Abstract:
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft includes rotors that provide vertical and horizontal thrust. During forward motion, the vertical lift system is inactive. A lift fan mechanism positions the fan blades of the aircraft in a collapsed configuration when the vertical lift system is inactive and positions the fan blades of the aircraft in a deployed configuration when the vertical lift system is active.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/693,172 filed on Aug. 24, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0002]    Described embodiments relate to a variable geometry lift fan mechanism for a powered-lift aircraft. 
         [0003]    Aircraft may use fixed wings, such as in a conventional airplane, rotary wings, such as in a helicopter, or a combination of fixed wings and rotary wings. Powered-lift aircraft, which derive lift in some flight regimes from rotary wings and in others from fixed wings, are desirable because they are able to perform very short or vertical takeoffs and landings. A powered-lift aircraft may have rotary wings, or rotors, that provide both vertical and horizontal thrust. Other types of powered-lift aircraft have one or more rotors (lift fans) for vertical thrust, and one or more rotors (propellers) for horizontal thrust. In some powered-lift aircraft the lift fans are inactive during forward flight. 
         [0004]    In a powered-lift aircraft with lift fans, the fans may have four or more blades to provide the needed lift at rotational speeds while still allowing for quiet operation. The fan blades may have large chords and can be highly twisted. When the fan blades are stationary, these types of fans produce large amounts of aerodynamic drag due to flow separation and large frontal area from the blades. This reduces the performance of the aircraft. If the individual fan blades are aligned with the flow direction of air across the aircraft, both the frontal area and flow separation are reduced resulting in lower drag. While a two-bladed fan can be stopped with the blades aligned in the flow direction, this is not possible with fans of more than two blades. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The embodiments herein disclose embodiments of a lift fan of a powered-lift aircraft. The lift fan of the aircraft can be configured to transition from a deployed configuration to a collapsed configuration and vice versa. In one embodiment, the deployed configuration of a lift fan corresponds to the best orientation of the fan blades of the lift fan for producing thrust. For example, 90 degree spacing between the blades of a four-bladed fan may correspond to a deployed configuration of a lift fan. The collapsed configuration of the lift fan describes the orientation of the fan blades of the lift fan when thrust is no longer needed. According to one embodiment, the collapsed configuration reduces the frontal area of the lift fan and the drag produced by the lift fan in forward flight by positioning the fan blades of the lift fan to be in-line with each other. Additionally, the collapsed configuration may reduce the overall width of the aircraft allowing for easier transport and storage. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, a mechanism is employed to move the blades of the lift fan between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration using the motor that drives the lift fan, obviating the need for additional motors and/or actuators. In some embodiments, the motor driving the lift fan is an electric motor. Alternatively, the motor driving the lift fan is a gasoline motor. In these embodiments, the torque of the electric motor can be precisely controlled and used to move the lift fan blades between the deployed and collapsed configurations. Mechanical stops may be incorporated into the blades of a lift fan. The position of the mechanical stops can be used to define the angle that the blades of the lift fan may rotate through with respect to one another in order to position the fan in the deployed configuration or the collapsed configuration. Friction and damping between the blades may be employed to affect the dynamics of the deploying and collapsing action and/or to resist rotation of the blades out of either the collapsed configuration or deployed configuration. Detents may also be included to mechanically or magnetically resist the rotation of the blades out of either the collapsed configuration or deployed configuration. 
