Abstract:
The invention provides a device ( 100, 200, 300, 600 ) for agitating a liquid, e.g. a milk frother, comprising: a main body ( 110 ) comprising an opening ( 116 ) adapted to releasably receive an inner container ( 120 ), which inner container is suitable for receiving the liquid; an agitation element ( 136 ) for agitating the liquid when the liquid is received in the inner container and the inner container is received in the opening of the main body; a driving element ( 132 ) for driving the agitation element; and an electrical connection ( 154, 152, 111 ) for providing electrical energy to the driving element. By providing an opening for releasably receiving an inner container, a separate container can be used in conjunction with the device. This container is releasable, so it can be put in a dishwashing machine or a sink with water without any risk of damaging the electrical components of the device. In this way, the container can be easily, hygienically and conveniently be cleaned.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a device for agitating liquid foodstuff. In particular, the invention relates to a device for frothing milk or milk-based liquids. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    WO 2009/020384, Further referred to as D1, discloses a device for frothing milk. The device comprises a main body which forms a container. Additionally, the device comprises a cover fitting on the main body and agitation means and drive means for driving the agitation means. The driving means are at least partially comprised in the cover. 
         [0003]    Milk, when heated, is known to stick to walls of a container in which it is heated, even when the inner wall of the container is clad with an anti-adhesive layer to prevent any heated liquid sticking to the wall of the container. In practice, such liquids appear in particular to adhere in or next to indicator elements provided in the container as recesses or protrusions. As the milk frother disclosed in D1 comprises electrical elements, care may be needed to clean the inside of the container. In particular, milk frothers generally cannot be put in a dishwashing machine for convenient cleaning. 
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the invention to provide a device with improved user convenience, in particular with respect to cleaning. 
         [0005]    In a first aspect, the invention provides a device (e.g. a milk frother or a device for frothing milk or milk-based liquids) for agitating a liquid, comprising a main body comprising an opening adapted to releasably receive an inner container, which inner container is suitable for receiving the liquid; an agitation element for agitating the liquid when the liquid is received in the inner container and the inner container is received in the opening of the main body; a driving element for driving the agitation element; and an electrical connection for providing electrical energy to the driving element. 
         [0006]    By providing an opening for releasably receiving an inner container, a separate inner container can be used in conjunction with the device. This container is releasable, so it can be put in a dishwashing machine or submersed in a sink with water without any risk of damaging the electrical components of the device. In this way, the container can be easily, hygienically and conveniently be cleaned. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the inner container comprises a handle and the device comprises a further opening at the side for receiving the handle. By providing the handle, the container can also be properly handled e.g. when comprising a hot liquid. If the container is primarily made out of a metal, like steel or aluminium, handling the container comprising a hot liquid without a handle can be a tedious job. 
         [0008]    A further embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises at least one fixation element for fixating the inner container to the device upon receiving the container in the opening. While agitating the liquid in the container, the momentum of the liquid will at least partially be transferred to the container. If the container is loosely fitted in the opening of the device, this transfer of momentum may result in movement of the container. This, in turn, may result in spilling of the liquid and/or less effective agitation or frothing of the liquid or milk. 
         [0009]    In a second aspect, the invention provides an inner container for containing a liquid e.g. like milk or a milk-based liquid to be used in conjunction with the device according to the invention. 
         [0010]    An embodiment of the inner container according to the invention comprises at least one fixation element for fixating the container to the device upon receiving the container in the opening. 
         [0011]    Another embodiment of the inner container according to the invention comprises an upper rim of which at least a portion extends beyond the upper level of the device when the container is received in the opening of the device. 
         [0012]    As already discussed, care has to be taken for the electrical components of the device. As the inner container is to be received by the opening of the device, the boundary between the outer wall of the container and the inner wall of the device, i.e. the opening, may not always be properly sealed. In that case, there is a risk of liquid leaking into the opening of the device, potentially damaging the electrical—or other—elements of the device. By providing an at least partially extended upper rim of the device, this risk is reduced. 
         [0013]    In a further embodiment of the inner container according to the invention, the upper rim of the container has an orientation of substantially 85°-95° or 90° to the sidewall of the container, pointing away from the container. 
