Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a wireless power supplying rack, including: a power transmission device adapted to transmit power to be supplied; a repeater device adapted to repeat the transmission power of the power transmission device; a power reception device adapted to receive the power repeated by the repeater device; and a main body in which a load to which the power received at least by the power reception device from between the power reception device and the repeater device is supplied is disposed; at least the repeater device and the power reception device from among the power transmission device, repeater device and power reception device being incorporated in the main body; wherein the power transmission device, the repeater device and the reception device have a first resonance element, a second resonance element and a third resonance element, respectively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a wireless power supplying rack of the contactless power supplying type which can supply power in a contactless or wireless fashion to a load such as a lighting fixture or a display device on a display rack or the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    For example, a technique for supplying power to a display device on a commodity rack is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-305737 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). 
         [0005]    In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a rail of a DC power supply is embedded in a front face portion of a rack, and an attachment having a contact for establishing continuity with the rail is fitted with the rail to allow power supply to the attachment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    However, according to the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, basically a cable is used for power supply to any other member than the power supply rail on the front face of the rack. 
         [0007]    Therefore, the technique is disadvantageous in that, when the rack is assembled or disassembled, the cable is likely to be damaged and time is required for connection or disconnection of a connection section and besides the rack is inferior in design property and convenience. 
         [0008]    In recent years, attention has been and is paid to a wireless power supply system and a wireless charging system in which a method called magnetic field resonance method which utilizes an electromagnetic resonance phenomenon is used without using a cable. 
         [0009]    In a contactless power supply system of the electromagnetic induction type which is used most widely at present, it is necessary for a power supply source and a power supply destination, which is the power reception side, to commonly use magnetic fluxes. Therefore, in order to transmit power efficiently, it is necessary to dispose the power supply source and the power supply destination very closely to each other, and also alignment for coupling is significant. 
         [0010]    Meanwhile, a contactless power supply system which utilizes an electromagnetic resonance phenomenon is advantageous in that, from the principle of the electromagnetic resonance phenomenon, power can be transmitted over a greater distance than that by the electromagnetic induction system and besides, even if the alignment is somewhat rough, the transmission efficiency does not drop very much. 
         [0011]    It is to be noted that, as the electromagnetic resonance phenomenon, not only magnetic field resonance but also electric field resonance are available. 
         [0012]    Further, in recent years, a wireless power transmission technique has been reported which achieves transmission of power of 60 W over a distance of 2 m by adopting the magnetic field resonance system which utilizes a resonance phenomenon of a magnetic field. 
         [0013]    Also development of a “wireless power supply system” of a high efficiency has been reported which transmits power of 60 W to drive an electronic apparatus at a place spaced by 50 cm by adopting the magnetic field resonance system. 
         [0014]    As described hereinabove, the wireless power supply or power transmission system of the magnetic field resonance type is similar to the electromagnetic induction system in that power is transmitted through a magnetic field. However, the magnetic field resonance system can achieve transmission over a much greater transmission distance than the electromagnetic induction system by utilization of the resonance phenomenon. 
         [0015]    However, in order to achieve such a high performance, an excellent resonator, or in other words, a resonator having a high Q value, is required. 
         [0016]    That the Q value is high signifies that the frequency characteristic is sharp, and this has a tradeoff relationship with the bandwidth. Then, the narrow bandwidth is related to the following drawbacks.
   1) If the frequency of the carrier is displaced, then the transmission efficiency drops significantly.   2) If the resonance frequency is displaced by a variation of the surrounding situation or a temperature variation, then the transmission efficiency drops significantly.   3) Power cannot be transmitted with any other frequency than the resonance point.   
 
         [0020]    In order to transmit power with a frequency other than the resonance frequency set in advance, it is necessary to change the resonance frequency. Therefore, it is necessary to vary the setting of some constant. 
         [0021]    This gives rise to mechanical complication and makes a factor of deterioration of an electric characteristic such as a drop of the Q value of the resonator. 
         [0022]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a wireless power supply rack which can supply power in a wireless fashion and in a high efficiency without using a cable and is high in design property and convenience without giving rise to complication in mechanism. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a wireless power supplying rack including a power transmission device adapted to transmit power to be supplied, a repeater device adapted to repeat the transmission power of the power transmission device, a power reception device adapted to receive the power repeated by the repeater device, and a main body in which a load to which the power received at least by the power reception device from between the power reception device and the repeater device is supplied is disposed, at least the repeater device and the power reception device from among the power transmission device, repeater device and power reception device being incorporated in the main body, the power transmission device including a first resonance element for receiving the power supplied thereto and transmitting the received power, the repeater device including a second resonance element for receiving the power transmitted thereto from the first resonance element through a magnetic field resonance relationship and transmitting the received power, the reception device including a third resonance element for receiving the power transmitted thereto from the repeater device through a magnetic field resonance relationship. 
