COFFEE MACHINES

Described herein are examples of a system which include a boiling system and a dispensing system. The boiling system includes a primary boiler to heat hot water, a holding boiler to maintain the hot water, a brew group to receive the hot water from the holding boiler, and a heated transfer hose to receive a beverage component from the brew group and apply heat to the beverage component. The brew group includes a motor, a tamp to form a puck, a heated brew chamber to extract a beverage component, a load cell to measure a weight of the brew group, a heating element to heat the brew chamber, a spray to press the puck out, and an ejector to sweep the puck away. The dispensing system is coupled to the heated transfer hose to dispense the beverage component at a set point temperature.

BACKGROUND

Coffee machines use hot water to extract coffee and dispense the coffee. The water may be heated to a desired temperature and delivered to perform the extraction. To reduce fluctuation in the temperature of the water, conventional coffee machines position the water heating mechanism as close as possible to the extraction mechanism and the dispensing mechanism. However, such an arrangement can be bulky and occupy valuable working space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Coffee machines, as disclosed herein, will become better understood through a review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various embodiments of espresso machines. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity and clarity, all the contemplated variations may not be individually described in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will understand how the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered and not depart in substance from the scope of the examples described herein.

Conventional coffee machines may include a single unified housing. The singular housing tends to be bulky. The bulk is especially present in commercial units that require large amounts of water. Larger boilers are used to accommodate the higher output of product. Larger boilers lead to larger machines which means less room on the counter for the user to work on. Additionally, larger espresso machines require a significant amount of space, often block views, prevent interaction between employees and customers, and, employee-customer interaction, along with good coffee, is important for achieving that iconic coffee shop atmosphere that draws and retains loyal customers.

Super-automatic machines provide a more effective utilization of counter space by separating serving components to be above a counter or serving surface with the remaining components disposed beneath the counter or serving surface. This requires a relatively smaller footprint on the serving surface. However, temperature stability is critical to the nature of high-quality coffee and espresso. The separated arrangement of the super-automatic system creates a difficulty in maintaining temperature stability from water intake through product dispensing. Embodiments described herein provide temperature stability through the use of dual boiler arrangements, heated brew groups, and heated transfer lines.

Another critical component for the brewing of high-quality coffee and espresso is consistency of the puck formation process. While some brewing groups may provide a close approximation of quantity and compression of the puck, embodiments presented herein incorporate load measurement capabilities which provide a consistent, repeatable, and tunable dosing, tamping, and brewing process and, thus, a consistent and repeatable recipe. By positioning a load measurement component to measure the brew group, a higher level of accuracy and repeatability can be achieved resulting in a greater consistency and a greater degree of precision of adjustment of the recipe.

Embodiments presented herein provide an improvement in cost of manufacture, purchase, and maintenance. While many conventional machines use both a tamping motor and an ejector motor, this adds both cost and complexity. Embodiments described herein provide a single motor arrangement providing operation of the brew group to both tamp the puck and eject the puck. This provides a lower cost to provide the system and to maintain the system and may further reduce the physical space required by the system.

FIG.1is a perspective view depicting a coffee machine (“system”)100. In some embodiments, the system100may include a removable electrically-heated hose (“heated hose”)102providing fluid transfer between two independent systems. The independent systems may include a dispensing system104and a boiler system106. The system100may include an electronic temperature control unit (“ETCU”)108. The dispensing system104and the boiler system106may be independent of one another and installed at separate locations away from one another. For example, the dispensing system104may be positioned in/on a counter or other serving surface. The boiler system106may be displaced from the serving surface, such as in a cabinet or shelf above, below, or off to one side or another relative to the dispensing system104. In some embodiments, the boiler system106may be coupled to the dispensing system via the heated hose102to allow fluid to be transferred from the boiling system106to the dispensing system104for dispensing beverages including coffee, espresso, and/or other coffee-based beverages.