         [0007]    The features and advantages described in this summary and the following detailed description are not intended to be limiting. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a lift fan in a deployed configuration according to one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates the lift fan in a collapsed configuration according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  respectively illustrate detailed views of a lift fan deployment mechanism in the collapsed configuration and in the deployed configuration, using a magnetic detent according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed view of the deployment mechanism of the lift fan according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed view of the portion of the deployment mechanism coupled to the driving blade set of the lift fan according to one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a lift fan that incorporates a deployment mechanism according to one embodiment.  FIG. 6A  shows the fan, including the blades, in the collapsed configuration, and  FIG. 6B  shows the fan, without the blades, in the collapsed configuration.  FIG. 6C  shows the fan, including the blades, in the deployed configuration, and  FIG. 6D  shows the fan, without the blades, in the collapsed configuration. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  respectively illustrate detailed views of a lift fan deployment mechanism in the collapsed configuration and in the deployed configuration, using a mechanical latch detent according to one embodiment 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a plot of magnetic detent torque versus the relative angle between the driven blade set and the following blade set. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of a deployment mechanism of the lift fan in the collapsed configuration showing the friction ring according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The figures depict, and the detail description describes, various non-limiting embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a lift fan of a powered-lift aircraft according to one embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the lift fan comprises a stack of two or more sets of one or two fan blades, where the total number of blades is equal to the number needed in a baseline fixed-blade fan. Particularly,  FIG. 1  illustrates a stack of two two-blade sets, for a total of four fan blades. The configuration shown in  FIG. 1  is referred to as the deployed configuration. In one embodiment, when the lift fan is producing thrust, the blades sets are rotated to their optimal thrust producing orientation as shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1 , blade set  101 A represents a driven set of blades that is attached to a drive source such as an electric motor and blade set  101 B represents one or more additional following set of blades that are coupled to the driven blade set by a mechanism allowing motion about the axis of rotation. The following set of blade sets may include one additional set of blades or two or more additional set of blades. In the deployed configuration, a 90 degree spacing is configured between each fan blade for a four-blade fan system with a single following blade set  101 B. However, in alternative embodiments the angle between the blades may be any angle greater than a stowed angle associated with a collapsed configuration and may include more than one following blade set. 
         [0019]    When thrust is no longer needed, e.g., during cruising flight or storage of the aircraft, the following blade set(s)  101 B can be rotated to an embodiment of the collapsed configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . The collapsed configuration reduces the frontal area and aerodynamic drag of the fan because the position of the collapsed configuration is in line with the travel of the aircraft represented by the arrow in  FIG. 2 . Additionally, the collapsed configuration may reduce the overall width of the aircraft allowing for easier transport and storage. In the collapsed position, the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set  101 B are positioned such that the fan blades of the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set  101 B are in line with one another. That is, in the collapsed configuration a substantially zero-degree spacing (i.e., the stowed angle) is configured between a pair of fan blades of the lift fan. 
         [0020]    The change from the deployed configuration to the collapsed configuration and vice-versa may be accomplished by several mechanisms. In one embodiment, a mechanism moves the following blade set(s)  101 B between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration and vice-versa using the motor that powers the lift fan, and without the user of additional motors and/or actuators. In one embodiment, the following blade set(s)  101 B of a lift fan pivot about the rotational axis of the driven blade set  101 A within a range of relative motion defined by mechanical stops that are engaged in both the collapsed and deployed configurations. In one embodiment, the mechanical stops are incorporated into the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set(s)  101 B. A retention torque may be applied to hold the following blade set(s)  101 B against these mechanical stops so that aerodynamic or other disturbances do not cause the following blade set(s)  101 B to bounce on the stops or move out of the desired configuration, such as the deployed configuration or the collapsed configuration. The retention torque may be generated by various means. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, adding friction to resist the relative motion between the driven blades set  101 A and the following blade set(s)  101 B generates the retention torque. The friction may be a fraction of the torque required to generate full thrust from the lift fan or may be a larger amount. In addition to providing the retention torque that maintains the following blade set(s)  101 B in the deployed or collapsed configuration, the friction torque can be beneficial in reducing the impact when mechanical stops are engaged. 
         [0022]      FIG. 9 . Illustrates a friction ring  900  or pad that generates a retention friction torque. The friction ring  900  is located between the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set  101 B. As the motor  901  accelerates the lift fan, axial thrust generated by the following blade set  101 B is applied to the friction ring  900 , which increases the friction generated by the friction ring  900  and tends to resist relative motion between the driven blade set  101 A and following blade set  101 B. The mechanism is designed such that the torque required to overcome the friction generated by the friction ring  900  is more than the maximum torque that the motor can apply when the lift fan is spinning in its normal operating range. In this case, deployment and retraction of the mechanism must occur at slower speeds when the friction torque is sufficiently low to allow relative motion. 