         [0014]    With this embodiment, the risk of leakage of liquid into the inner side of the device is even further reduced, because the rim extends beyond the boundary between the container and the wall of the opening in the device for receiving the container. 
         [0015]    In a third aspect, the invention provides a system comprising the device according to the invention and the inner container according to the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention will now be discussed referring to drawings. These drawings are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and are provided as examples rather than to limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the system according to the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a further embodiment of the system according to the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the system according to the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the container according to the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  A shows a cross-section of a further embodiment of the container according to the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  B shows a cross-section of another embodiment of the container according to the invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of yet a further embodiment of the system according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  discloses a device for agitating a liquid  100  in the preferred exemplary form of milk frother  100  as an embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device for agitating a liquid will be referred to as a device for frothing milk or milk-based liquids or a milk frother in the following. The milk frother comprises a main body  110 , a base plate  150  and a lid or cover  130 . In addition,  FIG. 1  discloses an inner container  120 . 
         [0025]    The base plate  150  has an electrical power cord  154  connected thereto for powering the milk frother  100  and a contact stub  152  comprising electrical contacts for providing electrical power to the main body  110 . Preferably, the contact stub  152  comprises three contacts, namely phase, zero and ground. The ground contact may be omitted, though is advised to be present for safety reasons. 
         [0026]    The main body  110  may comprise a heating element  114 , a handle  112 , a microcontroller ( 119 ), a control knob ( 155 ) or buttons (not shown) and an opening  116  for receiving the container  120 . In addition, the main body comprises a contact recess  111  for accommodating the contact stub  152 . The contact recess  111  comprises the same number of contacts as present in the contact stub  152 . Such contact/stub recess combinations are commercially available from the company Otter, with reference CS4 or CS7, among others. The heating element  114  is connectable to electrical power by means of electrical conductors like wires to the contacts in the contact recess  111 . Additional electrical elements like an on/off switch, a control light like an LED and/or a thermostat may be placed in between the contacts in the contact recess  111  and the heating element  114 . 
         [0027]    The lid  130  comprises a driving element like a motor  132  connected to a shaft  134  for driving an agitation element  136 , e.g. a circular annular spring or the like. The motor  132  is via conducting wires connected to the contacts in the contact recess  111 . Additional elements like a transformer, rectifier, microcontroller, an on/off switch and other may be placed in between the contacts in the contact recess  111  and the motor  132 . The lid  130  can be placed on the container  120  and on the main body  110 , thus closing the opening  116 . 
         [0028]    To provide electrical power to the motor  136  in the lid  130 , electrical contacts are provided at the top region of the main body and corresponding electrical contacts are provided in the lid  130 . The electrical contacts provided at the top region of the main body are connected to the contacts in the contact recess  111 . In a further embodiment, the motor receives electrical power from the main body  110  by means of an inductive coupling. 
         [0029]    For proper contact between the electrical contacts on the main body  110  and the corresponding electrical contacts on the lid  130 , the electrical contacts are to be aligned properly. Various elements can be added to either the main body  110  or the lid  130 , or both. For example, protrusion can be applied to the first and a recess or groove to the other, or vice versa. The protrusion can be either pointwise or elongated. The protrusion can be applied in a vertical way, along the side of either the main body  110  or the lid  130 , from the centre of the lid  130  or the main body  110  in a horizontal way or parallel to the circumference of either the main body  110  or the lid  130 . 
         [0030]    The container  120  may comprise indicator elements  122  for indicating a maximum level of liquid and a minimum level of liquid required for proper operation of the milk frother  100 . The indicators can be provided as either protrusions or recesses in the inner wall of the container  120 . The container  120  can be fit in the opening  116  in the main body  110 . In operation, the bottom of the container  120  is located closely to or in contact with the heating element  114 . In this way, liquids in the container  120 —preferably milk or milk-based liquids—can be heated by means of the heating element  114 . 
         [0031]    The operation of the milk frother  100  is controlled by means of a microcontroller and a control knob or the like. The microcontroller is coupled to the control knob and to various actuators of the milk frother, (e.g. like the heating element)  114  and the motor  132 , for controlling those actuators. With the control knob, a user of the milk frother  100  is able to control at least one action of the milk frother  100 , like turning the motor  132  on or off, the rotation speed of the motor  132 , turning the heating element  114  on or off, and/or setting a time for the motor  132  and/or the heating element  114  to be active. The control knob may be operated in steps or in a continuous way. One or more buttons (not shown) may also replace the control knob or be used in addition to it (e.g. for additional purposes). 
         [0032]    The liquid is, e.g. while heated, agitated by means of the agitation element  136  e.g. like a circular annular spring  136 , a wire whisk, or the like, thereby frothing the milk. Advantageously, the shaft  134  is placed outside the middle of the container  120 , i.e. off-center. This is to prevent the whole of the liquid to spin around the centre of the container. Milk is frothed better with a turbulent movement. 
         [0033]    The container  120  is insertable in and removable or detachable from the opening  116  in the main body  110 . The container is e.g. loosely or tightly fit in the opening  116 . Alternatively, the container  120  and the main body  110  are provided with one or more fixating elements to releasably fixate the container  120  in the opening  116 . The fixating elements can be embodied in various ways. 
         [0034]    Magnetic elements may e.g. be provided at the bottom of the opening  116 , while the container  120  is made out of a ferro-magnetic material like steel. An advantage of this embodiment is that no fixating means need to be provided on the container  120 . The container  120  may also be provided with a thread to screw the container in the opening  116 . The thread may be provided at the outer circumference of the container  120 . In this embodiment, a mating thread is provided at the inner circumference of the opening  116 . Alternatively, a cylindrical stub with a thread is provided at the bottom (or elsewhere) of the container  120 . In this embodiment, a cylindrical recess is provided at the bottom (or elsewhere) of the opening  116  with a mating thread. 
         [0035]    In yet another embodiment, either the container  120  or the main body  110  is provided with at least one spring loaded protrusion and the other element—either the main body  110  or the container  120 , respectively—is provided with at least one recess in which the spring loaded protrusion fits when the container  120  is fit in main body  110 . The protrusions and/or spring loaded protrusion are provided at the sidewalls of the container  120  and/or the opening  116 . 
         [0036]    In a further embodiment, the container  120  can be fixated in the main body  110  by means of a bayonet closing. A bayonet closing usually comprises at least two protrusions on a first element and at least two L-shaped recesses or openings on a second element. Both elements are cylindrically shaped, where one element is fitted in the other element. The protrusions of the first element are fit in first legs of the L of the L-shaped recesses or openings with a pushing action and with a twisting action in second legs of the L-shaped recesses or openings. The bayonet closing may be provided with a spring. The purpose of the spring is to push the element fitted in the other out of the other while removing the element. The element is pushed out of the other when the protrusions are moved out of the second legs of the L-shaped recesses or openings. 
         [0037]    Additionally or alternatively, the container  120  may be provided with at least one preferably vertical recess in the outer wall and the wall of the opening  116  may be provided with a protrusion fitting in said recess or vice versa. The recess or recesses and the protrusion or protrusions enable improved guidance while inserting the container  120  in the main body  110 . This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the container  120  is to be inserted in the main body  110  with a specific orientation. The recesses may also be embodied as grooves or slits, where applicable. With these embodiments, the container  120  is slid into the opening  116  in the main body. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  discloses a milk frother  200  as another embodiment of the device according to the invention. The milk frother  200  comprises a main body  110 , a base plate  150  and a lid or cover  130 . In addition,  FIG. 2  discloses a container  120 . 
         [0039]    The base plate  150  has an electrical power cord  154  connected thereto for powering the milk frother  100  and a contact stub  152  comprising electrical contacts for providing electrical power to the main body  110 . Preferably, the contact stub  152  comprises three contacts, namely phase, zero and ground. The ground contact may be omitted, though is advised to be present for safety reasons. 
