Abstract:
A system for detecting chemical/biological substances and a detection method. The system comprises a plurality of sensing units or nodes and a radiofrequency link. Each unit has several sensors with different sensing curves. Each sensor is able to transmit information related to the sensed substance on a specific frequency. The sensors preferably comprise AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/571,713, filed May 17, 2004 for “Temperature Controlled and Gate Metal Specific AlGaN/GaN HEMT Arrays for Robust Highly Selective and Sensitive Chemical Sensors” by Kyung-Ah Son, Jeong S. Moon and Nicholas Prokopuk and the benefit of U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/592,513, filed Jul. 29, 2004 for “Wireless GaN-Based Microsensor Node for Sensor Centric Networks” by Kyung-Ah Son, Jeong S. Moon and Nicholas Prokopuk, the disclosure of all of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     The present invention was made with support from the United States Government under Grant No. ARO BAA05SST0028. The United States Government has certain rights in the invention. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     1. Field  
         [0004]     The present writing is directed to GaN-based sensor nodes for in situ detection of gases.  
         [0005]     2. Related Art  
         [0006]     The AlGaN/GaN hetero structures contain polarization sheet charges (i.e. a two dimensional electron gas) at the interfaces due to differences in the piezoelectric effect of AlGaN and GaN. These polarization charges respond very sensitively to the exposure to polar liquids and gas molecules. In the AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMT), the ions created by the reaction of chemical molecules with the transition metal contacts induce significant effects on the electrostatic surface termination of the nitride and thus influence the barrier height of the Schottky contacts. In fact, several experimental results published in recent literature indicate that AlGaN/GaN HEMT has a strong potential for chemical sensor. See, for example, “Gas Sensitive GaN/AlGaN-heterostructures” by Schalwig J, Muller G, Eickhoff M, Ambacher O, Stutzmann M, Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 87 (3): 425-430 Dec. 20 2002; “Group III-nitride-based Gas Sensors for Combustion Monitoring” by Schalwig J, Muller G, Eickhoff M, Ambacher O, Stutzmann M, Materials Science and Engineering B-Solid State Materials for Advanced Technology, 93 (1-3): 207-214 May 30, 2002; “GaN-based heterostructures for sensor applications” by Stutzmann M, Steinhoff G, Eickhoff M, Ambacher O, Nebel CE, Schalwig J, Neuberger R, Muller G, Diamond and Related Materials, 11 (3-6): 886-891 March-June 2002; “High-Electron-Mobility AlGaN/GaN Transistors, (HEMTs) for Fluid Monitoring Applications” by Neuberger R, Muller G, Ambacher O, Stutzmann M, Phys. Status Solidi A 185, 85 (2001); and “GaN-based diodes and transistors for chemical. Gas biological and pressure sensing” by Pearton S. J., Kang B. S., Kim S., Ren F., Gila B. P., Abernathy C. R., Lin J., Chu S. N. G., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 16 (2004) R961-R994.  
         [0007]     However, a limitation of AlGaN/GaN hetero structure devices, similar to other chemical sensing FETs (field effect transistors), is poor selectivity in chemical detection. The low selectivity in chemical detection is a major hurdle to practical approach.  
         [0008]     Further, a majority of the current stand-off or remote chemical detection/monitoring systems are based on optical/IR spectral analysis and deployed on mobile platforms. These systems offer excellent chemical identification capability but are large, expensive, and require long data acquisition times.  
         [0009]     Another major drawback of optical/IR systems is that functionality can be dramatically reduced in bad weather/fog due to undesirable signal attenuation. In addition, for the safety and security of the end users, real-time and autonomous monitoring of the continuously changing chemical environment using remote sensing networks is also very important.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     According to a first aspect, a detection system is provided, comprising: a plurality of sensing units, each unit comprising a plurality of transistor-based sensors, each sensor having a different sensing characteristic from the other sensors; and a radiofrequency link, to allow transmission of sensor signals from the sensors to a receiving unit.  
