Abstract:
A compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode. The compensation circuit comprises a stabilization unit, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor and an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The stabilization unit comprises a photodiode and a compensation capacitor. The second transistor is used to control the input time of data. In the operation of the OLED, the third transistor discharges or charges a node of the stabilization unit continuously to keep a voltage equal to VSS or VDD, so as to maintain the luminance intensity of the OLED.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 100124392, filed on Jul. 8, 2011, in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a compensation circuit, in particular to the compensation circuit capable of keeping the stability of the luminance of organic light-emitting diodes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In general, an active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display has the advantages of thin, lightweight, self-luminous, low driving voltage, high performance, high contrast ratio, high color saturation, quick response rate and flexibility, and thus the AMOLED display technology becomes the most promising emerging display technology after the thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology has been introduced. 
         [0004]    However, the brightness performance of the OLED is determined by the magnitude of current passing through the OLED, and the current must be controlled accurately to control the brightness of pixels accurately. Compared with the TFT-LCD that simply controls the voltage levels of written pixels to control the brightness of pixels, the OLED involves a higher level of difficulty. 
         [0005]    In fact, the AMOLED has also encountered many problems. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for schematic circuit diagrams of a p-type transistor and an n-type transistor of the AMOLED without compensation respectively, the current I OLED  of the OLED is converted from data voltage V DATA  by using the thin film transistor (TFT) T 2  operated in a saturated region. For the n-type T 2 , the formula is IOLED=½*W/L*μ N *C OX (V GS −V TH ) 2 , wherein after operating the AMOLED for a long time, the V TH  of the TFT T 2  will increase and the mobility μ N  will decrease, so that the I OLED  will drop and cause the brightness of the OLED to decrease. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, due to the material aging and the long-time operation of the OLED, the problems of a gradually increased voltage drop across the OLED and a decreased luminous efficiency may occur. The increase of voltage drop across the OLED may effect the operation of the TFT. As to the n-type TFT, if the OLED is coupled to a source of the n-type TFT, and the voltage drop across the OLED increases, both of the voltage between the source and the drain of TFT and the passing current will be affected directly. As to the luminous efficiency, the material aging and the intensity drop caused by the long-time operation will fail to produce the expected intensity even when a constant current is passed. If the luminous efficiencies of the red (R), green (G) and blue (B) colors drop differently, a color shift will occur. However, this problem cannot be solved easily, since improvement of the material cannot be made easily. 
         [0007]    As the size of panels becomes larger and the length of the signal lines becomes increasingly longer, the internal resistance effect becomes more significant, and affects a uniform luminous efficiency of the panel, and such phenomenon is called an I-R Drop. With reference to  FIG. 3  for a schematic view of the I-R Drop, the signal lines of VDD and VSS generate a dropout voltage by the internal resistance effect, so that the pixels disposed at different positions of the AMOLED panel have different currents that affect the uniform luminous efficiency of the panel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is a primary object of the invention to overcome the problems by providing a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode to solve the problems such as luminous efficiency drop and decreased luminance intensity of the OLED caused by the drop of the OLED current IOLED. 
         [0009]    To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode, and the compensation circuit comprises a stabilization unit, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor and a light emitting diode. The stabilization unit comprises a photodiode and a capacitor. An end of the stabilization unit is a first node, the other end is a second node, and a third node is disposed between the photodiode and the capacitor. The first transistor is coupled to a first power supply, a first control signal and the first node. The second transistor is coupled to a second power supply, the first control signal and the second node. The third transistor is coupled to a third power supply, a second control signal and the third node. The light emitting diode is coupled to the third power supply and a fourth transistor. The fourth transistor is coupled to the first transistor and the light emitting diode, such that the fourth transistor can be turned on to conduct the light emitting diode. 
         [0010]    Wherein, the first transistor is a first p-type thin-film transistor and the second transistor is a second p-type thin-film transistor, and the third transistor is a first n-type thin-film transistor and the fourth transistor is a second n-type thin-film transistor. 