         [0040]    The main body  110  may comprise a heating element  114 , a handle  112  and an opening  116  for receiving the container  120 . In addition, the main body comprises a contact recess  111  for accommodating the contact stub  152 . The contact recess  111  comprises the same number of contacts as present in the contact stub  152 . Such contact/stub recess combinations are commercially available from the company Otter, with reference CS4 or CS7, among others. The heating element  114  is connectable to electrical power by means of electrical conductors like wires to the contacts in the contact recess  111 . Additional electrical elements like an on/off switch, a control light like an LED and/or a thermostat may be placed in between the contacts in the contact recess  111  and the heating element  114 . 
         [0041]    The main body also comprises a motor  132  that in this embodiment is placed at the bottom or lower part of the milk frother instead of in the lid as in  FIG. 1 . The motor  132  is electrically connected to the contacts in the contact recess  111 , for example. Additional elements like a transformer, rectifier, microcontroller, an on/off switch and other may be electrically connected to the contacts in the contact recess  111  and the motor  132 , for example by means of conducting wires. The motor  132  is connected to a mechanical connector  138  to connect to a shaft  134  for driving an agitation element  136  e.g. in the form of a circular annular spring, a wire whisk, or the like comprised within the container  120 . 
         [0042]    The shaft  134  is fit in an opening in the container  120  to enable the agitation element to be driven. When removing the container, the shaft  134  is removed from the mechanical connector  138 . Optionally, the shaft  134  can be removed from the container  120  for the purpose of cleaning the container  120  and/or the shaft  134 . Preferably, the opening in the container  120  through which the shaft  134  during operation is provided is well sealed when the shaft  134  is in place. This can be done by means of an O-ring of either natural or synthetic rubber, like silicon rubber, or other flexible materials. Proper sealing of the opening is important to avoid leakage of liquid from the container to the inner parts of the main body  110  to prevent for example damage to the electronic circuitry. 
         [0043]    In a further embodiment, the agitation element  136  is connected to the motor  132  by means of a magnetic coupling. To this end, a hollow and at the upper side closed protrusion is provided at the bottom of the container  120 . From the bottom, a shaft with magnets—either permanent or electrical—are provided, which shaft is connected to the motor  132 . The agitation element  136  is also provided with magnets, which are in use coupled to the magnets connected to the shaft that is connected to the motor  132 . In this way, operation of the motor results in driving the agitation element  136 . 
         [0044]    The container  120  can be fixated in the opening  116  of the main body  120  in various ways, as discussed before. The lid  130  fits on the top of the container  120  and the opening  116 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  discloses a milk frother  300  as a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. The milk frother  200  comprises a main body  110 , a base plate  150  and a lid or cover  130 . In addition,  FIG. 3  discloses a container  120 . 
         [0046]    The base plate  150  has an electrical power cord  154  connected thereto for powering the milk frother  100  and a contact stub  152  comprising electrical contacts for providing electrical power to the main body  110 . Preferably, the contact stub  152  comprises three contacts, namely phase, zero and ground. The ground contact may be omitted, though is advised to be present for safety reasons. 
         [0047]    The main body  110  comprises an optional heating element  114  and an opening  116  for receiving the container  120 . In addition, the main body comprises a contact recess  111  for accommodating the contact stub  152 . The contact recess  111  comprises the same number of contacts as present in the contact stub  152 . Such contact/stub recess combinations are commercially available from the company Otter, with reference CS4 or CS7, among others. The heating element  114  is connectable to electrical power by means of electrical conductors like wires to the contacts in the contact recess  111 . Additional electrical elements like an on/off switch, a control light like an LED and/or a thermostat may be electrically coupled to the contacts in the contact recess  111  and the heating element  114 , for example by means of electrical wires. 
         [0048]    The lid  130  comprises a motor  132  connected to a shaft  134  for driving an agitation element  136  e.g. a circular annular spring, a whisk, or the like. The motor  132  is electrically connected to the contacts in the contact recess  111 , for example via conducting wires. Additional elements like a transformer, rectifier, microcontroller, an on/off switch and other may be electrically contacted to each other and/or the contacts in the contact recess  111  and the motor  132 . The lid  130  can be placed on the container  120  and on the main body  110 , thus closing the opening  116 . In a further embodiment, the motor receives electrical power from the main body  110  by means of an inductive coupling. 