         [0011]     According to a second aspect, a detection method is provided, comprising: providing at least one sensor node, the sensor node comprising a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a first signal output if a substance is sensed and a second signal output if a substance is not sensed; allocating a transmission frequency to each sensor; and providing a transmitter to transmit a transmission signal indicative of the first or second signal output around the transmission frequency of one of the sensors.  
         [0012]     According to a third aspect, a detection method is provided, comprising: providing a plurality of transistor-based sensors, each sensor adapted to detect a specific chemical or biological species; and characterizing the chemical or biological species by a desorption temperature profile of the species on a material provided with each sensor.  
         [0013]     According to a fourth aspect, a detection method is provided, comprising: providing a plurality of transistor-based sensors, each transistor-based sensor adapted to detect a specific chemical or biological species in a detection medium; locating the transistor-based sensors on one or more sensing nodes; operating each sensor at a specific temperature; and providing a radiofrequency link to allow transmission of sensor signals from each of said one or more sensing nodes to a receiving unit.  
         [0014]     The approach according to the present disclosure enables highly selective and sensitive AlGaN/GaN micro chemical sensors that can operate in wide temperature and pressure ranges and in harsh environments.  
         [0015]     Further, the approach according to the present disclosure allows to overcome the limitations of the current stand-off or remote detection technologies by making GaN-based microsensor nodes that are constructed with high sensitivity and specificity AlGaN/Gan HEMT-based chemical sensor arrays and an RF link for molecule-specific RF tagging and data transmission.  
         [0016]     The AlGaN/GaN sensors system described herein enable in situ detection of gases and temperatures and pressures in planetary atmospheres under extreme conditions and are a powerful tool to study deep planetary atmospheres during future missions, in particular in situ exploration of Venus and the giant planets.  
         [0017]     Sensitivity of HEMT or FET-based devices is generally high in view of the fact that the electron channel of those devices is close to their surface, with a distance of about 10 nm. Sensitivity in AlGaN/GaN HEMT sensors is even higher because of their surface polarization. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of the system in accordance with the present disclosure.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show temperature desoprtion spectroscopy diagrams of cyclohexene and benzene adsorbed on a Ni surface.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4-6  show a schematic representation of a preferred construction of each sensor and the behavior of each sensor before chemical exposure and during chemical exposure.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of an AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT).  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a circuitry to be connected to the RF bridge sensor to obtain RF tagging.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  shows a table with an exemplary mode of operation of the system in accordance with the present disclosure.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  shows the electrical response of a discrete GaN-based sensor to methane (CH4).  
         [0025]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show the electrical response of an AlGaN/GaN HEMT sensor exposed to acetone and diethylcyanophosphonate, respectively.  
         [0026]      FIG. 13  shows an embodiment of a sensor node in accordance with the present disclosure, viewed from the back side. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of the system in accordance with the present disclosure.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows distributed units  10  of AlGaN/GaN HEMT chemical sensor arrays. Each unit  10  comprises an array of sensors  20 . Each sensor  20  has a sensing curve that is different from the sensing curve of other sensors in the array. In this way, each unit  10  can sense a plurality of different chemical molecules and/or compounds in the environment where the unit is placed.  
         [0029]     In accordance with the present disclosure, selectivity in chemical/gas detection of the sensors according to the present disclosure is provided by (1) employing an array of AlGaN/GaN HEMT sensors that are optimized for the detection of specific chemical species and (2) by taking temperature desorption spectroscopy of each HEMT sensor.  
         [0030]     In accordance with the first prong described above, optimization for the detection of specific chemical species means the AlGaN/GaN HEMT sensors of the array are fabricated with a range of gate metals (preferably catalytically active transition metals such as Pt, Pd, Ir, Ni, Mo and W, or also metals such as Cu, Ru and Rh) that are selected for the most efficient ionization of target chemical species. In particular, adsorption of chemical species on the gate electrode creates surface ions, which subsequently modulate the 2DEG channel current in the sensor. Therefore, depending on the catalytic characteristics of the gate metal, the sensor&#39;s response to a specific chemical species varies significantly.  