         [0011]    Wherein, the second p-type thin-film transistor controls the input time of the second power supply. 
         [0012]    Wherein, the first n-type thin-film transistor charges the third node continuously to maintain a potential equal to that of the third power supply at the light emitting stage of the light emitting diode. 
         [0013]    Wherein, the capacitor stores a potential difference generated by an increased resistance value of the photodiode. 
         [0014]    Wherein, the first transistor is a first n-type thin-film transistor and the second transistor is a second n-type thin-film transistor, and the third transistor is a first p-type thin-film transistor and the fourth transistor is a second p-type thin-film transistor. 
         [0015]    Wherein, the second n-type thin-film transistor stores the input time of the second power supply. 
         [0016]    Wherein, the first p-type thin-film transistor charges the third node continuously to maintain a potential equal to that of the third power supply at a light emitting stage of the light emitting diode. 
         [0017]    In the description above, the present invention provides a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode to solve the problems of decreased luminous efficiency and decreased luminance intensity of the OLED caused by the drop of the OLED current IOLED, and maintains the stability of the brightness of the OLED. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic circuit diagram of a p-type transistor of an AMOLED without compensation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic circuit diagram of an n-type transistor of AMOLED without compensation; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an I-R drop; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic circuit diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a signal waveform diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a diode forward characteristic in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a schematic circuit diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a signal waveform diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a diode forward characteristic in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 4  for a schematic circuit diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compensation circuit  1  comprises two p-type thin-film transistors (TFT) T 1 , T 2 , two n-type thin-film transistors (TFT) T 3 , T 4 , a photodiode D and a capacitor C. In this embodiment, the compensation circuit  1  further comprises two control signals Emit[n] and Scan[n], and three power signals V DD , V SS  and V Data . Wherein the n-type TFT T 4  is used to drive an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the TFTs T 1  to T 3  are used as switches, and the capacitor C is used for the compensation. 
         [0029]    In all of the TFTs which serve as the switches, the n-type TFT T 4  can be formed in a diode-connection and conduct by the p-type TFT T 1  in a data writing stage. When the above-mentioned factors for decreasing the luminance intensity of OLED occur, it will cause a deterioration of the luminance intensity of OLED, so that the resistance value of the photodiode D (and the function of the photodiode D is the same as a light-sensitive resistor in this embodiment) in the pixels may increase and affect the actual voltage written into the pixels which is stored in the compensation capacitor C. The p-type TFT T 2  serves as a switch for a general pixel circuit to control a data input time. The n-type TFT T 3  is used to charge node A to V SS  continuously when the pixels of the AMOLED are situated at a light emitting stage. Since node A is kept at V SS  instead of being at a floating state, therefore node A will not change as the V Data  varies and be affected by the leakage current of the p-type TFT T 2 . As a result, the pixels can keep a potential of the node A without requiring the C st  adopted in the prior art. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 5  for a signal waveform diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode according to the first embodiment of the present invention, there are two stages in the operation of the compensation in this embodiment. 
         [0031]    The first stage is to detect a luminance intensity of the OLED to adjust the potential of written pixel data: 
         [0032]    TFTs T 1 , T 2 , T 4  are conducted by signals Scan[n] and Emit[n], and T 3  is turned off when the potential of node B V B  is V DD . The potential V A  of the node A ranges from V SS  to V SS +ΔV A  (in this embodiment, ΔV A  is positive) while the original state of the brightness of OLED is the brightest and the resistance value of the photodiode D (in this embodiment, the efficiency of the photodiode D is the equal to that of a light-sensitive resistor) in pixels is equalized to R D . If the value of written data voltage V Data =V Level +V D0 +V SS  (in this embodiment, V D0  is the voltage drop across the photodiode as the current value of the photodiode D is zero), the equation for the data scan time T=2R D C (which is the time used for conducting the TFTs T 1 , T 2  and T 4  by Scan[n]), so that the formula of ΔV A  is given below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 V 
                 A 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ∫ 
                     0 
                     T 
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       I 
                       D 
                     