         [0024]    With the wireless power supplying rack, power can be supplied in a wireless fashion without using a cable. Further, the supply of power can be carried out with a high design property, high convenience and a high power supplying efficiency without giving rise to complication in mechanism. 
         [0025]    The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of a wireless power supply system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating equivalent blocks of a wireless power supply rack of the wireless power supply system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic views illustrating an example of incorporation of a coil into a frame of a repeater device and a power transmission or reception device, respectively; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic views illustrating an example of incorporation of a circuit into the frame of the repeater device and the power transmission or reception device; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating a principle of a magnetic field resonance system; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a frequency characteristic of the coupling amount in the magnetic field resonance system; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the distance between resonance elements and the coupling amount in the magnetic field resonance system; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a resonance frequency and the distance between resonance elements with which a maximum coupling amount is obtained in the magnetic field resonance system; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of a wireless power supply system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing equivalent blocks of a wireless power supply rack of the wireless power supply system of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing an example of a configuration of a wireless power supply system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0038]    It is to be noted that the description is given in the following order:
   1. First Embodiment (first configuration example of the wireless power supply rack)   2. Second Embodiment (second configuration example of the wireless power supply rack)   3. Third Embodiment (third configuration example of the wireless power supply rack)   
 
       1. First Embodiment 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a configuration of a wireless power supply rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  shows equivalent blocks of the wireless power supply rack. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the wireless power supplying rack  10  shown includes a rack main body  20 , a power transmission device  30 , a repeater device  40  and a power reception device  50 . 
         [0044]    In the wireless power supplying rack  10  according to the present first embodiment, the power transmission device  30 , repeater device  40  and power reception device  50  are incorporated in frames which configure the skeleton of the rack main body  20  itself as hereinafter described in detail. 
         [0045]    The rack main body  20  includes a first frame  21 , a second frame  22  and a third frame  23  disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship from each other so as to form a skeleton. 
         [0046]    The first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23  are non-cut loop-shaped framework members of a rectangular shape. Each framework member is formed, for example, from four hollow struts. 
         [0047]    The first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23  are disposed such that they extend, for example, in parallel to a wall face WLL and perpendicularly to a floor face FLW. 
         [0048]    The power transmission device  30  is mounted on the first frame  21  which is disposed on one side portion of the rack main body  20  from among the first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23 . 
         [0049]    The power reception device  50  is mounted on the third frame  23  which is disposed on the other side portion of the rack main body  20  from among the first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23 . 
         [0050]    The repeater device  40  is mounted on the second frame  22  which is disposed between the one side portion and the other side portion of the rack main body  20  from among the first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23 . 
         [0051]    The first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23  are formed from a non-conductive material such as ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or PC (Polycarbonate). 
         [0052]    The rack main body  20  has a first plate  24 , a second plate  25  and a third plate  26  for a display rack disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship in a heightwise direction of the frames  21  to  23  on the first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23 . 
         [0053]    The first plate  24  has not only a function of a display rack but also a function of a top plate, and the third plate  26  has not only a function of a display rack but also a function as a base which allows the wireless power supplying rack  10  to be placed stably on the floor face FLW. 
         [0054]    Further, the rack main body  20  has display devices  27  and  28  as a load which receives driving power from the power reception device  50 . 
         [0055]    The display devices  27  and  28  are configured, for example, from a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. 
         [0056]    The display device  27  is disposed in the proximity of the arrangement position of the first plate  24  on the front face side of the third frame  23  and displays the name, price and so forth of commodities placed on the first plate  24  under the control of a control system not shown. 
         [0057]    The display device  28  is disposed in the proximity of the arrangement position of the second plate  25  on the front face side of the third frame  23  and displays the name, price and so forth of commodities placed on the second plate  25  under the control of the control system not shown. 
         [0058]    The power transmission device  30  has a function of transmitting AC (alternate current) power supplied thereto from a power supply cable  60 . 
         [0059]    The power transmission device  30  includes a power transmission coil section  31 . 
         [0060]    The power transmission coil section  31  has a power supplying coil  311  serving as a power supply element and a resonance coil  312  serving as a first resonance element. 
         [0061]    Although a resonance coil is also called consonance coil, in the description of the present embodiment, the term resonance coil is used. 