         [0031]     In accordance with the second prong described above, in order to further enhance the specificity of the sensor, a novel chemical sensing mechanism based on temperature-dependent desorption spectroscopy is used. In particular, each chemical species is characterized by a desorption temperature profile. Each transition metal gate has a specific surface interaction mechanism with its target chemical, resulting in characteristic adsorption coefficients and adsorption/desorption temperatures. In the approach according to the present disclosure, the identify of an analyte is determined by these properties, and detected as an electrical response, i.e. the change in 2DEG channel conduction of the HEMT devices as a function of temperature. In order for this prong to operate properly, sensors able to tolerate higher temperature operation should be used. AlGaN/GaN sensors represent a preferred choice for the sensors to be used in accordance with the present disclosure.  
         [0032]     Similarly to thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), responses are measured as a function of temperature. In particular, TDS detects molecules desorbing from the surface while a termal ramp is applied, using a mass spectrometer. For example,  FIGS. 2 and 3  show TDS of cyclohexene (C 6 H 10 ) and benzene (C 6 H 6 ) adsorbed on a Ni surface. See Gas Phase Atomic Hydrogen-Induced Hydrogenation of Cyclohexene on the Ni(100) Surface by Son, Kyung-ah and Gland, J. L.,  J. Phys. Chem. B.  1997, 101(18), 3540-3546, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0033]     The molecules desorbing from the Ni surfaces were detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer using 70 eV ionization energy. With reference to  FIG. 2 , desorption of monolayer and multiple layers of cyclohexene occur at 181 K and 140 K, respectively.  
         [0034]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , benzene is more strongly bound to the Ni surface primarily due to the electrons in its π orbital and therefore desorbs from the surface at a higher temperature of 462 K. The spectrum of m/e=2 is mostly due to the fragments of benzene produced in the mass spectrometer. Therefore, despite similar molecular weights, benzene makes a stronger bonding to a Ni surface compared to cyclohexene and consequently desorbs from Ni surfaces at much higher temperatures.  
         [0035]     The applicants, starting from the above results, have noted that different surface interactions between transition metal surfaces and adsorbing molecules can be used in order to detect and identify specific analytes.  
         [0036]     In particular, according to the present disclosure, modulation of the 2DEG channel is measured in the HEMT as a function of temperature. Modulation of the 2DEG channel is caused by changing surface interactions of analyte molecules with the gate with temperature. By applying a thermal ramp to a sensor array, a library of gate metal-specific desorption profiles of each analyte is obtained. Such library is used for the identification of analytes (“fingerprinting”) during operation of the sensors. In other words, using the desorption profile library acquired with the approach according to the present disclosure, the sensor array can be operated at a certain temperature range in order to separate the effect of one analyte from the other.  
         [0037]     In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, for high selectivity and sensitivity chemical species detection, the applicants employ an array of HEMT sensors fabricated with a wide range of optimized metal gates that are selected based on their reaction characteristics. The electrical response (current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements) of each sensor in the array is then obtained as a function of temperature in order to generate the individual desorption spectrum for each individual species. According to a first approach, thermal desorption spectra of each sensor in the array are obtained during operation in the field and compared with the data library acquired before sensor deployment, to identify the analytes in the detection medium. According to an alternative approach, the sensor node can be operated at a specific temperature to sense a specific target chemical species. The first approach is preferred, because, in the second approach, the effects of other chemical species cannot be completely excluded.  
         [0038]     In other words, the electrical responses of an array of AlGaN/GaN sensors are mapped out as a function of temperature in order to “finger print” specific chemical species. The temperature desorption spectroscopy of several HEMT devices with different gate metals will enable identification of the gas or liquid to be detected.  
         [0039]     The HEMT devices with different gate metals will enable identification of the gas. The preferred operational temperature of AlGaN/GaN sensors in accordance with the present disclosure is in the −200 C. to 500 C. range, where adsorption and desorption of all common chemicals occur. However, the person skilled in the art will understand that other temperatures and temperature ranges are possible.  