                     · 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                        
                       t 
                     
                   
                 
                 C 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       2 
                     
                     · 
                     T 
                     · 
                     
                       
                         
                           V 
                           Data 
                         
                         - 
                         VSS 
                         - 
                         
                           V 
                           
                             D 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         R 
                         D 
                       
                     
                   
                   C 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         2 
                       
                       · 
                       T 
                       · 
                       
                         
                           V 
                           Level 
                         
                         
                           R 
                           D 
                         
                       
                     
                     C 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     V 
                     Level 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    Wherein, the time of all gray scale written voltages (wherein the minimal value of V Level  is σ and greater than 0, and σ is a constant) is 2R D C. 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 6  for a schematic view of a diode forward characteristic according to the first embodiment of the present invention, if the above-mentioned factors for deteriorating the I OLED  causes a decreased luminance intensity of OLED, the resistance value of light-sensitive resistor will be increased from R D  to R D′ , and the potential of node A V A ′ will be changed from V SS  to V SS +ΔV A′ . Wherein, the slope of the oblique line  61  is 1/R D , and the slope of the oblique line  62  is 1/R D′ . The formula of ΔV A′  as below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 V 
                 A 
                 ′ 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ∫ 
                     0 
                     T 
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       I 
                       D 
                       ′ 
                     
                     · 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                        
                       t 
                     
                   
                 
                 C 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       2 
                     
                     · 
                     T 
                     · 
                     
                       
                         
                           V 
                           Data 
                         
                         - 
                         VSS 
                         - 
                         
                           V 
                           
                             D 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         R 
                         D 
                         ′ 
                       
                     
                   
                   C 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     
                       R 
                       D 
                     
                     
                       R 
                       D 
                       ′ 
                     
                   
                    
                   
                     V 
                     Level 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0034]    The next stage is a light emitting display of the OLED, described as follows: 
         [0035]    The TFTs T 1  and T 2  are turned off by signals Scan[n] and Emit[n], and the TFT T 3  is conducted while node B is at a floating state. The potential V A  of node A is changed from V SS +ΔV A  to V SS , and the variation is −ΔV A . The equation of the potential V B  of node B is changed to V DD −ΔV A =V DD −V Level  by the capacitive coupling effect of node A, wherein V L0  is equal to V DD , and V L255  is equal to σ. 
         [0036]    When the above-mentioned factors for deteriorating the I OLED  Occur, the potential V A′  of node A is changed from V SS +ΔV A′  to V SS , and the variation is −ΔV A′ , and the equation of the potential V B′  of node B is changed to V DD −ΔV A =V DD −R D /R D′ *V Level  by the capacitive coupling effect of node A, so that V B′  is greater than V B . Regardless of the written gray scale voltage V Level , the gate voltage of the n-type TFT T 4  is increased to achieve the compensation effect. 
         [0037]    As to the I-R Drop, the signal input terminals of V DD  and V SS  are changed to V DD −I*R and V SS +I*R respectively as the pixels of AMOLED are disposed at positions far away. The equation of the potential V B  of node B is changed to (V DD −I*R)−ΔV A =(V DD −I*R)−(V Level −I*R)=V DD −V Level  by the capacitive coupling effect of node A, and the potential is equal to the pixels of the AMOLED proximate to the signal input terminals of V DD  and V SS , and thus not affected by the I-R Drop effect. The formula of ΔV A  is given below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 V 
                 A 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ∫ 
                     0 
                     T 
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       I 
                       D 
                     
                     · 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                        
                       t 
                     
                   
                 
                 C 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       2 
                     
                     · 
                     T 
                     · 
                     
                       
                         
                           V 
                           Data 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           ( 
                           
                             VSS 
                             + 
                             
                               I 
                               * 
                               R 
                             
                           
                           ) 
                         
                         - 
                         
                           V 
                           
                             D 
                              
                             
                                 
                             
                              
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         R 
                         D 
                       
                     
                   