         [0062]    The power supplying coil  311  is formed from a loop coil to which AC current is supplied, for example, through the power supply cable  60 . 
         [0063]    The resonance coil  312  functions as a resonator and is formed from an air-core coil which couples to the power supplying coil  311  by electromagnetic induction. The resonance coil  312  transmits AC power supplied from the power supplying coil  311  efficiently in a wireless fashion. 
         [0064]    It is to be noted that, on the power supply side, the power supplying coil  311  and the resonance coil  312  are coupled to each other strongly by electromagnetic induction. 
         [0065]    The resonance coil  312  enters a magnetic field resonance relationship when the self resonance frequency thereof coincides with that of a resonance coil  411  of the repeater device  40  and transmits power efficiently when it is in the magnetic field resonance relationship. 
         [0066]    The power transmission device  30  having such a configuration as described above is incorporated in the first frame  21  of the rack main body  20 . 
         [0067]    The repeater device  40  has a function of repeating power transmitted from the power transmission device  30 . 
         [0068]    The repeater device  40  includes a transmission and reception coil section  41 . 
         [0069]    The transmission and reception coil section  41  has a resonance coil  411  as a second resonance element. 
         [0070]    The resonance coil  411  and the resonance coil  312  of the power transmission device  30  can be coupled to each other through a magnetic field resonance relationship, and the resonance coil  411  functions as a resonator at an intermediate stage. 
         [0071]    Similarly, the resonance coil  411  and a resonance coil of the power reception device  50  can be coupled to each other through a magnetic field resonance relationship, and the resonance coil  411  functions as resonator at an intermediate stage. 
         [0072]    The resonance coil  411  is formed from an air-core coil and, when the self resonance frequencies of the resonance coil  411  and a resonance coil  512  of the power reception device  50  coincide with each other, a magnetic field resonance relationship is established in which power is transmitted efficiently. 
         [0073]    The repeater device  40  having such a configuration as described above is incorporated in the second frame  22  of the rack main body  20 . 
         [0074]    The power reception device  50  has a function of receiving power repeated by the repeater device  40 . 
         [0075]    The power reception device  50  includes a power reception coil section  51  and a rectification circuit  52  and supplies received power to an electronic apparatus of a load which is a supplying destination of the power, for example, to the display devices  27  and  28 . 
         [0076]    The power reception coil section  51  has a power transmission coil  511  serving as a power supplying element and a resonance coil  512  serving as a third resonance element. 
         [0077]    The power transmission coil  511  is supplied with AC current by electromagnetic induction from the resonance coil  512 . 
         [0078]    The resonance coil  512  is formed from an air-core coil which is coupled to the power transmission coil  511  by electromagnetic induction, and when the self resonance frequencies of the resonance coil  411  of the repeater device  40  and the resonance coil  512  coincide with each other, a magnetic resonance relationship is established in which the resonance coil  512  receives power efficiently. 
         [0079]    The resonance coil  512  functions as a power reception side resonator. 
         [0080]    It is to be noted that a matching circuit not shown having an impedance matching function is disposed at a connecting portion between the power transmission coil  511  and the load, that is, to a load end of the power transmission coil  511 . 
         [0081]    The rectification circuit  52  rectifies received AC power into DC power. A voltage stabilization circuit not shown converts the DC power supplied from the rectification circuit  52  into a DC voltage conforming to specifications of the electronic apparatus of the supplying destination of the DC power, and the stabilized DC voltage is supplied to a processing system of the electronic apparatus of the load. 
         [0082]    The power reception device  50  having such a configuration as described above is incorporated in the third frame  23  of the rack main body  20 . 
         [0083]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate an example of incorporation of a repeater device and power transmission and reception devices into a frame, respectively. 
         [0084]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate examples of incorporation of a repeater device and power transmission and reception devices into a frame including a circuit. 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A to 4B , a repeater device is configured from a resonance (consonance) element (coil)  411  of a resonance frequency fo disposed in the inside of struts  221  formed from a nonconductive substance such as ABS or PC. 
         [0086]    Since the resonance coil  411  preferably has a high Q value, it is usually formed from a metal having high conductivity such as copper, silver or aluminum. 
         [0087]    The struts which accommodate a coil therein are preferably formed using a nonconductive material such as ABS or PC in order to reduce an electric bad influence on the coil while strength as the struts  221  is maintained. 