         [0049]    Electrical power to the motor  132  in the lid may be provided as described earlier. 
         [0050]    The container  120  is insertable in and removable or detachable from the opening  116  in the main body  110 . The container may be loosely or tightly fitted in the opening  116 . Alternatively, the container  120  and the main body  110  are provided with fixating element to releasably fixate the container  120  in the opening  116 . The fixating elements can be embodied in various ways as discussed before. 
         [0051]    The container  120  comprises a handle  112  for easily removing the container  120  from the main body  110 . In the embodiment as disclosed on  FIG. 3 , the handle  112  is connected to the sidewall of the container  120 . To properly accommodate the container  120  in the main body  110 , a slit, opening or the like  118  is provided at the top of the sidewall of the main body  110 . Alternatively, the handle  112  is attached at the top of the container  120 . In that way, no slit, opening, etc. has to be provided in the main body  110 . It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that a handle connected to the container  120  does not necessarily have to be shaped as disclosed in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, a half-circle handle connected to opposite sides of the upper rim of the container  120 , enabling the container  120  to be carried as a basket or a bucket. 
         [0052]      FIG. 4  shows a container  120  as another embodiment of the container according to the invention. The container  120  comprises a handle  112  and a pouring spout  124  at the upper rim of the container  120 . The pouring spout  124  facilitates pouring a heated and/or mixed liquid like frothed milk. In addition, the pouring spout  124  prevents leakage of liquid from the container  120  in the opening  116  of the main body  110  (see e.g.  FIGS. 1  □ 3 ) after the contents of the container  120  has been poured in another container like a coffee cup. Drips—if any—will remain at the tip of the spout, which will not overlap with the opening  116  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0053]    The container  120  has been disclosed having a flat horizontal bottom and a cylindrical wall substantially vertically positioned on the flat bottom. The inventor has appreciated that this provides a container that is difficult to empty, in particular in the corners between the wall and the bottom. To address this issue, the container  120  may also by provided with a concave bottom instead of a flat bottom, i.e. a bottom that is deeper in the middle than at the sides. The concave form of the bottom may be further implemented by having a spherical, elliptical, oval, parabolic or other concave form. 
         [0054]    Additionally or alternatively, the cylindrical wall of the container is not substantially vertical, but provides a larger diameter at the top of the container  120  than at the bottom of the container  120 . This makes the angle between the bottom of the container and the wall of the container less sharp, making emptying or cleaning the container more convenient. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  A shows a cross-section of a container  120  comprising an extended upper rim  502  with an orientation of about 90° to the sidewall of the container  120 . The upper rim prevents or at least reduces the risk of leakage of liquid from the container in the opening  116  of the main body (see e.g.  FIGS. 1  □ 3 ). It is to be understood that the rims  512 ,  514  may be curved partially or fully. Furthermore, the orientation angle may be different than about 90° to the sidewall of the container  120 , e.g. between about 85°—about 95° or other angles. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  B shows a cross-section of a container  120  comprising an extended upper rim  512  connected to an outer rim  514 . The outer rim  514  and the outer wall of the container  120  form a cavity  516 . When the container  120  is fit in the opening  116  of the main body  110  (see e.g.  FIGS. 1  □ 3 ), the upper rim of the main body  110  fits in the cavity  516 . In this way, the risk of leakage of liquid from the container in the opening  116  of the main body  110  is even further reduced than with the solution discussed in accordance with  FIG. 5  A. 
         [0057]    In again another embodiment of the device according to the invention that will be discussed referring to  FIG. 1 , the top of the circumference of the opening  116  is provided with a lining or a sealing element comprising a flexible material like silicon rubber, natural rubber, or similar to seal any potential opening between the outer wall of the container  120  and the inner wall of the main body  110  at the location of the opening  116 . Alternatively, the lining is provided at the top of the outer wall of the container  120 . In another alternative, referring to  FIG. 5  B, the lining is provided in the cavity  516 . In yet another alternative, the lining is provided at a lower portion of either the opening  116  or the container  120 . 
         [0058]    The rims disclosed in  FIG. 5  A and  FIG. 5  B may also serve for connecting a handle to the container. In such embodiments, the further opening  118  would be superfluous and can therefore be omitted. 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  discloses a milk frother  600  as yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention. The milk frother  600  comprises a main body  110 , a base plate  150  and a lid or cover  130 . In addition,  FIG. 6  discloses a container  120 . The container  120  comprises an outstanding rim  126  at the top of the container. 
         [0060]    The main body has a control knob  155  attached to it for controlling the operation of the milk frother  600  as described with another embodiment of the device according to the invention. 
         [0061]    The container  120  is fitted in the main body  110 . The outstanding rim  126  of the container  120  fits in a circular recess  162  at the top of the opening of the main body  110 , thus providing a closed fit between the container  120  and the main body  110 . In this way, any liquid is prevented from entering the main body  110  where such liquid can jeopardise the operations of the milk frother  600 , in particular by potential damage to electrical circuitry of the milk frother  600 . 
         [0062]    The lid  130  has a lower closing part having an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of an upper part of the container  120 . In this way, the lid  130  is fitted in the container  120  rather than fitted on the main body  110 . In this way, the container  120  can be lifted out of the main body  110  by picking up the lid  130 . This eliminates the need for a handle being attached to the container  120 . Additionally, there is no risk of spilling any liquid from the container  120  into the main body  110 . Alternatively, the lid  130  is fitted on the main body  110  and protruding in the container  120 . 
         [0063]    The lid  130  can be connected to the container  120  in various ways. For example, either the lid  130  and/or the upper part of the container  120  are provided with a flexible O-ring. By putting the lid  130  on the container  130 , the O-ring is squeezed between the lid  130  and the container  120 , thus increasing the friction force between the lid  130  and the container. By means of this friction force, the container  120  can be lifted out of the main body  110 . Subsequently, the container can be put somewhere with the lid  130  closing the container. 
         [0064]    Alternatively, the lid  130  is connected to the container  120  by other means, including the means discussed as alternatives for connecting the container  120  to the main body  110  for other embodiments of the device according to the invention, including, but not limited to bayonet fittings, spring loaded protrusions in for example the lid  130  fitting in recesses in the container  120  and magnetic coupling. In addition to these means, an additional sealing element like a flexible O-ring may be provided. 
         [0065]    With respect to functional elements, variations as discussed before apply to the milk frother  600  as well. This e.g. applies to the location of the electromotor and other elements. This means that the circular annular spring  136  can be driven by an electromotor or other driving means located in either the lid  130  or the main body  110 . As discussed before, the circular annular spring  136  may be replaced by a conventional wire whisk or other agitation means. 
         [0066]    While referring to a container, it is noted that, unless otherwise clearly apparent from the context, an inner container for use with for example but not limited to a device for frothing milk or other liquids is meant. Such container is to be understood to be a container or inner container that fits within a main body of the device for whipping or agitating liquids in a way that the outer perimeter or at least part thereof like the upper rim fits closely and preferably tightly with the inner wall of the main body and in particular the wall of an opening in the main body arranged for receiving the container. 
         [0067]    Though steel and aluminium have been disclosed as materials for the container  120 , a person skilled in the art will appreciate that also other metals or even materials other than steel may be used. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , alternatively, the base plate  150  and the contact recess  111  may be omitted, while connecting the power cord  154  directly to the main body  110  for supplying electrical energy. In particular with the removable inner container  120 , there is at least less need for the main body to be cordless for convenient handling. 
         [0069]    Expressions such as “comprise”, “include”, “incorporate”, “contain”, “is” and “have” are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner when interpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construed to allow for other items or components which are not explicitly defined also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed in be a reference to the plural and vice versa. When data is being referred to as audiovisual data, it can represent audio only, video only or still pictures only or a combination thereof, unless specifically indicated otherwise in the description of the embodiments. 
         [0070]    In the description above, it will be understood that when an element such as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being on or onto another element, the element is either directly on the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. 
         [0071]    Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention be embodied using more elements than depicted in  FIG. 1 through 6 , wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components. 
         [0072]    A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various parameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the invention. It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit the scope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibility of the claims.