                   C 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         2 
                       
                       · 
                       T 
                       · 
                       
                         
                           
                             V 
                             Level 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             I 
                             * 
                             R 
                           
                         
                         
                           R 
                           D 
                         
                       
                     
                     C 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       V 
                       Level 
                     
                     - 
                     
                       I 
                       * 
                       R 
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0038]    With reference to  FIG. 7  for a schematic circuit diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the compensation circuit  2  comprises two p-type thin-film transistors (TFT) T 3 , T 4 , two n-type thin-film transistors (TFT) T 1 , T 2 , a photodiode D and a capacitor C. In this embodiment, the compensation circuit further comprises two control signals Emit[n] and Scan[n], and three power signals V DD , V SS  and V Data , wherein T 4  is used to drive an organic light emitting diode (OLED), T 1  to T 3  serve as switches, and the capacitor C is used for the compensation. 
         [0039]    In all of the TFTs which serve as switches, the TFT T 4  is formed by a diode-connection and conduct by the TFT T 1  in a data writing stage. When the above-mentioned factors for deteriorating the luminance intensity of OLED occur to cause a decreased luminance intensity of OLED, the resistance value of the photodiode D (the efficiency of the photodiode D is the same as a light-sensitive resistor as the embodiment) in pixels may increase and affect the actual value of voltage written into the pixels and stored in the compensation capacitor C. The TFT T 2  serves as a switch for a general pixel circuit to control the data input time. The TFT T 3  is used to charge node A to V DD  continuously during the light emitting stage of the pixels in the AMOLED. Since node A is kept at V DD  without being at a floating state, node A cannot be changed as the V Data  varies and be affected by the leakage current of the TFT T 2 . Thus, the pixels can keep the potential of node A without requiring C st  as adopted in the prior art. 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIG. 8  for a signal waveform diagram of a compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode according to the second embodiment of the present invention, there are two stages in the operation of the compensation in this embodiment. 
         [0041]    In the first stage, the luminance intensity of the OLED is detected to adjust the potential of written pixel data. 
         [0042]    The TFTs T 1 , T 2 , T 4  are conducted by the signals Scan[n] and Emit[n], and the TFT T 3  is turned off when the potential of node B V B  is equal to V SS . The potential V A  of node A is changed from V DD  to V DD +ΔV A  (in this embodiment, ΔV A  is negative), and the original state of brightness of OLED is brightest and the resistance value of photodiode D (in this embodiment, the efficiency of the photodiode D is the same as a light-sensitive resistor) in pixels is equal to R D . If the value of written data voltage V Data  is equal to V DD −V Level −V D0  (in this embodiment, V D0  is the voltage drop across the photodiode when the current value of the photodiode D is zero), the equation for the data scan time T=2R D C (which is the time for conducting the T 1 , T 2  and T 4  by the Scan[n]), and the formula of ΔVA is given below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 V 
                 A 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ∫ 
                     0 
                     T 
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       - 
                       
                         I 
                         D 
                       
                     
                     · 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                        
                       t 
                     
                   
                 
                 C 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   - 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         2 
                       
                       · 
                       T 
                       · 
                       
                         
                           
                             V 
                             DD 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             V 
                             Data 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             V 
                             
                               D 
                                
                               
                                   
                               
                                
                               0 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           R 
                           D 
                         
                       
                     
                     C 
                   
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     - 
                     
                       
                         
                           1 
                           2 
                         
                         · 
                         T 
                         · 
                         
                           
                             V 
                             Level 
                           
                           
                             R 
                             D 
                           
                         
                       
                       C 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     - 
                     
                       V 
                       Level 
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    Wherein, the time of all written gray scale voltages is 2R D C (wherein the minimal value of V Level  is σ and greater than 0, and σ is a constant). 
         [0043]    With reference to  FIG. 9  for a schematic view of a diode forward characteristic according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the above-mentioned factors for deteriorating the I OLED  occurs to decrease the luminance intensity of OLED, the resistance value of the light-sensitive resistor is increased from R D  to R D′ , and the potential V A′  of node A is changed from V DD  to V DD +ΔV A′ . Wherein, the slope of the oblique line  91  is 1/R D , and the slope of the oblique line  92  is 1/R D′ . The formula of ΔV A′  is given below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 V 
                 A 
                 ′ 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ∫ 
                     0 
                     T 
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       - 
                       