         [0088]    It is necessary for the power transmission device  30  and the power reception device  50  to accommodate, in addition to the resonance coils  312  and  512 , power supply coils  311  and  511  which are excitation elements and power transmission and reception circuits  33  and  53  including rectification circuits and so forth in the inside of the struts  211  and  231 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0089]    It is to be noted, however, that, where no sufficient space is available, the power supplying coils as the excitation elements may be omitted while matching circuits  34  and  54  each formed from an LC circuit is inserted instead. However, a matching circuit formed from an LC circuit tends to exhibit comparatively high loss. 
         [0090]    It is to be noted that, also where a power supplying coil is provided, the matching circuits  34  and  54  may otherwise be incorporated for impedance adjustment at a power supplying point or a connecting point to a load. 
         [0091]    Now, operation of the wireless power supplying rack  10  having the configuration described above is described particularly in regard to a principle of a magnetic field resonance system and general operation of the wireless power supplying rack according to the present embodiment. 
       [Principle of the Magnetic Field Resonance System] 
       [0092]    First, the principle of the magnetic field resonance system is described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 8 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 5  illustrates the principle of the magnetic field resonance system. 
         [0094]    It is to be noted here that the description is given of the principle where the power supplying coil is a power supplying element and the resonance (consonance) coil is a resonance (consonance) element. 
         [0095]    Although electric field resonance and magnetic field resonance are available as the electromagnetic resonance phenomenon,  FIG. 5  shows basic blocks where the wireless or contactless power supplying rack uses the magnetic field resonance system and includes a power transmission side and a power reception side provided in a one-by-one corresponding relationship. 
         [0096]    In a corresponding relationship with the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the power supply side includes an AC power supply  70 , a power supplying element  311  and a resonance element  312 , and the power reception side includes a resonance element  512 , a power transmission element  511  and a rectification circuit  52 . 
         [0097]    The power supply elements  311  and  511  and the resonance elements  312  and  512  are each formed from an air-core coil. 
         [0098]    On the power transmission device  30  side, the power supplying element  311  and the resonance element  312  are coupled to each other strongly by electromagnetic induction. Similarly, on the power reception device  50  side, the power transmission element  511  and the resonance element  512  are coupled to each other strongly by electromagnetic induction. 
         [0099]    When the self resonance (consonance) frequencies of the air-core coils of the resonance elements  312  and  512  on the power transmission side and the power reception side coincide with each other, the resonance elements  312  and  512  have a magnetic field resonance relationship, in which the coupling amount is in the maximum while the loss is in the minimum. 
         [0100]    From the AC power supply  70 , AC current is supplied to the power supplying element  311 . Further, current is induced in the resonance element  312  by electromagnetic induction. 
         [0101]    The frequency of AC current to be generated by the AC power supply  70  is set equal to the self resonance frequencies of the resonance elements  312  and  512 . 
         [0102]    The resonance element  312  and the resonance element  512  are disposed in a mutually magnetic field resonance relationship, and in the resonance frequency, AC power is supplied in a wireless or contactless fashion from the resonance element  312  to the resonance element  512 . 
         [0103]    On the power reception side, current is supplied from the resonance element  512  to the power transmission element  511  by electromagnetic induction, and DC current is generated by and outputted from the rectification circuit  52 . 
         [0104]      FIG. 6  illustrates a frequency characteristic of the coupling amount in the magnetic field resonance system. 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the axis of abscissa indicates the frequency f of the AC power supply and the axis of ordinate indicates the coupling amount. 
         [0106]    Particularly,  FIG. 6  illustrates a relationship between the frequency of the AC power supply and the coupling amount. 
         [0107]    It can be recognized from  FIG. 6  that frequency selectivity is exhibited by the magnetic resonance. 
         [0108]      FIG. 7  illustrates a relationship between the distance between resonance elements and the coupling amount in the magnetic field resonance system. 
         [0109]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the axis of abscissa indicates the distance D between the resonance elements and the axis of ordinate indicates the coupling amount. 
         [0110]    Particularly,  FIG. 7  illustrates a relationship between the distance D between the resonance element  312  on the power transmission side and the resonance element  512  on the power reception side and the coupling relationship. 
         [0111]    It can be recognized from  FIG. 7  that, at a certain resonance frequency, a distance D exists with which the coupling amount is in the maximum. 
         [0112]      FIG. 8  illustrates a relationship between the resonance frequency and the distance between the resonance elements with which a maximum coupling amount is obtained in the magnetic field resonance system. 
         [0113]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the axis of abscissa indicates the frequency f and the axis of ordinate indicates the distance D between the resonance elements. 