         [0040]     Temperature and pressure sensitivities of AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices are characterized (i.e. measured and tested) in order to identify the sensors&#39; responses to the chemicals alone.  
         [0041]     The amount of each chemical present in the detection medium is based on current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements of the sensor.  
         [0042]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , the units  10  are connected to a wideband receiver  30  by means of a wireless or radiofrequency (RF) link  40 . The receiver  30  allows the location of the unit  10  to be detected, together with the particular sensing characteristic of one of the sensors  20  located on the unit  10 .  
         [0043]     The receiver  30  comprises a receive antenna  50  connected to a low noise amplifier (LNA)  60  to amplify the signal captured at the antenna  50 . The receiver  30  will not be described in detail in the present disclosure, because it is well known as such to the person skilled in the art. The bandwidth of the receiver should be within the RF transmission spectra of the units  10 .  
         [0044]     The data signals transmitted by the units  10  are encoded by means of RF tagging. In other words, the detection signal transmitted by a sensor  20  is attached to a radiofrequency label, in order to allow the receiver  30  to understand which is the unit and the sensor (inside the unit) from which the detection signal is originated.  
         [0045]     It should be noted that RF tagging is done with gas-specific or liquid-specific frequency allocation, which allows remote sensor systems to be fabricated without on-board signal processing units.  
         [0046]     Each microsensor array node preferably incorporates one or more heating elements, such as microstrip heating elements (e.g. TaN or NiCr). These heating elements are microfabricated on the backside of the sensor substrate, e.g., using lithography, thin film deposition, dry etching or wet etching. Thin film deposition can occur, for example, with either electron beam evaporation or sputter deposition. For effective heating, materials with high thermal conductivity (e.g. SiC) are used as the substrate for the HEMT sensors. Temperature control can be done in several different ways such as (1) with on-chip feedback control, (2) pre-programmed heating, and (3) remote controlled heating. The presence of the heating elements allows thermal desorption spectroscopy to be obtained. One heating element common to all sensors can be provided, or, alternatively a plurality of heating elements.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13  shows an exemplary embodiment of a sensor node  500  viewed from the back side. The sensor node  500  comprises a substrate  510  (made, for example, of SiC) having a front side  520  and a back side  530 . Micro heating stripes  540  are fabricated on the back side  530 .  FIG. 13  also shows a plurality of sensors  550  located on the front side  520 .  
         [0048]     Temperature control of the micro stripes  540  can be obtained, for example, by means of on-chip feedback control, pre-programmed heating, or remote controlled heating. The simplest approach is the pre-programmed heating approach. The prototype sensor node can be tested prior to deployment in order to determine the power required to achieve each temperature point.  
         [0049]     Remote monitoring of the sensor array temperature can be achieved using the output from one or more control, encapsulated HEMT devices in the array. Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, both device sensing HEMT devices and temperature measurement HEMT devices are provided. Preferably, the control or temperature measurement HEMT devices will have gate metals and device structures that are identical to the chemical sensing HEMT devices. However the temperature measurement HEMT devices will be preferably hermetically sealed with an inert gas (e.g. Ar) to isolate them from the chemical species-containing ambient. The response of the chemical sensing HEMT detectors will then be compensated for solely temperature-related effects.  
         [0050]      FIGS. 4-6  show a schematic representation of a preferred construction of each sensor  20  and the behavior of each sensor  20  before chemical exposure and during chemical exposure.  
         [0051]     In particular,  FIG. 4  shows an electrical circuit representation of the sensor  20 , which comprises a sensing device portion or arm  100  and a reference device portion or arm  110 . The reference device portion  110  is, for example, a device which is encapsulated in order not to be contaminated from the chemical molecules of the environment to which the sensor  20  is exposed. Therefore, the electrical behavior of the reference device portion  110  will not depend on the chemical molecules detected. On the other hand, the electrical behavior of the sensing device portion  100  varies in accordance with the chemical molecules detected. The electrical structure shown in  FIG. 4  forms an RF-bridge circuit comprised in each of the sensors  20 . Portions  100  and  110  are connected in a differential configuration. Preferably, the gate of transistor  110  is made of the same material of the gate of transistor  100 . The differential output signal of the configuration of  FIG. 4  is taken on the drains or collectors  120 ,  130 .  