The dispensing system104may be used for beverage preparation. In some embodiments, the dispensing system104may have one or more group heads109that dispenses fluid that is heated in the boiler system106and transferred through the heated hose102to one or more of the group heads109. To avoid heat loss during the fluid transfer process such as during the transfer of fluid from the boiler system106to the dispensing system104, the one or more group heads109may have a heating coupled to or incorporated into one or more of the group heads109. The heating element may be powered by an electronic temperature control unit such as a proportional-integral-derivative (“PID”) controller or control loop. The dispensing system104may use steam or hot water to create different beverages or may dispense espresso or other beverages directly. The one or more group heads109may have steam and hot water output means that may be spouts, spigots, and wands such as steam output144and hot water output148. After steaming of extracted espresso, residual material, such as milk and coffee remains, may be left to clean. The dispensing system104may include a drain168and/or a rinser166. The rinser166may be a device that uses incoming cold or hot water and has a small actuator that opens when you press down on the rinser166, supplying water to clean. The dispensing system104may also include one or more buttons174for activating corresponding valves and/or pumps to create coffee-based drinks or the like. For instance, the buttons174may include a steam valve actuation button, which activates a pump for extracting espresso, turns on a brew valve letting water flow from the one or more group heads109, and activates a hot water valve.

In some embodiments, the boiler system106may include an ETCU108, a primary boiler110, a holding boiler112, a brew group113, and a housing114to hold the boiler system106in place. A boiler system106is generally where all incoming electrical power and water is taken into the system100forming a beverage making machine such as an espresso machine. The water is heated, coffee product may be extracted, and power, steam, hot water, and other resources may be distributed to all other components of the machine. The housing114may house boilers used for creating steam and hot water, which may include the primary boiler110and the holding boiler112, respectively. The incoming water enters the primary boiler110, which may have heat exchangers (132and136) built into the primary boiler110. The primary boiler may have water run through the center of the primary boiler110vertically or otherwise. The water used to create steam and the steam vapor heats the heat exchanger metal which heats water passing through heat exchangers132and136. The heated water then moves from heat exchangers132and136to the holding boiler112.

The holding boiler112maintains the water at the set point temperature to provide water with little to no variation from the set point temperature prior to being supplied to the brew group113. The holding boiler112may have a greater or lesser fluid capacity relative to the primary boiler110.

The ETCU108may control and regulate the temperature of the water in the primary boiler110, the holding boiler112, and/or the brew group113. The holding boiler112may take the incoming heated water and add a small amount of cold restricted water through a water restrictor input142to keep the water close to the extraction temperature set point. In some embodiments, the holding boiler112omits a cold-water intake and/or the water restrictor input142.

The ETCU108may control the primary boiler110to heat water to a set point that is different from the holding boiler112. For example, the primary boiler110may be set to a higher set point temperature to provide steam or initial heating of the water while the holding boiler112is set to a lower set point temperature that is an extraction set point temperature for espresso extraction or the like. In some embodiments, the holding boiler112maintains and regulates the water temperature at a predetermined extraction temperature set point needed to create coffee set by the user through the ETCU108. A removable electrically heated hose102may be fastened to the brew group113at a nozzle116or opening, and the espresso, water, and/or other beverage and/or beverage component may be transferred from the brew group113to the dispensing system104through the heated hose102. The primary boiler110may also heat water and create steam pressure for cleaning or other applications.

In some embodiments, the heated hose102regulates and maintains the temperature of fluid in the system100when water travels from the boiler system106to the dispensing system104. Once fluid has been heated to optimal or the desired temperature in the boiler system106, the fluid needs to be transferred from the boiler system106to the dispensing system104. To prevent temperature or energy loss in the fluid as the fluid travels from boiler system106to the dispensing system104, a user can enter a predetermined temperature level in an ETCU108which would heat the heated hose102to the predetermined temperature level and maintain the level to prevent fluctuations in water temperature. Any heated water or fluids that pass through the heated hose102once the predetermined temperature level has been set will not lose energy or heat as it travels through the heated hose102in this state. Heated hoses102may also be incorporated between other components in the boiler system106such as between the primary boiler110and the holding boiler112and/or between the holding boiler112and the brew group113. The temperature level of heated hose102may be adjustable and can create different levels of superheated and saturated mixtures as desired, such as for steaming milk.