         [0114]    Particularly,  FIG. 8  illustrates a relationship between the resonance frequency and the distance D between the resonance element  312  on the power transmission side and the resonance element  512  on the power reception side. 
         [0115]    It can be recognized from  FIG. 8  that a maximum coupling amount can be obtained by setting a large distance between the resonance elements where the resonance frequency is low but by setting a small distance between the resonance elements where the resonance frequency is high. 
         [0116]    General operation of the wireless power supplying rack of the present embodiment in which a repeater device is disposed in the magnetic field resonance system based on the principle described above is described particularly in regard to the repeater device. 
         [0117]    In the present first embodiment, the resonance element  411  having the same resonance frequency as that of the resonance elements  312  and  512  on the power transmission side and the power reception side is disposed on the same linear line between the resonance elements  312  and  512  as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0118]    In the configuration just described, since the resonance element  312  and the resonance element  411  are coupled to each other by a magnetic field and the resonance element  411  and the resonance element  512  are coupled to each other by a magnetic field to supply power, the resonance element  411  functions as the repeater device  40  or repeater deice. 
         [0119]    Further, where the resonance element  411  is disposed in an aligned relationship at the middle point between the resonance elements  312  and  512 , a maximum efficiency is obtained. 
         [0120]    In the present first embodiment, the power transmission device  30  which is the power transmission side resonance element+excitation element in  FIG. 2  is placed in the framework of the first frame  21  positioned in the interior side in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0121]    Most forwardly, the power reception device  50  which is the power reception side resonance element+excitation element in  FIG. 2  is placed. 
         [0122]    Where the distance between the power transmission side and the power reception side is large and the transmission performance is insufficient, the intermediate second frame  22  may be used to configure the repeater device  40  or repeater. 
         [0123]    Here, as the power supply cable  60 , only a power supply cable for connecting the power transmission device and an AC plug is required, and any other cable is required. 
         [0124]    By disposing the resonance element  411  of the repeater device  40  at an intermediate point between the resonance element  312  of the power transmission device  30  and the resonance element  512  of the power reception device  50  in this manner, the power supply distance can be increased. 
         [0125]    As a result, a power supply distance exceeding the power transmission capacity of an ordinary magnetic field resonance system can be obtained. 
       2. Second Embodiment 
       [0126]      FIG. 9  shows an example of a configuration of a wireless power supplying rack according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 10  shows equivalent blocks of the wireless power supply rack of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0127]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the wireless power supplying rack  10 A according to the present second embodiment is similar to but different from the wireless power supplying rack  10  according to the first embodiment in that a repeating device  40 - 2  is incorporated in the first frame  21  in place of the power transmission device  30 . 
         [0128]    Further, in the present second embodiment, the first frame  21  on which the power transmission device  30 A is mounted is formed as a non-skeleton frame  21 A disposed outside the main body  20 A. 
         [0129]    The non-skeleton frame  21 A is embedded, for example, in the wall face WLL. 
         [0130]    In this instance, in order to obtain a high power supply efficiency, the main body  20 A is disposed such that the resonance coil  312  of the power transmission device  30 A is opposed to the resonance coil  411 A of the repeater device  40 - 2  in the first frame  21  on one side portion of the main body  20 A. 
         [0131]    By the disposition of the main body  20 A, the display rack comes to require no power supply cable and is designed so clear-cut that it can be assembled and disassembled readily. 
       3. Third Embodiment 
       [0132]      FIG. 11  shows an example of a configuration of a wireless power supplying rack according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0133]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the wireless power supplying rack  10 B according to the present third embodiment is similar to but different from the wireless power supplying rack  10 A according to the second embodiment in that the non-skeleton frame  21 B is embedded not in the wall face WLL but in the floor face FLW. 
         [0134]    Further, the first frame  21 , second frame  22  and third frame  23  are disposed in a predetermined spaced relationship in order from the floor face FLW toward the top plate side such that they are opposed to the loop portion of the non-skeleton frame  21 B. 
         [0135]    Also in this instance, the display rack comes to require no power supply cable and is designed so clear-cut that it can be assembled and disassembled readily. 
         [0136]    As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following advantages can be achieved. 
         [0137]    In particular, according to the present embodiment, when an electronic apparatus such as an electronic display tag or the like is attached to a display rack, the number of required cables can be minimized, and the display rack which can be assembled and disassembled readily can be implemented. Further, the display rack can be moved readily and can significantly reduce cumbersomeness upon cleaning. 
         [0138]    The present application contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2010-006525 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 15, 2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0139]    It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factor in so far as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.