         [0052]     RF communication is triggered when the sensor bridge of  FIG. 4  is off-balanced due to chemical/biological gas sensing.  
         [0053]     As already explained above, AlGaN/GaN-based HEMT transistors are a preferred embodiment for the sensors  20  of the present disclosure. However, any transistor-based sensor having high-temperature operability could be used.  
         [0054]      FIG. 5  shows a time diagram of the RF-bridge output before chemical exposure. The horizontal axis of the diagram of  FIG. 5  indicates time, while the vertical axis indicates the bridge voltage output.  FIG. 6  shows a time diagram of the RF-bridge output during chemical exposure. Portions  200  of the waveform of  FIG. 6  show a the bridge output signal when the sensor  20  is exposed to a chemical material. Portions  210  of the waveform of  FIG. 6  show the bridge output signal when the sensor  20  is not exposed to a chemical material.  
         [0055]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of an AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) to be used as a preferred embodiment for the transistor  100  in  FIG. 4 . The transistor  100  is well known as such and comprises a GaN layer  220  and an AlGaN layer  230 . At the interface between layers  220  and  230  a mobile sheet charge layer (2DEG)  240  is generated, due to spontaneous and piezoelectric polarizations. According to the present disclosure, the binding of the chemical species modulates the electron concentration in the 2DEG layer.  
         [0056]     RF tagging of the circuit shown in  FIG. 4  is obtained by allocating a specific RF transmission frequency within an overall, broad RF band. In order to allocate a specific transmission frequency fx for each sensor  20 , a local oscillator will be used to generate a narrowband RF signal centered at the specific tag frequency fx.  
         [0057]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a circuitry to be connected to the RF bridge sensor to obtain RF tagging. A local oscillator  300  (preferably a high Q oscillator) having a frequency spectrum  310 , for example a narrowband, less than 50 KHz frequency spectrum centered around frequency f 1 , is connected to an RF-bridge sensor  320  like the one shown in  FIG. 4 . The output  120 ,  130  of the RF-bridge sensor  320  is connected to a differential amplifier  330  whose output  340 , in turn, is connected to a transmit antenna  350 . The frequency spectrum of the output signal  340  will have a waveform  380  (narrowband, centered at f 1  in the figure), which resides in the bandwidth  360  of the transmitting antenna  350 .  
         [0058]     Therefore, exposure of a sensor bridge (see  FIG. 4 ) to a chemical/biological gas or liquid during a time window (see window  200  in  FIG. 6 ) will output an RF signal centered at the local frequency of the oscillator (see frequency f 1  of waveforms  310  and  380  of  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0059]     The table of  FIG. 9  shows an exemplary mode of operation of the system in accordance with the present disclosure. Five different sensors  20  are shown, indicated in the first column of the table. The second column of the table indicates the material of which the gate of the transistor forming the sensing portion  100  of  FIG. 4  is made. Sensor # 1 has a metal gate made of platinum (Pt). Sensor # 2 has a metal gate made of nickel (Ni). Sensor # 3 has a metal gate made of iridium (Ir). Sensor # 4 has a metal gate made of molybdenum (Mo). Sensor # 5 has a metal gate made of tungsten (W). The third column of the table indicates the frequency around which the oscillator  300  of  FIG. 8  allocated to each RF-bridge oscillates. The fourth column of the table shows the differential voltage output  340  (see  FIG. 8 ) of each sensor in response to a first chemical material or gas. The voltage response of each sensor will be different because the material of which each sensing gate is different. The fifth column of the table shows the differential voltage output of each sensor in response to a second chemical material or gas. Due to the different response of each gate metal to the chemicals or gases, unique responses are generated by the array of sensors  20  for each chemical or gas.  