         [0023]    Another embodiment is similar to the above-described mechanism, but includes damping between the driven blade set  101 A and following blade set(s)  101 B. The damping may be from a viscous fluid damper or any other damping method (magnetic eddy current damping, etc.). The damping is selected in order to speed or slow the deployment process and reduce the speed at which the following blade set(s) hit mechanical stops and to damp out bouncing on the stop. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, a retention torque is generated using detents in the deployed and/or collapsed configurations. In one embodiment, a detent is a device used to mechanically resist the rotation of the following blade set(s)  101 B relative to the driven blade set  101 A. One type of detent is a magnetic detent, which uses the attraction of two magnets incorporated into the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set(s)  101 B.  FIG. 3A  illustrates a detailed view of the position of magnets of the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set(s)  101 B in the collapsed configuration according to one embodiment. Note that the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set(s)  101 B may have more or fewer magnets than those shown in  FIG. 3A . That is, the magnets  301 A,  301 B, and  303  may each be comprised of multiple magnets distributed around the mechanism. 
         [0025]    The driven blade set  101 A contains magnets  301 A and  301 B in one embodiment. The following blade set(s)  101 B includes a magnet  303 . In one embodiment, the magnets  301 A,  301 B and  303  comprise neodymium (NdFeB) magnets. The arrows drawn on the magnets  301 A,  301 B and  303  in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are drawn from the south pole of the magnet to the north pole of the magnet. A north pole of one magnet tends to be attracted to the south pole of another magnet. As shown in  FIG. 3A , when in the collapsed configuration the magnet  303  on the following blade set(s)  101 B is slightly offset from the magnet  301 A on the driven blade set  101 A. The magnetic force between the magnet  303  and the magnet  301 A is in a direction that attracts them to be in an aligned configuration. This force can be used to generate a magnetic detent torque  800  (e.g., roughly 4 N*m) as shown in  FIG. 8  that tends to hold it in the collapsed configuration. 
         [0026]    Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 3B , when in the deployed configuration the magnet  303  on the following blade set(s)  101 B is slightly offset from the magnet  301 A on the driven blade set  101 A. The magnetic force between the magnet  303  and the magnet  301 A is in a direction that attracts them to be in an aligned configuration. This force can be used to generate a magnetic detent torque  801  (e.g., −4 N*m) as shown in  FIG. 8  that tends to hold it in the deployed configuration. The torque required to overcome the magnetic detent torque  800  and  801  may be a fraction of the torque required to generate full thrust from the lift fan, or it may be a larger amount. 
         [0027]    Another type of detent is a mechanical latch detent shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . In one embodiment, the mechanical latch detent uses a spring or flexure  703  to preload a pawl  702  such that when the pawl  702  engages a groove  701 A or  701 B some threshold torque is required to be exceeded before relative motion can occur.  FIG. 7A  depicts the mechanical latch in the collapsed configuration, in which the pawl  702  is engaged with groove  701 A, which is located such that the detent torque tends to keep the following blade set(s)  101 B in the collapsed configuration. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7B  depicts the mechanical latch in the deployed configuration, in which the pawl  702  is engaged with a groove  701 B, which is located such that the detent torque tends to keep the following blade set(s)  101 B in the deployed configuration according to one embodiment. The grooves  701 A and  701 B, the pawl  702  and the flexure  703  may each be comprised of multiple copies distributed around the mechanism. In another embodiment, grooves  701 A and  701 B are included on the following blade set(s)  101 B and the pawl  702  and flexure  703  are included on the driven blade set  101 A. 