In some embodiments, the heated hose102may have a heated tip103powered by an electrical connection and wires connected to an ETCU108, and this heated tip eliminates any heat loss at a valve system to hose junction. This is important because surface area temperature within the group head109has to be consistent with the temperature set by the user through the PID controller to achieve temperature control. The one or more group heads109may have heating elements built in and work with the solenoid valve to keep the system within the chambered group head housing at any desired temperature.

In some embodiments, the brew group113is removable for cleaning, inspection, maintenance, or the like. The brew group113may be secured in place with screws or other hardware that are easily disengaged to allow for removal of the brew group113from the system100.

FIG.2illustrates a perspective view of the system ofFIG.1. In one or more embodiments, the dispensing system104and the boiler system106may be separately installed away from the dispensing system104and at any distance desired by the user. A user may use a heated hose102of any desired predetermined length to connect the dispensing system104to the boiler system106. The heated hose102allows the dispensing system104and the boiler system106to be located separately at any desirable predetermined length and with proper temperature regulation. This proper temperature regulation prevents heat loss during the transfer of fluids from the boiler system106to the dispensing system104when a user wishes to pull fluids and create a beverage without compromising the quality of the beverage that would otherwise occur if heat or energy is lost during the transfer of fluid from the boiler system106to the dispensing system104.

FIG.3is a flow chart depicting the flow of water through the system100. Embodiments may provide a temperature stabilized flow path from beginning to end.

In some embodiments, the water may be distributed through and/or by the system100once the user has chosen a desired temperature to use water to create a beverage. The water flows into the primary boiler110where it may be heated to a set point temperature. The primary boiler110may be managed by the ETCU108.

The water may be directed from the primary boiler110to the holding boiler112. The holding boiler112may be configured to hold and maintain the water at the set point temperature. The holding boiler112may keep the same set point temperature as the primary boiler110or it may keep a set point temperature that is higher or lower than that of the primary boiler110based on a control signal from the ETCU108. In some embodiments, the holding boiler112is similar in size to the primary boiler110. In other embodiments, the holding boiler112is different in size from the primary boiler110. For example, the holding boiler112may be larger than the primary boiler110or the holding boiler112may be smaller than the primary boiler110. The primary boiler110and the holding boiler112may be connected by a fluid transfer line. The fluid transfer line may be heated or unheated, flexible, semi-flexible, or rigid, include a sensor or lack sensors, or so forth.

In some embodiments, the holding boiler112supplies heated water to the brew group113. In some embodiments, the holding boiler112is coupled to the brew group113via a fluid transfer line that may be heated or unheated. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be position on or between the holding boiler112and/or the brew group113.

In some embodiments, the brew group113includes a brew chamber302, a heating element304, and a load cell306. The brew chamber302may receive the heated water from the holding boiler112and supply the heated water to a puck or other beverage element disposed in the brew chamber302to extract a beverage or beverage component. The brew chamber302may be heated by the heating element304to reduce thermal loss and cooling of the water/beverage at the brew chamber302of the brew group113. In some embodiments, the heating element304is in communication with the ETCU108to control a heating of the piston assembly302. The heating element304may be positioned to wrap at least partially around the brew chamber302to heat the brew chamber302where the puck is positioned or where the water has a relatively higher dwell time within the brew group113. The heating element304may be an electric heater or solid state or liquid state heater. Other manners of delivering heat to the brew chamber302to maintain the water/beverage at the set point temperature are also contemplated.

In some embodiments, a load cell306is incorporated into the brew group113to provide an accurate dosing of the puck or other beverage component. In some embodiments, the load cell306is configured to weigh the entire brew group113to determine, for example, a dose of ground coffee bean supplied to the brew group113. The measurement from the load cell306may be used to start or stop a delivery of grounds to the brew chamber302. In some embodiments, the measurement provided by the load cell306may be used to determine a puck compaction pressure, an amount of water to supply to the brew chamber302, a flow rate of water to supply to the brew chamber, or other variables.

The brew group113may provide the beverage or beverage component to the dispensing system104via the heated transfer hose102. The heated transfer hose102may allow for temperature stability of the beverage or beverage component from the brew group113to the dispensing system104. Temperature stability may provide resistance to degradation in the quality of the beverage or beverage component. The heated transfer hose102may be coupled to the ETCU108to maintain the beverage or beverage component at the set point temperature corresponding to a service temperature desired at the dispensing system104. The heated transfer hose102may be heated along at least a portion of a length of the heated transfer hose102and/or may have a heating element disposed at an end of the heated transfer hose102.

FIG.4illustrates an exploded view of the brew group113of the system100ofFIG.1, according to an embodiment. Embodiments may provide a single-motor arrangement providing tamping and ejection of a puck.

In some embodiments, the brew group113includes a piston tamp holder402. The piston tamp holder402may be configured to hold a piston tamp404. The piston tamp404is coupled to the piston tamp holder402and is configured to engage with the brew chamber302. The piston tamp404may include an extraction screen to allow extracted fluid to flow from the brew chamber302, through the piston tamp404, and to the dispensing system104without carrying particulates through.

The piston tamp404may include an O-ring406or multiple O-rings406to seal the piston tamp404relative to the brew chamber302. The O-ring406may be flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid. The O-ring406may be positioned on the piston tamp404and/or may be positioned in the brew chamber302. In some embodiments, the O-ring406is positioned in a channel formed on the piston tamp404and/or the brew chamber302. In other embodiments, the O-ring406may be surface mounted or integrated with the piston tamp406and/or the brew chamber302.

The brew group113may include a piston ball screw tower408. The piston ball screw tower408may be cylindrical or approximately cylindrical to house components and interface with an ejector guide410to eject a spent puck from the brew chamber302. Posts in the piston ball screw tower408may engage with slots in the ejector guide410to allow for axial translation of the piston ball screw tower408and rotation of the piston ball screw tower408about its axis to rotate the piston tamp404and an ejector412.

The ejector412forms a hook to at least partially surround the piston tamp404in the tamping position and to sweep the spent puck out of the brew group113in response to rotation of the piston ball screw tower408. In some embodiments, the ejection of the spent puck is assisted by a piston top plate414. The piston top plate414may be configured to couple the piston ball screw tower408to the ejector guide410. The piston top plate414may be positioned to pass over a top of the brew chamber302to eject the spent puck.

The brew chamber302may be sized to receive a spray416. The spray416may supply heated water into the brew chamber302to extract the beverage or beverage component from the puck within the brew chamber302. The spray416may supply the heated water to the puck in a direction opposite gravity. The spray416may include a screen to prevent particulates from entering the spray416. The spray416may include an O-ring or multiple O-rings to form a seal between the spray416and the brew chamber302. The spray416may include a spray guide418formed in an end of the spray416.

In some embodiments, free-wheeling ball screws420are incorporated to provide axial movement of the brew group113. For example, a ball screw420may be positioned to engage with the spray418to provide relative movement of the spray416through the brew chamber302to receive and eject the puck. The ball screw420may be positioned to be at least partially coaxial with the spray418and a support sleeve422. The support sleeve422may be sized to receive the spray416and the brew chamber302. The support sleeve422may include the heating element304.

The heating element304may be positioned on the support sleeve422to apply heat to the brew chamber302. The heating element304may be positioned in the support sleeve422to contact the brew chamber302and/or provide radiative heating on the brew chamber302during infusion of the puck. The heating element304may wrap entirely around the brew chamber302or may wrap around at least a portion of the brew chamber302.

The support sleeve422may be sized to house a shaft guide424. The shaft guide424may engage the spray416at the spray guide418to provide an axial translation of the spray416within the brew chamber302. In some embodiments, the shaft guide424is coupled to a bearing426and bearing holder428which may facilitate rotational movement. The bearing426and bearing holder428may form an interface between the shaft guide424and a piston main frame430. The piston main frame430may form a platform for mounting of the shaft guide424, a motor432, and a piston guide shaft434. The piston main frame430may include ball screw gears438to transfer drive power from the motor432to the ball screws420. The motor432is configured to drive movement of the entire brew group113for tamping the puck in the brew chamber302, opening the brew chamber302to press out the spent puck, and ejecting the puck with the ejector412in a sweeping motion to ready the brew chamber302for another dose and infusion. The piston guide shaft434is configured to house the ball screw420and the ejector guide410. The piston guide shaft434allows for linear movement of the ejector guide410.

In some embodiments, the brew group113may include one or more reed switches436. For example, the reed switch436may be positioned to detect an empty status of a grinder assembly that feeds grounds into the brew chamber302.

The brew group113also includes a load cell arrangement coupled to the piston main frame430. The load cell arrangement may include an upper plate440and a lower plate442. The upper plate440and lower plate442may surround a load cell444. The load cell444may be configured to obtain a load or weight measurement of the brew group113. This may allow for precise measurement of the shot provided to the brew chamber302for tamping. Information provided by the load cell444may allow for control of a grinder to provide a start and/or stop signal for consistent and accurate puck size once a target weight value of the brew group113is reached. This enables a consistent beverage recipe that can be finely tuned to provide a high-quality beverage product. Use of the load cell444may allow for improved ease of calibration of the system100without the need for a calibration measurement or manual calibration. This reduces cost, time, and effort in providing a calibrated and accurate shot of espresso or other beverage component.

FIG.5illustrates a method500. Embodiments of the method500provide for rapid and consistent brewing of beverages or beverage components.

The method500may include receiving cold water at a primary boiler110(at block502). In some examples, the primary boiler110is configured to receive the cold water from a cold water source such as a tap, reservoir, or the like.

The method500may include heating the cold water to hot water at a set point temperature (at block504). In some embodiments, the primary boiler110may apply thermal energy to the cold water to raise the temperature of the cold water and form the hot water at the set point temperature. The set point temperature may be set by a user or may be automatically configured based on a recipe, beverage, beverage component, or the like that is to be supplied.

The method500may include transferring the hot water from the primary boiler110to a holding boiler112to maintain the hot water at the set point temperature (at block506). For example, the hot water may be moved from the primary boiler110to the holding boiler112by the opening of a valve and through pressure provided by a water source or by other means.

The method500may include monitoring a weight of a brew group113with a load cell306to determine an amount of material to add to a brew chamber302of the brew group113to form a puck with movement provided by a motor432(at block508). For example, the load cell306may be configured to tare itself before the brew group113is loaded and then weigh the brew group113after the brew group113is loaded.

The method500may include applying heat to the brew chamber302containing the puck (at block5010). For example, a heating element304may be positioned to surround, at least partially surround, or otherwise in thermal communication with the brew chamber302to provide thermal energy to the brew chamber302.

The method500may include transferring the hot water from the holding boiler112to the heated brew chamber302(at block512). For example, the hot water may be transported from the holding boiler112to the heated brew chamber302in response to a successful measurement of the brew group113by the load cell306.

The method500may include infusing the puck in the heated brew chamber302to extract a beverage component (at block514). For example, the puck may be infused from the bottom up by providing the hot water into the puck and allowing the hot water to diffuse through the puck.

The method500may include ejecting the puck from the brew group113with an ejector412moved by the motor432(at block516). For example, as the brew group113finishes the infusion, the motor432may activate to swing the ejector412to eject the puck from the brew group113.

The method500may include heating a transfer hose102coupled to the brew group113(at block518). For example, the transfer hose102may include a heating element corresponding to all or a portion of the transfer hose102to maintain the beverage product at the set point temperature.

The method500may include transferring the beverage component through the heated transfer hose102to maintain the beverage component at the set point temperature (at block520). For example, the heated transfer hose102may have heat applied continuously or in response to transfer of the beverage component through the heated transfer hose102.

The method500may include receiving the beverage component from the heated transfer hose102at a dispensing system104(at block522). For example, the heated transfer hose102may extent from the boiler system106to the dispensing system104to carry the beverage component to the dispensing system104.

The method500may include dispensing the beverage component at the set point temperature (at block524). For example, the dispensing system104may, in response to user input or through automatic stimulus, dispense the beverage component at the set point temperature. In some embodiments, maintaining the beverage component at the set point temperature allows for dispensing of a higher quality beverage component without loss of thermal energy through the brewing process.