         [0060]     Collection of multiple sensor responses from different gate metals, as shown in  FIG. 9 , allows to compare the received sensor signal with a previously obtained built-in sensor database or library, as already explained before.  
         [0061]     In order to allow the system according to the present disclosure to work in harsh planetary environments, robust sensors  20  are needed. Preferably, each unit  10  comprises an array of sensors  20  made of GaN high electron mobility transistors (GaN HEMTs). The GaN HEMTs are optimized for the detection of specific chemical materials or biogenic gases, i.e. gases produced by living organisms or biological processes. The person skilled in the art will understand that the sensors in accordance with the present disclosure can also be optimized to detect a broader range of chemical species (both biogenic and non-biogenic) in both gaseous and non-gaseous phases.  
         [0062]     Catalytic transition metals have characteristic chemical bonding activation capability, which has been studied in surface chemistry for decades. The transition metals make interactions with molecules preferentially through specific chemical bonds (e.g., C-H, C-S or C-O) resulting in generation of different types and amounts of ions. Therefore, a proper gate metal can be selected for target chemical species for high selectivity and sensitivity detection. For example, Ni is known for being good at dissociating a C-H bond.  
         [0063]      FIG. 10  shows the electrical response of a discrete GaN-based sensor to methane (CH 4 ). CH 4  is an important signature biogenic gas in the search for potential biospheres in our solar system, especially on Mars and Europa. In particular,  FIG. 10  shows the source-drain current of a GaN HEMT sensor measured during exposure to CH 4 . The test was performed in a room ambient condition. The sensor used for the test is an AlGaN (20% Al, 20 nm thick)/GaN (1 μm thick) HEMT fabricated using a Pt gate electrode (100 μm×100 μm). For these measurements the sensor was exposed to about 2 SLPM (standard liter per minute) for 5 seconds at about 1 minute intervals. While in this test no special effort was made to optimize the sensor for high selectivity to CH 4 , the data clearly show an immediate increase of the source-drain current upon exposure to CH 4 , thus indicating that the GaN device has a strong CH 4  sensitivity. In particular, immediate increase of source-drain current by up to 0.17 mA was measured, with a nominally unbiased gate voltage. Therefore, the test indicates that GaN sensors are very promising for in situ detection, monitoring and mapping of biogenic gases in the search for extraterrestrial life in extreme planetary environments. The person skilled in the art will understand that higher selectivity/sensitivity can be obtained once the effects of other gases (e.g. nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor) are minimized, for example, by controlling the operational temperature, selecting the gate electrode material, determining the AlGaN layer thickness, the AlN content in the AlGaN alloy, the geometry of the gate electrode, the distance between source and drain and so on.  
         [0064]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show the electrical response of an AlGaN/GaN HEMT sensor exposed to acetone and diethylcyanophosphonate, respectively. The source-drain current Ids was measured while the sensor was exposed to the gases diluted with nitrogen followed by pure nitrogen purge. The response to acetone measured with increasing concentration shows a corresponding increase of Ids. For the measurements, Vds=1.5 V and a nominally unbiased gate voltage were used, as an example.  
         [0065]     The foregoing detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation. The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art.  
         [0066]     For example, although the disclosed “sensor+RF-link” concept has been described with reference to chemical/biological sensing, the person skilled in the art will understand that it can be applied to various sensor systems, for instance, for monitoring and mapping of wind speed temperature pressure in specific areas, such as a micro weather node.  
         [0067]     No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom. Applicant has made this disclosure with respect to the current state of the art, but also contemplates advancements and that adaptations in the future may take into consideration of those advancements, namely in accordance with the then current state of the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims as written and equivalents as applicable. Reference to a claim element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, no element, component, nor method or process step in this disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ” and no method or process step herein is to be construed under those provisions unless the step, or steps, are expressly recited using the phrase “step(s) for . . . .”