                         I 
                         D 
                         ′ 
                       
                     
                     · 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                        
                       t 
                     
                   
                 
                 C 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   - 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         2 
                       
                       · 
                       T 
                       · 
                       
                         
                           
                             V 
                             DD 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             V 
                             Data 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             V 
                             
                               D 
                                
                               
                                   
                               
                                
                               0 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           R 
                           D 
                           ′ 
                         
                       
                     
                     C 
                   
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     - 
                     
                       
                         R 
                         D 
                       
                       
                         R 
                         D 
                         ′ 
                       
                     
                   
                    
                   
                     V 
                     Level 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0044]    The next stage is a light emitting display of the OLED, described as follows: 
         [0045]    The TFTs T 1 , T 2 , are turned off by the signals Scan[n] and Emit[n], and the T 3  is conducted when node B is situated at a floating state. The potential V A  of node A is changed from V DD +ΔV A  to V DD , and the variation is −ΔV A . The equation of the potential V B  of node B is changed to V SS −ΔV A =V SS +V Level  by the capacitive coupling effect of node A, wherein V L0  is equal to V DD  and V L255  is equal to σ. 
         [0046]    When the above-mentioned factors for deteriorating the I OLED  occur to decrease the luminance intensity of the OLED, the potential V A′  of node A is changed from V DD +ΔV A′  to V DD , and the variation is −ΔV A′ , and the equation of the potential V B′  of node B is changed to V SS −ΔV A′ =V SS +R D /R D′ *V Level  by the capacitive coupling effect of node A, so that V B′  is smaller than V B . Regardless of the written gray scale voltage V Level , the gate voltage of the n-type TFT T 4  becomes smaller to achieve compensation effect. 
         [0047]    As to the I-R drop, the signal input terminals of V DD  and V SS  are changed to V DD −I*R and V SS +I*R respectively when the pixels of the AMOLED are disposed far away. The equation of the potential V B  of node B is changed to (V SS +I*R)−ΔV A =(V SS +I*R)−(−V Level +I*R)=V SS +V Level  by the capacitive coupling effect of node A, and the potential is equal to that of the pixels of the AMOLED proximate to the signal input terminals of V DD  and V SS  and is not be affected by I-R Drop effect. The formula of ΔV A  is given below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 V 
                 A 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ∫ 
                     0 
                     T 
                   
                    
                   
                     
                       - 
                       
                         I 
                         D 
                       
                     
                     · 
                     
                         
                     
                      
                     
                        
                       t 
                     
                   
                 
                 C 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   - 
                   
                     
                       
                         1 
                         2 
                       
                       · 
                       T 
                       · 
                       
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               VDD 
                               - 
                               
                                 I 
                                 * 
                                 R 
                               
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             V 
                             Data 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             V 
                             
                               D 
                                
                               
                                   
                               
                                
                               0 
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           R 
                           D 
                         
                       
                     
                     C 
                   
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     - 
                     
                       
                         
                           1 
                           2 
                         
                         · 
                         T 
                         · 
                         
                           
                             
                               V 
                               Level 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               I 
                               * 
                               R 
                             
                           
                           
                             R 
                             D 
                           
                         
                       
                       C 
                     
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       - 
                       
                         V 
                         Level 
                       
                     
                     + 
                     
                       I 
                       * 
                       R 
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0048]    In summation of the description above, the compensation circuit for keeping luminance intensity of a diode of the present invention can solve the problems including a decreased luminous efficiency, a decreased luminance intensity of an OLED due to a drop of an OLED current I OLED , so that the invention can maintain the stability of the brightness of the OLED. 
         [0049]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to encompass within their scope of all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.