A feature illustrated in one of the figures may be the same as or similar to a feature illustrated in another of the figures. Similarly, a feature described in connection with one of the figures may be the same as or similar to a feature described in connection with another of the figures. The same or similar features may be noted by the same or similar reference characters unless expressly described otherwise. Additionally, the description of a particular figure may refer to a feature not shown in the particular figure. The feature may be illustrated in and/or further described in connection with another figure.

Elements of processes (i.e., methods) described herein may be executed in one or more ways such as by a human, by a processing device, by mechanisms operating automatically or under human control, and so forth. Additionally, although various elements of a process may be depicted in the figures in a particular order, the elements of the process may be performed in one or more different orders without departing from the substance and spirit of the disclosure herein.

The foregoing description sets forth numerous specific details such as examples of specific systems, components, methods and so forth, in order to provide a good understanding of several implementations. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that at least some implementations may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known components or methods are not described in detail or are presented in simple block diagram format in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present implementations. Thus, the specific details set forth above are merely exemplary. Particular implementations may vary from these exemplary details and still be contemplated to be within the scope of the present implementations.

Related elements in the examples and/or embodiments described herein may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity and clarity, related elements may not be redundantly explained. Instead, the use of a same, similar, and/or related element names and/or reference characters may cue the reader that an element with a given name and/or associated reference character may be similar to another related element with the same, similar, and/or related element name and/or reference character in an example explained elsewhere herein. Elements specific to a given example may be described regarding that particular example. A person having ordinary skill in the art will understand that a given element need not be the same and/or similar to the specific portrayal of a related element in any given figure or example in order to share features of the related element.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the present implementations should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The foregoing disclosure encompasses multiple distinct examples with independent utility. While these examples have been disclosed in a particular form, the specific examples disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter disclosed herein includes novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above both explicitly and inherently. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims is to be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more of such elements.

As used herein “same” means sharing all features and “similar” means sharing a substantial number of features or sharing materially important features even if a substantial number of features are not shared. As used herein “may” should be interpreted in a permissive sense and should not be interpreted in an indefinite sense. Additionally, use of “is” regarding examples, elements, and/or features should be interpreted to be definite only regarding a specific example and should not be interpreted as definite regarding every example. Furthermore, references to “the disclosure” and/or “this disclosure” refer to the entirety of the writings of this document and the entirety of the accompanying illustrations, which extends to all the writings of each subsection of this document, including the Title, Background, Brief description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, and any other document and/or resource incorporated herein by reference.

As used herein regarding a list, “and” forms a group inclusive of all the listed elements. For example, an example described as including A, B, C, and D is an example that includes A, includes B, includes C, and also includes D. As used herein regarding a list, “or” forms a list of elements, any of which may be included. For example, an example described as including A, B, C, or D is an example that includes any of the element's A, B, C, and D. Unless otherwise stated, an example including a list of alternatively inclusive elements does not preclude other examples that include various combinations of some or all of the alternatively inclusive elements. An example described using a list of alternatively inclusive elements includes at least one element of the listed elements. However, an example described using a list of alternatively inclusive elements does not preclude another example that includes all of the listed elements. And an example described using a list of alternatively inclusive elements does not preclude another example that includes a combination of some of the listed elements. As used herein regarding a list, “and/or” forms a list of elements inclusive alone or in any combination. For example, an example described as including A, B, C, and/or D is an example that may include A alone; A and B; A, B and C; A, B, C, and D; and so forth. The bounds of an “and/or” list are defined by the complete set of combinations and permutations for the list.

Where multiples of a particular element are shown in a FIG., and where it is clear that the element is duplicated throughout the FIG., only one label may be provided for the element, despite multiple instances of the element being present in the FIG. Accordingly, other instances in the FIG. of the element having identical or similar structure and/or function may not have been redundantly labeled. A person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize based on the disclosure herein redundant and/or duplicated elements of the same FIG. Despite this, redundant labeling may be included where helpful in clarifying the structure of the depicted examples.

The Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed examples that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Examples embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same example or a different example and whether they are different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the examples described herein.