         [0029]    When the lift fan is not used and is stationary with respect to the powered-lift aircraft, the lift fan would normally be in the collapsed configuration. When the lift fan is required to produce thrust, it is in the deployed configuration, and it spins within some nominal speed range depending on thrust required and other conditions. An example of a nominal operating speed range is from 2500 RPM to 3500 RPM. A motor applies torque to the lift fan in order to accelerate it from the stationary configuration to the desired operating speed. As the lift fan accelerates, the lift fan moves from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration before it reaches the lower bound of the operating speed range. The aerodynamic torque and inertia of the following blade set(s)  101 B apply torque to the deployment mechanism in the direction that deploys the following blade set(s)  101 B. When this torque exceeds the torque that resists relative motion between the driven and following blade sets (e.g. friction and/or detent torque), the following blade set(s)  101 B will move with respect to the driven blade set. In some embodiments, the deployment torque profile is designed such that the following blade set(s)  101 B moves from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration before the lift fan reaches the lower limit of the nominal operating speed range. In some embodiments the deployment torque is produced by an electric motor that provides the power to spin the lift fan. In some embodiments the torque of the electric motor can be precisely controlled to create the desired deployment torque profile. 
         [0030]    As an example of how the deployment torque profile could be designed, assume that the following blade set(s)  101 B requires a quadratic amount of torque with respect to its rotational speed and that 10 N*m of torque is required when it is spun at 2000 RPM, regardless of its relative position with respect to the driven blade set  101 A. The mechanism may be designed to include 10 N*m of friction, regardless of the speed of the following blade set(s)  101 B. If the lift fan were slowly spun up to and held at 2100 rpm, the aerodynamic torque on the following blade set(s)  101 B would overcome the friction of the mechanism and the following blade set(s)  101 B would accelerate until it contacts the mechanical stop that defined the deployed configuration. This method will be referred to as the “aero method” according to one embodiment. 
         [0031]    As another example, the deployment torque profile could be designed such that a large amount of torque would be applied, causing the rotational inertia load of the following blade set(s)  101 B to exceed the friction of the mechanism. This method will be referred to as the “inertial method” according to one embodiment. This torque would need to be applied for a long enough time for the following blade set(s)  101 B to move all the way from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
         [0032]    The collapsing torque profile can be design in a similar way using either the aero or inertial method, except that if the aero method were used for collapsing, the lift fan would need to spin in the opposite direction from normal operation. If this is not desirable, the inertial method could be used and the inertial load would need to be such that it overcomes both the mechanism retention torque and the aero torque. There are many variations on deployment and collapsing torque profiles that may combine aspects of either the aero or inertial methods. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed view of mechanical rings attached to the driven blade set  101 A and following blade set(s)  101 B that position the blade sets in the deployed and collapsed configurations according to one embodiment. The mechanical rings incorporate magnetic detents similar to those described in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  used in collapsed and deployed configurations as will be further described below. 
         [0034]    Particularly, a first ring  401  is attached to the driven blade set  101 A using fasteners such as screws or other fastening means and a second ring  402  is attached to the following blade set(s)  101 B using fasteners. The first ring  401  comprises for example a plurality of magnets  403 A,  403 B,  403 C,  403 D, and  403 E and the second ring  402  comprises a plurality of magnets  405 A,  405 B,  405 C,  405 D,  405 E, and  405 F. Note that in other embodiments, different numbers of magnets may be used in the first ring  401  and the second ring  402 . The number of magnets used is determined by the desired amount of retention torque and packing considerations to fit the mechanism in a particular desired volume. Each of the plurality of magnets  403  of the first ring  401  is attracted to a corresponding one of the plurality of magnets  405  of the second ring  402  when in the collapsed configuration and in the deployed configuration. That is, each magnetic in the first ring  401  and the second ring  402  is attracted to a different magnet on the opposite ring when in the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration. The magnetic attraction between each pair of magnets applies a counterclockwise torque to the first ring  401  and a clockwise torque to the second ring  402  to maintain either the collapsed configuration or the deployed configuration. When in the deployed configuration, the magnetic attraction between each pair of magnets applies a counterclockwise torque to the first ring  401  and a clockwise torque to the second ring  402  to maintain the mechanism in the deployed configuration. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the mechanical rings each include a plurality of mechanical tabs and a plurality of mechanical stops. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first ring  401  comprises mechanical tabs  404 A and  404 B and mechanical stops  407 A,  407 B,  407 C, and  407 D. Similarly, the second ring  402  includes mechanical tabs  409 A and  409 B and mechanical stops  411 A,  411 B,  411 C, and  411 D. The mechanical tabs  409  and the mechanical stops  407  prevent the second ring  402  from moving (i.e., rotating) any further in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction with respect to the first ring  401  when the mechanical tabs  404  and  409  respectively contact the mechanical stops  407  and  411 . Each mechanical tab includes a corresponding magnetic detent. In one embodiment, the mechanical stops  407  are made of high impact plastic (e.g., ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene plastic) or other high impact resistant materials and the mechanical rings are made of aluminum, steel, titanium, carbon fiber, or other materials. The mechanical stops  407  may be fastened to the mechanical rings using fasteners, for example screws. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed view of the first ring  401  coupled to the driven blade set  101 A. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first ring  401  comprises the plurality of magnets  403 , the plurality of mechanical tabs  404 , and the plurality of mechanical stops  407  as previously described above. As shown in  FIG. 5 , each mechanical tab  404  protrudes from the first ring  401 . A mechanical stop  403  is attached to the first ring  401  at each side of the mechanical tab  404 . For example, mechanical stop  407 A is attached to the first ring  401  at one side of the mechanical tab  404 A and mechanical stop  407 D is attached to the first ring  401  at the other side of the mechanical tab  404 A. The mechanical stops  407  may be attached to the first ring  401  using fasteners such as screws. The mechanical stops  407  prevent the second ring  407  from over rotating when each mechanical tab  409  of the second ring  402  contacts a corresponding mechanical stop  407  of the first ring  401 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, each mechanical tab  404  includes a plurality of spring loaded ball plungers (e.g., 4 spring loaded ball plungers)  501 . Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment mechanical tab  404 A includes spring loaded ball plungers  501 A and  501 B. Spring loaded ball plunger  501 A is positioned at one end of the mechanical tab  404 A and the spring loaded ball plunger  501 B is positioned at the other end of the mechanical tab  404 A. Magnet  403 A is located between the spring loaded ball plungers  501 A and  501 B in one embodiment. Similarly, mechanical tab  404 B includes spring loaded ball plungers  501 C and  501 D. Spring loaded ball plunger  501 C is positioned at one end of the mechanical tab  404 B and the spring loaded ball plunger  501 D is positioned at the other end of the mechanical tab  404 B. Magnet  403 D is located between the spring loaded ball plungers  501 C and  501 D in one embodiment. 
         [0038]    The spring loaded plungers  501  of the first ring  401  roll on a surface of the second ring  402  corresponding to the surface  503  of the first ring  401  shown in  FIG. 5 . Particularly, the spring-loaded plungers  501  of the first ring  401  roll on the surface of the second ring  402  during deployment and collapsing of the following blade set(s)  101 B. The surface  503  of the first ring is located between a pair of mechanical stops  407 A and  407 B of the first ring. Similarly, the surface of the second ring is located between a pair of mechanical stops of the second ring. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the ball plungers  501  also apply an axial preload that pushes the first ring  401  and the second ring  402  apart and applies load on a high friction thrust pad  900 . The friction generated by the thrust pad provides damping which slows the dynamics of the first ring  401  and the second ring  402  during the collapsing and deployment actions. Slowing the collapsing and deployment actions reduces the speed at which the mechanical tabs of the first ring  401  or second ring  402  contacts the mechanical stops of the opposite ring. This reduces the shock loads experienced by the lift fan and reduces any oscillating or bouncing on the mechanical stops that may occur due to unsteady aerodynamic loads. Note that the second ring  402  includes similar features as the first ring  401  described in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0040]    Generally,  FIG. 6A  illustrates a lift fan that incorporates a deployment mechanism according to one embodiment. In particular,  FIG. 6A  illustrates a lift fan, including the blades, in the collapsed configuration according to one embodiment. The lift fan assembly incorporates the mechanical rings coupled to the driven blade set  101 A and following blade set  101 B of the lift fan. Note that the mechanical rings are not shown in  FIG. 6A  as they are obscured in the figure by the fan blades of the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set  101 B. The lift fan assembly further comprises a motor  600  that couples the lift fan assembly to the aircraft. The motor  600  may be an electric motor, internal combustion engine, hydraulic actuator, or any other type of actuator that can apply torque to the lift fan. 
