or more computer-readable media storing the computer-executable instructions or the one or more computer-readable media storing the computer-executable instructions thereon constitute an embodiment.

While this disclosure has been particularly shown and described with references to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the claimed embodiments.