         [0041]    Generally,  FIG. 6B  shows the fan, without the blades, in the collapsed configuration. In particular,  FIG. 6B  illustrates the collapsed fan assembly shown in  FIG. 6A  with the fan blades removed to illustrate the position of the mechanical rings  401  and  402  in the collapsed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the mechanical stop  407 D of the first ring  401  is in contact with the mechanical tab  409 B of the second ring  402 . Similarly, the mechanical stop  407 B of the second ring  402  is in contact with the mechanical tab  404 B of the first ring  401  in the collapsed configuration. The magnetic attraction between the magnet  403 D of the first ring  401  and the magnet  403 B of the second ring  402  and the magnetic attraction between the magnet  403 C of the first ring  401  and the magnet  405 E of the second ring  402  maintain the collapsed configuration of the lift fan. Note that the magnetic attraction of another pair of magnets on the opposite side of the lift fan assembly not shown in  FIG. 6B  contribute to maintaining the collapsed configuration of the lift fan. 
         [0042]    Generally,  FIG. 6C  shows the fan, including the blades, in the deployed configuration. In particular, inn  FIG. 6C , the following blade set  101 B has rotated until the deployed configuration is reached as defined by position of the mechanical rings shown in  FIG. 6D . Similar to  FIG. 6A , the mechanical rings are not shown in  FIG. 6C  as they are obscured by the fan blades of the driven blade set  101 A and the following blade set  101 B. 
         [0043]    Generally,  FIG. 6D  shows the fan, without the blades, in the collapsed configuration. In particular,  FIG. 6D  illustrates the deployed fan assembly shown in  FIG. 6C  with the fan blades removed to show the position of the mechanical rings  401  and  402  in the deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, mechanical stop  407 C of the first ring  401  is in contact with mechanical tab  409 A of the second ring  401 . Similarly, the mechanical stop  411 A of the second ring  402  is in contact with the mechanical tab  404 B of the first ring  401  in the deployed configuration. The magnetic attraction between the magnet  403 D of the first ring  401  and the magnet  405 B of the second ring  402  and the magnetic attraction between the magnet  403 A of the first ring and the magnet  405 B of the second ring maintain the deployed configuration of the lift fan. Note that the magnetic attraction of another pair of magnets on the opposite side of the lift fan assembly not shown in  FIG. 6D  contribute to maintaining the deployed configuration of the lift fan. 
         [0044]    Although this description has been provided in the context of specific embodiments, those of skill in the art will appreciate that many alternative embodiments may be inferred from the teaching provided. Furthermore, within this written description, the particular naming of the components, capitalization of terms, the attributes, data structures, or any other structural or programming aspect is not mandatory or significant unless otherwise noted, and the mechanisms that implement the described invention or its features may have different names, formats, or protocols. Further, some aspects of the system may be implemented via a combination of hardware and software or entirely in hardware elements. Also, the particular division of functionality between the various system components described here is not mandatory; functions performed by a single module or system component may instead be performed by multiple components, and functions performed by multiple components may instead be performed by a single component. Likewise, the order in which method steps are performed is not mandatory unless otherwise noted or logically required. 
         [0045]    Unless otherwise indicated, discussions utilizing terms such as “selecting” or “computing” or “determining” or the like refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
         [0046]    Finally, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention.